Continuing our WWI theme...

Some of you have seen these before, but since the diary and photos of 1918 were just posted, I thought you'd enjoy seeing other items in the files from that time.  These telegrams are from 1918 and 1919.  Three are written to PRK Sr. and one is from him.  [Click on images to enlarge.]

This one is from his mother, Elva M. Kemp, dated October 12, 1918.

The next is from PRK to his brother, Clare (C F Kemp), dated December 28, 1918.

And Clare's response, the same day...

Another from his mother, this one dated January 21, 1919.

The last telegram we have is from Clare.  The date is unclear.  It's my favorite.

We also have a menu from "Christmas Dinner - Naval Port Guard - San Francisco - California - December 25, 1918."  I imagine this must have been a great celebration as it was held only a month and a half after the end of the war.

Lastly, here are some images I found on the internet that give an idea of life at the Naval Station in San Francisco in 1918.

Naval Training Station - San Francisco - 1918

Naval Training Station - San Francisco - 1918 - partitions due to influenza epidemic

Naval Training Station - San Francisco - No Spitting Sign

Paul Kemp Senior's 1918 Diary

Here's a small leather-bound diary from 1918 kept by Paul Kemp Sr. while he was in the Navy in San Pedro and San Francisco.  He doesn't write in it every day.  But when he does write, even though it's only just a few lines, it really paints a picture of his life in the service - hair cuts, shots, mess, leave, mail, visits, baseball.  He starts the diary when he's 21 years old and turns 22 on August 23rd.  The last diary entry is Tuesday October 29th, two weeks before the end of the war.  I've interspersed the diary entries with photos of Paul Sr., friends, and family during his term of service.  It all takes place during the massive influenza epidemic, which is why you see the masks in some of the photos.  And I suspect the girl standing beside him in a couple of photos may be the "Millie" or "Mill" mentioned in the diary.   [Click on photos and diary pages to enlarge.]