XXIV Corps Archives - Moss Letters

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,

15 July 1945

Dear folks,

Been lazy as the devil today, slept most of the afternoon and didn’t write the letters I intended to. Last night I thought a typhoon was on the way when it began to blow but it just turned out to be a strong wind, although it almost took my shack.

Had a letter from Phil a few days ago. I hope he can stay in his present assignment. The battalion commander left today under the demobilization plan. In his little farewell speech he said that as far as he knew we would all be out by September. Boy how I hope he is right. He also said it was definite that those of us with over 85 points would not be in any more combat, which means that I will be sure of coming home. It looks like a part of your prayers have been answered, and mine too. I think the commanding officer was just a little optimistic on getting home but even if it is by Thanksgiving, I can sweat out the time.

Received a course in advertising from Armed Forces Institute so I can have something to put my time in on. Quite a nice book I got too.

Saw a pretty good show last night “Twice Blessed”—plenty of laughs. I wish civilians could see some of the films shown only to GI’s. They are very good and typically GI but probably a little rough for civilians.

I wish I could think of something more to write but I believe this is the best I can do tonight. Enclosed is another commendation from General Hodge of the XXIV Corps. I guess we did pretty good. I hope you will read it over.

Love,

Attached with the Letter

HEADQUARTERS XXIV CORPS
Office of the Commanding General
APO 2356 July 1945

SUBJECT: Performance of Corps Artillery on Okinawa

TO: Commanding General, XXIV Corps Artillery, and APO 235

1. As a member of my staff and as the Commander of the XXIV Corps Artillery you are aware of the great interest I have taken in its operations and the extensive knowledge I have of its accomplishments in the campaign just completed. I take this opportunity to express to the fine command so ably handled by you, my pride in, my gratitude for, and my appreciation of, its outstanding performance in the highly important Okinawan Campaign.

2. Those in position to make comparisons have called this the bitterest battle of the Pacific to date as well as being of the highest strategic importance. The Corps Artillery, although having prior combat in its various components, was assembled in its entirety for the first time in Okinawa. Its teamwork, cooperation, enthusiasm and high standard of performance of all assigned missions, have won expressions of high confidence and unstinted praise from all units it supported. Its effectiveness has had great influence upon our success in the winning of a battle where Artillery has played a major role.

3. The artilleryman does not have the stimulation of hand-to-hand combat with the enemy to spur him to great heights. His task is exacting and tiresome and too frequently he cannot be kept fully informed of the devastating effects of his hard labor through the long days and nights. Nevertheless, the praise of our doughboys for the medium and heavy artillery, the statements of enemy prisoners as to the great destruction wrought and the hundreds of enemy guns and installations destroyed by the Corps Artillery all attest to the fact that it turned in an all-out performance of highest caliber. Furthermore, your command demonstrated its ability to take care of itself in combat under all conditions in that it furnished all of its own protection against infiltrators, sustained low casualties and low sick rate, and did not totally lose a single gun to enemy action in the entire 82 days of combat. A fine example of esprit as good fighting men is the fact that when the enemy area became too small to use artillery, the Corps Artillery voluntarily and enthusiastically did a superb job of infantry patrolling and blocking in mopping up areas surrounding their bivouacs, killing several hundred of the enemy with small arms with almost no casualties of their own.

4. The XXIV Corps was highly successful in the Battle of Okinawa. The success of any command in combat is due primarily to the teamwork, perseverance, determination and the will to fight on the part of its individual officers and men. Individuals of the Corps Artillery have demonstrated those characteristics in high degree and it is my desire that you bring the contents of this letter to the attention of all members of your command.

/s/ John R. Hodge
JOHN R. HODGE
Lieutenant General, United States Army
Commanding

1^st Ind.

HEADQUARTERS, XXIV Corps Artillery, APO 235, 8 July 1945

TO: Each member of the XXIV Corps Artillery

I forward this letter with a deep feeling of humility and pride, to each member of the XXIV Corps Artillery as an individual, because each of you, by your outstanding performance of duty and will to fight, is responsible for the superior results achieved by your organization in this battle.

(s) J. J. Sheetz
J. R. SHEETZ
Brigadier General, U. S. Army
Commanding

2 July 1945

Dear Folks:

I haven’t been writing all I should lately but it seems like when I have the time I don’t feel like it and vice versa. The weather has been steaming hot and it kind of knocks the sap out of you. Two days from the 4^th [of July] and I suppose it will be hot as hell. The nights are cool and with a slight breeze from the ocean. The stars come out bright and close every night. The days are long and it’s about eight o’clock before it gets dark.

Two days ago Dick called me up about eleven thirty in the morning and even though I was busy, managed to get off for the afternoon. All we could do was find a shady place and talk but that was enough. We talked about everything as usual and swapped mail. He is looking good but was covered with dust from the long ride he made to get to me. Soon we will be [in] a permanent area and then I [am] going to try and have him spend a few days with me. He is not having it too tough and before long he will be taking it easy. I think we have much to be thankful for as we both came through alright. I feel almost certain this will be my last combat and that is a great load off my mind. Sometimes you think maybe something will happen the next time. The artillery fire we got a couple of times was making me pretty nervous, but it’s kind of humorous to think about afterwards – some of the incidents that took place. Dick and I both remarked about how our knees got to shaking a couple of times and even if you grab hold of them they still shake, even after the danger has past.

Your mail reaches me in as good a time as mine gets to you so you see how good the service is. And almost everyday I get one from someone. I received one of the first class Free Presses, and the most recent I’ve yet gotten but the packages and other magazines must still be on the way.

I have been allowed to tell you I’m in the XXIV Corps and I will wear that patch when I get back. It is a white circle with two blue hearts. My stateside uniform will look colored up with the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon with two stars, the Philippine Liberation with one star, good conduct, and American defense ribbons. I will have six overseas bars and one three-year bar. I will look like a veteran. But I hope it won’t be too long til its Mr. Moss and current scuttlebutt says it will. I think that regardless of what others say. My old eyes got misty as hell last night when I went over to the radio and heard some music that I used to play in the symphony at [the University of] Nebraska. What I want to do when I get back is just be a complete independent loafer for a few weeks and sleep every morning til ten, and then get up and eat strawberries and cream on breakfast food and tear into some fresh eggs and milk, then stick around the house and look at Dad and you and get re-acquainted. Another thing I’m looking forward to is new clothes, it will seem funny not to have everything the same. I will get $300 at discharge and I suppose it will take about all of that for a new outfit.

You probably haven’t been receiving any bonds. The last one should have been for February but before long you will get four at one time. They are only sent when we get paid and I haven’t been paid for four months. About the only good aspect of this place is that you can save money. To control inflation we can draw only ten bucks a month and the rest must go home. So I will probably have something over a hundred to send. I hope I will apply my savings in a wise manner when I get back and I would appreciate postwar ideas from both of you. Dick and I talked over my orchard deal and he is for it so I told him I would investigate when I got back and find out first hand its possibilities. I would like to go in [to] the deal where Dick could farm as he wants to and me be the partner but an inactive one. I think the Army has made me want something solid and be my own boss. I have had enough orders directed at me. Some officers think they are right solely because of their rank regardless of what an enlisted man may think and sometimes I feel like it’s a slave and master set up. But that’s not true of all of them but a few can make it bad.

Haven’t seen Duane for a long time. I wonder what he thinks now. He was pretty cocksure and had certain ideas of how to win this war. He thinks he’s going to be home soon but how in the world he figures it, I don’t know. I suppose Marge is getting fatter every day. Wished I had a heart interest myself. These married guys really say it’s great.

I hope I can read my law books again soon when we get settled down. I’ve hauled them around in a box since Oahu. On Leyte I gave one to a Philippine school and they were really glad to get it. Also I expect to get some books on advertising. I signed up for an Army Institute course about three weeks ago. If I get out this year I think I’ll get back in school, sometimes I think by golly I’ll get an education and a good one if I don’t have anything else. I may be a little older but there will probably be plenty like me. But I don’t know just how I will feel when I get ….

[possible page missing]

wonder when his discharge was coming.

I started to quit once before and I better do it this time. So adios for another time.

Love,