It will be just like going to heaven when we come in to home port and I can see you. We will never let our honeymoon end honey.

I received the package Sat. I was excited as a child on Christmas morning, they were lovely. I like to wear beads. And they are so odd. I think you are real sweet to send them to me.

Honey I will try to make you a good wife so we will be happy. Of course we don’t know each others disposition. I will try to be sweet anyway.

I have 1 sister May Russell at Lyle, Brother Henry “The Navy”, Russell, Woody & Day at Turlock Ca. Mother is at Day’s now, His two boys Billy 9 & Johnnie 7 has the typhoid fever, in the hospital.

Received your letter yesterday, Honey. I sure was glad to hear from your, I missed your letters so much. Just counting the days until I see you again.

I will get some time off for Christmas. I told Lieut Lett confidential about us but it was too good to keep secret so all the Naval Officers aboard ships know about it and they are planning on giving us a party and giving us a big time when we get married. So we will be a “King for a Day” ha

I received your letter today as we will be sailing early in the morning for Honolulu. I will tell you how glad I am when you said “yes”. When I read your letter it seem that I had been lost all my life and found the most happiness thing to live for.

I haven’t heard from you since my last 2 letters. You probable haven’t recovered from the shock. As soon as you get your breath I will be looking for an answer.

Sam’s Birthday is September 15 that will be the code for the date we will arrive in San Diego or any name stating date so you understand what date we will arrive back.

Gee jack I wish I had more time off while you are out here, so I could be with you more.

An excerpt from “The Life Story of a lucky Tennessee Sailor that Lived to Retire” by Abb R. Truett:
November, 1940, as we came up from the south to New York on a Standard Oil tanker, I was called by the Navy for active duty. The Navy dispatched me to the U.S.S. Santee at Baltimore as a Commissioned Officer. The U.S.S. Santee at that time was on oil tanker rigged for fueling ships at sea.

Dear Mae, Read your letter this morning, sure was glad to hear from you. I am having a good time but not as good as I had last year. Of course I didn’t expect to, it is entirely different, but it will be cheaper.

An excerpt from “The Life Story of a lucky Tennessee Sailor that Lived to Retire” by Abb R. Truett:
November, 1940, I was called by the Navy for active duty.