December 28, 1953

                                                  

Dec. 28, 1953

Monday

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I got back to the company yesterday.  I am now a squad leader in the 2^nd mortar squad.  I have 4 besides myself.  I am holding a Sgt’s job so I hope everything goes OK for me now.  I am the only one in the company who ever came out with that high of school.

I have an M-1 now.  Nor more pistol.  My gunner is Louis Melendy a Mexican who came here before I did.  Asst gunner is a Negro – Johnson- who has been here for quite a while.  A combat vet, 1^st Ammo Barer is Berky who came here when I did and 2^nd Ammo barer is Lee Kon Sue, a ROCK.  You have a picture of him.  I am supposed to have two more men in the squad.  I will get them the next load we get in.

I got a letter from you yesterday (from Dad) it said you got the 1^st present I sent.  Was that a Man’s robe or a Woman’s.  How does it fit Mom for size.  Was it black with gold trim.  Did the candy bows get there without breaking. 

I got a package from Mrs. Keith.  It was candy and cookies.  I got 2 Xmas books from Mrs. Corley.  I still haven’t got the package from McDonald.  I got you packages OK and I sure liked everything that was in it.

Today we did PT and had a problem.  We are only training till noon the rest of the week.  They are giving us a break.  I think we have another problem in January sometime.  It will last for seven days this time.  I am having a hard time writing this letter.  I smashed my thumb on my M-1 and it sure hurts.

I went to the show this after noon and saw “Thunder Bay.”  I saw it before.  They have shows in the afternoon till the New Year.  Last night I saw “Man from the Alamo.” 

                                      

Tonight I took a shower and that’s about it.  What are you doing New Years this year.  Xmas wasn’t much.  No one tried to make it much.  I just took it as another day.  Hope next year I will be back home.  The house boy that is the CP said he would wash my clothes.  I think I will get him to.  It wont cost to much.  He is only supposed to wash for the CP.(note: ?)

I enjoyed the Pecan Delights and the Jim Beam you sent me for Xmas.  Thank Corley and Keith for me.  I’ll try to write them when my thumb gets better. 

 

Well I am sure proud of my self for going through the school OK.  Hope the Old Man feels the same way.  Be sure and thank everyone for me that sent packages to the Xmas party.

Love, Ted

(note: Dad really was proud of accomplishing being an honor student and being made a squad leader.  In later years he never talked about it much but told me when I went into the army that if I was ever sent to any school to try real hard and get in the upper 10%.  He told me it would make all the difference in the world to my army career.  I didn’t listen very carefully.)

December 26, 1953

Dec 26, 1953

Friday

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well we finished today for good.  I was sure surprised this morning before we went to graduation.  They read off our grades.  I had 906 points and I made Honor Student.  There were 4 of us who made it.  Sgt. First Class Gray, 3 Div, was 1^st.  PFC Burke, 5^th RCT was second , I was third and another guy from the 3 Div was 4^th.  So I figured I did pretty good.  There were 56 students to start with and only 50 finished.  I shook hands with Col Miller, Commander of the 7^th Inf Regt, 3^rd Div.  Most of the guys are gone now, I won’t leave till tomorrow.

                                                                                   

                                                     

I got a 35mm camera, it was German made.  It was brand new and cost 65 dollars at the PX.  I bought it from a guy for $40.  It’s a good camera.  Cost quite a bit in the states.  Around $100.  I am sending you some pictures that Semonie took down here at school, some pretty good ones. (note:  Dad talks about taking pictures and sending them home, but very few have survived through the years, don’t know what happened to all of them.)

Still haven’t had any more mail.  They are probably holding it back in the company.  I guess if you want to put anything in the Inter City News now, go ahead.  I came out an Honor Student so there will be something worth while to put in there now. (note: don’t know if they ever put anything in or not, I suspect they did.)

Well I don’t know much more to say so I will close.  I’ll write when I get back to the company tomorrow.

Love, Ted

December 25, 1953

                                                       

December  53

Xmas Day

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Yesterday I finished my last day of school.  We had tests all day.  I think I did OK on them.

Last night Zink, Semonie and I went back to the 5^th.  Semonie’s mother sent him a lot of Italian food and we ate that.  I didn’t stay up till midnight.  I went to bed around 11 PM.  I got up this morning and ate breakfast.  There was some snow on the ground.  I fooled around most of the day.  The guys said I was squad leader now of the 2^nd squad.  I won’t know for sure till I go back.  They changed all the squads around.  My squad leader made Sgt and is Section Leader now.  I will have to wait till I get back and see what the out come will be.

           

 

We had a big dinner today, just like Thanksgiving.  There were about 15 Korean kids there.  They ate and then were given presents.  Each one got a package.  I didn’t see any of the things you said you sent but I rather think they had everything.  The kids were about 6 to 10 years old. (note: I was 6, I wonder what Dad felt.  Did he feel any great compassion for the kids since they were my age, did he miss me a lot, don’t know, he has not said so as of yet.)

I came back to the school about 4 PM and haven’t done much of anything since.  The guys said I made honor student but so far I haven’t bee able to find out.  I did good on most of my tests.  I got the highest score on my PT than anyone.  I made 99 out of 100.  Just missed one point.  I did OK on a lot of the other tests too.  If I did make honor student I just made it.  I think the guys said there were 6 who made it.  Tomorrow I will know for sure.  We have our graduation.

Haven’t had any mail for a few days.  So don’t know much of what is going on at home.

Sgt Hill and Sgt Gretizen left about a week ago for some so they may be calling you  up.

Have you gotten your packages yet?  Well Xmas was a little different this year but It was OK.  Next year I’ll be home.  Happy New Year and lots of love.

Love, Ted

December 17, 1953 (filed out of order)

Thurs  Dec  17, 1953  (note: filed out of order)

17 1840 I Dec53  (note: not sure what this is, looks sort of like the way the military dates things but not exactly.)

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I got tons of mail tonight.  I had 3 letters from you, one from Jim, one from Margie, one from Lewellen.  I also got 6 Xmas cards.  From Martin, Jacques, Talcutt, McDonald, Mrs Jones and Don Cummings here in Korea.  Mrs Jones wrote a sweet note (note: if any of you remember Shepard’s Sporting Goods and alter called Shepard’s Men’ Ware, Mrs Jones was Shep’s foster mother.  They were long time family friends and members of the Dad’s church.)  and MacDonald.  I also got a kick out of Cecil’s care and note.

I just took time out to go to the show with Semonie.  We saw TV shorts.  The Luck Strike Hit Parade and the Bob Hope Show.  The Bob Hope Show was the one that was during the election.  He acted like Sam Spade The President.  Last night I saw the show “Ride Vaquero" with Robert Taylor. 

             

We had three test yesterday.  They were hard ones.  I just barely made it on demolitions.  I only got 37 out of 50.  The others were weapons, got 38 out of 40.  I kind of dropped down a little on those.  I have lost a total of 44 points altogether. 

Today I gave my second talk.  I made 37 out of 40.  I just missed 3 points on that.  I just have one more talk to give now.  I am going to give that one on the 60 mm mortar 

Every one in the tent got 3 gigs today.  They found ashes on the floor.

Glad to hear Snapper is doing OK in school  Does the teacher call him Conley?

So Frank Tucker got my letter.  Is he going to put it in the paper?  (note: Frank was the publisher and editor of the Inter City News.)   I didn’t say to much.  That type of letter is hard to write so it will sound OK. 

So you are proud of me making PFC.  Wait awhile and I will be corporal.  I hope any way.  This school is OK and I like it and like you said anything I learn will help me when I get out.  May be I will go back to Westinghouse and be a teacher or something.  You asked me about the weather.  The snow did not last long but it stays cold.  It gets down to 20 at night usually but it isn’t noticeable because we are out in it so much.  You said something about putting me in the Inter City News.  You don’t have a very good picture of me like that and you better wait till I finish school first.

This is the 3 Div NCO Academy.  The 5^th uses this school.  They on send from 5 to 10 men a week to this school.  The rest are 3^rd Div men.  This is a good school.  They teach a little further into the Army.  They teach why you do certain things.  It’s mostly a build up to be a squad leader and an instructor.  I may give a few classes when I get back to the company.

 

Jim said he was going to quit Kat's. (note. Well known drug store in the KC metro area, sort of like a CVS today.) about the 15 Dec but I think I will wait and see.  He gets big ideas.  You probably have noticed how he dreams.  If he goes into business he will probably make a go of it because he is a good salesman. (note: Jim did make a go of it, he was with Sam Waldon when Walmart was just beginning and retired very well off.)

     

Well I don’t know  much more to say for now so I will close.  I’ll try to write again tomorrow.  May Xmas

And lots of love,

Love, Ted

December 23, 1953

                                                                                                       

Dec 23, 1953

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well I got a letter today and 4 big packages.  I got your box of cookies and the other Xmas box from you with the Jim Beam in it.  I was sure tickled with it.  I got Evelyn’s box and Edith’s box (note: Aunts)  Both were filled full and I sure thought it was nice of them to send it.  Everything will come in handy.  I have plenty of food, more than I know what to do with.  You had better hold up on the those packages for awhile because I am getting so much I don’t know what to do with all of it.  Edith sent me a lot of toilet articles and cigarettes.  You probably know what was in the boxes they sent.  Be sure to tell them I got them and tell them how much I enjoyed everything and I will write them myself.

I may go back to the company tomorrow night and spend Xmas.  Semonie and Zink our going back and I think I will go back and take a box back. 

Tomorrow is our last day of school except for Saturday.  We have a lot of tests tomorrow.  I got 75 out of 80 on my last class.  This afternoon we had our troop leadership reaction test out in the field. 

About those packages.  I think I have been getting them OK.  You said that one package had shave lotion.  Was it or not. It sure tasted like shaving lotion (note: that must be the one he thought might have been rum he drank it anyway I guess)  I thought it was something else till I tasted it and really couldn’t figure out what it was. Oh, well.

One of the guys got a paper Xmas tree and it is set up now.  One of the guys wrote a poem about the First Sgt and wrapped a small bottle of whiskey and set it under the Xmas tree.  When he came though the tent inspecting, he found it.  He must have gotten a kick out of it.  We did well on the inspection.  Don’t know much more to say so I will close.

Love, Ted 

                                                                        

December 19, 1953

                                                                   

Dec 19, 1953

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I got a couple of letters from you last night and I got a letter from Marian with 5 dollars in it.  I got a Xmas card from Eva and Gene, Joe Doores.  Lowell and one from Lewellen’s folks.

So Rosalyn had a boy.  I guessed it.

About those packages, I think I have got most of the one you spoke about.  I always say when I get one. 

School has been going OK so far.  I gave my second talk yesterday and now I am going to start working on my third talk.  I took another test yesterday and lost 19 points on it.  I was sure sick from it.  I have lost a total of 60 points now.  I can only loose another 30 or 40 points. And still be an honor student.  We are going to have a lot of tests the next week.  Just one more week of this and then I will go back to the company.

I heard the 5^th RCT was awarded the Sigmon Ree President’s Citation again.  That makes about the third time now.

                                                               

Well in wont be long now till you will have Xmas.  I haven’t minded to much yet.  I more or less over look it.  No one seem to have any Xmas spirit.  Well I think I will close now so I can study a little bit and go to bed.  I’ll write again later.

Love, Ted

PS  Here is a picture of some big guns.  A 155 Howitzer on the right and 105 on the left.

         

December 15, 1953

Dec 15, 1953  Tues

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I was on guard last night so I didn’t get a chance to write.  School is going OK so far.  I have 3 tests tomorrow.  They will be rough ones.  I hope I make a good grade on them.

I gave my PT yesterday.  I did good on it.  I told the class how the exercises were done and then demonstrated by using a demonstration.  I made 70 points out of 70.  I took a Radio test and got 37 out of 40.  That was high in the class.  I fell down on a terrain evaluation and only got 56 out of 70.  I lost 14 points on that.  That was a hard test.  I think there were 18 out of our class that failed it.

 

I got a letter form you and a package.  The letter was the first one that said PFC on it.  The package was the one with the shoe dye.  The weather has been about the same here.  Cold but we keep the stove on at night so we get up to fairly warm.

Well it is not long till Xmas now.  Just 10 more days.  Hope you have a good Xmas.  Next year I plan to be home.  Wish I could have done more for you but I couldn’t send much.  I’ll make up for it when I go to Japan.

School will be over right after Xmas.  I sure would like to make honor student.  I would have to have 900 or more points.  So far I have done good but there are quite a few more tests to go.

I give my second presentation may be tomorrow or the next day. 

Well I have been enjoying the box.  The fruit cake sure is good. 

I saw a good picture tonight, “Breaking the Sound Barrier.”   It was about the jets going faster than the speed of sound.  You would like it.  Well I better close for now.  I’ll write later.

Love, Ted