To Princess from Krug

By C. M. Krueger

Dale was seventeen when the Second World War had finally ended. After the
end of the war, he eagerly set his sights on higher learning and began to pursue his
own lofty personal goals, in a peacetime America. In 1950, after the Korean War
erupted into the lives of the, still battle-weary people of the United States, young
men were targeted, once again, by the United States Military. Dale had just turned
twenty-two years old.
Much attention has been given, of late, to letters written by the men who served
in the Armed Forces, of the United States, this past century. I believe that in my
letters, written by a raw young sailor, Krug to Princess, one might be able to gain
much insight, on what many of the young men, like Dale, went through in those
uncertain times. Dale labored to write Connie a daily letter. Depending on
circumstances, he sometimes could only write every two or three days, but most of
the time he maintained his daily schedule, of notes and letters. Some of Krugs
letters, from the war zone, were lost before they reached me, but because of the
frequency of his writing, most came through to me. So, even though a few letters
were lost, I still have a steady diary, of Krugs day-to-day activities in his first year
of life in the Navy, at the beginning of the Korean War. Dale dedicated himself to
motivate me to, want to, wait for him to come home to our marriage, by keeping my
interest in him, alive. He worked hard, to make his beautiful love notes, both
interesting and informative in reading content.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 26, 2002
• ISBN: 9781403302069

Book preview

Contents

A Few Words About The Book From The Author:

Boot Camp

On The High Seas

First Ports, Yokosuko, Tokyo, Iwakuni, Japan

Naha, Buckners Bay, Sangley Point, Manila

Formosa Straits, Pescadores Islands, Hong Kong

About The Author

Photos:

U.S.N.T.C, San Diego, California 1950

U.S. Navy recruits, Co. 371 U.S.N.T.C. 1950

Co. 371-U.S.N.T.C. San Diego, California 1950

THE U.S.S. PINE ISLAND 1950-1951

Board ship: THE U.S.S. PINE ISLAND

Pictures taken at: Iwakuni, Kure, Hiroshima, Eta Jima, Miya Jima, Yokosuka, and Tokyo in Japan 1950-1951

Pictures taken at: Philippines 1951

Pictures taken at: Okinawa 1951

Pictures taken in Formosa: Pescadores Islands, Kaohsiung 1951

Pictures from Hong Kong 1951

Pictures taken from Harbor in Pearl Harbor 1951

Wedding Pictures 1951

A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE BOOK FROM THE AUTHOR:

Dale was seventeen when the Second World War had finally ended. After the end of the war, he eagerly set his sights on higher learning and began to pursue his own lofty personal goals, in a peacetime America. In 1950, after the Korean War erupted into the lives of the, still battle-weary people of the United States, young men were targeted, once again, by the United States Military. Dale had just turned twenty-two years old.

Much attention has been given, of late, to letters written by the men who served in the Armed Forces, of the United States, this past century. I believe that in my letters, written by a raw young sailor, Krug to Princess, one might be able to gain much insight, on what many of the young men, like Dale, went through in those uncertain times. Dale labored to write Connie a daily letter. Depending on circumstances, he sometimes could only write every two or three days, but most of the time he maintained his daily schedule, of notes and letters. Some of Krug’s letters, from the war zone, were lost before they reached me, but because of the frequency of his writing, most came through to me. So, even though a few letters were lost, I still have a steady diary, of Krug’s day-to-day activities in his first year of life in the Navy, at the beginning of the Korean War. Dale dedicated himself to motivate me to, want to, wait for him to come home to our marriage, by keeping my interest in him, alive. He worked hard, to make his beautiful love notes, both interesting and informative in reading content.

Before he left home, for Naval training, he had asked me to marry him on his Boot leave. Upon graduation from Boot camp, Krug was taken, immediately, along with seventy-one other sailors also graduated from U.S.N.T.C., to their ship waiting, in the harbor, in San Diego. Thus, when his Boot leave was canceled, he was unable to keep his marriage date, with me. He was shipped overseas to unlimited service in the war zone, during the first part of the Korean War. Krug was away, for over, a year from the day he first left home. He strived to keep my interest and our love alive during his absence.

I was nineteen, when Krug enlisted in the Navy. We dated, exclusively for the six months before he left home and had only, just, decided that we might have a future together. We were getting used to the idea, when Dale came to me one day and asked me to wear his engagement ring. Krug told me, he was enlisting in the Navy. My response to Dale’s proposal was, I do not feel that I could agree to wearing an engagement ring, on my hand, for four years. I told him that, if he was serious, I guessed I was too. I said to him, If you want to marry me, I will marry you instead of just being engaged. He quickly said, Will you marry me on my Boot leave, after I have completed my basic training?

Krug told me, when he put his engagement ring on my finger, that he had placed me on a pedestal and that I was his princess. In his letters, To Princess from Krug, many references, to me, were addressed to, princess.

In the 1950’s, it was not unusual for a young unmarried couple to make a firm decision to avoid becoming sexually active, before marriage, especially in a Midwestern town like Mason City, Iowa. I know that, in the movies, a different impression has often been given, about men going off to war, but many many thinking men and responsible woman, in the United States, chose not to be sexually active, before marriage. There was too much danger, from society, in that time of our history, to a young woman. A young woman who made such an error in judgment could destroy her whole life. There were no such things as birth control pills, abortion or DNA comparison.

An engagement ring was no guarantee of marriage, when a man went into the Service. Society made excuses for an irresponsible man, but doors closed, to a girl, when she stepped over the line and had a baby out of wedlock. Life was very hard for her. At least one hundred fifty young women worked on the Local and Toll boards in my office. I saw and heard many sad things. An unmarried woman, on the family way, was instantly fired from Northwestern Bell, as soon as her predicament, became known. At that time, many of the big employers, of women, took a similar stand. A woman became a fallen woman when she crossed the sexual line, before marriage. Dale had too much respect for me, to even try to force me into such a compromising situation. We acknowledged a healthy sexual attraction for each other, but there had been no physical relationship between, Krug and princess, before Dale left me, to enter the Navy.

Dale’s letters were filled with the many exciting ways Krug could tell princess, of his love. He worked to encourage me to, want to, continue to wait for him. Krug’s seventy year old widow still thrills at the glow of love, that shines through in the letters from Krug. These letters are, even more precious fifty years after they were written. Krug’s beautiful letters, of love, are also a wonderful documentary of, life in the Navy board a Seaplane Tender, the first year of the Korean War. His letters detail his life from his start in U.S.N.T.C., to later on board ship. His vivid description of the South Pacific, five years after the close of the Second World War, place you there, with him, as he visits the different islands.

Although a few of his letters were lost before they ever reached me, I have most of them. I believe Krug’s letters are a treasure trove to the insight and experiences of not only Dale, but of most young men in the Navy in the 1950’s, during the Korean War, serving board such a ship.

(As a final word I have to draw attention to the women of my generation. This was a strong generation of young women, who were in their teens at the end of the Second World War. We followed after the women who had just started to hold their own in the job market, as a result of the War Effort in the WW2 Defense Industries. Woman’s earning ability, in some areas, were often near the pay scale of many men, especially in the beginnings of the giant Bells and AT&T. My generation, of women, came into it’s own, after the end of Second World War. Both the Great Depression and the Second World War had been our good, but harsh, teachers. When I graduated from High School, in 1949 I had talents in several areas, but my family was poor and if scholarships were available for me, I didn’t know about them. I assumed that, if I wanted a college diploma, I would have to earn my own way. I began to explore all my options. I had training in shorthand and typing, but work in a business office really didn’t peak my interest. I began to work, part time, during my Senior year in High School on the Local board, at Northwestern Bell Telephone

Company. By the time I graduated from High School, I was learning the Long Distance board. The Long Distance Board held my attention and was exciting and challenging to me. In fact, I loved the work.

When I had begun to see Dale socially, I also had begun to earn pretty good money, for a girl of my age, at the Telephone Company. There was plenty of opportunity, for me there, to advance in position and pay in my job. This looked mighty good to a gal who had spent most of her life wearing hand-me-down clothing. My only previous work experience had been at menial jobs for twenty-five to fifty cents per hour.

Dale was good looking, intelligent and ambitious. He was attentive, to me, when he was with me and best of all, he didn’t seem to be in an all fired great rush to get married. He was goal oriented toward completing his education and that was where he centered most of his attention, when we weren’t together. When we began to date I had, already, made up my own mind to put thoughts of marriage, on hold for a while. I had whetted my appetite with this good money I had begun to earn, while working at a job that I loved. I was eager to test my wings at earning as much money as I could make. I sensed, from Dale, without his saying a word, that a serious relationship that could lead to a marriage, at that time, was the furthest thing from his mind. I relaxed then, for I thought I was as interesting a diversion for him as he was for me. My instincts, usually good, told me that the last thing this fine young man would accept was to assume, anything of a serious nature, from his attentiveness. As he moved forward, in pursuit of his own future, this knowledge gleaned, from being his steady date, made me feel he was just too good to be true. I was content, with the fact, that I had a wonderful good looking companion for a while. He enjoyed doing exciting things and going places as much as I did. We, both, relaxed and concentrated on becoming good friends and having a whole lot of fun at the same time. (We were comfortable with that no-pressure mind set, until shortly before he left for San Diego, when things suddenly got a whole lot more serious.)

BOOT CAMP

September 10, 1950

Hi Princess,

I will talk about and answer the short note first. You told me you had bathed. The word, housecoat, brought back a sweet memory. I remember coming by your house that morning, of the day, I left for the Navy. You had been resting and I held you close and caressed your softness. I am so in love with you honey, it’s difficult to talk myself from jumping the fence to go back to my girl. I have counted your x’ s and multiplied by a million. When Krug comes home he will kiss you, with all his love, for each and every one.

In the next letter you said, you daydreamed about us, while supposing to be at work. That happens to me too, when I am marching and my thoughts drift to you. Suddenly I have to scramble to keep in step. It is a wonderful feeling. I am quoting you again and it covers two sentences. I am going to make you proud of me. I am going to work hard for the time when you will never have to leave me again. Krug is so proud of you now darling and no further proof is necessary to me. Just promise to keep Krug in your mind until I can return home to never leave you again.

In a letter from Mom, she said they enjoyed your company very very much. Mother want’s me to be very true, to you. That is understood, for I don’t have fun unless we are together. Krug is going to be true to his gal Connie, (future wife) to the nth degree.

You asked me to tell you what a day in the Naval Training Camp, is like. Here is my schedule: We get up at 5:00 am. At 5:30 am we go to chow. (Checking the folding of leggings, shine on shoes, clean cap, clean tee shirt, all worn properly is all part of) Personal inspection at 7:30 am. Flag raising is at 8:00 am. A drill period, including marching and manual of arms, follows immediately, after the flag ceremony.

The second period is exercises and maybe a lecture. We march to and from our classes. We start for chow at 11:00. (We wash sea bags and ditty bags etc. when we come back from chow.) A lecture and another drill period is at 1:00 pm. The drill period lasts until about 4:00 pm. and (We take clothing off the line at 4:30 pm.), go to chow at 5:00 pm. Each of us is assigned certain times we have to stand watch and guard. There is continuous day and night vigilance. We shower, shave and hit the sack by 8:30 pm., but we are allowed to write by a dim smoking lamp, until 9:30 pm. I only have time with this kind of schedule, to study, march and dream of my wonderful gal, which makes my day worth living.

I hope you will give my folks any information that is of interest to them, honey. You are only one I will write for about two weeks. That is unless something happens to give me more time. If I couldn’t write a note to you, now and then, I would dishonorably tell the Navy to ram it. I have to wash a new batch of clothes, so I will close for now.

With loving kisses,

Dale

September 13, 1950

Hi Princess,

I think you are smiling, while you hold this letter. Am I right? Are you smiling that beautiful smile that I love? I am glad mother is teaching you some of the finer points in cooking, honey if for no other reason than something to fill your time. I am an easy guy to get along with, so don’t worry about you cooking.

I would like to be in a position for you, to throw away that pillow you have been hugging and replace it with me. We made a mistake when we didn’t get married before I left, but until we are married we will work together as a team, anyway. Okay? Please save your love for Krug, honey. We can’t be anything, but happy. We are made for each other in every respect. Have I ever been good to you in my dreams! If you only knew what goes on in my head, but I think you know, for you know your Krug like a book. Hey?

There hasn’t been time to have pictures taken. My dress blues are at the tailors anyway. Yes princess this is a beautiful base, but I can’t say too much for the primary base, where I am located.

I understand Mother will be in Michigan, from the 11th to 23rd of September. I wrote Mother and sent her letter, to Michigan. I wrote my Father at home, too. I put the question and answer to our marriage, in Dad’s lap. I will have his opinion on our marriage, in a week or so.

Nobody ever seems to tell me about Ginger. How is my little dog? I love you, with all my heart and soul, princess.

Dale

September 15, 1950

Dear Princess,

I thought I would use this few minutes before doing my cleaning duties, to write you a note. We wash clothes, and have classes and drills every day. It sure gets tiresome.

On Monday, we start eight more weeks of advanced training. They predict a 110% temperature on Sunday. Plenty warm. Hey? Your writing me daily certainly gives me a lift. Thanks a million. You’re wonderful. When I don’t receive your letter one day, I receive it the next. I long for you.

I haven’t been paid yet, but I will start sending money home. I have to purchase a wedding ring yet at Seney’s and I need, to start saving extra for our honeymoon.

We took tests yesterday and the results will go on our records. I pray I did well enough to classify me for a school otherwise, I will go to sea and learn the hard way. I am not so sure I will get a leave after our preliminary training princess, but the Navy allows thirty days leave a year. The news of the Korean invasion is encouraging, but here in the harbor, they are taking a hundred more ships out of mothballs. It looks like, we are preparing to show force. I wish this war would end soon, don’t you?

The fifteenth day of September marks our seventh month, anniversary. All of my love goes to you, princess. I stated in my letter to Dad, about our marriage that you and I are going to save together and that, by the time my four years in the Navy are up, we will have saved quite a nest egg. I also took for granted you will work, until I complete school and get a job. If we were to get the G.I. Bill, that would help us with expenses too. Was I wrong to take for granted, your willingness to keep working? Don’t ever get me wrong Connie, I never want to take you for granted because we are a team.

I know my own mind so Dad’s opinion on our marriage, isn’t really that important honey, but if they are behind us it will be much better for us. Whatever happens, we will be okay. Our team will win. My Mother’s letters seem to indicate there is not much, for us to worry about. She said, Dad already has started to build toward what will, someday help us succeed.

Love and kisses,

Krug

September 16, 1950

Dear Connie,

It was a jolt to read your September 12th, letter. I am doing the best I can, to keep ahead here. I will write to you every possible chance I can, but darling this Navy life is no fun. When I do write even if it is every other day or every third day, I hope it is enough to keep your love, for me lit until you receive my next letter.

I hope you have a good time at the Surf, with your brother. You will have to teach Krug those new steps, when he gets home. Your reference to the Surf, brings back my memories of dancing with you. You are so wonderful to hold and dance with, that Krug swallows hard when he remembers the fine times we have had. I remember the first time you wore that white suit too. That memory of you, leaves me in a daze. You are so beautiful to me. I want you as my wife, forever so don’t worry about me honey. We click and we are going to continue to click, aren’t we?

I do accept your apology princess. I know you didn’t really, mean the written tongue lashing. Thanks a million for the stamps. I certainly can use them. I love you, with all my heart. I am going to be more than just good to you, Connie. When I come home to you, you will have to push me away or suffer broken ribs. If I let my guard down and I know I will, we will love each other to death. I can’t think, of a more wonderful way to die.

Forever,

Dale

September 18, 1950

Dear Connie,

I can’t truthfully, say that I am sorry you weren’t able to attend the Surf with your brother before he had to return to school. I am even, rather glad. I guess I am a little jealous as it would be just like someone else to horn in, with you, princess. Your Krug wants you to be, all his.

Now that I am situated honey, a small box of candy and a package of gum would taste good, once in a while. It is okay to have eats in the barracks, if it arrives in the mail. A Hershey candy bar, three or four of them, a roll of caramels and a package of gum would be fine. If Mother inquires, will you tell her not to send, anything in the baked line? And don’t send me anything for another week, as we are moving to different barracks.

The Navy keeps me busier than h—. I don’t know whether I am coming or going. My feet really get sore with marching everywhere. My clothes are being altered so I won’t trip over them. Ha!

I hope a Boot leave comes through for us, honey. I miss you. If a Boot leave does happen, it will be about the seventeenth of November. We will check out Ray Seney’s Jewelry Store then, for that wedding band. I may get a few hours leave at the end of four weeks, so I can check the plane schedule to Mason City.

I apologize again, for not writing. Most of the time I am too tired to write and it is all I can do to get into bed. I haven’t forgotten you princess, for my love for you just keeps growing.

Please don’t stop writing me every day to tell me you love me. When I have encouragement and that positive feeling from you, you make me the happiest guy in the world.

For now princess, with loads and loads of love. Your guy. Dale

Sept. 21, 1950

Dear Princess,

You’re wonderful darling. You don’t know how much your notes and letters mean to me. Krug is proud to hear his name called and is especially happy when he sees his pink letter from his beautiful (wife). I am very proud of you. When I read how your eyes teared Connie, as you sang about war and peace in your solo in church on Sunday, Krug’s eyes were moist too. I had to look around to see, if anyone had noticed my tears. I will be proud when I can hear you sing in church, on Sundays. I do a lot of thinking and praying myself, when I go to church. The main thing I pray for is to be reunited with you again someday soon, to enjoy our picnics, swims and dances. I love you so very much.

In a letter from my parents, they told me that they back us 100%. They have really taken to you honey. I am happy for us, but of course there was never any doubt in my mind that they would love you. It takes ten months of service, for an enlisted man to draw a subsistence for a dependent. If I had the chance to do it over again, we would have been married before I left home. We would have managed somehow.

Wonderful memories were brought back to me, as I read your letter again. Do you remember the night we went to the band concert, in East Park? We stood up next to the band shell and you wore a beautiful yellow sweater, green gabardine skirt and tan loafers. I wanted to take you in my arms and squeeze you for eternity, and never let you go. Each time I look at your swimsuit picture Krug happily remembers the wonderful times, we shared because of you and your planning.

I have been so busy I, completely forgot my Father’s birthday. Thanks a million, for remembering him, for us. There is no place here on base in Boot camp, to buy anything anyway. What are you doing in your spare time? Thanks for the clippings honey. Those bits of news, are interesting to read.

I quote from your next letter also note, my honey that it would not be an easy matter to lose me. Relax princess, Krug is going to run to you like a little kid, when he gets the chance. He will never want to let you go. I am glad you have your ring checked once in a while, at Seney’s. It would be a shame to lose any of the little stones. I have to check in now so I will close.

With all my love.

Dale

September 23, 1950

Dearest Darling,

What a great day it has been. To start with, our Company took second place in regimental drill, which is quite an honor. We competed in front of judging officers, with other Companies with the same amount, of training. We tried to outsmart them in marching and drills with rifles. We mistook a command and moved in a wrong direction and consequently, lost out on first place.

When we came home (home hell) back from drill, I had a letter from Dad. We are set honey. Some things still need to be ironed out. My Father said they think you’re tops. Dad said you’re a wonderful gal. He said, He knew you would be willing to work with me and wait for me, if I didn’t get home on a Boot leave. He also mentioned his visit to your home on Sunday, saying how much he had enjoyed himself and thought your folks were wonderful people. In his letter, Dad asked me to understand that marriage is a serious venture to be taken, for a long time. He said I need to be sure, I can provide for us and fill all of the marriage obligations.

Connie you know we can only achieve this now if we are on a, fifty-fifty basis. I have to have your help, for a while. To be truthful we can’t make it on my salary alone, from the Navy. I hope you are fully aware of the fact, that I am not trained to do any specific job. (With all these things in our minds) We have to be able to begin somewhere, honey. So believe along with me, that with the love we have for each other, we will have success. I know that you are too fine and too much of an ideal, to let me fall by the wayside. My parent’s do not object a bit, to our marriage. They are pulling for us, as much