1 July 1945

Margaret Jo Argo

In this letter, Jim writes about the "brand" he left on Margaret (aka a hickey), bumping into General Patton and saving up to buy baby shoes. This is only the second letter and he's already mentioning babies. He also writes about how to get out by 25 August based on the leave he has saved up. He asks for pictures of Margaret if she has any made. This may be where the hula picture comes from.

Post Marked | 3 July 1945 am from U.S. Navy

SERIAL NO. 2

1 July, 1945

Sweetheart..

Received yours and Mildred's letter yesterday just before going on liberty. Surely glad to hear from both of you . So you 're branded huh? Left my mark on you, didn't I? You can show the people on the beach so they wont be running off with my property. The "old man" can't be there to look out after his interests, but the blue spot should hold you for awhile.

I did enjoy the trip by plane back to here, and it was nice to glide over the shipyard pretty low and see the ole Grand Rapids sitting there tied up to the dock. The airport is just about a 15 minute walk from the ship. It would have been perfect had I had you on the plane with me coming back. There were lots of empty seats. When I got to Pittsburgh, six or eight big transports flew in from Paris and they had 16 generals and a lot of big shots on them. They started a parade from the airport to downtown and of course I had a ringside seat . When we hit here the first day I went to the airport to find out about a ride when I got leave and bumped into Patton coming in from Europe. Seems everywhere I go, there is a gang of generals popping up at the same time. They&d better leave a couple of them in Germany or the Germans will be starting the war all over again.

At this time, you're on your way to Miami Beach and vacation. Honey, I am pretty disgusted with chasing around these night spots. I had the weekend off and instead of staying the weekend downtown, I came back to the ship last night and am running around in a pair of swimming trunks that I swiped in Miami Beach in 1943. Figure a little sunshine will be better for me than the dim lights in a bar. The town is jumping however. There's lot to do and lots of people doing it. If a guy had enough money to go ashore every night and spend the 25 or 30 dollars it takes to have a big time, it would be okay I suppose. However, I don't think I can support that much big-time for very long, so I'm going to save my dough for baby shoes.

I hope you and Milly can get to go back down home some weekend for a visit. I know the folks will be glad to have you and it is nice there I think. Seems always to be cooler there than in the city and as there's a lot of green grass and trees, it looks cooler anyway.

In my first letter, I told you that I was staying on the ship. That means no West Coast for a long time, however, I haven't heard a thing about how we will operate now. Doesn't look too good to operate from this port, but things may change. If we work like it is rumored we will,

then I'll expect to get back in the states every 4 months. I only have 9 months to go then I can definitely get transferred ashore for at least six months. There is a new bulletin out on that. They cant send you back to sea or overseas until you've had at least 6 months on  he beach. Not bad eh?

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On the 10th of April next year, I'll have my 18th month on sea duty on this ship, and most likely I'll be transferred to the 1st Naval District in Boston for duty. I will be entitled to 30 days rehabilitation leave, then I have 30 days shipping-over leave due me from 1944, and will have 30 days annual leave due me too. If I can collect all that, my enlistment will be up on 25 August, and provided the war is over, I can maybe get out of the service. Oh hell. Things never work out as you plan them always, but a guy can dream, can' t he?

Sweet, I would only be exciting myself to write you how much I miss you and how much I would like to have you with me day and night . I only hope that it wont be long before we can make some definite plans. Meanwhile, keep good care of yourself for me, and write me often. I'll try and be a good correspondent, but you must remember that I am all alone in the office here while my men are on leave and it's not easy to concentrate on a letter when you're running yourself ragged with official business. Have a nice time on the beach, and for heaven's sake, dont get too much of that sun. It's really dynamite. Too much is no good for you. Send me some pictures if you have any made. Love you baby.

Jim