Dear Folks,

Today is Heaven around here for the plebes. The weather is ideal, not too hot nor too cold, the sun is shining and the winds is blowing gently. Above all, there is just a handful of upperclassmen around, quartered in a wing all their own, and the 4th class is supreme. We use recreation hall all we wish; we walk around in comparative ease and we are our own bosses except for a few officers. All in all, we are enjoying ourselves for a short while before the return of our 1500 superiors to wear us to a threadbare.

Yesterday I wrote Dave and told him about the new schedule we will start tomorrow. When Sis sees him she can get the “dope” on it. I sort of dread starting the grind of a school year, as usually is the case, so I won’t write about it.

Since Thursday afternoon it has been raining quite a bit here, particularly yesterday P.M. We had some real thundershowers and bad winds. The rain actually came down in sheets and stood in puddles all over. All the sailboats were out, and as it came up suddenly, they were caught. The fellows got soaked to the hide and one boat capsized. Of course there were no casualties for motor launches went out to relieve them when the storm broke. The boats have air tanks in them so they can’t sink anyhow. I was planning to go out today, but the boat we had spoken for was injured in some way yesterday and can’t be used today. Some luck! It’s a perfect day for sailing.

Now that dinner is over, I will resume my writing.

Of course, competition is over and we didn’t win. As I told Dave, we placed third and had tough luck or we would have won. Just fifty points were all that were needed. The first liberty was yesterday and many besides those of the winning company went out. We get two Saturdays anyway.

In regard to visitors, all I can say is that this is prison to us but not to outsiders. You may drive in and all about the grounds. There are restricted areas, but those are marked so that one knows exactly where he may trespass. Visitors attend church regularly and of course stand around to view us when we march in and out. The gates open by eight in the morning and close rather late in the evening. There is plenty of time for visiting. Let me know if you by any chance decide to drive down.

I didn’t realize how close it was to the time when Jack was to leave. Gee, but I sure am glad I’m not home to see all the fellahs leave town. It sure must be dead there. I couldn’t bear to be around another year without anything ahead of me as I was lost.

So Charlie leaves the 14th of October. That sounds good to me, for I feel sure that he can come to the Army-Navy game then. With the rest of the fellows in Philadelphia, it will be quite a treat for me.

By the way, do you still have the telephone? I have often wondered if you discontinued it since your new financial burden. Let me know about little things like that.

The clippings you sent are self-explanatory but I would like to know how Charlie’s gets in the Market Basket. What is the connection? That reminds me, don’t fail to be nice to to the Fox boys before they leave. They certainly treated me royally, as did the others, and I wish I could do the same for them. Couldn’t you sort of bake some cake and delicacies such as that and give to the fellows to have at a poker game somewhere. They like to eat anytime, so food in some manner will undoubtedly fill the bill.

Ever since I entered here, lectures have been given to show us the standing of a midshipman and the behavior becoming to him. I don’t know if I have ever told you, but a midshipman is considered an officer in the navy and can never join the organization as a common sailor after attending the academy. In fact, we are officers of the same rank as a man who has worked his way from sailor to highest rank in his class. The only difference is that we are not commissioned and he is. However, we are theoretically afforded respect from all sailors so you see we must learn to conduct ourselves in a manly fashion before we leave these walls for any time at all.

It’s too bad Sis missed her trip. I can’t blame her for feeling bad about it. When I see the upperclassmen whizzing by my window, bound for home, I feel one of the greatest desires to get my hands on a car and just go. When one has the privilege of going and then one can’t, it is sadder still. I couldn’t even sit in the back seat of the car, to say nothing of going on a trip if I had the car. So you see, my case is like the man in Hell now wanting to get to Heaven. It just can’t be done. No how!

Well, there isn’t much more to say. Lots happens but nothing really important. I would much rather read about what Dad and Un are working at etc. than write about the routine down here. When I get home I can talk about it for a week. (I hope!)

Let me know any news about my old classmates and about the new professor and his staff. We in room 4059 are going to have ice cream and ginger ale this afternoon.

Love to all,

Reg.