Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Greetings

If by chance this is the first time you have stumbled across this blog perhaps an explanation is in order.

My dad, Teddy Stone McAnally was drafted in December of 1952.  He like many of his generation was not eager to go, but back then the alternatives and consequences of not going were socially unacceptable and more criminal than now.  He went albeit a reluctant warrior.

He mailed my grandmother, his mother, a letter almost everyday while he was in the army and she seems to have kept them all.  He later went through them and put them in chronological order and upon his death bequeathed them to me. 

They sat around my house for a few years with out me looking them over until I retired.  I began to read them and found them interesting from several view points.  One, I was able to gain some insight into what he was thinking about and how he looked at things when he was a 24 and 25 year old man.  I got a little feeling about how it must have been to be swept into a conflict a world away that he had no idea why it was happening and how the army operated back then.  He also provided some social history of Korea during the occupation, how the GI's felt and what he thought about things going on back home.  There were also some family matters that given his perspective then became more clear to me today.

A friend of mine kept encouraging me to start a blog based on something similar he had read about concerning WW I from a guy in England.  The task seemed a little daunting but eventually I got my grandson to help me figure out how to blog so I began.

The first few entries are a little confusing because some of the letters if read as posted are not in order, but I eventually got the hang of it and later on even posted some pictures.  I decided not to do any editing so what is read is what was and how it was written.  Dad though pretty smart was not a literary giant.

So there you are.  Probably the only ones that may find any of what dad wrote will be family members and some hardcore social and military historians, but they are a treasure to me.

March 7, 1954

Sunday  March 7, 1954

How is everything at home.  I got a letter today, March 1.  It was the one that you mailed after you got my letter I wrote back in the company.  Yes, I have been in Korea 6 months today.  I hope I have to stay over six months more if that long.  I am not a squad leader now and I feel that the guys who took over the squad leader jobs deserved it over me especially when I was just a PFC.  I would expect a cpls job if I were to go to another outfit now.  That's the way the army does things.  I still made cpl and I will get the job back as soon as there is an opening.

I would think you would have got more than $130 back for claiming Snapper.  Let me know when you find out about my tax return.  You will get about 77 dollars a month now for Sapper instead of 51.30.  Let me know about that too.  You should get it for the month of March whenever you get that check and if you don't it should be on the next month.  You should get the back pay also.  I should get around$135 myself.  I may start an allotment for $50 to send you to save.  I don't know yet.

The pearls I saw in Japan are what they call cultured or cultivated pearls.  They are real pearls o they make them by putting something i the oysters and putting them back i the waster and leave them.  I don't know whether you want them or not. 

There isn't much hurry about sending any money yet for I can't go on R&R till April and I may put it off till May.  It will be nice then.  I'll let you know.

I have about $60 saved up now and I'll and I'll have a $100 payday to go with it. 

I don't know much more about moving.  The place I told you about is where they had the red prisoners.  If  we go down there we will be doing guard, PT, and drill.  We will most likely have better living conditions.  I heard today that we are going back there to go to Hawaii.  I don't think there is much to that.  If we leave Korea we will most likely go there.  In a couple of months we should we should know something.

Today has been nice but a little cold.  We went out and fired today for zero and practice for the rifle team.  I hope I ca make it.  In time they will pick 10 men for the team.  I think I have a good chance to make it.

Semonie went out today with me.  I read in the 5RCT paper that I sent you that they have a Christian Science service over here someplace in the Regt, Target Chapel.  I don't know where it is but I might go some Sunday.  I haven't been to church since I have been over here.  I should go I guess.  I thought you might like to read the paper I sent.  It tells about the Boy's Town and 5th RCT history.

Well don't have much more to say for now, so I will close.  I will write again soon.
Lots of Love, Ted

Monday, August 29, 2011

March 6, 1954

Saturday Mar 6, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I got a box today from you.  It had the pecan delights, Carmel's, and rum and maple.  I am smoking the rum and maple and eating the candy.  I sure enjoy everything.  That sure is good candy.

Haven't done much of anything.  We had a parade this morning.  We also had an inspection yesterday in ranks.  I hadn't had my stripes sewed on yet.  He told me the next time he saw me that he wanted to see them on.  So last night I sewed them on my field jacket.

Word came today that we are moving the first of April to three different places.  The Regt will be split up.  The places are Pusan, Kojedo, Chge-do.  Kojedo is right off the coast of Pusan. Chge-do is along somewhere there too.  I am not sure how they will spell that name.  It is pronounced Cheayes-do.  I don't know where we will be moving to.  In fact I am just going to forget it till we move.  They may change it or anything.

Today we had anyone go out for the Regt rifle team who wanted to.  I thought I would try out for it.  They did not fire today just talked to us.  One of our Lt is in charge of the team or the men trying for it.  We go out tomorrow and fire.  I hope I can make the team.  It will be a good deal.  If everything goes OK they may go against other teams in the Far East, Japan, etc. and later on in August or Sept go to the National meat in Ohio.  They want people who will be here till October or after so it s just right for me.  That would be a nice trip to before I go home.  I could have time to stop in KC on the way to Ohio. But that is a long way off.  They said this morning might slow things up a bit.  We will probably fire quite a bit for several weeks before they pick the team.  I should be able to make it if I fire like I did in basic.  It has been quite awhile since I shot for record.

The letter I got today was the one you wrote in the car on the way down town.  Well not much to news.  The sun is shining and it is warm in the sun but the wind is cold.  Will write again soon.
Lots of Love, Ted

Saturday, August 27, 2011

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.

Friday, August 26, 2011

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

Thursday, August 25, 2011

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

Monday, August 22, 2011

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.