US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

38 Amphibians Came To Conquer
sign, although three, due to general courts martial, were in markedly inferior
positions on the Lineal List of the Line of the Navy.’”’
His marriage in early August 1910 increased Ensign Turner’s financial
problems with only a small measure of surcease from the larger pay check
his commissioned rank carried. His pay now totaled $170 per month as an
ensign on sea duty with over five years’ total naval service.
NAVY PAY
Just before Midshipman Turner graduated, the Congress on 13 May 1908,
had been pleased to grant a very small increase of pay to a limited portion of
the Naval Service, the first pay increase since 1 July 1899. The new pay law
increased the pay of Midshipman Turner from $5OO to $6OO per year, of Past
Midshipman Turner from $950 to $1,400 per year, and of Ensign Turner
from $1,400 to $1,700 per year. The past midshipmen were judged to have
been extremely fortunate, since commanders and captains at sea continued
to draw for another 12 years the same meager base pay as they had under
the old 1899 pay bill.
Richmond Kelly Turner was raised in frugal circumstances. He had a
sound appreciation of the value of money, including the dollars of the United
States Government. For example, in December 1898, he wrote to his Father:
I have a position carrying papers at $3 a month. Saturday, I bought a hat
$1.85, two shirts @$.5o, and [spent] $.45 on the trip to and around San
Francisco.
I send a little Christmas present which I hope you will enjoy.l”’
He early learned the availability and uses of credit by the officers and gen-
tlemen of the Naval Service.
I had to put off paying for Hattie’s present, but that’s all right, as I got her a
better one than if I’d paid cash.’”s
But, on his first visit to Japan after buying a bolt of white silk for his
prospective bride’s dress, he wrote:
It makes me mad clear through to see so many nice things to buy, without
the wherewithal to purchase.108
‘~ Ibid., 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911.
‘MRKT to Papa, letter, 26 Dec. 1898.
lmRKT to Mother, letter, 7 Jan. 1906.
‘a RKT to Mother, letter, 17 Jan. 1910.