Encoded for for the Veterans History Project, February 27, 2017.
All letters in the McNutt collection were digitized.
The following letters were transcribed from the handwritten originals by the donor. No alterations to this transcription has been made, although spelling errors are indicated with [sic]. Any special emphasis (i.e. underlining) is presented *between asterisks*.
Just came in port yesterday and got our mail today. Wasn't that fine? I got five from you and my! That hand writing sure did look good and believe me they were the first ones I read even saved the ones from mother until
I read yours. There were happy minutes too, the time I was reading them and they didn't sound cold like the other ones and I wouldn't have kicked even if they had. I didn't have any right to kick any way before but I do a lot of things I don't have any right to do. I wrote three or four times(only a few words to) from Scotland and you should have gotten some of them before now. I guess you will get them some time. I couldn't write any thing much and wouldn't write any thing very loving for they had to be censored and I knew the censor and I didn't have any use for him and he is a Jew too so I won't need to tell you any thing more about him a Jew that's enough. You see on a large ship you don't know
the censor and he don't know you so you don't min him reading your letters, but here every body know every body and it makes a difference. Of course I don't mind him reading to home but I do to girls as you will notice I just put Dear Myrtle.
Well, our trip was with out accident and didn't see a sign of a sub. We were nineteen days going over and fifteen coming
back. We were in a pretty sevier [sic.] storm for a bout four hours when we were three days off the coast. We sure did roll and I wasn't sorry when it calmed down. The first place we went to was only a fishing village before the war and is a way up in the highlands you can't see anything but barren hills after hill. You walk for a half hour to get to the top of a hill to see what is beyond and when
you get to the top you only see another hill and go to the top of that and it is the same thing. The name of the village was Kyle of Lachalsh. I am sending some post cards and tow of them will whow you what it is like around Lochalsh. The five sisters, Loch Duich. We like to have frozen to death for it is awful cold all the time and rains every day. I don't believe there was a day while we were in Scotland that it didn't rain. If the sun peeps out of an hour every body is out for a walk and remarking to you what a beautiful day it is. Gee I would nearly fall over when they would say it was a beautiful day. If they should ever have a nice sun shine day like we have over here they would have a fit and think the end of time had come and be
expecting fire and brimstone to come pouring out of the sky any moment. Well, to get back to Lochalsh, we left there after we had unloaded the mines and went up the Clyde to the Rothesay docks at Clydebank nine miles outside Glasgow. Trolly cars und up to Glasgow so we could go up in about half hour. It wan't so hilly around this place. Glasgow is some city believe me and I am crazy about the place and Gee! but the girls do treat
you fine. They are just wild about American sailors and they swarm around you like bees around honey. There is but few American ships go to Glasgow so they almost fight over you. There are some real pretty girls, but the only ones that are homely are the homeliest girls I ever saw in my life. I didn't know that such ugly women grew as some of them and most of them haven't any teeth is the worse of it. You may see a real
pretty girl and go to talking to her and soon as she opens her trap two snagly teeth in front stick out at you and they are an inch apart and half decayed and you feel like sinking in the ground and go to trying to get away from her which is not an easy task without insulting her. If you have any teeth at all they will always be praising them and saying you have such pretty teeth. I'll bet I had them to tell me that a hundred times and I have awfully ugly teeth. It was comical to watch the fellows easing off when they would get out with a couple teeth. The women fight like men no hair pulling but punch each other in the mush with their fist. I saw a fight between women nearly every night I was ashore. The mail carriers, car conductors and munitions workers are
nearly all girls. The men over there haven't any use for us at all. We went from Glasgow to Larnlosh and layed three or four days waiting on a convoy and then shoved off and here we are. We will be here maybe a month and then will hit the salt trail again. I guess we will carry mines again and will go band to Scotland. There is a little talk of us going to Italy but cant ay for sure.
Believe me I have to
go easy now since I made out an allotment. Between it and the insurance I get about Seventeen bones per month and by the time m clothes, soap, and tobacco comes out I haven't any thing to spend for pleasures and it is going hard with me too. We have to pay $5.00 for shoes and I wear out or rather burn out a pair every six to eight weeks and then numerous other clothes.
Don't worry dear about that court martial there wasn't any brig sentence only a fine and I may get that
back. No the trouble was I got in a fight in Paccillac France and got locked up by the provost martials. I thought I told you all about it.
I am glad that Harold is getting so nicely and hope he makes the band for that is an easy job any way or at least it is in the Navy. I am sure he can get in it for he plays real well. If they keep on drafting there won't be any men left at all. I sure hope this war ends soon. I think it will end by nex summer don't you? Yes I guess there will be a lot of fellows getting married after the war and here is one that is going to do likewise as soon as I get out of the Navy provided I can find a girl that is big enough fool to have me. I think by that time I will have seen all I want to see and be ready to settle down in
a little log cabin on a hill and be satisfied and peaceful the rest of my weary life. If I ever hold up my hand again and sign a paper that will hold me for four years like the navy I hope I drop dead before I get it signed.
I am sending some Heather to you I picked in Scotland Heather in S. is like Shamrock in Ireland.
It is getting late and I will have to pipe down. Will write again in a few days. This may not seem very warm to you but little Sweetheart I love you and every beat of my heart is for you. Always remember I love you little girl and never doubt me. Write real soon.
[marginal note] address letters to naval yard 2a [?]
With worlds of love,