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Wednesday
July 14th Bikini

Dear Mom & Dad:

     It's a beautiful day here in Bikini this morning.  The sun is shining 
brightly and hardly a cloud in the sky.  We just received orders about 10 min. 
ago to stand by to leave the area for Baker day (tomorrow).  Everything 
necessary to make this atomic test a brilliant success is in top shape due to 
a month of feverish preparation.  Now with a little good weather, we will see 
what we will see.

     Afterwards who knows what will happen to this bunch of ships.  Some will go 
here some will go there.  The Benevolence has been routed to Pearl Harbor for voyage 
repairs, restocking of provisions and refueling which bodes ill future for her and 
of course me.  Where we'll go no one knows yet, and we probably won't find out until 
we get there.  Nevertheless, we've spent a very hectic, but satisfying three months 
here in Bikini Atoll, and I don't think one man will ever forget.

     How are you all? Fine I hope.  I would sure like to see you all again, but 
everyone can't be lucky and it looks like it'll be a long time before that will 
happen.  I'll write and let you know the turn of events out here and I think they'll 
probably be moving pretty fast in the future.

     I sent in a subsrciption for that navy magazine "All Hands" this morning to be 
sent to you from Wash. D.C.  Please keep them somewhere after everyone has read them 
for me until I get out.  I'd like to keep them for my old age.  Just think! I'm 
getting to be an old man. (20 yrs old) ha!

     Well that's about all the news for right now.  I'll close with lots of love 
and write lots.

Your devoted son
Charles H.