25 March 1957
"Well guess what, the Chiefs on this ship, which there are about 50 in number are throwing a big party at some Lodge here in Sasebo. That means that I will have to contribute about $5.00 towards it. Even if I don't drink like the rest do. It's just one of those things. I told them that I would drink Coca Cola and be a Shore Patrol that evening...Poor old Timmy, I guess he misses seeing his old Daddy doesn't he?...Have you been taking him outside and letting him run around. You see he has to get tired then he will sleep better at nite...Take it easy and don't worry about Timmy so much."

 

"Be a good little boy..."

23 March 1957
"I went over the other day and ordered ribbons for my uniforms. I am getting four sets of them, two for blues and two for khaki. I have to pay 2800 Yen, which amounts to about 8 dollars in American money...I guess it won't be long till I can expect to receive some pictures of Timmy and Sandra from you...Just think that we have a boy and a girl, a perfect family...Oh yes, I had the watch on the gangway this morning and there were about 150 fellows that came aboard after staying over there in some place last nite. And you know that they did not have their own wives over there. Yes I am lucky that I have a wife like you to take care of my children and other things...
PS: Timothy, do as your mother tells you to. Daddy will be home pretty soon. But until I am there be kind to your mother and don't make her upset. She is only trying to help you. So be a good little boy and Daddy will bring you something from far away. Daddy"

"Your Lonesome Husband"

19 March 1957
"I received a letter from you day before yesterday and I think that I had better tell you that I enjoyed it very much. Really dear, I can't help you out any with your trouble with Timmy. It's something that you must work out by yourself...I'll have to scimp it more than ever to save some money for our "Dream House". Gosh won't that be nice when I am home again and we have our own little house...I wish that I had more money to spend over here then I would be able to get what things I wanted. But I want to get that house first. I'll bet you think, that old "Tight Wad"...Would you believe it if I told you that I loved you. Well I guess I'll have to break down and tell it to you. "I love you"...Your Lonesome Husband 
PS: Good Nite, Timmy and sleep tight. Do what your mother tells you and have a good time outside playing in the yard. Your sister is still too small to play with you in the yard."

17 March 1957
"...it is Sunday afternoon and I just finished eating dinner...we had steak today along with mushrooms, french fries, and lima beans. For dessert we had banana ice cream...Denson went over last nite and got half a snoot on. I mean he had a few drinks too many. But he is OK again this morning again. Aren't you glad that we don't drink and tear around like some people...Say a lot of the fellows are having some of their most prized pictures hand painted over here. I wish that you would send me some of Timmy's pictures where I can get it hand painted over here...I received a letter from the "Woman" [Buss's mother, Katie] the other day and she told me that there was a farm close to Tub's that was sold for $1,000.00 per acre. I believe it was a 40 acre farm...That is the highest I have seen it since World War I...Boy it sure is lonesome out here. I don't go ashore like the other chiefs do...Do you think that you could make it down to the Pier when we get back there. I wish that you could..."

 

12 March 1957
"I just came up from the Chief's quarters where I seen "The Revolt of Mamie Stover". It was about a girl in Honolulu during the war that worked in a whore house. I guess you know who played in it don't you? It was Jane Russel. Oh boy...Well how is my little daughter coming along. I sure wish that I could see her and see how big she is getting. I'll bet she is getting prettier every day...Now that boy of mine, how is he coming along...I thought that I would receive a letter from Timmy and Sandra's Mother today, but I guess she was busy changing the diapers on the children. Don't feel bad about not writing as I know how busy you are with the two youngsters there in the trailer...I'll knock off for this time so until the next time I'll be thinking of you when I go to sleep at nite. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the nite and think of you and the children. Well I really hope that we won't have to be apart again for such a long time. I know it is a hard road to hoe but we just have to grin and bear it."

 

9 March 1957
"I was over to the club the other nite and had a hamburger steak and a couple of cups of tea for 70 cents...I'd sure like to see the kids, you too as far as that goes. But I guess you will look pretty for me when I come home. I mean that you will have your hair all fixed up and dressed like a queen by the time we come back there. How is old Timmy coming along with his talking? I hope that by the time I get back there you will have him talking like a demon. I just can't wait till I can hear him talk to me. Won't that be nice...I think that we will arrive in San Diego in August 1957...then we head for the Navy Yard up in Long Beach...then head for the Far East (Japan) again...I hope that I don't have to go over seas again before I get my 20 years in."

Note: Buss will have to go overseas again. He will be on the Ajax when it tours the Far East in 1958 for 6 months. 

 

"That is a perfect family"

5 March 1957
"I just came up from the Chief's Quarters, I was watching a movie down there. When I get back home again I'll take care of the children and you can go see the movies over in Chula Vista or where-ever you wish to go. I guess you really miss seeing them don't you?...It would be nice for you to have a large freezer outside and that way you could keep ice cream for a long time. Are you still using some of that groceries that I bought from the commissary store that I have stored under the sofa outside?...Just think, Sandra will be three (3) months old pretty soon...So take care of the little ones for me and give them each a big hug for old Daddy before you put them to bed. Aren't you glad that we have a boy and girl now. That is a perfect family."

3 March 1957
"I sure wish that you would take care of yourself, I mean such as keeping your hair looking good and dressed up. I know it may be worthless to you , but it sure looks better to someone else. You have plenty of dresses to put on so why not put them on instead of an old house dress. But I guess I can't tell you what to do from way out here...Well I guess it's about chow time, I think we are having Ham today. Are you eating the right things, instead of hamburgers or eggs all the time. Give Timmy all he can eat of the vegetables and what not. Cook potatoes for him. I know he won't eat them all the time. But then sometimes he will eat them."

 

"Sugar Daddy"

28 February 1957
"Now I'll bet you are saying to yourself "What did he do over in town that late". Well here is what I did...as I was walking down one of the streets, a girl called over to me and told me to come on over to her. So I figured that I knew what she wanted so I just led her on a bit. Well she wanted what you expected so I told her that I was broke and I would come back tomorrow nite. But you know that I wouldn't...I met another chief off the ship...and he and I went back to the CPO Club and played "Bingo" till about 11:00 PM...I did win a door prize. It was 5 little wooden dolls with the words, China, Burma, India, Japan, Korea on them so I just gave them to another chief off the ship for his little girl, as my little girl is not large enough to play with them...There is only one thing that I wish that you would do. Take care of your looks, remember people always think better of you if you are neat and clean and have hair fixed up a bit. Even a little makeup goes a long way. Don't take offense of what I said. I am only trying to help you."

 

"Hobby Lobby"

24 February 1957
"I hope you believe that I am acting like a grown up man over here. When I tell you that I am staying aboard ship, I mean every word of it. I always tell the fellows that I have a wife and two lovely children back in San Diego and I don't care to go ashore with them...The ship has 35 cases of VD aboard now...Isn't that terrible, and the people just laugh it off. I really don't know what this world is coming to...A couple of the chiefs are building handbags for their wives and daughters while they stay aboard ship at nite. We call it Hobby Lobby..."

 

"back in Benson"

21 February 1957
"Guess what we had tonite. STEW, but it wasn't like you make back there. They forget to put the meat in it aboard here...I still want to write to Vera Mae Smilie back in Benson...I wrote for another book on plans of houses. I keep thinking of houses all the time over here. I guess someday I'll have a house of my own. Boy won't that be nice...Real estate is still climbing so I guess I might as well figure on paying about 18,000.00 for a house when I get back there. I don't really have that much so I guess we will have to go in debt for a couple of thousand dollars...I have, or will have 400.00 on the books this coming pay day so I ain't doing too bad. That is about 400.00 more than most of the fellows are saving over here...Maybe I am old fashioned but I still have a wife and two children to think about back in San Diego..."

"Vera Mae Smilie" may have been related to Emily Smilie, top row.

 

"With love Buss (Daddy)"

18 February 1957
"How is my little daughter getting along. Is she sleeping like a good girl should? I'll bet that you are really having your hands full with the two of them there...I sure wish I was there and we had our house. Wouldn't that be cozy...I wrote to some Savings and Loan Co in Los Angeles about their paying 4 1/2% interest on money. I have about $4,000. here on the ship that I could give them. I believe that I would make more money if I did it that way...Well Darling, I guess I have said enough for this time...I am keeping true to you while I am out here. and that is more than nine tenths of the other fellows can say out here. Some of them go over nearly every nite and make fools of themselves. But yours truely don't do that. Take care of the children...Feed them good and they will grow like weeds. Send me a picture of them if you ever get a chance."

12 February 1957
"I just finished writing to the folks in Illinois...How is Timmy? Does he miss me or doesn't he seem to think about me.  I guess I'll be a new Daddy to him when I come home...Is Sandra sleeping better now since you are feeding her some of that solid food. I really hope so as I know what you are going through for me back there. But I hope that I can make it up to you someway for all the things that you are doing back there...Well Honey, I must sign off for this time but I'll be thinking of you and the little ones when I go to sleep tonite and every nite...Say goodnite to Timmy and Sandra for me. I sure wish that I was there. Just six months left before I will be home again."

"The folks in Illinois", Katie and Martin Gerdes circa 1943

"Do I make myself clear?"

10 February 1957
"I received a letter from you stating whether or not I had paid any money for license plates for the trailer or car. Well the answer is NO. But here is all the dope for you to do. Now listen carefully...We had some bad weather coming up here this time. I really got sea sick this time...I am glad to hear that the leak in the roof is fixed. I thought that you would take care of it OK. I only hope that I can find a place to live when I come back there this time...

 

Club Fuji?

7 February 1957
"Elmer Northrup died on 16 January. They found him dead in bed. Well I figured he would go that way. Well I am glad that I could make him feel good as much as I could. It always pays to be good to old people like that. They really appreciate that...I must tell you that I spent all nite in a Bar Room the other nite. Now don't get all shook up, I had Shore Patrol in Yokosuka, Japan and they sent myself and another Chief off of some Airoplane Carrier to the CLUB FUJI to take care of the place. So you can see that I was not out having a good time while you are back there slaving away for the children. I am pretty sure that you can trust me while I am over here. I must tell you that I did see some pretty terrible sights..."

 

3 February 1957
"I had a watch last nite and it was very cold standing there out side all the time. I had on two pair of trousers and I had the under one tucked in my socks. That way I could keep the cold air from coming up under my trousers...I received one letter from you today telling me all about Sandra and where you took her to the clinic. I see that she is growing. So that means that she is getting the right things to eat...I went over the other nite and played some "Bingo" but I never won anything. I don't think that I will ever go over there again as it isn't the right sort of company for me to keep if you know what I mean...I think that my folks will be out to San Diego about next year about August or September. I wish that we would have our house by that time. Well who knows, maybe we will."

Katie and Martin with Ruth in their house in Chula Vista.

 

29 January 1957
"I certainly feel sorry for you there with the children giving you such a bad time. There is really nothing that I can do to help you out. Gosh, staying up all nite with Sandra. Then Timmy giving you such a time. If only I was there to stay up all nite with them...That pacifier is OK with me if it will do any good. Just so you get your right food and right sleep...I spent some money this afternoon for some valentines for you and the kids...I really wanted to get you a larger one but I didn't have enough money for it just now...Is the trailer fixed as yet? I hope that it didn't ruin it too much. Like I said, get it fixed and don't worry about the cost...Give the children a big hug for me, I really mean it."

 

27 January 1957
"Well I received a letter from you yesterday telling me all about the leaking trailer. Well I am certainly upset about it. I wish I was there to help you out someway. But I would suggest to get a hold of Hank the Trailer Man and get it fixed as soon as possible...You know I never gave it a thought when I was home. But I guess that I am just plain lazy...I arrived here in Japan yesterday morning...we will leave here for Sasebo, Japan...then we go to Hong Kong, China. Of course all this is confidential, so you don't have to tell everybody about it...Are you eating the right sort of food while I am away. I know that you are a good one at making sandwiches for yourself, but remember that the little ones have to eat something better once in a while."

 

25 January 1957
"Gosh, I certainly hope that I can save about 1500.00 this trip over here. If I can, that will mean that I can just about get a house for cash when I get back. Won't that be good...I think I'll have about $15,000.00 when I get back counting that I can get 1500.00 for the trailer. Not bad, is it...I just finished wrapping up the picture of Timmy to send off to Mom. I kept it as long as I could so I could look at it ever so often...Have you taken any pictures of Sandra as yet. She is pretty small to set up on the sofa for a picture yet. I hope that she isn't crying like she used to. I really felt bad when I left you all alone there. ARE YOU GETTING THE RIGHT THINGS TO EAT NOW?????? Remember eat plenty for the milk."

Timmy circa 1955

Timmy circa 1955

The Trailer

 

"Duel in the Jungle"

23 January 1957
"We had a good movie on here tonite. It was filmed in Africa in technicolor. I believe the name of it was "Duel in the Jungle". We always have the movie in the Chief's quarters right after eating supper, about 5:30 pm...Some fellow bought a new Parker pen...and he brought it back as it was broken. So I took it and sent it off to the PRESIDENT of the Parker Pen Co...along with a letter about it. I'll bet you two kisses that I get a new one for it. All it cost me was 12 cents Airmail stamps to send it off. My name is Gerdestein...Boy the ship is putting out some propaganda about all the prostitutes in Japan, and the venereal disease...But some of the fellows will fall prey to a lot of them girls in Japan. But don't worry about me as I have a good wife and two lovely children to look in the eye when I come back..."

"...half way across the Pacific Ocean..."

20 January 1957
"Well Gabris, the Chief that works with me got a telegram the other nite and his wife gave him a boy, 7 obs. 1 oz. So he is all happy about the whole thing...He tells me that they want about two more. Well they can have them. I am through...I did not go ashore in Pearl Harbor except to take some requisition over...So you can be relieved that I did not go over and get into mischief as some of the other ones would do. You certainly have a good "Old Man" don't you?...I guess you are kept very busy with the children. I don't expect many letters from you as you have plenty to do without writing me letters. Just so you take good care of the children, which I know that you will."

Buss in Pearl Harbor circa 1943

Buss in Pearl Harbor circa 1943

"Take care of yourself and the little ones"

13 January 1957
"Dear Ruth, Timmy & Sandra: "I see that we are within sight of the Hawaiian Islands...We are due in Japan about the 25th...I know that it will be hard for you to get along with the two children but try your best and I am sure that everything will be OK...There was something in the dope sheet (daily newspaper) that we would be back in San Diego on or about the 14th of August. Gosh that seems like a long time, don't it. But let's hope that it passes very fast. Sandra will be about 8 1/2 months old when I return. Boy this is certainly some life for a married man, isn't it?...We had a couple of shots in the arm the other day. I don't know what they were for, but I lined up with the rest of the people and took them like a man..."

 

"(Father of a boy and girl)"

11 January 1957
"Well here we are out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean sailing along at about 17 knots...I seen a couple of the young fellows leaning over the life line feeding the fish. It seems funny, but I never got sea sick a bit this time out...Well how are you making it with my two children? The best thing to do with them is not to let them get under your skin. Just talk along with Timmy and I think that you will have better results...I know that you will take good care of them as you are careful with them as can be...Now remember you don't have to write me as often as you would like to as I know that you have your hands full most of the time. So just take it easy when they are both sleeping."

Note: It had been 9 months since we last heard from Buss. At the time of the last letter dated 26 April 1956, Ruth was pregnant with their long-awaited baby girl. Sandra Kay was born on December 8, 1956. One month later, Buss left on the U.S.S Ajax for a 6-month tour of duty to the Far East.

November 1956. Ruth was pregnant with Sandra Kay.

 

"I am CHIEF"

26 April 1956
""I really don't do much when I have the duty except stand a few watches...That way I'll be getting out of inspection. But I would rather be going to inspection than to stand a watch. But I guess that all goes along with being a chief...Some of the fellows have been going over to the Chief's Club. But I have not been in one as yet. I think that they do a lot of drinking in those. So it's best that I stay right here on the ship and watch Television at nite. I have a top bunk, and at my age, I just make it up there by the skin of my teeth. Maybe after I am on here a while, I'll be able to get me one in the middle or so. My locker is in a bad place too, but I can't expect to have the best one on here. After all, I am the junior chief on here. But I am CHIEF."

Clark A.Gerdes, SKC, USN

Finally moved to Chula Vista, CA...their final town destination.