The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime. These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).
This is the first of three episodes which feature letters exclusively from Sweetie's husband, Lew. In the previous episode, Sweetie and Lew returned to her home town of Lacona, Iowa in the fall of 1948. However, Lew was not destined to be a farmer, and by the end of that episode, he had returned to the Philadelphia area to join the US Merchant Marine. This first part of the trilogy of episodes documenting his time in the US Merchant Marine features the letters he wrote in December 1948 and January 1949, as the oil tanker he is on crosses the Atlantic Ocean. The ship was known to the men as the SS Atlantic Transporter. He describes life on board the ship, and at the end of these letters, the ship is approaching Port Said, Egypt.
This episode also features some of Lew's original photographs from his time on board the ship, as well as photos of the original menus that the men had in the mess hall. It is not known if any other original menus from this ship survive. Those photographs can be reviewed online in the specific album for them at https://www.lovesweetiepodcast.com/lew-in-the-merchant-marine
For more information, please go to www.lovesweetiepodcast.com. This podcast is also available on YouTube - please like, share, and subscribe there. Follow the Love Sweetie Podcast on X at @lovesweetieshow. Follow the Love Sweetie Podcast on Instagram at love_sweetie_podcast
