January 15, 1954

Fri Jan 15, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad and Snapper

I got your letter today with the money order and the picture.  The pictures sure are good.  The picture of Snapper was good too.  I noticed he had his PFC stripe on up side down.  It should look like this ^.  I may not need the 60 dollars but I will have it just in case.  They have not really said anymore about going and probably wont till it’s time to go. 

The lighter you spoke about.  Just what kind is it?  I have seen a lot of lighters with different things on them.  Pictures of Jap houses, and boats etc.  and some names of Japan or something like that.  They are made like Ronson lighters.  I’ll send something home anyway.

I am sorry about the mix up on the robe.  I kind of felt bad about it.  I’ll send some more home.  I guess you wear a med rather than a small and Dad would probably wear one that would fit me.  I sure wish they would have sent the black robe.  Hope the other things I sent get there before long.  I know you will like them.  They are not expensive things but pretty and different. (note: I remember some of the items he is talking about.  Two items I recall were boxes with secret compartments.  You had to move sliding boards in certain ways and certain sequences to get it to open.  All the family (aunts and uncles) spent many nights trying to figure it out.  There was also a wooden ball that was easy to take apart but very hard to put back together.)

No I didn’t see Terry Morris here.  She was called away.  I read an article in Stars and Stripes.  It didn’t say why.  She was sticking her neck out to do something like that around here. (note: not sure what he is talking about.)  She didn’t get to this area.  That girl you say that danced.  That could have been Roberta Haynes.  She did kind of a native dance and a guy was sitting on the stage.  She danced for him.  She had a low cut dress and didn’t have a brazier on.  They took a move picture of it and the of the crowd.  It was outside and in the same area that the picture I sent of the Roy Acuff Show.  I think I told you about it. (note: he had already mentioned it in a previous letter.)  It was right after Xmas.

May be by now you have seen Hill or Gretizer.  They should call.  Hope Dad gets over his flue.  I know how it is.

I wrote McDonalds a line thanking them for the candy. 

Had a usual day to day and tonight saw Spencer Tracy in a show. He was an old sailor and it was about his little girl wanting tobe an actress.  You probably saw it.  Well I’ll write later on.

Love, Ted

January 14, 1954

Thurs  Jan 14, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I had a letter today from Dad.  Jan 6.  That ship, the Marine Lynx, was the one I went from Sasebo Japan to Inchon Korea on.  It sure is a nice ship.  The names you picked out were the right ones.  Have you heard from them yet?

Hope you cold gets better Dad.  I don’t have one now.  Seems like I always get a little one.

It sure was bad about the baby.  I guess Jim really is going into business.  Hope he makes out OK. 

About that robe.  It wasn’t the same one I ordered.  I sent a black one with gold trim.  Guess they didn’t have any of those left in stock when they filled the order so they sent that one.  I thought a sent a medium.  I guess Mom wears a small one.  When I got to Japan I will send a man’s robe and another women’s robe.  A med for a man and a small for a woman.  I sent you a birthday gift down at school.  Hope you get it close to your birth day.

I thought I told you about the Xmas card you sent.  They were sure nice.  My thumb by the way is OK now.  I will probably lose my nail.  It is all black but it doesn’t hurt anymore.  It hurt at first about like my finger did that time I broke it at work.

May be by some chance I will run into Richard in Japan.  It could be but I will probably be there and gone again by the time he gets there.  He might be at Camp Stoneman at least a week and it will take two weeks to get to Sasebo.  I could run into him on my way back to Korea.  I’ll keep my eyes open anyway.

I have been wondering about the income tax.  I am not worried about my self because the army will tell me if I have to fill out a return.  I have been wondering if you still are going to claim Snapper on you return.  You had planned on it.  I think you can.  I haven’t claimed him in the army and I did at Westinghouse for the time I was there.  So let me know what the out come is. 

It has snowed all day today.  We had our usual training today.  We are going to have a parade Sat and we have practice this afternoon.  Snow, mud and all.  It hasn’t been to cold the last day or two.  It has snowed several times lately but doesn’t seem to last.  I think there may be a good one.  The bad weather gets here in Feb, March, and April.  Squad leader’s job is OK so far.  Hope I can make section leader when the one we have now goes home.  There is a good chance of it.  It will either be Guthemiller or I unless we get a Sgt from Germany or the States... They always get the jobs before us because they are RA and have twice in grade and in the army.  I should be hearing from you about my going to Japan.  May be in you next letter. 

No news on the troops leaving here.  From what I can put together it seems as though a peace will go through if Sigmound Rhee doesn’t up set things.  I have never seen him yet.  I think he is afraid to come up in this part myself.  There are a lot of people who would shoot him it they had the chance.  They sure are making money off of us.  Have more now than they ever had.  They black market counterfeit etc, ROCK corporals here make 30 cents in our money a month.  If they could make just a couple of dollars a month off us you can see how much money they would have.  They think they are rich if we pay them for doing something.

Well not much more to say.  I’ll write you later on.

Love, Ted

January 13, 1954

Wed Jan 13, 1954 

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

No mail yet today.  Wed didn’t do anything all day today.  We had a class this afternoon on the M1 and an inspection at 4:30.  That’s about it.

The new boy seems like a nice guy.  He is 23 and has spent 4 years in college – zoology.  He is a Greek and is married.  He went to the CBR School at Eta Jima and said there were 26 other schools there.  He also said that it use to be a Japanese Naval Academy and you live like kings there.  No details or guard and the food is excellent.  There is a town outside of the camp.  He went to Hiroshima one time on a pass.  He also had two silk scarves he bought.  They were Georgett silk, real fine and you could see through it.  One was black; the other was a bright red.  They both had hand painted scenery on them.  He said there were all different kinds.  I think one of the things you said you wanted was a scarf, China, linens, pearls.  Send me a list of everything you want and the description on a separate sheet of paper and when I get it I will put it in my billfold.  I might not be any place to get everything you want but I will when I go on R&R.  He said the pearls were $15 and up.  They call them cultured pearls. 

The island is called Kure, that is where Eta Jima is, it is very small.  There are two islands together between two main islands in a bay.  Look on the map you have.  I will tell you about the trip as I go along of course.

I also saw another map of Korea.  Look on your map of Korea and see if there is a town called Chorwon and a town called Kumhwa.  We are located in the area between those two towns and a little south.  I think this area here is the farthest north the US is and the area is called Chip o Ri and Chorwon Valley.  Either one.  (note: Dad was still not sure exactly where he was in Korea, or at least not enough to plot on a map.  Sounds strange, but I guess it is true.)

Eta Jima is close to Hiroshima where they dropped the A-bomb. 

Have you ever heard the record “China Night?”  They sure play that a lot over here.  It is all Jap music though.  I am going to send some of those records home if I can.  They put them on 45. (note: it was a Rumba of some sort.)  I think there is a popular record company called Min is si.  That means I Am Sorry.  I know you hve heard that before.  Only it is English.  I got a box today from McDonald.  It was a box full of Stover’s Candy, 2 libs.  It sure is good. 

I wrote JQ, Evelyn and Jim, Edith and Quinton (note: cousin, aunts and uncles) today and thanked them for the box they sent and sent them a picture of me at school.

Alino Simonie the Italian friend of mine who I gave the cross word book to wrote Marilyn (note: the young neighbor) a letter today.  I read the letter.  It was a nice letter.  I wonder what her mother will think.  She must have wanted a letter because she had her address on the book.

I woter Marian a letter yesterday and sent a picture.  She wanted one of me in uniform.

 I haven’t heard any news about anyone moving out lately.  It will probably be about two more months before it happens and we may hear some news after the 22^nd if things go OK. 

I have been looking for the letter with the money order in it. It should be here right away if you sent it soon as you heard.  I’ll be here till Sunday at least.

How are Jim and Rosalyn doing now?  I don’t ever hesitate about writing any thing in your letters because what you say is interesting and I like to know everything good or bad.  I don’t worry about anything over here.  Doesn’t do any good because there is nothing I can do about it 7000 miles away.

Well I have run out of something to write about.  I will write again soon.

Love, Ted

(Note:  it just occurred to me that Dad was the only one of the Cousins, thus nephews that was drafted or even served in the military.  None of the uncles served, and come to think of it my grandfather and I are the only ones who did serve other than Dad.  It was a big deal for the entire family.  That is one reason I think that his aunts and uncles kept in contact with them.  They undoubtedly worried about him because I remember the family back

January 12, 1954

Tuesday Jan 12, 1953  

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well we got back OK today.  I sure was glad to get back.  We really walked a lot in the last two days and did some mountain climbing.  We just laid around all afternoon yesterday.  We didn’t pitch tents.  Just slept on the ground.  It got down close to zero.  We got back this afternoon and haven’t done anything.

I got a new man in my squad.  He came today and he is a Greek.  So I really have a variety. 

I was sure sorry to hear that Jim and Roslyn lost the baby.  I got your letter telling about it today.  They sure have had a bad time.  I guess they will move to Springfield right away.  (note:  I remember the baby’s death but was kept sheltered from the particulars, even the funeral.  Jim and Roslyn did move to Springfield where Jim sold insurance for awhile.  I guess he went to college later on and ended up being a school counselor in Webster Grove High School in Webster Groves, Missouri.  He and Roslyn soon divorced after the death of their son and I was not to see Jim for 25 years.  He and Dad stayed in touch, but not frequently.  As I have stated before Jim eventually found his way to Arkansas and was on the ground floor of Wal-Mart.  I suspect Jim is dead now but I have not idea.)  How come Jan let them take her car to Springfield.  Does she know them that well?

I got a letter from Marian (note: my grandmother’s estranged foster sister) she said something about Charlie changing jobs if things did not work out at the Gas Company.  Seems like they sold to another firm.  She writes nice letters and I enjoy reading them.  They are jolly like.  (note:  I guess Charlie, Marian’s husband, did get things straightened out.  He retired from the Kansas City Gas Company as their CEO many years later.  He was a graduate engineer from KU and went to work for the Gas Company digging ditches right out of college.)

I went to the show tonight and saw “Mission Over Korea.”  I saw it at Camp Stoneman once before.  I enjoyed seeing it anyway.  Have you seen it yet?  It shows a lot of Korea. 

It won’t be long now till I will be on my way to Japan.  I hope so.  As far as I know now I will be leaving on the 18^th of Jan, next Monday.

I read the slip about the ships coming into Calif.  I didn’t know anyone. 

Have you ever heard from Gretiger or Hill. 

I still haven’t received the package from McDonald yet.  They must have sent it regular mail but I should have had it by now.  It has been quite a while since you said that they sent one.  I hope it gets here before I go to Japan.  How long has it been? 

I guess by the time you get this letter, Dad, your birthday will be over.  I know you had a good one.  Happy Birth Day again. (note: my Grandfather was turning 49 that year) although it might be a little over.

Well I don’t have much more to write about for now, so I will close.  I will write again tomorrow.

Lots of Love, Ted

January 11, 1954

Jan 11, 1954

Dear Dad

I would like to send you a card and something for you birthdayt but I have been unable to do it.  So I will just write a “happy birthday” on this letter.  Next year I will be home and we can make a big deal of it.  So here is to the best Dad in the world.

Happy Birthday

Your Son with live, Ted

(note: knowing my grandfather he cried when he read this.  Being in the army himself at one time he more than my grandmother realized what joys, sorrows, and lonliness such a situation can have on a young man.)

January 10, 1954

Sunday Jan 10, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I thought I would write a line tonight because I wont have a chance again till Tuesday.  We are going out in the morning and wont be back till Tuesday afternoon.

We had a shake down inspection today and a weapons inspection.  They were looking for pistols, etc.  They did not fine any that I know of anyway. (note: It was not uncommon for GIs to come across pistols on the battle field, the enemy’s or ours, and keep them for souvenirs or trade them among one another.  It was against the rules of course and returning soldiers were threatened by imprisonment if they tried to sneak guns home. That is why the old guys would sell or trade with the new guys.  Many weapons got back here anyway.)

We turned our mortars in to be worked on and if our rifles were in bad shape they had to be turned in and fixed up too.

I went to the show this afternoon and saw “Little Boy Lost.”  It sure was a good picture wasn’t it. 

I got a letter from a guy who forgot to give it to me before I left for NCO School.  It was dated Nov 24.  It was a little late.  I still enjoyed reading it.

I still haven’t gotten the package McDonald's sent yet.  I think it is the only one I haven’t got yet. (note: I guess he got the one eventually that Jim Rountree sent, that he kept saying he never got.)  You said in that letter that Donald Underwood was stationed in Sasebo and was in Korea and sent back to Sasebo on a troop train.  There isn’t any railroad that run to Japan from Korea.  It is a long way and the only way to get from here to there is by air or water.

I didn’t get any mail today, hope I get some tonight.

About a week from today I will be on my way to Japan.  I hope so.  Probably by the time you get this letter.  I haven’t heard anything from you about you knowing I am going.  It hasn’t been long enough I guess.  I guess the 18^th may be a good time to be away from this place.  The 22^nd might be a big deal here if old Sigmon Ree get mad.  I don’t know much of what will happen.  I don’t think anyone knows.

I didn’t do anything last night but fool around all night.  They had TV shorts at the show so I didn’t go.

I think I will go to bed early tonight.  I want to back all my clothes up tonight and be ready in the morning to go.  I think we are going to leave about 8 am ind its about 7 miles from here to where we are going.

How is everything at work.  Tell them hello for me. 

I read in Stars and Stripes that the Police Chief in St. Louis pleaded not guilty to stealing the money in the Greenlease case. (note: that is the kidnapping that was mentioned earlier.)  I also read that the army is trying to figure out a new uniform for EM (note: enlisted men.)  Have you read anything about that.  If you have let me know.

Well I don’t have much more to write about now so I will close.  Hope to get a letter form you tonight.

Love, Ted