Back in San Diego, October 6, 1937
Dearest Laura Sueva:
Arrived San Diego yesterday. Tied up to the dock about noon. Boy did San Diego look good? Did we cheer when we sighted the first islands about 100 miles out. We had a pretty good trip. But we nearly froze in Peru and almost roasted alive just this side of the equator. Not many of the guys want to go back to Peru. We had quite a lot of fun there but I would hate it like H _ _ _ to have to live there. It is a little more than 4000 miles down there. We took 11 days each way. We could make it in half that time but we poked along at 13 knots all the way. I can tell you lots about that country but it would take to long to write about it. We are to get underway for Bremerton Washington on the 28th. for overhaul.
I received your most welcome letter yesterday (Hope you can read my writing). Talk about the Navy having bad luck! We lost five planes while on the cruise. Two of them went over the side while landing and fell into the ocean. One went over the side and caught between two stacks and two of them cracked up while landing without going in the ocean. Most miraculously noone hurt. Not seriously anyway.
Also while in Peru a guy stole our (one of our) motorboats to desert. They finally found the boat and finally found him. The boats cost about 20 or $25,000 so it would have been quite a loss.
That’s right! You did have a birthday….slipped my mind. I got you something but will have to wait till I get around to sending it. We are pretty rushed right now. Two section watch list, etc.
Did you see my mug in “Our Navy”? it was a h _ _ _ of a picture.
About Peruvian cigars etc. A cigar costs almost four bits in Peru. A pack of cigarettes cost almost 50c. Cigarettes awful high. So hardly anyone smokes down there. Most of their cigarettes are made in America; Wings, Old Gold, etc. Peruvian cigarettes are so bad the Peruvians won’t hardly smoke them. Everyone in Peru was continually trying to get a cigarette from us sailors. Because we get them cheap aboard ship, about 6c a pack. They have a law down there that no one can bring matches or cigarettes ashore from a ship, but must buy and use those from Peru. Of course a lot of guys didn’t obey the law and some of them got to see the Peruvian Bastille, have to pay a small fine and then got turned loose.
Talk about policemen. I didn’t dream there were so many in San Diego as there is in Callao and Lima. Every where you look there is dozens of them directing traffic or just resting or something. They say they have them to help keep down the revolutions. They have a revolution every once in a while and shoot the President and raise Heck in general. All of the stores and business houses have steel doors which let down to cover up the front of the places. They close them every nite, so about 9 or 10 o’clock the streets look like buildings with no doors or windows or lights. The steel doors protects the stores, etc. when the people start firing. One guy here was telling us that in their last Revolution there were dead people laying all over the streets. They won’t let the people get together in big crowds.
I guess I will go out to the Training Station and see if Stanley came down last month. I haven’t heard from anyone whether or not. I don’t know where Harrich Harris is now.
Well I better knock off for now. I wish I wasn’t so busy.
Did I tell you I took the examination for 3rd Class Radioman. If there is any rates and there should be I will be a Third Class Petty Officer when I go home.
Hoping to hear from you soon.
With lots of love
Bill.
PS. Will Julie giving milk in December?
PSS. Do you still buy stamps?
—–Next Day.
I got a letter that Stanley is at the Training Station so I went out last nite. I saw him and he seems to be getting along all right. Doesn’t seem to mind it at the T.S. so much. It sure seems funny seeing him in uniform. He hasn’t been here on liberty yet. This weekend will be his first liberty. I am going to go and get him and bring him aboard the Ranger.
Well, I have to get to work now.
Lots of love.
Bill.