Dick Moss Archives - Moss Letters

21 September 1945

Dear Folks:

Well I have taken the first step towards getting home. Two days ago I left my outfit and have moved to the Personnel Center where we are processed and grouped prior to departure. I will be discharged at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. I tried to get it changed to Ft. Logan but said they couldn’t do it. But I guess it doesn’t make much difference as long as it is in [the] States. I think I will be here only a day or two before we get on the boat. I feel like a rookie all over again going through this processing – checking records and equipment, but as long as it means getting home, it’s okeh.

Had a letter from Dad the day I left my outfit. It was certainly a good one. I can imagine how Mom feels about us boys getting home and I feel the same way. The boat ride will seem forever. I heard today that points are lowered to 70, October first. Now Dick will be eligible although it will probably be several months before he gets back.

I know I won’t be disappointed in either of you. Being away so long, being more around all the time, and seeing so much construction, home will be more of a castle than ever. I just hope I haven’t changed too much and can be successful someday and be what you expect me to be. I really intend to try. As we are so near to getting home we often talk about what we will do after the war and I think that a decision now will make or break a lot of guys. More and more I believe Dad’s philosophy that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. I want to get a good education first and I would like to put what dough I have into something for the future and maybe Dad has some ideas. But [we] will talk it all over soon.

Saw the stage show ‘This is the Army” last night. Very good. Some liberated prisoners of war were guests.

Well I may be on my way in a day or two so get ready and don’t let Mom faint when I walk in.

Love,

6 September 1945

Dear Folks:

For the first time in over three years I can write you an uncensored letter. Censorship was called off today. I imagine the mailbox will be overflowing tonight. In a day or two I’m leaving the outfit and going to the personnel center to await transportation to the States. I don’t know, but it shouldn’t be long. I hope to get back around the 5^th of October but you realize I could be ten days off either way. That’s the way it looks now. If Nancy was excited about going to Denver you can imagine how I feel. You must be getting bored at hearing me say that.

Dick was located at the far north end of the island and that’s where I visited him. He flew to Tokyo and was to land at Atsurge Airfield. He was looking forward to it, but wants to get home as bad as I do.

Our camp is a half mile from the southern tip of the island, south of Naha.

Had a letter from Phil and Nancy today. I’m afraid Phil will be in for more than six months – it depends on how they decide this duration business. I hope they don’t stop the draft or cut the points way down for overseas service or else guys like Dick already overseas will be over quite a long time. It kinds of burns us up to see how the guys in the States get the breaks. But I hope to be one of them before long.

Well so much for this time – saw a show ‘Roughly Speaking’ last night. I could see so many things that were typical of our family. Better see it.

Don’t write any more. If things change any, I’ll let you know.

Love,

30 August 1945

Dear folks:

Had a nice letter from Mom today so before the show maybe I can answer it. I could tell in your letter how relieved you were and the end of the war made me think of your relief more than mine.

We are sitting around living from day to day for our orders to come through. I think it will be very soon and I’m hoping I can be lucky enough to fly back two days that way, and 18 by boat. I wish I could tell you definitely but we don’t know that. Dick has gone to Tokyo. He was looking forward to it. He flew. It will be quite an experience and he will probably get back fairly soon. He will have plenty to tell you on his return. There’s no need telling you how great my anticipation is after four years. Nancy grown, Phil engaged, Katie married with a child, besides all the other changes around town. And how I’m going to enjoy being lazy around the house. I know you know how I feel. Had a letter from Gladys Johnson, formerly Gladys Davis and she says by all means go back to school and take the room I had lived in. She says her mother has been waiting four years for me to be back in my room. If I get back by the middle of October I’ll have a good stay at home before going to Lincoln [to go to college]. But I’ll have to get a lot of new clothes first. I can use the three hundred [dollars] I get on discharge for that.

Here on the island, Jap officers and enlisted men are roaming around the hills getting what Japs remain to surrender. But I’m in no danger. Our area is a big one like a city, not isolated like in combat. And of course I’m being careful and making sure I’ll get back. And I pray plenty for that and thank God we have been so fortunate. Dick has told me he prayed plenty. That time he was pinned down for four hours while the Japs tried to get him, he knew he was going to die and wished they’d hurry up and kill him. He’s had some close ones. But it has affected him and you’ll be proud of him when he gets back.

Well, it’s about time to go to the show. If you don’t hear from me for a week, don’t write any more because I’ll be on my way. But I’ll write at least that often until I leave.

Love,

27 August 1945

Dear folks:

Boy what a hot day. This afternoon thought I’d get a little sleep but this tent radiates heat like hot bricks, so that’s out. After rolling around and wasting time thought I’d better write a letter.

Received Dad’s letter about the end of the war. I can imagine just how everything took place as you said. Dick and I said when he was here last that the first thing Mom and Dad would do would be to go to church, and so you did. And I can see both of you being so happy you were crying. I can’t quite believe it is over myself. And we have certainly been blessed. During the height of the Okinawa campaign, Dick came to see me one afternoon and he was so shaken and nervous that I was very worried. Over a hundred shells lit in his area and he was in bad shape. I was very worried about him. And I knew another campaign would go hard on him, so when the end came, a great weight of worry about him was lifted. But he looks very good now, husky and good natured. I don’t think he’s changed much although he’s probably a little wiser. He looks better all around than Bob W. or Duane Carroll.

And we are both looking forward to some good times when we get back. I expect to leave in a short time and it’s definite now. I guess I better send you a wire or call when I hit the mainland. Of course I’ll take it easy and be careful.

Well, I’ve got to get ready for retreat and that means get cleaned up so I better get started. Hope you had a good time on your vacation. It’s a lot different than last year.

Love,

23 August 1945

Dear Folks:

This has been quite a day – four of us from Minatare got together. Dick called me this afternoon and said he was coming up (by the way he is a sergeant now) and said he had a surprise. He had Duane and Bob Wright with him. Bob looks about the same as always – homely, tall and skinny. So we went to my tent and had a talk about old times. Duane had some pictures of Marge and his kid. Dick looks very good and feeling fine over his promotion. He almost didn’t tell me about it. We took a roll of film but I don’t know how long it will be until they are developed.

Well it looks like I will be home in a short time – pretty definite now. By a short time I mean a month or a month and a half. I can hardly believe I’m actually going. Said goodbye to Dick for the last time overseas but I expect him back around the first of the year. He’s really a great kid.

I’ve been a little slack in writing lately but been pretty busy and thinking a lot about getting back.

Guess this is all for this time.

Love,

17 August 1945

Dear Folks:

Had a nice batch of mail today so I better deserve it and try to answer some of it. Had a letter from Dad, one from Kate, one from Washington, and a letter from the University of Nebraska.

Well it appears that the war is over, and that it will be official today or tomorrow. I’m saving my last two bottles of beer for the celebration, and I can’t hold off much longer. The actual reality of the things hasn’t taken hold yet. Now I suppose you have figured that I should be home in a very short time, perhaps a month or so, but as a matter of fact it doesn’t appear that way. It seems that something always happens to delay it, and they have an excuse readily handy. Our outfit is always at the wrong place at the wrong time. For all I know we may be used for occupation forces and no telling how much longer a delay that will mean. If I’m not on my way in a month and a half I’ll start blowing up. It will be three years over here and four [years] away from home, and I’ve had about all I want. A lot of delays, red tape and excuses such as shipping and replacements is getting too common. This hot stinking Pacific and three years looking into oriental faces is too much. I guess what gets me started is the good deal the troops in Europe get, and their short stays overseas, and then in the Free Press today I see Capt. Fred Chambers, never overseas, in four years is back to Dorothy’s wedding. I feel like I could get roaring drunk tonight and poke somebody just to be doing it.

I better return to normal and discuss things more sensibly. Kate’s far between letters made an appearance today, but she didn’t have much to say. Said she was chasing Steve on her day off. I guess I better try to answer it tonight. In the letter from Washington she wants me to see her before heading home. In her letter she said ‘probably you’ll be on your way before you get this letter’. Golly if she only knew, but everybody’s like that I guess. The civilians think that whenever they hear an announcement over the radio it will just be a matter of weeks before it will take effect. They think you apply for furloughs, readjustment etc, but actually you just sit back and wait and hope and think.

One of Dad’s good letters came along too, I see you don’t know just what to do about the store and the company, and I can imagine how you feel. Dick and I thought you should stick with the company for a while yet. Dick shouldn’t be in the army too much longer and I bet he’d help you, and I would too for the time that I am home. Dick and I always talk over the humble beginnings of your store, and now we are proud as the devil of you. There are certainly lots of possibilities as you say. You seem to be doing very good, and Dick and I could hardly believe it. And what you say about the store is interesting, not boring.

Dick and I would both like you to send Nancy away for a while and let her have a good time. I know she must deserve it and I know how much I would have looked forward to it if I were her age. Better send her, it will do her good.

Yesterday afternoon I went to a hardball game and saw the XXIV Corps play Naha airfield, and the Corps won. It was the firsthand ball game I’d seen in a long time so I liked it. We had to sit in a broiling sun with our fannies on the ground so I’m a little sore today. And I’ve been playing a little softball today myself. Was playing second base and when trying to put a man out he charged me in the ribs and a couple of them are pretty sore tonight.

It is really hot, just knocks the sap out of you. Sweat all the time.

Well I think I’ll knock off and start on another letter. Censorship soon [will] be lifted now that the war is over, but I haven’t heard anything about it.

So long for now.

Love,

14 August 1945

Dear Folks:

I just spent the last two days with Dick, and I know that would be good news to you, so before I get into bed I better tell you about it. He called me up yesterday at noon and said he wanted to see me so I made arrangements to go. We had a good time together, talked a lot, read each other’s mail, and of course discussed the big news about Japan. I was kind of expecting the official news of Japan’s surrender to come over while we were together but we’re still waiting. Now tonight I hear over the radio that Domei has announced that Japan has accepted the terms – now we are waiting for something official over the American radio. As a matter of fact a few moments ago they said to standby for some important news, but as yet it hasn’t come. Of course I couldn’t tell you how we both feel about it – I know you feel the same. Dick was looking good and husky. He is a corporal now – probably he wouldn’t mention it to you. He’s very well liked in his outfit and sure is a regular guy. I know what his plans are now and what is going to happen to his outfit but I can’t tell you about it. Of course it isn’t bad. Last night we went to the show together and nearly got rained out. Then today he showed me how close he came to getting ’it’ a while back. He was supposed to go out in an M-8 armored car as he had often done, but this time for some reason he didn’t go. And he was lucky for in his usual seat the cushions were full of bullet holes from the Jap machine gun. Better give another thank you to the Lord. Of course you know how he will tell it. But he’s having it pretty decent now although not anything extra. However I don’t worry near like I did about him now that the war appears to be near an end. It’s hard to say what the war’s end will mean towards our getting home – probably a new plan again. Just when I get eligible for something another scheme comes out. Of course, like it must [be] to you, days seem long as the devil until we can see you again. One thing we agreed upon was that when we get back we are going to completely [be] lazy and independent for a little while. And of course as we always do, we talked about the wonderful food you would provide and how you both would bust your necks to do everything. And then we talked about how the guys around home are marrying the Russians and vice versa and saw the wisdom of some parent’s advice given us when we were temperamental and less prone to reason. We thought Dad should stick with the gas company for a while at least and that it would be a very good idea for Nancy to go to Washington for a while. I think she should see something besides Minatare too or she may fall in the rut that some others have. We couldn’t get over the way the guys and gals are marrying back there. According to Dick his friendship with Helen Emick is purely platonic, but his tent mates give me a different story. Finally I left but this time when I left I felt much better than some other times I’ve known. To have the war end now is almost unbelievable and like taking a great weight off you.

Well so much for this time. I’ll try to write some more about it tomorrow night.

Love,

3 August 1945

Dear Folks:

This is one of those rainy days when you feel like sleeping, and being cozy but I can’t do it when I have so many letters to write. Mail has been coming slow the past couple of days but with the rainy weather it’s no wonder. It has been raining hard and almost without let up for two days now. But we are sleeping in pyramidal tents and except when we go out we keep pretty dry. Along with the rain is driving winds that blow the rain in sheets. Boy it really rains. You’d think the whole countryside was going to blow away. But this afternoon it looks like the clouds may be breaking up a little and I hope it does before the show tonight.

Two nights ago I sat through a drenching rain on a sandbag to see ‘Valley of Decision’. If it had been any other show I would have left. I thought it was excellent. If it isn’t rain, it [is] usually an air raid, or something else that stops the show.

A short time ago at an ungodly hour in the morning, a Jap plane or planes came over and then I heard a clatter of machine guns. Either they were strafing or our planes were trying to shoot them down. Believing it was all over I went back to bed and was about to sleep when I heard that watery, swishy sound of a bomb falling. I rolled out of bed without regard to the mosquito bar and pulled it down with me to the floor. It was funny. By the time all of us were up going out the door of the tent, we heard another coming so we all flopped to the floor and waited. Then they went off and it was quiet. To have a plane up there dropping eggs out of a black night isn’t pleasant. But my hitting the floor so fast and ripping my net in the process, caused me some ribbing, but I believe in hitting the dirt fast. You should see us hug old Mother earth when things get hot.

Had a letter from Dad yesterday. I hope you’re right about the war being over soon but I don’t know. Japan is taking a lot, but she can absorb plenty more.

Got the clipping about Wylma getting married. It’s kind of hard to believe after having gone with her so long and knowing her as I did. But like a lot of other guys it’s just a case of being away too long. In the letter I got from her she didn’t mention him, in fact she seemed unattached altogether.

I have been waiting to hear from Dick. We sent some boys home on furlough and I thought perhaps he might have gotten one from his outfit. As afar as my getting home is concerned it is just sit and wait and not worry about it. Dick has 71 points but I’m afraid it will not be lowered that much although later he may become eligible. I’m not eligible for furlough now unless I sign up to stay in the service, which I wouldn’t do with my score. I couldn’t say whether Dick was going into combat again or not if I knew, but I really don’t know. I believe he’s living fairly decent now, and I hope he can stay with me for a few days.

Was just issued two bottles of beer, but better save them for some other time.

I guess this is all I can think of this time. I’m feeling fine, and not being overworked, and I think I’ve added a pound or two in the last three weeks.

Until the next time.

Love,

27 July 1945

Dear Folks:

Not much on tap for tonight so maybe I better write a few letters. Just finished a letter to Dick and I’m going to see if he can make arrangements to visit me for a few days. We are in a permanent area and have a pretty decent setup now.

Had a late issue Free Press today – very recent and a letter from Phil and Nancy yesterday. Phil is turning out different than I thought he would. Wished I would get back in time to see him.

Very little to write about. There is nothing new on getting back. It is just a matter of waiting.

Went to teeth inspection today and it looks like I may have some work done [soon]. The doc pulled a tooth last October and I think it’s getting bad under the filling.

Well I’m out of news so I guess I’m bound to close.

Love,

23 July 1945

Dear Folks:

This won’t be much of a letter but in order to kill a little time before [the] show probably I ought to write you. It’s been hot as hell today and the sweat has been rolling off me, but I feel better after a shower.

We had our first beer ration – four bottles. It’s warm but it’s still good.

Received two Free Presses today – one of them dated this month. It seems like every issue I read about this guy Seich being on a furlough. Has he even been overseas? Another is Clifford Teiser – what a racket he must have. But when I get home I expect it to be permanent.

I don’t [know] when I’ll see Dick again. We are a long ways apart now, but I hope I can have him down for a few days soon. Don’t know where Duane is.

Dug out my law books today and glanced over them a little. I have quite a little time to study now.

In Gladys Davis’ letter yesterday she said she was in Minatare Armistice Day and tried to get hold of you but could find no one [home]. I wished you could have seen her.

Well I told you this letter wouldn’t be much and so it is. But at least it’s some word [from me].

Love,