Well here I am again, I don’t know what I’m going to write about, (there isn’t anything new) but I figured you would like to hear from me, so I’ll try and fill the paper up anyway. The reason I don’t write oftener than once a week is, 1) there isn’t much to say, nothing of interest happens over here, its just the same old routine day in and day out, but I guess it’s that way in all walks of life; 2) mail goes out once a week usually and if I wait I can write up the whole week in one letter. However you should write more often I have had one letter from you since the 20 of January.
I’m sitting here on a mess bench listening to my radio while writing, it really works well. I got a letter from Mrs. Jensen (Jense) yesterday. She said the pup was getting to be a mean little devil but that Robert was very happy to have him.
Crew eating c. 1943 by photography Fons Iannelli displayed at Steven Kasher Gallery, New York. Accessed from www.realclearlife.com.
Bill has been out to sea this last week and just pulled in this morning. If he’s got any money Sat I think we will go to Waikiki beach. It will be the first liberty we will have been able to make together.
Our water situation is getting to be a tough one. They only open the wash room for 30 min at a time, 4 times a day and you can only have about a bucket of water and naturally its just packed, and I’m usually working at the time. It’s kind of of hard to figure out how to take my two showers a day and wash my clothes at the same time.
Laundry in the Navy from Pinterest.
I guess my sub[marine] plan didn’t work out so hot. My Chief told me to wait until we get back to the states to try and transfer and also wait till I make Fireman second [class], as I will have more chance. I don’t get to go up for it until next month some time I guess, but am all prepared I could pass it right now if they would let me take it. I know all the things I have to know forward and backwards and boy that extra $18 a month will really come in handy.
Well how is everything going back there? I hope it’s all running smoothly one of the fellows said he heard you are having a lot of snow. Well Dick how are you making out with your school work? Take my advice and study hard don’t just pick the easy subjects, but take the ones that will do you some good. Of course you only have a little less than a year but it might make some difference.
How is business going, dad? Is that Douglass bomber plant [the Martin Bomber Plant?] going to help things out very much? I don’t know if I told you I bought a [photo] album it is really pretty with a big picture of the Colorado on the front. I have quite a bit in it all ready and when I get it full will send it home for safe keeping. If I remember you folks said you would like a big picture, well as soon as I get some dough I expect to get one takin for you. You probably won’t recognize me. My face is much better, I weigh 156 and don’t look near so booty now. I’m almost an old salt with 7 months in, you know me, I’m one of those 90 day wonders (ha ha).
EXAMPLE of the albums being made for the Navy fleet. Uncle M. has the album that Kenney bought. I can’t remember what it looks like, but it looks similar to this one.
Please let me hear from all of you real soon and say hello to every one for me. I wrote the Woods, Jense, Mrs. Whitelock after Christmas. Jense is the only one I’ve heard from so far, of course the less I get the less I have to write.
Love to all of you Kenney
You aught to get this on about Helene’s birthday so Happy Birthday, Babe.
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Friday
Dear Folks,
Here I am again you see I couldn’t get a hold of a stamp today as I was pretty busy but I’m glad now that I didn’t as I just got your clipper letter (4 PM) and was sure happy, you will never know how much I was looking forward to it. It didn’t make as good time as mine for some reason, but I got it O.K.
Sorry to hear your weather isn’t so good, ours has cooled off quite a bit to. No, dad, on my word of honor I didn’t feel the water under me in the least bit so I guess I am a chip off the old block, dad. You folks don’t need to worry about the Sub business, it didn’t pan out and I’ve changed my mind anyhow. However I am going to get off this pig iron so & so as soon as it’s possible. I don’t care for battleship life in the least. I want a can or some small boat even if it’s a barge. This is the most left handed ship you ever saw, something is always going haywire, and to darn much reputation(?) however I plan to wait until I get back to Bremerton. Maybe I can get the Hughes, who knows? I want something rough and speedy, you know me.
Yes, I guess there are a lot of fellows joining the service now the word is out on all the ships (scuttle but news) that are enlistment is out to 4 years sea duty and 2 years Navel reserve or if we serve the full six we get extension money for the extra 2 years it sounds good and also reasonable. I do hope it is true.
So you want grass skirts and surf boards now, dad? Well I don’t believe carter lake would work so good (ha ha). Yes, Dick, let me hear from you soon. Well I guess that’s about all.
Loads of love, Kenney
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Envelope post dated 19 February 1941, Via Air Mail
Mr. & Mrs. K.W. Rhoades & family 4011 North 30 Street Omaha, Nebraska U.S.A.
Well here I am again a little bit earlier than usually, but you see we are going out in the morning and mail closes at 0600. We don’t know how long we will be gone, so I don’t know when my next letter will be.
Well Bill and I spent Sat and Sunday together. We went into Honolulu and walked all over. It really almost like old times and we had a swell time, didn’t spend much or drink much, just walked, looked at the sights and shot the breeze. We took in a couple shows, went out and looked over Waikiki (although we didn’t go in swimming) went through the Royal Hawaii Hotel and grounds, boy it is really a magnificent place. Bill is going back to Bremerton before the month is up, for a overhaul, but we won’t possibly leave before July at the soonest, our schedule calls for 5 month overhaul beginning in September (quite a long time before I get back damn it). I would really like to be is Wash[ington] in July. I bet it is really nice.
Yesterday was pay day, they deducted $8 on my allotment so you should get $15 about this time next month. I drew $8 and $7.25 bought my soap and other necessities and am now waiting for next payday. We won’t need money this time as we will be out to sea so couldn’t spend it anyway. Well did Babe have a nice birthday and did she miss Kenney any? Well I guess I can’t think of anymore so guess I will close.
All my love,
Kenney
Payday on a cruiser c.1941/1942 found on Pinterest.
Our Many Pasts 