Courier Tribune
Seneca, Kansas
Thursday, August 10, 1939
Aeschilman to Sea Duty
Kenneth Aeschliman, son of Mr. And Mrs. Dan Aeschliman of Sabetha is serving in the navy and writes the following interesting letter telling of the change in his work. He is located at San Diego, Calif.
San Diego, Calif. July 29, 1939
Just received your letter before chow. I have liberty from now until 12:30 Sunday night. So will write a few letters then shine up all my gear (brass buttons, belts, shoes, etc.) and also iron my shirts for next week. I wont have to do that when I get aboard ship. By the way I have been chosen for sea duty, started in sea school a week ago today. Have been very busy hall week. They took 25 out of our platoon for sea duty, in a way it is an honor but it isn’t just what I wanted. I wanted to get airplane mechanics. I think I’ll like it here though. Have passed the toughest part already (boot camp). By the way I mad sharp shooter on both the pistol and rifle. That will mean $3 more per month than the lowest wage. Feel pretty good over it too. Twenty- two out of 64 didn’t qualify, 29 made marksman, 12 sharpshooter and one expert, so I didn’t do so bad. Hope to make expert next year. You see everyone must qualify every year in order to keep his rating. In other words I get $3 extra a month plus pay for one year, then if I qualify I don’t get it any more but if I get expert next year I get raised to $5 extra.
Certainly has been war. The worst part of it is we have to drill in starched shirts making it seem hotter than it really is. We got an increase in our supply of clothes this week. Got a summer suit. Sure is a swell outfit — light blue trousers, dark blue blouse with brass buttons and white belt, and to go with it we have a white cap cover with a brass emblem front. Haven’t worn them yet, had to take them to a tailor to get the blouse altered over the shoulders. The other suit is green (winter).
I’m sure glad I don’t have to work in the galley or mess hall. At least not now. They say that we all have to serve a month out of every year. Don’t know how much there is to it. We hear a lot that we can’t take too seriously.
Must was clothes, iron, shine my gear, clean rifle, so that I will hot have any thing to do tomorrow night. We have an inspection nearly every morning. Sometimes it is troop (ourselves), clothing (have to lay out on the bunk all our clothing for inspection) or it might be inspection of the barracks that is the bunk house.
