March 12, 1941

Transcription

U.S.S. Elliot
March 12, 1941

Mein Bruder:

Also

Dear Ant:
      Hi ya, you have solved the letter problem for me. I explain: Formerly, a long time ago I  fretted in my lazy-like way about writing myissals (lile Pete pronounces it) to the family. Then I says to me like this: “Gee Whillikers I owe ant (you) a couple of letters!” Then I blushed in a very embarrassed way because I neglected you so thoughtlessly. So for a few minutes I thought about writing you, and thus was born the awe-inspiring idea that writing letters was a pleasure. Why? I discovered that it just like talking to the write-ee (person written to). Therefore it is a pleasure to inform you that I am writing you a letter. So on with it.

     A gang of sharks dropped in on us the other day. Some sailor got a piece of rope and a meat-hook (bigger than this paper) and proceeded to hook one. But it got away, though the rope broke and was let go or something.

     At three o’clock this morning we made a landing. That is we got up at three, I sort of enjoy these “excursions”, although we get wet of climbing down rope ladders,etc.

     And now Ant, may I grasp the opportunity to answer a few questions asked by Helen? She asked a few questions but they all boiled down to requests for information concerning my leaves. You see Ant, Helen, Mom, Pop, Mary, etc. it’s this-a-way: The fifth Marines have been on maneuvers. The Seventh & First have not. That means that the fifth has had practical war time experience in some measure. That is I Co. & Part of M Co. of the 7th also went on maneuvers. At the present time the first battalion of the 7th marines is on maneuvers, That leaves two other battalions without any experience. Including the First Regiment, a good half of the 7th needs some training. What I am driving at is that it is far more important that they get this training now than these fellows go tearing home [?]. I feel bitter about not going home but it is essential, I know.

SIDE NOTE: Eddie, explain please (in your spare time) 

     It is also necessary that I don’t know what’s going to happen because if 1,000 fellows told 5,000 people what was going on, 5,000 people would tell 20,000 and before we could say boo! - a submarine of a foreign make might get foreign ideas.

     I could tell you that we’re going on maneuvers again, Kindly inform all that my address will be the same at all times. After these maneuvers maybe will go back to the states. Even[?] then I have to put in for a leave and wasn’t a few days for it to materialize. Helen mentioned a [illegible] Marine who got a leave quite easily. Well, tomorrow that Marine might be on his way to some foreign port and not expect to be home for a couple of years.

Oh yes. Send me that Mail Carrier’s application if it is still around.

      With Pete, Tony & the rest leaving for the army, you must be feeling pretty low. Your part is the most important, That is taking care of Mom. etc. You should be proud of doing what you are doing. Whatever you do, don’t join the Navy. You’ll regret it like [?] joining this gang. I miss the Cobweb Theater, The Polish [?] and everything else too much. Our job is too grim to suit me. One side of me is a good soldier and the other side of me should be polishing a violin instead of a rifle. Poor Pete & Tony are in for a tough time. I know over twice as tough but we can take it.

     Peter told me that he was going to Camp Blanding in Florida. I met the man who was supervisor of all the plumbing done on the camp. We drove around the camp in his car and he showed me all the different parts of it. It is a tremendous  place. A city of 10,000[?] going up in a few months. This man was swell to us. At his home I met a woman who was a nurse in the World War (Canadian). The fellow I was with went home with the supervisor's wife (to New York). He got married to the woman’s daughter and stayed home for 28 days. I believe he got 20 days in the brig & 3 months without pay for his crime. I wish I had gone with him but I didn’t have the dough.

     It must be partly lonely up yonder but no matter how we feel around here we just “carry on”, so Carry on , and be seeing ya

Fran 

P.S. Give me love to the Gals

Hello to Mom & Pop

NOTE: “Ant” was my dad Anthony (Tony) D. Poltrack. Not sure of Tony referenced in letter