Cliff Blount tent buddy Archives

11 June 1945

Dear folks:

My writing has been delayed considerably because of a succession of events that made writing difficult. And I know you’ve been anxious too.

I’ve been bouncing over the roads today and I feel pretty tired and let down tonight but not so I can’t write you. On my travels today I saw Shuri and Noha including Shuri castle or what is left of it. You know the struggle it has been to take those places. I couldn’t describe to you the desolation and wreckage. Hardly a structure stands and everywhere there is rubble of stone and wood. Only a long two-story brick building remains to what was a city of 65,000-Noha. Bulldozers nudge around through the debris clearing roads and cleaning up, and preparing areas to live in. Shuri is equally wrecked. Shuri sits in a valley surrounded by hills and ridges that shelter catacombs of interlocking caves and emplacements. Every ridge is specked with these holes. From a high view the fields are potted with circular shell holes and occasionally a huge crater of a bomb or a large naval shell. And I saw our burned out tanks, many of them, stopped in a low place where the Japs probably used their suicide tactics of planting satchel charges on the tanks and blowing themselves up. Shuri castle has a few remaining pillars still standing. They immediately remind one of the Greek ruins. Now the Japs have been pushed into a very small pocket and there they will probably repeat their banzai charge and the remainder dive into the sea as they did on Saipan. It seems that the Japanese are entirely alien to what we believe about life and the standards we live by.

Yesterday I had a look at four freshly killed Japs who were killed in their cave. They had thrown a grenade at one of our men from their hole about half way up a steep bank. After we sneaked up and threw grenades and plenty of ammunition at them, someone looked in and they had died for the emperor. One had apparently held a grenade to his chest at the last minute for his chest was blown open and his face gone. In peacetime our government will spend thousands of dollars to find the murderer of one man but here a life seems worth little.

After coming in tonight I found I had four letters, two each from Mom and Dad—one from June. They certainly were appreciated and I’ve already gone over them many times. And I’ll read them many more. Now I’m the one who isn’t keeping up, but pretty soon I should be on a regular schedule. Yesterday had two Free Press dated back in February. I’m looking forward to the recent ones you kept.

Haven’t seen Dick or Duane yet but I think it won’t be too long. Probably the island will be secured soon and then it will be easier to get around. I would like to have Dick come over and stay a few days with me if it is possible.

I can’t say much about the demobilization deal except what I read and hear. I have more than 85 points and weighing everything I feel more optimistic than pessimistic about getting home in the next few months—although I have nothing to go on. Maybe it’s like a women’s 6^th sense. But if something doesn’t materialize I will lose faith in everything. I can hardly imagine being home again. A rumor today said those over 85 will see no more combat, but as I say it’s just a rumor.

Bob Meyers and Guyla Steele now—golly I can hardly picture it and Guyla a Russian. I don’t like that. Glad to hear Jim S. is getting married but sorry to hear his folks are leaving. I thought perhaps Phil and Carol would get married on his leave and was slightly surprised to hear they didn’t. Phil sent me a picture of her. She looks pretty sweet.

On the fruit orchard deal it would be mostly oranges and grapefruit and for the first couple of years a small truck garden to alleviate expenses. Our area is in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. I thought I would put some money into it and let Dick run the place and build up a first class orchard and do everything to produce a good orchard. To make expenses until the crop begins to produce Dick would raise a small truck garden and with the equipment I would buy, he could make money helping others spray etc. And I would come back and get the best job I could and make up some of the first year’s expenses. If I get home soon I’m going to look into it but of course I’m not going all out on it until I can find out a little more. I am anxious to talk to Dick about. I think he will like it. I know my buddy would not let me down, he’s square and honest as the day is long. He is a great guy. He is anxious to help me and he wants later to expand and then go together on a business of hardware there. We had great fun going all over it one night in a foxhole. And I know Dad would fall over backward to advise me. I’m very anxious to see the picture of the store. Nancy and Mom and Phil all write about what an institution it is getting to be.

I’m glad you had a nice birthday and I wished I could have sent you something. (The Noha department store is very short on items). I know Dick and I and Phil will all be home soon to give you an inexpensive but most wanted gift—a big kiss.

And Mom I wouldn’t want you to go out west. Stay where you are and keep home what it has always been and always will be. Many people may soon regret having done that.

And I too want Nancy to go to school and for my choice, Nebraska University. And to have every advantage of graduating. I wanted to graduate in the worst kind of way and feel very badly sometimes because I didn’t. If I were still in school and took law, I would almost be out. I hate to think I will never get a degree. My days there were filled with association and acquaintance with learning, that are long remembered. I surely want Nancy to go and have all she needs to enjoy it.

I’m sure you finally got straightened out on my outfit and I have never been able to tell you. I’m feeling fine but I think I must feel like Dad sometimes—ready to blowup and sometimes I feel nervous as hell. I just hope I can soon see you. Minor differences will seem like nothing after this.

Well it’s beginning to get a little late (9 o’clock) and today may be another heavy one. But I’ll try to write often. You can now feel much reassured for it is almost over on this island and then we can have it easier.

Better stop sometimes although I feel like writing on and on if I could dig up the items.

Love,

10 May 1945

Dear Folks:

Just after dinner I received two letters, one from each of you and now while I can take some time off this afternoon, perhaps I can take time to write a better letter. It’s a hot sun shiny day and now I have my shirt off. But when the sun goes behind a cloud, it cools off quickly. And the past two days have given the ground a good drying, making it much easier to move around.

You didn’t think much of your Nurses Aide picture but I think it’s alright, only it’s not so clear. At first I didn’t think so much of your idea of taking the training but now I feel proud that you are doing it. It makes me feel that you sense the war personally and want to do something about it. And you look young, more like a young girl.

Haven’t seen Dick lately but he is located quite a ways from me and it’s not easy, especially at this time to make connections. However I assure you he is having it easy, and is in little danger, and that is the straight stuff. Last night Jap planes were having a look around but I didn’t bother to take much interest, only when they get too close, or our own flak might fall on us do I get up. Most of the big air battles you read about, I can’t see, for they go on away from the island where our own planes won’t get hit by our ack-ack. The airmen are certainly getting a work out and I think they are doing a great job. I wished you could see and hear the Navy planes dive on Jap positions and let go with their rockets. The rockets make loud swush and explode with great concussion.

Speaking about Dick, I have gathered some plans for the postwar that I think are pretty good, but what I would like to have your opinion on. I haven’t spoken to him about them, but I’m anxious to tell him. As I’ve already told you my partner is acquainted with the fruit growing business and gets some expert advice from his father. Now he says I can buy good fruit land for $150 to $200 an acre, and I figured on getting ten acres. In addition to that we would need a small tractor and some spray equipment, plus cost of the trees. Now if I can raise enough money before the war is over I thought I would put down the capital and put Dick down there to tend it. According to Cliff it will be four years before the crop will begin to produce, but in the meantime he can grow a small bit of truck gardening to make some of the expenses. After five years he says a normal crop will yield from $2,500 to $3,000 in fruit. After the first starter there is little expense, as he says it takes little care to keep the orchard going. And Dick could also work for other people to offset some of the first year’s expense. He claims a good well kept orchard will bring from $12,000 to $15,000 in fifteen years. In the meantime I would take some other job and try to save to buy another little acreage. He is going to buy his dad’s 20 acres and build that up. His dad currently makes from $1,500 to $2,000 dollars on it, but it is less than half planted and doesn’t get the good care that the owner would give it. So I’ll have to see what I’ve got and what Dick’s got and try to work it out. I look at it as sort of an insurance policy – money invested now that will increase many times in a few years. He says that section is prosperous and the bare land is available, and he says his dad has had only one crop failure in 12 years. If perhaps when I got back I would go into your business and could gather some capital then he wants to go into a partnership and open a hardware store in the Rio Grande. We talked it all over, pro and con, for about three hours one night. If I don’t do something like this, I might spend the money normally without anything lasting. Well you ask what questions you may have and tell me what you think about it. I might even go back to school, no I couldn’t hardly do that. Well you talk it over.

I’m glad you think I can write a little and sometimes I feel like you that maybe I should consider it more carefully.

I think if I was in high school I wouldn’t vote for a South Seas theme for a banquet. Magazines and stories make the Pacific seem romantic (and) wonderful, and perhaps it is for a short time, but to me it means hot steaming islands with homely brown people running around. I wished you could have seen Eniwetok. I was there before I went to Saipan. It is a small atoll raising only a few feet from the water’s level. It is almost barren, and the sun beats down unmercifully on the white sand. It is hard to see from a distance, and seems to lie on the water level.

Well it’s getting around four-thirty and at five is chow, so I better plan on getting washed up a bit. After supper I intend to take a bath in the bucket, and put on some clean clothes and hope to get a good sleep tonight.

In the meantime I don’t want you to worry because before you know it I’ll be home, and then all these months will be forgotten and everything will be rosy again.

Love,

6 May 1945

Dear folks:

About an hour before church so perhaps I can write you a few short lines before then. Communion is being held today and as a special treat we will have an organ. A small portable one but it sounds good.

Mail is continuing to come in good—both 1^st and 4^th. Yesterday got a package from June and today two Free Presses and March Reader’s Digest, so I’m expecting the February package any time.

I thought I better write too today because you have probably been reading about the Jap counterattack in which they landed behind our lines and we shot down 168 Jap planes. Well I was in my foxhole all night listening to artillery shells land but they did no damage, and aside from the tenseness all I got from it was more battle experience, of which I’ve had all I want. And Dick is okay. You can rest at ease about him.

My partner is trying to get me to buy in on a fruit orchard in Texas. His dad wants to sell it to him at $200 an acre for twenty acres or $4,000, and us split the cost. He figures in five years under normal years it will bring in an estimated $10,000 yearly and in 15 years will represent a value of 15 to 20 thousand. His dad has his own farms in Kansas and wants to sell the orchard. That’s a pretty cheap price. Right now his dad gets about $1,500 yearly but it is not all planted. Well it’s an idea and it sounds like a good investment but lots to think about.

Well better wash up a little for church so better get ready.

Love,

26 April 1945

Dear Dad:

It seemed such a treat to get your letter today that I thought I would address this one to you, even though you know it is for you both. Well a few minutes ago I finished typing the daily newssheet and have my lead arranged ready for the evening. Also for tonight we had a can of bacon leftover from our rations and I see my buddy has the stove out so we’ll probably have quite a treat tonight. That bacon in cans is very good stuff. This guy I bunk with I’ve known for a long time, and we have become close friends, although at times we use words on each other. He is from Kansas where his father has a large wheat and cattle ranch. He is very likeable and always cheerful, as a matter of fact he keeps my spirits up. He is married and I think I know about everything about his wife. His name is Cliff Blount just in case sometimes you may want to know.

On the island here there’s quite a number of horses and lately it has become the fad to get one of your own and ride him after supper. The battery looks more like a calvary outfit and often we have a short rodeo for a laugh. I did a little riding but I don’t go for it like some of these guys.

Your letter today was interesting and full of good comment. You are doing a good job and I know our absence has made both of us wiser and more appreciative although it worked more on me. I was glad you got my letter about being in Okinawa but know it will make you more anxious. It won’t last too long and then I’m sure we will have it easy for a while including shows and a little beer. Talking about horses and everything you probably can’t reconcile it with combat but there is the other side alright. About every evening the Japs start shelling and a shelling is nerve wracking but aside from the time one landed about 35 yards away, they haven’t been too close. Several men were only five or ten feet from the shell and came out unscratched so you can see the good of a foxhole. It doesn’t take you long to dig in. Haven’t seen Dick for a few days but hope he can stop by soon. He told me Diz Carroll had already had enough war. The reason the bonds sometimes arrive late is because they are sent only when we are paid and occasionally we can’t be paid every month.

I know you would like to see your business continued and especially to have one of us take. I know what it means to you regardless of what you say in your letters. I think we will keep it going and if Minatare can weather any decline after the war, I agree with you that it has many possibilities.

I think I wrote about Ernie Pyle’s death and it was a blow to everyone. Just when he was about to tell homefolks about the Pacific war. I’m sure the men in Europe will find the war here much different. No prisoners here, it’s dig them out and exterminate like cockroaches. I don’t mind if Mom puts my letter in the paper that I first wrote but I don’t think it is much of a letter. I was really not in a literary mood and could have made it much better.

Well it’s getting pretty dark and we are to do the bacon frying before dark so I better ring off for another time.

Love,

20 April 1945

Dear Folks:

Only time to write you a few lines but I know you want to hear. Your mail is coming through in an excellent manner and it is surprising how fast. I can’t mention specific dates. Much of this mail is fairly old stuff held up by the circumstances, but the recent stuff is also coming. It is needless to say how good it is to get them. Had two from Dad today just after dinner. I will have a lot of letters to write when things quiet down.

I can’t tell you much about the campaign but you can get a fairly accurate account from the papers. I will see Dick every opportunity I have and will let you know immediately. I’m fine and feeling good. The doctor was a little concerned about my illness but after two negative urinalysis he concluded it was neuritis. Anyway it left and has not reoccurred. I have an excellent buddy and that helps. So does Dick from what they have gone through they know each other inside and out. They look for each other.

I will write again soon and in the meantime have confidence and I know everything will turn out alright.

Love,