May 18, 1954

Tuesday  May 18, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I had 3 letters tonight.  May 5.10, 11.  I sure glad to get them as it had been a few days since I had had any mail.  There isn't anything new at this end.  The rank drops hasn't come in this month yet.  I have given up the idea of making Sgt this month anyway.  Maybe next month.  Even though Capt Book put me in for it I think Regt Hdqs will turn it down because I haven't had enough time in grade as cpl.  The other two cpls that were put in had been cpls for quite sometime.   The company clerk ask me if I wanted to go on R&R today.  My name came up.  I turned it down for awhile.  I want to have a little more money before I go.  I only have 110 dollars with the money order you sent.

I bet the leaves look nice in front of the house.  It will seem funny not to see the hedge anymore.  I haven't made up my mind what I want to do when I get out of the army.  I can't quite see myself working for some reason.  Seems like I have always been in the army.  I like the army and being an NCO but I think about joining for 3 or 6 more years I can't see it for some reason.  I was wondering if Bob Newland was working at Westinghouse yet.  Tell him hello next time you see him.

It was funny to hear about Don Hotson being a detective.  I bet he is a case at it.  (note: the Hotsons were sort of like our version of the first dysfunctional family anyone new of on the block. Don was the older brother.  I knew his younger brother Melvin and the twins -girl and boy- but I have forgotten there names.)

I heard that the rank drop came down tonight.  Guess I didn't make it this time.  Maybe next month.  Well don't know much new .  There isn't ay show tonight because the film didn't come in.
Well, lots of love, Ted

May 16, 1954

Sunday  May 16, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well I started off today by going to church this morning.  That's about all I have done today but eat and lay around.  Last night I went to the show and saw Donavon's Brain.  It was a good picture.  I am not a guard today so I think I'll go tonight and see the Sward and the Rose.  This is my turn to be off guard.  I'll get to take it easy tomorrow.



The first Sgt told me yesterday that I was going to be the training aid NCO.  I will do it besides my other jobs.  Each week when the training schedule comes out.  I will contact the platoon sgts or the instructors for that week and see what training aids they need such as maps, charts, manuals etc.  Then I will order the from Pusan (Regt HQ)  The job wont be to bad.  There will probably be films too.  So far I haven't had to give any classes.  I might later on.  Lt Wheeler told me that when the 4th platoon gave PT I was going to give part of the exercises.

We didn't get any mail last night.  There was a typhoon in Japan and it stopped the mail.  We might get some tonight.



 I haven't  heard any new rumors.  It sure didn't take Carlen Talentt long to get out of the army after his Dad wrote the Senator. (note:  this is the second time Dad mentions him, don't have any idea who it is.)  I guess you can get things done that way. 

Well I don't know much of anything new to write about.  I haven't heard from Jim or anyone else lately.  Well hope Snapper has a nice birthday.  Lots of Love
Ted

May 14, 1954

May 14, 1954

Dear Snapper

I want to write you a letter so you will have it for your birthday.  Happy Birthday.  I am thinking about you and I miss you a lot.  I am sending you two dollars to spend on anything you want.  Also a picture of me at the gate while I am working.  Mom said you were doing very good in school and you liked your teacher. (note:  I think I was in the first grade and had Mrs. Dodd.  Her son went to Westpoint and she lived to be over 100.  I had her for the second grade also.)

I haven't done much of anything besides guard and go to the show once in awhile.  Tonight we scrubbed the floor and cleaned our hut up for inspection tomorrow.  We are going to have a field inspection.   We have been cleaning up our gear. 

I saw a couple of good shows lately.  Bowling Wild and Vickie.  They were good pictures.  My boots are sure looking good.  I have them shining good now.  The our the color of red wine. 

I had three letters tonight May 5-6-7.  That was sure something about Carlin Talcutt getting out of the army (note: ?.)  It is a bad thing that it happened thought.  He should have stayed in the army till his 24 month.  I bet it put a lot of people on the spot.  We had a new guy in our co to write the IX Corp Commander, General McGruder, that he needed a pair of boots.  He put Capt Book on the spot.  The guy is a pvt and will stay one till Capt Book leaves anyway.  I am certain now that the 5 RCT is leaving Korea about July 17.  I don't know who is going with them but I'll find out something more about it in another month of so.
Well I'll write you again soon.
Happy Birthday and Lots of Loved,  Daddy

May 11, 1954

Tuesday May 11, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I had a letter from you last night May 4 and a package tonight with the cookies and mahogany dye.  The cookies sure are good.  I just put the dye on the boots.  Think they will be OK.

Last night I went into town and fooled around and tonight I went to the show and saw "Second Chance."  I had seen it before but I enjoyed it the second time. 

Tomorrow night  we start guard again.  I had a couple of the pictures you sent.  They were good.  I keep pictures on the inside top of my foot locker.  The pepperoni you sent last time was OK.  Simonie and I ate all of it.  I don't seem to have to much to write about anymore since we moved down here.  We pull guard every 4 days and when we are not on guard we are training in the morning and play baseball in the afternoon and at 4 pm we have inspection and retreat.  As far as moving the last I heard was the 17 of July.  George Co will be moving to Pusan before long.  I don't know exactly when.  I will sure hate to move there.  I have a good squad now.  I got rid of a dud.  The old man transferred him to H Co.  The boys I have now are OK.  I have a little trouble in the hut with some other guys.  I caught a Porto Rican taking an new T shirt that you sent me one tie.  I don't think he will steal again. 

Well I don't know much more to write about so I will close for now.  I will write you again later.
Love, Ted

May 9, 1954

Sunday  May 9, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well have finished another day of guard.  I was on the gate again.  It rained last night all night.  It hasn't  been to cold lately.  I think I will go to the show tonight and see "Bad for Each Other." 

Haven't heard from anyone lately but you and dad.  Didn't get any mail today.  Had one last night, May 2.  I guess you are pretty busy taking inventory at the plant now.  That was always a job before. 

We have a new Lt in the company now.  He signed the slip for the packages I sent home and noticed I was from KC.  He asked me last night where I lived and I told him Fairmount.  His home is in KC and he lived around 31st and Woodland or Brooklyn or close to there.  He graduated from Central High School in 1950.  His name is Snyder.  He is just a young guy.  When I found out more about him I will let you know.

I sure enjoy my boots.  They really fit good and look nice. 

I just finished eating.  Someone said today was Mother's Day.  I thought it was next Sunday.  Wish I could send you something, but there isn't any place to get anything.  Happy Mother's Day anyway.  Snapper's birthday is soon. You can buy him something with the money I have if you want to.  He is growing up I guess.  He is 7 this month.  It sure doesn't seem like it.

I will know whether I make Sgt or not this week.  I sure hope I can.  But there is a good chance that I wont.  If I don't make it this time it may be awhile yet. 

Well don't know much more to write about so I'll close.  Well lots of love to all of you.  Will write again soon.
Love, Ted

May 7, 1954

Fri  May 7, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

How is everything at home.  Last night I had MP duty. Had a good time at it.  Have a little excitement after pay days with drunks etc.  I had the morning off so I worked on my boots. I put my zipper boots in the box my crown boot came in and wrapped it up.  I am sending a few other things home too. Pair of gloves and a pair of suspenders that are in the toe of my boots. I am sending some pictures, film neg, papers etc that I thought you might like to read. I will give it to the mail man tonight and get it on the way.

I had a letter last night from Dad.  I was wondering if Grace Stewart still worked at Westinghouse when I saw Arkie. Well can't think of much more to say for now so I will close.  I'll write again later today.---------------- Well not much new went on today. We just finished cleanig up the hut for inspection.  I got you letter dated May 1st tonight.Guess there isn't much more to say for now so I'll close.  I took my boots and mailed them tonight.  Let me know when you get them.
Lots of Love, Ted

Here is another patch for Snapper.  It is the patch of the Infantry school at Ft Benning.

May 5, 1954

Wed  May 5, 1954

Dear Mom,Dad, and Snapper

I am on CQ tonight. I just finished guard and my name came up for CQ.  Not much to it except sit in the orderly room and answer the phone etc. I wake the 1st Sgt up in the morning at 5:30.I get to sleep anyway.

Last night I got a box of pecan balls.They sure were good.  Tonight I got a letter from you dated April 29.  I guess everything is going OK at home.  Yes my appetite has perked up since I came in the army.  I eat three meals day. I go to breakfast with another squad leader and Simonie. Smith gives me his eggs.  So sometimes eat 4 to 6 eggs for breakfast.  Simonie gives me his cerial.  I don't seem to gain any weight over here.  We don't get milk. It is all condensed and mixed with water.  When I left Japan I weighted about 175. I think I am down to 170 now.  I don't seem to be fat though.  Arkie is is first cook where he is.  That's why he gets by with stuff and gains weight.  He cooks and does good.  He has several under him including a cpl.

I didn't have to buy a razor but I did.  I think the one at home is broke. My neck was breaking out from shaving so much.  It is cleared up now. 

I can thing of anything I need except the mahogany dye.  Should be getting it before long. I don't know much new to write .  Everything is about the same. Well guess I will close for now.  I'll write you again later.
Lots of Love, Ted