Thursday 13 July 1944
Dearest Folks:
Here’s that sailor man again—I said in my note that I would write last night, but sure enough I
didn’t—so here goes now. Had a very busy day yesterday—went to Poole and took my clothes out of
storage and brought my dress blues and a few changes back here to Weymouth with me—then last night I
had a date with my A.T.S. friend, the one whose letter I sent you—so you see I didn’t have much time
to write.
Guess you are wondering what I’m doing back here in England—well it was a surprise to me—I was minding
my own business there in France when I received a message that I was to be ready to leave for England in
two hours as officer in charge of a L.C.T. which was being towed back—so I get my toothbrush and socks
nd take off. I never was so glad to see any place as I was England that morning—what a hectic 24 hours
hat was—crossing the English Channel in a ship that was full of shell holes and there was a storm in the
Channel so we had a tough time—I really thought my ability to swim was going to come in handy—but we made
here and I am waiting for orders—I will probably be back in Poole with the rest of my outfit within a week.
As soon as I can get someone to take this ship off my hands, I gotta go down to Plymouth and get my name
scratched off the casualty list—not really but all personnel has to clear through there after coming back
from France.
Gee, every thing is so peaceful here—its wonderful—steaks, ice cream, hot food, soft clean beds, hot
baths, and civilians. They haven’t had an air raid here since D-Day—so I am really relaxing and
getting all that invasion out of my system. When I arrived the other morning, I had to report to the
commanding officer—so I went to the hotel our Navy has taken over and while waiting to see him, I sat
out on the front porch and just stared at the people walking by—it was so good to see women, childre
been over for almost two years—so I just don’t know where I’ll be sent—
I should know within a month
however because all these bases are closing and I’ll have to go someplace—if I’m sent to the Pacific
from here you may as well just forget that you even have a son in the Navy because once I’m sent to
the Pacific, it will be years before I get home—why, I’ll be so baldheaded you won’t even recognize
me—right now I’m almost as bald as J.D.—really—I lost a lot of hair that month I was in France. I’m
not building up my hopes on coming home soon because everything is so uncertain at the present—All
our men think we are going back next month, but I don’t think so—I hope I’m wrong—
By the way—I’m
getting my men back in a couple of weeks—they are still in France but since our flotilla is
re-forming, they will come back with my flotilla commander—I was sure glad to hear it—Gee, I hated
o leave them.
I am really enjoying myself here—all the big shot officers are so nice to us fellows who just came
ack from the invasion—they seem to go out of their way to help us to get settled and enjoy ourselves—
I won’t really be happy though until I can sit down at your table, folks, and eat some of your cooking
Mom, then flop my big fanny right down on the bed and listen to the radio and read the papers—Oh boy,
that will be the happiest day—when I arrive home—
Mom, take good care of Pop and Don and yourself—Just don’t worry about me because I’m in perfect health and
mean as the devil. Will write you some more soon—
Love you all,
Stormy