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RALPH ALBRIGHT : 1942 - 1945 ORIGINAL WORLD WAR II HANDWRITTEN NAVAL COMMUNICATION JOURNAL KEPT BY A METICULOUS AND ARTSY OFFICER WRITING DOWN HIS COMPREHENSIVE MATERIAL WHILE TRAINING FOR WARTIME COMBAT

Folio - over 12" - 15" tall. On offer is a truly exceptional document of WW2. It is the basic training military journal kept by Ralph Albright, an actor and writer before the war, and a member of the United States Naval Reserve during the duration of the war, and six months after. The journal consists of loose leaf sheets on a small three-ring binder, some typed, but mostly handwritten. This journal presents together the two worlds that Ralph Albright lived in 1943. The world of the civilian from Spokane, Washington, an actor, writer, and avid reader, and the world of the private learning the basics of the Navy in order to fight a bloody war for his country. This is a fantastic document for anyone interested in Naval basic training and/or an incredible document of the lives of a man getting ready to fight a war as it contains within an exceptional and comprehensive amount of learning material that naval privates encountered before setting out to fight in the World War. The beginning of the journal contains the typed poem “The Four Prominent Bastards” by Ogden Nash. Other sheets include “The Ladies (as recited from Rudyard Kipling by Lieut Stout),” “The Camel,” written completely in shorthand, “Army Climbing Rules,” and a page of the “Five Best Novels 1924-44.” There are about 20 or so pages before the meat of the journal begins. There is a page titled: “Addresses” in which there is only one name and address: “W. R. Sharkey, Jr. Lieut-commander, USNR., Communication Officer CFOTCPAC, SUBCOM, S.F. Operational Training Command. Treasure Island. San Francisco, California.” This seems to be his commanding officer. Most probably, Treasure Island in San Francisco is where Albright’s basic training took place. The next section, that takes up almost the entirety of the journal is prefaced with a sheet that says, “NAVAL COMMUNICATION.” The part is made up of an immense amount of basic training information. “Duties of Comm. Officer,” “Alarm Procedure,” “Semaphore Procedure,” System of Visual Responsibility” “Convoy Maneuvering,” “Use of Sextant,” “Chemical Warfare,” and dozens more sections of information pertaining to naval training in World War 2, all written in legible handwriting by Pvt. Albright. There is also a couple pages of typed notes under the title “Sample Log” and “Logs Entries Therein.” It does not specify what day the logs were written. Excerpt: 0800 to 1200. Underway as before, on course 282 T at 1/3 speed (115 r.p.m.). 0925 Fog lifting. Increased speed to standard speed (315 r.p.m.). 0930 Held quarters, followed by general quarters and gun drill. Navigator instructed quartermasters in operation of underwater sound equipment. Inspected magazines and smokeless powder samples; conditions dry and normal. Accounted for all small arms and ammunition. 1030 Held man-overboard drill. Stood various courses and speeds. 1031 Lifeboat away. 1032 1/2 Life boat picked up buoy. 1035 Hoisted Lifeboat. Course 282 T standard speed (315 r.p.m). 1100 Commanding Officer held mast in case of Louis J. Upcheck (509-965), Seaman, second class, charged with having been negligent in the performance of duty, and awarded him twenty (20) hours extra duty. 1130 William D. Downhaul (562-487), Coxswain, advanced in rating to Boatswain mat, second class. Authority H/L 2 May 1942 (71). 1145 Shangri La entrance buoy close aboard. Stood various courses and speeds up Shangri La Harbor. So to end.” There are other entries of Mid to 0400, 0400 to 0800, 1200 to 1600, 1600 to 2000, and 2000 to 2400. At the end of the book, it seems that Mr. Albright is writing a play entitled, “King Neptune” and he has cast his fellow soldiers in the roles of Queen, Princess, Royal Baby, Davey Jones, and others. The characters have characteristics under each, a plot is written out with many scratch outs and marginalia throughout, and a simple drawing of a stage is drawn. His fellow soldiers McConochie, Capt. Peterson, Lamar, Phil Potts, Armstrong, and others were assigned the parts in the play. The book is in good condition. The black leather cover shows a good bit of wear and discoloration. The pages are all in good shape. Albright writes either in pencil or in black ink and as stated before there are a few typed pages as well. The book has over 200 pages and very few are blank. (Background: Enlisting at the age of approximately 21 on January 15, 1942, Ralph E Albright was a private in the United States Naval Reserve during World War II. At the time of enlistment, Ralph Albright was single, without dependents, stood 69 inches tall, weighed 140 pounds, and had an education level of 1 year of college. Ralph E Albright was born in 1921 in Idaho, and identified as white. He died on October 18, 2004 at the age of 82.). Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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