Sept 7, 1942
Dear Mother,
I arrived here at 7:30 last night. That car that picked me up didn’t take me very far, but the next car took me to Detroit, and then I got three short rides to Dearborn.
One of the fellas just got a letter from one of the fellas in the last draft and found out that all of the metalsmith and shipfitters of the last draft went to San Pedro, California for ten more weeks of welding school. So I might go there. I just got a card from Warren*. He must have mailed it just before he left. He said he would give me his address when he got there.
I just heard that they got 2 weekends down to Great Lakes and that they are still there so I guess it will be a quite awhile before I have to go to sea. Well I will have to sign off now. It is time for chow.
So long and with love,
Erwin Holmquist
P.S. I have only got one pillow cover so I don’t have anything to put on when I wash it. It is 26″ by 18″. Probably you could send me one sometime.
P.S. This is supposed to be a regular Navy training station now and not under Great Lakes. So we don’t put Ford in the address.
*Warren Engbers was Erwin’s childhood friend. They lived right around the corner from each other but did not go to the same school. Erwin went to the local public school. Warren’s father was a teacher at the Christian school. Warren also joined the Navy.
Ancestors Across the Ages 