Dart begins, “New Year’s Eve, and the eve of a truly new year.” His time at Treasure Island is growing short. There’s a special muster scheduled for about an hour from the writing of this letter, at which rampant rumors will be confirmed or dispelled. The rumor is that they’ll all be sent to either destroyers or destroyer escorts to replace veteran crews. You may recall that these are small ships – destroyers nicknamed “tin cans.” Dart had been “promised” a battleship or an aircraft carrier by a guy at Shoemaker who supposedly had a hand in assignments. But there’s no complaining from Dart today. He, like the other men in this draft are just eager for any news about their destiny. In fact, any announcement is greeted with cheers, simply because everyone is hungry for information.
But those aren’t the only cheers being heard at Treasure Island today. I’ll let Dart tell you in his own words.
“But today we heard the cheers of a different kind. Cheers of war -weary men setting their feet on the soil of this land they left many months ago. A harbor ferry brings them from the transports to the island, where they are outfitted with new clothing and from where they leave on their ‘vacations.'”
“It’s really a thrilling, happy sight to see those men arriving. They all look lean, tan, and healthy and their eager eyes drink in all the beauty of the Bay. They gaze with wide-open wonder at this, their country, and they’re glad to be back. ”
“This may be my last letter for a month and there may be one more. But whether it’s the last or there are a million more, always remember that I love you, and I have loved you since I met you, and I want to love you all through our lives after the war. I don’t care what the rest of the world is fighting for, but I’m fighting for us, for the right and ability to get home, get a job and an education and a home, and above all, to be married to you.”
There was a post script to this letter, telling Dot that the special muster was simply to announce a free movie night for all the pre-embarkment men. Dart declined the opportunity and instead washed some clothes and reflected on New Year’s Eves from his past.
