In this letter excerpt, Wellings is getting angry over missed mail drops. Not only had he had any communication from home, but his men are suffering low morale because there is nothing to look forward to for themselves. Hearing from loved ones helped make their situation bearable. Though they have not gotten into the thick of battle yet, there are many long and lonely days spent preparing for the battles to come:
"Well, still no mail from my sweetheart. I guess the man in charge of the mail doesn't think anyone cares for me and my 307 men and 16 officers. I am beginning to get mad over the mail situation now. I sent a dispatch today and in addition wrote a letter to Al to check up and wake up the people in his area to forward out mail. I had Jackie Fulham take the letter to Jackie Greenslade, aviator friend of mine in '26 who promised to send it to Al in one of the planes which frequently go to Al's home port.
We did receive our supply officer, an Ensign fresh from the Harvard course for Supply Officers. He appears to be a fine intelligent youngster – name Shirley from Seattle (Keith Shirley), Washington. I signed a certified money list to which enabled us to be paid for the first time since we all drew $10.00 in Panama (?). He drew his money from the tender so that from now on we will always have sufficient money to pay the officers and crews.
By the way have you seen anything of my new glasses? I haven't been able to locate them since leaving New York. Did I by any chance leave them at home on my last trip? Please try my black suit case. If you can't find them please call Montgomery Frost Co. 414 Boxlston St. and ask them to make up another pair to the same prescriptions and frames. They have a record of my last glasses (about Oct. or Nov). They could send them direct. I want a stand-by – just in case I break my present ones. You see you still have to take care of me even though I am many, many miles away. Oh if I could only be with you and have you take real care of me and vice versa.
Two months ago tomorrow I sailed from New York. Gosh it seems like two years ago – honestly. However it does mean that I am two months nearer to returning home to the sweetest in all the world. Until I do I will only exist because real life can no longer exist for me without my Darling by my side.
Goodnight Sweetheart,
Yours alone,
Harold
Soon I plan to have a couple of neat informational blogs, one about another Strong sailor whose relatives have contacted me recently, and another talking about a flag that Gus Wellings kept, and some recent discoveries as to its origin. Until then, I welcome other suggestions and ideas for blogs. If you would like to contribute or write a piece to be included, I'm open to that.
Tammi
"Well, still no mail from my sweetheart. I guess the man in charge of the mail doesn't think anyone cares for me and my 307 men and 16 officers. I am beginning to get mad over the mail situation now. I sent a dispatch today and in addition wrote a letter to Al to check up and wake up the people in his area to forward out mail. I had Jackie Fulham take the letter to Jackie Greenslade, aviator friend of mine in '26 who promised to send it to Al in one of the planes which frequently go to Al's home port.
We did receive our supply officer, an Ensign fresh from the Harvard course for Supply Officers. He appears to be a fine intelligent youngster – name Shirley from Seattle (Keith Shirley), Washington. I signed a certified money list to which enabled us to be paid for the first time since we all drew $10.00 in Panama (?). He drew his money from the tender so that from now on we will always have sufficient money to pay the officers and crews.
By the way have you seen anything of my new glasses? I haven't been able to locate them since leaving New York. Did I by any chance leave them at home on my last trip? Please try my black suit case. If you can't find them please call Montgomery Frost Co. 414 Boxlston St. and ask them to make up another pair to the same prescriptions and frames. They have a record of my last glasses (about Oct. or Nov). They could send them direct. I want a stand-by – just in case I break my present ones. You see you still have to take care of me even though I am many, many miles away. Oh if I could only be with you and have you take real care of me and vice versa.
Two months ago tomorrow I sailed from New York. Gosh it seems like two years ago – honestly. However it does mean that I am two months nearer to returning home to the sweetest in all the world. Until I do I will only exist because real life can no longer exist for me without my Darling by my side.
Goodnight Sweetheart,
Yours alone,
Harold
Soon I plan to have a couple of neat informational blogs, one about another Strong sailor whose relatives have contacted me recently, and another talking about a flag that Gus Wellings kept, and some recent discoveries as to its origin. Until then, I welcome other suggestions and ideas for blogs. If you would like to contribute or write a piece to be included, I'm open to that.
Tammi
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