Seventy years ago today, Strong landed at Guadalcanal. This was also the day the Japanese finally pulled back and retreated to the westernmost islands. Of course Captain Wellings wrote home to his wife to update her on their progress in port. Here are a couple of snippets from the letter. Unfortunately I believe the censors (of which Wellings was one) must have cut something out, as a portion of the page with some information was snipped out. So here's the gist of his news about the happenings on Strong as they prepare to monitor the area around Guadalcanal:
"Sorry not to have written the past two or three days. We have been quite busy running here and there doing odd jobs. Guess they must reserve these odds and ends for the newcomers? No – there was not anything exciting just the type of work which kept me busy on the bridge – without getting my usual 8-9 hours sleep. However we have a little time to ourselves today – hence a letter to my darling.
My mail has not caught up with one as yet. Gosh it has been six weeks since I have heard from my little girl. (At this time, they have not received any letters from home. As they meet ships at sea and in port, they are able to drop post in most places they stopped. But they needed to be in one place long enough to receive letters from home. This was a huge morale issue)
My ship is rapidly getting to be a snappy well-tuned organization. The boys have at least realized that second place does not exist in the game. Their improvement has been extremely gratifying. I will be ready for any kind of an engagement.
Now how is my sweetheart? Miss me?? And our little girl does she miss her Daddy? I certainly miss you and believe it or not am always thinking regardless of how busy I may be – and when these beautiful sunsets radiate in the western horizon – boy oh boy how I miss you."
More later, as they prepare to do battle with the Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands.
Tammi
"Sorry not to have written the past two or three days. We have been quite busy running here and there doing odd jobs. Guess they must reserve these odds and ends for the newcomers? No – there was not anything exciting just the type of work which kept me busy on the bridge – without getting my usual 8-9 hours sleep. However we have a little time to ourselves today – hence a letter to my darling.
My mail has not caught up with one as yet. Gosh it has been six weeks since I have heard from my little girl. (At this time, they have not received any letters from home. As they meet ships at sea and in port, they are able to drop post in most places they stopped. But they needed to be in one place long enough to receive letters from home. This was a huge morale issue)
My ship is rapidly getting to be a snappy well-tuned organization. The boys have at least realized that second place does not exist in the game. Their improvement has been extremely gratifying. I will be ready for any kind of an engagement.
Now how is my sweetheart? Miss me?? And our little girl does she miss her Daddy? I certainly miss you and believe it or not am always thinking regardless of how busy I may be – and when these beautiful sunsets radiate in the western horizon – boy oh boy how I miss you."
More later, as they prepare to do battle with the Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands.
Tammi
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