Excerpts from Letters to Mom in italics.
04 March 1965
I moved into the senior NCO quarters - most of them have one or two stripes more than I. It is a nicer, quieter room and for a fee - $10 this month - the "putzfrau" cleans the room and makes the beds, etc. I can get to work sooner.
Although I've lost a hell of a lot of initiative since I've been in the Navy, I've gotten all (almost) of this running around, drinking etc out of my system. You can only party so much, and I've probably done enough for a half-dozen people. Maybe it's better 'cause I won't have a hard time settling down. In about four months or so, I'll be out. I know I ought to go to school, but I don't think I want to incur the debt and all the trouble. It is not that I don't feel able, I believe I am, but if I can find a good interesting job, I'll probably accept.
I can't think of anything to write, so I'll light my pipe and reflect a bit… You don't have a monopoly on bad weather at home. It's cold as hell [latter word crossed out] (guess it ain't cold there) a witch's tit in the middle of a blizzard and it has been for some time. In addition we got about a foot of that white stuff and since it's always so windy - drifts. It's almost enuf to drive you to drink. Thank God I got globs of will power. Guess I'll settle down and read a little 'fore I turn in.
14 March 1965
I'm looking forward to the class reunion. By that time I will have been out about a week or two and maybe I can fix myself up with a few of the divorcees. I assume all the women are married and about a third divorced.
I'm startin to feel like a bier would hit the spot. Guess I'll throw some polish on my shoes and hit the Stadt (city). It's gonna be different when I get home. I know a couple other girls downtown (Zwei) that I see. Making dates and talking in English sure will be difficult for a while. I'm glad I came here; at least I didn't get rushed into marriage. I wonder if I'll seem like a different person when I return.
30 April 1965
I'm writing immediately because you were so concerned in your last letter. I know I sent off an airmail post card the other week, although perhaps you haven't received it. Anyway my emergency data forms are updated and if anything, God forbid would happen to me, you would be notified - schnell (quickly).
The greatest danger of injury to myself at the present time, rest assured, would be falling off a bar stool - not likely to be fatal. Cheer up I don't ever get smashed, just at the worst (perhaps best) moderately high.
03 May 1965 [Written inside a Mother's Day card]
I'm signing out on a weeks leave tomorrow. Ain't goin nowhere though. Just thought I'd relax and get away from the office. I'm getting a little anxious now about coming home. I bought another season ticket to the Rosengarten, so I think I'll spend this week there reading. I hope the weather is as nice as it was over the weekend.
17 May 1965
I took a week's leave the other week - perhaps I already mentioned. I split it between here and Amsterdam. I also projected leave again for 01-07 June, right after payday.
I haven't packed yet but it wouldn't take more than a few minutes. Or as the saying goes, "If they told me I had five minutes to pack and leave, I wouldn't know what to do with the other three."
I can send my clothing back free, but it takes between 1 & 2 months. I think I'll ship old clothes and some heavy winter uniforms that way and carry the rest. Joe Sloboda [a fellow AG and buddy] didn't have a seabag inspection when he went thru Philly. It would be my luck to have one and have to buy new all the clothes I shipped. Guess I'll take a chance anyway. I had the chief send off for my orders last week.
Boy, have I been getting all the "ship-over" [re-enlistment] talks! Last week the Secretary of the Navy asked everyone to extend voluntarily for six months. That's remmeniscent [sic] of Korea and the Berlin crisis [when enlistments were extended for the duration]. I'm hoping enough guys extend or the Navy just might make me stay longer. However, it's my private belief, perhaps hope, that within a couple months things will take a turn for the better and brighten up in Viet Nam [First mention of that locale in the Letters].
I started playing softball again. We had a pre-season tournement [sic] - and did I get stiff 'n sore. I still get a kick out of playing, but I'm way out of shape and a little older.