Wed. 11:30 P.M.

27 Feb. 46

My dear Fran:

Guess where I am. I'm aboard the ship setting out in the middle of the harbor. We left camp about 2 o'clock boarded the boat about 3:30 then about 6:30 P.M. a tug pushed us out in the bay. We are staying here until tomorrow morning some time when the rest of the crew gets on. They gave us a little send off, had an Army orchestra at the pier along with some girls that sang and danced. We viewed all that from aboard ship. Before we got on the ship the Red Cross distributed milk and doughnuts. I guess that will be the last milk we will have for quite some time. We had chow about 7:00 P.M. it consisted of corned beef & cabbage, corn pineapple, coffee, bread & butter. Our gang is all together on B deck in other words that’s three decks down. First comes the superstructure deck, then A deck, then B deck incidentally that’s above the water line. You should have seen the convoy of trucks that brought us to the pier. About 65 big trucks and that was only part of the troops. We took a lot of razzing where we got to the pier because another merchant ship just landed with about 1000 men just back from Japan. Boy don't I wish I could have been in their shoes just coming back instead of leaving. I hope you can read this because I'm sitting on the toilet trying to write it. There's at least 6 crap games going on here in the toilet but don't worry honey I'm broke. I didn't receive any mail or your packages yet so I guess they are accumulating and I'll have plenty when I hit Japan. Besides the troops there are several civilians including 19 women, they are all civil service workers but don't worry honey because we don't even see them and further more I love my honey, and I don't want any one else but her. Honey I would have given any thing I had if I could have been with you awhile before leaving but when you're 3000 miles away it just isn't very probable. One of the crew members is going off in the morning to go on furlough so that's how this letter is getting to you. Honey it will be the last one for a long time but you must realize I can't mail letters every day like you can when you're on land. I'll write every day and then mail them all at the first opportunity. Don't ever forget honey I love you more than anything in the world so be good and write every day. Give my best regards to your folks and our friends. I miss you honey but I guess no more than you miss me. Keep in touch with my folks and tell them I'll write later.

With all my love,

Your honey.