I love reading the reflections of Captain Wellings as the ship made its way around the Solomons training for pushing the Japanese back west and out of the islands. This letter has a lot to say and goes through his day from start to finish. Enjoy!
USS Strong
17 February, 1943
Sweetheart,
Good morning my darling little girl. How is everything around the household this morning? I trust that Anne
was up bright and early, closely followed by her charming mother, that Anne had a fine breakfast and then went sailing off to school willingly and in good humor. Now it is about ten a.m. And of course there is nothing to do - ????
Gosh I am still anxiously waiting to receive my first mail from my sweetheart. What I thought about the mail
orderly who sent our mail to another port would not be fit to print. However I hope they will get the information straight very soon so that my crew – and particularly the captain – will receive their first mail in almost two months.
“My Day” by J.H.W.
This morning I was up as usual long before sunrise. As the stars began to lose their luster and as the first
indication of dawn appeared in the eastern horizon a new day was born – a day of hope and prayers that sometime in the not too distant future peace would once again reign and the captain of the finest destroyer in any Navy would be back
home with his two sweethearts.
At this point my thoughts were interrupted by my mess attendant who had carefully prepared a cup of delicious
coffee which appeared on a tray along with the morning news selected from the various radio news bulletins. I immediately retired to my sea cabin and for the next five minutes enjoyed the fresh aroma of fine coffee, the morning news
and one of the popular brands of cigarettes.
I was not alone, except in my thoughts as over three hundred keen eyed and well drilled American youths were
at their battle stations alert and ready for any eventualities which may occur with the new born day.
Exactly at the time predicted by the navigator the sun began to appear above the eastern horizon, first as the
smallest of crescents, then getting larger and larger until it was completely above the clear cut line where the sky reaches down and meets the deep blue and smooth ocean. I only wish my readers could have seen the changing of colors in
the adjacent sky and in the sun itself as the sun changed from a deep rich red to a beautiful shade of golden yellow.
Sometime after sunrise the ship resumed its normal condition of watches. The boys off watch were served a most
delicious breakfast from the neat and clean all electric kitchens. I myself was served in the captains sea cabin a breakfast consisting of orange juice, cereal, scrambled eggs, toast and coffee.
During the morning the men were engaged in various drills and lectures. The ship in reality appeared to be one
huge school with small groups everywhere receiving instruction in the numerous details of the many subjects in which a good destroyer must be proficient. In addition an aircraft flew over the ship several times towing a cigar shape
sleeve on the end of a long tow line. As the sleeve approached the many types of guns would start firing. The criss-cross of the fire from the small guns and the puffs of smoke from the large guns as the shells detonated was a very
unusual sight. Of course the many maneuvers performed were very fascinating. Before I realized the time it was twelve o'clock and time for lunch. I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch in the wardroom discussing many and varied conflicts with the officers.
After lunch I was persuaded to take a fine nap for about two hours. I must admit I felt very refreshed afterwards. As I must go on deck to witness some more maneuvers I will continue this story tomorrow.
Sweetheart remember I love you always. I have no idea how regularly my mail arrives. But you know by now no news is good news.
All my love is yours.
Your very own,
Harold
More reflections of the Captain, and other things. I welcome stories of your family members to post here. This could be a banner year. I'm doing my best to make it so.
Tammi
USS Strong
17 February, 1943
Sweetheart,
Good morning my darling little girl. How is everything around the household this morning? I trust that Anne
was up bright and early, closely followed by her charming mother, that Anne had a fine breakfast and then went sailing off to school willingly and in good humor. Now it is about ten a.m. And of course there is nothing to do - ????
Gosh I am still anxiously waiting to receive my first mail from my sweetheart. What I thought about the mail
orderly who sent our mail to another port would not be fit to print. However I hope they will get the information straight very soon so that my crew – and particularly the captain – will receive their first mail in almost two months.
“My Day” by J.H.W.
This morning I was up as usual long before sunrise. As the stars began to lose their luster and as the first
indication of dawn appeared in the eastern horizon a new day was born – a day of hope and prayers that sometime in the not too distant future peace would once again reign and the captain of the finest destroyer in any Navy would be back
home with his two sweethearts.
At this point my thoughts were interrupted by my mess attendant who had carefully prepared a cup of delicious
coffee which appeared on a tray along with the morning news selected from the various radio news bulletins. I immediately retired to my sea cabin and for the next five minutes enjoyed the fresh aroma of fine coffee, the morning news
and one of the popular brands of cigarettes.
I was not alone, except in my thoughts as over three hundred keen eyed and well drilled American youths were
at their battle stations alert and ready for any eventualities which may occur with the new born day.
Exactly at the time predicted by the navigator the sun began to appear above the eastern horizon, first as the
smallest of crescents, then getting larger and larger until it was completely above the clear cut line where the sky reaches down and meets the deep blue and smooth ocean. I only wish my readers could have seen the changing of colors in
the adjacent sky and in the sun itself as the sun changed from a deep rich red to a beautiful shade of golden yellow.
Sometime after sunrise the ship resumed its normal condition of watches. The boys off watch were served a most
delicious breakfast from the neat and clean all electric kitchens. I myself was served in the captains sea cabin a breakfast consisting of orange juice, cereal, scrambled eggs, toast and coffee.
During the morning the men were engaged in various drills and lectures. The ship in reality appeared to be one
huge school with small groups everywhere receiving instruction in the numerous details of the many subjects in which a good destroyer must be proficient. In addition an aircraft flew over the ship several times towing a cigar shape
sleeve on the end of a long tow line. As the sleeve approached the many types of guns would start firing. The criss-cross of the fire from the small guns and the puffs of smoke from the large guns as the shells detonated was a very
unusual sight. Of course the many maneuvers performed were very fascinating. Before I realized the time it was twelve o'clock and time for lunch. I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch in the wardroom discussing many and varied conflicts with the officers.
After lunch I was persuaded to take a fine nap for about two hours. I must admit I felt very refreshed afterwards. As I must go on deck to witness some more maneuvers I will continue this story tomorrow.
Sweetheart remember I love you always. I have no idea how regularly my mail arrives. But you know by now no news is good news.
All my love is yours.
Your very own,
Harold
More reflections of the Captain, and other things. I welcome stories of your family members to post here. This could be a banner year. I'm doing my best to make it so.
Tammi
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