Sunday, January 21, 1968

21 Jan., 1968

Sunday

Dear Mother & Dad,

Things have been going just fine since we left San Diego at 10:00 Tuesday. We are close to Pearl Harbor now and should get there about 4 PM today. We have some gun shoots to go through today then head for port. They have scheduled today as a payday so that liberty in Hawaii will be a little more enjoyable.

I got back to the ship about 5 PM last Tuesday. Bill called us at Georgia Mae's about 10 Monday evening. We had tried for about 30 minutes earlier in the evening to get a hold of him but didn't have any luck. We were glad that he called. I stopped at Oceanside on the way back to San Diego and saw him for an hour or so. That was a long night but since it was the last time I'd see anyone I knew, it was worth it.

The ship has been riding pretty well. The first day was hard to get use to after being in port for such a long time. I am use to it now and it doesn't bother me a bit. The first night a lot of us had trouble sleeping because of the rocking. I am eating pretty good so I guess thats a good indication I am in good health.

The days have been sunny and fair. You can notice it getting warmer the farther west we go.

We will be in Pearl Harbor for three days. It should be quite an experience the time we are there. Our next stop is Guam then on to the Phillipines.

One other ship left with us and we have been running side by side all the time. It gives you something to look at and at least we know we aren't the only ones out here.

I hope the weather isn't getting any worse back home, or could it get any worse? I'm sure David is having plenty of fun in the snow.

We have a calendar back here in the gun control room that we are keeping track of the days on. We figure the longest the cruise could last is 190 days (July 30). That seems like a long time but some day we will be able to look back on all the days as a lot of new experiences for most of us.

In my spare time, I've been keeping busy working on my electronics course. I have done three of the lessons since we left Tuesday. I stand my watches here on the radar console.

Thats about all there is for now. I'll write again when I know the mail will be going out. Bye for now.

Your son,

Mike