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    <dcterms:title><![CDATA[Letter from Warren Johnston to Bobby [Letter 290]]]></dcterms:title>
    <dcterms:description><![CDATA[243 Navy #3247 (Mil Govt) F.P.O. San Francisco Tuesday 5 June 6 pm Darling- How pleasant - Arthur Smith dropped in a little while ago bringing some papers from Father, a copy of Life, the day's gossip and a letter from you, #276- I guess if I’d waited for your apropos to the effect that Walter expects to go in about a week, I’d have missed him - he was under orders and just waiting transportation when I saw him - transportation being what it is, he may be there yet, but the chances are that he has left. Glad you all liked the slingshot. I thought of Bobbie the day I picked up two pilot stick-wheels from wrecked B-24s 5 or 6 weeks ago: one was for the Chugakko's collection of mechanical contrivances, and I decided with respect to the latter that my first loyalties in such things were still (especially now) to Jim Luke. I remember thinking, too, of keeping one for our first male progeny, to incorporate it in to his first tricycle, but decided that that was looking ahead just a little too far. Yes, I remember the sunsuit Jean May gave Wendy - it was a particularly cute one - and I'm glad you’re taking snapshots to send Jean (and [pg 2] me). [This is Quink it writes much more smoothly. With any ink, tho, my fat brown and amber Waterman next to Wendy's teether - have a good pen at last] Walter had received several letters when I saw him, picked up a couple more when we stopped by the hospital he had checked out of. The two I had forwarded were still with the MG officer I sent them to - he had been unable to locate Walter. He indicated, after we’d tracked them down and he proceeded to read them at once, that they were somewhat more rugged than those written later which he’d previously received - as is only natural. The picture situation is not clear; so don't be surprised if you continue to get them occasionally. Be sure to acknowledge. The new C.O., Captain Dodds, took over formally on June 1. I've had nothing to do with him officially yet but have talked with him briefly 2 or 3 times and like him very much. He is easy in manner, pleasant, not condescending, and well-spoken; there is just a hint in his manner to suggest that he could be forceful on occasion. He will certainly be a vast improvement over the previous regime. When I was on the way somewhere recently, he was on the way somewhere else and I was in his company for half an hour; he told me of his previous career and of his recent hope for command of a capital ship. He supposed, like others with a similar background and in a similar capacity whom I've heard say the same thing that he would be stuck in this field now; he was disappointed, but not frustrated. [pg 3] In general he seemed like a man who could become interested in anything he turned to: well-disciplined in many ways (but easy in the company of admirals who have been here recently, having graduated in the same class, I suppose, with a number of contemporary admirals), yet of broader perspective than the average man of regular Navy background. - However, that's all just an impression of his personality; I haven't seen him at work to know what he can or will do. Yes, we have our own liquor mess now. One bottle a week. I buy it regularly, share most of it. Haven't built up any stock because you can't take it with you - at least not much of it - and definitely can't send it home. I know you met Congleton on the campus; he may have been at our cottage on the hill the time we had my class to supper or whatever it was. If I think of it when I get back, I'll ask him. Nobody's taken McGinty's place. He was in there only temporarily; most Quonset rooms are shared by two men. The officer staff here is gradually decreasing: for instance, Henry Graham (Welfare Officer) was detached while I was away, without any replacement. Arthur, as head of the department (of Ed. and Welfare) will take a more active part in supervising the welfare organization - churches, [pg 4] community chest, orphanage-nursery, etc. - while Yeoman Robertson, an Eagle Scout and a Scout Commissioner from Houston Texas, will continue to manage the Scout program. Graham did a good job of setting up the Welfare Office program in general so that it can carry on without him. Wow- I completely missed the one about screws at the hardware store the first time I read it - must be slipping! When I came to “(that's the only place I can get them these days)” I remember thinking briefly, “where else would you get them, honey…?” 8:50 Commander (Dr.) Doniels, head of the G-5 hospital attached to M.G. here (G-5 is just a Navy designation for a certain size and type of hospital; I think it means a stationery ((as opposed to mobile or field) 100-bed unit). Came by to say that Dr. Serrano (whose name until now I've been spelling “Cyrano”) might think of letting me go to the movies tonight (my ear's much better); so I joined the two of them in seeing some reasonably entertaining film whose title I've forgotten already. Dr. Daniels is a dozen-Mauier- tall, thin, mild-mannered and slow of speech [pg 5]. Serrano, a Floridian (his name is Spanish), is a pleasant and rather good-looking guy of about 32-34 - has his head shaved most of the time out here as a number of men and a few officers do. Why not just keep the baby carriage as long as you conveniently can, unless you have a good officer for it? I don't suppose you will have in Carmel. I adore being married to you, too, darling. I was thinking of that in between reels at the movie tonight. And now back to #257 (Friday May 11) (I love getting a pile of letters all at once darling, as on that last day I got 6 or 7 from you, but it sure plays hell with my answering system! - if you can call it a system. Most of all I’d like a letter every day and once in awhile a bonus)- Nevermind the lost negatives, honey. I've decided not to order any of them. I gave the orphanage ones you sent to Henry Graham, and as long as Janie Mook got hers, that's enough. Didn't realize the damned things cost 10¢ apiece. I laughed when you said of the season's first hibiscus. “Would have picked one to send you but the plants were growing in someone's garden.” I [pg 6] thought of your reaction to flowers when we were in Boulder and wondered if having a child had clarified your sense of property right. #258 Honey, do you really get more mail than anyone else in Carmel? I'm proud of you. And it's good to know that a couple of letters made you feel so good that you went out and bought a lovely white shirt. I'm sorry I didn't answer in time your question about whether to have Wendy alone or both of you together. From your later letters it sounds as tho you've chosen the latter. Had I answered sooner, I would have said, Darling, if you'll promise me that one of you for my birthday, then have Wendy taken alone. I gave Walter your message about how Helen took the news of his being wounded. Where does Bud expect to go when he gets back in November - stateside assignment? If so, he'll certainly have had the breaks. [Hilo?] is supposed to be the nicest part of Hawaii. I'm glad the wool yarn worked out for fastening the geta - I’d have been disappointed if you couldn't wear them. Wed 6 June 8:30 am Morning, darling, Got up for breakfast at the hospital officers’ mess this morning; Dr. Serrano has checked my ear and says I may go back to work. While I'm gathering [pg 7] my things I thought I might answer another letter or two. #259 - Again I enjoy hearing about your receiving the kimono. Do wish I could see not just a snapshot but just a wraparound, and I presume that it would tie in a bow in back, but I'm not sure. Next time I see a youngster in one I'll try to notice. #260 Loved hearing about Wendy's pleased comment - “mm-mm” when you were trying on the kimono. I was amused to hear again about your fame at the P.O. (this time the woman who makes out S.D. slips). Lewellyn! Well, then, the one marked “L” that I sent you was a fortunate accident. I hope it's good enough. Maybe I've just got an inferiority complex over stuff made here since seeing samples of some very beautiful work done in the Marshall Islands. Theres just no comparison - and it's cheaper! But it won't be sold out here, because it would completely destroy the local markets. You may be seeing it in the states eventually. I was particularly pleased to hear about your receiving the wooden box. Wasn't it fun getting the geta with the same design as your little ones have? (The latter were an afterthought) The characters on your ([Foreign characters] or maybe [Foreign characters]) said Bahbee, on Wendy's ([Foreign characters]) Oo en day, which is the closest one can get to your names in Japanese kana (Katakana, this is). If it says anymore than that, it's for Johnston - I forget whether [pg 8] it does. Yes, I enjoyed the headdress Wendy wore for her kimono pictures, thought it very appropriate. And Wendy did stand alone for a lot of the pictures! Sweetie, you said you had half a dozen pictures taken of yourself on the same occasion - what happened to the rest? - I guess I shouldn't have criticized the bowtie - it really goes with that blouse and crocheted jerken. Darling, this letter (which I've only very sketchily commented on) is another of those extra-special ones I so delight in getting, ones which bring you and Wendy particularly close to me for the moment, as dear to me as you both are always. For each of you a very special love, Sweetie, over and above what I mean when I say to both of you together, I love you more than anything else in the world Warren]]></dcterms:description>
    <dcterms:source><![CDATA[PA Digital]]></dcterms:source>
    <dcterms:date><![CDATA[1945-06-05]]></dcterms:date>
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    <dcterms:references><![CDATA[https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Aawlsn-wwii_1202]]></dcterms:references>
    <dcterms:language><![CDATA[English]]></dcterms:language>
    <dcterms:type><![CDATA[image]]></dcterms:type>
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