I have finished scanning all 40 or more letters home. CDP averaged one or two per month between early 1944 and early 1946. The stationery is almost as interesting as the letters themselves. One has sailor-themed pinup art I am excited to show you.
This is the first of the letters. It is the only letter I do not have dated. However, it is the same stationery as the second letter, and both are discussing his time in the hospital, getting ready to ship off…so I know this letter predates that letter by a week or more (that letter is May 8th).
Below are scans of the letter, along with a transcription that will be easier to read. His mentions of “Don” are his baby brother (remember Chuck was adopted, so the brother is not his blood).
At the time of this letter, CDP had finished basic training in 1943 and hadn’t yet been shipped off to Hawaii in preparation for battle. That would happen later in this year. He mentions having earned his MoMM 3/c ranking, which is the Motor Machinist’s Mate, 3rd Class. In his audio letter home, from December 1943, he says he is just starting to take classes on motors—so it was roughly a six-month training program between then and now.
Dear Mom,
I received the check today. I was wondering if I couldn’t make a conjoined bank account, so that either you or Dad can draw my money any time. If you can let me know what to do I’ll do it.Well I finally made my rate-MOMM 3/c. I am now making $78 a month. Several of the fellows never got theirs, and were they furious.
Guess what? I am in sick bay again. I would have written sooner, but this is the first I have been able to sit up. I will be here a week or 10 days more.
I missed one draft going to sea—the day I got sick was with the 5th marines, so there would of been plenty of action. I will probably leave as soon as I get out of here. Heaven knows only when.
Those are some cute pictures of Don. That coat is a little big it looks like. How much does he weigh now? I guess he is growing quite fast.
The doc tells me to lay down again, so I had better hurry.
My last few liberties I have met some swell girls, another boy and myself. We have taken them out roller skating, to lunch, and a couple shows. They seem to have very nice folks. Liberties aren’t quite so dull now.
By the way, if you don’t recognize the little signature next to the naval seahorse cartoon, it is Walt Disney. Something seems wrong about being issued Disney stationery in preparation for battle.