May 22, 1954

Saturday May 22, 54

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

How are you doing back home.  It sure rains here quite a bit.  All thought it hasn't today.  last night after guard we got ready for our hut inspection today.  After that I went to eh show ans saw "The Prisoner of Casbah."  Today we had our inspection and it went OK.  I haven't done much of anything today but lay around.  I had a letter from Dad last night dated May 14.  I had one from Jim.  He said his divorce was this month and he had a re classification with his draft board as 1A.  Thinks he will be going to the army before long.  Said he didn't know how to hexplain it to you.  He is still in Springfield I guess.
I am going to the show tonight and see "Tumbleweed."  I don't know what I will do tomorrow.  Guess I'll go to church in the AM and then I might go into town in the afternoon. 


We just got two new replacements in the this evening for my section.  I will probably get one for my squad as my asst. gunner as my my present one is going home Monday morning.  I haven't seen them yet and don't know where they are from.

Well o mail came in tonight.  I might get some tomorrow.  I am sending you in another envelope a couple of our Georgetown news papers.  Thought you might like to read them.
Love, Ted

May 20, 1954

May 20, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well I thought I would write you a line to let you now I am doing fine.  I am on guard tonight.  I am on the gate. 

Today is Snapper's birthday.  Seven years old this year.  It sure dosen't seem like it.  I guess he is growing a lot.

The mail just came in.  All I got was a Union paper. The Bearer.  I enjoyed reading it.  Not much new though as far as Dept 44.  We got a few new men in from the 40 Div yesterday.  We only got one in the 57 RR.  He was a PFC.  I read where they are starting to send 600 a week on R&R, so drops will be coming a little faster now.  They are sending them by ships now rather than flying them.  I turned it down because I didn't have as much money as I wanted and I wanted to wait till Simonie goes so we can go together.  I'll  probably get a chance to next time they send anyone.  I can turn it down quite a bit.  I might go the next time because Simonie might go to the same school I went to in Japan.  If he does I think I'll go.

There isn't much more to write about so I guess I'll close.  A lot of the guys are having stomach trouble.  They haven't found out just what is causing it yet.  I have a touch of it today for the first time.  Well I'll write again later on. Lots of love,
Ted

May 19, 1954

Wed  May 19, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I had a letter this evening, May 12.  Guess everything is going OK at home.  I don't have much to write about.  Not much new here.  right now it is 630pm and I am writing this letter outside.  I had a letter from Jim and Rosalyn tonight.  She said Jim and her had broken up and were going to get a divorce.  I was much surprised at it.  I didn't expect them to stay married as long as they did.  She didn't say much about it.  I have been wondering if you had heard anything.(note: this is the couple that lost their baby boy.)

I think I will go to the show tonight and see Moulin Rouge. I saw it before but I think I'll see it again.




The first sgt called me over to talk to him this morning and said, "Mac you didn't make it this month."  I said, "Maybe next month."  I guess I didn't have enough time in grade.  I hope I can get put in again this next month for June. 

Most everyone calls me Mac.  I have never heard anyone call me Ted till I saw Arkie.  I got some more pictures last night which I'll start sending you.  Some are pretty good.  I sent a roll of color film off and I should get them back in about 3 weeks.  They will be slides.  I'll send them to you when I get them.  Well I don't know much more to write about.  So I will close for now.
Lots of Love, Ted

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