Research

(John E. and Eleanor Blake Kirkpatrick spent part of their honeymoon at the Kirkpatrick Family cabin in Green Mt. Falls, Colorado. Following a visit in Oklahoma City with his parents, Spencer and Elizabeth also went there for their honeymoon.) John relates to his parents that by the time they receive this letter, his brother and sister-in-law Spencer and Elizabeth will have left Oklahoma City and gone to Green Mt. Falls. He hopes their stay is as perfect as theirs. He writes, “…we have been very, very happy together ever since we were married. He tells them that his new job aboard the ship [U. S. S. Arizona] is an aide to the Executive Officer. John’s job varies from investigating stolen cars, to arranging fights and sending out musicians for instruments. He has the weekends off and is able to get ashore early. Watch duty is once every four days. Eleanor is able to be with him until eleven on the days he does not have duty. She then goes home, and there is someone who stays with her. He mentions they started their studying last night [for a correspondence course]. They went for a drive the previous afternoon and stopped for Eleanor to take target practice “with the 45.” A man is making a tent for them, which will be good for camping (a pencil drawing of a tent is in the left-hand bottom corner). He closes with “Love to all.”

On the reverse side of a letter John E. Kirkpatrick wrote to Mack B. and Kathryn “Kitty” Talbott Blake (see LT200531_John_Kirkpatrick_secion), Kitty wrote to her daughter, Eleanor Blake Kirkpatrick. She provides her opinion on his Naval promotion. She also updates her daughter on both her and her husband’s health detailing a car accident she recently went through that included a back injury. She also updates Eleanor on “Kendall Hurt.”

This is a two-part letter divided here between, “LT200531_John_Kirkpatrick_section” and “LT200531_Claudia_Spencer_Kirkpatrick_section.” This section is from John E. Kirkpatrick to his in-laws the Blakes (Mack B. and Kathryn “Kitty” Talbott Blake). He mentions his advancement to Executive Officer aboard the USS Oklahoma City which, he notes, determines whether he would get any shore assignment soon.

Lewis Spencer Kirkpatrick begins with “My darling wife” and relates that he has been too busy to think much about Christmas. He states, “I find time to think of you, Roy and Mary.” He would be very happy to receive a letter or cable. He writes, “It takes all of my courage, all of my faith to endure homesickness…I master it only because I am a leader in close touch with my men. I become accustomed to bombings and enemy threats but never to homesickness.” He continues by saying, “I hope that you got my Xmas message and the one radioed a week before. I shall continue, if possible, to radio at least twice a month.” He concludes with, “I was up most of last night and I am going to try for some rest. Aside from missing you until it hurts like a deep wound, I am perfectly well. I pray that this war ends soon. A mother and children were never worshipped more than you.” With all my love, Kirk.

Lewis Spencer Kirkpatrick tells his son that he received a letter from his mother about Roy starting school. He then tells him a story about when he began school in Oklahoma, and explains that some of his schoolmates were Native Americans He tells Roy that he misses him and Mary and their friends and that there are no children around Fort Mills where they had lived. He had expected to be home with them by now, but is ordered to stay to train other soldiers. The stores no longer have children’s gifts so he is sending Roy $5 for a birthday present. He asks him to give his mother, sister and Grandma and Grandpa a hug and kiss for him.

Claudia Spencer Kirkpatrick writes to her son Lewis Spencer Kirkpatrick and his newlywed wife Elizabeth “Bess. Claudia relates that it is the hottest day she has experienced and she hopes they are not suffering from the heat. She tells Spencer and Bess to enjoy their stay in Green Mt. Falls and tells them to stay as long as they can [the couple is there on their honeymoon]. She tells them “Mary [Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, Spencer’s sister] had a good big cry and is now talking Honolulu” (most likely wanting to see Spencer in Hawaii at his next assignment). Mary has three friends over, and they are making fudge. Later Mary’s father will take them to the Willow Spring swimming pool. Claudia writes, “Bess don’t you just love it there…Spencer could hardly wait for school to close so they could go to the Mt., and be free to climb, fish and do absolutely as they wished.” They received a letter from John, a copy of which she is enclosing (see LT200711). A postscript is on the reverse in the form of a note from Dr. Kirkpatrick to his new daughter-in-law, Bess. which begins “My Favorite Daughter” and jokingly tells Bess to have their “mutual Pet” get to work. He suggests several repairs that could be made to the cabin. He tells her to make sure Spencer gets the ax in good shape, saying “…a man should furnish his wife with a good Ax and Saw.” He tells them to return the keys he gave them if they do not fit, and to leave one key with Mrs. Miller and the other with Mr. Hutchins.

Eleanor Blake Kirkpatrick writes to her fiancé John E. Kirkpatrick. He had sent Eleanor Blake “beads” and “earrings” that she was very excited about. On Saturday night, Eleanor went to the Skirvin to a dance. She went squirrel hunting “on the other side of Yukon,” then assisted with a tea in the afternoon. She is working at her father’s office. Mentions additional names: Archibald Edwards, Rosemary, Julian Davies and “Dunnings.”

John E. Kirkpatrick writes to his daughter Joan. He has enclosed “marks for the sleeve of your blue coat” and another for “the little Putney girl you play with.” He sends a signalman’s mark depicting flags crossed and a gunner’s mate mark depicting crossed guns. He writes that he and “moms” [Eleanor Blake Kirkpatrick] are happy to be together and “wish you could be with us.” He expects Eleanor to return in about two weeks.

Western Union Telegram from Lewis Spencer Kirkpatrick to his father, Dr. Elmer E. Kirkpatrick, “A Merry Christmas to you all I passed all examination.” Spencer would graduate from West Point in 1924.

John E. Kirkpatrick tells his mother Claudia Spencer Kirkpatrick that his wife, Eleanor Blake Kirkpatrick, and daughter Joan will be leaving New York for home, and he is glad they will all be together for Christmas. He also hopes that his brother Claude can be there as planned. He mentions his other brother Spencer must be having “quite a time” in the Philippines. He writes about seeing Spencer’s wife, Elizabeth “Bess” Cacy Kirkpatrick, in Dumont. He writes about seeing his brother Elmer in Washington. He writes, “So it seems your two West Pointers and two Annapolis sons are finally in the swing of things.” Claude is a US Navy Captain and is happy and pleased with his sub-chaser assignment. John concludes that if his mother needs anything then to call Eleanor, and she will take care of it.

John E. Kirkpatrick tells his mother Claudia Spencer Kirkpatrick that he hoped she had a good Thanksgiving. He recalls a Thanksgiving when he got to come home on leave, and his mother and “dad” met him in El Reno. Thanksgiving was a very memorable day. He tells his mother to let him or Eleanor know if she needs more money since he realizes that prices are going up. He writes that he is well and is very happy to be aboard the USS North Carolina.

(Joan E. Kirkpatrick and her mother Eleanor Blake Kirkpatrick type on opposite sides of the same letter.) Eleanor writes that she is going to the Red Cross office soon to begin a new [Home Service] class this morning. She took Olive (Molumphy) to see the Geiss baby, Judy, the previous day. Eleanor thought the baby looked like Dorcas and Olive agreed when the baby smiled.She closes with “I’ll write soon.”

(Joan E. Kirkpatrick and her mother Eleanor Blake Kirkpatrick type on opposite sides of the same letter.) Joan begins by writing that it is Father’s Day, and she wishes he could be there with them to spend the day playing. She gave her grandfather, Mack, a box of lemon drops. On Mother’s Day she had given Kiks [Kathryn (Talbott) Blake] a box of candy, “but Mack ate most it.” Joan learned to knit because in the Happy Hearts next fall they will be required to take one 6″ knitted square each week. These will be given to the Red Cross to make blankets for the ill soldiers. She is also learning how to type.

Second page of letter John E. Kirkpatrick writes to Eleanor Blake. John is serving aboard the USS Arizona writes to Eleanor Blake: Returning to San Pedro, the ship is making a full power test run. He and some others are staying up all night “to take engineering data.” He tells her that they will finish firing about mid-June and will anchor. He should be able to get leave, then. “Will you marry me then?–around the last of June?” he asks. He stresses they would have the summer together in Long Beach from July to August and then September in Bremerton, Washington. “That would be wonderful Eleanor, so please say ‘yes.’ Please do.” He mentions the news about the Lindbergh baby which was just received over the radio.

First page of letter John E. Kirkpatrick writes to Eleanor Blake. John E. Kirkpatrick serving aboard the USS Arizona writes to Eleanor Blake: Returning to San Pedro, the ship is making a full power test run. He and some others are staying up all night “to take engineering data.” He tells her that they will finish firing about mid-June and will anchor. He should be able to get leave, then. “Will you marry me then?–around the last of June?” he asks. He stresses they would have the summer together in Long Beach from July to August and then September in Bremerton, Washington. “That would be wonderful Eleanor, so please say ‘yes.’ Please do.” He mentions the news about the Lindbergh baby which was just received over the radio.