DIY History | Transcribe | Nile Kinnick Collection | Nile Kinnick correspondence, June-August 1942

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Nile Kinnick correspondence, June-August 1942

1942-07-31: Page 03

- 2   -
U. S.  NAVAL AIR STATION
MIAMI.  FLORIDA
Have made the acquaintance of several officers down here,
and can give you some pretty straight dope on Pearl Harbor.
I guess there were nine battleships in the harbor at the time
of the attack. Five were sunk, three damaged, and one escaped injury.  On the day of the raid, a Jap driver of a
laundry truck who had been coming in and out of Hickam
field for many months, drove down along a whole line of
airplanes and wrecked the tail assemblies of them all,
had a pipe sticking out the side. The story is that the
Navy wives brought pressure to bear in Washington to get
Kimmel put in command in place of Admiral Richardson who
wouldn't permit the battleships to come in on weekends.
Kimmel liked the parties and was more liberal. Also have
it on good authority that when Knox visited Cuba a year or
so ago that the Marines, 17,000 of them, staged a mock
landing for his benefit. Struggled through mud and slime,
stormed the beach, everything, but old Frank didn't venture
out of the bar nor relinquish his grasp on his rum and coke.
Am almost positive that all this is straight,but nonetheless
keep it in the lodge. Trust that these letters aren't censored!!
Incidentally, Sec, Knox was on the station yesterday having
a look around. After what I had heard I couldn't help feeling
that he strutted like a peacock, hut maybe not.
Received a brief letter from Ben yesterday in which
he devoted several lines to cussing the typewriter, finally
gave up and used his pen. Now that I have gotten a new
ribbon I shall indite to him at length.
Yes, mother,if you purchase Chruchill's book, "Modern
Contemporaries" I would enjoy very much having you send it
along to me. Also, thanks for the Sentinel, thought the
editorials especially good and timely.
Must shave now and get to bed.
Everything going along well,
much love
nile

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- 2 - U. S. NAVAL AIR STATION MIAMI. FLORIDA Have made the acquaintance of several officers down here, and can give you some pretty straight dope on Pearl Harbor. I guess there were nine battleships in the harbor at the time of the attack. Five were sunk, three damaged, and one escaped injury. On the day of the raid, a Jap driver of a laundry truck who had been coming in and out of Hickam field for many months, drove down along a whole line of airplanes and wrecked the tail assemblies of them all, had a pipe sticking out the side. The story is that the Navy wives brought pressure to bear in Washington to get Kimmel put in command in place of Admiral Richardson who wouldn't permit the battleships to come in on weekends. Kimmel liked the parties and was more liberal. Also have it on good authority that when Knox visited Cuba a year or so ago that the Marines, 17,000 of them, staged a mock landing for his benefit. Struggled through mud and slime, stormed the beach, everything, but old Frank didn't venture out of the bar nor relinquish his grasp on his rum and coke. Am almost positive that all this is straight,but nonetheless keep it in the lodge. Trust that these letters aren't censored!! Incidentally, Sec, Knox was on the station yesterday having a look around. After what I had heard I couldn't help feeling that he strutted like a peacock, hut maybe not. Received a brief letter from Ben yesterday in which he devoted several lines to cussing the typewriter, finally gave up and used his pen. Now that I have gotten a new ribbon I shall indite to him at length. Yes, mother,if you purchase Chruchill's book, "Modern Contemporaries" I would enjoy very much having you send it along to me. Also, thanks for the Sentinel, thought the editorials especially good and timely. Must shave now and get to bed. Everything going along well, much love nile