1941 letter from a USS Arizona crewman

[Bob Hudson]

This letter was written on October 10, 1941 by Radioman 3rd Class Lyle Carl Curtis to former Arizona shipmate James Zobel who was now on the USS Rathburne (DD-113) in San Diego.

 

Curtis is very ticked off that his old buddy has not written to him and let's him know that. Curtis also mentions that his enlistment is over and he's going out of the Navy even if he has to starve, but he asks Zobel to give him the dope on looking for jobs in San Diego. From what I gather the Arizona is at sea so Curtis can't get out of the Navy until they ship goes back to Pearl Harbor, hopefully by Thanksgiving, he writes. He also writes that until then he is "drawing time and a quarter," which sounds like the Navy is paying him overtime? Was there some sort of special pay bonus for guys had had to serve after their enlistment was up?

 

The letter and envelope were torn in half and I have no idea why - maybe Zobel was upset at Curtis for cussing him out. Or maybe Zobel did it out of anger at himself for never answering his buddy's letter from the Arizona when he had a chance.

 

Lyle Carl Curtis died December 7, 1941.

 

 

I have transcribed the letter below the images of it.

 

 

 

 

You oooxodsd so & s0

What is your reason for not writing? I

don’t believe you!! You’re a fu****ng liar

and a no good f**k off. This must be at

least the umpteenth letter to you and not a

damn word from you - what’s the big

idea?

 

I want an explanation and be quick

about it. I’m getting pee’d off. People that

aren’t even my friends write more often

than you.

 

What have you been doing? I hear the

defense workers are squeezing you sailors

out - Ha Ha - serves you right. You ????

have been living to in life to long.

 

Overstreet went to the Hornet on the

East Coast so he should be living a good

life too.

 

Say your enlistment is up soon isn’t

it? What you plan on doing? Shipping over?

Sucker! Mine was up a month ago so

I’m drawing time and a quarter. The Exec’s

office said I made second so I’ll be drawing

 

(PAGE TWO)

 

 

down some good dough for a while. The rumor

has it we’ll be back for Thanksgiving. Boy

do I hope so,I’m going out if I starve to

death. I’ve had enough which is plenty.

 

And fellow if you aren’t around when

I get back there, I’ll look you up and

really beat you into the ground.

 

Write at least and give me the

dope. You’ve been there long enough to

give me the dope on where to go and who

to see first. I’ll be needing a job you know,

so I’m open for advice and information.

 

No news here so I will close.

I’ll write a decent letter when you write -

Even a card will let me know that at least

you are alive.

 

Best Wishes

Your Pal

Lyle

 

P.S. Kenny (my Bro) is on the Fulton

in Frisco - Look him up

if you get there

you so & so -

 

L.

[Bob Hudson]

Curtis talks about his enlistment having ended and sounds anxious to get out of the Navy, but we know that two months later he was still in the Navy when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Someone asked me today, "Why?"

 

Either he shipped over or there was some sort of mandatory extension of enlistments put it effect before Dec. 7?

[siege1863]

Curtis talks about his enlistment having ended and sounds anxious to get out of the Navy, but we know that two months later he was still in the Navy when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Someone asked me today, "Why?"

 

Either he shipped over or there was some sort of mandatory extension of enlistments put it effect before Dec. 7?

 

 

I suspect it had to do with declaration of war. I was researching a guy in the 37th Infantry Division, which had been the 37th Division, Ohio National, and he expected to be discharge after the one year of Federal service expired. This would have been from October 1940 to October 1941. Because of our pending involvement in the war, the term was extended. After war was declared, he indicated in his letters home that all hope of getting out was gone and that he was in it for good.