Attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941

This letter is undated, but it must have been written not long after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Sailors were encouraged to write a brief note home to reassure their families that they were OK. My father was on the USS MONAGHAN which, in response to a miniature submarine sighting, was underway at the time of the attack and not in "battleship row". This action may have saved his and my life.

On Christmas Eve, a year later, he wrote his only direct reference to that day: "I sure remember last December 7th, we had a fine fried chicken dinner, with Ice Cream, cigars etc. and what not. As the ice cream was melting and everyone on my station, was too busy to eat any, except me, as a talker ate over a quart by myself." Imagine. Eating ice cream with bombs going off all around.

MONAGHAN

Dear Mom:

Just a little note to let you know I'm well.

My, but I wish I could visit with you for a while. So many things I could tell you to make you feel good and let you know that we still got the best navy afloat.

Do you want to come out at Xmas and have Christmas dinner in Tokyo? And it won't be rice and fish-heads.

The old song "A Million Miles From Nowhere" seems to be running through my head these last few weeks, but really we are some-where.

Do I get homesick? No, just excepting in the mornings at Reveille, I get to thinking about how nice it would be to lay in bed till 7 or 8 & especially on Sundays when I could maybe sleep till 9 or 10.
Remember I used to complain about not being able to sleep during the day. Don't have that trouble now. I can sleep with a 100 watt light glowing in my face, a card game not 5' from me & the radio going full blast.

In fact when I get paid off and into civilian life I'll move by a blasting outfit, sleep in salt soaked dungarees, have some one rock the bed, squirt a fire hose on the windows & have to be woke up every half hour before I'm comfortable.

Well mom I must sign off for now.

Lots of Love

Jim

U.S.S. MONAGHAN,
C/O FLEET P.M., S.F. CALIF.
J.H.LYON, SKIC, U.S.N.

December 3, 1941

Four days before the attack on Pearl Harbor Jim writes home to his sister Margaret in Oklahoma about Christmas gifts for his mom, Laura (Shay) Lyon, in Wichita.



Laura (Shay) Lyon ca. 1952

December 3, 1941
USS MONAGHAN

Don't let mom know what she is getting, but send me a card & let me know.

Dear Marg:

I've been racking my brain, what little there is of it to find a suitable present for mom. I can't think of what she would want.

It looks like the job is up to you. What does she want? Something she would desire but feels she couldn't afford something she could treasure and show off.

A ring, fur piece, gloves & shoes assembly to match. You being with her should know. What I wanted to get her was a portable radio. I think she would like one swell, cause often when she goes visiting, either the folks she is with don't have one, or else she can't turn on the radio to the programs she wants. With a portable she could stick it in her room & play it herself.

About the portable though, I think R.C.A. has a gadget that charges the batteries as it plays on the light current, but I don't know about the tone.

You or Tom look around and find something then get the money from mom as I've drained my cash surplus and I think me and mom have enough in the kitty to buy her a nice present.

I was kind of hoping that the kids & you wouldn't get into your presents before Christmas morning. I thought they were Christmas wrapped & labeled.

Did the skates fit? I was wondering. I got the biggest for you I could find & was very much afraid mom would have to cut them apart & make one out of them so you could get in them.

Love,  Jim