October 26, 1953

Mom  Oct 26  53

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well I got 2 letters tonight and 2 packages.  The packages were OK and the cookies were sure good, so was the candy.  I was glad to get the shoe polish and cigarettes.  The shaving cream came at the right time because I was just about out.  It lasts for quiet a while though.  I didn't get any mail last night. 

Yesterday I didn't do anything all day.  They asked me if I wanted to go to Boy's Town again but I didn't go.  This morning when I got up they asked us if we wanted to go and I decided I would go.  I borrowed $10 from my platoon sgt.  It was sure a nice trip.

I saw a lot of things from the truck on the way.  Boy's Town is on the outskirts of Seoul.  We rode the truck to a canal and got on a ferry and went across.  The town is a small camp with buildings.  They have a Mayor, YMCA headquarters, and a Boy Scout Troop.  The Boy's Town was started by the 5th RCT.  They donated $18,000 for it.  They have a memorial there.  It only took us an hour to go through.

We went back to Seoul and we had about 2 hours to spend there.  We went to the UN PX.  It is a big place  4 stories high.  I had two hamburgers with cheese and bacon, coffee, two pints of ice cream.

This guy I was with and I decided we would go out on the street.  We went to a Korean shop and had some pictures taken.  We talked them into 5 for $1.50.  They took to long so we walked off and left them.  They took to long to develop them.  I may get them some other time.  We went back and started back to camp.  I only spent $4.  I bought a scarf where I had my picture taken so I am sending it.

I am on company guard tonight.  We sure get a lot of guard anymore.  Company guard, that is the mess hall, supply and the Bn guard, that's the regular guard.  Our platoon has that prisoner still and we got another one now.  I don't trust the new one to much.  Our squad gets that guard every 4th night.  I get the morning off now because we are on guard.  That is OK with me because we are going out and set up in the hills tomorrow morning.  I don't know all the details yet but I think it's because the 90 days will be up tomorrow and I think they want to be ready. We wont be on the front anyway right now.  I get to ride out on a truck at noon.  I think they may extend the 90 days from what I hear.

I hope Carlin gets here before long, I would like to see him.  I don't think he is to far away from me if he is still in the IX Corps.

I thought the packages were swell and think you should take it easy.  It cost a lot to send them.  I enjoy them but it is rather expensive.  I am glad you saw the Coronation Ball (note: that was the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II) and the Cisco Kid.  I heard that Leo Carrillo who played Poncho was dead.  I think he died a few months ago. 

I guess you had quite a time with Jim and Rosalyn.  They make quite a pair.  So Don Underwood is on his way here.  Didn't he get to go to OCS or didn't he want to.  I hope he is close by.  He wont know his new Division till he gets to Soul.

I don't think the pay is messed up, they just didn't get the money Saturday.  If not I will find out about it.  I wrote Mr and Mrs Sears (note:  that was my mother's mother and her husband.) a letter and thanked them for the birthday card. 

Did you say you put a 25 cents can of polish in that box.  That must have been a big can.

As far as what I need for Xmas.  I don't know of anything.  The floors help out and when it gets real cold we will have another stove in our tent.   So, it is warm in KC yet and you sleep with the doors open.  That is bout the way it is here only its not to warm.  It rained again last night or rather early this morning.  Didn't last long.  Boy you sure got the pictures back in a hurry.  I'll send them back home.  They wee good and I enjoyed them very much.  Boy I am sure glad to know that Zinks is that close to me.  I was hoping that after he finished CBR school they would send him to the 5th RCT.  K Company is in the 3rd Bn.  I am in the 2nd Bn.  They are just down the same road I am, just a few blocks.  I am going down there the first chance I get.  I like Zink and Sipes better than I did any of the rest.  I wont have any trouble seeing him.  I think I will go tomorrow night if I get back in time from out trip.  

You said you enjoyed reading about the Chiporee Sweepstakes.  I don't remember whether I sent you a copy of our paper or not but I will send it anyway.  Well can't think of much more to say now  So I think I will go to bed.  I have to get up at 1 AM for guard.  Thanks for the packages.
Lots of Love, Ted

October 24, 1953

 Sat night  Oct. 24,  53

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I thought I would write a line or two.  Haven't heard from you in a couple of days.  Maybe  I'll get one tonight. I didn't do much yesterday.  Last night I had Bn guard.  It wasn't to cold so it wasn't to bad.

This morning when I came back my section leader asked me if I wanted to go to Boy's Town in Seoul Korea.  I told him yes.  They only sent two from our company.  We went down to Regt Hdqt and there wasn't enough room on the trucks so they sent us back.  The First Sgt said we could go next time.  I am glad I didn't go today because it turned cold and started hailing and then rained hard.  I didn't have much money (20 cents).  Next time I will probably have been paid.  They send a group every week to go there and visit with children.  The Korean Boy's Town is supported by the service men here.  I think the 5th RCT has donated about $18,000 so far towards it.  These same kids will be taken to the different outfits at Xmas for a party. 

Korean Boy's Town

This afternoon we worked around the area and about 3 PM we had beer and soda pop.  It was bought out of company funds.  That is about all that is new with me.

There is going to be a show tonight here in the mess hall.  I think I will take it in.

It cleared off this afternoon but it is still cold.

I traded my pants yesterday for some new ones.  When they came back from the laundry they had some new ones in supply, so I just traded in my old ones.  I think before long we get field pants so I probably wont keep them long. ------

I just got back from the show.  It was called "Call Me Madam" with Ethel Merman and Donald O'Connor.  It was sure a good picture.

 When  I got back to the tent I got a letter dated Oct 18.  It was from Dad, Jim and Roslyn.  I sure enjoyed reading it.  Sounds like you guys had quite a time.  Jim says he sure enjoys being with you.  He says you are just like a mother to him  He said he sent a couple of packages.  I haven't received either one yet.  I hope they get here OK.   How do you like Rosalie.  I guess Snapper and Sharron have a good time with each other.  (note:  Jim was married to Rosalyn and Dad's best friend.  I am not sure how they met.  Rosalyn was a professional violin player and had a daughter by a previous marriage.  I am not sure what her name was and don't know exactly who Rosalie or Shannon were.  Jim had Rosalyn had a baby and it died.  They soon divorced.  Of all Dad's friends that is the only one I really knew and kept in contact with over the years.  More about Jim later.)

Well I haven't much more to say for tonight.  I'll close for now and write again later.
Love, Ted

October 22, 1953

Thursday Oct 22  53

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I got a letter tonight and the paper (Westinghouse.)  How was the coronation ball this year.  I guess it was nice.

I got a letter from Jim.  He had about the same old things to say.  Hope you take some pictures with them and send to me.

I haven't heard much about the prisoner talks.  Just a little.  I keep up on that quite a bit on my own.  It is interesting to read about what the PW's say when they come back from Red Prisons.  I know more about that sort of thing than most people do.  They have a lot that goes on in those PW camps that even the Reds no nothing about. (note:  this is one of the few times that Dad lets on that he had more knowledge than the average guy about PW's and PW Camps.  It was part of the secrete training he had while in the states and better described in my other blog, The Adventure's of Conley McAnally, that I entitled Spy Dad.)

What did JQ and Marlyn have the baby christened for.  Was it Catholic or just a regular one.

The weather is about the same now.  We have our stove in our tent now and we now have a lantern.  It really lights up the tent.  It is a presureized type.  They are cautious about fire.  We always have it off when we go to bed and someone in the tent whenever the stove is lit.

I guess you could use some rain in KC.  Sounds like it.

I wrote Lowell twice.  I wonder if I put the right address on the letter.  You said one day when you talked to Virginia that she hadn't heard from me and she should have.

I don't know why Margie hasn't called you.  I don't worry about it myself. I hear from her a couple of times a week.

They are planning a Xmas part here for Korean orphans.  They are going to have about 25 kids to each company for dinner and give them candy etc.  They asked us to have our folks at home send packages of clothes, canned goods and candy etc.  I was wondering if you had any of Snapper's clothes or any kind of clothes, if you would send them.  They asked us if we knew of any organization to ask.  I don't know of any myself.  You can mail them to Commanding Officer, Company G, 5th RCT apo  52 % PMSF.  You don't have to but if you had any you could.  Let me know, you can just send it regular. (note: I remember going through some old clothes with my grandmother and picking out clothes I thought a little Korean kid might like for Christmas.)

I didn't do much today.  We had a parade again today.  Think I will write Jim and then go to bed.
Love, Ted

October 19, 1953

Mon Oct 19, 1953 (note: first letter that day)

Dear Mom and Dad

Here are some pictures you can have printed up.  They are of the parade and the Roy Acuff show.  One of the guys took the pictures and let me have the neg.  If you will get 4 copies of each made and send to me I will send back a set and tell you what they are or you can keep a set if you like.  Send them back as soon as you can with the neg.  I want the extra ones for some of the guys here.  Let me know what the cost is.  They might blow them up a little.
Love, Ted

Mon  Oct 19, 1853 (note: second letter that day)

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

This morning we got up and did the same old thing.  We have been digging positions close here.  I think it's practice more than anything. I stayed in this afternoon and worked on the tent. We have it all finished now and our stove in. So we are all set for winter.  It is nice to have heat now.

We don't have a movie tonight till 9PM at Easy Company.  From now on the projector is a different companies now each night.  We will have it for our company every 4th night.  Our company will see the first showing and then at 9 it is for anyone who wants to go. 

I put in the pictures I sent one that a guy took at the Roy Acuff show.  I sent some neg. another guy took of the show and the parade.  They were sure good pictures.  I might buy one of those cameras if I can't get good pictures with mine.  They have Japanese cameras here and they are good ones.

I'll tell you something you might send me.  That's my pipe.  I would like to have one of the ones in my drawer.  You can just put it in a package when you send it.  Those pictures you  can send when you get them developed.  Just mail a set with your letter.  Then the next time you write put in another set.  That will save postage.

I didn't get any mail today.  Seems like it has been slow the last few days.  Well don't know much more to write now so I will close.  Will write again soon.
Love, Ted

October 18, 1953

Sun Oct 18, 1953

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I thought I would write a short line tonight.  This morning I got up early and had a good breakfast.  We started on our floor this morning and just got finished.  We still have our sides to put up yet. 

I had a visitor before noon today.  A guy that Margie and I knew.  He lived in KC and is in the 5th RCT artillery.  I got a letter from him a while back telling me he was in the NCO School and for me to look him up.  I never got a chance to so he came here.  I enjoyed talking to him.  He stayed for dinner and Dick Cantino was here for another show so we went to that.  He left about 4 PM.

We put our tent back up and then I went to the Cantino Show again.

Remember me telling you about Alberto Simone from Italy.  He really enjoyed the show and after it was over we went down and talked to him.  He sure is a friendly guy. 

When I got back to the tent I had a letter from you and one from Dad, Oct 10 and 11.  So far the cookies haven't been broke up and they are just as fresh as when you baked them.

To bad Snapper has the flue.  Hope it wont last long.

I got a letter from Margie.  I get them regular now.  Funny she doesn't call up any more.

About the camera.  Don't send the one you said took 16 pictures.  Wait and see what the 35 mm looks like.  You don't need to send film for the camera I have as I wrote for some with that $5.  Just wait awhile on it. 

I don't know what you could send me for Xmas.  I don't need anything.  I think I have told you in my other letters about all I need.  I could use some of that foam shave.  I don't like to have to much stuff as it's to hard to take care of if we ever move. 

I got the clippings Dad sent about the kidnapping.  That sure has been a bad thing in KC (note: see Booby Greelease blog on The Adventures of Conley McAnally, dated April 22.) 

I'll be glad to get the picture of you all.  You said you were in Troop G.  I am in Company G.  I remember you were in the 4th Calvary.  The 5th was a colored unit till they made infantry out of it.  It is just a regt now.

I don't know what I will be doing tomorrow.  We may go out and work with the mortars and some of us will stay in and work on the tent.  I think they will change the mortar section squad around.  I hope I make gunner.  I would like to stay in the 1st or 2nd squad.  If I got to the 3rd squad I will have to move into another tent.  I like the guys in this tent OK.  I may have to move if I want a better position.

Well I don't know much more to say for now so I will close.

Dick Cantino

Love, Ted 

October 17, 1953

Mortars

24th Division Patch

Oct 17, 1953  Sat.

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

(2 our of three wasn't bad)

I got your clippings last night about the kidnapping.  That sure was a bad thing.  I hope they put all 3 of those people in the chair.

I got your letter this morning that you mailed Oct 9.  I think I am getting your letters OK now so you need not number them any more.  The weather is about the same.  The nights are not quite so cold for a couple of nights now and the days are a little warmer.

The parade we were in that day came out OK.  We never heard much about it either and you probably wont either.  I hope the war wont start either but if it does I can take care of myself.  The 4th platoon is a weapons platoon and the mortars are always in good position.  I don't look for it to much for awhile even if the 90 days are up and nothing is done.  It gets plenty cold here in the winter and we are better equipped than the Chinese.  The 5th RCT always gets 4 pt and $45 dollars a month more when the war is on.  They have always been on the front.  They are the oldest outfit in Korea now.  They came here 2nd after the 24 Div.  The 24 Div isn't here anymore.  I am not worried about the war myself so don't you.

As far as x-mas, I don't know of much here.  I couldn't hardly tell you what to send.  I think I have told you about everything I need in my other letters.

No I still have not been paid yet and my 1st Sgt said I probably wont till payday.  I spent the $5 you sent on the pictures.  I can last till payday I think.  The cigarettes you sent came at the right time.  If I had known that I wouldn't get paid last time I would have had you send me a money order, but I didn't know.  I don't know what happened to the packages you sent but I still haven't got them yet.  There isn't much I can do about it even if I asked.  I might wait a little longer.

Don will be in the army a long time if he doesn't get to OCS before long because he has to sign up for more time when he gets out of OCS.  He may just be spending time like a lot of the guys do by signing up for OCS and waiting for it and then when they get their orders turn in down.  Then they don't have much time left and they get to stay in the states.

You know that "Red" who works in the barber shop.  He is a nice guy he has a couple of kids. (note:  I am puzzled why he brings that up.  Red was Red Duncan.  He worked in the same barber shop as Johnny Collins and when Johnny left to start his own barber shop Red bought the one they had all worked in.  Red ended up buying a house across the street from us on Lake Drive and was the one who signed me up for Cub Scouts.)

I never did get the packages Jim sent.  He must have mailed it regular mail.  I hear from Jim once in a while and Margie too.  I'll send some more patches to Snapper when I get some.  They are a little hard to find here.

I haven't been drinking any beer much.  It is cold for one thing and we can't have it in the co. area anymore.

The other day I stayed in the area and worked.  I gave one of the Sgts in our platoon a drink of my shaving lotion. He is a U.S. and 26 years old.  He comes from Sabethe, Kansas. About 60 miles north of Topeka.  He is a farmer and stayed out of the draft because of his farm.  He made Sgt over here.  He reminds me of Bert's brother in Scott City the way he talks.  Kind of slow and easy going.

Yesterday we had a mortar exam for our section.  I was lucky again.  I made 196 out of 200.  I was high man in our company mortar section.  I made expert.  I was only 6 sec off of making 200.  The test is not firing but taking the fire commands and setting the mortar at different ranges in a minimum amount of time correctly.  I might get to be gunner or assistant gunner one of these days.

Last night I took in a show and this morning we had our usual Sat. inspection.  I haven't done much but write this letter since noon.  We may put our floor in today if they come in.  We get the next floor for out tent. 

The Korean boy never did get to go home. (note: the boy who was informed his mother died by letter)  He only lived 200 miles from here.  They sure do think funny.  The boy is about the best ROCK we have.  He sleeps next to me and always helps me clean my area etc.  When we were on alert that night he carried the mortar by himself and wouldn't let any one else carry it for him or help.  He came here after I did. Well I think I will stop now for awhile and write later on.  It wont go out before Monday morning anyway.  I have some wash to do and some other stuff.--------

I didn't get to much done this afternoon.  I layed around most of the time.  We got our stove this afternoon and I helped clean the preservatives off with gasoline.  We also got our floor.  We will probably start on that before long.  May be tomorrow.  We were lucky.  We got the new style kit.  They will be harder to put in but it will be better.  The floor is tung and grove and we also have siding.

We had chicken for dinner this eve.  It tasted good.  I am sending you some clippings out of the Stars and Stripes paper.  It gives you some idea what we wear.  That is not all of it though. We have thermo boots I told you about.  They just came out this year.  Those pile caps are funny looking but they should keep us warm.  They are sure getting Strack in our company.  Our Captain hasn't been here much longer than I have.  He is starting to clamp down.  He is a West Point graduate.  He probably won't be here long.  He is to good a man to keep in a company.  He will probably go to Bn HQ or Regt HQ before long.  He will probably be a general before he retires from the army.  His name is Book. (note: Dad looked up Book years later and found that he had indeed retired from the Army, lived in Texas but never did make General.)   I hope I can get some place while I am here.  I think I would like to come home a Sgt.  It is hard to make rank now that the war is over.  I have been trying my best.  I may not be here long enough to make Sgt because you have to have so much time in grade.  I have to make PFC, then Corpl first.  May be I will get  break.  I haven't had any yet so it is about time.  I try to keep my boots polished.  They shine more than the officers.  I keep a fresh shave every day and I don't horse around like I use to at work.

Well I don't know much more to say.  I guess I will close now.  I will send Martin's letter along with this.  I wrote him a letter tonight.
Love, Ted

October 15, 1953

Thursday Oct 15, 1953

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I am at the IX Corps rest center waiting to go back to camp.  It sure is nice here.  There is a lake and everything, they ar right up in the Mountains.  They have almost everything you want.

Last night after writing you I went to bed.  The shaving lotion was OK.  I just sip on it.  I had to get up at midnight to guard the prisoner.  I just guarded him for an hour.

I stayed in the area this morning and worked on some of the tents.  We filled sand bags and stacked them around the outside to level the tents so we can put the floors in.  It reminded me of the time Dad and I piled sand bags during the flood.   (note to reader: that was the KC 51 flood where vol were asked to go down to the river near the airport and stack sand bags) At noon my Sgt said I could go on Sho-She R&R, Shoe-She means little. It's just an afternoon at the IX Corps rest center.  I borrowed a couple of bucks and left.  It's almost 8 miles from our camp.  They take so many a day from our company down in trucks. I think about the first thing I did was get a hair cut by a Korean barber.  Hair cut 25 cents, shave 15 cents.  Ask Johnny what he thinks about that.(note to reader: that was Johnny Collins our barber who cut our hair for years).  They cut funny, one barber comes along and clips your neck and another comes along after that and trims it up.  I didn't like the shave I got. He was rough and it felt like he was dry staving me.  I bought some things at the PX, they have almost everything.  Then I went to the snack bar and got a hamburger and a beer.  I didn't get any ice cream because I didn't have a cup.  They were out of cups.  That is what I was counting on mostly.  They are building a place to ski.  I always wanted to try it.  May be I will come back this winter and try it.  Right now I am just waiting for the rest of the guys to get back from what ever they are doing.

I got a letter and another package at noon today.  It had the icebox cookies and shoe polish in it.  They were sure good.  I am saving some of the cookies for later.  I was glad to get the cigarettes too.  I had almost ran out of shoe polish.  I thought that was nice to get two packages in a row like that.

I am not sure but I think we have another alert tonight.  I hope not. 

Did I tell you how the R&R works about going to Japan.  Everyone takes turns about going there.  You get 7 days from the time you get to Japan and the time going there doesn't count.  It takes about 5 months for one person to go from the time he gets to the company.  Just so many go each week from the Regt and there is about 4000.  I will probably get to go twice before I get home.  Did I tell you that in Japan they had us change our US money into military script.  I'll send some when I get some so you can look at it.  It's different in size and it's different from what you use.  There are even 5 cents in paper up to a dollar, then 5 dollar bill is bigger than a 1 dollar bill.  A 10 dollar bill is the same size as the 5.  I don't know if they make anything larger than a 10 or not.  I still used the 5 you sent.  I may have you send me 3 one dollar bills so I can send some pictures in.  About the money you have - why not go ahead and put it in the First Federal Savings and Loan so it can draw some interest.  Then when I send for some more you can just put that in too.  I don't know how much I will send home.  I may send all I can and then before I go on R&R have you send me a money order for some.  Well don't know much more to say so I will close.
Love, Ted