US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

The First Tbivty Years 39
On his second visit to the island of Hawaii and a year after marriage, the
pangs of the pocketbook were still with him, as he remarked:
I shan’t go up to Kilauea, the volcano which is rather more active now than
usually, as the trip costs about six dollars and I can’t spare the money. ” 107
Each of his 1909 to 1911 letters available have some mention of financial
problems. Nevertheless, his concern in regard to these never matched his
pleasure over career successes in the Navy, and did not approach his concern
over the care and happiness of his wife, who closely balanced the Navy
as his main source for continued happy living.
HAWAII—PEARL HARBOR, 1911
The Navy continued to satisfy the Turner clan’s basic need to be on the
move.
The We~l VirginLz continued to cruise about the Pacific Ocean; the Navy
continued to use the Naval Academy marking system where 4.o was the
mark for perfection; and Ensign Turner continued to receive 3.8’s, 3.9’s, and
4.o’s and complimentary remarks from his Commanding Officers in his fitness
reports.
In late 1911, the Weft Virgifiia, as part of the Armored Cruiser Squadron,
took part in the ceremonies in connection with the first opening of what was
to become Ten-Ten Drydock, the 1,010-foot drydock at Pearl Harbor.
The Calijorniu officially opened Pearl Harbor the other day, and Prince
Kalianaole [sic] gave a brief luau, or barbecue in honor of the guests. There
were all kinds of native chow and stuff to eat, and the old Queen Lilianokealaui
[sic] was there. She still maintains her old court and sat on a sort of
throne in a pergola, with m fittendant waving one of those big tassel fans,
that you see in Egyptian pictures, over her, and surrounded by her court, a
Chamberlain and Ladies and Gentlemen in Waiting, armed with guitars and
ukuleles. She is over seventy and a toothless, fat old thing. 108
TORPEDO BOAT DESTROYERS
On 12 June 1912, Ensign Turner having arrived in the West Virginia
from a torpedo boat destroyer was detached to duty in a torpedo boat
‘mRKT to Mother, letter, 15 Dec. 1911.
‘MRKT to Mother, letter, 15 Dec. 1911.