Over the last week, my grandfather has continued attempts to make contact with his brother-in-law Jim Foster. Between calling the base and writing letters, he has had no luck. Considering how many people were stationed in Norfolk in June 1942, it is not surprising. And it was about to get more crowded.

During the last week, the Battle of Midway was fought and won in the Pacific. I don’t know how much they told the men at home on the naval base about what was going on. My grandfather was certainly mum on that point. He does make a comment in the first letter I am posting today about whether my grandmother heard about their big day on the radio. I can only assume he was talking about the Battle of Midway.

I also enjoyed hearing about my grandfather’s landlady, Mrs. Evans. She was apparently quite the talker! Although it sounds like it was pretty miserable experience for my grandfather. After coming home from a long day working at the base, and not being able to have a moment’s peace would have driven me crazy. I had not expected to learn anything about my great, great uncle George this week. Another juicy genealogical tidbit to add to his file “chatty and often repeated himself”. We all know someone like that. By 1942, George would have been around 78 and near the end of his life. George died in 1949.

This week also saw the last of the letters from Uncle Jim for awhile as well as the one letter I have from my great grandmother Emma.

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Today I am posting two letters since they are both short.

 

Letter transcription:

Mon Eve. (postmarked June 8, 1942 7:00 PM)

Dear Mother,

I’ll find out definitely about the gas card tomorrow. By the time this letter gets there I will have written you two others about that gas card. So will let it drop there for the time being.

We had a big day today and will have all this week-since the mass induction on Sunday which you heard on the radio if you were listening. I get mixed up on the programs since this is one hour earlier here.

Who is we that you are talking about coming down. You spoke of a lady who used to live in Norfolk and of course Dorothy has volunteered. So who do you

(page 2) mean?

There has been a storm in the west all P.M. but so far we have only gotten a sprinkle.

I’ve not been able to contact Jim yet. He has been transferred to Camp Bradford(?) which is a part of the base but still I can’t find him. I wrote him last Thurs and no answer. If he doesn’t get any more mail from home than from me he sure doesn’t get [?] from there-

Well, I’ll send the card back air mail and hope you get it in time to get here by Sat. noon but I guess you won’t start that soon-

Love Daddy

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Tue 12:00 (postmarked June 9, 1942 (3:00 PM)

Dear Mother,

Enclosed find the necessary card-all you do is show this to the gas attendant. They don’t need to punch it for it is for an unlimited supply.

Heard from Jim this AM I’ve been trying to call him every day. He finally got my letter and wrote.

Will write more this Eve.

Love Daddy

©2012, copyrighted & written by Deborah Sweeney