Jim Rowedder Writes Farragut, Idaho
Dear Friends: Here I am in the gold old U. S. Navy. Out this way the scenery is really beautiful. We are surrounded by mountains on all four directions.
I like the navy life very much. The boot training alone is worth a thousand dollars. Here you are taught by the best. It also is very interesting.

They have one of the finest auditoriums I have ever seen. It has ten basketball courts all about the size of Carroll's and also a large swimming pool, all in this one auditorium.
They really get you in shape here. This afternoon we go on a 10 mile hike up the mountain.
One of the most thrilling incidents I've had since I've been here was going to church and having about 800 more shipmates in the same church at the same time.
I want to thank you and the Legion for the paper. It is really appreciated and I read it from top to bottom.
Thanking you again,
Jim Rowedder.

"We go to school six hours a day and then study two hours in the evening. We get the weekends off. "It is the first time I have ever seen the U. of Minn. football stadium, it is really a beauty. They take a lot of interest in athletics there, that is one of the main subjects.

Well, I will have to close this letter and get ready for inspection everything must be in tip-top shape.
And in closing I wish to extend my best regards to all my friends back home. Jim"

After further experience in his new assignment aboard a Man 'O War or at some naval shore station the newly graduated Bluejacket will be eligible for further advancement in the petty officer ratings.

Manning Monitor article------ 1944

Writes From New Guinea Dear Friends:
Well, I have arrived safely in New Guinea. I can't tell You where-abouts. I haven't been getting the Monitor for about the past three months, and I really miss it because, I always read it from top to bottom.
So I thought I would write and give you my new address just as soon as possible.

As you probably know, I am in submarine duty and like it fine. Yesterday was the first time I have ever seen any real native people, also the first time I've been in a real jungle. Don't know just how long I will' be here.
We will probably be shoving off soon, but the Monitor will follow me wherever I go, and I'll be waiting for it, to read about the home town, which is a good one. I want to say hello to all my friends home.
Hope to see them all as soon as this war is over.
James L. Rowedder.

Manning Monitor article------ 1945

Hello From Jim Rowedder
Dear Friends:
Thought I'd take a few minutes off to say "hello," to all the home town friends and also to give you my new address. It's been about two months since I've received the Monitor and I really miss it. I used to read it from top to bottom I could just about recite each issue.
I'm going out on patrol and I hope when I get in I'll have the ole home town paper waiting for me keeps me posted on all my buddies also.

As you probably know, I'm in submarine service and wouldn't trade it on a bet. It's tops as far as I'm concerned.
It's been 18 months since I've been back home, but believe me it will still seem as good as ever to be back in Manning again.

Guess I'd better drop anchor for tonight.
Also want to thank the Legion that has made it possible for me to receive the Monitor. Looking forward to seeing all the home town friends again; until then I'll say "Cheerio."
Jim Rowedder, F2/c.

James Rowedder, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jul Rowedder of Manning, recently returned to the states after nearly two years of submarine duty in the Jap infested waters as a member of the crew on the USS Hammerhead.

Although Jim hopes to reach home soon, he is required to stay at Mare Islands, Calif., for a time, while his ship undergoes an overhaul there.
Here is an account of the Hammerhead's prowess taken from a west coast newspaper:
The USS Hammerhead a comparative newcomer to the submarine fleet, lay proudly at Mare Island last night, flying 15 small Japanese merchant flags from her halyard, representing part of the 88,000 tons of enemy shipping sunk during seven war patrols.
Back home for overhaul at Mare Island navy yard, the veteran crew told of sinking four enemy warships, including a destroyer off Indo China last March and the dramatic midnight rescue of a downed army pilot in the storm tossed China Sea.

Commissioned at Manitowoc Wisconsin, the Hammerhead is armed with 10 21-inch torpedo tubes. The navy disclosed her commanding officer is Cmdr. Frank N. Smith. USN, whose wife lives in San Diego. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Smith, Danville, Kentucky.
A 1500-tonner, with a normal complement of 65 men, the Hammerhead had her closest call after sinking the destroyer. Other enemy destroyers attacked her with depth charges for three hours.

Officers, sweating out the attack by playing cribbage in the wardroom, had just remarked how badly the Japanese were missing them when a depth charge exploded close by and blasted open the wardroom doors. The Hammerhead was not damaged.
A few weeks later while running on the surface in the China Sea, their spotlight picked up an apparently unconscious army pilot, 1st Lt. Walter Low, South Portland, Maine, who had drifted 300 miles in his life raft.

The crew lifted Low tenderly aboard, where it was discovered he was just a good, sound sleeper. Uninjured, he had decided to take it easy as he drifted toward the Philippines several thousand miles away.

The Hammerhead was just off Japanese-occupied Wake Island en route home when they received he news of the emperor's surrender request. They surfaced within sight of the Japanese garrison, tooted their whistles in celebration and then headed for home.