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6 Nov. 1944
Mon 9 P.M.
Dear Elsie Darling,
Today I got 3 letters from you. I went to the Dodge plant at Newport with 7 coxwains and 6 other engineers this morning to pick up 6 new LCVPs. We left at 9 A.M. Another group of boys left at 7 AM going to NOB towing new LCVPs to a fleet of ships but the most of them never got there. I know of one coxwain & engineer getting their 2 LCVPs to NOB without damage. Another also got there but their boats were all banged up and had holes in their hulls, so they were turned down and had to be towed back to the base. The damage was due to a very high sea. The waves were so large that they tossed the boats around and banged them together breaking parts of the sides and structure of the boats. The rest of them (I don't know how many) got only anywhere from 1/2 to 3/4 way to NOB when their boats would get so damaged that they turned back. We went to Dodge in a cabin boat heading directly into the waves. I really enjoyed it. It is absolutely safe so song as we are not towing. The diesel engine in this cabin boat turns the screw at 2300 RPM and we would be climbing a large swell at a good rate and then when we reach the top it seemed like the boat almost slipped out from under you and we would plow into another swell and into the air we would go flying again. How would you like a ride like that? Coming back we were supposed to stop at NOB and tow some old LCVPs back here but did not stop there because of the high sea. We arrived back at our base at 3:30 PM. When I came in the shack someone says, "Hey Luebeck! You've got one Hell of a lot of mail in the office". In addition to your 3 letters I got two papers. But I had not got a letter from you Sat, nor Sun of course and then the third one was for today so I was not surprised. And ha ha I beat you to it again. You asked in one of these letters (Nov 1) if I thot you did good to write every day and I bet you got my answer in only a day or two, didn't you? I said "you were right on the ball", and are you ever on the ball.
My basic pay is $66. My quarters 37.50. Total 103.50. Deductions $22 for family, 7.20 ins., 6.25 bonds. Bal 68.05 monthly or $34 per pay day. Once I got only $32 but today I got $35, otherwise they have been paying me $34. If I ever get PO 3/c then I'll get $18 basic pay, or a $12 raise.
At the last of your letter of Nov 2nd, you said, and I quote, "Hope all this "stuff" interests you.", unquote. Now just what do you think would interest me more? Wait a minute, I'll answer that one. "Nothing!" You are telling me every day about everything you know of what you and the kiddies are doing and saying & thinking. What more could I ask for? Nothing. You even go to the trouble of telling me as to where you pay out nearly every penny. You would not necessarily have to scratch your brain out to tell me where you spend all your money. I know I can't begin to keep track as to where mine goes. Now I figured I'd have $10 left by the 5th, but I had only $2 left. Where it goes, you've got me. Of course there was listerine, I think that was 79 cents, and I payed Tatem's Drug $1.39 for my talc, lotion & Quinsana (foot powder). It's just little things like that that I don't keep track of. BUT, I do want to know how you are coming out on your money. Especially when you are short. And you will indeed be short before you get your next check. I just wonder if I had better send you a ten.
Well I just am not going to try to answer all these letters tonite. I'll see what I can do about it tomorrow. Say that's right, tomorrow nite is my duty nite again already. And I'll bet I'll have a watch to stand too. But I'll write too, at least a little.
Goodnight My Darling. I'm going right to bed. Opie is already asleep. Goodnite.
Big waves of Love
Hugs & Kisses
Irvin
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