New Years Eve, 1953

                                                                                              

New Years Eve, 53

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well I got a lot to say so I will start with the letter I got today from Dad.  The one you wrote Xmas even.  It sure was a nice letter.  The mornings have been cold here but the day warms up some.  Wed don’t keep our stoves on here.  It gets so cold the water in our waster cans freeze right here in our tent over night. 

This morning our company went on a moose patrol. We broke up into 9 patrols and went out in the hills.  Today is pay day and they wanted to catch them.  We caught 3 moose and one Chigee. (Note: remember that moose were Korean prostitutes and I am not sure what Chigee were.)  I took my camera and was going to take some pictures but when I saw them I changed my mind.  They were sure ugly.

We had the afternoon off again.  Today my grades came in from the school.  Sgt Miller is acting as First Sgt while our regular one is on R&R.  The Battalion Training Officer called up and said they wanted one man for Instructor School at Eta Jima Japan.  Sgt Miller turned my name into the Old Man right away and at noon he told me what he had done.  I said it sounded like a good deal.  After lunch they called me over to the company CP and talked to me.  Lt Anderson, whose wife lives in Kansas City, said he put a good word in for me at Battalion and said I could go probably.  So I went down to the Bn HQ at 3:00 and talked to the S-3 officer and there were two other guys who had been picked from other companies.  He turned on man down who had on 6 months to go and he sent him back.  I think he had planned to send me all along.  He told this boy who was left to tell how many fingers he had open under his desk and boy said 1.  The Captain said no, I had two open so McAnally you will go.  I was sure surprised.  He was the same officer who sent me to the NCO School.  The company had put in a good word and he remembered that I came out 3^rd in school so he wanted to send me. 

The school is at camp Eta Jima in Japan.  The same place that Zink went to CBR school on the way over.  It is the Far East Command School Center.  The course is Instructor Training, the same as I had in the NCO School.  It lasts for 2 weeks.  They said I would leave January 18 and take a train to Pusan and then a boat to Japan.  I will be gone a month or 4 weeks.  When I get back I will soon be on R&R.  So I have a couple of months gone before I know it.  I will give classes probably like I did in NCO school on probably more.  It is good that I came in good shape in NCO school.  It has helped more ways than one.  I’ll let you know more about it later on.

I haven’t seen the Old Man much.  He has been going to some kind of a school himself.

I got paid today and only got $68 as a pvt.  I should have gotten $93 and as a PFC $108.  I don’t know what was wrong.  If you could send me about $25 by money order so I could get it before I go to Japan I would appreciate it.  May be even $50.  I might see something I want to send home or something.  If I don’t spend it I will have it for R&R anyway.  It only takes a week to get your mail as a rule so I would just about get if before I go to Japan.  If not they will forward it to Japan.  Better not send any packages as they may get lost.  It will sure be funny to wear OD uniforms and not fatigues.  Not much going on here tonight.  No one is drunk yet.  I think I will go to the show.  I’ll write you more later and let you know the news.  We are going on a 24 hour problem Monday night so I probably won’t get a chance to write.

Love, Ted

December 29, 1953

Tues  Dec 29, 1953

Dear Folks

Well it was sure cold this morning.  It wont be long till winter will be here for good.

We trained some this morning and this afternoon we had a USO Show.  Remember the picture I saw at NCO School I told you about.  Gary Cooper in “Return to Paradise.”  Well the girl that played as his wife was here, Roberta Haynes.  Did you see that picture.  If you did you will remember she danced for Gary C.  They got a guy out of the crowd and he sat on the stage and she did the same dance.  There was also a girl that played in the picture with Marlyn Monroe in the picture “How to Marry a Millionaire.”  I for got her name.  They were all stars.  I took some pictures of the show.  I hope they turn out good.

(note: pick one, Betty Grable or Lauren Becall)

I am going to send a picture album the next time I am someplace to get one.  The Japs make some pretty ones.  You can put all the pictures I have in it from basic on. (note:  I have a Japanese picture album that he brought back, very nice one, but alas no pictures.)

How do you like the bowls I sent.  You never did say mom.(note: I have some of them also.)  Hope you like the other things I sent.  Let me know about the robe, how it fits etc.  I thought I would send some more stuff sometime. 

I got an Xmas cards from Sears and Keiths.  I also got 2 letters from you.  Dec 21 and 23. 

That dog you got at the bridge club sounds cute.  Don't think I have ever seen one before.  To bad Jan told Snapper about Santa Clause.  You would think she would have waited till after Xmas.  He will probably tell the other kids now.  The fudge you made was sure good.  So were the whiskey balls.  So far I have had only one box with shoe dye in it.  I got that at school.  No hurry about the dye yet.  I haven’t heard from Jim yet about the baby.  Do you know what they named it.  I thought you would go to Evelyn and Harley’s for Xmas.  I don’t see why you and Marian can’t make up (note: Marian was my grandmothers foster sister, I guess they had an argument.  I remember something about that.  There was always a little jealously there.  Mama always resented the fact that Mother Stone, her Foster Mother, adopted Marian and not her.  Evelyn was also a Foster Sister of both Mama and Marian.  They must have made up because when I was older we were around them now and then.)  I don’t think it is right that you and her should get along the way you do.  I told you I had a letter from her didn’t I with 5 dollars in it? (note: I remember now, Mother Stone gave Mama and Baba the house they lived in on

Lake Drive

.  Mama had Mother Stone come live with her when Mother Stone could not take care of her self and ended up dieing there.  Marian was left with all the money and Mama did not think it was fair.)

Sounds like you are having quite a snow there.  What’s new about the peace talks.  I heard something about reducing the force over here.  Don’t know much about it yet.  I think they will have to do something.

So far the squad leader job is OK.  I had a detail working around the area after the USO Show today.  Have you heard from Sgt Gritizie yet?  I hope he calls you up or something.  I sure miss him.  He was a swill guy to me.  He helped put me where I am.  In fact I have his squad now. 

Well don't know much more .  Hope you have a good New Year’s eve.  Don’t know what we will do yet.  Happy New Year.

Love, Ted

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