Letter, Irene Conole to her parents
A letter from Irene Conole to her parents. Irene is excited for her upcoming visit home and plans to catch a ride with a fellow seaman from Rochester. She writes that she got her summer suits altered and will be buying new shoes. She discusses redecorating the Enlisted Men’s Club and hopes it will look nice when Aunt Anna comes to visit. Irene reports that she has made the rank of Seaman and has earned an extra stripe which “makes a world of a difference.” She writes that she has a boyfriend and that he will be taking her to Baltimore soon.
[page 1]
14 June 1953
Dear Mom and Dad,
Am getting excited about coming
home and so is Janet. This fellow
that is taking us is due off of
flight at midnight on Wednesday.
Our leave starts at 8:00 am Thursday
and I believe we will be leaving here
by 9:00am. So we should be in by at least
10:00pm. Friday morning Janet and I
are going downtown to buy white shoes
for our uniform. I bought a pair of
those white linen shoes here and found
out that the shoes have to be made of
leather or suede.
I had my brown and white
summer suit altered. It was always
too big for me.
We have a new division officer.
He has been taking a special interest
in the club and has plenty of ideas.
I believe he is going to have four people
standing the watch here instead of two.
[page 2]
2. I met him last Thursday and he seems
to be very nice. I am on the committee
that is redecorating the club for they
want a woman’s viewpoint. They
are now installing air condition
and everything has got to be done
by July 15th. So the place should
look very nice when Aunt Anna comes
down.
I am writing this letter up at
the club so excuse the scribbling. I
am lucky to be able to sit and write
for five minutes. I have to check the
pool room, the shuffleboards, the
snack bar and the bar and also check
the T.V. room. I am the only one
who can touch the T.V. set.
Everyone has been congratulating
me on making Seaman. Boy that
extra stripe makes a world of a
difference.
Last night the base was alerted
on a tornado coming this way through
Virginia. I was telling the fellows
that I have never seen one. All of the
tornado that we got was a big wind
storm and plenty of rain. Today is
another miserable day. It’s cold and
damp. I am getting over a cold and
I lost my voice for four days.
[page 3]
3.
I have acquired myself a boyfriend.
Rather he has taken a liken to me.
The poor kid. He is a second class
mechanic and he is going up for first.
He is equal to a Technical Sergeant. He
has a 52 Chevelet and is a very nice fellow.
He is going to take me to Baltimore some
Friday afternoon, when I come back
off of leave, to see the woman that is
secretary of the Tel. Pioneers. She wrote
me a nice letter and invited me up
to see her. So instead of writing an
answer to her letter, I decided to pay
her a visit.
I have to answer Mr. Parmalee’s letter
too. I might do that when I am home.
Well I guess I’ll bring this to a
close now. So I’ll be seeing you all
very soon.
Love and Kisses
Irene