Letters written by Parke Rouse to his parents, siblings, and other relatives. The time periods are the same as the letters received by Parke Rouse in subseries 1 which creates a unique opportunity to see both sides of a correspondence exchange. These letters are in chronological order.

In his early letters, Rouse writes about college social life, sport rivalries, friends, neighbors, home and relatives. He often advises his brother who is not as academically inclined as he is, even giving their Mother advice on how to motivate him. Other early letters cover his early career after college and before World War II.

Parke Rouse worked for the Richmond Times Dispatch as a reporter when he received a commission as a Navy Ensign in 1942. He trained in Boston at Harvard before being sent to Italy. His letters are censored, but he does share his Navy experiences in the United States, Europe and on the Eastern Front. He tells of home, family, college and Navy friends he encounters during his postings. He continues writing articles during this time period and often tries (and sometimes succeeds) to sell his stories to publications.

There is a gap between 1945 and 1980. The 1980 folder includes letters written by Rouse with attached replies.

The following is a timeline of where Rouse lived, worked or was posted while writing and receiving letters, highlighting some of the events and concerns in his life.

1933-36 Attends Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.

1940, 1941 Works at Richmond Times-Dispatch doing the police beat, front page stories, legislature and other things. Virginius Dabney was the editor and a mentor to Rouse.

June 1942 Brother Dashiell is in the Navy at Ft. Knox and friends are joining the military. Parke wants a Navy commission; worries about the draft; mentions blackouts and a flag speech he wrote for Langhorne.

September 1942 Receives commission as an Ensign in the Procurement Office of the Navy with training at Harvard for 6 months; writes article on fraternities which was published, but censored by Mr. Bryan. (G. Tennant Bryan)?

October 1942 Realizes he is in the Navy; tells of his courses on ships, weapons, and more; shares experiences of being in Boston.

December 1942 Mentions the Cocoanut Grove fire.

August 1943 Stationed in North Africa on the USS James O’Hara. One job he has is Postal Officer. His letters are censored, so most of them are filled with talk about his friends and free time activities.

October 16, 1943 Becomes a Lieutenant; mentions that he took part in invasion of Italy, giving some details; visits Algiers.

November 1943 Hopes to come home for leave.

April – June 1945 Assigned for shore duty with CinCPac in Honolulu, Hawaii, then at CinCPac in San Francisco.

July 25 1945 Assigned to Navy Cargo ship going to Pearl Harbor.

Early August 1945, Arrives in Hawaii, then goes immediately to Guam for “temporary duty” on the “Navy News at Guam,” a Navy newspaper for troops in the Pacific; waits for news of the war; mentions that Japanese prisoners were let loose in hopes of rounding up Japanese troops living in the hills.

By the end of August Transferred to the Public Information Office. Talks of joy that the war is over; mentions that he might not have enough points to go home; tries to pull every string he can to get back stateside – his commanders, his friends in the Navy, his newspaper contacts in the Navy and United States and others. CinCPac returns to Pearl Harbor, but Rouse stays in Guam as part of ComMarianas.

While in the Pacific, Rouse describes the area, the towns, the social life, his friends and the local population. He often runs into people he knows from past postings, from home, from school and other places.