March 25, 1954

Mar 25, 1954  Friday

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I got quite a bit of mail tonight.  I had a letter from Marian and finally one from Richard.  It was a long time getting here.  I had two letter from you.  To bad about Lockman.  I read the clippings you sent.  So Margie called you up. (note: Dad's old girl friend that was going to wait for him while he was gone.)  I haven't written her for quite awhile.  I don't care much about writing to her.  She didn't like the way I treated her I guess when she came to California.  Guess she thought I should chase after her because I was going to Korea but I didn't.  I don't think I will chase any of them.  If they like me they can come after me and when they do it I don't care.  Jim probably told her I was getting letters from Jan just to make her mad.  I don't write Jan and I haven't had any letters from her for a long time.  It doesn't bother me if she writes or not.  Jim and Roselin probably said that to Margie just to get her goat.  Marian didn't have much to say.  She sent a picture of them all.  She sure looks different with her hair short and Jimmy sure is big.  Just as tall as Charlie.  No we haven't had much training lately as far as tactics and field problems bu we have a lot of classes on bayonet, unarmed defense, knife fighting, judo, physical training, narcotics, etc.  I think some of that is about as rough as the field problems we have. 

I'll be glad to move in a way.  It should be soon.  Sgt Josephson leaves in the morning in the advanced party.  We will go about the 1st of April.  I will stay and be one of the last to leave.  I don't know how long I'll stay.  May be one day or a week.  I think later on we will go to Hawaii or Japan.  The rumors are strong.  It sure would be nice.

That picture with F.S., From Here to Eternity was good.  About the best picture I have seen.  It is a good picture of the army and how they treat you if they get the chance although they are not supposed to.

I saw Zink today.  He said that their CO took 2 guys out in a jeep 8 miles and made them walk back because they didn't know one of the General Orders.  I have noticed that Capt Book has changed a lot lately.  They are just getting the troops ready for garrison life.  He sure can be mean when he wants to be.  He doesn't bother me any because I can take anything he can do or put out. 

Did you ever get the color pictures I sent to you?  You never did say.  I have quite a few more to send.

Last night I took some of the Won I had bought and played blackjack with the GI's and Koreans.  I took 150 Won to start with and played for an hour and when I was finished I had a stack of Won about 3 inches thick.  I counted it up and it was about $5 worth (1100 Won)  900 Won makes $5.  I only have $15 and I think when I move I will have to carry an extra bag for it.

Snapper does a good job of drawing I think.  Hope he keeps it up.

Richard's letter was nearly a month reaching me.  I don't know why.  It is interesting, I'll send it to you but don't tell his folks they might get the wrong idea about it or something.  He has a good deal there and likes it OK.  I don't guess I will see him before we move.  I am going to write him.

Let me know when you mail the money for the boots.  I was thinking it might be better if you get a money order. 

They came around tonight and said you could get a money order made out if you wanted to.  I had already mailed the letter to you.

Well I have about run out of things to say.  I will write again later.  I may not write you when we are moving but I will try to.  I think the place the 5th is going are  the same places the Regt Don Underwood is in when they were down there.  Headquarters will be at the same place Camp 2 at Pusan.  Let me know where Don U is when you hear.  George Company will be at Ma-san. 
Lots of Love, Ted

March 24, 1954

Mar 24, 1954  Wed

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well I thought I better write today as I didn't yesterday.  I got a letter yesterday from Dad, Mar 17 and one from JQ.  To bad about Lockman, that was Walt Lockman wasn't it?  You said he got shot and died but you did not say how he got shot.  I use to play with his son a few years ago.  He also worked at Byaanes when I did.  His nickname was Bunny.  Did you say the booze had him the last few years.

JQ didn't have much to say.  Might get some mail later on today. Haven't had any yet.

I am going to send off for a pair of jump boots as soon as I can make out a money order.  They are the regular Cochran jump boots.  They are about the best you can get.

(his back then)      (the kind I had)

I would like to know what size shoes Snapper wears so I can send him a pair.  They make them for little kids but I don't know whether he is big enough for them.  Let me know what size. (note: I never received a pair.)

Sgt Josephson just came back from R&R.  He brought my pictures back and some were pretty good.  I'll send a few like I did before.

Or company had guard again tonight.  I didn't get it.  Yesterday we had a talk by the Bn Commander he told us we were leaving about the 1st of April.  He said one company would be at Mayson about 25 miles west of Pusan.  Today we found out that George company was going to Mayson instead of Pusan.  Everyone was put out.  It is not nice as nice as Pusan.

I got paid yesterday for 23 days.  I got $83.  I only put 30 in deposit.  I bought 10 dollars worth of Won (Korean Money).  They said we will need it at Pusan.  Lt. Wheeler said today that I was going to be the last man to go from the 4th platoon when we move.  So I will be here longer than any of the rest.  When I find out more I'll let you know.  I found out today that I will not be able to get any money orders till I move so I think I'll let you send for them for me if you don't mind.  Send a check for $12.87 to them and have the boots sent to my address over here.  I will probably get them faster that way. (note: the last pair of jump boots I bought cost over $50, and I hear they are closer to $100 now.)  Mark the check as the one on the slip.  Put my return address on the envelope.  Take the money out of my account.  Well  don't know much else to say so I will close.
Love, Ted

March 22, 1954

Mar 22, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

We had our last parade today. It was sure a sight.  I wish I could have taken a few pictures of it.  They had tanks, big guns, Jeeps, trucks, and 3 Bn of Infantrymen. We wore OB with blues scarfs and blue shoulder braid.  The IX Corp Commander was here to inspect us, Major General Macgruder.  He talked to us and told us we were his best unit he had in his corp.  He said we had done all we can here in the corp area and now that we have finished our 26 week training cycle we will have our turn in guarding now, and in a rear area.  If I can locate a copy of his talk I'll send it to you.

No mail today so far.  I got a letter from you yesterday, March 15.  It was quite a long letter. 

As far as I know about the rifle team, we wont do any more practice till we move.  It may get started again and it may not.  It would be nice if it did work out.  When we move the 5th will be split up because there is no room for an entire Regt around Pusan in any one camp.  The 3 Bn will go to different places.  The 2nd Bn will stay with the 5th RCT Headquarters in Pusan and be guards there.  The other Bn will go to other places.  The 45 Div has left for the states in name only and the 40 Div will leave in May or about.

I went to church yesterday A.M.  They were a regular army service.  I enjoyed it.  I guess that was the first time I had been to a church service since I left basic training.  I don't know where the CS chaplain is here yet.  The list I got of CS chaplains or rep didn't have that Hutchinson's name on the list.  The address you sent isn't close to here.  It is quite a way off.  I think it is close to Pusan.

Be sure to send me me Jane's brother's address and let me know if he is in Pusan still.  The place where we are going is also a one time PW camp.  It could be the same place as there are not to many.

I haven't been able to go to Seoul yet.  I would like to go but we may not be here to much longer.  I guess Richard is making out OK there.  We will get paid tomorrow.  It is an early pay because we will be moving almost anytime now.  No one knows the date yet.  I hope it is sometime close.  I will be going on R&R before to long, you might send some money right away.  Send the money I have.  I will send you what I can.  I might go at anytime but I am going to put it off as long as I can.
Lots of Love, Ted

March 20, 1954

Mar 20, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

All we did today is get ready for the 5th parade then paraded.  That's about all we did. 

I got two letter today and one was from Dad and the other was from C.S. in Boston (note: that was the Christian Science Church.)  It was a nice letter.  It was sent to me with a list of CS services in the Far East and a list of chaplain's and representatives.  None of them were close to me at all.  I haven't been able to find the Christian Science services here in the 5th or where they are.  I may go to church tomorrow and find out. 

I am on guard tomorrow.  They have so many in the company on guard that cpls have to pull pvt of the guard.  I wont mind it to much. 

Jim's letter was a nice one wasn't it.  Guess they are making it farly well now. 

You have really had some dust storms in KC lately.  Also quite a bit of snow. 

Well this next week we have classes on PT, bayonet, military police duty, guard etc.  I have the PT this Thursday.  I take the whole company out on their daily run and push ups etc.  It will be for one hour.  That will be my first time in command of the company.  I am looking forward to it.  I don't know why I am on the schedule for it.  They usually have the platoon sgts take charge of the PT.  May be some day I'll make Sgt.  If I can I will feel I have got plenty out of my 2 years in the army and have gained something.  Not many make Sgt although there is no more war on.

Capt Book said this morning we will go by train to Pusan.  The place where we will be was at one time a PW camp.  They had communist PW there and turned them loose.  We will have almost everything.  It is right in Pusan. 3 laundry, NCO and EM clubs, tailor shop, barber shops, PX, snack bar and all that.  And we will be 95% guard, constant patrol, gate and tower guards around the compound (post)  There are a lot of civilian personnel there too, women and men.  It should be OK down there.  Well I don't now much more to write about now so will close.
Lots of Love, Ted

March 19, 1954

Fri  Mar 19, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well not much new to write about.  We didn't do to much today.  Had PT and bayonet drill this morning and spent the afternoon getting ready to parade tomorrow.  We have one Sat and Mon. We sure are having a few now.  I think we are about to move.  May be this next weekend.

I didn't get any mail today from home but I got one from Kiyoke in Japan. (note: that was the nice girl he met in Japan)  I'll mail it to you so you can read it.  I guess you can read it.  They word things different.  I don't know whether she wrote it or some other Japanese.  I had Sgt Kohn, a Korean write a letter for me in Japanese to her when I came back.  He speaks Jap, English and Korean pretty good.

I hear now that we are going to Pusan on the train.  You sure hear a lot of stories about it.  It should be better than things are here.  From what the officers say it will be all garrisons and no field.  Mostly PT, drill and parades. So it will be quite a change.  Well don't know much more so I will close for now. 
Love, Ted

March 18, 1954

Thurs  March 18, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I got your letter yesterday congratulating me on making cpl.  It sure was a nice letter.  I also got your cookies you sent they were as good as always.  I never did get a letter from Richard.  I should have gotten it by now.  I wrote Jim Rountree a letter tonight.  I guess he is doing OK so far with with his work.

We didn't do anything all day today.  Our company had guard had guard last night and they kind of let us take it easy today.

I guess we will move before long.  We are going to be paid March 23 and probably move Farley soon after that.  We are going in trucks and it will take us about 3 days.  It will sure be rough enough riding.  But it will be worth it I guess.  It will be a lot different.  We are going to be garrison soldiers now and will have to stay sharp and clean etc. and will probably have the things to do it with though.  We will have tailor shops, barber shops, laundry etc.  We will be living in Quonset type buildings.  I think George Company will have about 8 buildings.  That means about 2 per each platoon.

I think I could use some shoe dye.  I would like to have some mahogany if you can get it.  If not cordovan will be OK.  Also I could some more shoe polish to o.  I would like to have mahogany in that too.  That would probably be easier to get tan any of the dye.  I wont need any black polish or dye when we get moved so whatever you a send will be OK.

We had a USO show today.  It wasn't that good.  They did have a woman MC that was from KC, Kansas.  Her name was Grace Forbes.

Well I am still squad leader but I don't like it where I am.  The 57 RR is heavy and they have mostly big guys in the squad to carry it.  I don't have to carry it myself but the guys in the squad did.  I have some dilly's to deal with.  Big clumsy and sloppy.  One of the guys went AWOL the other night and the Lt had to go get him at the MP station about 2 hours aways from here at midnight.  He gets a court martial before long.

Well things will probably be changed again after we move so it may be better.
Lots of Love, Ted

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