A World Away: July 6, 1954

July 6, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well it has been several days since I have written a letter. I mailed one from Japan and I had to wait till I went back to Camp Hakatu to mail it. I enjoyed my trip to Japan. Not much to tell about it. It cost me enough money there. I saw some good show while I was there. “How to Marry a Millionaire” –

The “French Line,”

“Pony Express,”

“Red Garters,”

and “It Should Happen to You.”

I took some color pictures. I didn’t buy anything in Japan except a lighter for Dad which I am going to mail in a letter later on. I looked at China and had planned to buy some. They wanted quite a bit in town for China. There it would have been about 100 for a 93 piece set. I can order it here in Korea for less and get a better pattern. I’ll look at the PX next time I am down there.

I had several letters when I got back fro about the 18 to 28. I enjoyed reading them. Glad Jan is doing OK at the Dairy Queen. (note: Mom and sister’s sister-in-law worked at a Dairy Queen that summer for extra money. It was sort of a lease situation. The other lady ran off with the money at the end of the summer and didn’t leave Mom anything.) I haven’t heard from Jim any more and have been wondering what he is doing now. Glad Snapper is swimming good. He stared plenty young.

I have quite a few pictures that I took in Japan. I’ll send them a few at a time. I also have some color pictures I took but I haven’t finished the roll. When I do I will send them. I have a registered letter I haven’t picked up yet. I will before long. I have a pair of Sgt stripes for Snapper too. I’ll send them soon. I don’t know if we will be going back out in the field again soon or not. I wont mind if we do. I have an idea that the 5 will leave Korea this month or in the month of August. The rumors are pretty strong. Better not wait on your vacation though. Better take it now as I might not be coming with the outfit. They might move to most anyplace.

What has Keith said about the army. What is his rank. It must have cost a lot of money to come home. When I was in Japan I saw the overseas telephone and I thought about calling home but it would have cost a fortune and I couldn’t have talked very long.

Guess it has been plenty warm in KC. The weather here you asked about is all messed up. It’s worse than Calif. It rained wall 7 days I was in Japan except for a couple of afternoons. I rains here all most every day. It isn’t to hot and the night are cool. Mosquitoes are bad. We haven’t go or nets yet.

I got a kick out of you getting rid of the rug. That was an easy way to do it. I do things like that just for the laugh I give myself. (note: My Grandfather rolled up the rug and put it in front of the house with a for sale sign on it and then ended up giving it away to a couple of kids who were walking home from school.)

That extra pay I wrote about was for the 5 years navy reserve I have. You get more for each year you have in. I haven’t heard anything yet. I haven’t done anything about the application for the Helicopter School. I have to take a test and have’t been around long enough to do it yet. If I don’t make it I wont stay in most likely. I saw that picture “Elephant Walk”