Transcription of Document FFDoc-0736.pdf

August 1944

Dear Aunt Gen and Uncle Frank:

 I am Sorry I haven't written sonner but if youm have heard from my mother lately you know that I have moved and know the restrictions on the number of letters we may write. I cannot mention the name of the island anymore [Saipan] but my mother can tell you where I am. When we first came here we could say almost anythung we wanted to but they have stopped all thet. I can tell you that this is a beautiful island. Everthing is nice and green and the climate can't beat. I have met one fellow here that was on the Badger with me. I am working in Disbursing (pay work) right now. We have a temporary office set upand right now we are up to our necks at work. I spent the day setting setting up our new office it is going to be a beaut when we finish it. We have good equipment with us and when we finish it will look like an office back in the states. We have a galley set up now and are no longer eating rations. Thank God. We have good chow here. In fact I will go as far as to say it is the best I have since I came into the navy but that is only good thing about an outfit like this.  It doesn't even compare with the destroyer duty.

I was in the hospital here for four days with  Dingy Fever [sic]. It is nothing serious but I have never felt so sick orn so weak in all my life. I didn't eat a bit of food for three full days. I am up and around now and as good as new. As you probably know, while I was on the Badger they were going to send me to officers training but then the operation came up and I was sent to the hospital. A few days ago a lettet was received here written to my commanding officer here by the skipper on the Badger explaining the situation and reccommending me for it. I put in an application and for awhile I thought I may get back to the states and get a crack at college but the persannel officer talked to me the other day about it and said the business course I took in high was not enough so that took care of my officers training. Why do I always have to do the wrong things at the wrong time. No use crying over spilled milk. I guess there are better days ahead.

How is everything in Brooklyn do you hear from Dot, Joe and Fan very often? How are they all doing? My mother wrote and said that Ronnie was up and spent a week at the lake. How did she like itthere? Why don't the both of you talk a tripe up there an stay a little while and take it easy?

I am writing this letter in the mess hall and my pen locked in the safe so please excuse the writing in pencil. It is time to hit the sack and I have covered the news here for now so I will say so long for a while and write soon. I promise to wrire again sonner and more often than I have been.

Nephew Jim

[In Gen's Handwriting:]

James J. Kirwan S.K - 2/C

Gro Pac 8

c/o Fleet P.O. San Fransisco Cal.