The Pearl Harbor Collection contains personal narratives, photographs, diaries, correspondence, and governmental papers that relate to men, women, children and ships present at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Item text partially obscured by tears in the letter.
Transcription of Item: "Sept. 4, 1941
Pearl Harbor, T H.
Dear Sis,
I was about to decide you had forgotten me. See I wrote you almost by return mail + no answer. Well maybe your[sic] busy also + can't find time to write. You know I [illegible] it that way sometimes. It just seem[sic] that I can't find time for anything. Then all at once I have more time than I can use. That is life for you though.
I was hoping your press job would last for a long time. You seemed to like it so much + well being pleased is more than half. I know we don't do out[sic] best if we don't like the work. Me, I really like work but other conditions keep me [illegible]. I get a bit sick out of my work. At present I have twenty two men to work. I instruct them, work them, + try to keep(?) them clean + out of trouble. Now, sis, if you don't think thats a hand full[sic], try it sometime. I have an engine which contains two big turbines, 4 centrifutigal[sic (centrifugal)] pumps, recipoctration[sic (reciprocating)] pumps, two [illegible], two big recipicatoring[sic (reciprocating)] engines, a [illegible (steering?)] engine to keep going. In other words they must be in first class condition at all times.
Sis, if I even seen I could pass Chiefs exam I wouldn't think of going out. That exam isn't easy to pass
[pg 2]pass[sic] it would be just luck. There is so much it covers it would be impossible to learn it all. So much of the exam covers stuff we have never used + probably never even see. So to be sure of it is out. At any rate I'm studying in a desperate effort to pass it.
Everyone seems to think I'll be on my way to aviation school before long. I'm hoping I can go but not until November. I have my reasons for wanting to wait. See, on Oct. 3 I take the Chiefs exam + if I get transfered[sic] before then I won't be able to take it. So far Johnnie don't know I'm to take the Chiefs exam this year so just keep still. If she knew it she'd be awful disappointed if I don't make it + few make it on the first exam. The papers are graded + [illegible] with long time in have first choice. You are given one [illegible (point?)] for each year in the navy + four for each year as [illegible (first?)] class. My points aren't to about 10 while others taking the [illegible (exam)?] have as much as 30 so I'll have to beat them by 20 points to [illegible]. Also they have the experience etc. That counts plenty in [illegible] exam.
Sis, there should be plenty to write but really it isn't safe to even think of that. We can never tell when out[sic] mail will be opened + if it ever [was] it would be just to[sic] bad. Maybe there'll be a lot of legal news before to[sic] long. At least I'm hoping for a break.
[pg 3]I'll be looking forward to your next letter so don't wait to[sic] long to answer.
Lots + lots of love to my big sister
From
Brother
P.S. At the present the Japs are in a tough spot. If they fire on our ships that means war. If not they'll never be [illegible] a first class nation again so just sit tight. Me, I hope they fire on them + maybe we'll settle this thing keeping us away from home. Yes, sis, we're all hoping we get a crack at these Japs. See we haven't forgotten the [illegible] yet.
P.S. Paul Bartley was over yesterday + do we do some gossiping. He knows all the [illegible] as his brothers keep him well posted. We're going [illegible (to?)] make a liberty together some day soon."
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Place Name coordinates. (May be approximate.)
Place Name coordinates. (May be approximate.)
