Robert Harlan French

July 12, 1945

Two Flagler county boys joined the navy this week. They are Billy Newsome of Bunnell and ROBERT H. FRENCH of Flagler Beach.

They are waiting for their orders.

September 27, 1945

BOBBY FRENCH, recently enlisted in the Navy, is on his way to San Diego, California.

October 4, 1945

On the other hand a couple of young fellows have just left here for boot training at Camp Peary, Va. They are Thomas Gresham and BOBBY FRENCH. Another sailor from here did his boot there and is now in school at that place. He is Lamar Mercer. In addition, Billy Newsome leaves this week for boot training with the Navy.

November 8, 1945

Danny Johnston has been transferred to Camp Peary, Va. Two other Bunnell boys are there also - BOBBY FRENCH and Thomas Gresham.

November 22, 1945

And the only other letter this week is from a Navy man too - BOBBY FRENCH at Camp Peary, Va. Bobby says:

“I thought I would surprise you by writing to you. I am not very good at writing, but once in a while I get the urge to do so.

I don't know, of course, whether you are acquainted with Camp Peary but it is one heck of a place. The weather is absolutely unpredictable. One minute it is hot as the devil and the next minute it is cold. When we get up in the morning we have to put on gloves, sweater, and overcoat. By noon it is so hot you go around in your shirt sleeves.

Right now it is raining and the mud is about knee deep. I am sending you a poem to give you the general idea.

Frankly, however, it is an easy boot camp. We don't do a bit, of work. Just do as we please. What makes it so bad is the living quarters. There isn't anything to do. Every place you go you have to stand in line for an hour. They march you everywhere except to the head and I am expecting that any day. It will be just 23 more days before I come home. I will be one happy boy.

I guess I had better sign off and go to chow.

Bobby French.

(We are sorry Bobby, but we can't print the poem. But we have a hard and fast rule against poetry and had to leave it out. Let us say, however, you are at an "easy boot camp." There are many, we suspect, that are far worse).

December 27, 1945

BOBBY FRENCH and Thomas Gresham, who recently enlisted in the Navy, are spending the holidays at home.