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.