Dear friends,

Greetings from Washington where I am undergoing some specialized training for work attached to the Pacific fleet. There are ten Harvard men in this unit and we will operate from some major base although connected with the fleet. We have had a "refresher" course for these first two weeks, and now break up and go to work thorugh the different Comm. departments. One must have a knowledge of all phases of communications for this duty; therefore, we will be here for at least three months before shipping out.

Before coming to Washington, I spent two and a half weeks at Headquarters in Boston so believe this brings my activities up to date. Incidentally my promotion to Lt.(jg) came through on the first of May.

Hope to have some leave before shipping out this fall, and if possible will call at the office. Remember me to all.

Sincerely,
J. Bertram Howarth
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Dear friends,

This is to inform you of change of address. I was detached from the Norfolk Navy Yard on February 20 and reported here March 1 after spending almost ten months in Virginia.

This course in Communications fitting us for sea duty or advanced base work is specialized and will last approximately three to four months; therefore, you can send any data to the above address until July 1.

Lt. Shors wanted to be remembered to you all. He was assisting the officers at the Yard with their Income Tax problems when I left, and completed mine just before my detachment.

Say "hello" to Mr. Gardner Jacobs, Mr. Ripley, Rita, George Richards and any of the old "regime."

Sincerely,
Ens. J. B. Howarth
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UNITED STATES NAVY
Stoughton S-14
Nav. Tra. Scol (Comm.)
Harvard University
Cambridge, Mass.
6 April 1944

Dear friends,

Again I am indebted to you for another kindness bestowed, and would like to express my sincere appreciation. The tobacco arrived yesterday in good condition.

My course here at Harvard ends in another month. We have leave for approximately two weeks before reporting to our Naval District to pick up our orders. They claim that we may work under temporary duty for a short time in the home district (Boston is mine) before being shipped out. I will endeavor to keep you informed of my adventures, and if at all possible, will call at Bryant, the early part of May.

Again let me thank you for the package, and remember me to all the staff and faculty.

As ever,
J. B. Howarth

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308 W. 37th Street
Norfolk 8, Virginia
December 15, 1943

Dear friends of Bryant Service Club,

This will acknowledge with many thanks your Christmas package which was received this week, and also your recent letter which has been read with interest and enthusiasm. You are certainly doing a fine job, and I, for one, am grateful. Your kind thoughts and interest in the Service men, I know, will always be remembered.

I have met Lieut. Shors, and have an invitation to his home, but as yet have been unable to accept. He logged out in this office before his last leave, and upon his return, he told me that several of the “old timers” had asked about me and my work.

So Mr. Naylor has at last gone “out of circulation.” I feel very kindly toward this gentleman as he was a close friend and adviser to my nephew, George Scothon, who is now in the Finance Detachment in Australia. He was a member of the Faculty when I attended Bryant, but do not think he would remember me after all these years.

Did you get the inside story on the escape of Lieut. Wesley Crawley from the Germans? I received a copy of a letter written to his father, and believe me it was something to read. Perhaps they (his family) would send you the excerpt of the report if you so desire.

I have eight day’s leave commencing December 20, and if possible will call at the office before Christmas or will you all be away for the holidays?

Please say “hello” to Gardner Jacobs, Mr. Ripley, George Richards, and Rita; also, any other members of the faculty and staff who may remember the days of 1934-36.

Thank you again, and may I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a most Prosperous New Year.

Yours for Victory,
JB Howarth
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Dear friends at Bryant,

This will acknowledge and also thank you most sincerely for your thoughtful gift of cigarettes received yesterday. These remembrances serve to keep a warm place in one’s heart for Bryant and the many friends and former associates of mine on the hill.

Kindly note the change of address as I succeeded in finding a residence here in a Norfolk suburb and now have my wife with me.

Remember me to Mr. Gardiner Jacobs and tell him I will write from time to time; also say “hello” to Mr. Ripley, Rita and Florence as they are about all that remain of the “old gang.” (Include George Richards, please).

Again, thank you for your kindness and thoughtfulness.

Sincerely
J. B. Howarth
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Dear friends,

Just a few lines to acknowledge your letter enclosing a list of my classmates who are now serving their country. It is good to hear about them and to know they are doing well.

As for yours truly, I am still fighting the “battle of the Elizabeth River” in Norfolk, but now have my wife with me and we are living at the above address. My work as Operation’s Officer and Military Duty Officer is very interesting, and they are adding more and more work from day to day. The Operation’s Officer is responsible for berthing, unberthing, docking and undocking of ships. The pilots and tugmasters take orders from the Captain of the Yard’s Office of which I am a member. A Military Duty Officer is part of the Security Group and the duties are similar in scope to an Officer of the Deck on board ship. He is called an Officer of the Day in Army terminology.

Mr. Shors was in the office the other day and has since had leave visiting Bryant, I believe. We have an invitation to visit his home in Portsmouth in the near future and are looking forward to talking over old times at Bryant. He taught my nephew, George Scothon, now a member of the Finance Group in Australia and a recent Bryant Graduate.

Undoubtedly you have heard about Lt. Wesley Crawley, Class of 1936, who was taken prisoner by Germans and dropped on an island. He was picked up by the British and is now safe. He was listed as missing in action, and has since been made a 1st Lieutenant.

Remember me to all, and keep the letters coming. I am not a cigarette smoker so send my share to some of the other boys.

Sincerely,
J. B. Howarth

P. S. Forgive the hint—I do smoke a pipe and cigars.
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