WW II Letters home, January 17 and 19, 1941

Sorry, folks. I seem to have done it again. I got a few letters out of order. There were two more letters between January 10 and 27.

Envelope post dated January 17, 1941

Mr. & Mrs. K.W. Rhoades & family
4011 North 30 Street
Omaha, Nebraska

Kenney Rhoades
U.S.S. Colorado
Long Beach, California
Box 14

Thursday [January 16]

Dear Folks,

Well here is your wandering child again, how is every body? We are back in Long Beach now, anchored last night about 9 p.m. It was pretty rough out this week, but lots of time to go up on deck and feel the spray hitting you in the face. We did some more firing and made some test runs. Smashed up an airplane, but no one was hurt. [see archived footage at end of post for images of launch and recovery of Kingfisher seaplanes]

Well here is some good news, I have the money problem all figured out. I made out an allotment to Dad for $15 a month beginning February for six months. You will get a government check, Dad, about the 20thof the month. I figure that will be about $90 in six months and I have about 30 in the bank (I guess) which will make $120. After six months I will increase my allotment to $25 as I should be making $54 by then. Dad you know that bank account is open to you and any time you need any extra money help yourself. You see I had to make the allotment as helping support dependents as the Navy is not permitting allotments to banks (because to many fellows were paying interest on loans) unless you had a savings account number. January 14 was the last day allotments could be made this half year. I make $36, insurance runs me $3, allotment $15, Hospital and miscellaneous $1, that leaves me $17 split into two paydays is $8.50 which is about all I need. On that amount I can get my necessities and make a liberty each payday. Too much liberty isn’t good for anyone and neither is to much money. We got paid this afternoon. I drew $8. Just bought me a new yellow [bole, bode or lode?] pipe, that gives me two of them now.

Well, Saturday is Hellenes birthday, as I can’t go ashore and wouldn’t know what to get, I am sending two dollars. Buy her a little coat or an outfit of some kind; you know more about what she needs than I do. I bet she is getting pretty big four years old now. “Happy Birthday, Babe”.

We are leaving for the islands Monday morning at 6 a.m. keep sending my mail to Long Beach, until I find out what our exact location will be, it will be forwarded to me, and please let me hear from all of you including you, Dad. You can find time at least once a week to write. I haven’t had a letter from you in at least a month now. All the mail they brought on this morning and I didn’t even get one from home. It didn’t make me feel very good. B sent me one of her announcements, they sure are nice.

Time out…it’s time for chow now, will write more after chow. Well here I am again 10 minutes has elapsed. I cleaned up sat down at the table; the chow didn’t look so hot (guess we got fed too good at noon) so I got up again.

Long Beach, California, cir. 1838 posted in an article in the Long Beach Post.

Weather report from January 18, Clipped from Newspapers.com The Nebraska State Journal,  18 Jan 1941, Sat, Page 1

Well how is the weather back there? Warming up, I hope. Nobody has colds or the flu, have they? I sure wish you could all come out here. Boy it is just like summer. Just think about this time next week, I will be running around in shorts sweating to death and cussing the whole Navy that is what everyone does. Nobody likes it, its just like a boy scout outfit, [???] but when it comes time to get out you reenlist and I don’t believe they are very many who would take their discharge if it were offered to them. Well, I can’t think of any more so I will close for now.

Loads of love to all
Kenney

Happy birthday, Babe