War predictions Archives - Page 2 of 4

9 May 1945

Dear folks:

This has been a beautiful and sunshiny day making the war seem far off and entirely inconsistent, but the war is here. We received the news today of Germany’s unconditional surrender but there is little outward signs of celebration. All day the radio has been broadcasting speeches from high leaders and right now General Marshall is on. It is hard to believe that there is actually peace in Europe for it has lasted so long and been so much on our minds, that when it ended so suddenly it will take a while to really soak in. Now of course I hope it won’t be long until the full weight can make itself felt against Japan. The surrender has also raised our hopes for returning home and possibly demobilization, but the main thing is to get back. I wonder how long Japan can last now. I saw infantrymen returning from the front today and I felt very humble. The parents of those boys would hardly recognize them. It is certainly tough up there, and people owe an everlasting debt of gratitude to each of them.

Yesterday it rained very hard and made it almost impossible to walk around. Our office became flooded out and in the midst of it we had to move. I slept like a kitten last night.

I thought I’d stick in a piece of invasion money issued to us before we landed. 50 sen represents an American nickel. I’ll send you a little more of different denominations when I get paid.

Well about all now.

Love,

7 May 1945

Dear Folks:

While sitting here listening to the rain tap on the tent perhaps I can get off a short letter. No mail today but it’s about the first day. Am expecting your packages to arrive as much 4^th class is coming in.

Have had a busy day all day and feel a little tired tonight.

Yes, Dan Gettman is still in the battalion but haven’t seen him since leaving Leyte. He is in Battery B. He is okeh and probably one of these days he’ll come trotting over with a stack of Star Heralds.

The European was news is good – so good in fact it has buoyed up our hopes for getting back. All kinds of talk goes on around the subject, and yesterday on the radio we heard the army would release two million men within a year after the end in Europe. Between you and me rotation looks pretty good but I can’t let myself be too optimistic because it seems things can be changed very easily. But if I don’t get home this year, I won’t be worth a darn.

Well pretty short this time but not a lot to write about. I hope I can enjoy those fires with you.

Love,

4 May 1945

Dear folks:

Just received a letter from Dad this afternoon and before I do anything, I’m going to answer it. I’m about as happy as you were on receiving my letter on meeting Dick for I know the news would be good to you. Probably by now you have received my letter of a few days describing our afternoon visit. I know how anxious you become as you read the papers but it isn’t as bad as that for me. Last night was hectic and one I would like to forget. The Japs shelled us about all night and so I couldn’t sleep. Boy, that whistle is bad to hear. I’ve felt like sleeping all day but I want to be good and tired for tonight so maybe I can sleep through some of it. We sleep dug in and it’s as safe there as any place. I hope we soon have their artillery silenced.

Censorship has also allowed us to reveal a little about the Special Attack Corps or suicide Divers of the Japanese, those guys that make you pretty nervous when riding on a boat. This is about the only way they can hit anything. I have seen them crash dive ships and once saw a boat in our own convoy hit. That’s about the first thing we think of on a boat when we see a Jap plane. Some time ago I saw a little item in my paper that I picked up from Radio Tokyo. It said the 63 girls and a professor had cut off their fingers and with the bloody ends, prepared Jap flags. Later they were sent to pilots of the Suicide Corps who vowed they would wear them in their caps when diving into American ships. Kind of crazy huh?

As things look from day to day, both here and in Europe, I become more confident of returning home, so now I’m just praying I can preserve myself through this one and then hope my wishes materialize. Surely they must. Perhaps when I get home we can play some of the poker you mentioned—you know poker is a part of the Army. I’ve played very little myself but occasionally to avoid boredom I get in a little game.

Well, I think my foxhole colleagues and I plan to have a little home prepared snack from our recent stock received from the ‘old country’. The ledge on our foxhole is pretty well filled up with canned goods so will probably whip something up if it doesn’t get too hot.

Better stop about here for one more time.

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,

24 April 1945

Dear Folks:

Better write again. It’s raining out and sitting here in my pup tent, I may as well do something. It’s so slippery and muddy out it’s almost a feat to walk to chow and back. And the mud is like glue. But I have a dry place to sleep so the rain doesn’t bother too much. Our hut-tent is small but comfortable.

Had a V-mail from Mom today and a letter from Loyd Johnson. It was an old letter and at that time he had only been in two weeks. When Dick was to see me day before yesterday, I gave him all the mail. I had received so (much) I don’t have your letters to comment on. Dick asked me for them almost the first thing. And then he gave me what he had received. I hope he will have time to stop around again soon.

The war news continues to be good and I think that for practical purposes the war in Europe is over. Perhaps that will mean more replacements for the Pacific and then perhaps return home. Was busy figuring points today under the new rotation setup. Once again I feel I will get home this year although it is all problematical.

So much for another time.

Love,

11 April 1945

Dear folks:

Just received two letters, one from each of you. The first since coming to Okinawa, and needless to say they were much awaited. And very recent too.

In reading the clippings I see Jack Conklin is home on furlough. I can imagine how he feels about getting back for a while. I’m always reading and hearing of guys going back but it never seems to happen to me. And the greater percent of those all have less service. But I’m hoping that after this operation some of us will be granted furloughs. But I almost hate to comment on it because everything is so changeable.

Here on the island it has begun to rain and when it rains the soil which is a heavy clay, sticks to feet and wheels like glue. This morning my shoes must have weighed at least ten pounds from the mud. And it’s slippery and cold. I almost froze last night but I have the situation remedied for tonight. Have seen quite a number of Okinawa civilians walking along the road, most of them seem very old or very young. I guess the rest are fighting us. Almost all wear black for mourning I believe over their fate. Whereas on Saipan I felt some compassion for them. I no longer feel the same about these people. An interesting item is that there are 30,000 more women than men. From what I have seen they seem docile and cooperative enough. Nights ring with the crack of artillery fire and naval shells and flares can be seen in all directions. From reading the papers you can gather more of the activity around here than I can tell you, but undoubtedly it will be a costly and no quarter fight. Our living conditions are very good considering we are in combat, and I assure you I will be as careful as is possible.

As some of the usual paperwork has slowed down, I have been writing a battalion newspaper and trying to catch the news as it comes from the radio. It takes some time but it makes it go faster.

This is all for this time and I should be able to write you fairly regularly.

Love,

28 February 1945

Dear Folks:

I’m afraid this week won’t be much of a letter but I’m fiddling around so just as well write. Just listened to the news and it’s very good. Sounds like a big break through in Europe, am still sticking with the first of May.

A guy in my barracks has been talking to me about buying some citrus fruit land in the Rio Grande in Texas after the war. He’s been giving me all the dope and talking it up pretty strong. He’s been quoting figures, costs, help, machinery, and so forth and for all I know about it, it sounds good. His dad is a Kansas wheat farmer and he has an orchard down there. We’ve had a lot of fun talking about it and if he keeps (it) up I may get interested. He figures on 20 acres at $150 an acre, and after three years or more, an estimated gross income of $3,000.00. He’s got it all figured out. It sounds good but of course a lot may happen before the war is over. We figured on a government loan and the expert advice help of his old man. It’s (a) great pastime to plan it.

The rain is coming down in a furious driving gale and sometimes I’m afraid the tent will give way. If it should, we’re sunk.

Am going to the hospital tomorrow for the results of my urinalysis. Have felt pretty good today except for right now which began after supper.

Had a nice letter from my Washington reporter. She has certainly set a record in letter writing. She sent a Valentine card and is always enclosing a small book that she thinks I would like. When I was in Fort Lewis, she would bake me cookies and take me to Seattle and Tacoma. She thinks a lot of me. Better write her tonight.

A short epistle tonight but a letter regardless. So until the next one.

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,

30 December 1944

Dear Folks:

I hope you will excuse all the V-mail I have been using lately but I haven’t much stationery and then this has to travel a hell of a long way, and I think this is the surer and faster way. Had a letter from Dad tonight and good and interesting as ever. You were discussing Dick and his post war future and so I thought I’d write about what I might do. Dreaming of when I get back and what I’ll do is a very important part of my thoughts and I have a lot of time to put to them. I think the first thing is to take a good, independent, lazy rest, with nothing to do. And after that I want to take advantage of this education deal. But when I arrive at the conclusion that this is what I’ll do, I think I ought to get started in something but then I think the best way to do this is to go back to school and pitch in like nobody’s business and get all I can out of it. Of course I’d like to get married too – I’ll probably be thirty before I can get around to it. I was almost a kid when I came in this army but here I am 26 already and will probably be twenty-eight when it’s over. Although I’ve been travelling around quite a bit, I think I’d like to take a honeymoon in Mexico or Panama or Brazil. What do you think of all this? On your letter today I noticed you are still using APO 969 – I thought by now you would surely have my new APO of 235. It’s a fairly nice evening here tonight and pretty quiet. It’s just a littler after supper and some of the boys (are) playing cards and others listening to the GI radio. On this radio we can get almost any station in the world and we listen to the bull from Berlin, London, Tokyo and Japanese controlled China. Australia also has some good programs. After it gets dark there is little to do for there is a pretty rigid blackout and the Japs might come flying over looking around. My work has been going at a good pace and it seems to me the administrative work of the army is increasing. Lugging our typewriters, field desks, and records we sometimes get a rib from the other sections but just the same plenty will depend on these records in the future. I have been thinking of increasing my allotment, but believe I will send treasury checks from ‘Frisco so if you get one it’s from me. There is almost no way to spend money here and lugging it around, it might get misplaced. That is one good aspect to this situation. From where I sit, it looks like the Philippines are shaping up for a good loss for Japan. At the first I guess it was a little tough but things are coming around. The Japanese on the radio are admitting the situation is becoming very serious. I hate the guts of every Jap. One morning a Jap came around the area and he was blasted in a hurry. They’re sneaky as hell. In these grass huts that were burned usually there is several burned, crisp Japs lying around. Some of them are very gruesome, as you can probably imagine. You can certainly tell when any dead ones are around but the terrific stench – boy it’s something awful. Well it’s beginning to get a little dark, so guess I’ll finish off the evening by listening to the radio and maybe some of that good stuff from the ‘old country’. I read about guys getting home everyday but it doesn’t seem to come this way. The same routine every day, and the slim prospects of getting back on furlough sometimes darken my outlook but it will come some sweet day, and like Mom (said), that will be Christmas no matter what day it is. Yesterday we had an issue of four bottles of beer, but don’t worry about us getting too much. I believe this is it for tonight – tomorrow night is New Year’s Eve – wow here is 1945.

Love,

30 October 1944

Dear Folks:

Kind of a lazy Sunday morning with not very much to do, so a good time to write you a letter while I won’t have to rush. Church services are in the afternoon. For a while this morning watched some volleyball games and then walked up to the baseball diamond, but it was pretty hot so I came back. While many things aren’t so convenient for us it helps a lot to get some time off and to be able to relax occasionally.

Since I started this I was interrupted and now it is about eight o’clock in the evening. I received three letters just before the show and just now could read them. This was the first mail in four days and I was beginning to think something had gone wrong again. Two of the letters were from you and one from Washington, so I had a boost in my morale. You once remarked Mom how I could write so much, well you are practically the only ones I write to, and many nights it’s a relief to write rather than trying to kill time and thinking about home so much, so I start writing, and when I’m doing it, it seems like I get a little closer to you somehow.

For the first time in several years I played baseball. The battery organized a third team and today I played third base. I guess I did alright although my hands are a little sore from catching the ball. In the battalion we have two leagues, the American (and) the National set up, so there are a lot of games. I’m on the first three graders volleyball team too, but not so hot at that racket. But there aren’t many of us so I have to play.

Of course the news from the Philippines on the water and on land is drawing our attention as it must be yours. I listen to every news broadcast I can, and we can get them from all sides, Australia, Japan, Germany and London. Two nights ago I ran onto a particularly interesting shortwave broadcast while dialing around. Correspondents for UP, INS and AP were transmitting their messages to ‘Frisco from Leyte and the procedure of getting the news to their agencies was interesting. Of course the Japs are claiming victories on a larger scale than ours, and claim Task Force 58 was annihilated off Formosa. The line of rot they propagate is really something to hear. In connection with the war I happened to get a hold of some interesting stuff on (the) Saipan operation and thought you might like to read it. Some of the commentators seem to think the Naval victory may shorten the war a few months and I’m not inclined to disagree. I hope the Philippines don’t bog down into another New Guinea affair and drag on for many months. Those yellow b___’s can live like gophers and it’ll take a lot to dig them out. They use ‘em to haul garbage from camp and when I see them go by on the truck I wonder what they’re thinking about. They are still bringing them out of the hills. About a month ago three of them were seen in a cane field next to one of the batteries and after killing two of them the other gave up. One of them was almost out in two bullets.

Just a few minutes ago I opened a can of beer and even had peanuts to go with it. The PX got a pretty good supply in and after waiting in line for 45 minutes finally was able to buy a few things.

Yesterday went to the dentist and had a small filling taken care of. My gum had swollen a little but wasn’t too sore so I thought I better see what was up. Luckily it wasn’t bad and he didn’t have to drill around too much. My teeth are in good shape now, and contrary to my civilian habits I brush them regularly.

Well I think I’ve run out for this time. Another Sunday gone by and another week on the way. Time seems to be flying for me to and I hope the next year goes as fast as the last one, for then I will be eligible for rotation. And pray that when we get our next furlough quota I will walk up and draw the little slip with the magic words on it. I worry more about you folks than I do about myself and I hope you don’t upset yourselves too much. Well there’s the curtain on another act so, so long –

Love,