This letter contains a delightful description of Jake’s living quarters. I am curious to know who his bunk mates were. I had a difficult time transcribing a couple of words at the end of page two so if anyone has some suggestions, please let me know. And be prepared, the last paragraph is a little gut-wrenching, especially considering that Gladys’ last pregnancy did not turn out for the best.

Letter transcription:

Sept. 21, 1942

Dear Mother,

The first day of Spring here turned out to be rather cold all day long. Think I’ll have 2-3 doz. small heating stoves sent down and set up in that line, but now that spring is here maybe it will warm up. I’m writing again under the electric lights in the recreation hall. Several of the boys are around writing-some playing bridge, all I would say relaxing and trying to enjoy themselves as best they can under the circumstances.
Haven’t told you about our tent yet. It is one of the square types I would say about 20 feet square. There are four of us in it and I have the northwest corner. My cot takes up the space from east to west along the wall. The floor is very uneven so under the foot I have 3 one inch boards. Under the cot is the best place I know of for my large

[page 2] traveling bag. At the head I have built a small stand with two shelves. This stand is used for my shaving tools, pipe, my drinking cup, and eating tools, also my shoe polishing outfit and a few other articles too numerous to mention. Immediately under the stand I have my house slippers, one pair of heavy marine shoes. My dress slippers are all put away in a wooden box I had built at Moffett Field. This box sits paralll parallel to the cost [cots] on the midline that runs east & west. Along with the shoes the box contains, underware, socks, rain coat, galoses [galoshes] my white uniform & shoes. My blues and my blue rain coat are in the new large traveling bag under the bed. We had a large coat hander[?] built just back of

[page 3] the center tent pole and all out our oft worn clothes are there. So maybe that gives you a bird’s eye view of our “little” home, and I’ve often told people I joined the navy to keep from living in a tent and eating out of tin cups. Some joke. All in all it really truthfully isn’t bad and really and truly I think we are very well off and shouldn’t complain in the least.
One person got mail yesterday and another again today, so maybe one of these days things will break for all of us. I’m wondering when and if you got the first letter I wrote. That was mailed on Sept. 2. There was some questions about the censorship on those first ones so maybe you won’t get those until later if at all. Let me know about the house and yard this fall as I am interested

[page 4] in how things are getting along. Of course I’m more interested in other things but that is one of the sidelines I’m concerned about.
Just in case this morning’s letter don’t come thru I wrote one to you and a V-mail letter to each of the boys-Same date on both.
My uniform money hasn’t come thru yet and I’m wondering if my insurance policy even came to you and did you get the disability etc all straight on the policies I have?
Hope you are all OK and I’m really thinking, hoping and praying your coming condition and trials will soon pass over and that all things will turn out for the best. This last is not sobbing but I am sincere.

Love Daddy

P.S. Tue & all secure.