March 16, 1954

Mar 16, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I got two letters today, Mar 9 and 10.  I was glad to get them.  I don't know whether or not I can get a W2 form from the army or not but I'll look into it the first chance I get.  That is OK if you have the money in your bank account.  I was just wondering about it.  Don't worry about the interest, I don't want any.  I would just as soon you had the money using it as to have it laying in the bank.  That picture is of Sgt Buldion I sent home. He is a fried of mine and went through the same course I did.  He is not in my outfit.  He is an air force man not a soldier. We had some good times together.  His home is in Colorado.  He is a 20 year man. 

I got a kick about what you said about mailing the package.  Better be careful. (note: my grandfather must have said something about sending alcohol or something.)

When I get back to Japan I'll mail some more scarfs.  I didn't see any white ones like the ones I had but I can probably find one.

Well here is the latest on moving.  Just rumors.  We are going to Pusan to pull guard at a warehouse dock and later move around some.  I hear we will move about the 29th of this month.  So that is about it for now.



Well I am squad leader again.  The Lt (platoon leader) put me in charge of a 57 Recoiless Rifle squad.  I don't know anything about 57s and I don't like them to much but I took the job anyway.  The cpl that had the ob was from the 45 div.  He was asleep one night and the other guys in the tent were drinking beer and making noise at night and the old man came up and had to shut them up.  He busted a couple of guys and took the squad leader off his job.  I don't think it was his fault but that is the way it goes.  The same might happen to me.  I am in charge of the tent and everything else.  I will have to move to the next tent now.  Will let you know more later.
Lots of Love, Ted

March 15, 1954

Mar 15, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Not much new to write about but I thought I would write a line anyway.  I had a 10 man detail today at the Regt supply.  Didn't do hardly any work.  That is about it for today.  Tomorrow we turn in some of out winter clothes.  Parka and liners and a few other small items like wool scarf, mittens, hood etc.  I'll have plenty of room in my bay after I get rid of that Parka.  They are sure puttig out a lot of guards around the Regt.  They just about trippled the guarad becasue of the farmers are starting to come up in this part of the country now to farm.  I think that is why we are going to move.  I haven't seen any farmers moving up here as yet but will in the next few days probably.

I got a valintine from Jim and Roslin today from Springfield but no letter or note was on it. 

In a way I will be glad to move and in a way I wont.  I am kind of use to this place but we will have better living conditions in or around Pusan.  I heard today that we may be moving back to Hawaii in a few months.  I sure hope so.  It would be nice to spend the rest of my time there.  If they do they might take us back as it would still be overseas duty.  But if they would go back to the state they would most likely leave us here like the 45 did.  Well I don't have much more to write about so I will close.  I will write you again later.
Love, Ted

March 14, 1954

Mar 14, 1954

Dear Snapper

I thought I would write you a letter and send you some cpl stripes.  You can have Mama put these on your jacked in place of the PFC stripes.  I hope you are over the mumps now ad your back in school.  Mama said you sent me some comic books in a package.  I'll be glad to get them.  Everyone in the tend reads them.  How do you like the robe I sent you from Japan.  When I get back there I'll send you another one of some kind.  I sure miss you a lot and think of you all the time.  Wish I could see you.
Lots of Love
From your Daddy


March 14, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I haven't written any letters for the last two days because there hasn't been much to write about.  Haven't done anything and haven't heard any more about moving.  The mail has been slow for the last couple days.  I didn't get any mail the last two days.  I should get some today.  As far as I know we are still moving about the first of April.  The captain said something about our guarding the mines yesterday.  He said he didn't think we would.  So we will probably not be split up from the rest of the Bn.  I think we will still be close to Pusan though.  The ROCK soldiers are starting to move out of the Regt now.  They are going back to their ROCK armies.  They are send only a few at a time.  Lee Con Say in the 4th Platoon is going tomorrow.  He use to be in my squad. 

I haven't been feeling very good for the last few days.  My stomach has been upset for some reason.  Wish I could feel better.  I was going to go to church today but after breakfast I laid down and went to sleep again and didn't get up in time.  We had an inspection yesterday by the Bn Commander, Major Plott.  It didn't amount to much. 

The weather has been cold the last few days.  It snowed this morning but it didn't last long. 

They are going to have a lot of guard this week.  They have started letting farmers come up to this area now.  So they will be stealing etc going on.  I haven't had any guard since I went to NCO school.  I have been lucky.  I will probably start having it now.  Well I don't know much more to say for now.  I will hold off mailing this letter till the mail comes in, may be I will get a letter or two-------------------------------------
Well I got two letters Mar 7 and 8.  I enjoyed the picture post card.  Sound like everything is normal at home.  You were asking about when I was going to be home.  The way it was before  I was supposed to rotate about Nov.  That would make me 14 months using the 4 points I had.  The new deal says anyone who is to rotate 4 months before they are to be discharged will be extended one month here in Korea and when they return to the states they would be discharged when they arrive.  In other words they would get out in less than two years.  Like Carlen Tabutt.  The other deal would be that anyone who is to rotate with over 4 months or near 5 months will be sent home 7 months early and stay in the army in the states till their original discharge.  The other deal is they would stay here in Korea till they have 30 to 40 day before discharge and then send them back to the states.  I think Richard will fall into this one.  Myself in Nov.  I will have only 3 months to do so I will probably be coming home at that time.  I was to come home in Oct.  I would be extended till Nov anyway.  If it was Sept I might be coming home early but the way I see it it will be Nov.  The First Sgt said he would post a rotation list on the Board as soon as he could make it up, so when I find out I'll let you know. (note: does anyone follow this?)  Of course things can change between now and Nov. (note: they did.)  They might send all of us home.  Myself I don't think I want an early discharge as they can call you back first if you don't spend 24 months.  I would rather come home and spend 6 months in the state and stay in till ETS (discharge)

Glad you like the pictures I have been sending.  I'll be looking for the box you sent.  We may be gone by the time it gets here but they will forward it to us.  Guess Snapper is over the mumps now.  It is sure cloudy and it is really windy out now.  I hope the tent hold out tonight.  I am sending Snapper a new patch.  it is the 45th Div. One of the guys gave it to me.  Well don't have much more to write about.  Will write soon.
Love, Ted     

March 11, 1954

Mar 11, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I got a letter from Dad today (Mar 5)  Glad to hear everything is OK at the plant.  Glad you like the pictures I have been sending.  I should have some more to send in another 10 days.  So Sam Coomer is an instructor on the lie.  Tell him he had better take care of his job because I a getting some experience in that kind of work.  Just joking, but tell him hello for me anyway.

How come the sudden interest in Judo.  I don't know to much about it but I know enough to take care of myself.  The main thing is to hit first.  I got a kick out of you getting up to go to work.  I remember the time JQ and I set the alarm clock under the bed.  I think it was on New Years eve.  (note: this is a story that was often told.  Dad and his cousin set an alarm clock under the bed that my grandfather and his brother in law were sleeping in, I suspect because they were a little drunk and their wives were mad at them.  The alarm went off about 3 in the morning and my grandfather and uncle started yelling and cussing trying to crawl under the bed to turn it off.)

I got a box of cookies today. (in a can) They were chocolate chip and were sure good.

We had our bayonet class today and it went OK.  Lt Wheeler the 4th Platoon leader gave the class.  Afterward he asked me how it went according to the Method of Instruction.  I told him OK.  He came to the company when I was in school in Eta Jima.  He is airborne and from Kentucky.  He reminds me a lot of Ronnie Wheeler only he is not as dark complected. (note: the Wheelers lived up the street and I grew up with the younger cousins.)

It has been cloud today and it is trying to rain now.  We had an inspection tonight at 4:30 as usual.  Captain Book inspected the 4th Platoon.  He takes turns each night.  He asked me tonight where my home was.  I told him KCMO.  Then he asked me what kind of work my father did.  I told him you were a supervisor at Westinghouse.  That is all he said.  He has been bothering me why he asked.  If he asks anything it is usually about the army.  I can't figure out why he asked.  I felt like asking him why but I didn't. (note: having inspected soldiers in rank I know that you get tired of asking the same old questions all the time.  He was just letting the troops know he cared about them, it is an army thing.)

Not much more news about moving yet.  Some rumors.  When I learn something new I'll let you know.  Well I'll write tomorrow.  Hope Snapper's mumps are OK now.
Lots of Love, Ted

March 10, 1954

March 10, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I told you in my last letter that I was mailing some film to you but I think I am going to give it to my platoon Sgt.  He is going on R&R and he said he would take it for me.  I got the film back fro the mail man and I am going to give it to Sgt Josephson.  It will be better that way.

I got three letters from you today, Mar 2, 3, and 4 and one from Bill Anawalt.

I read in the Stars and Stripes about the Puerto Ricans causing all the trouble and shooting up the Senate.  We have some Puerto Ricans her in our company.  The Mexicans and Puerto Ricans are always fighting among one another.  I don't like the Porto Ricans very much.  Some are OK.  I get along good with the Mexicans.  You should hear them talk when they get together along with the ROCKs.  Sometimes I wonder if I am in the French Foreign Legion or something like it.

I hope Snapper gets over the mumps OK.  I thought he had them one time.  I sent another patch i the last letter.  Hope he keeps all I send and puts them on a jacket. (note: I did.)  I see some of the USO show people ware jackets with all the patches on them.  They are different.

We are a little ways from the front where we are.  If we went up there we would be right on the line and pull guard and build bunkers and trenches etc.  The company commander (Capt Book) told us today we were moving for sure and it would be between now and April 15.  The Regt will be split up.  Each Bn will have a different place and George Company has a special assignment.  We are going to guard the tungsten mines north of Pusan and pull train guard between the mines and Pusan.  The Red gorillas have been blowing up the trains etc.  It should be interesting and different.  They say they may close the mines so we might not get to do it.  Anyway we will be garrison soldiers now rather than field combat.

I will let you know how the cookies are when I get them in the regular mail.  They should be OK if they are wrapped up good.  Some of the guys get theirs and some are good and others are not.  We may be gone from here before I get them.

Glad you liked the picture I sent.  I'll have some more before long.  I think I will stay here and not transfer for awhile.  I made cpl and I think I will wait till my move and see what kind of deal we get.  We should have better living conditions there and it will be OK I think.  If we guard the mines we will be a way from the rest of the Regt and will not be harassed so much.  They say we will search all civilian employees etc.

I thought about sending you a t-pot but didn't know if you would like it or not.  I have seen them   They have complete sets.  They are not expensive either.  I still plan on going on R&R in April.  Each outfit has a different quota for sending the guys on R&R.  Some get to go every three or four months but most line companies only go once on the tour of duty over here.  The guys have been going after they have been here 8 months. I am going in about 7.  I am not in to much of a hurry to go as I just came back.  I may go twice while I am here.  I would sure like to go to Hong Kong China.  But very few get to go there.

It was OK if Marlyn didn't write Simonie.  He likes to write girls but I told him and he said it was OK. 

We didn't do much today.  I went out and fired this afternoon.  The Lt said that the moving may mess things up some.  He said that he is trying to get all the men on the rifle team TDY (temporary duty) if Col Sternburg says it is OK.  We will do nothing but be a rifle team and be all together and get to fire everyday.  It will be a good deal.  I hope it goes through OK.  He said if we get the team going we will be going to Okinawa and Japan to compete.

Tomorrow we are going to have a class on the bayonet.  I am going to be the assistant instructor and demonstrator for the officer giving the class.  I will demonstrate different movements and positions for using the bayonet.  We are having classes on bayonet and riot control, etc.

Well don't have much more to say so I will close, I'll write you again tomorrow.
Lots of Love, Ted

march 9, 1954

March 9. 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

We finished our overnight problem this morning about noon and came back this afternoon.  It was cold last night but not to bad today.  I hope this is our last overnight problem.  I am sure tired of them.

I mailed you two rolls of film tonight, you can get them developed and keep the negatives. Just get one print each and mail them back to me a little at a time.  No need to send them all at once.  I will write on them as to what they are and then send them back.  No hurry it would take to much postage to send them.  There are some pictures I took in Japan and here in our company area and on the 10 mile hike we took the other day. 

Guthmiller got back from R&R today , he spent $225 in 7 days. while he was there, he sent $100 worth of Natakee China home.  He sent 3 sets of it and it only cost $100.  I think I could send one good set home for less than that.

I don't know what we are going to do tomorrow.  I think itnthe afternoon we are going out and fire again.  A fellow told me the other day that he had heard I was pretty good with and M-1.  I asked where he heard that and he said Lt Anderson told him.  He is the officer in charge of the men trying for the team.  If I can shoot a good target tomorrow I'll send it to you. 

I didn't get any mail today.  It will probably come in tomorrow some time.

Captain Book asked me if you mailed some Xmas presents for the Korean Children.  I told him you did.  He said to thank you for it.  Well I guess I'll close for now.  I will write again tomorrow.
Lots of Love, Ted

March 8, 1954

Monday  March 8, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

We are going on a overnight problem today.  I thought I would write you a line before I go.  We are going to leave about 3 PM.  Just finished dinner.  It is cold and cloudy today.  The wind seems to cut right through you.  It will be cold tonight but we have plenty of clothes to keep us warm.  We will be back sometime tomorrow.  Probably around noon.

I don't know to much news.  I saw a good picture last night in the mess hall.  It was the picture you told me about, "From Here to Eternity."  That was one of the best pictures I have seen in a long time.  It is a good example of the army in some ways and the type of men in an outfit. (note: there you are  from a guy who lived during that period.)  The picture was supposed to have taken place in Hawaii at Scofield Barracks.  That is the place the 5th RCT was before they came to Korea.  That is the place we will go back to if they move to Hawaii.  Did you notice that in the picture it was about G Company.  The army is not a whole lot like that now because there are so many draftees, but it some units were there are a lot of RA (Regular Army) they are a lot like that.  The 5th has always been made up of RA.  It isn't any more because of the war.  We have quite a few RA that have from 7 to 12 years in the army.  They sure can be mean when they want too.  The officers are the same way.  But if you like to soldier and the army, you get along OK.  I don't have any trouble with any of them.  In fact I am friendly with them.

There is another picture out about the army that is supposed to be good called "Take the High Ground."  It is about a basic training out fit.  If you see it let me know.

Well don't have much more.  I'll write again when I get back.
Lots of Love, Ted