October 30, 1943

(Letter written from Vic to younger brother Paul, for security reasons addressed simply from'Overseas' to Oakland, California.)

Saturday,

Dear Paul,

Received your letter of October 17 to-day and also one from the folks. Paul, did I mention in my last letter that all of your old letters to me finally caught up with me? There were so many from a number of people. I'm still behind in replying.

This coming Monday you will probably be starting attending college. Hope this letter is forwarded you promptly. Don't forget to write soon from you new address and let me know what courses you're taking. Were your credits from Tri-State and Michigan State good there? I've heard that's a very beautiful campus. Only passed thru Berkely once but thought it was quite favorable as a place to reside.

The State Capitol of Calif., Sacremento, is a nice city, too, and is only about 80 miles from you. Should you have a spare week-end sometime in the future, hitch-hike east (or inland) to Antioch, then cross the river and follow the highway north into the Capitol. Coming back you can either go south-east to Stockton or south-west to Valejo.

Going north from Frisco a hundred miles or so you run into the redwood region. That's quite a large state, as you will begin to see. The central sections are the worst (from Camp Roberts east to Bakersfield and on to Death Valley).

Just received a brief line from Ray Campbell dated July 6. Your verification of his whereabout checked with latest I'd heard of his ship. Wasn't his craft that went under as I mentioned but one with number close thereabouts. You may have read of the action as it isn't exactly new now.

He's been in long enough to be eligible for C.P.O. Radioman 1st Class is equivalent to Technical Sgt. in the army which has a base pay of $114. Ray'll be drawing longevity sometime this month, no? Hope he does OK at a naval college. Tell him to write me if you are in communication with him. Is it a naval O.C.S.? He must've had radar experience, no?

Bill has written me three times now within the past 2 1/2 months. Best I get busy and answer him. Haven't had too much time.

Let me know how you've made out as regards Gov't tuition. Write promptly, regularly and in great detail.

Your brother,
Vic

October 22, 1943

(Letter from Vic to his parents, Emilie and Peter in Racine, Wisconsin)

Dear Folks,

During the past week I've easily received 30 letters, and among them were all those you and Paul had mentioned writing. Apparently, they traveled about quite a bit under numerous addresses. Some were dated around the first of July while the latest were only 1 1/2 wks en-route.

I'm enclosing that statement from the insurance co. that you wish returned. I'm OK and enjoying myself as best as can be expected. Will write more in the near future.

Best regards from Your son,
Vic

October 21, 1943

(Letter written from Vic to younger brother Paul, for security reasons addressed simply from 'Overseas' to Berkeley California. A postal stamp from the U.C. Berkeley Sather Gate post office shows it arrived on December the 6th.)

Overseas.

Dear Paul,

Quite a few letters arrived for me this week but the majority were several months old and came viar various routes under old addresses. Among them was a card you'd mailed in Salt Lake City. Thought you said you'd told of your anticipated plans from Racine and latter Calif.? No such luck.

Exactly what western college do you intend attending, when, and for what studies? If it's in the Oakland (Bay Area) around Santa Paula. I can't see where the climate is so suitable in your case. Rudy wrote you were working at a Henry Kaiser shipyard, and I gathered the impression from his letter you were staying with Ray Campbell's brother, Gil? Is he younger than Ray, and what have you heard of sea-dot Campbell?

If you can spare the time to bother mailing me a package or two I'd appreciate the following: a good pocket-knife with one long blade, a bottle of Hoppe's # 9 nitro solvent, some fairly good reading material, a occasional pack or jar of good hard candy - such as Horlicks malted milk tablets (but, please! no hard candy such as Xmas type).

Most candy bars and chocolates are a washed out mess upon hitting the tropics but not the harder types. Comply with postal weight requirements and see that everything is properly addressed. If you're busy drop the hint to Rudy or Ed.

Films shown here are improving somewhat tho many are still of ancient vintage. Have seen "Arsenic & Old Lace" "Shadow of a Doubt" "Revelie with Beverly" "Manificent Dope", etc. Won't mention the bum ones. Please write often via air-mail!

Your brother,
Vic

October 21. 1943

(Letter from Vic to brother Rudy, written from the South Pacific to Passaic, New Jersey. In the right corner of the envelope is the writing "Censored by N Sullivan 2nd Lt, F.A.")

Thursday morning,

Overseas

Dear Ann and Rudy,

Several days ago I received three letters from you dated July 22, August 1 and September 13 respectively. It seems quite a few letters are arriving that were addressed to former addresses. Please write using the air-mail envelopes instead of v-mail.

Paul had written me and explained about Walters' mishap. I am sorry to hear he had an accident. How is he now?

Having mentioned what litter there is to tell from these parts, this letter'll be confined mostly to questions on my part.

Ruts, should you be called up what branch of service do you wish to enter? I understand they have specialy clothing issue and equipment in your case. I'd advise you to tell the inspecting medics that you can't stand extreme heat and try and stay away from the tropics. You'd be more than susceptible to the numerous skin rashes and diseases that are common hereabouts.

The navy is a swell outfit; in fact, I believe were the Army given their choice they'd mostly ask for it. However, though the Naval Construction Batallions are a very hard-working and vital outfit they're quite a different naval organization than the fleet units. The seabees are to the Navy what the engineers are to the army. Each has its compat counterpart, tho.

Much of the ballyhoo given the C.B.'s in the States should be forgotten in case you're interested. They're most ingenius and efficient over here and everywhere I imagine, but theirs' is a tough job in the strictly physical sense. Unless you have a definite trade such as machinist, motor mechanic, welder, etc. the breaks come the hard way.

The Army offers some good deals but the best are probably in the Air Corp. Why not investigate? For the best excitement and tough monotonous grinds the regular Navy and Coast Guard are at hand provided they don't pull a switch and land you in the C.B.'s

As a last resort there's the glamour boys (Sea-going bell-hops, Garrison dainties) or, as you in the States know them, the marines.

Whatever branch of service you get into do your best and gun for a trade or Specialist school or OCS.

Sincerely,

Vic

October 12, 1943

(Letter from Vic to Paul, from the South Seas to Oakland, CA. The envelope is lost, but the letter shows signs of censorship on page three as illustrated below)

Tuesday morning,

Overseas

Dear Paul,

By now you've probably received my previous letter. I sincerely hope you or Karl have taken some definite action one way or another as regards my request for a light caliber pistol. Unless you've bothered about it already, drop the matter now 'cause the date has so advanced as to make its arrival improbably in connection with my use of same.

You may not be aware of the great time required for most packages to arrive at their final destination overseas. If you've shipped same kindly reimburse Karl for the trouble.

I sincerely hope you haven't mentioned what I said about fever in writing the folks. It'd do no good to have them worry about it so don't bring it up as it's nothing serious and most common amongst personnel in these areas.

Malaria has the same symtom as rhuemative fever when one observes them and they're both recurrent although the former usually has no decisive actions upon the heart.

Please give me more details about your job, reasons for going to the west coast, etc.

Ray Campbell operates out of Frisco doesn't he? What have you heard from him recently, and have you gotten to see him when his ship is in port? I don't wish to (word cut out) you but I hear (rest of letter is missing)

October 2, 1943

(Letter from Vic to Paul, from the South Seas to Oakland, CA. In bottom corner of envelope reads "Censored by R O McClendon 1st LT., F.A. as illustrated below.)

Saturday noon,

Overseas

Dear Paul,

I just received your letter of Sept. 10 from Oakland and thought I'd answer promptly. There'll be a number of questions I have to ask of you so kindly answer immediately.

First, I don't understand your position as regards location, job, reasons, etc. You may have written earlier, but I as yet haven't received any others. Fact is, I haven't even received any mail from the folks nor Rudy and Ed since coming overseas. Evidently you are not addressing the letter correctly & including your own. That last provision is compulsory before any mail will even start moving.

Just where are you working and at what pay rate? Did you come out to the West Coast thru the U.S. Employment Bureau? Wyhatever made you leave your job in Racine? Do you intend going to school in Calif.? Isn't that climate there bad on you? Inland just a few miles it is much drier and warmer.

I am well acquainted with those parts and know. At present the Bay area should be having its' best seasonal weather. Isn't that work too heavy for you or aren't you in the least heeding doctor's orders?

Ray Reed seems to be in that Seabee camp just east and slightly south of Oakland on the road to Stockton - am I correct? PRD and Camp Stoneman are almost due north of there about ten miles cross-country. His place lies on the n. side of the high-way. No?

Give Yuts my address and tell him to write. That whole district is known as Navy grounds, and their liberty is far greater than the passes doled out to Army personnel.

I can now say that I was in Noumea, New Caledonia and the following Solomon Islands: Guadalcanal, Sasevele, and Roviana. The latter two are in the New Georgia group and Roviana lies just off the Numda air-strip. Any questions? Naturally we can't give our present location.

I had a touch of fever but am OK now. Write via air mail.

Your brother,
Vic

September 24, 1943

(Letter from Vic to brother Paul in Racine. It is postmarked U.S. Army Postal Service, September 29, 1943. The picture is from a pre-war hunting trip showing Vic wearing a holstered revolver.)

Friday noon,

Overseas

Dear Paul,

Yesterday I wrote Karl Gruebel and requested him to send his Woodsman. Will you please see if Bill McCoy (lived up around Luther College) will part with his (High-Standard or Woodsman?) 'cause it has the short barrel. Otherwise buy Karl's and send it immediately or not at all. The 4 1/2 inch barrel is more suitabe and holster should accompany it.

Send some 22 long-rifle hollow point ammunition too. The Postal Dept. sets a 5 lb maximum on packages so the lot will have to be securely wrapped in at least 2 packages I believe. Please inquire. If you don't have time and there should be delays forget it. I also asked Karl if he could get some 8mm Luger cartridges.

I'll try and send Karl a nip bayonet I've got or some other souvenir. Enclosed note a parts plate off a piece of their equipment some of which is good. Later on I'll send some good articles, if possible.

How are you getting along now at the shop? Perhaps you're leaving for school soon?

Your brother,
Vic

September 18, 1943

(Letter from Paul to brother Rudy, sent from Oakland, California to Passaic, New Jersey. Letter is sent on joke "The Krapp House" stationary at right. The Krapp House probably did not exist. )

Dear Wally, Ann & Rudy,

Thanks so much for your letter which I received the other day. Your questions are rather numerous so I attempt to answer a few.

I get $1.20 per hr. as journeyman Marine Machinist (in name only). I started at that rate but in the machine shop and transferred to the outfitting docks. I work for for Permanente Metals, a division of Kaiser, in Richmond yard #1, where we build Liberty ships, but soon we're going to build Victory ships.

Our yard has the world's record for building a ships to the launching stage in 4 1/2 days and also the world's record for the number of ships per month per way. Our crew installs and aligns the steering engine.

That's all for now. Hope you can get out of bed soon, Wally.

Best regards,
Paul

September 1, 1943

(Letter from Paul to brother Rudy, sent from Oakland, California to Passaic, New Jersey.)

Dear Rudy & Ann,

I've been out here over a week now & I'm working at the Kaiser shipyards in Richmond as a journeyman machinist. I'm living with Ray Campbell's brother, Gil, who is a riveter at the shipyards.

I stayed several days at (2nd) Uncle Marius Pedersen's in Salt Lake on the way out. We spent on day up in the Watsatch Mts. & they're the most beautiful mts. I've ever seen.

Please write when you have time and don't forget to write Vic and Ma & Pa regularly.

Best regards,
Paul