NO. Date Written LOCATION CONTENT
1 2/26/1942 San Juan, PR The trip begins, navigation, food
2 2/27/1942 San Juan, PR Pay, refueling, next leg
3 4/10/1942 New York, GPO The trip, food, surly crew, Neptune initiation, port
4 3/10/1942 Pernambuco Arrival at Pernambuco, Brazil
5 3/17-3/20/42 unknown Voyage from Pernambuco to Africa;
6 3/21/1942 unknown On to Cairo by plane
7 3/22/1942 unknown Fascinating detailed description of the trip; a spy
8 3/23/1942 unknown Description of the desert; arrival in Cairo
9 3/24-3/26/42 Washington In Cairo; pay; meeting General Maxwell
10 3/29/1942 unknown Travel plans; visiting the Pyramids
11 4/2/1942 unknown Arrival in Asmara; Massawa; houseboy; salvage man's paradise
12 4/16/1942 Massawa Salt tablets; temperature; Star sloops
13 4/19/1942 Massawa Hurricane; temperature; workmen - various nationalities
14 4/30/1942 Massawa The arrival of air conditioning!
15 5/4/1942 Massawa Request clothes; navy yard being put into shape; new air conditioner
16 5/12/1942 Massawa His new book; drydock operational; divers arrive
17 5/20/1942 Massawa Miracle of Massawa; Gen. Maxwell's visit; book award
18 5/30/1942 Massawa Long detailed letter of what is happening; promotion requested
19 6/2/1942 Massawa Like #18 above; feelings of personal achievement
20 6/2/1942 Massawa Brief update
21 6/8/1942 Massawa Rest camp; drinking water; 163 degree heat; Navy no help w/base
22 6/13/1942 Massawa Heat; new quarters; rift w/managers; importance of his health
23 6/24/1942 Massawa Promotion; blood pressure; tug Intent; his room; taxes
24 6/27/1942 Massawa Pay; heat; new insignia; lost glasses; bomb; raising Liebenfels
25 7/9/1942 Massawa Prickly heat; great salvage description; frustration w/Washington & London
26 7/15/42 Massawa Mail problems; pay; photos
27 7/16/42 Massawa Money; view of Merchant Marine; goats; no fruit; problems with workers; weight
28 7/17/42 Massawa Gets shortwave radio; view of British salvage capabilities; smoking; frustration
29 7/18/42 Massawa Prickly heat; finances; local paper
30 Massawa
31 Massawa
32 Massawa
33 Massawa
34 8/2/42 Asmara Letters arrived; finances; supply ship sunk
35 8/3/42 En route to Cairo Reason why no house for EE; gift of dishes; heat in Khartoum; love
36 8/4/42 Khartoum to Cairo Frustration: no more men to repair ships; repair delays; love
37 8/10/42 Cairo Looking for help; success! the British will help; smoking; Massawa base unknown
38 8/10/42 Cairo Leaving tomorrow; interview in paper
39 8/11/42 Cairo to Asmara Great description of scenery; taxes, pay, finances; reputation; Commodore Harwood; helping British with cruiser repairs
40 8/13/42 Massawa Salvage ship arrives; trouble with the civilian contractor
41 8/13/42 Massawa Contractor tries to oust Ellsberg; inefficiency; disillusioned
42 8/14/42 Massawa Longing for home; weather
43 8/15/42 Massawa EE received his first V-mail; making curtains
44 8/16/42 Massawa Shortwave radio program from US; EE needs a razor part
44A 8/16/42 Massawa Letter to pres. of Dodd, Mead about what he had done to date; interesting letter
45 8/23/42 Massawa 1st ship repaired in floating drydock; it was too large, but EE got it done; temperature
46 8/25/42 Massawa BBC broadcast; inner satisfaction; reasons for success; frustration; Cunningham beats a steel plate; British work ethic
47 8/26/42 Massawa Mail delivery; censorship; publicity about drydock salvage
48 8/31/42 Massawa Letters arrive; no package yet; Mary's birthday
49 9/2/42 Massawa Letters & pacakge arrive; EE gets percolator & thermometer
50 9/4/42 Massawa Salvage crew arrives; loss of divers; diver quits for more pay in the US which frustrates EE
51 9/7/42 Massawa Comparing mail services; EE gets press; 4 salvage jobs; frustration
52 9/15/42 Massawa 2nd dock up; EE hero in tragedy
53 9/20/42 In the air Tragedy story again; watch is waterproof; on to Cairo for a conference; workmen coming
54 9/23/42 Cairo & in the air Conference successful; pay; description of the Red Sea; converting oil furnace to coal
55 9/27/42 Massawa BBC tells world about EE's accomplishments; EE takes over failed British salvage job; Paradise propaganda
56 9/28/42 Massawa Keel blocks crushed; another minor miracle; great description of the moonlit harbor; storm
57 9/30/42 Massawa Chit-chat; Times Herald photo; loss of Yorktown and a classmate; survived the heat
58 10/4/42 Massawa Frauenfels salvaged; successful two weeks; feelings about JDP
59 10/6/42 Massawa Another impossible task using pontoons; feelings about workmen
60 10/8/42 Massawa Christmas cards & photo
61 10/12/42 Massawa Feelings of pride for work at base; congratulatory letter from C-in-C
62 10/16/42 Massawa Frustration: no promised men yet, American workmen & JDP; JDP appoints Brown to EE's job!
63 10/18/42 Massawa Very long letter! family chat; things he needs; value of a slide rule; gas vs. oil heat; problems with JDP & frustration; food & water quality; evaporators
64 10/19/42 Massawa Rehash; no sick days; photos sent; one more salvage ship coming
65 10/23/42 Massawa Comparison to Steinbeck's "The Moon is Down;" most Italians there not fascist; Lucy's father not reelected; picture of EE used in a United Campaign ad
66 10/24/42 Massawa Frustration over ship delay; worthless workers; loneliness & love
67 10/27/42 Massawa Royalty reports; Army may be ready to whack JDP; job is like sitting on a volcano
68 10/30/42 Massawa Made pontoons from gas tanks to raise a derrick; 1st salvaged ship ready to go! Lucy's health
69 11/3/42 Massawa Reasons for unhappiness; happy only with Lucy; completely undefeated by any obstacles;grim determination not to be licked
70 11/3/42 Massawa Trouble with the pontoons; raising the derrick; wants to be relieved
71 11/4/42 Massawa Progress with derrick; lost slide rule
72 11/5/42 Massawa Rommel defeated;importance of drydock in war effort; sinking pontoon; elections & voting
73 11/6/42 Massawa Another ship floated; pontoon sunk on derrick
74 11/8/42 Massawa Rout of Rommel; US lands in N. Africa; change in Italians; 1st set of pontoons down; benefit of low blood pressure
75 11/9/42 Massawa Royalties & taxes; Westfield War Chest poster; wartime car tires
76 11/10/42 Massawa Household chit-chat; workmen are coming; problems with JDP
77 11/11/42 Massawa Armistice Day; Germany & Japan should be smashed; weather; Rommel retreating; salvage progress; needs a flag!
78 11/13/42 Massawa British mechanics arrive; Tobruk falls; importance of Tobruk; mines removed from Brenta
79 11/15/1942 Massawa 4th pontoon sunk on derrick; will they be able to lift the derrick?; bells ringing in England for the victory in Egypt
80 11/17/42 Massawa Arrival of letters; derrick ready to be raised
81 11/20/42 Massawa Raising of the derrick
82 11/21/42 Massawa Birthday; "I've had enough;" wants to go somewhere else to help war effort; feels he's completed his mission; talks about achievements; heating oil at home
83 11/23/42 Massawa Supplies from home arrive; needs watch strap pins
84 11/24/42 Massawa Orders to North Africa; glad to leave! Last letter.
1 2/26/1942 San Juan, PR The trip begins, navigation, food
2 2/27/1942 San Juan, PR Pay, refueling, next leg
3 4/10/1942 New York, GPO The trip, food, surly crew, Neptune initiation, port
4 3/10/1942 Pernambuco Arrival at Pernambuco, Brazil
5 3/17-3/20/42 unknown Voyage from Pernambuco to Africa;
6 3/21/1942 unknown On to Cairo by plane
7 3/22/1942 unknown Fascinating detailed description of the trip; a spy
8 3/23/1942 unknown Description of the desert; arrival in Cairo
9 3/24-3/26/42 Washington In Cairo; pay; meeting General Maxwell
10 3/29/1942 unknown Travel plans; visiting the Pyramids
11 4/2/1942 unknown Arrival in Asmara; Massawa; houseboy; salvage man's paradise
12 4/16/1942 Massawa Salt tablets; temperature; Star sloops
13 4/19/1942 Massawa Hurricane; temperature; workmen - various nationalities
14 4/30/1942 Massawa The arrival of air conditioning!
15 5/4/1942 Massawa Request clothes; navy yard being put into shape; new air conditioner
16 5/12/1942 Massawa His new book; drydock operational; divers arrive
17 5/20/1942 Massawa Miracle of Massawa; Gen. Maxwell's visit; book award
18 5/30/1942 Massawa Long detailed letter of what is happening; promotion requested
19 6/2/1942 Massawa Like #18 above; feelings of personal achievement
20 6/2/1942 Massawa Brief update
21 6/8/1942 Massawa Rest camp; drinking water; 163 degree heat; Navy no help w/base
22 6/13/1942 Massawa Heat; new quarters; rift w/managers; importance of his health
23 6/24/1942 Massawa Promotion; blood pressure; tug Intent; his room; taxes
24 6/27/1942 Massawa Pay; heat; new insignia; lost glasses; bomb; raising Liebenfels
25 7/9/1942 Massawa Prickly heat; great salvage description; frustration w/Washington & London
26 7/15/42 Massawa Mail problems; pay; photos
27 7/16/42 Massawa Money; view of Merchant Marine; goats; no fruit; problems with workers; weight
28 7/17/42 Massawa Gets shortwave radio; view of British salvage capabilities; smoking; frustration
29 7/18/42 Massawa Prickly heat; finances; local paper
30 Massawa
31 Massawa
32 Massawa
33 Massawa
34 8/2/42 Asmara Letters arrived; finances; supply ship sunk
35 8/3/42 En route to Cairo Reason why no house for EE; gift of dishes; heat in Khartoum; love
36 8/4/42 Khartoum to Cairo Frustration: no more men to repair ships; repair delays; love
37 8/10/42 Cairo Looking for help; success! the British will help; smoking; Massawa base unknown
38 8/10/42 Cairo Leaving tomorrow; interview in paper
39 8/11/42 Cairo to Asmara Great description of scenery; taxes, pay, finances; reputation; Commodore Harwood; helping British with cruiser repairs
40 8/13/42 Massawa Salvage ship arrives; trouble with the civilian contractor
41 8/13/42 Massawa Contractor tries to oust Ellsberg; inefficiency; disillusioned
42 8/14/42 Massawa Longing for home; weather
43 8/15/42 Massawa EE received his first V-mail; making curtains
44 8/16/42 Massawa Shortwave radio program from US; EE needs a razor part
44A 8/16/42 Massawa Letter to pres. of Dodd, Mead about what he had done to date; interesting letter
45 8/23/42 Massawa 1st ship repaired in floating drydock; it was too large, but EE got it done; temperature
46 8/25/42 Massawa BBC broadcast; inner satisfaction; reasons for success; frustration; Cunningham beats a steel plate; British work ethic
47 8/26/42 Massawa Mail delivery; censorship; publicity about drydock salvage
48 8/31/42 Massawa Letters arrive; no package yet; Mary's birthday
49 9/2/42 Massawa Letters & pacakge arrive; EE gets percolator & thermometer
50 9/4/42 Massawa Salvage crew arrives; loss of divers; diver quits for more pay in the US which frustrates EE
51 9/7/42 Massawa Comparing mail services; EE gets press; 4 salvage jobs; frustration
52 9/15/42 Massawa 2nd dock up; EE hero in tragedy
53 9/20/42 In the air Tragedy story again; watch is waterproof; on to Cairo for a conference; workmen coming
54 9/23/42 Cairo & in the air Conference successful; pay; description of the Red Sea; converting oil furnace to coal
55 9/27/42 Massawa BBC tells world about EE's accomplishments; EE takes over failed British salvage job; Paradise propaganda
56 9/28/42 Massawa Keel blocks crushed; another minor miracle; great description of the moonlit harbor; storm
57 9/30/42 Massawa Chit-chat; Times Herald photo; loss of Yorktown and a classmate; survived the heat
58 10/4/42 Massawa Frauenfels salvaged; successful two weeks; feelings about JDP
59 10/6/42 Massawa Another impossible task using pontoons; feelings about workmen
60 10/8/42 Massawa Christmas cards & photo
61 10/12/42 Massawa Feelings of pride for work at base; congratulatory letter from C-in-C
62 10/16/42 Massawa Frustration: no promised men yet, American workmen & JDP; JDP appoints Brown to EE's job!
63 10/18/42 Massawa Very long letter! family chat; things he needs; value of a slide rule; gas vs. oil heat; problems with JDP & frustration; food & water quality; evaporators
64 10/19/42 Massawa Rehash; no sick days; photos sent; one more salvage ship coming
65 10/23/42 Massawa Comparison to Steinbeck's "The Moon is Down;" most Italians there not fascist; Lucy's father not reelected; picture of EE used in a United Campaign ad
66 10/24/42 Massawa Frustration over ship delay; worthless workers; loneliness & love
67 10/27/42 Massawa Royalty reports; Army may be ready to whack JDP; job is like sitting on a volcano
68 10/30/42 Massawa Made pontoons from gas tanks to raise a derrick; 1st salvaged ship ready to go! Lucy's health
69 11/3/42 Massawa Reasons for unhappiness; happy only with Lucy; completely undefeated by any obstacles;grim determination not to be licked
70 11/3/42 Massawa Trouble with the pontoons; raising the derrick; wants to be relieved
71 11/4/42 Massawa Progress with derrick; lost slide rule
72 11/5/42 Massawa Rommel defeated;importance of drydock in war effort; sinking pontoon; elections & voting
73 11/6/42 Massawa Another ship floated; pontoon sunk on derrick
74 11/8/42 Massawa Rout of Rommel; US lands in N. Africa; change in Italians; 1st set of pontoons down; benefit of low blood pressure
75 11/9/42 Massawa Royalties & taxes; Westfield War Chest poster; wartime car tires
76 11/10/42 Massawa Household chit-chat; workmen are coming; problems with JDP
77 11/11/42 Massawa Armistice Day; Germany & Japan should be smashed; weather; Rommel retreating; salvage progress; needs a flag!
78 11/13/42 Massawa British mechanics arrive; Tobruk falls; importance of Tobruk; mines removed from Brenta
79 11/15/1942 Massawa 4th pontoon sunk on derrick; will they be able to lift the derrick?; bells ringing in England for the victory in Egypt
80 11/17/42 Massawa Arrival of letters; derrick ready to be raised
81 11/20/42 Massawa Raising of the derrick
82 11/21/42 Massawa Birthday; "I've had enough;" wants to go somewhere else to help war effort; feels he's completed his mission; talks about achievements; heating oil at home
83 11/23/42 Massawa Supplies from home arrive; needs watch strap pins
84 11/24/42 Massawa Orders to North Africa; glad to leave! Last letter.