Kenneth Dole to Folks | Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections

Kenneth Dole to Folks

1944-05-17

To: Folks 1944_5_17 From: Kenney [3 page letter] Date: 5-17-1944 5-17-44 Dear Folk’s: Here goes for a few lines to let you know how I am getting along. I am feeling just fine and getting along ok. I haven’t had a chance as yet to write you a regular letter as stationary around here is pretty hard to find. I got a few sheets of previous air mail from one of the fellows so I will tell you a few things I have done since I have left the States. First of all we left for overseas from San Francisco, but I cannot tell you the date, also I cannot tell you the name of the Ship as yet. I can’t say very much about the trip over except I didn’t like as much as I thought I would, although I never did get sea – sick. I felt as though I was going to at times. I was also initiated when we crossed the Equator they cut my hair off and put Page 2 Grease all over me and they I had to crawl through a chute full of garbage – and some of the sailors hit me with paddles and then they sat me in an electric chair, and about the time they turned on the switch someone hit the chair and I fell over backwards for about a 15 foot drop into a pool of water. Well It was really a lot of fun and I enjoyed it very much and I can at least [sic] go up to a sailor and tell him in I am a shellback and not a polywag [sic] I also have a certificate that I will send you later on, but I can’t send it yet because it has the name of the ship on it. When we got over here it was really hot and rainy all the time but now I am getting used to it, the jungle is just as I expected very thick and heavy leaves, bananas, coconuts and all, also we have to wash Page 3 Out here in a small creek about as large as the Smokey is at home and it is ice cold I still don’t shave. I guess I am not a man yet but I think I am very lucky that I don’t have too. We have tents to sleep in and candles for light, the food is pretty good in fact a lot better than I expected. I don’t want you to worry about me over here as I will be ok. and if you don’t get a letter too often don’t worry as it is pretty hard to sit down and write the same thing every day but please write when you can and I promis [sic] to do the same, please give all my regards and tell them I will write as soon as I find time well I will close for now hoping to hear from all of you soon. Love Kenney

np_1944_5_17

Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections

Nancy [Dole] Poche Collection (Old Finding Aid - For Reference Only), 1938-1963 [information restricted]