This letter has one of my favorite bits of artwork of all of his stationery. The disc behind the hula girl is a tropical scene a bit hard to make out. The right is a trunk of a palm tree, with some leaves coming from the top. I am not sure what is in her hands, but I’m guessing it is some sort of rattle/instrument. It appears to be made of coconut shells.

Stationery artwork; October 24, 1944

Stationery artwork; October 24, 1944

He mentions some love interests. Neither are anyone he ever married, so I don’t have backstory on them.

Also interesting, he acknowledges that he is not allowed to keep a wartime journal. This was common on both sides because picking journals off of the enemy could give intelligence on movements and strategy. Of course, he kept a journal anyway. Keeping a journal would have been a religious conviction (Mormons are urged to keep journals for posterity), but it is out of character for Chuck to break the rules, so I’d be curious what swayed his decision to keep the journal anyway.

Envelope (front); October 24, 1944

Envelope (front); October 24, 1944

Charles D. Paul MoMM 2/c
USS Signet AM-302
c/o Fleet Post Office
San Francisco, Calif.

Mr. & Mrs. Frank O. Paul
2919 Brinks Avenue
Ogden, Utah

Passed by Naval Censor

U.S. Postage
6 cents
Via Air Mail

U.S.
P.M.
Oct
26
1944
Navy

Letter home (page 1); October 24, 1944

Letter home (page 1); October 24, 1944

Letter home (page 2); October 24, 1944

Letter home (page 2); October 24, 1944

Oct 24, 1944

Dear Folks,
I was very pleased to receive a letter from you. I am also glad to hear the one hundred dollars reached you. There should be one more if you haven’t already gotten it. I am sending home as much and as often as I can. I feel I will really need it in the future. Let me know when the allotment comes through. It is twenty-five dollars a month, starting two months ago.

I have started writing Gloria Olson again. She really is a cute girl if you remember. I introduced you to her at a dance one night in Cedar City. I am going to try and get her back again, if I can. I had her once and let her go, and have regretted it ever since. So far everything is okay. Wish me luck. I may need it.

I sure would like to keep a diary, but we are not allowed to. They have their reasons, so that is good enough for me. I would also like to take pictures, if ever we’re allowed. I guess I will have to see the world in peacetime, so I will have something to show for it. Nothing but seasickness is all I have to show now.

Lenore Bower got my address from Jack Bradshaw, so she wrote me. She is another very fine girl. How did you like her? Did you have her in any of your classes, Mom? I don’t remember if I ever knew. I heard she was running around with a missionary, the last I heard… I guess he has left by now.

How is Don now? I’ll bet he is really growing fast! How much does he weigh, or haven’t you weighed him for some time?

I have to turn[?] to, so I had better get started. We have a lot to do and no time to do it.

With Love,
Charles D. Paul