Saturday, December 10, 2011

Letters From A Son - WWII Letters from Jimmie A. Prime - December 10, 1943

Link to a PDF of the original letter: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2444446/43-12-10.pdf

Dear Mom

We just found out today that our mail went out for the first time today so that is the reason you have not gotten any mail from me. You should, however, receive two letters before this one.

It is one o'clock Friday afternoon now. It has been raining here since early Thursday evening.

We took our G.C.T. test and half a dozen others yesterday (Thurs.). I think I did as well as anyone. It took us all day and I got a terrible headache what with a bad head cold anyway. I am much better today however.

I have a watch to stand tonight from 02400 until 0200 in other words 12:00 till 2:00. You know me, the luckiest guy in the world. ha!ha!

Well, its 2:05 now we just stencilled our names on, ???? sea bags, blankets etc.

Tell Ralph and Nancy hello and tell them I will write to them soon.

The C.P.O. just walked in so I must close now.

Love
Jim

P.S. Tell any one you see I know hello for me. Tell them to write. J.P.

Letters From A Son - WWII Letters from Jimmie A. Prime - December 9, 1943

Link to a PDF of the original post card: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2444446/43-12-09.pdf

Post card from the Navy Department

Letters From A Son - WWII Letters from Jimmie A. Prime - December 8, 1943

Link to a PDF of the original letter: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2444446/43-12-08b.pdf

Dear Mom

I have just finished writing six letters and my time is short.

Say, Mom will you look in my drawers and see how many of my pictures I have left? I don't know where they are but I am sure they are in some one of my drawers.

We went for another boat ride today but I just loafed all the way through it. I was a stearn standby.

Tell Nancy and Ralph I would sure like to hear from them sometime.

Well, I guess I told you everything this morning so tell everyone "Hello" for me.

Love to all
Jim

Letters From A Son - WWII Letters from Jimmie A. Prime - December 8, 1943

Link to a PDF of the original letter: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2444446/43-12-08a.pdf

Dear Mom

This is the most amazing thing I have every experienced. Our company is made up of 17 year old kids like Stuart and I and of men 38 to 45 years old. We are considered equal to them in every respect.

We are beginning to learn to march now. We must also know the semaphore alphabet by Friday plus the eleven rules for guards on duty.

Our C.P.O. just informed us that we have a test to take tomorrow of some sort.

We have only been here three days and already we are getting tan and beginning to look like old salts.

Stuart is here beside me writing a letter to his dad.

Well I have to line up for chow now so this is all for now.

Love,
Jim

P.S. Please share this with Aunt Hope and all the rest as we haven't much time. I will try to write to them soon. J.P.

Letters From A Son - WWII Letters from Jimmie A. Prime - December 7, 1943

Link to PDF copy of the original letter: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2444446/120743Ben.pdf

Dear Ben,

Thank you ever so much for your birthday greatings and salutations.

You need not explain to me about not having time to write. We work from eight till five.

We eat three hours
" sleep five "
" work at detail three hours
" have an hour of calisthentics
" " also to run the obstical course once a day

Then after taking time out for three or four changes of cloths a day we can do what ever we want the rest of the time. Of course we must roll our cloths and keep up our sea bags in our spare time.

All in all we are kept plenty busy all day long.

Yours
from big brother
Jim

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Letters From A Son - WWII Letters from Jimmie A. Prime - December 7, 1943

Link to a PDF of the original letter: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2444446/120743.pdf

Dear Mom:

As you can tell by the post mark I am in San Diego. We arrived here Monday night at about 014-45 navy time or 7:45 civilian time.

There are 180 men in our company. 54 aare from L.A. area. The rest are from the south. Most of us are volentary enlisters but a few are drafters.

We got our uniforms today and boy we had all the stuff we could carry.

We got another phisical and one vacination, two shots and one G.I. hairlift.

I haven't much time so I guess I'll close.

Love to all
Jim (over)

P.S. The food is excellant, all you can eat of the best.
J.P.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Letters From A Son - WWII Letters From Jimmie A. Prime

Tomorrow I will start publishing my father's letters home to his mother, Frankie Joy Root Prime, during WWII. My intention is to post them on the anniversary of the day he wrote them, starting with his first, dated December 07, 1943, through the end of his service in the Navy.

Jimmie was 17 years old when he entered the Navy, and served in the Pacific, mostly on the LCI(G) 373, until the end of the war.

Thank you, Dad, for giving your permission to publish these letters. To readers, I hope you find them interesting. Please feel free to comment.

Thank you!
Patti