The Pearl Harbor Collection contains personal narratives, photographs, diaries, correspondence, and governmental papers that relate to men, women, children and ships present at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Transcription of Item: "4th Div.
C/O Fleet P. O.
Pearl Harbor, TH
Oct. 9, 1941
Ol Don: (Capitain[sic] of the head)
Your letter finally was recieved[sic] abroad[sic] the good ship Arizona. After long waiting. First letter I got since yesterday. You know this fan mail stuff.
Well what do you want me to write about any. I'm not going to the [illegible (fliks?)] tonight so I got plenty of time. Well let me now[sic]. O yea, last time we went out to sea. I was shaking like a leaf all the way up the ladder. When I got up there, the Division Officer ask[sic] me if I wanted to be a helmsmen for the division.
[pg 2] I damn near hoped[sic] in my skivies[sic]. Me! stir[sic] this oversized [] boat. When I only thing I ever stired[sic] was the Model A. You ought to see me now. I really am old salt. The next time I go up to the Bridge I'll take the thing up the Salinas river. I wonder if they'll notice it. No more holy rockin' for me this quater[sic]. I got a nice easy job. I work in the Ward Room. (Officer quaters[sic]) shinning[sic] bright work and decks. You might of[sic] guess it. When there[sic] an easy job[sic] ol' Brignole will be rite[sic] there trying to get some part of it.
There as[sic] been lot[sic] of scuttle butt of us coming back to the States this month but I doubt it very much. The only time this baby ever goes back [is] when something is really broken down. Like a shaft or etc. We might come back for for a [illegible] at Long Beach. I sure hope so.
[pg 3]
[Photo of USS Arizona with locations diagrammed]
Turret, Lookout, fart sack, Brignole, Bridge, Brig
Well let me see now. O yea, the first week I was abroad[sic] I had a hell of a time at the mess table. I didn't no[sic] what I wanted. The reason why:
Red Lead - - - - capsup[sic]
Sand - - - - sugar
Klein(?) - - - - milk
Popeye - - - - spinach
Tea of [illegible] - - - - jo
Stew - - - - sailors pie
Boy I sure had a mess up. In those Boats day. Now I'm and[sic] old salt.
When we fire I'm in No 4 turret. I'm in the Right ready [illegible]. I give the powder to the men who put it in the gun.
[pg 4] Boy this ship really vibrates when those [illegible] go. A good ship though. Theres a draft out for China[,] I sure hope they don't put me in it. I'll(?) probably never go home then.
Well there isn't much else I can write, So it good by[sic].
As ever,
[signed] Erminio J. Brignole
P.S. Just as well finish the page.
P.S.S. Ol Charlie had a week in the can.
P.S.S.S. Not very bad though he just didnt have any licenses
P.S.S.S.S. The women in this joint are really black.
P.S.S.S.S.S. The white women are all - - - - - course I won't won't[sic] know.
P.S.S.S.S.S.S. I'm still the women hater more than ever now.
P.S.S.S.S.S.S.S. O you finish this I'm going to turn in in[sic] my fart sack (bed)
P. 8 S's Say hello to your mother + father."
This item includes language and/or ideas that may be discriminatory or offensive. It is intended to serve as historical evidence, rather than to perpetuate or endorse any discriminatory or offensive attitudes or acts.
Place Name coordinates. (May be approximate.)
Place Name coordinates. (May be approximate.)
