September 29, 1953

Tuesday Sat 29, 1953

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I thought I would write you a line and tell you the latest.  They picked a bunch for the parade they are going to have this week.  I get to be in it.  Yesterday we drilled a little bit and drew some winter clothes to wear.  They gave us wool OG shirts and OG pants.  They are just like our OD pants we wear in the states only green.  Forest green.  They are really nice looking.  Our shirts are the same color as our pants.  They are to be worn under our field pants, but we will just wear our shirts and pants for the parade.  We will have on a blue infantry scarf and our helmets will be a glossy paint.  We went to the 9 Reg. of the 2nd Division this morning for practice.  The entire 9th Corps was represented.  There were Belgium's, Greeks, Turks, Colombians, ROCKS, our US 40 Division, 3rd, 2nd, and 5th RCT.  Our group was the best during practice.  We are the last group to pass-in-review.  They go my the rank of the commander.  The 5th RCT is commanded by a colonel and all the Divisions are commanded by Generals.  It was really something to see.  All the different countries represented and the Divisions.  It was really pretty to see all the colors when they have the real parade.  There will be 4 Generals, Clark, Hull and Hickey and one other.  When we go to the parade we will have people with us just to keep our boots polished and bloused and our uniform brushed off  They are going to take news reel shots and pictures etc.  It is a big thing here.  You will probably read about it and see it on television and news.

General Hull is taking Mark Clark's place.  We will be the last group to go by. It is the 5th RCT honor guard.  I think we will be the show point there.  Our captain is commanding us.  They were picked from each company from the 2nd Battalion. 

We are going to have a USO show tonight.-----I didn't get to finish this letter last night so I will start again.  The USO show was good and it was a colored band and entertainers.  It was good but not as good as the Dick Contino Show.  We saw a picture after it was over.  The Lawless  Breed.   I saw it back home I think  Well I'll write you a line later on.
Love, Ted