Pearl Harbor

Day off. After weeks of no mail I finally blossomed out with six letters this morning – mostly airmail, yet they came by ship (convoy in yesterday) due to the crowded planes.

Went into town to Sears and Roebuck and ordered myself another pair of boots, so I won’t be caught short when these wear out. Have grown quite fond of these boots  of mine. They are not only extremely comfortable and allow wear day after day  without hurting one’s feet, but they protect one’s ankles from the mosquitoes and the many jagged bits of metal to be found protruding within a patrol plane. Will never forget poor old Grayson’s ankles on our way out of Java. From lack of protection, he cut them in underbrush after being forced down by Jap Zeros. As long as I knew him (two months) these damn cuts never healed – they only seem to fester again and again, until, at one stage, his ankles were nothing but a mass of pussy bandages.

Spent the afternoon swimming at Waikiki. Tried a surf board but couldn’t manage the damned thing. Finally dragged it in and went for a swim without it. Watch the sailors “rug cutting” on the terrace of the Royal Hawaiian with the girls provided by the U.S.O. — a very humorous sight, with all the jitterbugging. Had a room with Ortwin. Dinner, a movie (“Billy the Kid”) and to bed — felt pretty tired after all the swimming. Incidentally I managed to climb partway up one of the coconut palms in the garden of the Royal in the approved South Seas fashion.