TIME TO SHARE MORE LETTERS FROM:
Before I Go Berserk, Hon: Tumultuous Love Letters, Comfort Women with VD, and 4 Ton Wreckers
Kathy and Christine started a 12-part series of some of their favorite Jack Cavazzi love letters.
Christine posted six of her favorites. Now, here are Kathy's.
Letter 9 in a series of 12.
February 10, 1953
Pacific Ocean
Hello Honey:
Well Anne, I’m really starting to miss you now. The thrill of the trip is over and I’m thinking about you constantly. I hope for your sake and mine and Junior’s of course, that this thing ends soon. Now that Stalin is dead maybe things will change for the better.
I hope you are feeling well honey. I worry a little you know. One good thing that I’m very thankful for is that you are in good hands. I miss the folks a lot, too. Tell Bob I’ll play him even when I get home.
I’ve been trying to think of a name for the baby but I can’t find one suitable. You name him
and just write to me and tell me what to call my son. Tell him his daddy’s going to make up for
lost time when he gets home. Tell him to be a good boy. I hope he will be strong and healthy.
And I hope he looks like you. Tell him he is going to have to be the man in the family for a
while. I wish I could be there, Anne. I’m going to miss being there when he is born.
You had better be a good girl and take care of yourself. I don’t want any bad reports. Remember, don’t get too lonesome. You may have to wait but when I get home you’ll get well rewarded.
I want you to tell my Mom that I’m fine and that I’ll write her as soon as I get to Japan. We can’t get stamps so this will be my last letter until then.
I was on K.P. today. They finally caught up to me. It wasn’t bad though. I ate good for the first time in weeks. By the way, I have to tell you about Hawaii. I guess you were surprised to get a Radiogram from Honolulu. I sent it as soon as I got off the boat Saturday nite. We got off about 8:00 Sat. nite and we didn’t have to be back until 2:00 Sunday afternoon. Anne, that is the most beautiful place I have ever seen in my life. We picked coconuts right off the trees on the main street. They were good, too. I went swimming at Waikiki beach where Godfrey goes all the time. We had dinner at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.
The Royal Hawaiian Hotel in all its pink glory.
Located on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel opened February 1, 1927. Known as the “Pink Palace of the Pacific” because of its flamingo pink façade, the hotel was originally six-stories with 400 rooms including suites and servants' rooms. Constructed after the popular architectural style of the time – Spanish-Moorish – the resort attracted wealthy ocean travelers and movie stars. During WWII, the hotel became a rest and relaxation center for Navy personnel.
Boy what a time. I slept on a park bench at the Honolulu Zoo. Almost froze. We took a lot of pictures. As soon as we develop them I’ll send them to you. I really can’t describe the place. Hon, it’s magnificent. Tune in next week for “Tales of Japan.” It’s hard to believe that I am almost 10,000 miles from home. And believe me, I feel every mile.
The weather is bad now. This little tub is rocking like crazy. Lucky we are all over the sea sickness.
Well Darling, I guess I’ll close now as much as I hate to. Give my love to all.
Honey, take good care of yourself.
All my Love
Forever & Ever & Always
Jackie
Let me know when I can write to Mrs. J.J. Cavazzi & Son.
Stalin
Born Josef Vissarionovich Djugashvili in the province of Georgia in 1878, he changed his name to Stalin (Russian for ‘man of steel’) in his 30s. Stalin went from criminal and young revolutionary to general secretary of the Communist Party and then made himself absolute ruler of the Soviet Union after Vladimir Lenin died in 1924. As dictator, he exiled, murdered, and imprisoned anyone he suspected of opposing him as he built up the Soviet Union’s military power and transformed the Soviet Union from a peasant society into an industrial superpower. In 1950, Stalin gave North Korea’s communist leader Kim II Sung the green light to invade South Korea. Stalin died in 1953. Many books list Stalin’s death as early March. Yet, Jack states above in his February 10th letter, “Now that Stalin is dead…”
Radiogram
A radiogram is a message – brief like a telegram – transmitted by radio rather than wires.