Warren R. Watson

Warren R. Watson of the 93rd Seabees was a friend of Bob Conner and is mentioned in Bob's Diary on the following dates.  (6/8/43, 6/9, 8/19, 11/24, 3/19/44, 3/26, 5/20/45).  Certainly the most poignant reference and most representative of the indignity of service life for married, middle-aged men is the excerpt below. 

The two men later enjoyed a measure of liberty roaming the remarkable terrain of their Pacific islands.

From "My Daze:"  Bob Conner's WWII Diary:  Stationed at Camp Endicott, Davisville, RI.

Arrived in New York at 11:30. Lib was waiting for me at the Bristol. She sure looked good. After getting cleaned up a little bit we went out to get me some supper and then a trek around Times Square, which sure looks barren without its lights.

6/6. Sun. Did not get up in too big a hurry this morning. It has turned out to be a beautiful day. Had breakfast just before going to Radio City to a broadcast. Then for some dinner which we finished at 2. Walked around some more, checking on transportation to East Orange and rounding up Lib's baggage. Caught train out of Hoboken at 6 for East Orange where we had supper with Ginny Miller and her family. Had quite an enjoyable visit with them. Caught train back to New York at 10:20 leaving Lib to spend a few days with Ginny. After riding on several subs I managed to reach Grand Central an hour and a quarter before train time. They would not let me on the train I had expected to catch, so got on another one which left at the same time but arrived in Providence a half hour later.

6/7. Mon. Fell asleep on the train as soon as I sat down. Train was a half hour late which gave us only a half hour to get to camp. Three of us tried to hire a cab to bring us out but were turned down so we got in a two block long line for the bus. Waited for three quarters of an hour before we could get on a bus. Arrived in camp 50 minutes late. There were about ten of us from the 93rd in the group. We were told at the gate to wait for an escort from the O.D.’s office. From the way the O.D. acted when we arrived, I think we will get out of being late OK. Started the morning off with a lecture on extended order. After that we went out in the field to practice extended order. Started out on the same thing this afternoon but were forced into a drill hall by the rain. Spent this evening washing some clothes. Watson* and I are both expecting our wives on Friday, so are still worried about having been late this morning.

6/8. Tues. Spent the whole day on KP. The worst came this afternoon. Had to go before our Commander because of yesterday morning. Intended washing my dress blues but had to wear them. I ended up being spokesman for our group. We were all given 10 days’ restrictions which means we have to check in at the M.A.A.’s office 4 times a day and miss two 12 hour liberties. Watson and I are sick over it. Wrote Lib about the situation. Saw the Chief M.A.A., Bumguard, to see if something could be done. He is going to try to get one of our liberties back for the two of us. Really feel low tonight. #

6/9. Wed. Back on extended order again today. Sure did not feel like doing anything this morning. Went up to see Chief Bumguard at noon with Watson. Watson will get his Friday leave and I will get my Thursday (6/17) one. Chief can really ask me to do anything and it will be done. Felt a lot more like working this afternoon. Had to go to a lecture this evening and then caught up a bit on my correspondence.

6/10. Thurs. Another lecture this morning followed by extended order again. Worked on a field problem this afternoon. Really cleaned up tonight. Pressed all my blues and washed everything that was dirty. Had a blackout at 9:00.

6/11. Fri. More KP today. This is our liberty night so we got off at 1:30. Received a wire from Lib that she was on her way this noon. Spent the afternoon writing letters and getting cleaned up. Met Lib at the gate tonight. We both arrived there at about the same time. The guest house at the gate is really a popular place. Men and their wives were all over the place even sitting on the floor. Lib is staying in a cabin just the other side of East Greenwich. We had to part at 9:45 so she could catch a bus back. It is a nice feeling.

6/12. Sat. More KP again today. Pressed my whites during my two rest periods to get them ready should I want to use them all of a sudden. Managed to get out of the mess hall a little bit early tonight so I could get down to the gate to see Lib. Saturday and Sunday nights wives can come in to go to the show. We had a usual Navy line to stand in to get the proper credentials for admittance. Arrived at the show ten minutes late and had to sit on the very front row. Stopped at the mess hall on the way back to the gate and managed to get a piece of cake.

6/13. Sun. Almost forgot to report at 07:00 this morning. Spent the morning loafing and listening to a rendition of the articles for the Government of the Navy. Was able to get all my shoes cleaned up at that time. Messed around this afternoon. Lib and I went to another show tonight. She is getting a full taste of Navy lines now. Had to stand for an hour and a half to get into the show. #

6/14. Mon. This week we go out on work parties. Got on a detail today that did not have to do too much work. Moved cans of oil in the morning and shoes in the afternoon. A plane carrying depth charges* crashed on an ammunition dump at Quonset this afternoon. The explosion really shook the place. Spent this evening with Lib again.

6/15. Tues. Managed to get a fairly easy detail this morning. Had to clean up A-B recreation hall which was done fairly quick and permitted time to play a few games of checkers and dominoes. In the afternoon 4 of us were sent out to repair some roads in one of the other areas. Met Lib at the gate again tonight. The Guest House was really bulging with people tonight.

6/16. Wed. Had to get up at 4 this morning to go on a two hour fire watch. Got on the same cleaning detail this morning that I had yesterday. But caught the works this afternoon when I had to go out and help unload about 1500 bags of cement. Managed to get very dirty at it and ended up doing a little washing tonight as a result.

6/17. Thurs. Caught the A-B clean up detail for the third time this morning. This afternoon I went down on a drag line in a swamp as a helper. Enjoyed that job even though it was rather bumpy. Had liberty tonight. Caught a ride into East Greenwich and met Lib at the USO. Went out to her cabin which is fairly nice even though noisy because of the railroad. Took a walk down to Aponaugh.

6/18. Fri. Up at 5 this morning to catch a ride back to camp. Had no trouble getting a ride. Worked on the ball diamond in the morning and in the rock pit this afternoon. Had to load a truck with rocks by hand - some fun. Managed to get a sun bath out of it. Met Lib at the gate tonight. Have decided to go to Lake George on the 9 days. Played Gin Rummy most of the evening.