Warren R. Watson
Warren R. Watson of the 93rd Seabees was a friend of Bob Conner
and is mentioned in Bob's Diary on the following dates. (6/8/43, 6/9,
8/19, 11/24, 3/19/44, 3/26, 5/20/45). Certainly the most poignant
reference and most representative of the indignity of service life for
married, middle-aged men is the excerpt below. (The "guest house"
mentioned provided a cozy setting on the base where men and their wives -
generally visiting from some distance - could chat, listen to music, and
perhaps play bridge.)
Watson and Conner later enjoyed a measure of liberty roaming the remarkable
terrain of their Pacific islands.
"Bob Conner, High Point, NC" is penciled in at the
bottom of the left page |
From "My Daze:" Bob Conner's WWII Diary:
While stationed at Camp
Endicott, Davisville, RI., Bob has enjoyed a weekend with his wife, Lib,
in New York and is on his way back to camp.,
. . . After riding on several subs I managed
to reach Grand Central an hour and a quarter before train time. They would
not let me on the train I had expected to catch, so got on another one which
left at the same time but arrived in Providence a half hour later.
6/7. Mon. Fell asleep on the train as soon as I sat down. Train was a
half hour late which gave us only a half hour to get to camp. Three of us
tried to hire a cab to bring us out but were turned down so we got in a two
block long line for the bus. Waited for three quarters of an hour before we
could get on a bus. Arrived in camp 50 minutes late. There were about ten of
us from the 93rd in the group. We were told at the gate to wait for an
escort from the O.D.’s office. From the way the O.D. acted when we arrived,
I think we will get out of being late OK. Started the morning off with a
lecture on extended order. After that we went out in the field to practice
extended order. Started out on the same thing this afternoon but were forced
into a drill hall by the rain. Spent this evening washing some clothes.
Watson and I are both expecting our wives on Friday, so are still worried
about having been late this morning.
6/8. Tues. Spent the whole day on KP. The worst came this afternoon.
Had to go before our Commander because of yesterday morning. Intended
washing my dress blues but had to wear them. I ended up being spokesman for
our group. We were all given 10 days’ restrictions which means we have to
check in at the M.A.A.’s office 4 times a day and miss two 12 hour
liberties. Watson and I are sick over it. Wrote Lib about the situation. Saw
the Chief M.A.A., Bumguard, to see if something could be done. He is going
to try to get one of our liberties back for the two of us. Really feel low
tonight.
6/9. Wed. Back on extended order again today. Sure did not feel like
doing anything this morning. Went up to see Chief Bumguard at noon with
Watson. Watson will get his Friday leave and I will get my Thursday (6/17)
one. Chief can really ask me to do anything and it will be done. Felt a lot
more like working this afternoon. Had to go to a lecture this evening and
then caught up a bit on my correspondence.
6/10. Thurs. Another lecture this morning followed by extended order
again. Worked on a field problem this afternoon. Really cleaned up tonight.
Pressed all my blues and washed everything that was dirty. Had a blackout at
9:00.
6/11. Fri. More KP today. This is our liberty night so we got off at
1:30. Received a wire from Lib that she was on her way this noon. Spent the
afternoon writing letters and getting cleaned up. Met Lib at the gate
tonight. We both arrived there at about the same time. The guest house at
the gate is really a popular place. Men and their wives were all over the
place even sitting on the floor. Lib is staying in a cabin just the other
side of East Greenwich. We had to part at 9:45 so she could catch a bus
back. It is a nice feeling.
6/12. Sat. More KP again today. Pressed my whites during my two rest
periods to get them ready should I want to use them all of a sudden. Managed
to get out of the mess hall a little bit early tonight so I could get down
to the gate to see Lib. Saturday and Sunday nights wives can come in to go
to the show. We had a usual Navy line to stand in to get the proper
credentials for admittance. Arrived at the show ten minutes late and had to
sit on the very front row. Stopped at the mess hall on the way back to the
gate and managed to get a piece of cake.
6/13. Sun. Almost forgot to report at 07:00 this morning. Spent the
morning loafing and listening to a rendition of the articles for the
Government of the Navy. Was able to get all my shoes cleaned up at that
time. Messed around this afternoon. Lib and I went to another show tonight.
She is getting a full taste of Navy lines now. Had to stand for an hour and
a half to get into the show.
6/14. Mon. This week we go out on work parties. Got on a detail today
that did not have to do too much work. Moved cans of oil in the morning and
shoes in the afternoon. A plane carrying depth charges crashed on an
ammunition dump at Quonset this afternoon. The explosion really shook the
place. Spent this evening with Lib again.
6/15. Tues. Managed to get a fairly easy detail this morning. Had to
clean up A-B recreation hall which was done fairly quick and permitted time
to play a few games of checkers and dominoes. In the afternoon 4 of us were
sent out to repair some roads in one of the other areas. Met Lib at the gate
again tonight. The Guest House was really bulging with people tonight.
The 'Bees sent colorful Christmas cards from the
islands. |
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