March 2, 1939                    Bremerton, Washington

Dear Folks:

Received your swell letter this morning and was sure glad to hear from you, was beginning to think you’d forgotten me.  You all seem to be having some bad luck with everyone down with the flu.  I hope Dad doesn’t get it.  You talk about grunting, boy, you should hear some of these guys sing the blues.  That’s about the only thing we can do and get away with it without a reprimand.  If a sailor isn’t growling, he’s either sick or getting paid off.  Don’t know yet whether I’ll extend for two years or not.  One day I think I will, and the next I wouldn’t ship over for all the stripes in the service.  I’ve been chipping paint off decks with a pneumatic air hammer all this month.  I’m getting so I shake like one in my sleep.  Say, I was just thinking about Aunt Ella and Uncle Jess the other day.  Glad to hear they’re okay, I didn’t know Lawrence was only two years behind me.  It seemed like he was three or four years younger when I stayed with them in Decatur.

Do you remember my telling you about a Marine from there named Donald Beck?  He got married in Long Beach and about three weeks ago got a special order discharge, the lucky maverick.  That’s the first I’ve heard of the Barbers for one long time.  The last time I saw them they lived on the south side didn’t they?  Nice people.

George Eyed is getting the (Indianapolis) Times from his brother now.  So I just read it and pay half the bill.

Bob:

Yep, I guess I’ll see the exposition in Frisco all right.  If you’re coming out this summer, I’ll pay your way back. You couldn’t stay until I get paid off because school starts too soon.  Dolls told me they would be glad to have you stay with them, and we would really have a time.  I think we leave here for Long Beach the second or third of April, won’t be there long though.  Say, we’ve got a lot of places to maneuver in now that the fleet is all over the East Coast.  We won’t be in Long Beach for more than a month altogether.  I wouldn’t get to see you much, but when I did you could really see the sights.  My buddy George says hello.  He’s from Brightwood.  (George Eyed, KIA, USS Arizona, 12/7/1941) Well, I gotta go to work so I’ll be seeing ya.

Your brother, Harry

PS don’t forget to keep that bunk warm.  May use it for a while in about six months. HL

May 7, 1939            San Diego

Dear Folks:

Saturday, and I’m aboard for the weekend.  We’re anchored in San Diego now, had a million Marines aboard all last week for landing force exercises. Just disembarked them here Friday, when we got in.  Three of our boats were grounded on the beach at San Clemente Island, but they finally got them off.  I wasn’t on the detail of sailors that had to go over, and I guess you know I was sure glad of it.  Headed for Long Beach Monday, suppose we will stay there for a couple of weeks.  Have to go back to Seattle, Washington for the Fourth of July and 18 working days.  Be glad to get up there, got a cute little redhead that’s mighty interesting.  Sandy?  Oh, I don’t go with her anymore.  Why, oh, just general principles.  Met a nice girl on the ship the other weekend.  Went to a beach party with her the following weekend, we’re good friends now.  Her sorority is giving a dance next weekend and I’m invited to escort her.  She’s just back from China a couple of years ago.  Her parents have a very rigid idea of what is right and wrong, but I guess I made a good impression on them.  They asked me back again.  The old man wants me to play golf with him and the boy wants me to run around with him, he’s a candid camera fiend.

I’ve been pretty studious lately, really cracked down on that applied electrical engineering.  I’ve got the ignition systems down fairly well now.  Boy, I hope that job pans out back there.  If shipping over money comes back, I’m going to stay in two more years, but won’t know the straight dope until about July 1.  Only 130 some days to do now.

Eyed, the fellow from home, is sitting across the table from me trying to write, but his pen keeps scratching.  He just threw his writing gear all over the compartment.  I guess I’ll knock off now, write whatever you can, Mom. Tell the kids I said hello and take care of you. 

Your son, Harry Lynn

PS Send me Conrad’s address

Frankie (Francis LaGary)

May 26, 1939, Rear Admiral Russell Willson is designated Commander of Battleship Division One aboard the USS Arizona at San Pedro, California.  (Photo with Adm Nimitz, Left)

May 17, 1939

Dear Folks:

Thought I better write and tell you all about it.  I was called down to the executive’s office this morning.  They wanted to know whether I was going to stay in.  When I told them no, the yeoman told me to be ready to leave the ship this weekend, as I will be transferred to the Vincennes for transportation to the East Coast to be paid off over there.  My address will be to the Vincennes, but I don’t know where it’s leaving so don’t write until I write to you because I wouldn’t get up for a month or so anyway.  I’ll see you in a few months and will write from PanamaGuatemala Bay. 

Love, Harry

Got just four more months to do today.  17^th of May.

Dear Folks:

Still on the Arizona and I guess I will be till my time is up, that’s only 97 days away now.  It’s getting shorter, but closing it is awful slow.  We’re going up to Frisco the last of this month, probably be tied up near Treasure Island.  Get to see it I guess, then up to Washington for a week or so.  After that, will be here in Long Beach till September with short sallies out to sea for gunnery.

My group of storerooms are in pretty fair shape now, so all I have to do is take up the slack till next breakout for general mess.  I can do a little studying and letter writing now.

I’m planning on going to Los Angeles next week and see Uncle Aus and the Conklin’s.  Haven’t been out there for quite a spell now.  Guess I’ll take the girlfriend along and make an evening of it.  I’ve got a three-day leave over the weekend we were out of the beach most of the time.  I’ve got a pretty good tan.  She is already black as a shine, she’s a regular beachcomber.  Saturday night her aunt gave a party in the penthouse in their hotel.  We danced and had some dago wine.  After the party broke up, a bunch of us went swimming, it was two in the morning by then.  Didn’t get in till kind of early in the morning.  In fact, I went to my club and put on the feed bag and went back out on the beach for some shut-eye.  Sunday evening we took in a cinema and a late-night club and then I took her home.  Boy I wish life on the beach was like that all the time, but I guess you have to take the good with a little bad.

Have you heard any more about that job?  I’d like to have something to go to work on when I get back, or I’ll be wanting to move again.  Get pretty restless with nothing to do you know.

I had that enlargement made, but the thing blurred too much.  I guess I have to get a portrait taken.  Well, there is the news here, heard from Charlie I mean Teeny, she does all the writing for him.  He still can’t spell cat.  They had a quarrel, but it’s over now.  Write soon.  Tell Rosie I said hello, and the kids too.  How is the shop making out?  Good, I hope.  

Love, Harry Lynn

July 14, 1939                            San Francisco, California

Just received a keen letter from you all, and at the same time, one from Sandy.  She’s in Whiting, Indiana.  That just about knocked me off my feet, but she said she was going to Indianapolis, whew!  She and her mother are swell people and they will be around to see you.  So welcome them for me, will you?  I’m sending her our address.

Have I been to the Fair?  And how.  We rate 12:30 liberty every day, and I’ve been over to Treasure Island almost every time I rated.  It’s one treat.  Uniforms are free, and I guess you know the boys really took advantage of it.  We’re still in San Francisco, but are leaving for Seattle Monday morning.  Don’t know whether will be back down South in time to see Richardson’s or not.  Thanks for George’s address, I lost the other one somewhere.  Only 66 days to do on my enlistment, not counting the two years I extended.  Can get 30 days’ leave about any time after September.  I will let you know ahead of time.  We’re having lower deck inspections in a few minutes, so I have to quit and stand by my storerooms.  Write and tell me what you think of Sandy when she visits you.  With lots of love, your son, Harry Lynn

PS I will write later when I have more time.  Just wanted to let you know Sandy was coming.  HL

July 21, 1939                                        Tacoma, Washington

Dear Folks:

Received your welcome letters yesterday morning just before going ashore, so didn’t have time to answer them.  We’re anchored in Tacoma Washington now, but are going to Seattle Monday morning.  Had a swell time in San Francisco but was glad to leave, it’s too foggy most of the time.  This country is really swell up here in the summertime but is pretty cold in the winter.  Went to Seattle from Tacoma yesterday.  It was a nice trip on the bus, but it got kind of bumpy when we got into Seattle.  Went up there to see Francis.  Boy, what a mix-up.  She lives out in the sticks and I had only been out to her house at night time so had to call her up for instructions on how to get there.  Misunderstood them and missed connections all around.  Started for the bus depot in Seattle at 5:20 and didn’t get there till after seven.  It was worth it though.  She had a nice big feed waiting for me.  After chow we played cards and then went for a moonlight horseback ride.  Some fun.  In spite of the things we did, I managed to keep my uniform clean till after I left her house about 11:30, but that is when the trouble started. Just as I reached the corner where I was supposed to catch the bus I saw it coming around the bend.  Started to run and stepped in a post hole and spread corruption all over me.  Dust up here is really dirty and I think I managed to clean up the street pretty well.  The driver looked at me like I was a man from Mars.  Asked me if I’d run into a Mack truck.  Made connections after that by the skin of my teeth.  Got back to the ship about 3 o’clock in the morning.

That rumor you heard about me bringing a wife home isn’t so sure.  I’m not exactly in a position to acquire one yet, that is financially.  Otherwise, I’m all set.  She wants to do it anyway, but I can’t see the way clear.  Maybe later, much later.

The car will have to come in time to.  As things don’t look so rosy as they did a couple of months ago.  But I’ll have one by the time I get home.  And I’ll take your advice dad and buy it back East.  Cars are pretty high out here. How’s to get some dope on some 37’s just to see how they run, also some 35’s.  I can get a 35 for about $350 out here.  That is an Oldsmobile.  They have enough to drive on a trip.  Stick to the road and all that.

Only a month and about to do now, and I’ll get paid off.  Of course, I’ll still have two years to do, but I’ll worry about that when I get to it.  Wish I could afford to get a car now and bring Francis back home with me.  By the way, has Sandy ever paid to that visit she promised?  Got some things to do, so will knock off.  Tell Rosie I’ll write her a line soon.

Yours, Harry

October 5, 1939

Dear Folks:

Received your letter today, Sunday.  Sure, I got back okay, hardly any trouble at all.  Had about 24 hours left to get squared away before coming back to the ship.  Went through Boulder Dam on the way, too.  Boy, that’s one pretty scene.  Wish I could’ve stayed there a couple of days.

I’m really in the hole though.  Sent Uncle Loy $20.00, paid some of what I owed on the ship and now broke again.  Let my car go back as I can’t keep up payments and pay off all I owe without getting tangled up with the law, and I sure don’t want to do that.

Received a letter from Frankie, boy she sure gave me h—l and plenty of it for not coming up there, but it’s over now.  We’re still pals.  The ship is supposed to go up there on 27 December.  I hope I can give her a present she’s been wanting a long time, she’s going to write to you, I think.

Oh yes, I picked up a hitchhiker and took him from Oklahoma to Albuquerque New Mexico.  Stayed there a couple of days at his home.

Stepped back into the old routine just like I haven’t been gone overnight.  Nothing changed except for a few boots.

Went up to see Beulah, Wednesday.  She was glad to see me and wanted a full account of the trip and how everyone is.  Had a carload of sailors waiting on me for an hour while I was in there.

It sure relief to be back, but I wish I hadn’t extended.  Would rather be on the outside working or not.  This is Sunday, nothing to do but play cards.  Can’t go ashore or anything.  Tell Sis I’ll send her that $5 payday if I can. I’m staying on board now, till I get squared with the world.  Lost that ticket on that suit I was talking about. Maybe I can buy him a new one by Christmas.  Don’t bank on it though.  Boy, I’ve written a dozen letters since I came back.  Thought I dropped you all a line.  Well, there isn’t any dope except the ship is going out Monday (tomorrow) and chase an imaginary enemy.  Write soon.  Tell everyone I’ll write when I get a chance.

Love, Harry Lynn

December 12, 1939

Dear Folks;

Well, I guess this is the last time you’ll be hearing from me as a single man.  Your hunch was right Mom, you’re going to lose your boy.  Frankie and I are going to have the ceremony done this week.  We have been up here a week now, but I don’t know how long will be here.  I just wrote you a letter the other day saying I would send you some money, but I’m afraid I can’t do it now, as I need all my cash for this little thing, the ceremony.

I’ve been worrying about this for months, Mom, and I sure feel relieved to know which way the cat is going to jump.

It’s been raining up here for a week.  I went in Friday and stayed till Monday.  It rained every day then, today when I stayed aboard the sun came out like a summer day.  Wish it would snow instead of rain all the time.  I haven’t seen snow come down once since March ’36.

Sis:

What are you doing, going out for skating in a big way?  And it looks like you’re going to take that designing by the horns and make something of it too.  Well, here’s hoping you do, and don’t let anything stop you.  You’ve got a good start.  Don’t forget, it’s the little things that become big things.

Bob:

If I hear any more that kind of noise from you I’ll come home and give you the whipping of your life.  When you are to lay off the skirts?  I mean your sisters.  You don’t know how much you can like them until you can’t see ‘em.  We’ve got some swell kid sisters to take care of.  And watch Joyce, Bob.  See?  Write soon and give me H-L.  Sis, go ahead and write to Frankie, she knows all about you.  Hey, by the way, don’t mention anything about us getting married for a while, till I give you the word.  See you all in the funny papers.

Yours, Harry Lynn

Tell the gang I said “Hello”