Letter, Irene Conole to her parents
A letter from Irene Conole to her parents describing her busy work and social life. Irene writes about a variety show held on base and how she met the Captain and his wife there. She reports that many of the men at the E Club like to talk to her because she has “common sense” and that she is making friends with her male coworkers, who share with her the local gossip. She attended a football banquet where she spoke to her divison officer, Commander Coolidge, and she regrettably had to turn down an opportunity to meet New York’s Governor Dewey at a political banquet in Washington, D.C., because she had to work.
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24 Jan. 1953
Dear Mom and Dad,
I received the package and I think I
mentioned it in my other letter. You know
there is an extra letter going between us.
It’s slightly confusing.
I wrote Mrs. Stowell yesterday and I’m
wondering if she’ll answer.
Thursday night we had a variety show
at the club and it turned out pretty good.
Last night I wrote a couple of letters while
on duty and I’m lucky that I finished
them. There were fellows sitting down and
talking to me. Gee, they are nice guys and
they like to talk to me because I have some
common sense and I tell them the truth.
The Captain of the base was at the
variety show with his wife and I waited
on them. I was standing near the door
when they left and he was looking all
over and when he saw me he came over
and said goodnight. Nice huh?
Wednesday night there was a banquet
for the football players and my division
officer was there. His name is Commander
Coolidge and I was talking to him in the
office. Boy he’s a riot and I can relax
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2. when I talk to him.
Yesterday I had coffee with one of the
boys on the Master at Arms force on the
base. We had been sitting for about
five minutes when three more of the
boys came over. I get along good with
the MAA on the station due to the fact
that I’m one of them. They have told me
that, if anyone ever gives me any kind
of trouble, to call them. Every night there
are two of them that drop into the club
to see me and to see how everything is
going. They have told me some of the dirt
going on around here and have told me
the names of Waves that are on their
list to be watched. I’m doing good with
Security too and they tell me who gets
picked up for speeding etc. I’m a walking
encyclopedia now. Ask me anything.
I didn’t get to see the inaugural
ceremonies on T.V. but was invited to go
Washington to see them. Couldn’t go for I had
to go to work.
I was in the office a couple of weeks ago
when a long distance call came in. There is
a woman in Washington that’s quite influential
and she’s the one that sends the girls down
to our dances. She wanted some of the
Waves and sailors to come down, on this
certain date, to attend this banquet that the
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3. Senators and Governors and the rest of them
were having. If I had gone I would have
met Governor Dewey and he would have
prop probably had me as his hostess at
the parties he would be throwing. Boy I
would have loved to have gone but duty comes
first. Wouldn’t that have been something?
Tell the egg man hello for me. How’s
his daughter coming along?
That isn’t the address I wanted of Jim
Lindbergh’s. When I come home I’ll get it.
I might possibly be home on Feb 7th but I’m
not sure. I have to check with the manager
of the club first.
We get paid Feb 2nd and I’ll be glad to see
that day. I don’t know if I’ll be able to
save much money. I’m saving dimes and
pennies. There is a bank on my dresser
that I’m going to bring back with me.
Well I guess this is all I can think of.
Tonight there is a dance so that means I’ll
have to be alert. So take care of yourselves.
Hey dad keep up the good bowling and
you’ll be ace of the base and the sensation
of the station. How about that? Signing
off for now.
Love and Kisses
Irene