[Note: Read this post first for an introduction.]
A few months before this letter was sent, Rudy, the family Dachshund of 13 years, died while I was visiting on holiday leave (a post for another day). My parents soon got a Golden Retriever puppy from my aunt. Named C.J. (for “Colonel, Jr.”) he would be a faithful dog for a a half-dozen years or so before succumbing to cancer. My parents never got another pet.
I did get time pierside at San Diego but not the 18 months that I speculated about in this letter. Out of the three years I spent on the USS Elliot, over 18 months were spent on deployments and several weeks were spent doing donuts off the coast, leaving less than 18 months to be moored at San Diego Naval Station (or in the NASSCO shipyard next door).
Korea remains one of the coldest damn places I’ve ever been.
9 March 1990 [age:21]
Dear Grandma,
I just got done with a workout down in the ship’s gym and picked up a pen. It feels like it weighs 50 pounds but I’ll manage…
Puppies, huh? That should keep you busy in-between letters! They look so cute, I bet Mom would cave-in if she saw the picture you sent me. And the yard is plenty big, even with the pool and all … but who’s gonna make sure she doesn’t overfeed it???
At times, even out here on the ocean I’ll hear a jingle that sounds familiar or walk by someone’s smelly shoes (gross, huh?) and I’ll think about Rudy. I sure am thankful we still got to play together so late in his life. He was an incredibly healthy and strong dog. I wonder if any dog can follow his act. I am almost sure to expect to see his happy little face looking up at me when I get home. I’ll never forget.
It has been almost a week since my first port visit to Korea: the southern port of Pusan. The city was modern – more modern than Japan, I noticed. It is a city of 4 million people and is spread out like a modern city.
They say Korea is a “shopper’s paradise” and it’s true. I got great deals on clothing and shoes – bought a pair of Reeboks for $10! It was great. I like Koreans and their country is less of a culture-shock than Japan.
But it was cooooooooold!! Quite different from Hawaii which was 80-something. It got into the 30s or so while we were there (in Korea) and the biting wind would not stop! The jacket I bought worked great there but won’t work in my next port, the Philippines (90 degrees).
I have 23 months left in the Navy and at least 18 or so should be dockside in San Diego. I can’t wait to go to college. It’s not that I couldn’t succeed here, but in this day-and-age the military is becoming a bit obsolete. Maybe by the time I’m a student again they’ll have all the history books re-written!
Going on deployment is a great way to save money – I plan on buying a nice car when we pull in. By that time I should be promoted to E-4 (“petty officer third-class,” or “CTR3”). Allen should be home by then, too. That’s not fair … heh heh.
Well, I’d better write Charlie since he’s so anxious to hear from me again. Gotta get to work on a name for the dog, Mom said. Hmmm …
Take care.
Love,
Mark