Diary #2 spans January 1st to May 15th, 1943. Below is a transcript of the whole diary with my annotations along the side. If I was unsure of a word, I used the * symbol. I always kept the spelling that she used. Some of the people are explained in Annabelle’s The People page.

Annabelle D. Menge

Fond du Lac, Wis

January 1

1943

Slept until 1:15 having retired at 6:45am. Puttered around the rest of the afternoon.

January 2

Valley of Decisions by Margaret Davenport

One World by Wendell Wilkin

March 11

Went to Miles* today with Marir McCale + 7 other girls for enlistment in Waves. I passed my I.Q. + physical but had to lose 6 lbs. 

March 20

Lost 8 ½ lbs following Navy Diet. I was sworn in the Waves today. Grace took me to lunch + martinis in Red Room to celebrate.

April 6

The sorority entertained for Gean Armstrong* + me. We both received Lady B**tlan Billfolds. We had a very nice time.

April 25   Sun

Mother + I visited Aunt Aggie at Madison Gen. Hoop. Winnie came out too. Afterwards we went out + had just loads of fun in Madison + Waupun.

April 27   Tues

Mother had several of the girls out for bridge. She had a nice time + I feel they all enjoyed themselves.

April 28    Wed

Today Aunt Clara wrote the Star wants to interview me Sunday. Also has a card from Aunt Clara. Roland Hansen left for Farragut, Idaho today Navy Camp.

April 29   Thurs

Mrs Giese gave a dinner party for me- 8 guests. We played 50 and had a very nice time. Mary Ridgeway Kaiser + I won prizes. I had a beautiful corsage of carnations + red roses. The girls gave me 5.00. I had a marvelous time.

April 30    Friday

Said Goodbye to Marie McCale at G+L. Almost missed my train to Miles. Arrival at 6:30- Purchased David Green slippers at Ginshel* 3.50. Went out to Rosenfield’s. Winnie + I met Al at the Canary Club + from there we went to the Town House. We all had a very nice time.

May 1   Sat

Up at 9. Mother phones from home that my others orders came from the Waves today. I leave the 17th for Hunter College, N.Y. Happy Days. Met Gram Voigt for lunch. C.B. Ba*let bought us an old fashion. Grace + I shopped all afternoon. Met Winnie at 5pm. We had dinner in Red Room. Came home early Winnie packing.

May 2   Sun

Stayed at Rosenfield’s last nite. Had dinner at Buds + Gladys Landgraf. They took me out to Maiu* + Jack Johnstone’s + Aunt Clara’s. Winnie + I had dinner with Anne Rosenfield’s. Winnie moved to Virginia McMongale’s apt. We stayed the nite there. Met a Friend of theirs from La Crosse. Had a hard time getting to sleep- Waves on mind.

May 3   Monday

Ramona + I had breakfast + lunch at noon at Virginia’s apt. Went shopping for groceries, read + made dinner for Virginia + Winnie. I enjoyed it all very much. Virginia sure misses Kenney. She read a letter from him. He is at Pensacola, Fla.

May 4    Tuesday

Hit the deck at 0800. Had breakfast made a salad + went ashore at 0930. Went out to Uncle Louie + then had lunch at Aunt Clara's. About 1500, I went downtown. Went home at 1600. Made dinner- we all did dishes + I caught the train at 2100. Winnie rode down to the station with me. Arrived home at 2230- bed 2430.

May 5    Wednesday

Slept until 1400- Had lunch did dishes. Will’s mother was over for dinner. She stayed until 2300- Mother took her home.

May 6    Thursday

I spent all day in bed. I ate an orange which didn’t agree with me. Felt better around 1900. Went to sleep at 2400.

May 7     Friday

Up at 1100- Puttered around working on clothes.

May 8     Saturday

Mother + I went over to Waupum to see Aunt Aggie- She looks good- Improving fine. In the evening I shellaced my name tabs on hair brush toothbrush + so forth. Sat up until one 0100 talking with Dad + Mother. Jr Northrup is on his way to Norfork, Va to gunnery school.

May 9     Sunday

Mother’s Day. Dad brought mom a lot of candy- Bob + Lottie sent her photos of the baby. I brought her pin + earrings from Fla. She started to pack away the things I’m not taking. Around 8:30 Mother + I went over to McDermitt’s to see “Red’s” picture. Will’s girlfriend in Australia. She is really very pretty. Wrote to Willis- bed 2400.

May 10    Monday

Mother + I were up at 0930. Wrote to Cleo. Shopped downtown for last odds + ends. I purchase “One World” by Wendell Wilkie. Went up to Pete’s Apt for the evening. Fixed her hair + sat around talking. Mother called for me at 2300- when I was leaving Pete gave me a gift- a service prayer bk + handkerchief

May 11   Tuesday

Slept until 1200, aft opening mail at 1000. Rec’d travel orders + a card from Dorothy Summerfield at Hunter. Just puttered around- putting name on shoes + so forth- wrote to D. Summerfield that I would arrive Sunday. Now 2300.

May 12    Wed

Mother, Dad + I  drove out to Princeton. We visited Grandma and drove around for seedcorn. We had dinner on the way home at a nice restaurant in Princeton. We arrived home around 8. Stopped off at Zach’s. Stayed until 10 and then Marion Z walked home with me- We all had a nice time today. 

May 13    Thursday

Shopped downtown in the morning. Played golf with Mavis H at Jakoohl*. Score Mavis 83-93. Pete came home for the evening- stayed all nite. Aunt Clara called around 2400 that I had been accepted for Star.

May 14    Friday

Up early- saw Pete off to work. Did work in morning- Had my hair done at noon. Mother bought my Star ring today.Bummed around town- meet the kids from G+L at Rettaw Cocktail Lounge. In the evening we packed a few things- bathed- bed at 0100. Dead tired!

May 15    Sat

Up 0800- got ready to leave for Miles. Was initiated in Star Miles Golden Rule Chapter 199. Met Kay Kludge Rec’d.

Memoranda

Raymond Wender EM 1/c

U.S.S. Sheridan 9oFleet P.O.

San Francisco, Calif.

Memoranda

W 1231961 Pt. Mondry G.

A.T.S. Signals

English

Londonderry

Northern Ireland

Joseph Warner

U.S.S Abbot

c/p Fleet Post Office

San Francisco, Calif.