Kenny Lee Martin enlisted in the US Navy on 28 August 1940 at the recruiting station in Omaha. On his paperwork he noted his occupation as garage helper, his height at 5’6 1/2” and his weight at 134 pounds. He was 20 years old, had graduated from Grand Island NE high school and the term of enlistment was for six years. The monthly pay was listed at $21.00 and when asked on the application if he intended to make the Navy a career he answered yes. So as a newly minted A.S. or apprentice seaman off he went to Great Lakes, IL., and the training station there.
Following three months of training he was transferred on 21 January 1941 to the U.S.S. Indianapolis, a heavy cruiser, stationed at Pearl Harbor Hawaii. It was on the Indie Maru as he called it, he studied and eventually qualified as a Signalman Third Class. His duties included ship to ship visual signaling either by flashing light Morse code or waving semaphore flags. His duty station was on the signal deck which was part of the upper overall command area.
He was very fortunate to be aboard the Indianapolis and out on maneuvers near Johnston Island on 7 December 1941. The Indie spent the days following the attack searching for the Imperial Japanese fleet but didn’t locate it. Three days later she steamed back to the devastation in Oahu.
In 1942 the Indianapolis was continuously underway and participated in a defensive action at the Battle of Bougainville air and sea battle, and at the Battle of Salamaua the following month.
Additionally, the Indianapolis was called to defend the Aleutian Islands and participated in bombardments of enemy ships and shore installations at Kiska and Attu Islands between August 1942-February 1943. The ship was also called to participate in the battle for Tarawa Atoll from November-December 1943.
At the end of 1943, Kenny Lee was accepted into a study program called V-12 and was transferred off the Indianapolis. He spent a few months in San Diego and finally arrived at University of Washington in Seattle on 1 March 1944. That’s when his love story begins.
It is unsure the exact date that Sweetie and Kenny Lee met but he was only at the UW for eight months between March and November of 1944 before he was transferred out of the program. By that time they seem to have become engaged as his letters home speak about their future plans together.
All of the 90 letters included were mailed from March-September 1945 while Kenny was stationed back at Pearl Harbor as an instructor in the Pacific Fleet Signal School.
