Karns - 28 months of heaven and hell

28Monthsof

HeavenandHell

J.D.Karns

Copyright2014byJ.D.Karns

All rights reserved. Photo of USS Melvin R. Nawman DE-416 courtesy of the U.S.

Navy:www.navsource.org

ISBN:978-1-63324-033-9

10:1633240339

Nopartofthisbookmaybereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmittedin anyformorbyanymeanswithoutpriorwrittenpermissionofthepublisher,exceptinthe caseofbriefquotationsembodiedincriticalarticlesandreviews.

Theviewsandopinionsexpressedinthisbookmaynotbethoseofthepublisher.

Tofindoutmoreaboutthisbookortheauthor,visit:www.JLBCreatives.com

CHARLESL.YOUNGBeanBelly

Dedication

IdedicatethisbooktomyBigBrotherCarlLeeYoung,Jr.andtoeachandevery

servicemanandwomanwhogavetheirallinthatwarthatImightcontinuetohavethe freedomIhavealwaysknown.

-CharlesL.Young

Acknowledgments

ToJ.D.Karns,author:thankyouforthiscreativeendeavor.Notonlydidyouexpertly useCarlsjournalentriestorelatethehistoricalfacts,butalsoyouputyourimaginationto work and portrayed a warm, family-oriented story that captures the true feeling of the WWIIeraintheMidwesternUnitedStates.

TomybrotherCarl:thankyouforprovidingyourjournalsothatthelifeofasailor aboard a destroyer escort in the WWII Pacific arena could be shared with everyone. It gives readers a chance to see the life of a sailor from that sailors point of view. I also thankyouforkeepingyourpromiseandtellingmeaboutit;somedayfinallyarrived.

Tomyfamily:thankstoallofyouforthemotivationtokeepthosememorableyears

alive.

CHARLESL.YOUNGBeanBelly

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Chapter1

BigDecision

Chapter2

HopeIMakeIt

Chapter3

FirstLetter

Chapter4

AShort15

Chapter5

Scabies

Chapter6

GuessWhosComingtoDinner

Chapter7

PoptheBigQuestion

Chapter8

ABigSecret

Chapter9

LetsHaveaParty

Chapter10

~BackHome~

StinkyMail

Chapter11

~BackatSea~

NowIKnowGodReallyExists

Chapter12

~BackHome~

GoodNews,BadNews

Chapter13

~IwoJima~

HeavenandHell

Chapter14

~BackHome~

HesAliveIHope

Chapter15

~BackatSea~

Critters,Sharks,Measles,andThreeSheetstotheWind

Chapter16

BeautyandtheBeast

Chapter17

GoodMorningTroops-ItsL-Day!

Chapter18

NeverSayItCantGetWorse

Chapter19

SoYouThoughtYouWereTough

Chapter20

NewsandMoreNews

Chapter21

Much-NeededFun

Chapter22

ItsComingtoanEnd

Chapter23

ItsOver!

Chapter24

TheLastLeg

Chapter25

HomewardBound-AlmostThere

Chapter1

BIGDECISION

I was playing with my Lincoln Logs, minding my own business. At age 11 it was toughbeingtheyoungestofthreeboys,thoughithaditsadvantagesattimes.Iwastaking suchprideinsteadyingthelastminiaturelogonmyincrediblefort,withoutanyhelpfrom eitherofmysiblings,whenIwasrudelyinterrupted.Iheardwhatseemedtobealaughing ruckuscomingfromeveryonedownstairs(allbutDadofcourse).

Havingbeenbornnearlydeafinmyrightear,Irarelycouldhearthefamilythrough the heat vent in the floor, let alone hear them above the World War II news that blared over the radio in the front room every evening after supper. But this particular evening wasdifferent.Iracedtothebanister,sliddown,thenranintothekitchen.Iwantedinon thefun,too,butithadgonesilentforthemoment.Everyonewasstillsittingaroundthe table, picking at what crumbs were left from my oldest brother Chesters birthday cake, which we had devoured earlier that evening to cap off the celebration. I took my seat betweenChesterandMom.

Chesterrappedmeontheheadandsaid,Hey,BeanBelly.

Ienthusiasticallyreplied,Hey,BigBrother.Truthbeknown,BeanBellywasnt

cutting it for me anymore. I was 11-going-on-12, for crying out loud. I wanted him and Mike,themiddlebrother,tostartcallingmebymyrealname,Jeb.ButsomehowIknew betterthantobringthatuprightthen.

Chesterlookedatallofusashecontinuedsmilingandspoke,Sinceeveryonesin

such a good mood A huff came from Dad, but Chester ignored it. Ive got somethingreallyexcitingtosay.Hepausedabittoolong.

Wellsayit,boy,Dadgruntedwithoutlookingupfromhisnewspaper.

ChesterwastednotimeafterDadsrequest.NowthatIm18,andtheUnitedStates

has been involved with World War II since December 7, 1941, Ive given it a lot of thought,andIwanttoservemycountry.

IsawMombeamwithprideandfearallinthesamefractionofasecond.Shesaid,

Wellthatsnicedear.WeveraisedyoutobeaproudAmerican,andaswellyoushould be.Thisisagreatcountry.Isawherlookaroundatsomeofthethingswehad,thenat eachoneofus.Ithinkwantingtoprotectourfreedomisaverynoblethingforanyyoung mantowanttodo.Hervoicetrembledwithhernextwords.Sowelljustwaitandseeif thedraftcardsfallinyourfavor.ShepattedChestersforearmwithonehandandranher other hand over her new hairdo. Until then we can all rest easy and enjoy our time together. She smiled right at Chester. I know, with you being 18 now, youre going to wanttogetoutonyourownsoon,andIwanttomakecertainyoureabsolutelyreadyfor that.Iwanttobesureyouhaveallthatyouneed.Youllneedajob,foronething.She chuckled.IsawDadnod,andthesmokefromhispipewhirledfromthemotion.

IlookedbackatChesterandsawhiseyeswidenabitbeforehesaid,Andyousee,

thats just it. It appeared as though he was thinking about how to say his next words.

Youre right Mom. I do want to get out on my own, and I definitely need a job to do that. He took her hand in his, though she did not look at him. She mashed a few more cakecrumbsonherforkandbroughtthemtohermouthashesaid,Butheresthething.I dont want to wait and take a chance on the draft. He hesitated for only a second. Id liketoenlist.

I remember the sound of Moms fork hitting the floor and the sight of her mouth dropping open. I also remember Mike and me cheering at the tops of our lungs! Heck, moreexcitingthanthenewsofourbigbrotherenlistingwasthefactthatwebothknewif heleft,wedeachhaveourownroom.

IthinkyoushouldjointheNavy!Iblurted.

Metoo!Mikeshouted.

Wehadplayedcountlesshourstogetherplanningandstrategizingasthoughwewere

captains on the mighty battleships. And now our big brother wanted to be one of those captains for real. How exciting! Plus, Mike and I had only heard on the radio about the greatpilots,soldiers,andsailors.Wednevermetone,letalonethinkabouthavingonein ourfamily.

Nowjustaminute.Chestersmiledandcontinued.Didyouguyseverstoptothink

Idliketohaveasayinthematter?

AswouldI!Momstonewasharsh.Weallbackeddown.Idontthinkyoushould

goatall.Andtotellyouthetruth,Ivebeenfearingthatthewarwouldstillbegoingon when you turned 18 and that the draft would take you away, possibly never to be seen again.Isawherwipeatearwithherstubbylittlefinger.Whatdoyousay,Dad?

Dadbarelyloweredthenewspaperandlookedoverhiseyeglasses.Dontcarewhat

hedoes,Mom.Hesabigboynow.Infact,hesaman.Hes18.Hesplentycapableof making his own decisions. But if you want my two cents worth, Id have to say its a damnedgoodidea.Dadsnappedthenewspaperbackintoreadingposition.Momglared

athim.

Icouldnthelpthatmyexcitementforboatsandthewaterspilledintomynextwords.