Dick Moss Archives - Page 11 of 14

8 August 1943

Dear Folks:

I suppose I should be working, or at least look like I’m working, but this is Sunday morning and I guess some of (the) effects of civilian Sunday still persist. I just came from church a few minutes today and for something different the Chaplain had a small group of Hawaiian women to sing. But this group was about like the usual small town choir. It always seems that the worst singer is the director and this one was no exception. Every time I looked at her it reminded me of Amie Schmaltz alias Mrs. Snyder, for she looked just like her. They sang a Hawaiian hymn that sounded like a baby learning to talk. This afternoon I hope to float around in the salt water and get knocked around by the waves. I guess I told you about the new army recreation center, the ‘Tradewinds’ where we spend the Sunday afternoons. This Sunday morning is a beautiful one which reminds me of a balmy June at home and the pineapple fields and the palm trees reflect the same feeling. From where I sit I can see the ocean a few miles away, a deep blue with billuous clouds riding along the horizon.

I received the Free Press a few days ago and noted the letter about my meeting with Dick. The letter was a pretty poor one but I hope you caught the spirit of the good time we had. What do you think of the pictures?

Dad’s circular letter came yesterday and I think you have a good system making one copy go all around. I’m glad you got the book on the way. Hope I can keep in control until it gets here. A few days (ago) I bought ‘Mission to Moscow’ which is darn good reading and very interesting.

I don’t like to say too much about the war because it is such a big subject, but things look favorable on every front. I especially remember the President stating that an all-out offensive against Japan would begin this year. It seems far-fetched to me but I’m not in much of a position to critize or adjudge. You probably know that most of the island population is Japanese but there has never been an act of sabotage since the war began. The Japs seem to control most of the business stores, that is the small ones, and generally rate higher than the other races, in prominence, in education, and civic circles. The true Hawaiians are diminishing rapidly from intermarriage and only on the other side of the mountain are there still some vestiges of an old Hawaiian life and villages. The combinations from intermarriage are terrific and I think you could find any combination on the island.

I’m being paged to go to the PX and I’m about out of anything else to write so better stop.

Love,

3 August 1943

Dearest Folks:

I’m slipping on my writing again so better make this typewriter burn for a while. Just received Nancy’s letter a few moments ago and I especially noted that Glen and Bill E are home on furlough. What we wouldn’t do during a reunion leaves little to the imagination. A fellow in our billet just returned from furlough to the states and during the fiesta we had last night, asked him a bushel of questions about everything. He also brought back with him some spirits by smuggling them in a barracks bag and so that added a touch to the party. We must have acted like a bunch of kids the way we wanted to know a little about everything he saw and did while he was away. He is from a small town in Oklahoma. Of course I can’t describe just how I would act if I ever walked down the main street again, but I, like everyone else I suppose, try to imagine what it would be like before I go to sleep.

I just received the pictures from Dick and I suppose that probably you have yours by now. I think they are pretty good although I don’t think we took enough. I was a little surprised that some of them were passed, but I’m glad they didn’t object because you can get a good idea of the place where we spent most of our time.

I had intended to go to the show tonight and all in all take it easy, but I ran into a volleyball game and finally ended up doing exactly the opposite. My nights are all free and duty hours reasonable and with my type of work I escape some of the rigors of the outdoors, although we take part in some lengthy hikes occasionally. I haven’t lost any of my love for the island, and continue to hope that I will (be) lucky enough to remain here until I step on the boat for ‘Frisco.

I continually mention this subject but I hope you won’t object and that is the books. I hope that nothing arose that prevented your sending the volumes although it might have been necessary to send them in two separate packages depending on the weight.

Katie writes occasionally and everything sounds well with her, and I’m beginning to adopt a parental complex from my coming title of uncle.

I wish I was free to tell you how fast your mail arrives, for I know you would (be) surprised. But it does make good time in some cases although a few occasionally are delayed. I have no less than six letters to write tonight, but I’ve lost the initiative to write except to those that are close. I think I’ll throw in the towel on this issue and hope I can muster a few more words for the next one. I was amused at Phil’s newly acquired car and I can easily imagine how he must be beaming and grinning over his new treasure. And I suppose Nancy has her share of the fun from it. Well this is la finis, but before I go just keep the home and town like it was when I left.

Love,

21 July 1943

Dear Folks:

Just finished reading two issues of the Free Press which always requires my undevoted attention whenever they come. I think the new column about servicemen is a pretty good thing – I wonder where the fellows are sometimes. I see my old sidekick Bill Emick is at Stinsom Field. It seems that in every issue and in every letter I get from you someone else is getting a furlough, or coming home for some reason. How I would like to be one of them and walk down the main street again and see the new Moss manor. I always must remind myself that it can’t last forever.

Last Saturday night had the privilege of a twenty-four hour pass. The Chaplain secured a hotel room for me which was a nice one and well equipped. I took advantage of the situation and slept very late in the morning that reminded me of civilian days and weekends. I’m afraid that from my letters you might adopt the impression that I am having more or less of a vacation over here and having an easy life in the sunshine and the hospitality of the tropics, but this is hardly the case. What I do on pass day is about the only subject I can think of to do any writing about and you might think that this is my main diversion. But there is a lot more to it than that – I’ll have to tell you about that when I get back.

Yes, Dick and I will have many pleasant memories when we get home and what we did on our meeting will be one of them. No, I still haven’t heard from Dick. As for the money getting here too late—everything turned out fine. I made (a) loan and we had more money than we could spend.

I would like to inquire about the book again and I hope that you have met with success in finding it. Reading is the best way I know to spend the idle hours and I’m becoming very interested in this subject.

I’m not very newsy or verbose and not much in the mood to attempt to write a good letter, so hold on till the next one. I hope I may have some good news soon.

Love,

15 July 1943

Dearest Folks:

Another of those evenings that seem long and empty, but maybe it will shorten if I try to catch up on some letters. Everyone seems to be taking great interest in the news and sticking around the radio to keep up with events. The situation does seem pretty good, at least there is action to put some life in the pessimistic, such as myself perhaps. Perhaps the war will terminate with a suddenness that will surprise a lot of us—some of the brass hats are even foreseeing a finish that they didn’t express last year, and when they begin to talk and think that way, it is something to really consider. Anyway I have felt more encouragement than I have in a long time. This whole discussion makes me think of a professor I had in sociology that said that the opinions and predictions of the public as a whole are many times more accurate than the experts and statistians. I hope he wasn’t exercising his lungs. I think it is nothing short of a miracle that the Russians have shown the world by holding the Germans, and it looks like they are going to do even more than that. Occasionally I can’t help but imagine how I would act under fire and when I do. I always think of the guys that are going down and who in the future will be probably little more than another number on the casualty list. If, when I am a citizen and civilian again, I don’t add my little squeak, no matter how small it is, to try to avert future wars like this, then I and anyone has no right to be a citizen. When you stop and retrospect and try to figure the situation out and relate it to what we think of as a civilized people, it all becomes very contrary to reason and senseless. Perhaps these things are getting like a custom or an unbreakable habit. Well I could go on for quite a few paragraphs in this manner, and at the same time get madder and madder but you might think I am developing into (a) pessimist or something like that—but that is far from the truth. Everyone should practice more reason and rely less on his guts. Maybe this letter does reflect a little of the bluer but if you stop to think about it, I don’t think that it does. I believe that anyone that thinks about it becomes wiser for the better and to a better advantage than the one who forms his ideas from the surface. Of course we have to be tough and relentless now, but the time that is spent creating the circumstances for these wars is many times more important than a year or two of fighting. As I see it the whole world must be ready to adopt and draft a new set of laws regarding dependency and relationship that heretofore were based on conceptions of isolation and dominance. I cannot honestly see how anyone can deny that. Perhaps few will theoretically but practically, many. My personal outlook is bright and I never for a minute feel that everything is dismal and hopeless. I hope you will believe that.

Since I came back from pass I haven’t heard from Dick and I’m beginning to feel a little anxious, but then maybe he’s just more delinquent than anything else. I wrote to him but as yet no answer.

The pictures I thought I’d stick in for the album. The group one is in front of the ‘office’. The Regimental CO is stepping out of the door. It was posed—I think the ‘old man’ has a propensity for his picture being taken.

I don’t know how I’m going to get a start for this sheet but I guess I’ve said about enough anyway. I think of how hot it must be at home, how it feels to get out in the sun awhile. Here it is about the same all the time and the seasons don’t have the meaning that they do there. I have to stop and remember just what season you are going through. The climate is absolutely the best I ever ran into. The evenings are perfect to sleep; the days never get too hot and there is very seldom any fog or any amount of rain to complain about. Of course not all of the island is so lucky as we are.

Well, it’s about time for the last bugle and they might miss me at bed check. So long for a while.

Love,

7 July 1943

Dearest Folks:

My letter writing is becoming atrocious but perhaps you have also had spells when you didn’t feel like writing or found so many other things to do that you neglected it. Well, I guess that’s my situation. On my pass last Sunday, the Fourth, I forgot all about the customary fireworks but had a good time dancing and loafing at the army recreation center. I believe it was one of the best days off that I spent since I’ve been here and the next time I hope to spend the day on the beach. I guess I told you about the places in a previous letter. Our open air theatre near our camp has been built up considerably. Until now we have night shows once a week at night that are usually put on by the USO or home talent. Although you might be a little abashed to sit through a movie I wished you could hear the cracks that come forth. From the picture I sent you, you can tell about what it used to look like. Tomorrow night we will have another show preceded by a little swing session by our band. The band is a part of the battery and I think they do a darn good job.

I haven’t heard from Dick since I returned but I guess it is up to me to write him a letter soon. I’m anxious to see the pictures we took and if they don’t turn out I’ll be very disappointed.

Tonight I think I’ll stay in and perhaps do a little more reading on my book that is plenty thick and will probably take me a long time to read. I hope you can find the ones I mentioned although you will probably have to do a little looking around. I very seldom work at night and I want to know as much when I get out of the army as when I came in, I hope.

Every time I see a newsreel on North Africa I think of Jim and wonder if possibly he is in some of the scenes. I suppose he was right in the thick of it and I hope he came out none the worse for it. It’s hard to imagine Halsey missing knowing him as I do and trying to picture him dead or a prisoner—I guess everyone experiences the same feeling, especially when the person is so well known and knowing his peculiarities. As for myself I don’t think the Allies will ever make an invasion of the continent as everyone thinks they will. The enemy has built up terrific defenses and the casualties and cost would be too high when they can either (be) bombed into submission or beaten from the Russian side. I would bet even money it will be a grand scale attack from the air and the Russian side but no invasion. I can’t see Japs whipped because of the big problems of supply and the new systems of communications that will be necessary before we can really begin to knock them off. I think it will be at least two years yet. I hope I’m way off on my opinions but I’m afraid the war with the Japs will be as long as the time the Germans have been fighting. Well, that’s enough on that.

I believe I’ve said enough for this letter. Maybe, too much, but I don’t feel unduly pessimistic about the future, because I really believe times will be better than ever when this is over. But unless somebody can formulate a lasting peace then we better quit now, and get ready for another one. I guess this is good night and don’t let what I have written make you feel gloomy or downhearted because I’m not myself. I know all will turn out the way we want it to and if you have the right kind of confidence it can never be shaken. I miss you all more than you can imagine.

Love,

2 July 1943

Dear Folks:

Having the night to myself I hope, perhaps I can catch up with a little bit on what I have let slide too long. I’m on duty tonight with nothing to do but reinstate myself with my correspondence and do a little reading perhaps. Several of your letters have come, and all of them unanswered. One of the letters contained the money order and the amount was for so much more than I expected that I will be in the chips this month. I intended and hoped that you would take it from my funds and didn’t want you to send it personally. Dick and I were well supplied with money on the vacation and we didn’t hesitate to spend it if we had a notion to do something, but I know that everything we did would meet your approval, as a matter of fact, I think our conduct was very exemplary.

I imagine you are experiencing no little difficulty trying to get the book that I asked you and I’m sorry that I can’t name them especially so that you would have no trouble. If by chance you haven’t found one yet here is one that I came across and hit my fancy; ‘Richardson on Evidence’. Very frequently I have several hours to spend leisurely and I may as well put them to good use, but I hope this request isn’t putting you out of your way too much. If you have already sent one, forget about the one above.

Sunday is the fourth, hard as it is to believe, and I’m looking forward to a pass and a first visit to the new army recreation center that from what I hear is about the last word. The center is right on the beach and has about every facility from writing to wrestling. It has a large dance floor, library, bar, showers and other appurtenances that make it a worthwhile place to go and should cut down on so much trouble that the army has with it’s GI’s on off-days. I hear the library is well stocked with new books so I want to stick my nose in there for awhile. Having a few more shekels than I thought I would have, perhaps I will also buy a bond. Starting this month (July) I am buying a full bond and the first one should reach you by the fifteenth or twentieth of August. I don’t know exactly how I stand on the last bond deal. The last one of $12.50 was stopped in order to put into effect a better system of payroll bonds and not because I wanted it that way.

I hope Dad’s prediction of an early end is right but I’m more inclined to agree that Mother’s idea has a better chance of coming true. Whenever I try to figure the basis for all this mess I run into so many angles that I begin to doubt if there is anyone who can ever find a solution. It’s a little hard to see myself coming and going again as I pleased and that there will be a day with no priorities and government regulations, but I guess you just got to tell yourself there will be. Anyway the end looks many moons away to me, but I hope I get a surprise and probably I will.

Thanks again for the pictures. I’m getting a real collection that I go over often and keeps me know(ing) (if) it is worth fighting for. I will answer Nancy and Phil’s letters. I guess it is adios for another night and one night less until the end.

Love,

26 June 1943

Dearest Folks:

I think this is the letter that you have been waiting for because I will tell you about my visit with Dick. We were very fortunate from start to finish on arrangements. I arrived Monday morning and his pass started the same day and he ran across the drive in front of the YMCA to meet me. Immediately we found a couple of easy chairs and talked about many things most of them about home. He really looks in the pink—much better than I ever saw him. I made arrangements to stay at a military establishment that is run like a hotel and is a swell place for a vacation, not to mention the low cost. Again we were lucky for he got a bed next to mine so we were together all the time. I was there for three full days and during that time we knocked all over town and did about everything, and did something that neither of us had done before. We rented surfboards at the famous beach and had a real morning of excitement and thrills. Riding a surfboard is beautiful to watch but not easy to master. About all we could do was hang on when a wave hit us and hope the board didn’t get away. I got a little worried about Dick and sent a guy out after him but he was alright and having a great time. Dick got his legs sunburned and I got pretty red myself but not enough to be uncomfortable. Besides going to the beach we saw shows, roller skated and took in a couple (of) dances. Of course the army has many clubs and entertainments which are all very good but at the same time every place is crowded with soldiers. And all the time we took a lot of pictures everywhere we went which will probably give you a better idea of the place. Dick will send them to you when they are finished.

We had such a great time together that I knew it was going to be tough when my boat sailed. In the morning early he went to the pier and our goodbye was brief, neither of (us) wanting to show any signs of weakening. It was hard to say goodbye knowing that the next time we would be together would probably be home. Dick seemed to be very happy, in good spirits generally. I know you worry about him but his level headedness will keep him safe and I know we’ll both be home perhaps sooner than we think.

The trip was a good vacation although the boat ride both ways kept me on a bed to keep from getting sick. There was a real bond between us that I hadn’t noticed before and he was as eager to talk about home as I was. The big city is seething with war workers and servicemen and the streets and shops are crowded so that you wait in line for about everything. Then about five o’clock the streets are almost entirely deserted, as if the people had been shadows a little while before. I spent quite a while in a big bookstore and saw plenty that I wanted to buy but didn’t because I would have no place to put (them) when I (was) finished with them. My footlocker is filled with books now, however I did buy a couple.

Probably the only good thing about returning was the mail that was waiting. I see that I owe Nancy a couple and one to Phil and I will answer them. Dick told me how they are both growing but I suppose even with my imagination I couldn’t really picture them as they are. Perhaps in my next letter I will think of some things that have slipped my mind, but for the meantime, I’ll call this sufficient and write again real soon. All your letters make a world of difference—a difference I couldn’t imagine without them.

Love,

12 June 1943

Dear Folks:

I can’t put off writing you much longer—the last five days have been busy ones for me and this is about the first time I could sit down for awhile and catch up on my correspondence. Had a letter from June today—about the first one I guess. And yesterday had another letter from Dick and we are just waiting for the day. Arrangements for transportation are difficult for any certain day but I’m sure we can get together alright. I’m going to ask you to send me twenty dollars by money order to help me with this trip. It will cost me fifty dollars or more and with my allotment and bond it will cut me pretty short. If you register the letter it will arrive much faster. Has the thirty-five dollar allotment been arriving? Well, I’m going to take a shower, go to the show and tomorrow go on pass and to the dance. A short letter but at least it’s something.

Love,

9 June 1943

Dearest Folks:

I just finished a good game of bridge after making a few blundering mistakes. You can imagine what kind of a player I am from the sessions we used to have but we have a good time and to make it a little more interesting put two bits on a rubber. Only twice during the game did we bid under two. I guess bridge games aren’t too interesting a subject to be writing about so I’ll get on (to) something else. I had a letter from Dick today and our negotiations for a meeting are progressing pretty favorably. From the tone of his letter he wanted to see me pretty bad and was trying to fix things up for a good visit. His whole letter had a greater feeling of softness than his usual style and mentioned how badly he would like to be home again. He also thought it was pretty swell about Kate going to have a baby, and he said to be sure to bring along a camera.

I had your letter with the clipping about Jim now being a lieutenant in the Air Corps. I always thought he was the best real friend I ever had and I’ll always look forward to meeting him again after the war. He looks about the same as ever in the picture, maybe looks a little older. I always like to hear about the guys, what they are doing and where they are and then thumb back to the days when we went around together. The war better end in a hurry I feel like I’m getting old and missing some good times.

Tomorrow is my day off but it will probably not be any different from the other pass days. I do go out about weekly with a gal that works in the hospital, but she is nothing to whistle about and she’s pretty dumb. Last Sunday our battery had a dance in a gym nearby and I did have (a) pretty good time although the ratio of guys to gals was about ten to one. Before the dance they ate with us in the mess hall which was papered up with streamers. We all preened up like Sunday School boys on children’s day and I really felt like one. Our own dance band in my opinion is very good so when I couldn’t dance I could listen to the music. One of the boys has a fiddle and occasionally I borrow it for a brief brush up but the privacy is practically nil which doesn’t mix with my modesty.

I should write several more letters tonight but I can’t make myself get going so I’ll probably end up going to bed early and putting them off another night. Well I hope that by the time you get this I will have seen Dick, so I’ll draw the curtain here.

Love,

The pictures are two attempts at the sunset.

31 May 1943

Dear Dad:

I should have written you some time ago but lately I have been pretty busy and have to take time off to write. I hope you have read the book, for now you will have a better picture of my environment. I like it better here every day and if I don’t check myself, I’ll want to stay.

Tomorrow is my day off and I suppose I will play some tennis and loaf around the USO. I haven’t seen Dick yet but have had a letter from him. It may be possible that we can get together this month if something doesn’t happen to impact my arrangements. I’m glad you received all the pictures. Film is not plentiful but by looking around we can usually manage to find a roll. I know it’s a mistake to call this a letter but letters are not just a lot of paper of words.

Love,