NCTC Station Force
IBM Room Bldg S-1
Davisville, R. I.

7 December 1944

Dear friends at Bryant,

It is with a great deal of pleasure that I say “thank you all” for your kindness in remembering me this Christmas season with the huge assortment of sweets. I can tell you they didn’t last very long with a bunch of candy-hungry men in my office. It was certainly a nice gesture on your part.

May I take this opportunity to call your attention to my promotion to Specialist (I) first class. Next to my C.P.O. I am in charge of the activities of our I.B.M. department, manned by some fifteen men and waves. Who knows, maybe someday I may be lucky enough to make “Chief”. I would appreciate your correcting the records accordingly.

A very merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

Most sincerely,

Richard W. Monroe
Richard W. Monroe, Sp (I) 1/c
Bryant, ’36.

[Transcription ends]

U. S. NAVAL CONSTRUCTION TRAINING CENTER
CAMP ENDICOTT
DAVISVILLE, RHODE ISLAND

16 December 1943

Bryant Service Club
Bryant College
Providence, Rhode Island

Dear Friends,

The purpose of this little note is to thank you for your cheery Christmas greetings, which I return many-fold, and also for the delicious box of hard candies. To put it precisely, they really went like “hot-cakes” here in the IBM Tabulating Office.

It is my prayer that Christmas 1944 will see us home again and back to the business of normal living; when we can dismiss from our minds the horror that is this war.

May I take this opportunity to extend my best wishes to all of you for a Merry Christmastide and Happy New Year.

Most sincerely, Richard W. Monroe
Bryant ‘36

NCTC Station Force
IBM Dept. S-1
Davisville, R. I.
[Transcription ends]

17 June 1943

Dear Bryant Service
Club Members,

The writer desires to acknowledge receipt of your insured gift package containing assorted cookies, jellies, and even a set of checkers. Your kind gesture was very much appreciated, especially in view of the fact that foodstuffs are daily becoming more difficult to obtain—

Again many thanks—

Sincerely
Richard W. Monroe
Sp(I) 3/c USNR
Bryant ‘36

Address:
NCTC Station Force
IBM Dept S-1
Davisville, R. I.
[Transcription ends]

March 19, 1943

My dear Mr. Chairman,

It affords me a great deal of pleasure, as I resume my duties this morning after an enjoyable ten days’ furlough, to take this opportunity to acknowledge your recent “newsy” letter and gift of candy, just received. Believe me, it is extremely gratifying and uplifting to know that our friends on the home front are remembering us in so many, many ways.

I am enclosing the latest issue of our weekly paper, “The Bulldozer.” Having read it you will see that we do get in a little fun now and ten after a long, tedious day, through a movie, boxing tournaments, et cetera. Those of you who have been lucky enough to visit Camp Endicott know that there are other recreational opportunities provided in bowling fencing, pool and billiards. Apparently Uncle Sam is a firm believer in the adage “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”

Your account of the various changes that have taken place as a result of wartime obstacles proved extremely interesting. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Professors Shors and Hammond are now, or soon will be, wearing goldbraid. And that goes too, for Major Lee. Congratulations!!

In spite of present wartime impediments that hinder club functions, as well as the fact that many of its members are serving their country, the writer feels that you all are doing a most commendable job in keeping things going in the very best way possible, and it is my prayer that the Club may operate as successfully in the future as it has in the past.

I have intended writing the Service Club previously but if you could see how hard it is to find a few minutes between our regular duties and military drill, you would know the reason why. To use naval vernacular, we “hit the deck” at 6:30 and must dovetail military training in with our regular assignments until the early evening.

I have been stationed at Camp Endicott as a member of the I.B.M. Department for some time but one never knows who is next to be shipped out. However, my address has been altered slightly, as shown below.

Richard W. Monroe, Sp (I) 3c
U.S.N.C.T.C.
I.B.M. Department
Station Force
Davisville, Rhode Island

In closing, I am truly grateful for your many favors and remembrances and best wishes, which are returned many fold. I invite all those interested to write to me and I shall endeavour to answer all communications as promptly as possible.

Sincerely,
Richard W. Monroe
‘36

The Chairman
Bryant College Service Club
Providence, Rhode Island
[Transcription ends]

U. S. NAVAL CONSTRUCTION TRAINING CENTER
DAVISVILLE, R. I.

In Reply Address:
U. S. NAVAL CONSTRUCTION
TRAINING CENTER
Davisville, R. I.

February 1, 1943

Dear Friends,

From your letter of January 22 to Mrs. Monroe I was very much disturbed to learn that you had not heard from me about the Christmas candy, which you kindly mailed. Shortly after receiving the package my acknowledgement was on its way and failure of delivery undoubtedly was the result of the usually heavy Christmas mail at that time.

However I’d like to register my sincere thanks with all of you again for the chocolate-coated cherries. It was grand of you to send me the sweets and was very much appreciated.

Your recent communication was delayed a bit in delivery because it was directed to my former Attleboro, Mass. Address. Will you please change this to 22 Rosewood Street, Pawtucket, R. I.? My address here is correct as you have it listed.

Again many thanks.

Very truly yours,
Richard W. Monroe, ‘36

P.S. I shall endeavor to keep you informed of any further changes in my address. [Transcription ends]

U. S. NAVY

December 10, 1942

Dear Friends,

It certainly was a grand treat of you to surprise me with your Xmas gift of coated cherries, and a double header, at that. If you could have been here a few moments ago and have seen how quickly they disappeared among our shipmates, there would have been no doubt in you minds as to how swell they were. Orchids to you and many, many, thanks.

My present address varies slightly from that shown on the package. In order that your records may be brought up to date I am listing it elsewhere on this page.

Thanks again, and you all have my very best wishes for the holiday season.

Sincerely,

Richard W. Monroe
Bryant ‘36

Address:

U. S. N. C. T. C. Brks S-3
Station Force
Camp Endicott
Davisville, R. I. [Transcription ends]