Dec 3

Oh Marie! - -

I received your Green look special just a few minutes ago… and was enjoying it until you did it again … that last para. I never can get thru the entire portion absolutely free it would seem. And now you ask, “Have I been trying to bait you?” Quite honestly I’m not sure of your question tho the particular connotation for me of “baiting” I don’t like. There’s no question that you didn’t mean it in the first way form I happened to think. Just how you did mean it, I’m going to have to think about and will answer in my next regular letter. It’s funny that I just got off that last missile on Dell and sent it off with no qualms at all. My subconscious mind tells me that before this next letter is over I’ll have thot a great deal. Anyway you must admit I don’t dodge the questions - - and if I don’t want to answer, I’ll let you know with out any fear. I mite even ask you a couple of questions. Well -- I’m going to dispense with that here and leave my answer for tomorrow or so.

Be sure and see “Over 21”. It really hit the jackpot here because to most of us, it had a great deal of autobiography - - and to all of us it made an awful lot of sense. Besides, a favorite of everyone’s - Irene Dunne was in it - - and she is tops. No doubt that women will like it because of a lot of sentimental reasons.

What do you mean? “Throw this picture over the side.” I’d jump over clothes and all to retrieve them - and for very few I’d do that.

Love,

Ben

Dec 4-

Dear Marie,

I had gotten into the sack last nite preparing for a good nite’s sleep when in came my new roommate (head operations officer) and another fellow. And darned if we didn’t talk until 5 am. Got started on “idealism” and the next thing I know it was ten of five and I was kicking the guy out of the room. Tonite I plan to hit the sack - hoping for no nite interruptions.

My roomie is quite an interesting lad. He’s far different from the average Academy graduate - tho as capable as any I know. He joined the Navy as an enlisted man when he was 17 just after graduation from high school - - then thru hard work was eligible to take an examination to enter the academy --- and now tho only a j.g. is head operations officer of CSD 104. Most people would never take him for USN because he’s as anxious as I to get out. The education he’s had is just a stepping stone -- and he now plans to go to Russia. For what -- I don’t think he knows. But he thinks that’s the place to go - - and he is.

Still working on this new letter which in spots has me stymied. I think tho I have a slite knowledge of what you refer to as baiting.

Well - another week and a half and I’ll be sending this off. It should fill an envelope –

Huh?

Ben

Dec 5 -

Dar Marie-

Ah - good news-as far as I’m concerned. We just had a meeting of the big muck-a-mucks (including me..) in which our folding up was discussed at some length. And for the first time I heard definitely that the burden of finishing our business here falls upon us and as soon as possible to Jan 1st. In other words we won’t have to be told when, but were given orders to fold as soon as possible. This made me feel wonderful - for I’m dead sure that they’ll send me home soon after this and not wait for February 1st - reassigning me to some other group for the month. So I should be home in January! I am quite sorry for the other boys who now have to have 18 months continuous duty here without leave - - (unless they have the points.) to go home with me. It seems a shame to reassign them to some more work out here. But not much can be done about it.

Got an envelope with some articles from you. Nigh on a perfect day. It will be when I see you again - (or am I baiting?)

Love,

Ben

Dec 6th -

Dear Marie-

Just happened to think of a remark you made in this last letter about Jim Young. I think it was “Men are so very very funny” and “Jim Young doesn’t even faze me.” Men being funny isn’t new to me having a slight suspicion of it for some time. My main purpose in mentioning Young’s name was to differentiate the other swell guys whom I have asked to let you know of my good health as they pass thru the Bay Area. I have always considered that any time I give away an address the burden of proof is on me. And as such not to be taken lightly. And since my friends reflect me, I’m interested in a good reflection. Beside

Girls are past masters of diplomacy - - I happen to be a student. I wish you would indicate just how I should have mentioned the thing in the first place - or should I have forgotten about it? The whole thing is really silly but the guy’s persistency got on my nerves - - at least to the point of all this referencing.

Have sent off the letter on the question of baiting. Am quite cognizant of my writing perhaps a little “more” than I thot I would a month ago. However I don’t think I have been out of place - - and hope I don’t. But a good way to stop it is to stop sending me such swell pictures - and articles and letters. Maybe that isn’t a good way. Oh well

Ben

Dec 7

Dear Marie,

Well - I have felt good all day - - I received letters from two of my favorite girls - - you and Betty. I suppose Betty and I write about once a month… and I correspond with her little sister about as often. I don’t know if I mentioned it, but her husband has just been inducted and she is now going thru that period which is as difficult as any - - being alone after a year of much happiness. She writes me excellent long letters - - and just as you treasure your friendship with Helen so I value mine with Betty. I hope someday you can meet her.

Since I have been rooming with the operations officer, the room has become a haven or something. It’s getting so I don’t get any sleep… and for the most part if I want to be alone I sneak down here during the day and get my letters written. I certainly don’t mind repeating that I still enjoy this particular period when I get a chance to write. And the times are few that I don’t feel like it. I have a sneaking hunch that the next couple of weeks are going to be busy ones and that I may not have a great deal of time for much of anything. But that still leaves me time to write - - and that I’ll do.

Gee - only 18 days until Christmas - - and I sound like a dept. store.

Til the ‘morrow

Ben

Dec 8-

Dear Marie -

Can’t say I feel as good as I did yesterday. Just got in a message indicating a longer layup than the proposed Jan 1st closing. And even tho it is but 2 weeks I still am getting like the rest of them around here in that we are arriving at the stage when each day makes a difference. And if I thot I should have to stay about 6 more months it would about kill me even tho I already have over 30. Even the junior officers who have been out only a year or less are the same - and I can’t blame them.

Your letter states you probably are in Turlock as I write this. I remember exactly 4 years ago today I drove down there myself. And if I had known there were some Leducs around, I would have made it a point to see them. However I got the word a little late.

And I do congratulate you on keeping “the secret” a long time. I wrote Helen that if you have known all along then some medal should go to you… How about the Snyder Merit Award which includes - - - well anyway, you deserve a medal. And I don’t tell that to all the girls.

Love,

Ben

Dec 9th -

Dear Marie -

I received a letter (typewritten) from you yesterday and started reading with a bit of anxiousness. Being particularly worried over the last paragraph I debated whether or not I should just cut it off. Throw it away -- and then I’d never know. But surprise I got - there was no question there. And so I immediately reread the thing. You mentioned my using this color stationery - and why I used it. I had high hopes of spending time and space of “why” when you conclude with asking just for the dull “Navy purpose.” So unless I hear from you about this I shall exclude the choice remarks I mite have made and answer the question as asked. The answer is just one of the particular file copies which is differentiated by color of the various correspondence handled.

Have been extremely busy today. Haven’t even taken out the wallet. However I hope to take some time out before dinner tonite to start a regular letter to you. If I didn’t think I would make you conceited, I probably would tell you what proportion of my mail you receive. So I won’t. I think I’ll stop here and start another letter sometime later toni… --

Ben

Dec 10-

What a beautiful day!! - - I’m high atop the signal bridge practically nude drinking up the sunshine and enjoying the pleasures of a quiet afternoon. The weather really reminds me of an east bay day about this time with enuf sunshine to make it pleasantly warm - yet just enuf twinge in the air to keep from making it uncomfortable. One of the fellows in the dept is a photography fan and we have just taken some pictures of the various officers in my department which I hope to include in this letter. Gee. It’s only 5 more days until I send it off - - and that may not be enuf time for developing. Hope so.

I’m beginning to feel the slight pangs of wanting to be home for Christmas even tho it is 2 weeks away. I know the thot of remaining out here more than a month longer haunts me and tho the days pass quickly with the amount of work I do, it has seemed about 20 days since the first of Dec. But I have a lot to look forward to - and that wonderful feeling when I come underneath that Golden Gate Bridge is being made more so each extra day I’m here.

Your letters are flowing in like wine and I love it.-

Ben

Dec 11-

Dear Marie -

I’m in a bad mood right now. I’ve just spent the entire morning finding careless errors made by the various officers in my dept. I hate like anything to be a louse - - and I try to get the best from them by methods other than restrictions and bawling outs. Yet sometimes there isn’t any other way - - and when the head guy rightfully chops my head off, I have absolutely no excuse. So this afternoon I’m going to get hardboiled on these guys and put it to them straight that if they don’t improve their work, I’ll have to give them poor “fitness reports”. The problem mostly now is that I have a bunch of green ensigns on the whole who have come out here since the war ended. They have received commissions the easy way - - have never done any real hard work - or seen action…and are only now waiting for their points to catch up with them. Personal pride in their work has slipped tremendously because in our dept. we get no praise and all the blame. I’ll be so glad when it’s all over and I can come home to problems as “where can I take Marie tonite”… “Shall I wear brown pants or black ones” - and other equally difficult ones.

Well - - hard boiled Snyder (mental delusion) signs off.

Ben

12 Dec

Dear Marie

There aren’t many more days. And I’ve gotten a big boot out of writing each day-even if it has been only a page. And if it isn’t the longest single letter you have received I request the names and addresses of those remitting longer ones…On 2nd thot maybe you had better not. What I don’t know won’t hurt me and I claim some kind of victory in that I think it’s pretty long.

Today has been a long day for me. I have a problem child on my hands whom I just don’t know what to do with. I think I mentioned Ellis before-but he’s gotten worse and I’ve got to make some decisions I don’t want to make. He has never gotten used to the idea that he’s in the Navy and has to take a few orders he doesn’t like. If that wasn’t’ bad enuf he cares only for Ellis and has taken no pride in the dept as a whole-in his work---and has in the last few days become a little sassy and smart-alecky in his remarks to me. What I’m forced to do and what I don’t like to do is give him an “unsatisfactory fitness report” which goes on his record in Washington –and is part of his permanent record as a Naval officer. Being as young as he is he doesn’t know what all that means, particularly when 5 or 10 years from now he wants a job and the prospective employer asks Uncle Sam what kind of officer he made and there in black and white is the answer. And yet I haven’t any choice. He is supposed to be old enuf to have a few brains and was given a commission on the education he had. All the rest of the boys like me, I think. And they are making conscientious efforts to improve their work. But Ellis hasn’t changed for a long time. I can’t help but wonder in what ways I have handled him wrong. And I wonder what defects in my character it shows. I have never had as much responsibility before I came out this time. I don’t mind hard word and long hours. They help to make the time go quicker. But before I never was head of such a big dept. and never had so much to do with the actual control of personnel…..particularly officers. Sometimes I wish I could escape a lot of it—but you can’t very well on board ship.

I’m sure you’re not very interested in all this. I’m also sure your troubles are every bit as big and just as real. But I’ve got to squawk about something.

I received some clippings today. Excellent (clippings and sender)-

Ben

Dear Marie- Dec 13

Just fell in under the line today-its quarter after eleven and really past my bedtime. I have been sneaking down here after lunch most of the time preparing myself for the afternoon. However today I had a lot of stuff to do and couldn’t even afford that time. And then tonite we had an army show come aboard which was one of the best shows I have ever seen. It out- classed any USO show I have ever seen perhaps excluding Bob Hope and troop. And then after that I wanted to look over a few dispatches----and now here I am.

I received your Christmas card with all the writing inside just after dinner. And I must say it really brings forth comment. I am now forming the BSPLA (Ben Snyder Pro Leduc Association) to fight all this propaganda put out by the MLALL (Marie Leduc Anti Leduc League) And as President of the Okinawa Chapter and running for national presidency (against “two buddies”) I have formed a strenuous campaign which I hope will forever crush the opposition. My first bit of work shall be against such stuff as “Ben-if you should get lots of mail from me-at Christmas time-don’t misunderstand or misinterpret my actions-you see- I dislike the thot of anyone being away from home and loved ones during the Yuletide season and to make it just a little nicer for you I perhaps will write a little oftener. I was hoping you wrote me because you liked me. I know I write you because I like you. And I’m quite sure Marie, there is certainly no reason to feel sorry for me even at Christmas time just as the thot would never enter my mind of being sorry for you. This is being mean for I know just as well as I sit at this desk that no thot of being sorry for me ever entered your head—and yet the letter seemed to indicate it. Just so at times I can’t figure out what you’re saying…for instance on the first page of this card you wrote “Today received letters from both-one expects to be at the golden Gate Dec 8th, the other had his APO changed-both futile-but quite coincidental-right?” Golly I have read that over 209 times and still can’t figure it out. Just what is futile?

I guess I should talk because perhaps my letters haven’t all been very clear. And yet I hope my position has been made fairly clear. If it hasn’t, I shall get a sledge hammer and perhaps it will work. And as for your being nicer…how could you be? You have conscientiously sent me Durling articles and sports stuff. You have written far more than anyone other than my sister and mother. And you sent me several pictures of yourself which I wanted so very much. And if you try to indicate you have done this all merely because you felt sorry for me, I shan’t believe it.

I really don’t think the “Marie Leduc anti Leduc League” has much of a leg to stand on. The President of the BSPLA is too good a judge of girls—and he has judged quite a few. Besides as “Miss Communications” she has stood the final test against top notch competition.

Well-must get some sleep. Only two more days on to this and off she goes. Wish I could go along with it. Since I can’t, I’m expecting some more questions which I shall ably answer---or have I dodged anything when I answered?

Well bring on the questions!

Love,

Ben

P.S. I’ll even answer whom I should most like to catch underneath the mistletoe!

Dec 14th

Dear Marie,

Got up late this morning. Every one gets a lazy streak once in a while—and besides I plan to get up early tomorrow to write the last page of this so it will get out in the morning mail. Now isn’t that sacrifice?

A lot of Christmas fuss is taking place around here…just as it should be. But I can say one thing they are doing I wholly approve of. And that is the holding of a continuous session of Christmas parties from noon time until 6-and 7 until midnite with the very great attraction of all the nurses and Red Cross workers being the guinea pigs and home atmosphere. I got a glimpse of the Red Cross gals the other day and the impression I hope to get from home they certainly could never give. Golly I never saw such a bunch of bags (excuse that descriptive English) in all my life. And besides girls can’t go on a schedule like that and last for more that a week. Actually they are starting today and lasting clear thru Christmas. I have no particular desire to get included in a party—tho perhaps I will. Believe it or not when I ‘m out at sea I expect to be a sailor and do not expect to engage in activities other than those concerned with ships or the recreation of men. Besides you’d be surprised to know the amount of pride you swallow after a short time with these “in the driver’s seat” gals. And that is a separate subject.

Ben

Dec 15

Dear Marie,

In this whole document this is the first time I have rewritten any page to you. However after reading over what I just wrote, I thot it better to exclude certain parts—including the opening salutation which didn’t coincide with your “buddy” views.

It’s a beautiful morning and I haven’t much time before the mail run goes into the beach. Just time enuf to rattle this off and finish before breakfast time. I had wondered what in particular I would say. In the page I’m not sending, I became overly frank which I think can be as bad as the opposite extreme. I really want to be honest in all my dealings with you Marie. At times I feel as if you are hinting that I’m not…and the baiting question is an example. I think perhaps you know fellows pretty well—and most likely have received enuf letters of all sorts to know just what and what not to believe. I have honestly tried to keep the malarkey down and the truth evident. Maybe I haven’t succeeded. But if you haven’t’ guessed that my interest I you is real, I really have failed. Because I have enjoyed every minute of writing –and have looked forward to your letters and articles above all others. I have carefully avoided mentioning personal feelings other than in a light vein for reasons that should be obvious. You have all along hinted various philosophies of yours with which sometimes I don’t altogether agree-but I have tried to let those slip by and grab the others.

I have been told girls don’t like to be told “They’re swell.” It gives a wrong connotation. They don’t like to be compared to ‘his sister’ and they don’t like to be called “nice”. I understand girls don’t like to be called “a honey” and are beginning to think corny of the phrase “you are wonderful.” I’m told being “tops” and the “best” are no longer stirring. So with all these things eliminated, I haven’t got much room for expression of what I think of you. I’m hoping you find it in the summation of this letter-

Merry Christmas & Best of New Years-

Ben

Benjamin Snyder