NOTE: Unless otherwise indicated, letters from John, Pete and Mark were to our parents and sister, Ruth; letters from Paul were to his wife, Miriam. Brackets [ ] are used to insert detail not in original text owing to censorship restrictions. PAB
PETE – [Somewhere in the Philippines] – 3 FEB 1945
I am no longer on Morotai Island, but am now in the Philippines! We had a thrilling trip to say the least. The group I traveled with met with a little bad weather, which resulted in our seeing one of the other major Philippine islands. Some of us fellows went to town and slept in a real house again, which had been taken over by the Navy. Though the town was in a dilapidated condition, due to the fact that the Filipinos had taken to the hills when the Japs came in, it nevertheless seemed wonderful to us to see some civilization again. We got the thrill of our lives going into a little corner restaurant, sitting at a table and ordering sweet cakes and coffee, served to us by pretty Filipino girls! It rained heavily all evening and we waded through the streets knee high in mud, but we were getting such a kick out of everything that we didn't seem to mind.
While I was there I went to the military authorities and asked if they knew where A.P.O. 86-102 Ordnance Co. was, as I thought there might be a chance of John's outfit being there. However no one knew for sure, though some said they thought it was on one of the neighboring islands. I didn't have time to look into it any further, but I'll continue to try to locate the outfit from here.
This place is quite different to anything we have seen so far. It seems more like a desert than anything else as there is sand all over and cactus grows easily. However this is near the sea shore – the inland is more fertile ground as there are farms spread out all over where all kinds of vegetables and fruit grow. The Filipinos come through camp all day long selling or trading their products: bananas, tomatoes, eggs, chickens, etc., but we are asked not to encourage this. Our officers will attempt to make arrangements with the neighboring farmers and obtain these things for the unit as a whole.
Yesterday we had two little Filipino kids pay our tent a visit – a boy and a girl, both about 8 years old. First the little girl stands up facing us, makes a little bow and sings a very pretty little song, bowing again at the finish. Then the little boy does the same thing. Then they get together and sing a duet – which sounded like a church hymn. Before they left we gave them some candy from our Army field ration boxes, which we lived on for a while. Most Filipinos know a little English and are intelligent people.
SHIP'S LOG OF THE USS BOREL
11 February 1945
____________________________________________________
1830 David Mark Borel, baby first class, U.S. of America,
reported on board, out of uniform,
pursuant to the orders of Margaret Virginia Borel, Operations Officer,
for such limited duty as his eight pounds permit.
Mark Borel, Ensign, U.S.N.R.
Officer of the Day
MARK TO PAUL – [Oahu Island] – 12 MAR 1945
Dear Commander, (ahem)
"I have been shockingly negligent in writing you, and I have plenty of excuses but none of them is any good. So there is absolutely no use in my making any." (Taken from Cmdr. Paul Borel's letter of this 21 Jan '45 to Ens. M. Borel.) It was so good I couldn't resist using it myself.
First and foremost, I feel I owe you an apology for beating you to having a man-child. (heh, heh.) It's going to be embarrassing to have my son take care of yours later on in life. Well any way, congratulations on being the uncle to such a fine, strong boy. I'm proud of you for having such a fine nephew. (If the above lines sound familiar, stop me.)
Margaret apparently didn't have too hard a time of it. I was certainly relieved as you may well imagine – being a father (if only to girls) yourself. She recovered very nicely. Margaret is exceptional you know. If there ever were two exceptional young ladies, I would say that you married one, and I married the other. (You don't suppose I've taken a narrow view on the situation do you?) But then what else could be expected from two such utterly captivating & attractive young men? Especially with the Borel blood running hot in their veins.
Actually, I suppose you know quite as much about David as I do, what with Mother's frequent letters to you. I've missed out on the most precious time, that of the birth and directly afterward. You were fortunate in that respect. I intend to be a little more fortunate the next times myself; if heaven so allows.
As you no doubt know, I spent a bit of time with John here before he left. We had a splendid time talking of old times and future times. He's a fine man, John is. I really admire him as well as like him. He has a quiet strength about him. We took a lot of pictures – I'll enclose one in the letter.
The picture you paint is so contrary to my present life that it is almost unreal. Here, it is lovely. Warm by day, cool at night. Trees by the million and plants of every description. We shoot a leisurely game of pool or play a game of ping pong for sport. Or we can bowl or play tennis. If we feel like a swim, we trot down to the officers pool. What a tough life. Of course, this is all just fattening up the calf for the kill as far as I'm concerned. When I finish my schooling at the Radar School, I'll be given a ship or vice versa. I have a chance of getting a fairly large one, I think. There are advantages to both large & small, so in the end, it doesn't matter much does it?
(Being that you are a dry land sailor and not salty in spite of all your braid – you probably won't be much interested in what the hell I get anyway.) Well, don't feel to inferior because you're not salty, we all have a job to do. (heh, heh.)
Mother mentioned that your C.O. is the grandson of Charles Dickens. Very interesting. Maybe he can give you a little help on your book. Every little bit helps, you know.
I'm sorry this letter is so illegible but you see, that's the way I write. Someday I intend to learn a little better – or else give it up as a bad go. I certainly enjoyed your last letter and am looking forward to another from you. All my friendship & respect,
Mark (father) Borel
Ens. Mark Borel
THE TIDES OF WAR IN THE PACIFIC
1941 – 1945
Japanese attach Pearl Harbor ………… 7 December 1941
Japanese attack Philippine Islands …… 8 December 1941
Battle of the Coral Sea ………………… 7-8 May 1942
Battle of Midway………………………… 3-6 June 1942
Solomon Islands Campaign …………… August 1942 – June 1944
Aleutians Campaign …………………… August 1942 – August 1943
Gilbert Islands Operation ……………… November 1943
Marshall Islands Operation …………… February 1944
Hollandia Operation …………………… April 1944
Marianas Islands Operation …………… June – August 1944
Western Carolines Operation…………… September 1944
Leyte Landings – Battle for Leyte Gulf… October 1944
Lingayen Gulf Landings………………… January 1945
Iwo Jima Operation……………………… February – March 1945
Okinawa Operation……………………… April – June 1945
Borneo Operation………………………… May – July 1945
Pre-invasion Operations against Japan…July – August 1945
Signing of Japanese Surrender………… 2 September 1945
PAUL – [Brussels] – 3 APR 1945
My dearest Sweetheart:
Hello dear. Thanks for the nice Easter cards. It sure is fun to get things from you . . . and Nancy and Laine; mustn't forget them. As if I could if I tried. Have several items of business to take up but will save them for another letter and just have a friendly chat with the girl I love.
To begin with, I am leaving the Mission in a few days to take up a new assignment. In a way it is too bad to leave a smooth running organization before we get settled in the Hague. But then I'm not running the Navy. My new assignment will be on the Admiral's staff who is going to Germany. Will be connected with the Allied Control Council and our job will be to run Germany from Berlin. Have to report back to London and sometime after that go with an advance party on the continent somewhere. Haven't any details and couldn't give them to you if I did. Should be a good job and I'll be teaming up with St. John again.
This may affect when I can take some leave. The way it stood before nothing was certain. It was not decided if we were a post-hostility organization or not; this is the criterion as to whether leave is forthcoming or not. The new outfit definitely is a post-hostility organization. However, it will not be possible to leave it until things are such that a systematic scheme can be inaugurated.
My feelings are very mixed about leave. Now I have it to look forward to. After a few days together it will be extremely hard to leave you and know that many months of separation are once again ahead. However, the main thing that keeps coming up is that I want to be with you and tell you I love you. Hence the answer is, yes I want leave, as long as I can, and as soon as I can. Is that how you feel about it?
What joy it must be to Pierre to be home again. Am glad you and he can spend some time together. You can give him some good advice if he'll listen . . . and I think he will to you.
Got a nice letter from Mark from Hawaii where he and John had spent some time together. Also a letter from your mother just before she left for a trip with your Dad to Washington.
Once again I am packing up. The new Lt. Comdr. should be here soon. Our various units are moving up and I should have had to take my secretary and leave the others anyway. Magruder left this morning for duty with another outfit. That is, he still is one of us but assigned by us as a liaison officer with a unit with which we must maintain contact.
The sweater that the S.A. sent me got here all right but it is much too small. Must be about a 35 or 36; I wear a 38 or 39. Am giving it to a needy Dutch boy. Have written to the woman who knitted it telling her so. (Her name was pinned on inside). No use sending another now.
You speak of sending a Testament. I got one in London several months ago and also have been reading a chapter a day. Started this many times before but always quit before I got through. So this time I started at end and am working forward. Until later, then, I send you all my love darling. Here's a big kiss and a strong hug.
Your own, Paul
PAUL – [Versailles, France] – 3 MAY 1945
Hello sweetheart:
Don't get shocked at having three letters sent off in three days. I don't know if it is supposed to prove anything except that when my work in the office is not demanding my thoughts invariably turn to you and I like to write and tell you about it and to tell you what you must already know: that I love you very much and live only for the day of our reunion. As Julie would say: it's been a pleasant day. Or rather last night was a pleasant evening. Two fellow officers I haven't mentioned to you yet and myself went into Paris on the 6:10 for a look-see at the ballet at the National Opera House. One, Lieut. Norman Kirkham, is Muelder's roommate here. He is a Harvard Business School boy also. The other is a Lt. (jg) Joe Slatter. He went to Harvard and was a good friend of Seymour's in London. Joe had a date which met us there – in town. They had reserved seats prior to my arrival so I had a seat apart from the rest of the gang. While standing in line for a ticket an Army 1st Lt. came up and said he had an extra ticket which he would gladly make me a present of. This I accepted with pleasure for not only would I have a better seat but also the company of my benefactor. This Army chap was named Joseph Rosgin and is from Winsted, Conn. He was convalescing from his third wound received in Germany as a combat infantry officer. A very nice lad, much in love with his wife. They had lost an only child. In getting out a piece of paper to put his address down I ran across a quotation which has helped me and is along the lines which Howie has expressed to you at times. He thought it excellent also and took it down for like others there are times when he has needed help.
“He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our will. Our antagonist is our helper.” – Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France.
The ballet was first class – and of course the Opera house is a spectacle in itself. The Army boy left a little early to catch a train. We should have but didn't and as a result went without supper. However, we shopped in the Red Cross club at the R.R. station and got doughnuts and coffee. After we got home I opened the only bottle of wine I had and we ate some fruit cake which I had from some of the goodies you all sent to Brussels. And so another day.
This morning Walter Moberg arrived to join our outfit as a result of some negotiations on my part to get him here. In a few days my old secretary of Le Havre days will join us too (Sam Brown). A big kiss and hug for Nancy and Lainie. And a special one for you.
Your own, Paul
PETE – Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Kingsville, Texas – 3 MAY 1945
. . . Today is the first time I have worn chief's clothes (cotton grays) and it felt pretty good. I now eat in the chiefs' mess hall where we seat ourselves immediately and get waited on just like in a hotel. We don't have to worry about carrying out and cleaning dishes either. Tomorrow I'll be moving over to the chiefs' barracks. I rather hate to leave the barracks I'm in now as I've become acquainted with some of the fellows here and like them.
PAUL – [Versailles, France] – 8 MAY 1945
Miriam Dearest:
Just wanted to write you a few lines because it is nice to say hello to you. Of course the big news today is the prospective announcement of VE day. This is a day we have all waited for and for a long time. It is wonderful news indeed. The military personnel are strangely calm about it all. The French seem much more in a mood to celebrate. The lack of enthusiasm is a little difficult to try to explain. I suppose that outside of the front line activities proper, the cessation of hostilities doesn't mean much in the way of a change in the daily routine of military personnel. Then too, there is still war in the Pacific.
But it is a day to be thankful – a special thanksgiving day. We have just been notified that we can take the afternoon off as soon as we can get away, so Walter and I are cleaning up what little we have "cooking" and will probably head for Paris after lunch. Auf wiedersehn fur nun, liebchen.
Dien, Paulus
PETE – Kingsville – 8 MAY 1945
With VE Day came an order keeping all Navy personnel inside the base for 48 hours. I guess they were afraid that there would be too much celebrating if everyone was allowed out. Naturally everyone is extremely glad about the end of the war in Europe, tho no one seems very excited about it. We know that there is still Japan.
. . . . . . .
I don’t know of I told you about my new job. I have nothing to do with instruments anymore, but I’ve got sort of a desk job and am directly in charge of some 80 men who work on the planes.
PETE – Kingsville – 15 MAY 1945
Being chief has its advantages. We have three coloured boys working steady in our barracks – they're sailors of course. They shine our shoes, make our beds, take care of our laundry (they don't do it themselves but they send it away & get it back for us). They scrub the barracks every day. The coloured man in charge is around 40 and on the outside is a minister – He's a very fine person and it makes me feel funny to watch him shine my shoes. He preaches in a negro church in Kingsville every Sunday besides holding a number of other meetings here and there. One of the chiefs asked him the other day if he had made seaman first, but he said he was kept too busy with his ministerial work to study for his seaman first examination. He still makes $54.00 a month. Seaman first would bring him up in the $58.00 bracket.
I didn't finish what I started to say about being a chief. Tho it has some advantages, it also has some disadvantages, one of which is not being able to associate much with lower enlisted men. Chiefs are supposed to stick together like officers do. We have a separate mess hall, separate barracks, separate club, separate space in the theater, etc. My best friends are just plain sailors but since I made chief I don't get to see them much anymore. Most chiefs are older men, married, and aren't much fun!
PETE – Kingsville – 1 JUN 1945
I'm writing this little note especially to tell you that I love you very, very much! I guess I feel a little lonesome tonight, but it's at times like this that I realize just how much you both mean to me. You're the best mom and dad a fellow ever had and I'm so grateful for you.
When I look back to the time when we were little tots cuddling around the kitchen stove on cold winter mornings – to the present time – I can see how faithful and true and loving you've always been to us. Childhood memories stay deep in one's heart and, because of our childhood memories, are fine and beautiful and pleasant to look back on.
Here we are, the four of us boys scattered far and wide, but each one of us has one common tie in our hearts – Home. And home means so much to us only because of what you, mom and pop, have made it.
Our family has certainly been fortunate and the good Lord knows we are grateful for this goodness and protection. I feel sure the family will be complete again some day in the not too far future – that will be the day, n'est-ce-pas?
Goodnight momma and poppa and always remember that I love you with all my heart.
PETE – [Somewhere in the Philippines] – 3 FEB 1945
I am no longer on Morotai Island, but am now in the Philippines! We had a thrilling trip to say the least. The group I traveled with met with a little bad weather, which resulted in our seeing one of the other major Philippine islands. Some of us fellows went to town and slept in a real house again, which had been taken over by the Navy. Though the town was in a dilapidated condition, due to the fact that the Filipinos had taken to the hills when the Japs came in, it nevertheless seemed wonderful to us to see some civilization again. We got the thrill of our lives going into a little corner restaurant, sitting at a table and ordering sweet cakes and coffee, served to us by pretty Filipino girls! It rained heavily all evening and we waded through the streets knee high in mud, but we were getting such a kick out of everything that we didn't seem to mind.
While I was there I went to the military authorities and asked if they knew where A.P.O. 86-102 Ordnance Co. was, as I thought there might be a chance of John's outfit being there. However no one knew for sure, though some said they thought it was on one of the neighboring islands. I didn't have time to look into it any further, but I'll continue to try to locate the outfit from here.
This place is quite different to anything we have seen so far. It seems more like a desert than anything else as there is sand all over and cactus grows easily. However this is near the sea shore – the inland is more fertile ground as there are farms spread out all over where all kinds of vegetables and fruit grow. The Filipinos come through camp all day long selling or trading their products: bananas, tomatoes, eggs, chickens, etc., but we are asked not to encourage this. Our officers will attempt to make arrangements with the neighboring farmers and obtain these things for the unit as a whole.
Yesterday we had two little Filipino kids pay our tent a visit – a boy and a girl, both about 8 years old. First the little girl stands up facing us, makes a little bow and sings a very pretty little song, bowing again at the finish. Then the little boy does the same thing. Then they get together and sing a duet – which sounded like a church hymn. Before they left we gave them some candy from our Army field ration boxes, which we lived on for a while. Most Filipinos know a little English and are intelligent people.
SHIP'S LOG OF THE USS BOREL
11 February 1945
____________________________________________________
1830 David Mark Borel, baby first class, U.S. of America,
reported on board, out of uniform,
pursuant to the orders of Margaret Virginia Borel, Operations Officer,
for such limited duty as his eight pounds permit.
Mark Borel, Ensign, U.S.N.R.
Officer of the Day
MARK TO PAUL – [Oahu Island] – 12 MAR 1945
Dear Commander, (ahem)
"I have been shockingly negligent in writing you, and I have plenty of excuses but none of them is any good. So there is absolutely no use in my making any." (Taken from Cmdr. Paul Borel's letter of this 21 Jan '45 to Ens. M. Borel.) It was so good I couldn't resist using it myself.
First and foremost, I feel I owe you an apology for beating you to having a man-child. (heh, heh.) It's going to be embarrassing to have my son take care of yours later on in life. Well any way, congratulations on being the uncle to such a fine, strong boy. I'm proud of you for having such a fine nephew. (If the above lines sound familiar, stop me.)
Margaret apparently didn't have too hard a time of it. I was certainly relieved as you may well imagine – being a father (if only to girls) yourself. She recovered very nicely. Margaret is exceptional you know. If there ever were two exceptional young ladies, I would say that you married one, and I married the other. (You don't suppose I've taken a narrow view on the situation do you?) But then what else could be expected from two such utterly captivating & attractive young men? Especially with the Borel blood running hot in their veins.
Actually, I suppose you know quite as much about David as I do, what with Mother's frequent letters to you. I've missed out on the most precious time, that of the birth and directly afterward. You were fortunate in that respect. I intend to be a little more fortunate the next times myself; if heaven so allows.
As you no doubt know, I spent a bit of time with John here before he left. We had a splendid time talking of old times and future times. He's a fine man, John is. I really admire him as well as like him. He has a quiet strength about him. We took a lot of pictures – I'll enclose one in the letter.
The picture you paint is so contrary to my present life that it is almost unreal. Here, it is lovely. Warm by day, cool at night. Trees by the million and plants of every description. We shoot a leisurely game of pool or play a game of ping pong for sport. Or we can bowl or play tennis. If we feel like a swim, we trot down to the officers pool. What a tough life. Of course, this is all just fattening up the calf for the kill as far as I'm concerned. When I finish my schooling at the Radar School, I'll be given a ship or vice versa. I have a chance of getting a fairly large one, I think. There are advantages to both large & small, so in the end, it doesn't matter much does it?
(Being that you are a dry land sailor and not salty in spite of all your braid – you probably won't be much interested in what the hell I get anyway.) Well, don't feel to inferior because you're not salty, we all have a job to do. (heh, heh.)
Mother mentioned that your C.O. is the grandson of Charles Dickens. Very interesting. Maybe he can give you a little help on your book. Every little bit helps, you know.
I'm sorry this letter is so illegible but you see, that's the way I write. Someday I intend to learn a little better – or else give it up as a bad go. I certainly enjoyed your last letter and am looking forward to another from you. All my friendship & respect,
Mark (father) Borel
Ens. Mark Borel
THE TIDES OF WAR IN THE PACIFIC
1941 – 1945
Japanese attach Pearl Harbor ………… 7 December 1941
Japanese attack Philippine Islands …… 8 December 1941
Battle of the Coral Sea ………………… 7-8 May 1942
Battle of Midway………………………… 3-6 June 1942
Solomon Islands Campaign …………… August 1942 – June 1944
Aleutians Campaign …………………… August 1942 – August 1943
Gilbert Islands Operation ……………… November 1943
Marshall Islands Operation …………… February 1944
Hollandia Operation …………………… April 1944
Marianas Islands Operation …………… June – August 1944
Western Carolines Operation…………… September 1944
Leyte Landings – Battle for Leyte Gulf… October 1944
Lingayen Gulf Landings………………… January 1945
Iwo Jima Operation……………………… February – March 1945
Okinawa Operation……………………… April – June 1945
Borneo Operation………………………… May – July 1945
Pre-invasion Operations against Japan…July – August 1945
Signing of Japanese Surrender………… 2 September 1945
PAUL – [Brussels] – 3 APR 1945
My dearest Sweetheart:
Hello dear. Thanks for the nice Easter cards. It sure is fun to get things from you . . . and Nancy and Laine; mustn't forget them. As if I could if I tried. Have several items of business to take up but will save them for another letter and just have a friendly chat with the girl I love.
To begin with, I am leaving the Mission in a few days to take up a new assignment. In a way it is too bad to leave a smooth running organization before we get settled in the Hague. But then I'm not running the Navy. My new assignment will be on the Admiral's staff who is going to Germany. Will be connected with the Allied Control Council and our job will be to run Germany from Berlin. Have to report back to London and sometime after that go with an advance party on the continent somewhere. Haven't any details and couldn't give them to you if I did. Should be a good job and I'll be teaming up with St. John again.
This may affect when I can take some leave. The way it stood before nothing was certain. It was not decided if we were a post-hostility organization or not; this is the criterion as to whether leave is forthcoming or not. The new outfit definitely is a post-hostility organization. However, it will not be possible to leave it until things are such that a systematic scheme can be inaugurated.
My feelings are very mixed about leave. Now I have it to look forward to. After a few days together it will be extremely hard to leave you and know that many months of separation are once again ahead. However, the main thing that keeps coming up is that I want to be with you and tell you I love you. Hence the answer is, yes I want leave, as long as I can, and as soon as I can. Is that how you feel about it?
What joy it must be to Pierre to be home again. Am glad you and he can spend some time together. You can give him some good advice if he'll listen . . . and I think he will to you.
Got a nice letter from Mark from Hawaii where he and John had spent some time together. Also a letter from your mother just before she left for a trip with your Dad to Washington.
Once again I am packing up. The new Lt. Comdr. should be here soon. Our various units are moving up and I should have had to take my secretary and leave the others anyway. Magruder left this morning for duty with another outfit. That is, he still is one of us but assigned by us as a liaison officer with a unit with which we must maintain contact.
The sweater that the S.A. sent me got here all right but it is much too small. Must be about a 35 or 36; I wear a 38 or 39. Am giving it to a needy Dutch boy. Have written to the woman who knitted it telling her so. (Her name was pinned on inside). No use sending another now.
You speak of sending a Testament. I got one in London several months ago and also have been reading a chapter a day. Started this many times before but always quit before I got through. So this time I started at end and am working forward. Until later, then, I send you all my love darling. Here's a big kiss and a strong hug.
Your own, Paul
PAUL – [Versailles, France] – 3 MAY 1945
Hello sweetheart:
Don't get shocked at having three letters sent off in three days. I don't know if it is supposed to prove anything except that when my work in the office is not demanding my thoughts invariably turn to you and I like to write and tell you about it and to tell you what you must already know: that I love you very much and live only for the day of our reunion. As Julie would say: it's been a pleasant day. Or rather last night was a pleasant evening. Two fellow officers I haven't mentioned to you yet and myself went into Paris on the 6:10 for a look-see at the ballet at the National Opera House. One, Lieut. Norman Kirkham, is Muelder's roommate here. He is a Harvard Business School boy also. The other is a Lt. (jg) Joe Slatter. He went to Harvard and was a good friend of Seymour's in London. Joe had a date which met us there – in town. They had reserved seats prior to my arrival so I had a seat apart from the rest of the gang. While standing in line for a ticket an Army 1st Lt. came up and said he had an extra ticket which he would gladly make me a present of. This I accepted with pleasure for not only would I have a better seat but also the company of my benefactor. This Army chap was named Joseph Rosgin and is from Winsted, Conn. He was convalescing from his third wound received in Germany as a combat infantry officer. A very nice lad, much in love with his wife. They had lost an only child. In getting out a piece of paper to put his address down I ran across a quotation which has helped me and is along the lines which Howie has expressed to you at times. He thought it excellent also and took it down for like others there are times when he has needed help.
“He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our will. Our antagonist is our helper.” – Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France.
The ballet was first class – and of course the Opera house is a spectacle in itself. The Army boy left a little early to catch a train. We should have but didn't and as a result went without supper. However, we shopped in the Red Cross club at the R.R. station and got doughnuts and coffee. After we got home I opened the only bottle of wine I had and we ate some fruit cake which I had from some of the goodies you all sent to Brussels. And so another day.
This morning Walter Moberg arrived to join our outfit as a result of some negotiations on my part to get him here. In a few days my old secretary of Le Havre days will join us too (Sam Brown). A big kiss and hug for Nancy and Lainie. And a special one for you.
Your own, Paul
PETE – Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Kingsville, Texas – 3 MAY 1945
. . . Today is the first time I have worn chief's clothes (cotton grays) and it felt pretty good. I now eat in the chiefs' mess hall where we seat ourselves immediately and get waited on just like in a hotel. We don't have to worry about carrying out and cleaning dishes either. Tomorrow I'll be moving over to the chiefs' barracks. I rather hate to leave the barracks I'm in now as I've become acquainted with some of the fellows here and like them.
PAUL – [Versailles, France] – 8 MAY 1945
Miriam Dearest:
Just wanted to write you a few lines because it is nice to say hello to you. Of course the big news today is the prospective announcement of VE day. This is a day we have all waited for and for a long time. It is wonderful news indeed. The military personnel are strangely calm about it all. The French seem much more in a mood to celebrate. The lack of enthusiasm is a little difficult to try to explain. I suppose that outside of the front line activities proper, the cessation of hostilities doesn't mean much in the way of a change in the daily routine of military personnel. Then too, there is still war in the Pacific.
But it is a day to be thankful – a special thanksgiving day. We have just been notified that we can take the afternoon off as soon as we can get away, so Walter and I are cleaning up what little we have "cooking" and will probably head for Paris after lunch. Auf wiedersehn fur nun, liebchen.
Dien, Paulus
PETE – Kingsville – 8 MAY 1945
With VE Day came an order keeping all Navy personnel inside the base for 48 hours. I guess they were afraid that there would be too much celebrating if everyone was allowed out. Naturally everyone is extremely glad about the end of the war in Europe, tho no one seems very excited about it. We know that there is still Japan.
. . . . . . .
I don’t know of I told you about my new job. I have nothing to do with instruments anymore, but I’ve got sort of a desk job and am directly in charge of some 80 men who work on the planes.
PETE – Kingsville – 15 MAY 1945
Being chief has its advantages. We have three coloured boys working steady in our barracks – they're sailors of course. They shine our shoes, make our beds, take care of our laundry (they don't do it themselves but they send it away & get it back for us). They scrub the barracks every day. The coloured man in charge is around 40 and on the outside is a minister – He's a very fine person and it makes me feel funny to watch him shine my shoes. He preaches in a negro church in Kingsville every Sunday besides holding a number of other meetings here and there. One of the chiefs asked him the other day if he had made seaman first, but he said he was kept too busy with his ministerial work to study for his seaman first examination. He still makes $54.00 a month. Seaman first would bring him up in the $58.00 bracket.
I didn't finish what I started to say about being a chief. Tho it has some advantages, it also has some disadvantages, one of which is not being able to associate much with lower enlisted men. Chiefs are supposed to stick together like officers do. We have a separate mess hall, separate barracks, separate club, separate space in the theater, etc. My best friends are just plain sailors but since I made chief I don't get to see them much anymore. Most chiefs are older men, married, and aren't much fun!
PETE – Kingsville – 1 JUN 1945
I'm writing this little note especially to tell you that I love you very, very much! I guess I feel a little lonesome tonight, but it's at times like this that I realize just how much you both mean to me. You're the best mom and dad a fellow ever had and I'm so grateful for you.
When I look back to the time when we were little tots cuddling around the kitchen stove on cold winter mornings – to the present time – I can see how faithful and true and loving you've always been to us. Childhood memories stay deep in one's heart and, because of our childhood memories, are fine and beautiful and pleasant to look back on.
Here we are, the four of us boys scattered far and wide, but each one of us has one common tie in our hearts – Home. And home means so much to us only because of what you, mom and pop, have made it.
Our family has certainly been fortunate and the good Lord knows we are grateful for this goodness and protection. I feel sure the family will be complete again some day in the not too far future – that will be the day, n'est-ce-pas?
Goodnight momma and poppa and always remember that I love you with all my heart.
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