The next installment of Pop’s letters features his experience with being called to war.
Mr. Harold Lufkin, V. P. May 23, 1959
Newton Mfg. Co.
Newton, Iowa.
Dear Mr. Lufkin:
I guess it is about time I got around to dropping you a line. First of all to thank you for the lovely gift that you sent for our Anniversary (this coming Wednesday), and next to comment on your nice letters.
Mama promptly took down a “What-not” that has been in the kitchen for years and hung her kitchenware in its place, and needless to say with the size of our family, all of it is used every day, as it’s either Fried Bacon & Eggs in the morning, something that takes a double boiler or something else. She is very pleased with it. I am sorry that Janet is not much of a writer herself but believe me she knows that I love to write so she leaves it up to me to do the writing. I probably won’t send in many orders this week as we have never had a vacation or a Honeymoon as we never could afford it, but she wants me to stay home most of the time and she and I will take little rides into “The Berkshires” an occasional Dinner Etc, and the rest of the time try to get the Paint and Paper in shape, BUT as my samples are always in the car I doubt if I will get through the week without making something. I HAVE to for that matter.
Your letter from San Diego brought back memories. That was where I was first shipped in the Navy, so that, Long Beach and National City in California I am familiar with. Landed there with 86 men and my Seabag, was standing under a Palm Tree at the Railroad Station, and hearing some birds singing merrily in them I glanced up, just in time to get it right in the eye, much to the amusement of my “shipmates.” THAT was my introduction to San Diego. We had a nice trip out from New York. I think it was four days and five nights (or vice versa) on the Train. We had a private Pullman (The Navy goes in style you know) and a colored waiter and it was a real nice trip. It did get kind of tiresome at the end though.
Janet did not even know that “I was on my way,” as I was supposed to go home on a “72” for the weekend from New York. As I was packing my weekend kit, one of my buddies says where do you think you are going. I said, “I am going to Newport for a “72” with the wife and kids.”
He said “Ha” I guess you haven’t looked at the Transfer list this morning have you, and I told him that I had not. “Well,” he says, “you and I and 84 others are going to San Diego in about an hour.” Sure enough, that was it. Mama did not even know where I was until I finally got brave enough to throw a postcard out the window in Niagra Falls or someplace on the way and some Good Samaritan mailed it to her. You were not allowed to phone or write or anything concerning Troop movements you know, so I knew she would be worried and said to heck with the M.P.S.
I was only there about a month and again took the long train ride. This time to Miami, then to New Orleans and gunnery school at Lake Ponchatrain or (however you spell it) and then to New York (or rather Brooklyn) to join the Battleship Iowa. The only Navy ship that I really loved. They say that every sailor has but one love when it comes to ships. The Iowa was mine. I did most of my fighting on the Wisconsin, but she was a madhouse. At any rate Mr. Lufkin, when the war was over and I came back on the Carrier (Lexington) and we came up San Juan De Fuca Straits coming into Bramerton, Washington, I want you to know that the tears rolled right down my cheeks seeing the America Flag ON American Soil for the first time for some months.
I am a sentimental old fool anyway, but I can’t help it. Yep I have a letter from the Captain of the Iowa in my possession. It was written when he became an Admiral. I used to be his Chauffeur when the Iowa was getting ready for War, and I was very fond of him and him of me. I don’t think many enlisted men in this Country have a letter from an Admiral in their Possession. I was picked because I was one of the few Petty Officers who knew New York and Brooklyn and so I drove him and his wife and two daughters and ALL the notables including Mrs. Roosevelt around at different times. She (the Iowa) was the first BIG one you know and was called the Showboat. She was all of that and I met many, many notables. I took care of Roosevelt’s Stateroom and Harry Hopkins when we took them to Tehran to meet Stalin. A Hell of a job for a Republican at heart, BUT I want to tell you that he had the most Magnetic personality of any person of this age. He was very keen on the Gunnery and used to race his Wheelchair from the Port side to the Starboard according to whichever side was doing the Firing at the time.
Well I guess I better call it a day on letter writing. When are you coming east to see us, AND could you, or would you come to a Wedding in the Sinclair family on August the 22nd if invited?
Leon.
Tags: Pop's Letters
Fascinating.