Norwich bulletin., 1918-02-16

E Jay Rjekeets NSw ouartermaster.
 The following letter has just been received from Jay s. Ricketts by his parents: Hai
 !, ss3s U.s<S. S. Yamaeraw,
 Jan. 21, 1918. | Dear Ones at Home: Arriving back in port yesterday, after a strenuous fifteen days on the deep blue, was overwhelmed with joy to receive two Dec 51. containing the four pictures of the boys. Insathe same mail were cards from George Nolan and the drug store;. also a long letter from the quar- termaSter of the Onondaja, whom knew at the N F. A.. also card from Dave Campbell, and three other let terS. Last, but not least, big box 1 of fudge from the young ladies of Troy Hills. l You know the hest part of being over here is. to get one's mail and look ling forward to if, while the sea. run ming 30 and 50 feet high, is breaking all over the ship, while you receive your rationS with one arm and one leg wrapped saro1xHds al stanchion. Af- ter five to IS days ofrit. wet tired and lhungry,tHerves all on edge for sudden alarms and eye straining; then with ] the red. dawn yo1 drop your old star l board mud hook in the ooxy mud, the sun being warm, the. day clear and the sea smooth. you take off your boots, oil- skins, sou -wester, off with the greasy blues and black underwear loverboard-. into the clear blue. warm IFater, a rubdowp, clean clothes, cook ed food and a pipe of dry tobacco.
 | Next thing the question: has any mail come aboard? Then to hear your ! ha1 6 -f,-1 iexpeffence never before appreciated If you want to keep me happy let th< ImaiI keep coming. Have never come .ite port yet witheuts getting; iettersfrcrr j YOU fhothsdf ssu trs1ef7ih ot g7,
 .t I am now quartermaster of the ship
 a petty officer. Duties are assisting the navigating officer and doing the isignaling,s a job never expected anG 1 am much pleased with it. I4a WeG make runs from here lasting from fsesto IS days at sea. sometimes in sight of these beautiful shores, and fagain not. even seeing the eanl ns ] gulls, only mountains of salt water first time I ever thought you could
 lever get a nose full without going 1T
 swimming. Then we return. to port coal p,-have a. couple of trips ashore 1 land do the same thing over or back tt
 our base. ...-.-.s.'
 The work is very trying and hard not monotonOus as eyopk wiuld think ,yea, verify I repeat it-not monoto. Inoush We sure have plenty of excite tmenty wish could tell you that part but I can't. You will read it thougf in my diary soon. .-.,--...4
 On account of the trying work the, fare planning to relieve the ships ever. six months. but whether they nov
 have ships to do it is a question. I
 the plan works we will return March IT will write lots of cards as you cal get my location from them, as yo,
 can't from my letters. We visit som
 fine places and see the greatest sight irnag Unable. c.s5 --s4r :. The war seems. bright here and al
 predict that the final blow will b I lstruck this year. Men: we have hat a big falling off in our line. They hay coal and sugar here but some place are in a bad way. I couldn't expres
 on. paper the conditions in Italy am i I'm near there. I say this from per
 sonaI observations and all sympat tn here is with Italy. Some people ge ;; the idea that war is terrible becans more men are killed, but they shoul 2 see the condition of the other sex i I received Christmas box 0. K. an ,, surely enjoyed it. Don't worry abou my needs. Am amply supplied wit
 everything except tobacco Send tha :. I<can~ hear you say: What foolis boy!'' z9 .'1.er. -.5
 ll Will write every time in port an
 send cards from all the places, Trust ing this finds you all as well and hap py as I am. Will say good night. wit lots. of live from
 Your affectionate son,