February 20, 1919

Feb 23 1919

U.S.S. New Jersey

France

Miss Rose Kraynik,

1336 Mich, Ave.,

Manitowoc

U-S-A. Wisconsin:

U-S-S- New Jersey.

Mid-Ocean

Feb., 20-1919.

Dearest Friend,-

I got your letter just befour we left Norfolk. sure was glad to hear from you. but am sorry that you havn’t ben getting my mail because I know how it is when I don’t get any of your mail. Am sorry that I didn’t get a chance to answer it. I wrote you one just a few days befour we left and sent a picture. hope you get it B-k.

You said in your other letter that you thought I had forgotten you, But not yet Rose, nor never. There isn’t one day goes by that I don’t think of you. I sure will be glad to when the day comes so I can go home to stay. There wont be any one any happier than I. There is time that we don’t get ashore for weeks at a time. No one to talk too but a bunch of cranky gobs.

There was a bunch discharged just befour we left. And about one hundred fourty new men came aboard. I wasn’t lucky enough to get out. But I will only make one more trip. Three in all. Than our ship is going in Boston for repairs. I may get out than.

I do not dislike the navy so much. I have a new job. and don’t have to work very hard any more and can get all the water I want just the reason why I want to get out is that I want to get back with you. And be a free man, work for my own account, and go any place I want to. here we can’t go only when the let us we have to be back when they tell us. we have to scrub our own clothes. keep the ship clean. And get up 5-30 every morning. well it is nearly time to go on watch so will finish this letter in the morning.

Feb. 21,

I went on watch last night from eight until twelve. the time went fast. I nearly read a book through. Finished it this afternoon. We are supposed to get in Brest-France eleven-o-clock Sat morning Washington’s Birthday. I suppose they will start coaling ship. always something to do.

I don’t care if they let us go ashore. it sure is funny to see the people. in France. women pulling two wheel carts. in place of horses. there is but a few horses. so there is a lot of women doing the work. I didn’t see hardly any men at all. I saw a good many French soldiers and a lot of German prisoners.

After we left France our ship run short of coal. We went in to the Azores to coal. a few small islands off the coast of Spain. That sure was a swell place. we could not go ashore. But could see a lot from the ship. The Island was all hills, a small city was built on the side. The houses were painted white and cream colored roofs. The grass was green there was large Dutch wind mills scattered among the hills. The weather was fine. just as hot as any Wisconsin summer day.

Well Rose you may hear a lot of people talking about the pretty little French girls. But I don’t want any. I am comming back to Wisconsin for mine.

I have written about all I can think of just now will try and write more when I get back to the states.

I hope you wont forget my address. if any thing should happen that you don’t hear from me any more. write to my home.

No matter where I go I will write to you just the same. We are just in sight of land. so will finish this letter so it will go back to the slates of the first steamer.

Good-Bye little Girl.

Will write again as soon as I get back.

Close with best Love.

Dan.

February 14, 1919

Feb 14 1919

Newport News VA.

Miss Rose Kraynik,

1336 Michigan Ave,

Manitowoc, Wis.

“RETURN WITHIN FIVE DAYS TO

J.A. Anderley

U.S.S. Susquehaning (?)

c/o Postmaster Mi

(No letter)

February 9, 1919

Feb 10 1919

Newport News, VA

Miss Rose Kraynik,

1336 Mich; Ave;

Manitowoc,

Wisconsin

(Art Rankin)

Feb-9-1919

U-S-S- New Jersey,

Dear Rose-

I suppose you thought I haven’t got back. I have ben back for a week but was so buisy all the time. when I didn’t have any thing to do I was so discouraged I couldn’t sit down and write.

I sure had a fine trip. after we left here, the weather got warmer just like summer there wasn’t a roughle on the water. About two day’s befoure we got in France it got rough. Tables up set broke dishes we couldn’t eat off the tables for two day’s.

We got in Brest France on the 12^th of Jan, stayed there for three days. left with 986 soldiers. we had to stop off at the Azor Islands for coal and engine repairs. That sure was a pretty place all white houses big hills back from the ocean and wind mills all over them. The grass was green there and it was very hot. The people of the Island sold us pineapples, oranges, and other fruit.

After we left there, there was Two soldiers died with pneumonia. There was fifty one sick at one time. There sure was a jolly bunch of soldiers when we got back. They were over in France a year and a half.

Our ship is ancored about five miles from shore. We have taken on stores, which took us nearly a week. We started to coal Friday after noon at one-o-clock. We worked until one that night, we couldn’t sleep in our hammocks because we were to dirty and couldn’t get any water to wash with. so had to sleep on the deck. I nearly froze, and in the morning my bones were sore. and stiff. we went to work a 5-30 and got done at ten in the morning. Half of the men got Liberty. we could go a shore for 40 hours I was one of the lucky ones. I am now in the Y-M-C-A at New Port News, Va.

Well Rose I am going too church this morning the first time sence I left home. it soon will be time, so will have to mak this letter a short one. I had some pictures taken. if they are any good I will put one in this letter.

There was one hundred twenty seven new men came on our ship Friday And there will be as many discharges. I was not lucky enough for that so will have to wait my turn.

There was 94 bags of mail for our ship when we got back from France but there wasn’t any from you. Now there wont be any until I get back from the second trip. But hope you haven’t forgotten me and will write so I will get it when I get back. Am leaving Tuesday the 11^th won’t be back till April the 10^th

Good-Bye

With Best Love.

4^th Div. U-S-S. New Jersey Dan

c/o Postmaster

Fortress Monroe.

Va.

On back of envelope: “From- D. Martin. U-S-S- New Jersey, 4^th Div, c/o Postmaster,- Fortress Monroe, Va.”