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1 RAYMOND CORNELIUS MALLEY 1908 – 1990
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RAYMOND CORNELIUS MALLEY 1908 – 1990
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PROLOGUE On a warm, muggy and rainy day in July 2012 the Malley Family had a reunion at the Montgomery, New York Firehouse with about 55 family and friends in attendance. It seems the younger generation of Malley’s has an interest in the family trees associated with the Malley family with some bringing information from many sources. One of the treasure’s that came to light was a box of letters written by Ray Malley and his brother Art Malley during their times in the Navy and Army. The letters from Ray Malley started in July 1930 from the USS Chaumont to March 1943 from the USS Trever. The collection was discovered in a closet in the Malley farmhouse and while it is most likely not a complete compilation of his letters they paint a vivid picture of his life in the U.S. Navy with some insights to the impact of the great depression on the Malley farm. Perhaps the most important letter is the one he wrote on December 13, 1941 telling his mother he survived the attack on Pearl Harbor and probably wouldn’t make it home for Christmas. Raymond Cornelius Malley was born on February 11, 1908 in Montgomery, New York. His parents lived on a 101-acre dairy farm on Beaver Dam road. The Cornelius Malley family was composed of: Cornelius Malley – Father Margaret Malley – Mother William Malley – Son Raymond Malley – Son Marion Malley – Daughter Madelyn Malley – Daughter Art Malley – Son
During Ray’s third year of high school family lore has it he and his younger brother Art were in some sort of conversation with a couple of black kids and for some reason the Principal of the school came down and accused them, or just Art, of being members of the Klu Klux Klan. Both Ray and Art denied the accusation and for some reason the Principal accosted Art in such a way that Ray hit the Principal and either knocked him down, or out, with the end result being Ray was expelled from high school. He enlisted in the United States Navy on January 9, 1929 for a four-year enlistment and he remained in the Navy until his retirement in 1948. His early years in the Navy were during the height of the Great Depression when unemployment was around 25% and remained low until 1941. Those that were able to find work did so at drastically reduced salaries and traditional roles in families were in upheaval and many husbands had abandoned over 1.5 million married women. While not specifically stated Ray most likely joined the Navy to get money to help out with the farm finances rather than staying home with little hope of work. A chronological diary of Ray’s letters, most of which were retyped* for clarity, from the time of his enlistment to 1943 are in the following pages. A number of photos were also in the box but most had no captions and some have been inserted in the most logical places with the letters. Discs including many of the pictures along with some videos, taken on a 16MM movie camera are available from Ken Malley. *No attempt was made to correct spelling errors and when the writing was not legible either Xs or? marks were inserted.
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Data extracted from Department of the Navy, Bureau of Navigation Continuous Service Certificate
Raymond Cornelius Malley at entry of Service – Jan 9, 1929 Birth -Montgomery, New York Feb 11, 1908 Height 5 Feet 9 ½”, 163 pounds, Blue eyes, Lt Brown Hair, Ruddy complexion, Blood type A
Jan 9, 1929 - Navy Recruiting Station NY, Rate AS, 4 year enlistment Feb 11, 1929 - Naval Training Station, Newport RI, Rate AS (qualified 50 yard swimming) April 10, 1929 – Receiving Ship, NY Rate AS, General Training May 27, 1929 – USS Chaumont, Rate AS, General Detail & Passenger July 10, 1929 - USS Chaumont, Rate Sea 2C, Placed in the Crew May 5, 1930 – USS Chaumont, Rate Sea1C Sept 30, 1931 – USS Chaumont, Rate Sea1C, Completed Navy Training Course for EM3c Jan 9, 1933 - USS Chaumont, Rate EM3C, Manila, and P. I. – re-enlist for 2 years Mar 2, 1934 – USS Chaumont, Promoted to EM2C Oct 24, 1934 – Mare Island, CA. Expiration of enlistment – Honorable Discharge Oct 25, 1934 – USS Chaumont, Mare Island, CA Re-enlistment for 4 years Sept 10. 1936 – USS Chaumont – Leave Sept 30 1936 – Naval Hospital, New York. Patient recovering from motorcycle accident. June 30, 1937 - USS Chaumont, rate EM2C Sept 9, 1937 – USS Chaumont – at sea Qualified Dragon Back – Crossed 180th Meridian Nov 16, 1937 – USS Chaumont – promoted to EM1C Sept 26, 1938 – USS Chaumont, San Francisco, Honorable Discharge Dec 22, 1938 – RECSTATION, Washington DC – Re=enlist for 4 years Dec 31, 1938 – USS Ralph Talbot, Boston, Guantanamo Bay, Rat e EM1C June 30 – 1939 – USNTS San Diego, Under Instruction @Gyro School Sept 30, 1939 - USS Ralph Talbot, Mare Island Dec 31, 1939 – USS Ralph Talbot, San Diego Dec 14, 1940 – USS Ralph Talbot – Pearl Harbor. Rate acting Chief Petty Officer EM, Dec 31, 1940 – USS Trever, Pearl Harbor Apr 3, 1941 – USS Trever – Completed 12 years service for pay purposes Sept 8, 1942 – USS Trever – Promoted to Chief Electricians Mate Sept 30, 1941 – USS Trever Pearl Harbor Dec 7, 1941 – USS Trever, Pearl Harbor – Witnessed the Japanese attack Jan 4,1943 – USS Trever, Sydney, Australia – Discharged and re-enlist Apr 3, 1944 – USS Underhill, Gitmo, Cuba Rate CEM June 30, 1944 - CentComDet – E.C. New York, NY – working in shipyard building liberty ships and other assignments* Nov 1, 1948 - Receiving Station, Brooklyn, NY –Transferred to Fleet Reserve and released from Active Duty. *During this period Stationed at Green Cove Springs, Florida working with Navy German Prisoner of War Camp and a tour on the West Coast on an Oiler USS Genesee. Last at sea service was on the USS Genessee on the west coast. No data provided in the available records. Ray has stated that he was on two ships, one of them the USS Blue, that were torpedoed and sunk by Japanese vessels but to date have found no official records to confirm his assignment on other destroyers.
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The Letters
For ease in reading the majority of the letters have been transcribed to a Word format. In instances where the words could not be clearly understood a best attempt was inserted. If there were cross outs in the letter they were reproduced in the transcribing process. The primary exception to the transcription process was the letter Ray wrote a few days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. It is also the letter that delivers the most emotion in a very few words. To provide the reader with a better understanding of his environment while at sea prior to the letters from his various ships is a brief history of the ships he served on. A number of photos were also in the box containing the letters but most of them did not have any information to put them in context. Where it appeared reasonable photos were inserted along with the letters with the best possible explanation we could develop. Work is in process to place all the photos and movies on discs for distribution at a later date. Enjoy your trip to Ray Malley’s seagoing days in defense of our Country.
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While serving on the USS Chaumont
July3, 1930 5:00 PM Dear Mother, Well Ma! How is everything on the farm these days? I am fine as ever, and had a wonderful trip all the way. Getting in here yesterday afternoon. Got Madelyn’s letter, which was waiting for me. Also one from Gertrude, and a couple from Dot and Frances. I thought I would have one from you but dident see it yet. We stayed a day at Port au Prince, Haiti, one day at Colon, Canal Zone and proceeded thru the canal the next day (Sunday) and took about 7 rolls of films. Am waiting until 6:00 now to get them. After we got there the canal we stopped at Panama City over night until the next day, then we started out for Corinto, Nicaragua. On the way out of the harbor 3 army planes were doing stunt s over the ship, and what they dident do isent worth mentioning. Boy them guys know their stuff. The day before we got into Corinto we ran across a small sailboat, flying a distress flag. Well according to the rules of navigation we had to stop. They were a bunch of Negroes off some small island and were out of food and fresh water, and couldn’t get back to their island. So we gave them some chow an a keg of water and shoved off and let them make the island the best way they could. We stayed at Corinto only long enough to unload some marines and take a few more on and started off for San Diego. 2 days before we got in here we got a radio message from some ship that they wanted some ammonia for their ice machine. The gave us there course an told us about what time we would meet them. Well we met them about 9:00 o’clock and lowered a tank of ammonia over the side to them an once more proceeded on our way. On Monday night the 30th we had a smoker. I had the main event as usual an walked off with the winning stake also. That me. That makes 8 fights’ I’ve had on here and won them all so you see I have a pretty good rep out here. I will send you the “morning Breeze” Note: This letter was not in an envelope and the remaining parts of the letter are not available. The photo below, with Ray on the right, was in his collection of photos and appears to be about the right timeframe for this letter.
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Pollywogs with heads shaved Ready to cross the 180th Meridian
August 20, 1930
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A sample certificate for Crossing the 189th Meridian
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San Francisco Oct. 4, 1930
Dear Mother, Well, am back to the U.S.A. and am feeling fine. Got in yesterday morning around noon. But is was cold as hell when we got into the dock. Right now the weather is great. Just like spring time home. Went ashore last night and saw “The Santa Fee Trail”. To-morrow we fumigate the ship, so all hands have to get off. All doors and ventilators are sealed so that none of the gases can escape. They do this to kill the cockroaches and germs that may be on the ship. Monday we go up to the Mare Island navy yard for 6 days I think and then we start for the east coast. I do no know just when we will be getting there. Was looking for mail when I got in here, but didn’t get any from home. Got one from Dot R. an Francis. I suppose the kids are all back to school again. The time does fly doesn’t it? Bly it seems so to me. Two years almost shot all ready. According to the papers around here, work is damn scarce too. We brought back about 75 prisoners, getting a kick out. I pity them when they turn them loose. I suppose they will be sent for the Boulder Dam. That is where all the working men area heading for these days. Has Charlie Hoff got back from his trip yet? I got a letter from Harold H. about a month ago. Now I can’t think of much more to write so I think I might just as well say good bye hoping this finds you all in the best of health. I remain Your Loving Son Ray
The below item was in with the letters without any date. It is included to give you an example of the schedules for the Chaumont.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF USS CHAUMONT ON ASIATIC STATION
ARRIVE PORT DEPART 20 JUNE MANILA 23 JUNE 25 JUNE HONGKONG 26 JUNE 29 JUNE WOOSUNG 29 JUNE 2 JULY CHIWANGTAO 3 JULY 7 JULY TINGSTAO 9 JULY 10 JULY SHANGHAI 19 JULY 22 JULY MANILA 23 JULY
While serving on the USS Chaumont
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While serving on the USS Chaumont Shanghai, China
Feb 6, 1931 Dear Mother, Well, how is everything back in the old home town these days? Reckon it is rather cold isn’t it? I am as fine as ever and just beginning to think how lucky I am to be working below decks where it is nice and warm, as it is pretty darn cold on topside just now. We made a stop at Hong Kong for a day, was so darn foggy you couldn’t see a darn thing. WE left there about 6:30 that night, at 9:30 we hit some of the roughest seas I ever saw or ever want to. I thought it was rough coming up from Haiti last trip but it was nothing compared with this. I think half the ship was under water most of the time. I thought it would break in half when she lifted her bow up and then dive into one of them big waves. Boy I was beginning to think I rated submarine money. One wave came over the bow and took two long ventilators off and bent them up like paper. We finally got thru it at 12, and I decided after that that this ship can ride anything.
We go into Shanghai the next day and stayed there two days and then shoved off for Chinwangtao, a two days trip. Boy it was cold up there, there was ice about 4 miles out. The Chaplain was taking a sight seeing tour party up to see the great wall, so this being my first chance to go up there, decided to go. We left the ship at 1:30 walked about a mile, got a rickshaw from there to the station, where there was supposed to be a train waiting for us. Well we waited until nearly 4: O’Clock before we could get a train, an by that time everyone was pretty well canned(?) up, an some were worse. In the meantime me and a couple of guys got e donkeys from a Chinaman an rode them out on the desert to take some pictures in the sand. The Chinaman is supposed to come along with the donkeys, but we run away from hem and come back to another place an gave the donkeys to another Chinaman. Well we finally were able to get a train. We wouldn’t be able to get a passenger train so we got into two freight cars, seaman, officers an all. We had to go eight miles on the train an it was the slowest damn train you ever saw. The train took us as far as Shanignan. From there we got into rickshaws to the wall and by the time we got there it was too late to take pictures. Boy it sure was a wonderful thing. I think only about a third of us got up to see it. You haven’t any ide the time and labor it took to build such a thing. Am sorry we didn’t get up in time to get some pictures of it. I did get a big piece of it there as a souvenir. It is supposed to have been built 200 B.C. Well the town here hasn’t improved a bit since then. I don’t suppose they ever such a thing as an automobile. Some places in the streets it is hared to get there without a rickshaw. All the buildings are only one story buildings of stone with hardly any windows if any in them. No electric lights or telephone. I believe it is just the same as it was 200 B.C. It was a darn hard trip but it was worth the opportunity anytime. Next trip will be in the summer and will be warm and get an early start up to see it. We got back to the ship about 10:30 that night and boy was it cold. We left the next morning for Shanghai….. Got in here yesterday morning and tied up to the Standard Oil docks and took on oil. At no one we moved out to buoy’s 36 & 37 and tied up there in the river. This is a way down the river from shanghai, about 3 miles I think. Last time we was tied up to the USS Pittsburg buoys which are right near the Bend. They are repairing the buoys I guess that is why we didn’t tie up there this time. I haven’t been ashore yet and don’t intend to go more than once as it is a long ride up the river and too cold. Got a letter from Frances to-day, dated Jan 10, but did not get any from you. So by the time you get this we will be on our way to the States, possibly pretty close to Honolulu. Well I guess I will sign off now an say goodbye hoping to hear from you soon. As ever, Ray P.S. Excuse paper and writing.
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T he newspaper clips on this and the next page were in an envelope in the box with all the letters without any dates. They appear to be from a Shanghai English paper and probably around 1930 -1931. While difficult to read it is very clear that Ray Malley was into boxing.
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While serving on the USS Chaumont Cofr
Sometime in 1932 still assigned to the Chaumont and either on TDY or ship in overhaul at Boston Navy Yard. Ray is on the left and from the looks of their dungarees looks like they may have been shoveling coal. His rate at this time was most likely Electricians Mate Third Class.
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The only correspondence found from 1932 through 1936. Either Ray did not write or Mother did not put in the box.
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While serving on the USS Chaumont Honolulu, T.H.
May 21 1936
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While serving on the USS Chaumont
In early September 1936 Ray’s record shows he was on leave, most likely to home in Montgomery, New York and while he was home had a serious motorcycle accident and spent considerable time in the hospital. Family lore has it that when he was taken to a hospital and his sister, Madelyn, was one of the nurses on duty that assisted in his initial medical treatment. The picture is the only record of the incident in the files. No info from page one was in the box. The recovery appeared to take a long time and the record shows he returned to the USS Chaumont in June 1937 and the letter trail picks up again.
Balboa, C. April 18 1937
Dear Mother, Right back on the old routine again and everything seems to run along as smooth as ever. Have been kept pretty busy so far as we are short of electricians this trip. Have been standing generator watches 8 hours a day and take care of the fire room and engine room lighting and power circuits since I landed on board in Norfolk. It doesn’t bother me any so I don’t mind much. If heat will do me any good all I can say is I am getting plenty of that. I’m writing this on the 12 to 4 A.M watch an its 105 degrees down here now. It gets up around 110 in the day time. I can still feel some of that stiffness in the front of my leg after sitting down for a while otherwise as good as ever. We had a terrible rough trip down to Guantanamo, Cuba. I never saw such a seasick bunch in all my trips. We left Norfolk at 2 0’Clock in the afternoon an got out the bay and passed Cape Hatteras at midnight and hit that storm all of a sudden. Before the portholes an hatches were closed she had already taken a lot of sea. I had the 12 to 4 that night an when I went off watch there was these kids just out of training station heaving their guts out. You can imagine what it is like when 5 or 6 hundred of them get all seasick at once. A lot of them kids wished they never left the ole farm. The next day I went up on the main deck an you ought to see the sad looking mess. I’d like to have taken a picture of them and then than as showed them to them now. They would certainly feel embarrassed I think. When you get seasick you don’t care weather you are going to live or not, your stomach just keeps rolling an trying to come up your neck. Of course being an old salt it never phased me. That storm lasted for 4 days an everybody was darn glad to see land when we hit Cuba. That put us a day late getting in so we only stayed a day in Cuba and then shoved off for Panama which was a pretty decent trip, We got into Custobal the 14th, stayed there a couple of days and came through the Canal yesterday. WE leave Balboa here Monday for San Diego that will be a nine days run but a nice one as it is always nice and smooth. An we will get a break in San Diego an San Pedro. WE stay there 6 days an the fleet is in Honolulu. We’ll have to take baseball bats ashore with us to beat off the women. You can imagine when some 75 or 80 thousand sailors leave town for a couple of weeks there’s going to be a lot of lonely hearts. So it will be Chaumont to the rescue of 50 thousand lonely women and sweethearts of the fleet. So you see there wont be much done on this ship when she hits port. Well I hope the Detroit is with the fleet in Honolulu too, I’ll make a few liberties myself. As yet I haven’t got the old movie job back, not that I couldn’t if I wanted too, but that’s a job where you kinda wait for your chance. When I dident come back last September the Bureau sent another guy aboard for the job. He hasent had much experience on the job an had had a lot of trouble an still is. The outfit is a mess an from what they tell me they had plenty of trouble on the trip to China and back. That outfit is nothing to fool around with. Its not so hard to run the show, but keeping your speakers and amplifiers in working order is if you don’t know anything about it. This kid run movies before but always had someone else to service the outfit. The first night I was aboard I went to the movies an it sounded like a 2 bit radio. We have 4 speakers on here and there not hooked up in the right phase they sounded like hell. I checked the speakers the next day an two of them were so low you could hardly hear them. The cones were shot in them an one of the others was hooked up backwards.
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Honolulu May 31, 1937
Dear Mother, Honolulu once again an it is certainly wonderful here. Had a fine trip all the way out. Got in here Friday and leave tomorrow morning for Guam. How is everything these days? Pretty nice around there right now I’ll bet. Kinda wish I was back there myself. Was going over to the navy yard here and see what the chances are of getting a job here when my time is up, but today being a holiday there was no place open in the yard. An by the way isn’t to-day Pa’s birthday? If so, hoping you have a happy birthday Pa a good many of them. This letter will leave hear on one of the Clipper ships the 2nd so you might get about the 6th. I wonder if the guy in Newburgh still has the motorcycle. I got it all paid for mom and don’t know where it is. I told the guy in Norfolk to have it shipped down there an sell it if he could get $300 cash for it. Tell William to check up on it. I probably owe that guy some storage by now also. If it is still in Newburgh tell him to ship it to Norfolk an I pay for the shipment. I wont to be able to get anything for it if he keeps it in storage for too long. Let me know what the cost on it as soon as possible, an so until I hear from you, I remain Your loving son, Ray
While serving on the USS Chaumont
April 18 – continued I went up in the booth afterwards and looked at all the amplifiers an evidently some one had trouble with on the amplifiers an had taken it out. When it was put back it had a connection hooked up backwards which makes an awful difference in the output of the amplifier. That was only some of the trouble. I took a look at the projectors and they took the fake, It’s a wonder you could see the picture on the screen at all, he had the wrong kind of lamp in them an they weren’t lining up with reflectors in the lenses. Well we are getting some new lamps an speaker cones in Panama an in a coupe of days I’ll have things on a paying basis. The is one job they can’t fool me on. I know that outfit from one end to the other an know just where to look for trouble. Well guess I have you pretty well in the fog by now so I’ll sign off so you be able to get to dinner. Hope this finds you all in the best of health at this leaves me, at present, an until I hear from you, I remain Your living son, Ray
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While serving on the USS Chaumont
Shanghai, China
July 17, 1937
Dear Mother, Received your letter a few days ago. Took it just a month to get here. How are you all these days. I’m fine as ever. Still have a limp, I guess I will always have it. However it never bothers me. I certainly was surprised to hear about poor Aunt Mary and made me feel pretty bad. Let’s hope she is better off. An old Floss dead too. I sure was surprised to hear about that. I never thought ole Pr…. Would ….. her. Too bad … right now you needed her the most. You say you are going to sell the cows in the fall. You might better hold on to them. I guess I’ll have to come home there and put things on a paying bases. I think you are awfully foolish not to let Art come in the navy now. Things are pretty good in the Navy now an 4 years in here would do him a lot more good th an wasting his time around home doing nothing. We don’t go east this trip, we are coming back to Honolulu first, then back to Frisco and to the East Coast. Should be around there about the last of Oct for a few weeks. Well I guess I will close for now. Can’t write much as I would not be able to send it air mail from here. So hope this finds you all well and happy. As always, Ray PS – Tell Madelyn an Marge the are on my list.
Honolulu 8-12-37
Dear Mother, Another day another port. That seems to be the way of this navy. Anyway it seems good to get on land once in a while. This is the first since I left Shanghai. Had a fine trip all the way back except it was pretty hot. I go a swell g-coat of tan from heat to foot – well almost. How are all hands these days right in the pink I hope. Have been pretty much myself. Still pretty stiff in the pelvis. I don’t think I’ll ever get it all out. The doctors don’t know anything about it on here yet. It doesn’t show up very much. WE expect to make another trip back to Honolulu before going East, an if things keep as they are in China there going to shoot us back out there. Wouldn’t that be something. Was over to the Navy Yard to-day to see about a job when I get paid off an I think I’ll be able to land a job there. I expect we’ll be around to the East Coast in the later part of October. An now I’ll say “Aloha”, hoping this finds you all he best of health as this leaves me at present, I remain Your loving son, Ray
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While serving on the USS Chaumont
. USS Chaumont
Dec 15, 1937 Dear Mother, Right now it is ten after one AM. We are about 100 miles outside of San Francisco. Expect to pull in under the Golden Gate Bridge about 7:30 this morning after a rather fine trip from China. The first few days out of Honolulu were hell then. We couldn’t keep dishes on the table, so for four days we had to be contented with sandwiches and coffee. Have never felt better in my life and hope this finds you all the same. We’ve been on the go continuously since Sept. 1 when we left San Diego with the marines. The longest we stayed in one place was 7 days in Manila. After we left San Diego we stopped at Honolulu to take on more marines. That was a 6 day run. We stayed there 4 hours and headed direct for Shanghai. That was a long run. 15 days and not a sight of land or other ship except our escort the cruiser Marblehead. We stayed in Shanghai four days. Picked up a couple hundred refugees and headed north for Tsingtao, Cherfor(?), an Chinwangtao staying in each of these ports long enough to pick up all the many families and then back to Shanghai for a day. Then we headed for Hong Kong stopped there a few days hours picked up more refugees an headed for Manila. There we unloaded the works. Nearly a thousand women and kids. We stayed there 7 days. There was more many women running around than you could shake a stick at. And a lot of them certainly were a disgrace to the country. That country is certainly no place for a white woman. The heat gets them along with the liquor. Again we headed for Shanghai. Stayed there 3 days an then headed north again to Tsingtao, Chefor(?) an then to Yokahama, Japan, a new port of call. We were to go to Kahe, Japan, but Japanese has a large naval base there, so they asked us if we wouldnet go to Yokahama, so we did. This trip we were carrying American civilians out of China an put them on American ships in Yokahama, headed for the states. While at Yokahama we visited Tokyo – the Capital on a sight seeing party. We visited all the points of interest an every place we went they treated us swell. We stayed 5 days an headed back to Shanghai again for a couple of days then Hong Kong for a day an finally Manila with a couple hundred more refugees. We finally headed back to the good old U.S.A. after nearly 4 months running around China. You know we never knew from one day to another where we were going or when we would get back to the states. We were rather surprised when we got our orders back. WE had mostly all women and kids aboard her now. Well it was a nice cruise and we all had a hell of a lot of fun. I can’t complain, I was pretty lucky. I made 1st Class Electrician and got the movie job back again. That gave me a $35.10 raise a month. Not bad after a 7 month vacation with pay is it? Now if I can only stay sane in the next 10 months, I think I’ll call it quits. The Chief Engineer on here says he can fix me up with a job in the Brooklyn navy yard. That will be duck soup. They are going to be building plenty of ships for a while so I think there will be plenty of work in the yards. There is going to be a world war in 1940 so I might just as well have a good job in the yard as in the Navy. It all counts on 30 years retirement. Well I guess I won’t be home this Christmas or new years. I’m thankful we’re in the U.S. An I forgot to tell you, our travels aren’t over yet. We head back to Shanghai the 6th of January again from San Diego. We expect to be back in the states in May in time to get to Norfolk for an overhaul period in April. So until I hear from you, I hope this finds you all in the best of health, as this leaves me at present. (more later) Your loving son, Ray This is the last letter in the box from the USS Chaumont. Per the Department of Navy Bureau of Navigation Certificate the next few month consisted of the following: Sept. 26, 1938 – USS Chaumont – Honorable Discharge Dec 22, 1938 – RECSTATION Washington DC – RE=enlist for 4 years Next letters were from USS Ralph Talbot
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While serving on the USS Ralph Talbot
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Jan 28, 1939
Dear Mother, Received your letter of Jan 15 yesterday an was glad to hear you are all feeling ok. Was awful sorry to hear I couldn’t get home for New Years myself, but there was no way I could make it. If I didn’t get home I was supposed to go to Yorks an we were going to make the rounds, but I didn’t even get there. So Art got a call from Norfolk Navy Yard. That’s fine if he can make it but he ought to try the Brooklyn Yard first as it pays more to start an will pay more after the four years. It will be close to home an he will like it better than Norfolk. So if he hasn’t already gone to Norfolk tell him to get hot and get down to Brooklyn Yard an go to the labor board and put his name in. The labor board office is right inside of the Cumberland St. on Flushing Ave. If the Marine stops him tell him he wants to go to the labor board. I like the ship O.K. Everything is new so we don’t have too much to do. We’ve been chasing airplane carriers most of the time we’ve been down here. We have 4 Carriers her now each carrying a hundred planes an they put them off every day. Two destroyers follow right behind them in case a plane makes a bum landing and runs off the flight deck into the sea. We picked 2 out of the water already an some of the other cans (that is what we call destroyers) have done the same. So far they have wrecked 15 planes, so they are flying 15 more down here from San Diego. There is now a hundred an twenty ships in here to-night, made up of battleships, cruisers, airplane carriers, destroyers and tenders. There is about 60 destroyers all of them new ones. We laid in last week at Laries(?), Haiti, and come down for oil over the weekend. We go out next week with the carriers again I believe. Both Harold an Charlie Huffs ships are in here but I haven’t seen them yet. May see them tomorrow. Was right along Harold’s ship today but didn’t see him anywhere. We are all coming up to New York for the fair an the President is going to review the fleet so you all want to be in N.Y. that day. The 29th of April is that day. I will let you know for sure later. You want to look for a ship with the number 390 on the bow. That will be my ship an will probably come in right behind the carriers. It is small but you’ll be able to see it. Say did I ever get a letter from the Norfolk Navy Yard yet? They still owe me 4 days pay. So far I haven’t been paid since I shipped over. They got my pay accounts balled up in Washington and the haven’t caught up with the ship yet. I don’t need it myself but both of my insurance policys will be 2 months overdue this month an the cost me $24 a month so I can’t pay them now. I also have a few other bills I’d like to attend to, Well I guess that’s all the dope for now so take it easy and take care of yourself, you know your not quite as young as you used to be. So will say good nite hoping this finds you all feeling in the pink, and until I hear from you again, so long. Your loving son, Ray
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While serving on the USS Ralph Talbot
Culebra, Puerto Rica Feb 18, 1938
Dear Mother, Well, there isn’t much to write about, but I thought I’d drop you a line to let you know I am still in circulation. We’ve been here in Culebra for the past week. They divided the Fleet into two units now. We are the black fleet and are supposed to attack the mainland in Panama if we can get by the other (white) fleet. We leave here Monday morning at 2 O’Clock, no one knows where we are going or anything. Everything is very confidential, however I think we are going to operate around the island for a while yet. Chas Hoffs ship is in here but I haven’t seen him yet, going to try an get over tomorrow. Harold is in the other fleet and I haven’t seen him yet. If you send airmail letters between now and the 6th of March send to the ship in care of P.M. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Poto Rico I used to spell it but that’s they way they do it down here. It only costs a dime if you send it regular mail I won’t get it until after these maneuvers are over. There isn’t much to these small ports we’ve been making around here so I hardly ever go ashore. 3 times since we left Boston to be exact. The ship feels pretty good, but not like the Chaumont, although I havn’t lost any weight yet. The Chaumont is in Norfolk now, I got a letter from one of our guys the other day. Has Art done anything about the job in the yard yet? Tell him to get hot and put his name in the Brooklyn Yard before it is too late. An now as there isn’t much more to write about I sign off, hoping this finds you all feeing fine and hoping to hear from you real soon. I remain your loving son, Ray Weather is pretty hot down here.
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Apr 6, 1939
Dear Mother, Now that the war games are over I can take time out to write for a change. An I have some very disappointing news too. I am not coming to New York with the fleet and I’m pretty sore about it too. I was over and saw Charlie and Harold Hoff Sunday an we had all planned for a big time while we were home. Now here is the reason. I put in to go to Gyro School in Brooklyn which would have me there for 4 months, but my orders came in for the school in San Diego instead. I put in a request to have it changed to Brooklyn an it was OK here but it had to go to the Flagship of the Division for approval an they sent it back disapproved, so there isn’t anything I can do but go. I leave for San Diego on he battleship Utah Friday. I know you’ll be just as disappointed as I am but I can’t do a thing about it. I got a letter from Art today an he says he got a call from Norfolk. I hope he makes it alright but he should have tried Brooklyn first. I am sending you a check I meant so send some time ago, my check for my last 4 days in the yard. Art will need some money to make the trip to Norfolk and tell him that the ticket is should still be good. Also tell Art that if he passes the exam for the Norfolk Yard that it should be good for Brooklyn yard so while he is in New York go down to the Navy Yard and put his name in there, he may get in sooner. Well that’s all the dope for now, an I hope after I get thru this school I’ll be able to come across country for a few weeks leave some time. So will say so long for now an hope you all feel fine as they have me at school I remain you loving son, Ray
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While serving on the USS Ralph Talbot
USS Utah Apr 15, 1939
Dear Mother, Spending a couple of days here before shoving off for San Diego so I thought I’d better drop you a line or two before I left. I suppose this sudden departure of the Fleet from the east coast has you worried a little. Well, think nothing of it. I could have told you about a month ago but it’s a confidential movement to keep certain parties guessing. That’s all I can say right now, so think nothing of it and never repeat anything I say as its not supposed to get around. It sure is a great difference on this ship. From one of the newest ships in the Navy to one of the oldest. This ship is one of the Radio Controlled ships the Navy has. They can take the whole crew off of it and run it by radio from another ship or plane. They also have several radio controlled planes on here that is completely controlled by radio. No men in the planes at all. This is something we’re not to discuss ashore also. I could tell you a lot about it but you wouldn’t understand anyway so that saves me that trouble. Harold Hoff should be home this weekend so if he’s in know he will tell you why the fleet left the East Coast so soon. Well, May the first I start back to school again, imagine that, after 13 years, an this is going to mean plenty of night study too. This will keep me in San Diego until the 1st of Sept. I ought to be well educated by then if such is possible. An now as that’s all the dope for now I hope to hear from you by the time I get to San Diego. Hope you are all feeling fine as I am. Ray
Mother’s Day Greetings via Postal Telegraph 1939 May 9 AM 7:23
N5 MDG= SANDIEGO CALIF = MRS C MALLEY = MONTGOMERY NY – MORE THAN EVER NOW THAT WE AREA SEPARATRED BY MANY MILES I APPRECIATE HOW GOOD AND DEAR MY MOTHER IS. ALL MY LOVE = R C MALLEY.
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San Diego, Calif. Aug 18, 1939
Dear Mother, Todays the big day here for us school kids. We took our final exams Wednesday an have our exercise graduation exercise to-day. It took a long time to get a diploma but I finally got one, an it means a lot to me more than if it had been a High School Diploma*. Without this I would not be eligible for to take the examination for Chief Electrician. I will take that some time next year. I wasn’t the highest man in the class but I was right up there with the best of them. We threw a beer party yesterday out at the beach and we sure had one hell of a good time. We had enough beer to float a battleship. They served us lunch at 5 o’clock but no one felt like eating. Had to take it easy myself as I was drinking an don’t take any chances. We leave here today after graduation an everyone goes back to their ship. We had 30 in the class, all from different ships in the fleet an I don’t think you could find another bunch like them. We sure had a lot of fun through it all. My ship is leaving for Mare Island Navy Yard tomorrow but I don’t have to report until in until September 2 so myself an another guy are going to drive up to Frisco. We will be up there for two months so I will have a good chance to see the fair. Harold Hoff’s ship will be up there too so I guess we will be seeing a lot of each other. I wonder if his wife is out here. Tell Madelyn an Nora I got their cards from Ninram folks(?). Too bad they can’t get a husband to take them there. Well, guess that is all the dope from the present, an drop me a line once in a while, I haven’t heard from you in months. Hoping this finds you all in the best of health as this leaves me at present, I am your loving son. Ray
*When Ray Malley was in high school it has been said that Ray and his younger brother Art were outside the school one day talking to a couple of black boys and the principal came out and accused Ray and Art on being members of the Klu Klux Clan. For some reason the Principal seemed to pick on Art, no one is really sure of what happened in the exchange but Art seemed to be threatened and Ray punched the Principal and either knocked him down or out. Ray was expelled from school and never graduated. While in the Navy Ray became the Heavy Weight Boxing Champion of the Pacific Fleet.
While serving on the USS Ralph Talbot
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While serving on the USS Ralph Talbot
Somewhere in the Pacific Off the Coast of Calif.
Nov. 16 1939 9:30 P.M.
Dear Mother, Say, will you tell me just what in the hell has become of you people back there in that neck of the woods. I got a letter from Art that broke the silence in about 2 months or more. I suppose you wonder the same about me, but don’t worry about me uncle keeps a pretty close watch on us these days. I spent the past two months up at the Navy Yard, Mare Island and the pasted quite uneventful. The Chaumont was in awhile while were there so myself and few of the old gang went on a spud (?) run in Frisco one weekend. Got in a beef with a couple of civilians, just to see that I wasn’t skipping Army, and I can still lay them out, even if I did have a sore hand for a month afterwards. I don’t have any work to do anyway so it didn’t bother me any. Met Frankie Daro and his wife in Frisco one weekend. He is a friend of a bartender friend of mine. Frankie Daro is the kid movie actor of a few years ago, he’s about 23 now. You probably never heard of him, but Madelyn and Aunt Jane probably saw him in the movies. He’s a pretty regular guy, his wife is pretty nice too, in fact her and I got along pretty nice. H’s making a picture now and he gave me a pass to the studio and an invitation to come up to Hollywood and spend a weekend with them. I think I’ll take a screen test while I’m up there, they might need another “Popeye”. I’ve get to get a couple of white hats with their name in them, just like a couple of kids. Boy this year sure has went fast hasn’t it? It seems only like yesterday since I was working in the yard. I guess I could still be there if I had stayed on. I see where they just call for 93 more new ships for next year. Tell Art to keep after that Navy Yard job. I bet he never has put his name in the Brooklyn yard. I guess I have to do that too. We’ve been running around here since Monday. Its battle practice day and night. Quite a bit different than duty on the Chaumont. When you left port on her you knew where you were going, but on here you know you are going, but you don’t know where an then at the end of the week you end up right where you started from. Thers about 50 or more ships here tonight, every one of them new ships since I came in the Navy, except for jXX? 15 battleships. Its quite a trick (?) this morning, we divided up into two separate fleets an then seek each other out, then the battle is on and the destroyers get the worst of it. We have to get there and fire out torpedoes at the battleships and cripple them as much as we can, they the cruisers come in and finish them. The other day we were coming in an three cruisers like the one Harold Hoff is on, I don’t know wether he was on one of them or not, but we were sunk before we could fire a gun or a torpedo, the thee of them got us at once. We run around all night without any lights. As soon as an enemy ship discovers us at night they turn on their search lights and we are sunk. Last night the ship directly ahead of us was sunk but they didn’t see us. However they had a time limit to the duration of the battle, and we were right in range to fire torpedoes, when the time limit was up an all the ships turned their lights on. Its really pretty interesting. Next week we go and actually fire at targets towed by destroyers. Next week after that we fire torpedoes an after that we fire against aircraft. All in all its quite interesting an a lot of fun. I say down here with the compass about ten feet below the waterline most of the time. The compass it the most vital part of the ship as all the guns firing and torpedo firing depends wholly on the accuracy of the compass. Then different instruments operating off the compass they can tell a plane is just as fast it is going, it can pick up a submarine an tell just how fast it is going, by counting the number of turns the submarine is making. So you see that although I don’t have much work to do I have quite a lot of responsibility on my shoulders and am the only gyro electrician on the ship. I guess that’s all the dope for now, so what do you say, you see if you can’t spare a few minutes a day and drop me a line once in a while, an I hope this finds you all in the best of health and spirits, Your loving son Ray PS – The weather is kind of rough out here tonight so you have to allow for the writing.
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While serving on the USS Ralph Talbot
San Diego, Calif. Feb 17, 1940
Dear Mother, Received your letter last week just as we was about to go out on a mu… run so I didn’t have a chance to answer it sooner. They keep us pretty well on the move now. We were out all this week firing night battle practice. Have to make a lot of practice runs before we fire. We run around all week an just fired Thursday night before we came in. There is mine ships in my division, we operate together all the time. Last week we were out hunting submarines with these new sound detectors. We had one sub operating with us. He was to hide and then we were supposed to find him we are supposed to drop depth charges of 750 pounds of TNT on him, of course that would blow him out of the water so we just drop a smoke bomb and contact him by radio and then he sends up a smoke bomb to see how close we were to him. We went directly over him one time. This sound outfit is so sensitive it will have a sound off a fish. Before we came in last Friday each ship dropped two real depth charges, they sent water 75 feet in the air. The nearest ship to us was about a quarter of a mile away when they dropped their charges and they nearly shook the door off our hinges. So you can imagine what it will do to a submarine completely under water. The purpose of this is to shake a sub to pieces an I’m pretty sure they will do it. We carry twelve of them on the stern. Next week we go out and fire torpedoes in night practice. An by the way, after this fleet problem which ends up in the latter part of April we are going to stay in Honolulu for 6 months, so I guess it be close to Xmas before I het home again. I am sending you that slip so you can cash in that Policy. Hope I am able to send you some money later on. Hoping you are all fine and well, I remain Your Loving Son Ray To: Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. New York, NY Dear Sir, I herby authorize my mother, Mrs. Cornelius Malley, to dispose of life insurance policy #4962992-17 as she sees fit. Yours Truly, Raymond C. Malley U.S.S. Ralph Talbot
San Diego Feb 24, 1940
Dear Mother, Well, I see where that letter I sent you last week won’t do you much good. The Ins. Company sent me the check. Got it Friday when we got in. Had it cashed and made out a money order so you won’t have any trouble cashing them. It sure is hot here today, but get’s pretty chilly at night. We had a wonderful winter here, nice an warm all through it. You should sell the farm and come out here and take it easy. You really don’t know what are missing. After all don’t you think you’ve done your share of work. You rate taking it easy the rest of your life, which I hope is a long time to come yet. Well there isn’t much to write about now. I told you we were going to Honolulu for the fleet problem 21 an will stay there for 6 months after, so I guess it will be another Xmas before I’ll be able to get home. So now I say goodbye an hope you are all well as this leave me at present, I am Your loving son, Ray
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While serving on the USS Ralph Talbot
Honolulu, T.H. Aug 11 1940
Dear Mother, Wanted to answer your letter last weekend but I just dident get around to it. Glad to hear that you area all well, as for myself, I feel like a two year old. We just completed a two weeks cruise last week and it was really swell, nice smooth sailing all the way. We covered nearly 6,000 miles in all. We visited several small islands that they are building airbases on. Some of them are so small you can’t see them until you get right up on them. One of them was only a mile square. Of course the planes won’t land on the island at all. They are for the big flying boats, but they will have fueling stations and repair shops and the main purpose is for scouting purposes. The Pan American Clippers use some of them on the china run. While we were at Midway a Clipper came in from China on the way to the States an another came in from the States on the way to China. They really are monsterous ships, 45 tons. That’s a lot of airplane. They are building one for the Navy now weighting 80 tons. They’ll be putting wings on the destroyers pretty soon. We were all out last week firing torpedoes. We stay in this week, then the next three weeks we go out again firing short range battle practice, anti aircraft firing and machine gun drills. They keep us on the go most of the time. I think this country has finally woke up. The bigger army and navy we have the less trouble we’ll have. I wouldn’t be surprised to see that conscription bill get thru, then you are going to see a lot of the boys going in the army for a year. If that goes then you might better let Art go in the navy as he won’t learn anything in that outfit. The opportunities in the Navy now are better that they ever were before and will be getting better every day now that they are building up this two ocean navy. And too the navy is a lot safer in time of war than the army. As far as this war is concerned, I wouldn’t worry about us getting into it. England doesn’t want us in it as long as we can supply them with war material and food stuffs. Japan is our biggest worry right now, and after 3 years war with China I don’t think she would be much trouble for us. We don’t know when we are going back to the states. The Captain called us up this morning and told us we would stay here as long there was trouble in the far east, and will stay here until the trouble in Europe gets worse and then we will probably go the East Coast. I don’t go ashore here very much so it gives me a chance to save money. Will try to get some leave when we get back to the States so I can go home. Was over to see Harold Hoff about a month ago, he was telling me he was expecting an increase in the family. He mustent be keeping her as he told be he was paying $70 a month on a $800 loan he got. He really goes in for big money. Tell Art I had a letter from that guy at P.V.W. an he said they were filled up at present but would let me know if anything would open up. Tell Art to check up on some of these trade schools around New York and if he can’t find anything else, I’ll help put him thru one of them. I got another call from the navy yard last week sure wish I had stayed there I’d be making $9 a day now. Well I guess that all for now, so will say good bye hoping to hear from you real soon. Your loving son Ray
By December 1940 Ray was reassigned to the USS Trever
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While serving on the USS Trever
USS Trever June 2, 1941
Dear Mother, In for a couple of days so I thought I had better write while I had a chance. WE never know from one day to the next what we are going to do now. WE were out for ten days, came if for three hours and refueled and went right out again for seven more days. Spent memorial day at Kuleau on the Island of Maui. Wanted to send Pa a birthday greetings from there but had to over on patrol so I didn’t get a chance. So I’ll take the pleasure now “Happy birthday Pa and a good many more of them, wish I were there to spend it with you”. And I guess I had better wish you he same as I probably won’t be ashore to get a card before then so that same to you mother and may it be the happiest one you ever had. We came in this morning and expect to leave again Friday morning for two weeks, operating with the fleet. We operate independent of the fleet most of the time, that is, the mine sweeping force of eight ships. This keeps us on the move pretty much now its drills day and night, sweeping most of the time, firing short range battle practice in the day tie and night firing at night. That used to happen only when we had a fleet problem once a year but now it goes on continually, it gets a bit tiresome. These kids with only a few years in the navy are getting pretty fed up with it. They can’t seem to understand why we have these drills so much. I think it a pretty good idea as they say practice makes perfect and some day in the future they may be glad we had plenty of drills while we could.
July 9, 1941
I didn’t get the letter finished in time to get the last Clipper so I’ll try and get it on the one leaving Tuesday. Since then I found out some good news. We are leaving here for San Diego Tuesday for two weeks stay. I don’t think I’ll get home this time as they aren’t going to give any cross country leave. Would like very much to get home but that’s the way it is and I can’t do much about it. Now I tell you what I want you to do. Just as soon as you get this letter I want you to send me the movie camera and I’ll take some movies around San Diego for you. Make sure the light meter is in the box, wrap up the whole thing well and have in insured. Now be sure to send it right away as it will take a week to get here and we get into San Diego on the 17th. Do not send the projector. We were all quite surprised to be going to San Diego but everybody was pretty damn happy about it. All hands are getting pretty well fed up with Honolulu, me for one, but there seems to be no thought of leaving here for good. Say just has become of Madelyn and Nora, they practically deserted me. They both owe me a letter but I gave up looking for a letter from them by now. I may call you from San Diego some night so don’t be surprised if you get a long distance call from California some night. And now I guess I’ll say good bye hoping you are all feeling fine as this leaves me at present. And please rush the camera addressed to the ship at San Diego. So until I hear from you I remain your loving son. Ray
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While serving on the USS Trever
USS Trever Aug 28, 1941
Dear Mother, I suppose you are wondering again what has become of me. I don’t suppose you ever stop to think that I too sometimes wonder what’s become of you. If it wasn’t hearing from “Higgie” once in a while I wouldn’t know what to think. I did get a card from Madelyn he other day. I don’t see how she managed to spare the time. We are at sea most of the time so it isn’t very often I get a chance to write so I have some excuse, but as far as Madelyn, will I quit, I wrote her ten letters and she never answered. So if she doesn’t want to write that is OK by me, I’m quite use to it by no, that also goes for her fine frathead friend too. We go to sea, sometimes for a month at a time now and when we get in expecting to hear from someone at home its quite disappointing to think no one could spare a few minutes to write a letter. About than insurance notice you got, that is a war risk insurance I took out and you should have received the policy by now. That’s just in case Hitler or the Japs beat me to the draw and then you can cash that in for $5,000. We had a kid on here that took me out about a month ago. We finished up our maneuvers yesterday and were heading back to port and around midnight we hit a storm and he was washed over the side. Never did pick him up, so you see that will come in handy to someone. Has Art been called yet? IF not take my advice and let him ship in the Navy. After the trouble is over, the bottom is going to drop out of everything and then he’ll still have a job. They sure are pushing kids ahead these days. And now guess that will be all for now and I hope I don’t have to wait another two months before someone writes. And tell “Higgie” thanks a lot, I appreciated her letter. Your Loving Son Ray
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While serving on the USS Trever
USS Trever Honolulu Oct 16, 1941
Dear Mother, Spending a day in Honolulu today. And what a good day, just like the nicest day you ever saw in he summer, in fact every day is like that here. I’d just as soon be in Montgomery. Received you letter, also “Higgie” and Madelyn, if fact got two from her, and it was good news to hear from you all. Was sorry to hear about Pa falling out of the haymow and hope he is as good as new by now. Also hope Florence is better by now and that Marion finger is ok. I don’t know what you would do if you dident have Madelyn around there to take care of the bunch of you. As for myself, I never felt better. Have a year and 2 months to do now and that makes me feel good too. Is going to cost the government $575 this time when I ship over. I think I grab off some of that $10 a day stuff around the Brooklyn Navy Yard before I ship over again. Ran into Charlie Foff the other night, first time I seen him in months. He just shipped over again and is still on the Enterprise. Alexander was over to see me Sunday and says he is fed up with the place already. I showed him around the ship and he says he couldn’t see how they put so much machinery in such a small space. Am toing to take him over to the Enterprise Saturday and see Charlie. He will really see something on that ship. Then we are all coming ashore and I’ll take some movies the three of us. Got some swell pictures out at the beach a couple of weeks ago also some good shorts of a Hulu contest they had to choose the queen of the Islands. Will send them all home after I take these Sunday. Also tell Madelyn I’ll send the camera and a roll of film to see if she wants to use the camera, then ship it home until I send for it again. We just finished up another two weeks of operations and they were anything but mild. We were all finished and headed back to Pearl Harbor when we got our orders, us and another destroyer and a heavy cruiser to go out 300 miles and pick up a two oil tankers and escort them back to Honolulu. We no more got out side of the islands when we hit a storm. We were supposed to make full speed but it go so damn rough we had to signal the cruiser to slow down, we couldn’t keep up that speed in such rough going. I think we were under water more than we were on it. We were already low on fuel and we just bounced around like a cork. You ought to see this ship when we got back to Pearl. The gun up forward was broken loose and most of the windows was knocked out of the bridge. And to make it worse when we got out there wasn’t and tankers there, it was just a dummy run as e call it, in other words a practice run. We’ve been in for a few weeks now but we go out Sunday and tow targets for some cruisers that are firing. Sunday don’t mean anything any more in the Navy, You even forget what day of the week it is. Its a good thing I went to Church Xmas and Easter and hope I get a chance to go again this X-mas. Has Art been inducted into the Army yet. He might just as well marry that gal from New York and get deferred. Well I guess that is about all the dope for now so I will sign off and say Aloha. Hoping you are all well and tell Pa not to get his feet of guard and tell Florence I think she would be better off if she let Harold join the Army for a couple of years. Good bye now and hope to here from you real soon again. Your loving son, Ray n’t mean anything any more in the Navy, You even forget what day of the week it is.
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While serving on the USS Trever
October 16th continued Its a good thing I went to Church Xmas and Easter and hope I get a chance to go again this X-mas. Has Art been inducted into the Army yet. He might just as well marry that gal from New York and get deferred. Well I guess that is about all the dope for now so I will sign off and say Aloha. Hoping you are all well and tell Pa not to get his feet of guard and tell Florence I think she would be better off if she let Harold join the Army for a couple of years. Good bye now and hope to here from you real soon again. Your loving son, Ray As some readers have had difficulty reading the next letter below is a typewritten copy.
U.S.S. Trever Dec. 13, 1941
Dear Mother, Due to the fact that this letter will be censored there isn’t much I can say as to just what goes on. However the important thing is, I’m fine and escaped Mondays Sundays bombing without a scratch. It doesent look like I’ll be home for Xmas now, so I’ll wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year and hope this finds you all in the best of health. Don’t worry about anything and write soon. Your loving son, Ray
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While serving on the USS Trever
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Trever location during Attack on Pearl Harbor
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While serving on the USS Trever
May call you up before we leave these parts, even if I have to reverse the charges. OK?
U.S.S. Trever June 5, 1942
Dear Mother, Back on the job again, but wish I were back in Montgomery, at lease, I whish I could have stayed home a while longer. Everything seemed so different, so peaceful and quiet, in tt is was so quiet I don’t think I could have stood much more of it. Had a swell trip back to San Francisco, but got in 4 hours late as we had to make stops at several different airports which was not on the schedule, this due to the Army of course. However I got back to the ship in plenty of time. How was your trip back home, I suppose you stopped at Mr. McLearys and Moroneys. Would like to have seen Moroneys but with my limited time there isn’t much I could do. There were lots of others I meant to see but I guess you will have to explain the situation to them. The next time I get home I hope I may be able to stay a little longer. I don’t think I go to say goodbye to Florence the kids or Unc either so you can tell them I said goodbye and hope to see them again soon. Looks like them Jap bastards are beginning to act up around the islands again so I guess we will have to get back out there in a hurry and put them in their place again. Well, tomorrow is Saturday so I am going down to Frisco for the week end, I know my true love Mona will be anxious to see me, if I don’t get to see somebody else first, Oh me! Well I could go on beating my gums for hours yet and still couldn’t tell you much so I guess better say goodbye for now. Hoping to hear from you soon. Your loving son, Ray P.S. Tell Jackie, Marlene, Connie and Johane I sent them all my love, and think of them a lot. Also best regards to all the rest of the folks.
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This is the last letter in the box to Mother from Ray. It was sent via War & Navy Departments V-Mail service. The original is about 3” by 4”. Transcribed letter on the next page.
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USS Trever March 22, 1943
Dear Mother, Received several letters, including a few Xmas card from you upon arrival in port. So you see our mail is few and far between. Am fine as usual and hope you are all the same. Had a letter from Madelyn also, I see she has taken a new job. I hope she likes it. Was in port recently and tried to contact Cy but me must still be farther north. Also had a letter from Art, pretty lucky getting home for 15 days. Have hopes of getting around that way someday soon myself. Also had a letter from Frances, she sent me the picture of Madelyn, Art and myself that was in the Newburgh paper. Well there isn’t much more I can write about so will say goodbye for now, hoping to hear from you again real soon. Your loving son, Ray On Jan 4, 1943 Ray was discharged and re-enlisted while the Trever was in Sydney Australia. On April 3, 1944 he was on the USS Underhill in Gitmo Cuba and on June30 1944 he finally made it to the Brooklyn Navy Yard to work on the building of ships. He subsequently spent some time in Green Cove Springs, Florida and then on the USS Genesee on the West Coast/Japan and returned to Maybrook in 1947. On November 1, 1948 he was transferred to the Fleet Reserve and released from Active Duty.
The newspaper on the left marks the last piece of documentation in the box containing all the letters from Ray Malley to his mother. The various photos and videos will be placed on CDs and DVDs for distribution at a later date. Anyone having items to add to these short documents please provide them to Ken Malley.
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Undated photo of Art Malley, Ray Malley and Grandfather Neil Malley taken around 1945 at the Malley farm in Montgomery, New York
Photo of Ray Malley dated June 1946. Most likely taken in Long Beach, CA.
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This is a “work in progress” to document a number of letters written by Raymond Cornelius Malley to his mother during his tenure in the United States Navy. The majority of his letters were written in the 1930s time frame and after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 they came to an almost complete halt even though he was involved in several brutal Naval battles. The near term purpose of this document is to share the draft with family members to see if they possibly have any other documentation to add to the attached document. In addition there is a similar collection of letters from Ray’s brother, Art Malley, to his mother that could eventually be included with this document or a separate one TBD. Comments and additional data are most welcome – please pass them on to Ken Malley at [email protected] or by mail to Ken Malley, VADM USN (Ret) 5105 River Crescent Drive Annapolis, MD 21401 Or by phone to 410 956 5687
