Dale was seventeen when the Second World War had finally ended. After the end of the war he eagerly set his sights on higher learning and began to pursue his own lofty personal goals in a peacetime America. In 1950, after the Korean War erupted into the lives of the still battle-weary people of the United States, young men were targeted once again by the United States Military. Dale had just turned twenty-two years old.

Much attention has been given of late to letters written by the men who served in the Armed Forces of the United States this past century. I believe that in my letters, written by a raw young sailor, "Krug" to "Princess," one might be able to gain much insight on what many of the young men, like Dale, went through in those uncertain times. Dale labored to write Connie a daily letter. Depending on circumstances he sometimes could only write every two or three days, but most of the time he maintained his daily schedule of notes and letters. Some of Krug’s letters from the war zone were lost before they reached me, but because of the frequency of his writing, most came through to me. So even though a few letters were lost, I still have a steady diary of Krug’s day-to-day activities in his first year of life in the Navy, at the beginning of the Korean War. Dale dedicated himself to motivate me to want to wait for him to come home to our marriage by keeping my interest in him alive. He worked hard to make his beautiful love notes both interesting and informative in reading content.

Before he left home for Naval training he had asked me to marry him on his Boot leave. Upon graduation from Boot camp, Krug was taken immediately, along with seventy-one other sailors also graduated from U.S.N.T.C., to their ship waiting in the harbor in San Diego. Thus when his Boot leave was canceled he was unable to keep his marriage date with me. He was shipped overseas to unlimited service in the war zone during the first part of the Korean War. Krug was away for over a year from the day he first left home. He strove to keep my interest and our love alive during his absence.

I was nineteen when Krug enlisted in the Navy. We dated exclusively for the six months before he left home and had only just decided that we might have a future together. We were getting used to the idea when Dale came to me one day and asked me to wear his engagement ring. "Krug told me, he was enlisting in the Navy." My response to Dale’s proposal was, "I do not feel that I could agree to wearing an engagement ring on my hand for four years." I told him that, "if he was serious, I guessed I was too." I said to him, "If you want to marry me, I will marry you instead of just being engaged." He quickly said, "Will you marry me on my Boot leave after I have completed my basic training?" Krug told me when he put his engagement ring on my finger that, "He had placed me on a pedestal and that I was his princess." In his letters, To Princess from Krug, many references to me were addressed to, "princess."

In the 1950s, it was not unusual for a young unmarried couple to make a firm decision to avoid becoming sexually active before marriage, especially in a Midwestern town like Mason City, Iowa. I know that in the movies a different impression has often been given about men going off to war, but many many thinking men and responsible woman in the United States chose not to be sexually active before marriage. There was too much danger from society in that time of our history in the United States to a young woman. A young woman who made such an error in judgment could destroy her whole life. There was no such thing as birth control pills, abortion or DNA comparison.

An engagement ring was no guarantee of marriage when a man went into the Service. Society made excuses for an irresponsible man, but doors closed to a girl when she stepped over the line and had a baby out of wedlock. Life was very hard for her. At least one hundred fifty young women worked on the Local and Toll boards in my office. I saw and heard many sad things. An unmarried woman on the family way was instantly fired from Northwestern Bell as soon as her predicament became known. At that time many of the big employers of women took a similar stand. A woman became a fallen woman when she crossed the sexual line before marriage. Dale had too much respect for me to even try to force me into such a compromising situation. We acknowledged a healthy sexual attraction for each other, but there had been no physical relationship between, Krug and princess, before Dale left me to enter the Navy.

Dale’s letters were filled with the many exciting ways Krug could tell princess of his love. He worked to encourage me to want to continue to wait for him. Krug’s seventy-year-old widow still thrills at the glow of love that shines through in the letters from Krug. These letters are even more precious fifty years after they were written. Krug’s beautiful letters of love are also a wonderful documentary of life in the Navy, board a Seaplane Tender the first year of the Korean War. His letters detail his life from his start in U.S.N.T.C. to later on board ship. His vivid description of the South Pacific, five years after the close of the Second World War, place you there with him as he visits the different islands.

Although a few of his letters were lost before they even reached me, I have most of them. I believe, Krug’s letters are a treasure trove to the insight and experiences of not only Dale, but of most young men in the Navy in the 1950’s, during the Korean War serving board such a ship.

As a final word I have to draw attention to the women of my generation. This was a strong generation of young women who were in their teens at the end of the Second World War. We followed after the women who had just started to hold their own in the job market, as a result of the War Effort in the WW2 Defense Industries. Woman’s earning ability, in some areas, were often near the pay scale of many men, especially in the beginnings of the giant Bells and AT&T. My generation of women came into it’s own after the end of Second World War. Both the Great Depression and the Second World War had been our good, but harsh teachers. When I graduated from high school in 1949, I had talents in several areas, but my family was poor and if scholarships were available for me, I didn’t know about them. I assumed that if I wanted a college diploma, I would have to earn my own way. I began to explore all my options. I had training in shorthand and typing, but work in a business office really didn’t pique my interest. I began to work part time during my senior year in high school on the local board at Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. By the time I graduated from high school I was learning the Long Distance board. The Long Distance Board held my attention and was exciting and challenging to me. In fact, I loved the work.

When I had begun to see Dale socially, I also had begun to earn pretty good money, for a girl of my age, at the telephone company. There was plenty of opportunity for me there to advance in position and pay in my job. This looked mighty good to a gal who had spent most of her life wearing hand-me-down clothing. My only previous work experience had been at menial jobs for twenty-five to fifty cents per hour

Dale was good looking, intelligent and ambitious. He was attentive to me when he was with me and best of all he didn’t seem to be in an all fired great rush to get married. He was goal oriented toward completing his education and that was where he centered most of his attention when we weren’t together. When we began to date I had already made up my own mind to put thoughts of marriage on hold for a while. I had whetted my appetite with this good money I had begun to earn while working at a job that I loved. I was eager to test my wings at earning as much money as I could make. I was able to sense from Dale, without his saying a word, that a serious relationship that could lead to a marriage at that time was the furthest thing from his mind. I relaxed then, for I thought I was as interesting a diversion for him as he was for me. My instincts were usually good and my instincts told me that the last thing this fine young man would accept was for me to assume anything of a serious nature from his attentiveness. As he moved forward in pursuit of his own future this knowledge I gleaned from being his steady date made me feel he was just too good to be true. I was content with the fact that I had a wonderful good-looking considerate companion for a while. He enjoyed doing exciting things and going places as much as I did. We could both just relax and concentrate on becoming good friends and have a whole lot of fun at the same time. We were comfortable with that no-pressure mind set until shortly before he left for San Diego when things suddenly got a whole lot more serious.

November 27, 1950

Hi Doll,

Another note to tell you I love you and want only you princess. I have just received one letter from you since boarding ship, but that letter was very tender darling. You expressed your love for me in a way that I wish that I could do. I love you. I am looking forward to receiving the fruitcake. I can’t wait to taste my baby’s cooking. I bet it is wonderful.

We started out to sea today, but came back. The fog was too thick to instruct the crew in the different drills. We are going to try again tomorrow. I had to write you one more time before we left port. When we go to sea I will write you often, but I suppose the letters will pile up as yours to me will also do. I am going to apply for a transfer to a different Division when I go to sea. I don’t want this old, " general duty stuff, " in my Navy days. I want to do work board ship that will help me to get a job when I am a civilian. I need to do something that will help to set us up for beginning our lives together. I want to do something that will put us closer to our home, family and car. You know, I will be twenty-six when my enlistment time is over. When I think in that way I am driven to try to do something better every chance I get.

I am so tired tonight Connie. I wish I were home with you so you could rub my back and baby, how we would make mad passionate love to each other. For now with all my love.

Dale

P.S. I will probably be seasick. Ha!

* * *

November 29, 1950

Dear Connie,

First of all let me tell you of my sea life. I had a sinus headache the day we got the ship ready to pull out to sea again. About 10: 30 I went to sickbay. At sickbay they said, " There is nothing wrong with you go back to work." I got half way back to the boat deck and heaved. I went back to sickbay and was put to bed. The Dr. checked me. He still could find nothing wrong. ( All of this ensued while we were still in port. ) The ship pulled out at noon. ( I didn’t even know we were at sea until 7:30 pm. ) It couldn’t have been seasickness because I felt fine and went back to work the next day.

We had anchored in some cove over night.. I don’t know where it was. We headed for the deep again; however, there was about 560 feet of water below us during the night. We saw porpoise galore on our way out to sea. They were leaping out of the water all over.

Two ten-ton anchors were dropped. ( Some weight, hey?) We had GQ or general quarters or battle station drill and I am second loader on a 20 millimeter anti-aircraft gun. There are six men in the crew where I work. I was issued a foul weather jacket to help keep me warm out on the decks. I still have to get a steel helmet. We had firing practice and they were checking the radar all afternoon.

As far as scuttlebutt goes, we are leaving the states the 11th of December. We will be six days to Pearl Harbor and from there I guess it is Korea, but it may be Japan. Don’t worry I will be okay honey. We have plenty of protection and you have never seen such a sight until you have seen seven hundred men all working together to keep their ship afloat. I don’t know how long we will be away. I will have about 30 days leave coming if it is six months. That could get me home for a June wedding. I am praying for such and that God will be with us and that I come home safe and sound to you. Dream of us together princess. With all my love. Your husband.

Dale

* * *

November 30, 1950

My darling,

I can’t even express in words how much I love you, but I think that you know by now. You also should know that Krug is always thinking of wonderful you.

We have been at sea for two days now and I am getting used to the rolling of the ship, however, the weather has been calm. I stand watch four hours and have eight hours off and I don’t get much sleep. I have been standing watch from eight o’clock am. to twelve noon. I work four hours and stand watch again from eight to twelve at night.

The position where I stand watch is to the left or port side of the ship. It is on the bridge or controlling point where the Captain is located. I watch from 270% to 360% for other ships, planes and subs. A very wonderful gift for xmas or there about would be a knit wool scarf. A navy blue one about thirty inches long with square ends, just so I can keep the cold wind from going down my neck.

We had more gun practice today. When the big guns fire the impact about knocks me off my feet. I had a talk with the Captain when on the Port watch. We talked about the ice storms a year ago in Iowa. The Captain and officers I have talked with so far seem to be nice fellows. I hear there are a good share of the other type aboard.

We saw sharks today, but they didn’t seem to be too bothered by us around. Sea gulls have been following us so we are not far from land. We don’t receive mail at sea so I hope I will have all kinds of mail when we get back to port. I hope your fruit cake is there too. I know it will be good if my honey baked it.

I need you as my wife Connie. I need you to talk with, to play with, to work with and to be my companion for life. I am faithful to you till the end of time. Hold me close in your dreams tonight and send up a prayer for our safe reunion. With all my burning love and affection. Your loving husband.

Dale