Thursday, October 12, 1967

October 12, 1967

Bremerton, Washington

Dear Mother and Dad,

It has been about a week since I last wrote so I thought that I'd let you know how things have been going since then. I got your letter of Oct. 2 last Friday. Thanks for sending the clipping from the paper. It gave me some idea of what was happening back there. I meant to send it along to Bill when I wrote to him the other day but I forgot to. The next time I write to him I'll be sure to send it to him.

You said that you spoke to Brant's mother when they called about the records. Have they came by and got them yet. That guy is really in such a mess that he gives me every indication that he is a little crazy.

Tomorrow we pull out of this place and head for sunny San Diego. We will stop at Seal Beach, which is near Long Beach, and load ammunition all day Mon. We will go out the rest of the week and run some tests then get in San Diego Friday sometime. Unfortunately, I have duty that weekend and won't be able to see Bill if he gets liberty. I got a letter from him yesterday and he said that Sunday the 22th (thats the way he spelled it) he gets liberty on the base and that I could come out there and see him. If I can get someone to take my duty that day, I'll go out there. He said that he would have base liberty while he was up at Camp Pendelton so, it looks like we will be able to see each other while I'm down there.

I saw the final game of the world series on TV today. I am glad the Cardinals won it.

I've been on the ship for two weeks now. It seems like only a few days ago when I left on August 16th. I don't think that things could be much better than what they are here on the ship. The guys in the division are really good to work with and they think that I will have no trouble in getting acquainted with the operation of some of the equipment that we use. There are eight FT's and eight gunner's mates in the division. Of course, I work with the FT's.

I haven't had any opportunity to take many pictures with my camera up here. I will try to take some in San Diego and send them home.

I hope you didn't have any trouble putting that money in the bank that I sent home. Would it be just as easy for you to send some of those bank by mail envelopes and deposit slips to me and let me take care of it? If you do send it, send a book of checks also. Do whatever you think is best. As long as it is alright for you to put the money in the bank for me I don't see why I should have to bother with taking care of it from here. Just make sure that you keep the deposits recorded in the book, that's all hard-earned money. Speaking of money. Bill sent me $5.00 of the money that he owed me. That came as a surprise to me. He also said that he sent $10.00 home. Weather he sent it to Connie or you he didn't say.

It sounds like David is going to have plenty of hard work ahead of him in school this year. He better try to do the best he can if he doesn't want to take the year over. I am sure he will do better after he gets use to the idea that summer vacation is over with and its time to concentrate fully on his school work.

We had one of the generators go out yesterday and for a while every one thought that we would be staying up here for at least another week till it was repaired. They found out that the ship could get by without it and a new one will be put in at San Diego. I think every one will be glad to get away from here, especially me.

I wrote a letter to Georgia Mae last week and let her know that I would be back in San Diego this month and that I would like to come up and see them some weekend if it was okay. Actually, it was Sunday when I wrote to her and I haven't got an answer as of yet.

I have been doing a little looking into that 3rd class advancement. My leading petty officer went up to the ships office today and they called Treasure Island. They didn't have a thing about it, so the ships office is going to write a letter to the Reserve Center and see about it. I was talking to the chief the other day about it and I told him that after seeing what some of our duties would be that I felt if I had made 3rd class I may not be able to show that I knew what it was about. He said that he felt if a man passed the test that was all the proof he needed to know if a guy deserved the rating. He said that if it did go through and I didn't feel confident enough to take it that I could have it put off for a month or two until I had a chance to get acquainted with some of the dutys of the 3rd class. He said that he would reccomend me for the test in February if this deal didn't go through by then.

Well that's about it. There hasn't been too much to talk about this week. Perhaps the next time you hear from me will be if I call from San Diego next week. It's time to go eat supper so I had better go for now. Bye.

Your son,

Mike.

P.S.

You can start sending the Review now. Thanks.