DIY History | Transcribe | World War II Diaries and Letters | Carroll Steinbeck letters to parents, November - December, 1944 | Carroll Steinbeck to Alfred and Vira Steinbeck Page 2

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Carroll Steinbeck letters to parents, November - December, 1944

Carroll Steinbeck to Alfred and Vira Steinbeck Page 2

2
I'm catching on pretty good now though. Maybe I can send some home to add to my collection.
Now back to my trip over here. I know now that I should have joined the navy, but that beside the point. I never realized the ocean was so big until we got out on it then I began to wonder if we'd ever get to the other side. The first two days I was really sea sick, but I got over it and enjoyed the rest of the trip. The boat was crowded, but not being affected by claustrophobia I made out ok. I was glad when it was over though for living like that gets awfully old. My company was the ships guard so we were on duty four hrs. and off twelve. We got to eat three times a day while the other got only two meals. I wasn't caring much while I was sick because I couldn't hold it down. The pictures you see of someone seasick are funny, but believe me, it is no fun. We made very good use of our steel helmets and the boat rail. There were no storms, but even at that, a wave would come up to the deck at times.
The climate here is not too good. It isn't cold, but it is always cloudy and damp. You never know just when it might start raining.
Oh yes, I had a swell K ration dinner for my twenty-first birthday dinner. Five of the fellows in my platoon had birthdays within a three days range.
I haven't been close to where bombs have fallen but we did pass through Plymouth which had had alot of bombs earlier in the war. The building were really flattened out.
I haven't had mail for three or so weeks but I hear that we will be getting some soon. As you

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2 I'm catching on pretty good now though. Maybe I can send some home to add to my collection. Now back to my trip over here. I know now that I should have joined the navy, but that beside the point. I never realized the ocean was so big until we got out on it then I began to wonder if we'd ever get to the other side. The first two days I was really sea sick, but I got over it and enjoyed the rest of the trip. The boat was crowded, but not being affected by claustrophobia I made out ok. I was glad when it was over though for living like that gets awfully old. My company was the ships guard so we were on duty four hrs. and off twelve. We got to eat three times a day while the other got only two meals. I wasn't caring much while I was sick because I couldn't hold it down. The pictures you see of someone seasick are funny, but believe me, it is no fun. We made very good use of our steel helmets and the boat rail. There were no storms, but even at that, a wave would come up to the deck at times. The climate here is not too good. It isn't cold, but it is always cloudy and damp. You never know just when it might start raining. Oh yes, I had a swell K ration dinner for my twenty-first birthday dinner. Five of the fellows in my platoon had birthdays within a three days range. I haven't been close to where bombs have fallen but we did pass through Plymouth which had had alot of bombs earlier in the war. The building were really flattened out. I haven't had mail for three or so weeks but I hear that we will be getting some soon. As you