HAPPY VETERANS DAY! Remembering all my veteran ancestors; my father, my grandfather and all their father’s fathers before them (we have a lot of veterans in our line). Also to my cousin and husband – thank you for your service!
Envelope post dated 4 February 1941 1 P.M. (Tuesday)
Mr. & Mrs. K.W. Rhoades & family
4011 North 30 Street
Omaha, Nebraska
U.S.A.
Kenney Rhoades
U.S.S. Colorado Box 14
c/o Fleet Post Office
Honolulu T.H.
Sunday, February 2
Dear Folks,
Well here I am again. I don’t know what I am going to write about as there isn’t anything new since I wrote you last time. We are out to sea again. We have been away from Pearl Harbor since last Wend morning, just cruising around the islands. We go back for two weeks this Wend. I am off restriction now and will probably be the first one in the liberty boat. I won’t be able to send all my letters like I did the last one as it runs into to much money. My address, that is where it will reach me quickest, is Kenney Rhoades, U.S.S. Colorado, Fleet post office, Honolulu T.H.
About all we have been doing is standing watches, cleaning up the ship or laying in the sun on top side. I’ve got a really pretty red sun burn all over and am trying to develop it into a tropical sun tan. We step out on top side every night and it is really cool and nice, but during the day it goes well over 100d.
I am going to take my fireman second class test this coming Friday if I pass it all right I will get rated about March 8. Hope me luck at that. Raises my pay to $54 per month. That jump of $18 is the biggest jump you can make until making Chief.
I don’t want any of you feeling bad or worrying about me if I don’t write so often out here. I don’t know what it is, but I just can’t get in the mood for writing letters. Maybe [it’s] the heat or there just isn’t anything happen[ing] here. I got a letter from Red Bark last Wend. He is at camp with the [National G]uards but says he wishes he had joined the Navy like I did. Well I can’t think of any more so guess I will close. Let me hear from all of you soon.
Loads of love to all
Kenney
P.S. This probably won’t get on its way until Wend.
NOTE: While the technology has improved in Navy engine rooms since the 1940’s the duties are essentially unchanged. The current job description of a Naval Fireman can be found at TheBalanceCarreers.com
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Envelope post dated 8 February 1941 8 A.M. (Saturday)
Letter written on U.S.S. Colorado letter head
Mr. & Mrs. K.W. Rhoades & family
4011 North 30 Street
Omaha, Nebraska
U.S.A.
Kenney Rhoades
U.S.S. Colorado Box 14
Honolulu T.H.
Thursday [February 6]
Dear Folks,
Well we are now again at anchor in Pearl Harbor. Came in yesterday at noon. We will be here for about 2 weeks for repairs and then out to sea again for about a month, I guess.
I got moms letter yesterday and was sure glad as it was the first one since the telegram back in Long Beach. What do you think of the stationary, looks like I am an executive or something. I went in the log room and asked the yeoman for a sheet of paper and this is what he gave me.
Sorry I got Helene birthday mixed up, but I don’t imagine it makes much difference to her. Yesterday was pay day and I drew more money than I thought I would so went to the disbursing office and inquired, found out my allotment doesn’t start until next month.
I went ashore last night for the first time since I went on restriction. Honolulu is quite a place (for a tourist) but from the sailors point of view I can’t say much for it. All you see is sailors, soldiers, and marines, and a lot of Japanese. Everything is twice as high as in the States [I assume he is referring to prices?]. I bought B a nice Parker pen and pencil set for her graduation gift. I also bought myself a portable radio on time payments a couple of bucks each pay day. Maybe I don’t really need it and might have been kind of foolish, but it is nice at night laying out on top side and listening to it. It works on either electric or battery and is really swell.
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| He didn’t say what brand or model of radio he bought, but here are some images of the 1940’s line of Philco portable radios from their website – for example. |
So Babe likes her nick name? I didn’t imagine she could remember about that. You’re darn right Kenney likes you, Babe, and do you like him just as much?
Boy we are really tearing the engine room apart in these two weeks we are going to have to work almost all the time, Sat and Sundays, in order to have it all repaired in time. I also made out a ten dollar money order, dad. Of course that was before I went ashore. I am sending it being there won’t be any allotment this week. My extravagance of last night leaves me broke until next payday but happy. Well I have to close for now as it is time to turn to again.
Loads of love,
Kenney
Let me hear from all of you soon.
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| I am having a heck of a time finding images of a Colorado Class battleship’s engine room. None of these ships survived the scrap yards and any interior images from the 1940’s are hard to find. I did find an image of what I think was used in the U.S.S. Colorado from WorldOfWarships.com. But I’m not a ship geek, so I can’t be sure. 😀 |
Our Many Pasts 