March 17, 1919

March 18, 1919

U.S.S. New Jersey

Fort Monroe, Virginia

Miss Rose Kraynik,

1336 Michigan Ave.

Manitowoc, Wisconsin

U-S-S- New Jersey.

Fortress Monroe, VA

March-17-1919

Dearest Friend,-

I am going to try and answer your most loving letter. I started to answer it befour but did not have time to finish so will start another one.

We got back from France the fifteenth of March. We had a much more nicer trip than befour. the weather was warmer and wasn’t near so rough.

We got back on Saturday, started to coal ship on Sunday. There is most always some thing to do on Sunday I sure will be glad when I can get discharged. There is no chance of being discharged this time a we are going to get our old Captain back the one we used to have last summer.

We are leaving for France again on the 20^th of this month. bringing back 2000 soldiers instead of one thousand. we are going to land them in Boston than our ship will be in navy yards about a mounth for repairs. I sure will be glad than, there wont be much work to do, and can go ashore nearly every night. I hope I will be discharged by that time.

We go to the Azores every trip that is sure a nice place. there large mountains higher than the clouds. with snow on the tops. The weather is real hot there hotter than it gets up there in summer.

They can keep all there pretty places. if I could only get back with my sweet little girl. I can not forgit the night when I left you to enlist. I sure was proud of you that night. I never thought you cared much for me until that night than I knew you cared a little for me. I wished more than once that I could get back to stay.

I could have went on a five day leave but I would not have time to go see you so may as well stay on ship.

If we go in Boston navy yards I will try and get a fifteen day leave. to go home.

I am glad the girls are still in Manitowoc. so that you do not have to go out alone nights. I don’t suppose you will be there much longer. I hope so anyway. You just can’t imagine how mean I would feel if I could not see you when I get back.

Next best I like to get mail. When we got back we got 70 bags I got 10 letters. I would like very well to have a few more letters next time. I got a big box of candy from my Aunt in Chicago. And one from my mother it sure was fine. but I didn’t last very long. There were three or four different kinds. Most all was home maid.

The letter you wrote was not a bit late. You thought I wouldn’t get it very soon. but you mailed it March 2^nd I got back on the 15^th so was waiting a long time.

I havn’t seen much snow this winter or coald weather. the last snow I saw was in Boston on Dec. 5. And a little in the Azor Islands on a mountain top. I suppose there was plenty of snow and coald weather up there?

I was ashore to night over to Newport News. from six-until nine-o-clock. I just got a real supper and some other things I needed.

I think I will have to chop off as there isn’t any more trash to write. you sure are tired of reading this letter I can almost see you.

If you don’t get a letter real often please don’t think I have forgotten to write. it is just because I am gone to France And there is no chance to mail letters at sea. I will write you a letter in France but you wont get it much sooner than if I wait until I get back to mail it.

This will be all for this time.

So Good-Bye With Best Love And Thousands of Kisses.

Hope to remain your loving friend- Dan.

(On back of envelope: From- David Martin. 4^th Div. U-S-S. New Jersey, c/o Post Master Fortress Monroe Va.)