Dearest Folks:
Perhaps I shall finally get around to writing you a letter after a lay-off of about three weeks now. Suppose you have been wondering where, what, when and how I am and I don’t know how much I can enlighten you now that Sammy has his eye over my shoulder. Anyway I’ll rattle along here and they can fix it like they want it, I could write a book on what has happened and the place I am at but just don’t know how much to include. Anyway we left, about [cut out] after you left, from Frisco traveling on the blue pacific about [cut out] and arrived in the Hawaiian Islands. The trip across was uneventful and uninteresting. We came in a huge transport and slept like sardines in the lower decks in sardine fashion. It was pretty hot as we got further south and I never sweat so much in my life. Every night on the transport after evening chow the troops held boxing matches and I wished I could have taken a picture of the guys packed along the decks and cramming every possible sitting space. The boat must have looked like picnic ants on a weeny. The food was pretty good but the galley was a sweat box. And contrary to my expectations I didn’t get sick but thought I would after I felt squalmish the first day. I saw only three or four that were sick. There was no excitement although just before we came into Honolulu Bay we were called to life raft stations and the boat ran around in circles and a couple of planes roared over us. I never saw so many planes in the air as there are here. From the boat saw the swanky hotels along Waikiki Beach and the famous Diamond Head which looks like an old crater. Believe me the islands are as beautiful and as much a paradise as I had expected. Wish I could tell you where I am and what it’s like around here. From the atmosphere and the scenery I’ve almost decided to snag a mate and take up a home here. Flowers are in profusion everywhere and to see the natives and orientals and the general atmosphere of things this is what I’ve been looking for. Last night the USO gave a show for us. Also there is a mobile canteen unit to supply sundries etc. Of course every night all the islands are blacked out so there is very little activity after dark. There are plenty of good swimming places around but so far haven’t gotten wet. The people in the town where I am at have two dances a week one for soldiers and one for civilians on Wednesdays and Saturdays so I’m looking forward to a little shag sometime. Dances are held from four until seven in the evening to conform with the blackout. I ate my first coconut from the tree yesterday and also got some fresh pineapple. The native boys brought them over to us while we were playing ball and fresh ice cold pineapple is really a treat. Coconuts are encased in a large ball of hemp covering and at first I didn’t believe they were coconuts, this is cut off and the coconut is revealed. Right now we are living in our pup tents which isn’t too comfortable. The first night we were without mosquito bars and the little devils chewed me all up but we’ve got ‘em now. All in all in some ways this reminds me of being back in California and we have about everything we had over there and I’m really contented. I truly hope we are stationed here for the duration but of course we have no way of knowing. Yesterday we went on a road arch down tree covered roads and sugar cane and pineapple fields on both sides. Flowers grow like weeds and with the broad slopes reaching to high mountains topped with fleecy white clouds presents a very peaceful and appealing scene.
As for my personal well-being I’m okay as usual and although it gets pretty hot during the day it isn’t bad enough to complain about. One of the next things I want to do is to get out in the sun and take a dip in the ocean. The evenings are pretty cool and easy for sleeping. The first couple of nights my hips were a little raw from sleeping on the ground but with a couple of hip holes now I knock ’em off like a tired baby. I hate to stop on this letter now when it may take so long for it to get to you so I better keep on about something. I’m having a struggle getting a hold of this Victory mail and I understand it is rationed to about one a week, but I’ll write twice a week so that you will get some letters fairly often. You better hit about the same schedule—little need I have to tell you though. The first day after we landed I got two letters—one from you that you had mailed before you left [Camp] Stoneman and one from Gladys Davis and she writes letters like she talks. Her letters are interesting and she gives me the lowdown on the fellows in the ’01 House of Davis. I’m going to hang on to these two letters until I get some more. We have a couple of portable radios in the outfit and at four thirty this afternoon listened to Kay Kyser—swell to hear some music. I ought to chop this off and shorn my beard before it gets too dark but I’ll take a chance on getting a calling down tomorrow morning—this is more important anyway. Better knock out a letter to Gram and one to Kate before dark too. Perhaps if you could give me Farley’s address I may be able to contact him although I’m afraid I’m pretty far from his.
Really Mom and Dad you haven’t anything to worry about, it’s really more pleasant than in California and not being able to run around in the evenings, although it may be boring sometimes, won’t hurt me any. When I think of some of the places I could have been sent I’m entirely satisfied and consider myself lucky. USO facilities offer every kind of sport and some like fishing that aren’t offered in the states. Sunday a troupe are giving a hula show of the genuine type. This isn’t to be regarded as tribal in any way but is as meaningful to the natives as kneeling in church is to you. Well I’m going to stop now and hope you get this in less than a month. Someday I’m going to see that you have a vacation over here and get a load of this place.
Aloha for now. Tell the family to sling a lot of ink. I had a dream last night. I was starting to school for another semester and it was very real. I’ll keep an eye open for that kimono. Red wasn’t it?
Love,
[recipe written on back of stationary in Harold’s handwriting]
1 cup vinegar in saucepan, rinse cup with water, 1 T. butter
Mix ¾ c. sugar
1 T flour
1 T cornstarch
1 t dry mustard
Salt and pepper
Yolks 3 eggs
1 cup milk
Pour into hot vinegar. Cool til thick.