Dart begins by saying that for the last couple of days he’s been in a happy and carefree mood for no apparent reason. In fact, he says there are plenty of reasons not to feel happy or carefree, yet still, he does.

He reveals the biggest worry the guys on his ship have, aside from worrying about the enemy, is worrying that their loved ones at home will worry about them. When their letters can’t get off the ship they know that there’ll be long, anxious days at home, waiting for some word from them. The sailors aren’t bothered much by not hearing from home, because they can assume their families and friends are safe and that the letters from home will eventually reach the ship. I wonder if sailors from England, Germany, and all the other fighting nations had the peace of mind that US fighters did. It seems doubtful, as the cities in their home countries were being bombed ferociously throughout the war. How very easy the US civilians had it, in spite of all the shortages they faced.

He waxes poetic about Spring arriving in the Pacific. “As we watched the rich golden sun come up and start scattering fluffy white clouds all over the sky the other day, each of us seemed to be reminded of clear, early-Spring mornings at home. The beautiful things of the world don’t seem to change much, no matter where they are transplanted. A Spring sunrise in clear, cool air awakens the same dreams, whether we’re on a plunging speeding destroyer at some unknown spot in the Pacific, or are the only one on the streets as we deliver the Cleveland Plain Dealer and watch the world awaken. I’ve never seen a sunrise in Greenwich, but I suppose they’re just the same there as in Ohio or in the Pacific.”

The recent sunrise reminded him of his paper route days – up at 4:30 a.m. each day, seeing the same people with the same cheery wave at the same place. “There’s a peculiar bond between people who get up before dawn, whether they be heavy-laden newsboys or heavily careworn men.”

Although the men on board the Haggard curse the dawn alerts that shake them from their beds to watch for enemy attack planes, he tells Dot that such alerts may sometime not only save their lives, but can also yield some beautiful sights in the bargain.

Deciding to end the letter here, he writes “My heart is full of love for you and happiness at loving you so much and knowing you feel the same.”