1940
Pearl Harbor Stories
Harry Lynn Malson
USS Arizona
Letters home:
January 12, 1940 San Pedro, California
Dear Folks:
Letter partially damaged….
….. I received two pairs of silk socks and a cigarette lighter from Frankie. I gave her some money. She would’ve rather had something else I guess, from the disappointed look on her face when I gave it to her. She must not of received your letter and card Sis or she would have said something to me about it. I got a letter from Edna and a card from somewhere in Alaska. Unintelligible…..
Only eight months and 10 days to do now. I’ll be almost ashamed to come home after not doing anything for you all. Letters seem so senseless when things are happening to a guy, but I guess you would get kind of worried not hearing or knowing what is happening. I keep myself all fouled up. I really don’t know exactly what is going on myself. Had canteen inventory today, and have to get small stores this afternoon. After that, I’m going over and see my fiancée for the next three days. The third section rate is a 72-hour liberty over New Year’s, and I’m in the third section.
The ship is going to leave here 1 January for Honolulu and is coming back to have a new type of gun emplacement put on in March. We’re in dry-dock right now, getting the bottom scraped and painted.
Heard Franklin D on the radio last night. Guess he knows what he’s doing all right, and we are all for him.
Went ashore last Friday and took some toilet articles with me in a handbag; coming back on the ferry Saturday morning I left him lying on deck under a chair. Don’t know whether I can reclaim them or not. It’s been three days now. My jersey and some letters were in it too.
Received a card from Charles and Teeny. Guess I better write to them, eh? He is swell people. It’s chilly up here and rains continuously. I sure wish I was down South with my redheaded baby, Frankie. Still don’t know when we will have the ceremony performed but will tell you on that happy day. Certainly, wish it was all done now. I’m free to get cold feet and back out if I keep on thinking and postponing. Well here’s to a better year for you all, and I’m glad to know you had a Merry Christmas.
Affectionately, Harry Lynn
Dear Folks:
I guess I better drop you a line before someone writes to the commander. Nothing’s happened to write about. The same old routine goes on and on. In a couple of days, the fleet is weighing anchor for maneuvers, more than that I can’t tell you. This letter may be censored or may not, I don’t know, but our division officer has cautioned us against letting any information slip of our future movements. Outside of being able to say that will be in Honolulu soon, I can’t tell you much of anything.
I’ve been staying aboard since the first of January to see if I can get out of the hole. Next payday I will be able to send Grandma that $5 I owe her. I’m coming out of it slowly, but surely. By June or July, I should be clear of all debt. By the way, how is Aunt Mary doing now? You said in your last letter she was better but didn’t expect her to last.
I was listening to the radio and heard them playing “Hot Lips”. Remember when we used to hear it on Uncle Charlie’s phonographs when they lived on —-, a long time ago anyway. Haven’t heard from any of the others. I guess it’s because I haven’t written to any of them. Wrote to Bill McKay again, but no answer.
How’s the business now that prices are up? Did it do the shop any good? I hope so for your sake.
Sis graduates in June doesn’t she? I’ll send her that $7 before it happens. Well, I guess that’s all the dope. I’ll write from Honolulu.
Your son, Harry Lynn
PS Frankie is okay
April 26, 1940 Pearl Harbor
Dear Folks:
I guess I’ve been neglecting you, but it won’t be that way for now on. Your letter sounded swell, but I guess you know it’s good to hear from you once in a while.
We are now anchored in Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, TH. Just got in this morning, and it’s really nice out here. For the last two weeks we have been maneuvering off Lahaina Roads, but it is all over now. Coming into our anchorage, we had to wind around the islands to get in. The channel only 500 yards wide, and both shores are about the nearest thing to beauty you could ever see. They are lined with palm trees and green grass. Boy, I’d like to get over there and roll in it. The sun is shining, but I’m down in the dumps.
Received a letter from Frankie the day before yesterday that kind of knocked me off my pins. I guess I just had my dough on the wrong filly this time. I don’t know whether to take it seriously or not. She says she’s met someone else and I’m plumb out of the running. Can’t understand it. Everything was okay until I got her letter and then the bottom dropped out. Boy, taking that one on the chin just about put me out for the count. I was supposed to go up there while I was on leave, but couldn’t get away from home in time to make it. I sure wish I gone now.
Will be here for about 12 or 15 days I guess, but I don’t think I’ll go ashore, haven’t been over much since December. Was trying to get my debts all cleared up before we went to Seattle for the fourth. I might go over this weekend for a gander around. I’m going to drop Aunt Mary a line when I get a chance. Congratulations Sis. I’ll send you a 10 spot next payday if I can.
Lots of love, Harry Lynn
June 25, 1940 Pearl Harbor
Dear Folks:
Well, I guess you’ve heard the news by now. It looks like the Arizona will be leaving for Panama with the rest of the fleet, soon. We would probably be on the way now, but we are in dry-dock for scraping and painting the bottom. The old girl needed a new dress for the parade South. Boy am I glad I’m a politician, because if I wasn’t, they would have me down there with the rest of the unlucky blockheads. Since we tied up to the dock, there’s been more work to do than a beaver could keep up with. Today they sent a bunch of storekeepers over to the receiving building for some Co2 tubes (they keep gases in them for arc welding and chemicals for the fire extinguishers) and we came back with a truck load of junk, including a cable for the catapult, and a coil of 9 inch hauser that weighed 2,100 lbs. and then after that, some canteen stores for me to fool with while the rest of the gang went after some linoleum. And then they put the damn stuff down in my storerooms and scratched up my deck and fowled things up in general.
The boys are really weeping for the states… I’ve heard a dozen of them say they would give their left arm to see the old lady, and I believe them. To tell the truth I wouldn’t mind seeing mine. Here it is at 10 o’clock and I’ve got a 12 to 4 watch. The ship fitters are grinding the valves in the flooding system and we have to keep a watch in the store rooms, to see that they don’t flood the place. So I guess I’ll be seeing the boys in the freshwater hold for midnight cup coffee.
It looks like this will be a 72 hour stretch of work for the men. They are rushing operations on the overhaul to get us out of here. This dock isn’t made for such a large ship, so they had to take off 9,000 gallons of oil in about 3,000 rounds of ammunition, so she wouldn’t scrape bottom when they ran her in.
In Guantánamo the guys are having a rosy time. One of the men that used to be on here is out there, and writes once in a while. He says they are having trouble with bandits. The train that was to take anyone that wanted to go to the city, about 75 miles inland, in the territory is infested with them. The sailors on patrol have to carry 45s and B. A. R.s. Once in a while they have a little scrape with Rusty boys. I’d kind of like to be out there. The only kind of beef I can get into is with some Rosie boy or something.
Pat got paid off from Tampa, Florida about a month ago. Before he left, he invited me to come to his home when I get paid off or if I take leave. He just arrived home about a week ago. He says on the way they let the detachment go on a Marine ship, and each two got a state room for themselves. There were only seven of them. To hear him tell it, they really had a jolly time. Boy, I like to go on one of those trips. They are the nut. Well that’s all the dope. Write soon kids and tell me about your vacation.
Lots of love, Harry Lynn
June 26, 1940 Pearl Harbor
Dear Folks:
Just a few more words to bring my letter up to date. I wrote day before yesterday, but didn’t have a chance to mail it. We came out of dry-dock this afternoon, and it looks like we’re going on a long cruise very soon. The stores we brought aboard seem like enough to carry us around the world. This is our cruising range all right, but nix, I don’t want to go over there without being told about it.
We are taking on the oil again that we took off to get into the dock. Boy, I really put in the man-hours today. Reveille was at 4:30 and we just knocked off before supper. I’m down too, my group is storerooms now, checking oil lines for leakage. They flooded this group once, a long time ago, so now we have to make hourly reports on the condition of the lines.
No one really knows where we will be going or when, but the latest scuttlebutt is that we are leaving for the coast within 10 days.
Well, I guess that’s all the info for now. Will write when we leave here and tell you where were going.
Write soon. Lynn
August 9, 1940 Pearl Harbor
Dear Folks:
Back in Honolulu and wish to gosh we were someplace else. We are really getting sick of this place. It’s so hot and there is no place to go on the island. I made the same trip about fifteen hundred thousand times, so by now I know it by heart. Boy, what I wouldn’t give to take a real white girl out for once. These Kanakees are so much alike, you can’t tell whether you been out with the one you’re with or not, so you got to be kind of the careful of what you say. I’ve got a collection of addresses a mile-long and will give all of them to anyone that could give me a day with a nice white girl.
The S division went sailboat riding the other day, and had an accident. We got tangled up with the boom of another ship, and made an ass of ourselves in general. So today we went out again, and took the sailboat officer with us to give us some pointers. I guess you know after a couple of hours grilling out there in the hot sun, we can handle a 30 foot spirit rigged boat, in a seaman like manner. The division officer gave us a complement when we came in, I didn’t know there was so much to it. Gotta know how to sail wing- and-wing,–luff—tack—and how to handle a whisker boom in a tail wind. I guess you know we know how it’s done now. And we’re going to race the 1st Division for the ship sailing cup and a couple of weeks. So there.
I went ashore the other day with the intention of buying some yarn for a gidget I’m making for the bed, but it cost to darn much to buy that much. It’s two bits a skein, and it would take 30 skeins to make bedspread, so I guess I’ll have to compromise with spread about 30” x 90”. You can be thinking about how you can use it while I’m finishing it up. It shouldn’t be long now, as I’m cutting the balls now.
We just heard some sad news, I don’t know how true it is that they say the Navy is not paying off any man with more than 10 years and there is a bill up to keep all the men in the service that are already in. For how long I don’t know. We so seldom get any straight dope that we don’t pay any attention to any of it. Well, it’s about time for hammocks and the movie starts immediately after, so I think this is all till next time.
Lots of love, Harry Lynn
Ford Island, Pearl Harbor 1986
By PH2 Thompson, USN – U.S. Defense Imagery photo VIRIN: DN-SC-87-04122, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9928598
Astronaut photograph of Pearl Harbor from October 2009
Public Domain/Wikipedia
Harry Lynn and unidentified sailors in front of grass hut
Hula dancers
HLM Collection
Harry Lynn on the beach
Captain Harold Cecil Train was the Commanding Officer of the Arizona (BB-39) from 5 September 1940 to 5 February 1941. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress via Bill Gonyo. US Navy Archives
September 21, 1940
Dear Sis:
Received your letter with one from Bob and Mom. They were all swell. I have your, I mean my, pin in my locker, pinned to one of my neckerchief’s. You wanted me to send you a portrait of myself, but I can’t get one until we get into Long Beach, and that will be a long time to wait. So in the meantime I’ll send you something else. I guess I owe it to you anyway. We were paid today, but I had to buy some uniforms and stuff and I was broke again. So until my check comes, I’ll have to take it easy. I’ve got so many things to do that take money, I don’t mean a couple of bucks either, but I gotta watch my P’s and Q’s. I’m going to take leave and drive up to Seattle instead of going up on the ship. George Eyed and I are driving a fellow’s car up that can’t get leave. I’m not sure that I’ll get mine yet, and almost hope it doesn’t go through. The only reason I’m going now is to keep from letting George down. He sort of counting on me for company and while we are at it, were getting 10 days, so that we can have a few days in Seattle.
I get a letter from Corinne and Beulah the other day. Corrine seems set on having me meet someone from San Francisco. I think it’s her girlfriend, she said she was a redhead and a keen dancer. Corrine is going to have her come down to Los Angeles to meet me the two weeks the ship will be in Long Beach. Corrine is quite a nice-looking girl herself.
Bob, you seem to be getting along fine. Keep it up kid and you will have a jalopy for us to run around in when I get paid off. That’s only 11 months and 27 days you know. That’s a good line of work to be doing to. Say, aren’t you in on the conscription program? Let me see, you are 16 aren’t you? That lets you out for a couple of years doesn’t it? You sure hate to write letters don’t you? I did a few years ago, but now it’s a good pastime. You have to write letters to get them, and that’s the main passion of the sailor, to get a lot of letters, so he can give his shipmates the raspberries. You keep plugging at that machine ship and make something out of it. That’s a good line of work, even if I did repeat myself. And you making your own spending money is a worry Dad doesn’t have to take care of. If you do get a car, we’ll trade it on a good one when I get home.
Mom your letter was swell, if I didn’t have a mom like you, you know what I’d be. I got a letter from Frankie, and she’s buried the hatchet as far as not letting me see her. She wants me to bring a quart of Canadian club with me to celebrate our reunion on the basis of the new romance. The trouble is she is working in a beer joint now slinging beer like any other 1st Seagull. I wonder if it is changed her much. She was a sweet little thing when I said goodbye to her in the rain the night before we left. I’ll sure be glad to see her. The guy on the Enterprise seems to have slipped up somewhere along the line. She doesn’t seem to give a hoot whether she ever hears from him anymore.
I’ll send you that money to pay Grandma for me. I don’t know their address. And I’ll send Uncle Loy that $5 I owe him on the fifth next month. Write soon.
PS What was that chipping of the chief bos’ns mate for. I hate bos’ns mates and wouldn’t stay in the Navy for 30 years if they gave me this damn thing when I’m finished. All I want out of this outfit now is an honorable discharge, and I’m going to get it.
Loads of love, your son Harry Lynn
George gets paid off about the same time I do, and we’re going to do things when we get out. Get us a gang of cutthroats and start selling bootleg whiskey, ha ha ha.
I guess I need some more practice on the typewriter. Don’t have much chance except on weekends. George is teaching me how to figure pay accounts now. It takes $50,000 to pay the crew on this ship. Imagine how much it is for about 80 ships. Boy, that’s a lot of cabbage. Am going to the movie now.
PPS Tell dad to write again sometime. I like to hear his views on things. H L M
No Date Bremerton, Washington
Dear Sis:
Got your letter yesterday just before going over to see Frankie, so thought I’d add a bit to it before mailing. No I’m not mad at you it all, just haven’t had a chance to do anything.
You said you were going to write to her, well quit threatening and go-ahead. In case you lost her address, it’s 1728 E. 247th St. or General Delivery, Seattle. She would get it quicker if you sent it general delivery. I read her your letter, and she thinks your swell people, and also agrees with you that I’m kind of thoughtless at times. Jesus, every time I go over, is with the intention of having my picture taken, I never seem to get to the photographers. I will get there sooner or later though.
Boy, there so much noise in here you can’t think. Chipping hammers, scrapers, and airguns, it sounds like there is a war going on. The dope sheet this morning says that in all probability our period up here will be shortened and all leave will be canceled by 5 January. Men shipping over can get paid off in advance, so they can take their 30-day shipping over leave.
Only a little over nine months to do now, and I’m going to bring the sweetest little girl you’ve ever met with me if I have to drag her back by the hair of her head. She doesn’t want to come back there to live, but after being there awhile, maybe she will change her mind. Well, that’s all fellows, I’ll write to Grandma and them, I didn’t have their address, you know.
See you next September. Harry Lynn
October 4, 1940 San Diego
Dear Folks:
Just got back aboard ship from liberty. Ran up to Los Angeles and saw Beulah and Corky. Beulah really gave me the devil for not writing home often enough. I’m sorry if I don’t, but time just goes past so fast, that a couple of weeks have gone before you know it. While I was ashore I heard all kinds of rumors about fleet movements. Most of them are just a lot of air. By the time a rumor gets back there I imagine it sounds pretty serious, but don’t worry. If anything drastic is done you’ll know about it as soon as I can write. Someone said that the Californian was going to Australia but it was just called back to Honolulu. I can’t say why, because we’re not supposed to talk about movements even to the folks. The Arizona is due for three months in Bremerton or until January, will be up there safe and sound.
I found a new romance Wednesday the ninth. She lives in Beverly Hills and drives a ‘39 Oldsmobile. She came down to the dock yesterday and drove me up to Beulah’s. We got a traffic ticket on the way. She did make a Boulevard stop and he also said I was distracting her attention, but we were only shooting the breeze. When we stopped in front of Beulah’s house I kissed her goodbye and Beulah saw it. Boy did I get a ribbing.
George and I are going on our leave Tuesday. So the next time you’ll hear from me, I’ll be in Bremerton. I’m getting your letters okay. Tell the kids hello.
Lots of love, Harry Lynn
PS Sis: Do you want a picture in uniform or civvies?
November, 1940 Seattle, Washington
Dear Folks:
Have written two other letters besides this one, but didn’t mail them. I put them in my locker ‘til the post office opened so I could get some stamps, then forgot all about it. I’m pretty busy during the day and go ashore nearly every night, so things keep happening, I don’t have much time to stop and realize how fast time is passing. Just think, only nine months and 22 days to do. Of course when my enlistment is up I may not get to go out, but least there will be some leave. Went out to Frankie’s house for Thanksgiving, and received a royal welcome. I think they kind of like me now. Mrs. LeGary mentioned something about writing to you. Frank (Mr. LeGary) and I had a chummy afternoon. He kept talking about the lots next to his. How easy it would be to buy a couple of them and build in a few years. To tell the truth, I think he’s got some pretty good ideas. And boy they can cook. We had roast chicken and all the trimmings. That’s the first home-cooked meal I’ve had since George and I ate at Beulah’s house before coming up here.
I haven’t told you yet that I made third class storekeeper, have I? Made it on a special examination a week after the regular quarterly exams. George made it too. And something else: Frankie and I are getting married this time for sure. Probably around Christmas. You didn’t seem to like the idea of what we did, but we had to do something, and couldn’t get married right away so we took the next best course, and took what was ours anyway. It hasn’t lowered my estimation of her in any way. In fact, I think more of her, because I really know what I’m getting. The sweetest little girl a man could ask for. She’s a lot like you were at first, I’ll bet. Anyway, it’s done, and were going to finish it. Not because we feel we should to keep conventions, but because I found what I want and she has too.
There been rumors flying again. We are scheduled to return to Honolulu after leaving here, but one of the boys thinks differently. I was talking to one of the Chiefs he says we will either go to the East Coast or South America, but not back to Honolulu. I hope we go to South America because that East Coast is cold and besides, I would get as much transportation money from there when I get paid off. Of course, it’s all scuttlebutt.
A fleet order came out about a month ago saying for all ships to make all hands get in good physical condition with deck workouts every morning before dinner. And do we get it, oh boy. At 11:15 we have a quarter for muster and a half hour for vigorous exercise. I was so sore, for about a week I could barely walk.
Had a tooth filled this morning. Been trying for two solid weeks to get in to see that dentist. Every time I had an appointment with him, I had to take on Stow or check invoices on stores or go over to the yard for some unreasonable object.
Well I guess this is all the dope, haven’t heard from anyone recently so guess they are all okay out here on the coast. Write soon.
Affectionately Harry Lynn SK 3c (Storekeeper, Third Class)
November 20, 1940
Dear Folks:
I guess I owe you a letter about now. The last 10 or 15 days have really passed fast for me. I went on that ten-day leave in Seattle and it was sure swell. Then when I got back to the ship, I found my little crow had grown on my arm. Yep finally meet their class storekeeper, kind of thought I had completely slipped. The gods were good, and gave.
Received a stork notice from Aunt Iva yesterday. I’ll bet he’s got a mean squall. They are lucky people. When is Edna’s event supposed to happen?
Mom, I kind of wish you hadn’t read that letter. In the first place, I shouldn’t have written it, but being as how you have, you might as well know, Frankie and I are going to get that old job done by the parson before the ship leaves for the South. What we did isn’t excusable in your viewpoint I suppose, but it hasn’t lowered my opinion of her in any manner. I really know what I’m getting, and it couldn’t be better. She is the most wonderful girl in the world and what’s more doesn’t know it. She is working at Kress’s is right now, but when the ship goes South, she is coming down to California with me. Unless we go back to Honolulu from San Pedro. In that case, I want her to stay here till I come back to the states again. When I bring her home, it will be a big day for me. She is a little skeptical of you, but I know as soon as you meet, everything will be okay. I’ve known her for over three years now. At first, her mother didn’t like me very well, but the other day she came to in the store were Frankie worked and asked her why she didn’t marry me and get it over with. We were going to anyway, but with her on our side, it’s a lot better. Haven’t set the date yet but it will be soon.
Corinne Conklin wrote me a couple of times. Said everything was well down there. Haven’t had a chance to see Dolls. They keep disappearing every time I decide to go see them.
They are really building up the outfit here. The yard workmen are working day and night. They got four major ships out of here in three weeks. They only had minor things done to them though. We are getting more guns on here, Pom-poms and antiaircraft both. Dad knows what they are. There was a fleet letter out the other day to the effect that division officers are to give the man a workout every morning at quarters, to get them in good physical condition. Last night we had a mock air attack plans, weather permitting, it didn’t come off on account of fog. It’s pretty cold up here now, no snow yet.
It doesn’t look like I’m going to get to make that bedspread. We are so busy on the ship, I can’t get started again. I had it going once, the fowled up someplace, got mad and wrecked the whole frame. It’s almost time for a movie so will close with love. Lynn
Long promised photos:
December 1, 1940 San Diego
Have been putting this letter off too long now. Should’ve written sooner, I’ve been pretty busy, and out to sea a lot, haven’t really had time. We are coming in this afternoon from firing and observing another ship firing, off San Clemente Island.
I sure wish I could’ve sent you that money, but there are so many things to take care of but I just couldn’t. Was called down on the carpet last week, for not making some payments on time. Still owe about $175, but will be square with the world within the next four months. Haven’t sent Uncle Loy and Grandma theirs either.
Do you remember Harry Williams? I dropped them a line last week. He and his wife and two kids seem to be getting along all right. They invited me down there for a weekend, but I won’t get to go for a while yet. I’ve been staying aboard since I got back to duty, only been ashore twice. I went up to see Beulah and Corrine last Sunday. Corrine sure is good-looking. Fourteen now, long black hair, big eyes and tall. She is trying for editor of her school newspaper. I saw Kenny Hopewell again, he’s still editor of the “Help Thy Neighbor Magazine”. Invited me to a party they had after their program over at KGR. Had a pretty good time, but sure wish Frankie was here. She is staying home so she can finish school, gets out in June. Has she written yet? Said she was going to, but never told me whether she did or not.
How are things going with you back there? Dang it, I wish I could help you. I’ve got an allotment to a bank till I get paid off though, and I can’t touch that. So I only get $40 a month to pay bills with. Is Sis still going to school? Hope she’s making out all right.
How do you like the monogram stationary? I bummed it off the ship’s printer for a gallon of tomato juice. They called all men to sick bay that have shipped over recently, for shots, Cow fever and typhoid. My arms are still sore.
Would you like to write to Betty? Their address is Dawson College, Palm Springs, California.Have you seen Charlie lately. They haven’t written for a long time. How is his contract with the schools making out? How is George’s dad? George is making out all right. Still crazy, but is helping his brother through college. We’re going to Honolulu this summer I hear. Hope we get back before June. Frankie is coming down then. Guess that’s all the dope.
Write soon. Affectionately, Harry Lynn
Arizona (BB-39) at Seattle in 1940.
USN photo courtesy Pieter Bakels.
