Letter and cover were torn in half by JES when MSC found them in the attic with others. She didn’t think they were anyone’s business. She threw them away and MSC recovered them. MSC taped them together (before I knew better).
Cover: “AIR MAIL” between two bars in lower right corner
From: Lt(jg) CR Cummins
USS LST 661
FPO San Fran. Cal.
To: Mrs. and Mr. CM Cummins
6109 Greenwood Ave.
Chicago, 37, Illinois
Stamp: 6¢ Airmail
Postmark: [top torn away] NAVY, center 19 MAY 1945
Censor: PASSED BY NAVY CENSOR, initialed
19 May
0600
Hi! little ones,
Here am I back again with all the news from your belligerent.
I have learned that there will not be as long a pause as I had thought, due to stopovers. So I won’t be away from my mail as long as I had thought. This is the sum total of the news—lots, isn’t it?
Today I am going to make some last minute purchases—there is no way of telling what they are going to be. Tonight I will have dinner at the Robinsons, to complete my extended stay in these regions.
According to the clipping you sent me there were 19 errors made in the Wheaton-Herzl baseball game. My heavens! what were they playing—fumbleball? The final score make it sound like a high-scoring basketball game.
Yes, pop, I pay rather close attention to the news—much more than I ever did in my pre-Navy overseas time. Our radios are and will be giving us the up-to-the-minute news. While we are here we have the daily newspaper almost every day. Today I have a roommate moving in, an army medical corps captain—should provide excellent company. Now and then I feel the need to have new blood around here for company. This outfit will be on board approximately a month. they are going to the present location of our former travelling companions.
Who is this Mrs. John Netherton, mother, that you arrowed on the letterhead?
Why hasn’t that little brat brother of mine written? I am most anxious to hear of the Wheaton news—studies, baseball and, naturally the Wheaton belles.
Either plain or chocolate bits cookies, mom. Now, of course, they will have farther to travel, but the crumbs are just as good as the whole ones—for essentially the difference is only the construction. Usually I like to have a bit to nibble upon—though our food here has been so good that I did not find it necessary. I must begin reducing one of these months, too.
I hope your weather improves soon—you would love it out here in these parts (especially mother).
I wish I had know more about Bill Banks’ location. He might have been in here at some time. From now on I shall probably run into more of my friends as this is the one and only war now.
It wasn’t Robert who painted the inside of the cady. I think that was Mrs. CMC—remember, she missed so many spots. If you think that color of green is bad, you should see some of these ship camaflauge (sp.) greens—ugh!
From now on you will have more pictures, as I was able to obtain a few rolls of film.
Lots and oodles of love & kisses,
Bob