March 4, 1954

Mar 4, 1954
Thursday

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I guess by the letter you got before this one that I made cpl.  I said something in the letter about t and before I mailed it I found out for sure so I put it on the envelope.  I was told by the platoon leader that I was Cpl.  I am sure glad I made it.  It means about $135 per month and 77 dollars for you.  I was lucky to get it.  I got it just in time.  Otherwise it would have been awhile yet.  I have plenty of time now to try for Sgt.  I made PFC in 2 1/2 months and cpl in about 3 months.  So I am ahead of most of the guys.  Most of the guys are here about 8 months before they make cpl.  During the war they made it faster of course.

I got three letters today. Feb 24, 25, 26.  I still haven't got any letter from you that said anything about me being back.  I should get one of those letters before long.  Johnnie said something in his letter about moving but he didn't say he bought a house.  I think it is OK.  I haven't heard anything from Jim and Rosalyn.  I should be hearing from them before long.  If I do I will let you know.

I remember the dust storms they had in the 30s.  I remember the sky was red one time.  I looked out of the window in Sedalia and saw the red sky.  I was little I guess but that is one of the things I can remember and I often think of it among other things. (note: now there is little piece of history.)

Glad you like your smoking jacket.  When I go back to Japan I will send you a nice lighter and whatever else I think you would like.

We had a USO show today.  It was pretty good.  I took some pictures of it.  I heard Marlyn Monroe got a slight case of pneumonia .  I guess they can take the cold over here.  I notice they wrap up quite a bit to trey to stay warm.  The are just not use to it.

We had our hike the other day.  It was more like 15 miles than 10 and it was over hills and rice patties.  It was sure a march.  I don't know if going over the hills or through the rice patties  was worse.

Well don't know much more to say, so I'll close for now.
Lots of Love, Ted

The pictures I sent were taken on our overnight problem and the water fall was on the way back.

March 3, 1954

Wed.  March 3, 54

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I got a letter from Mom Feb 23

I haven't heard any more about Ree sending more troops to China.  He has 16 Div.  He has troops on the front line.  In fact he has more than the US I think.  He still has a lot of troops in the rear training area etc.  They live in tents all over Korea but they don't live good as the US any place they are.

What I was refering to was that if they have troops to spare why not reduce the UN troops.  They told us that in Sasebo.  They said to write home and have the people or organizatios write the president.  I don't know much more about it than that.  Time will change everything I guess.

I don't know of anything I need at the present time in packages.  I am pretty well fixed on everything.

I got the letter of commandation you sent back.  I don't need the certificate.  You keep it.  I have another one form Eta Jima.

Hope you have been gettig the pictures I have been sending.  I still have a lot more to send and another roll to develop.

Haven't heard anymore about moving.  I don't think it will be this Saturday.  It should be this month.

We didn't do much of anything today.  Had a class on the history of the 5th RCT.

I heard some good news today.  The company clerk said the Regt called down and said they could make one cpl out of the company and one PFC.  The clerk said the old man made me a cpl but it wasn't signed yet.  He said I will know tomorrow.  So I am keeping my figers crossed.  Look for cpl on my next letter.

Well I don't know much more to say. We have a USO show tomorrow afternoon.  I will write you later.

Lots of Love, Ted

March 1, 1954

March 1, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Had a letter yesterday (21) and today (22) from Dad.  Glad to hear everything is going good at home.  Guess you have been having your share of colds.  I guess I don't know Charline McCord you wrote about.  Who was she and do I know her.

Did you say you claimed Snapper.  I understood you to say you did.  Did you ask Browning if I could make out a tax return.  I know who you meant, Elmer. I thnk his name is Frank Franklin.  I remember when he came into the army.  Where in Japan was he stationed. (note: this paragraph is confusing to me, but it is put down just like he had it.)

We went out today and fired our weapons for zero.  That is about it.  Tomorrow we go on a ten mile march with full field packs and tomorrow night we have a night field problem.  I probably wont get a chance to write tomorrow.

I am sendig you a piece out of the Stars and Stripes about the 5th RCT.  It is a story of what those problems were like that we went on every week for awhle.  Thought you might like to read about it.  The latest is that we are going to move Saturday, March 7.  But where I don't know.  It is a rumor that we are going to Pusan.  I am sure we are going to move but I don't know where or when for sure.  If I find out I'll let you know but they will probably not tell us till after we move.  So if you don't get any mail for a few days you can bet we are moving.

Well don't know much more so will close.
Lots of Love, Ted

Feb 27, 1954

Sat.  Feb 27, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I got the big package today with all the good things to eat, smoke, and drink.  The package got here in good shape.  I opened the Italian sausage up.  The paper under the tine foil was molded.  I asked Simonie what it was and he said it was nothing.  We scraped it off and ate it.  It was OK and tasted good.  Simonie said it always does that but doesn’t hurt the meat.  He gets it all the time from home.  That kind of food is all he eats at home.  We snacked all afternoon on cheese, sausage, and crackers.  I am going to start on the fruit cake tonight.

I also got a letter from Dad today (Feb 20.)  Sounds like we are getting the rain you had.  It has been raining all day and last night.  It may be the start of the rainy season.

We had an inspection today in the tent of all the clothes.  I had an extra duffel bag full of things.  I took it over the hill and hid it till after the inspection.  I got a lot of socks, fatigues, and shorts when I came back through Sasebo.  In fact I got a whole issue of clothes there.  When I came back here I kept what I wanted and turned the rest in.  I am well fixed on short and t-shirts.  I have about 8 pairs of wool socks too.  I won’t have to worry for awhile.  I know the boys in supply pretty good and they always fix me up with anything new I need.  I got an extra field jacket out of them yesterday.

No more news on rotation or moving so I don’t know much more to say.  I’ll write you again before long.  Haven’t heard from Jim since they moved to Springfield.  How about you.

Lots of Love, Ted

Thanks for the package.

Feb 26, 1954

Fri. Feb 26, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I got a letter from Mom today dated Feb 19 with a picture that Snapper drew.  You said you got a letter form me that I wrote at Sasebo.  I stayed about a week there.  I was sure glad to leave.  I didn’t see anyone when I was at Pusan.  I was only there a little while.  I tried to call Arkie but he was on R&R.  I didn’t know whether Don Underwood would still be in Pusan or not because the 24 Div is moving to the north to take the 45 Div place. 

We haven’t done much all day but work around the area.  The Captain told us today that there is a new rotation system.  I think they to many men going home and that had only a short time to go and they had to assign them to a new unit for only a little while (like Carlin T.)  Now they will keep you here till you have less than 90 days to go before you are discharged.  If you are supposed to rotate 5 months before your discharge they will send you home 7 months before discharge.  So if you have 5 months less to do they will extend you one more month and discharge you when you get to the states.

I don’t think it will bother me either way.  They will probably change it before my time anyway.

Haven’t got any packages today, on the one letter.  Well I guess I will close for now.  I’ll write you again later.

Lots of Love, Ted

Feb 25, 1954

Thursday Feb 25, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I got a letter from Dad last (Feb 18) night and a package (Feb 17) with two spice cakes.  One is gone already.  They sure were good and tasted like they just came out of the over.  Fresh as the day you baked them.  I haven’t got any mail today.  May get some later on tonight.

I got a letter from JQ yesterday.  I just wrote him a letter.

It has rained all day and all last night.  Most rain I have seen since I have been over here.  It isn’t cold.

We had classes most of the day.  This afternoon we had to dig around our tent more so the water wouldn’t wash the tent away.  I took a shower tonight.  The first one I have had since I left Sasebo.  I think I am catching another cold myself.  I guess you are having real good weather in KC now. 

You read the news about Marilyn Monroe I guess.  The 5^th went up in trucks to the 40 Div before I got back.  I didn’t get to see her, sure whish I did.  Might get another chance later on. (note: I have noticed dad is beginning to repeat himself.)

I talked to a boy who works in the orderly room.  He said Captain Book put me in for Cpl in Jan and Feb and I was turned down at Regt HQ because I didn’t have enough time as a PFC.  You are supposed to have 2 months in grade to get it.  I might make if this month if I get put in for in (March.)  They have more Cpls than they need right now, so it doesn’t look so good.

How do you like the pictures I have been sending home.  I still have a lot more.  Guess I’ll just send a few in each letter.  I didn’t realize I went so long with out writing any letters.  It is hard to write when you travel because each day you are thinking you are goin to leave where you are so you don’t write.  You should get them more regular from now on.

Well not much more new.  I’ll write you again later on.

Lots of Love, Ted

Feb 24, 1954

Wed Feb 24, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I got a couple of letters (15 and 16^th) one yesterday and one today.  Sounds like you are having some nice weather.  Sure is nice here today.  Just like spring.

We trained some yesterday with the mortar and had a night problem last night.  This morning we had PT.  We ran a long way and I am sure tired out.  We cleaned stoves this afternoon and later we go take showers.  Nothing on tonight that I know of.

I haven’t received any of the packages you sent except the ones that were waiting. (the two boxes of cookies)  They sure were good and I am looking forward to the ones that are on the way.

I am sure the 5^th is going to move and I don’t know where or when.  There are three rumors.  One to Pusan, one to I Corps.  The other is to relieve a Greek outfit on the line.  Hope it is to Pusan. 

The rank drops where in today. (note: I guess there were certain time frames when ranks were submitted and decided.)  I don’t know whether the Platoon Sgt put me in for Cpl or not.  We have more Cpls now  than we need and I doubt if I was put in.  I am sure disgusted with the way things are now.  I wouldn’t mind getting into something else but I don’t know what.  It is fairly easy to transfer now. 

I am glad you like your robe etc. that I sent from Japan.  When I go on R&R I’ll send more things.  I am keeping the list you sent and am going to take it with me when I go.  I should go in April sometime but since all these new men came in the company I maybe longer in going.  We have 285 men in the Co now.  We are over strength. 

How did you like the pictures I have been sending.  Kepp them all and when I get home I can have something to remember about the Army, good and bad.  (note: for someone who took so many pictures so few remain.)  Well don’t know much more to write about so I will close.

Lots of Love, Ted