Tuesday Oct 6, 1928
(note to reader - The above date is not a typo. Dad put it on the top of the letter because that was the date he was born and he wrote the letter on his birthday. He was just being funny)
Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper
Well today I am 25 years old. Sure doesn't seem like my birthday but I couldn't expect it to too much. I'll make up for it when I get home.
We heard the last of the Series today or I guess this morning. I guess the Yankees are winners again this year. I wonder if Brooklyn will ever win one.
I got a letter from Dad today telling about the Greenlease boy. I read about that in the Stars and Stripes. I think I told you that in one of my other letters.
Sunday night I had to guard the prisoner. I took him to the USO show. After that they had a movie. Small Town Girl. It was a good picture.
Yesterday the Mortar Sections from each company in our battalion started training with the mortars. I am glad because I didn't remember all of it. I guess most of the time now will be spent that way.
We went to the show last night and saw Redhead from Wyoming. It was a good western. We are going to have another tonight. The prisoner didn't get to go. I guess I am the only one who will take him.
We have to pack a field pack and pack all of our personal stuff in our duffel bag and our clothes etc and leave nothing laying around except our cots and tents. We will then turn in our duffel bags and march to an area a few miles away. It is just practice. I hate to have to pack a duffel bag. It is hard to get everything in it. Then we march back and get our duffel bags. We start about 6 tonight. They just want to keep us ready. I don't know much more.
We had classes again this morning and this afternoon.
I have been wondering if you get my letters as you never mention it in your letters. How long does it take to get mine. I got one Dad mailed the 29 Sept. It usually takes 5 to 7 days. Sometimes they come later. They probably get stacked up some place once in a while. I still haven't got the package you sent to Sasebo (my old address). Did you send one there? I should have had it by now because I have all the mail you sent there now. The date cookies I got the other day were sure good and so was the candy. I'll be glad when I get paid so I can by some candy or something to snack on. I have $1.40 besides the 5 you sent me. I hate to spend that. I may use that to send my pictures in. I like my billfold to. It sure is a pretty one. I needed one too. My other one was ruined by the chemicals they had in the fatigues. I don't know why they do that because they don't put any more in there now.
Well it is almost lunch time so I will close for now. I'll try to write a few more lines later today before we go on the march. Maybe I'll have more mail then.
Oct 7 I didn't get a chance to finish writing yesterday. We had what they call "Chiperee Sweepstakes". It is a course of about 2 miles. They have different stations set up along this 2 miles with different PT, throwing hand grenades, firing at targets, fixing weapons, telephone and radio operating and a lot of other things like that. They have so many possible points for each station, there are 700 points and 300 points for finishing in an hour and half. They have about 6 men from each company represent the company. They start them off and have this large scoreboard and as each man goes through a station they phone his score in and put it on the board. The other people just sit there and watch the score board. They play the radio, serve coffee and doughnuts. They had a band there too. It was fairly interesting. George Company took 2nd place in the test. We also had a man who made the highest score. After that was over we came back and ate and packed and hung our sleeping bags on the walls of the tents. Then we waited till about 9 PM and marched about 2 or 3 miles to a place and then came back. We had coffee and doughnuts when we got back.
This morning we had a little extra time off. So I finished writing. I got a letter from Carlen Talent. He wanted me to write him and tell him how to get here. He said he was going home in a month of two. I'll write him and tell him where I am but he may be to far away.
Well not much more to say now. I will write more later.
I got another letter from you this afternoon. It was mailed Sept 30. It had clippings of the Greenlease kidnapping. I would think you would get my mail OK. I write one almost everyday. I haven't had any more packages. I got a letter or rather a birthday card from Mr. and Mrs. Sears. She said Abe retired from the Post Office. If you ever talk to her tell her hello and try to find our what John and Lurk's address is in Chicago.
Sounds like JQ is a salesman. Tell him to write me a line when he gets a chance. It must be hot in KC this time of year. I haven't had a package Jim. Did you say he sent one? Tell Cecil that I got a letter from his boy and am going to write him. This afternoon we drilled about an hour and got the rest of the afternoon off. We are going to parade tomorrow in the Regt parade.
I guess I will close for now. I miss you and wish I could have been home for my birthday but I will make it up next year when I get home.
Love, Ted
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
October 4, 1953
Sunday Oct 4, 1953
Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper
How are things at home. I just finished lunch. I had fried chicken. It tasted good but not like you use to fix at home. I got 2 letters from you and a package. The letters were mailed the 27 and 28.
I am glad you had Jim and Rosalyn out and you like them OK. How is JQ and Marlyn and baby. Did you tell JQ I wanted a picture of him and the baby. Don't worry about how long it will take them to send the boots. I probably wont need them till spring. We will wear our thermos mostly now. I didn't know they weighed that much. I haven't opened the box I got today. It is post marked Sept 17. Took longer to get here then the others you sent. I don't know why.
How did my violin sound that Roslyn played. I doubt it is worth $300. It might be if some one wanted it.
If Richard comes to Korea be sure and give him my address. Did I tell you I was on Route 3 north of a little village called Po-Chan. It may not be the way it is spelled. but that is the way it sounds.. I am about 15 miles from there. Tell him it is not near as bad here as he probably thinks.
I don't know what I said to you about a school. Every once in a while they have a school about something. They have a leadership school but they call it NCO school. I would like to go to it. You come out a stripe higher than what you have when you go to it. I would probably be a corporal. I am eligible for Private First Class now. If they put me in for it. It just means more money per month. It is better than school leadership in the states. Those guys don't even get PFC. They only send about 2 out of the company for each class. May be I can go before long.
I read in the Stars and Stripes paper about the Greenlease kid being kidnapped. Haven't seen anymore about it. They have been broadcasting the Series here about 3 AM. Then they repeat it in the afternoon. I haven't heard any of it. I guess now it is 2 games to 1. May be Brooklyn will win this year but I doubt it.
Well guess I will open my package and go to another USO show. Roy Acuff is here at 2 PM. It's a western show. He is popular in the states and I use to hear him. I will write later when I come back.
Well I opened your package. The cookies were sure good, so was the candy. I haven't had any candy like that for a long time. I went to the USO show. It was Roy Acuff and the Grand'ole Opera show. Moon Mullican was there too. I use to listen to him play a piano and sing at home. I saw him one time at the Grand'ole Opera show at the Ivanhoe Temple with Hand Williams once. It was sure hot there in the sun. They usually have the same show again in the evening. I may go again and see it over.
Our Platoon Leader left this morning to go back to the states. He was 1st Leu. He was nice. I talked to him quite a bit. He had been in KC before and he asked me about different places. He was 24 years old. Most of the guys are 21 and 22. My hair is getting thinner in front. I hope I am not bald win I get home. He use to kid me about my hair. His hair is thin like mine in front. I don't know who we will have now. We got a new platoon sgt the other day. He is called Soilder and has been in the army a number of years. Dad knows the kind I mean. Our company commander is a nice guy. He is about 30 years old and has been in for a long time. He reminds me of some one back home the way he talks and acts but I can't figure out who yet. He is smart and talks quite like. Well I can't think of much more to say so I will close for now. I'll write again soon.
Love, Ted
Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper
How are things at home. I just finished lunch. I had fried chicken. It tasted good but not like you use to fix at home. I got 2 letters from you and a package. The letters were mailed the 27 and 28.
I am glad you had Jim and Rosalyn out and you like them OK. How is JQ and Marlyn and baby. Did you tell JQ I wanted a picture of him and the baby. Don't worry about how long it will take them to send the boots. I probably wont need them till spring. We will wear our thermos mostly now. I didn't know they weighed that much. I haven't opened the box I got today. It is post marked Sept 17. Took longer to get here then the others you sent. I don't know why.
How did my violin sound that Roslyn played. I doubt it is worth $300. It might be if some one wanted it.
If Richard comes to Korea be sure and give him my address. Did I tell you I was on Route 3 north of a little village called Po-Chan. It may not be the way it is spelled. but that is the way it sounds.. I am about 15 miles from there. Tell him it is not near as bad here as he probably thinks.
I don't know what I said to you about a school. Every once in a while they have a school about something. They have a leadership school but they call it NCO school. I would like to go to it. You come out a stripe higher than what you have when you go to it. I would probably be a corporal. I am eligible for Private First Class now. If they put me in for it. It just means more money per month. It is better than school leadership in the states. Those guys don't even get PFC. They only send about 2 out of the company for each class. May be I can go before long.
I read in the Stars and Stripes paper about the Greenlease kid being kidnapped. Haven't seen anymore about it. They have been broadcasting the Series here about 3 AM. Then they repeat it in the afternoon. I haven't heard any of it. I guess now it is 2 games to 1. May be Brooklyn will win this year but I doubt it.
Well guess I will open my package and go to another USO show. Roy Acuff is here at 2 PM. It's a western show. He is popular in the states and I use to hear him. I will write later when I come back.
Well I opened your package. The cookies were sure good, so was the candy. I haven't had any candy like that for a long time. I went to the USO show. It was Roy Acuff and the Grand'ole Opera show. Moon Mullican was there too. I use to listen to him play a piano and sing at home. I saw him one time at the Grand'ole Opera show at the Ivanhoe Temple with Hand Williams once. It was sure hot there in the sun. They usually have the same show again in the evening. I may go again and see it over.
Our Platoon Leader left this morning to go back to the states. He was 1st Leu. He was nice. I talked to him quite a bit. He had been in KC before and he asked me about different places. He was 24 years old. Most of the guys are 21 and 22. My hair is getting thinner in front. I hope I am not bald win I get home. He use to kid me about my hair. His hair is thin like mine in front. I don't know who we will have now. We got a new platoon sgt the other day. He is called Soilder and has been in the army a number of years. Dad knows the kind I mean. Our company commander is a nice guy. He is about 30 years old and has been in for a long time. He reminds me of some one back home the way he talks and acts but I can't figure out who yet. He is smart and talks quite like. Well I can't think of much more to say so I will close for now. I'll write again soon.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
October 3, 1953
Oct 3, 1953 Sat
Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper
Well we finished the parade this morning. Generals Clark, Hull, Taylor, and Hickey were there besides some Div Commanding Generals. It sure was something to see those Generals.
I wrote Evelyn a letter and Lowell one too. I got a letter from you yesterday dated the 17th of Sept. The first letter you wrote to this address. I don't know why it was so long getting here.
They had another show show last night. Peter Pan. I didn't like it to good so I left in the middle of it and went to bed. I also got a package from you, it was a coffee can with cookies and they were sure good. The boy next to me said his mother use to make them for him. To bad there were not more of them I liked them very much. It seems like it cost a lot to send them airmail. You don't need to do that. It only takes a week to get here but it cost quite a bit. They were in good shape when they got here. A few of them were broken to crumbs but not very many. The lid had come off. I never did get the box you sent me to the old address. Seems like I should have had them by now.
I was wandering about the camera I have in my drawer. The one that takes flash pictures. I think it works. Why don't you take some pictures with it and let me know how they came out. If the pictures come out good I might have you send it. If not I can buy one cheap over here. I like the 35mm because you can take 20 to 36 pictures on a roll. The camera I have is OK but film is hard to get for it here. They have them once in awhile. I may have them send me 3 rolls when I send my film in. I hate to have you send that camera if it is working because it may get broke or I may lose it some place. They sure have some nice ones here.
I got a letter from Margie and she said she didn't get the job. I didn't know what happened because she must have said something in another letter and I didn't get that one yet. Do you ever talk to her any more.
I have had a cold lately. My head gets stopped up and I can't seem to get rid of it. It is not to bad though.
I got an air mattress yesterday and it sure is nice. It keeps the cold from under you. It had a leak in it but I think I have fixed it now.
We had an ordinance inspection this afternoon and they took my carbine and scrapped it. Said it wasn't any good. It was only 10 years old. So I will get a new one one of these days. Right now I don't have one so I don't have to clean one for inspections. We have a rifle inspection about every night.
I had a Korean boy here write down their symbols for the A,B,C's and some numbers. I thought Snapper might like to have them. I got Snapper's card yesterday and I thought it was sure nice. Well I don't know much more to say. I am going to diner in a min so I guess I will close. Thanks for the cookies and the other package. I like it very much. I will write again soon.
Love, Ted
PS: Did you figure out the difference in time yet? Let me know.
Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper
Well we finished the parade this morning. Generals Clark, Hull, Taylor, and Hickey were there besides some Div Commanding Generals. It sure was something to see those Generals.
I wrote Evelyn a letter and Lowell one too. I got a letter from you yesterday dated the 17th of Sept. The first letter you wrote to this address. I don't know why it was so long getting here.
They had another show show last night. Peter Pan. I didn't like it to good so I left in the middle of it and went to bed. I also got a package from you, it was a coffee can with cookies and they were sure good. The boy next to me said his mother use to make them for him. To bad there were not more of them I liked them very much. It seems like it cost a lot to send them airmail. You don't need to do that. It only takes a week to get here but it cost quite a bit. They were in good shape when they got here. A few of them were broken to crumbs but not very many. The lid had come off. I never did get the box you sent me to the old address. Seems like I should have had them by now.
I was wandering about the camera I have in my drawer. The one that takes flash pictures. I think it works. Why don't you take some pictures with it and let me know how they came out. If the pictures come out good I might have you send it. If not I can buy one cheap over here. I like the 35mm because you can take 20 to 36 pictures on a roll. The camera I have is OK but film is hard to get for it here. They have them once in awhile. I may have them send me 3 rolls when I send my film in. I hate to have you send that camera if it is working because it may get broke or I may lose it some place. They sure have some nice ones here.
I got a letter from Margie and she said she didn't get the job. I didn't know what happened because she must have said something in another letter and I didn't get that one yet. Do you ever talk to her any more.
I have had a cold lately. My head gets stopped up and I can't seem to get rid of it. It is not to bad though.
I got an air mattress yesterday and it sure is nice. It keeps the cold from under you. It had a leak in it but I think I have fixed it now.
We had an ordinance inspection this afternoon and they took my carbine and scrapped it. Said it wasn't any good. It was only 10 years old. So I will get a new one one of these days. Right now I don't have one so I don't have to clean one for inspections. We have a rifle inspection about every night.
I had a Korean boy here write down their symbols for the A,B,C's and some numbers. I thought Snapper might like to have them. I got Snapper's card yesterday and I thought it was sure nice. Well I don't know much more to say. I am going to diner in a min so I guess I will close. Thanks for the cookies and the other package. I like it very much. I will write again soon.
Love, Ted
PS: Did you figure out the difference in time yet? Let me know.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
October 1, 1953
Thurs Oct 1, 1953
Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper
I got you birthday card this afternoon. It sure was nice. I also got a card from Evelyn and Jim and one from Larry and Mike. I guess I will write them and thank them. I also got 3 letters tonight and the Union News. I enjoy reading it.
I don't know much new. I went and practiced for the parade today again. That's about all we do. We usually have the afternoon off afterwards. We had a Regt parade this afternoon again. We have a show tonight. We have had one almost every night lately.
You know that after every payday there is a lot of gambling. I came back tonight from the show and the tent was full of guys shooting craps, playing black jack and poker and all. The Koreans manage to get some of the GI money some way and they play too. It put me in mind of an opium den with all the Koreans gabbing and smoking. The Korean corporals only get paid about 45 cents in GI money. We don't pay pay them we just keep them. The Korean government pays them. 45 cents a month isn't very much is it. I doubt that the privates even get 25 cents. They call their money Won. They say that some months they don't get any money.
They guy who sleeps next to me got some candles today so we should have plenty between us for awhile. We both use the same candle. I got a carton of cigarettes tonight so I will have something to smoke until they give me some money. That is all I need it for anyway.
I am sending you the 5th RCT paper. It is not to new but I thought you might enjoy reading it anyway.
I sent the letter I got from Gary Snipes yesterday, thought you would like to hear how it is in other places. I am glad you liked the pictures I sent. I didn't think they were that good. I will send you some more when I send them in and get them back.
Margie said in one of her letters that she is going to Chicago, so I guess she will be away for awhile.
The weather is about the same and I am feeling OK other than a little cold. We have it good here. I like it OK.
About the time you can't figure out. I have a hard time myself. When it is 9 pm in KC it is noon here and the next day. When it is noon in Chicago on Monday it is 3 am Tuesday in Korea. I think we are about 15 hours a head of you. That is if you are on the same time as Chicago. That doesn't mean Day lite saving time. I have a card they gave me at Sasebo. So when it is 9 pm in KC you can think about me eating lunch the next day. I meant to send this before but I forgot about it until I read your letter the other day.
Right now I am guarding the prisoner again. I just do an hour. We have to guard him because he was in this platoon when he went AWOL from the front line. He will be here until his court martial comes up. He left the front and got to Japan. No one know how he did it. He may be charged with desertion. He could get shot but most likely he will just get about 20 years and if he is lucky he may not get anything. We had to guard him again tonight because the guy who was supposed to guard him the last hour between 5 and 6 was asleep when the Sgt came in to wake us up. So our tent had to guard him again. I am guarding him between 10 and 11.
We have all kinds of beer in the tent. The guys buy it by the case. I am sitting on the prisoner's bunk writing this letter and drinking cold beer. It is Budweiser in cans but it doesn't taste like the beer we use to get up at Quins in Fairmount.
It is cold tonight and I have my wool sweater on . Seems funny to be so cold and drink a cold beer. I am getting use to it. I run around in my in my T-shirt part of the time and wash. We have had a chance to take a shower for about 3 weeks not but I give myself a GI bath.
I saw the Regt Flag today. It has streamers all over it. About 30 or 40 of them. This outfit use to fight Indians before the Spanish American War. It use to be the 5th Calvary. Your unit use to be the 4th Calvary didn't it Dad. For every battle they were in or country they were in they put a streamer on the Regt Flag. It is pretty old but fit. It is a pretty rough outfit. They are made up of hand picked men and a lot of the guys have been in the stockade for going AWOL and other stuff. I think about 25% of the guys have been in the stockade. I don't know why they picked me for this out fit. There are a lot of good guys here though and they bring in a lot more everyday. They have a lot of spirit. I don't mean the guys here are rough or convicts they are just young and ornery.
Well I guess when you get this I will be 25 years old. Sure doesn't seem like it. Wont be long till I'm 30. I miss being home. This is the first birthday I have been away from home. I guess by the end of the month we will know whether or not the truce is signed for good or not. I sure hope it is. I may get to come home sooner if it is. We are ready if it starts. When we go practice for the parade we go up to the front. They are digging bunkers etc up there. We can see them
Well can't think of much more to say. I will close for now. I sure miss you and wish I could be home. Tell the guys at work hello and tell Jim and Evelyn I will write them a line.
Love, Ted
Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper
I got you birthday card this afternoon. It sure was nice. I also got a card from Evelyn and Jim and one from Larry and Mike. I guess I will write them and thank them. I also got 3 letters tonight and the Union News. I enjoy reading it.
I don't know much new. I went and practiced for the parade today again. That's about all we do. We usually have the afternoon off afterwards. We had a Regt parade this afternoon again. We have a show tonight. We have had one almost every night lately.
You know that after every payday there is a lot of gambling. I came back tonight from the show and the tent was full of guys shooting craps, playing black jack and poker and all. The Koreans manage to get some of the GI money some way and they play too. It put me in mind of an opium den with all the Koreans gabbing and smoking. The Korean corporals only get paid about 45 cents in GI money. We don't pay pay them we just keep them. The Korean government pays them. 45 cents a month isn't very much is it. I doubt that the privates even get 25 cents. They call their money Won. They say that some months they don't get any money.
They guy who sleeps next to me got some candles today so we should have plenty between us for awhile. We both use the same candle. I got a carton of cigarettes tonight so I will have something to smoke until they give me some money. That is all I need it for anyway.
I am sending you the 5th RCT paper. It is not to new but I thought you might enjoy reading it anyway.
I sent the letter I got from Gary Snipes yesterday, thought you would like to hear how it is in other places. I am glad you liked the pictures I sent. I didn't think they were that good. I will send you some more when I send them in and get them back.
Margie said in one of her letters that she is going to Chicago, so I guess she will be away for awhile.
The weather is about the same and I am feeling OK other than a little cold. We have it good here. I like it OK.
About the time you can't figure out. I have a hard time myself. When it is 9 pm in KC it is noon here and the next day. When it is noon in Chicago on Monday it is 3 am Tuesday in Korea. I think we are about 15 hours a head of you. That is if you are on the same time as Chicago. That doesn't mean Day lite saving time. I have a card they gave me at Sasebo. So when it is 9 pm in KC you can think about me eating lunch the next day. I meant to send this before but I forgot about it until I read your letter the other day.
Right now I am guarding the prisoner again. I just do an hour. We have to guard him because he was in this platoon when he went AWOL from the front line. He will be here until his court martial comes up. He left the front and got to Japan. No one know how he did it. He may be charged with desertion. He could get shot but most likely he will just get about 20 years and if he is lucky he may not get anything. We had to guard him again tonight because the guy who was supposed to guard him the last hour between 5 and 6 was asleep when the Sgt came in to wake us up. So our tent had to guard him again. I am guarding him between 10 and 11.
We have all kinds of beer in the tent. The guys buy it by the case. I am sitting on the prisoner's bunk writing this letter and drinking cold beer. It is Budweiser in cans but it doesn't taste like the beer we use to get up at Quins in Fairmount.
It is cold tonight and I have my wool sweater on . Seems funny to be so cold and drink a cold beer. I am getting use to it. I run around in my in my T-shirt part of the time and wash. We have had a chance to take a shower for about 3 weeks not but I give myself a GI bath.
I saw the Regt Flag today. It has streamers all over it. About 30 or 40 of them. This outfit use to fight Indians before the Spanish American War. It use to be the 5th Calvary. Your unit use to be the 4th Calvary didn't it Dad. For every battle they were in or country they were in they put a streamer on the Regt Flag. It is pretty old but fit. It is a pretty rough outfit. They are made up of hand picked men and a lot of the guys have been in the stockade for going AWOL and other stuff. I think about 25% of the guys have been in the stockade. I don't know why they picked me for this out fit. There are a lot of good guys here though and they bring in a lot more everyday. They have a lot of spirit. I don't mean the guys here are rough or convicts they are just young and ornery.
Well I guess when you get this I will be 25 years old. Sure doesn't seem like it. Wont be long till I'm 30. I miss being home. This is the first birthday I have been away from home. I guess by the end of the month we will know whether or not the truce is signed for good or not. I sure hope it is. I may get to come home sooner if it is. We are ready if it starts. When we go practice for the parade we go up to the front. They are digging bunkers etc up there. We can see them
Well can't think of much more to say. I will close for now. I sure miss you and wish I could be home. Tell the guys at work hello and tell Jim and Evelyn I will write them a line.
Love, Ted
Monday, April 11, 2011
September 1953 recap
September of 1953 was when the World Away got to be up close and personal. Dad had never been any further away from home than Wichita, Kansas and now he finds himself walking the streets of Yokohama and waiting in Sasebo Japan for orders. The "boys" as he calls them were together in Sasebo but one by one they received orders that split them all up. Although Zink, our neighbor on Lake Drive back in Independence, was not part of the "boys," it was just a fluke he was with them, but alas he got orders to go to a Chemical and Biological school. Many years later dad told me that the "boys" were split up so there was a higher possibility that they may get captured by the North Koreans. If they did they would be able to use the skills they were taught in that special school they all went to. As far as I know none ever got captured.
Dad had no idea where he would end up while waiting in Sasebo. He was still hoping to stay in Japan. Even when he was sent to Korea he had no idea where he was most of the time. He mentions the 38th parallel often and the "front" being 20 miles from him. He told me again years later that they would have a lot of alerts and everyone took them seriously because no one knew if it was practice or the real thing.
In his letters he remarks about things his mother must have told him in her letters but I cannot tell a lot of what he was answering. For instance he mentions a bomb in Fairmount. But what it was and circumstances surrounding it are at a loss to me. He asks about his cousins and his friend Jim and Rosalie several times, and apparently he heard from his basic training buddy Martin. Martin ended up in Fort Lewis, Washington. There were others like Arkie and Theiderman but other than Jim I never heard much about any of them, other than hearing mom say once that she did not like Arkie.
Dad was a little older than most of the guys so he was a little more brazen when it came to authority sometimes. Like when he some how slipped out of a formation so he and a couple of guys could walk back to camp and not have to march and when he was put guarding a prisoner who had gone AWOL he became good enough friends with him as to have the prisoner wake him up when dad would fall asleep so dad wouldn't get into trouble.
He developed some strong feeling about the Koreans, none very flattering. But I suspect it was the influence that the vets had over him.
He was very proud of his unit, the 5th RCT. He was proud to be a soldier and the longer he lived the more proud he became. He went one time to a 5th RCT reunion in Branson but did not stay for the parade because he did not feel he could walk the whole way.
The high light of the month was him be selected to participate in the change of command ceremony and part of the honor guard for the 5th RCT as they passed in review. I am interested to see how the parade went.
Dad had no idea where he would end up while waiting in Sasebo. He was still hoping to stay in Japan. Even when he was sent to Korea he had no idea where he was most of the time. He mentions the 38th parallel often and the "front" being 20 miles from him. He told me again years later that they would have a lot of alerts and everyone took them seriously because no one knew if it was practice or the real thing.
In his letters he remarks about things his mother must have told him in her letters but I cannot tell a lot of what he was answering. For instance he mentions a bomb in Fairmount. But what it was and circumstances surrounding it are at a loss to me. He asks about his cousins and his friend Jim and Rosalie several times, and apparently he heard from his basic training buddy Martin. Martin ended up in Fort Lewis, Washington. There were others like Arkie and Theiderman but other than Jim I never heard much about any of them, other than hearing mom say once that she did not like Arkie.
Dad was a little older than most of the guys so he was a little more brazen when it came to authority sometimes. Like when he some how slipped out of a formation so he and a couple of guys could walk back to camp and not have to march and when he was put guarding a prisoner who had gone AWOL he became good enough friends with him as to have the prisoner wake him up when dad would fall asleep so dad wouldn't get into trouble.
He developed some strong feeling about the Koreans, none very flattering. But I suspect it was the influence that the vets had over him.
He was very proud of his unit, the 5th RCT. He was proud to be a soldier and the longer he lived the more proud he became. He went one time to a 5th RCT reunion in Branson but did not stay for the parade because he did not feel he could walk the whole way.
The high light of the month was him be selected to participate in the change of command ceremony and part of the honor guard for the 5th RCT as they passed in review. I am interested to see how the parade went.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
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
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
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