Movies Archives - Page 2 of 8

7 July 1945

Dear Folks:

Kind of late to be writing but I’m feeling kind of fidgety and restless while waiting to go to bed. Kind of a tiring day, so darn much paperwork it seems, but a shower brightened me up a little. It seems like the guys can always rig up a shower no matter how scarce materials are. Gas drums and a few pieces of gas pipe make up the installation.

A few nights ago I saw the show “Mrs. Parkington”. I thought it was very good. As yet we don’t have movies in our own area but it shouldn’t be long until we do. Wasn’t able to get done in time tonight or I would have gone. The hot rainless days continue seeming to weigh you down by the sultry heat, but the nights are pretty decent although some nights I don’t cover up until pretty late in the morning. Last night a few Japs around kept me awake, machine guns, and flares going off. Don’t think I’m in much danger because it isn’t as bad as it sounds. Really what it turns out to be is more of a sideshow for many of us. Last night a Jap got caught in a flare in the middle of a road junction and he was a gone pigeon before he could get away. Anyway, about one o’clock I finally got to sleep. Then this morning two or three Japs were cornered in a cane field and I sat on a bank watching the guys surround it and toss in grenades. Working in the office I don’t go on patrol but sometimes when things happen close I can get a spectator’s look.

Well tomorrow is another Sunday and I hope we can get a chaplain for services. Probably we will. How I’d like to sit in St. Andrews in Scottsbluff and be in a quiet, real church. I wished you could have seen the Episcopal Cathedral in Honolulu. It was certainly beautiful. For a long time after I left Oahu, the church sent me their publications and on Saipan I received two invitations to dances. I wasn’t able to attend [ha].

Dick and I haven’t been able to get together again but I’m sure we can have a few together soon. I don’t know where Duane is but probably he’ll show up one of these days. I told Dick about the newspaper article about meeting Duane and he laughed plenty and said it was a lot of beans.

It’s almost nine o’clock and I have another letter to write so I better stop. My getting home continues to look good and of course now knowing I can get out, it is hard on the patience. But I can hold out a little longer after so long. All I can think in our postwar plans is getting back to school.

Well au revoir.

Love,

6 July 1945

Dear Folks:

Expect to see a show again this evening but first I better take care of my obligations. Had a letter from you Dad today. Mail is good.

Well yesterday General Stilwell spoke over Radio Okinawa. It was in his usual undiplomatic, colorful style. During it he said, “As soldiers you know what war is and no one else does. I’m not going to talk about glorious victories, because I know you would say ‘horse feathers’, or worse, and turn off the radio.” My first speech to hear from him left a good impression. And of course I caught this, “For those of you who have the points and will be going home, we will be sorry to see you leave, and will have great responsibilities to carry on.” It was a good speech.

Just for something to write about here’s something funny as hell that happened, and let you know a little how we feel. One of the guys found a brassiere someplace and at evening mess of course he was forced to put it on. This guy is a born comic anyway and the antics he did with it put everyone in stitches. It was really funny.

The wheels of demobilization seem to be turned a little and I look forward to being home as I’ve said before. But the main thing that (this paper is not good to write on) [Harold moved to another sheet of paper, leaving over half of this sheet blank] that is that I’m sure there will be no more combat for me. I can sweat out what time remains.

Boy, was I surprised about Major Bowers and Fred Meyers.

I’m afraid I can’t dig up anything more for tonight so I’ll call this quits.

Love,

3 July 1945

Dear Folks:

Plan to go to the show after supper so maybe I better scratch out a letter before chow. When I returned this afternoon found a letter from Mom waiting for me – a good one too.

I’m glad you like the idea of my going back to school and I’ve made up my mind that will be my postwar plan, and still go in with Dick on his plan. I hope it is possible that I can get home this fall and begin after Christmas, and even get my old room back with Mrs. Davis. I’ll really go in for it. Keep praying it will happen.

You always tell me to be careful and you are right about snipers still being around but I assure you I don’t take any chances. As a matter of fact when we have an air raid or something happens, I’m always the one who wakes up first. But things are very quiet now and what few Japs that remain are being rapidly rounded up. I’ve seen too many guys get hurt when they didn’t need to.

I hope too that Phil will remain in the states for some time. I’ll bet Carol is all excited about getting married.

I’m glad General Stilwell took over – he seems to have a good reputation and the guys talk good about him.

It’s chow time and besides I’m out of any more news so I’ll let the big one I wrote last night excuse for this one.

Love,

26 June 1945

Dear Folks:

I hadn’t intended to write tonight but had a nice letter from you with the pictures so I’m in the mood. The pictures are very good. Your dress tied in the back brings back the days when we always were tugging at some part of your apparel. Phil looks well filled out and husky and very nice looking, and it looks like Carol and him make a good pair. He looks nice in his uniform. In his letters Phil says Carol is a ‘slick dish’ or ‘takes the cake’. Dad’s store has certainly grown from its humble beginnings in the Flower house garage. And all since I’ve been away. I hope it grows in the future as it has in the past.

This afternoon I slept – soundly and someone told me I even snored. The first afternoon like that in a long time. We are having it easier now – are getting volleyball courts and baseball diamonds and will probably be on a half-day schedule. Soon we will have a canteen and some movies.

Some evenings we have quite a little show shooting up Japs who wander around and almost every day we bag a few. Yesterday we spotted a group in a cave and after some excitement 7 Japs were dead. Still quite a few running around. About every night a few Japs try to infiltrate back along a road that runs along a little valley near our area. Then flares go up and the machine guns start spitting red tracers. We overlook the road so when things start we gather on the hill and watch like spectators in the bleachers of a rodeo. Sometimes we can see the Japs trying to scramble up the road bank or run when the flare bursts over them. A few nights ago a fellow in the battery who is called the “Deacon” killed a husky Jap who got in pretty close. Being the person he was, jibbed him plenty. But we are pretty safe. It is pretty hard to [end of the letter is missing]

7 March 1945

Dear folks,

Just returned from a movie and it was one I almost wished I hadn’t seen. It seems like I get easily irritated anymore and upset on little notice. I get so anxious to get home once again and see what it’s all like back there.

Had a letter from Dad today and I knew it wouldn’t do any good to write about the (Christmas) packages—they’re just gone and that’s all there is to it. No more have arrived.

I’m feeling much better the past few days and I think the trouble has cleared up at least temporarily. Been sleeping good and getting to bed early.

I don’t know what to write about–there is damned little. Read an interesting news item today about a speech by General Stilwell. He is complaining about too little publicity for the guys that are really fighting this war, and too much glamorization as pictured by writers and movies. The hero of almost every story is an Air Corps officer. The guys in the infantry are the guys that should really get the credit. You should see them and us too, in combat. They look like tramps out of a hobo jungle with beards, dirt coated clothes, and smelling like a used sardine can. They don’t have a lot of movie-minded sentiments and hero ideas, and plenty of things will probably get them sore when they get back. They live under conditions so tough that even a narrow cot would be a luxury. I wish they could see it back there and then if they still have the guts to strike and to complain over shortages, shoot ‘em. There’s no use getting hot tempered I know for it does very little good, but I’m liable to get aroused if when I get back I run into such a contemptible person. When I know what you are doing and then think of the hypocritism by service some people are so adept at, I can’t help but feel it’s just an Army game with the country back of you only so far as their personal enjoyment and material gains are not menaced. I guess every one has a letter like this inside him every once in a while and tonight was mine.

I think about you often and wonder if the anxiety and waiting are aging you before your time. I would like to get home more for your benefit than mine.

Love,

27 February 1945

Dear Folks:

Had a nice letter from Dad today so as long as I couldn’t stand the show just as well spend the time writing. Have been feeling very bad all day. My old kidney attacks began early this morning and haven’t let up all day except that I feel pretty decent now. I went to the hospital again this morning for a urinalysis but won’t know the result until tomorrow. Later the doctor felt around, took my blood pressure, and thumped a few places. He thinks it is urethral colic or perhaps auritis. It has been effecting me on and off for the past two weeks. Sometimes it gets pretty bad. Well the doc told me to go to bed for a few days and wait to see what the hospital does.

I’m keeping very busy but feeling like I do, I don’t have much ambition sometimes.

Pat sent me her picture a few days ago and she is an attractive girl. She writes me often.

I’m sure I’m not getting too much beer – perhaps it would average up to about a bottle every 3 days and lately we have had none at all.

As far as Christmas packages go, I have given up – they are surely sunk. The other mail comes good and I think the others would be here if it was possible.

Now as far as my experience with the Red Cross and what they are doing here. Practically all our emergency furloughs are based on their recommendations and that’s practically the only way to get one. That’s why it is important to contact them first when something serious happens at home. Other than that I’ve had no dealing with them. I think they do most of their work at the hospital. Occasionally a Red Cross girl comes around in a truck with cokes, a little candy and a ready conversation. A field worker is always handy and they have been every place I have.

The wind has been blowing all day and the dirt and sand is something fierce. I hope it rains soon. It raises hell with our typewriters and everything rusts overnight. What a country. But last night was very beautiful with a bright moon and the tall palm trees. For the moment at least, I imagined the war was non-existent.

I have nothing more, I feel like hitting the hay and calling it another day.

Love,

24 February 1945

Dear Folks:

Had a lot of mail today so the least I can do is to sit down a while and answer a few of them. Had two letters from Dad, one from Mom, one from Pat and one from Washington. A very good day for mail. And all in good time.

Went to the show for a while but didn’t stay long – couldn’t sit still long enough. Been busy all day – a big inspection tomorrow that seems like a lot of baloney to me, but there’s nothing to be done about it.

I’ve been thinking a lot about you the last few days and last night had a glorious dream of being home. Read a few Star-Heralds tonight and in the service column noticed there is always men returning and with much less overseas time than mine. I sneered when I saw an article that said so and so receives his first furlough in over two years. What a laugh. I’ve had damn near four [years] and never been home. Of course someday our chance will come but it seems impossible to enjoy once again some civilian relaxation. Guess I should have signed up for the Navy.

Listened to the news a while tonight and hear the Marines have a scrap on their hands at Iwo Jima. But they’ll finish them off. The Japs are crazy and in [a] tight spot, go nuts and beserk. They are madmen. The news from Europe is good and Germany will crack any time, but it is taking plenty of casualties to do it.

Been reading my law books lately and the more I do, the stronger is the desire to seriously study it. But lately I have had only intermittent opportunities to read and then not for as long as I would like. If I never use it at least it is a goal to acquire an LLB.

You have never mentioned the money I sent home. I’m getting just the slight bit uneasy. $40 was sent the 6^th of January and $50 around the 1^st of February. It is a new system so perhaps that accounts for the delay.

Your letters today were certainly welcome and read and re-read many times. I guess our whole relationship the past 3 ½ years has been dependent on letters. Perhaps they are wonderful things.

It’s getting late and as it usually does, it’s beginning to rain. I think I’ve seen more rain since being overseas than in all my ‘old country’ days. Well this is it for tonight.

Love,

21 February 1945

Dear Folks:

Just came from the show, didn’t like it so we came back. Anyway it looks like a rainstorm. Had a letter from Dick a few days ago – one of his usual ‘shorties’. But it sounded like he was in good spirits and generally taking it easy. Said he had met Duane C. and according to Dick, he has about the same line of B.S. Maybe before I leave the Pacific, I will be able to see him although I wouldn’t miss the visit.

For the past few days have had an attack of my old albumen trouble. A few nights it was really painful but today it is much better. Went to the hospital for a urinalysis but it failed to show anything however the doctor told me to keep a close eye on it and to take it easy if it gets bad again. I can’t imagine what started it. Had a little attack after coming in the Army but it wasn’t bad. I don’t think it will cause me much trouble although it is a bad ache when it sets in.

Have been pretty busy lately and the time seems to be flying. Am getting more optimistic about rotation although it will be many months before I am eligible. Mail, first class, has been coming in good, although no more packages have arrived. I’m beginning to think the greater part of them were lost, although a few more may possibly come. I did get the pen and pencil set which I wanted most. It is certainly a beauty.

I’m about stopped for news, not much to tell, so just as well quit here. I’m always thinking of you and looking forward to the day when we can be together.

Love,

17 February 1945

Dear Folks:

What a pleasant day this has been. After I got through today there was a small package for me and of course it was the pen and pencil set. It is certainly a nice and beautiful set. I will have much use for it. I am always writing or doing paper work. You are a good shopper and it’s exactly what I wanted, and Schaeffer is my favorite brand.

Also had a letter from Pat and she always writes a long rambling one that is really good to read. She wants to send me something. And also received the October issue of Reader’s Digest. Things are gradually catching up with me. Perhaps all packages will arrive before long. And also had a letter from Mom. I think I’d have a hard time finding that fellow you mentioned, it’s quite a job to locate anyone and tougher to get around. And as he is in the Marine Air Corps, it would be harder yet. But you can never tell. Was glad to hear Gramp is better and especially that the pain has subsided. But I wonder what they will do now – probably wind up back in California. With all the Red Cross work you have, I imagine you will be very busy. But I guess all the Mosses are busy now. How different it must be now from what it was a few years back when the care and maintenance of your brood was more than a full job. I hope it will always be easy for both of you from now on.

It will be suppertime soon and after that will probably drink a beer and play a little cards. Perhaps there will be a show tonight. Got another shot yesterday and today the arm is a little tender. Tried to get a refraction at the hospital a few days ago but they were too busy. I have one pair but you can never tell when you might break them. Well this is all. I wrote this with the new pen – good stuff. Thank you many times.

Love,

10 February 1945

Dear Folks,

Better get a few lines off to you while I’m in the frame of mind. Received a letter from you today with the clipping about all the property changes at home. There must be a lot of money around there for so many changes.

There were a few questions you asked in your letter and I’ll answer them as far as I can. In the first place there are no furlough quotas and only emergency ones are granted. At my last station a quota was granted for a couple of months but since that time, there has been none. About the medical end. Yes, there are nurses on the island but they are in the big hospitals. Although you don’t get the pampering and personal attention of a civilian physician I think the care and treatment is good. A hospital is usually a row of tents and cots in it—but everything is in good order. As far as I know and from what little I can observe they have the best in everything. During the Saipan battle the conditions under which the doctors worked was terrible, but they worked in spite of it all. The scene of wounded was something not easy to forget and at first the sight of a dying man made me sick but I got over it. On this subject Monday I hope to get a refraction and have one pair of my glasses fixed. We get two pair and it’s very hard to get along without them so I always want an extra pair. They are a nuisance sometimes though.

And war news—yes we have a couple of big radios that pick up stations the world over—so we listen to the nightly broadcasts from ‘Frisco and other stations. Chungking China comes in strong here as well as Australia. You can listen to any languages you care to.

I wish I could set you straight on my outfit but guess that’s censorable.

I saw “Christmas Holiday” and I thought a lot of it—very good. Wanted to see “Going My Way” but missed it.

Better write Dick tonight so I’ll cut off. Am feeling fine.

Love,