Letters Dated October 4 thru the 13th, 1954

Oct 4, 1954  Monday

I got two letters and 2 birthday cards from you.  Sure thought the cards were nice.  The address was to the 19 Rgt. You don’t need to put 24 Div on the letter if you don want to.  It will save you a little writing.

We didn’t do much today.  Trained a little bit and I helped the Platoon Sgt make up a platoon roster and graded the men in my section and recommended those who should be put in for rank etc.

What ever you send in the package will be OK.  I am looking forward to it.  I read about that Do It Your Self Show in Life Magazine.  Just looked at the pictures and didn’t read anything about it.  Don’t remember much about it but I bet it was interesting.

Well I don’t think I am being over paid very much if I am at all.  They do it sometimes but they usually catch up with before long.

I never hear from Richard anymore.  I think I wrote him last.  He must be doing OK.  I would like to go to Tokyo on R&R but didn’t mind much because I didn’t.  Hope you get the things I sent and in good shape.  I should think you would have had them by now. 

I guess the kitchen will really be nice when you finish with it.  Well not much more to write about.  I’ll writ again.

Lots of Love, Ted

Oct 5, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

It got a birthday card from Marian today and that’s about all the mail I had.  Nothing new over here.  I can tell you the latest rumor.  I have been hearing that the 19^th Rgt is going to Japan soon.  They have been having a lot of rotation drops.  11 men are leaving now for home out of 5 RCT and I think I am down to 26 now.  They are up to Oct 30 now so I am by that only a month and 20 days from rotating.  Don’t count on that though.. They say that there is a 500 man drop out of this Rgt that will take men up to Dec 10.  That misses me by 10 days.  They say they want to send the short timers home so they won’t have to take them to Japan with them.  That’s about the latest. 

It’s been clody and cool here today.  Winter is not far off.  They have the stoves for the billets and it wont be long before we put them in.  It gets dark now around 6 PM. 

Well I lost one of the Squad Leaders.  He goes home tomorrow and I had to change the Section around and while I was at it I changed it around all together.  I moved some better men up around the others who weren’t any good.  Some of them griped a lot.  I got one wise guy and he is a PFC.  He transferred in this platoon from another one.  I have been looking for his stripe.  Today I had to put him in his place.  I called him outside and really told him off.  When I was finished he looked like he was going to cry.  I didn’t even raise my voice. 

Well I only got 76 more days of that, be glad when I finish with those kind.  Well tomorrow I’ll be 26.  Thanks again for the cards and write the news. Miss you all.

Love, Ted

Oct  6, 1954  Wed

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I had a letter form Dad today, Sept 26.  I had one from Jim too.  He is in Ft Lee now.  I guess you have had a letter form him by now.  So I won’t need to send you his address. 

It has rained most all day today.   Haven’t done much of anything myself.  The boys went out and stole 2 desks, a couple of chairs out of an empty building.  I have one by my bed now.  All so a telephone and I had the electrician put in a light for me.  So I am doing OK now.  All so the stove is going right next to my bed so I should enjoy the winter OK.  I am writing this letter with a Parke 54.  I bought the set off a Sgt who is going home and needed the money.  I paid him7 dollars for the set which is like new.  They sell for over $10 in the PX.  I don’t think I like it as well as my Shaffer but can always use it.  Think I will finish this letter with the Shaffer and see how it writes. (note: At this point the ink changes color to a lighter blue.)  

Today is my birthday and I don’t feel any older.  Probably go to the club tonight and celebrate with some of the guys.  That’s about all there is to do.  No new rumors to writer about.  No more men are going home.  A few more went yesterday evening.  Sgt Pyatte is going.  They are up to Nov 10 now.  Pyatte is the 4^th Platoon Sgt.  He is a good fellow and his home is in North Carolina.  Well not much more to write about.  I guess I will close off for now.  I’ll write more later on.  Think I will answer Jim’s letter.

Lots of Love, Ted

Oct 7, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I got several birthday cards today and a letter dated Oct 1 and an envelope with the news paper clippings about the riot at Jeff City. (note: he is referring to a riot that took place in the prison.  Many years later I worked with a guy in state AG’s office who was a national guard guy who was called out for that riot.)  I got a nice card from Daisy and one from Snapper.  All so one from Jim, Evelyn, Larry and Mike.  Each one sent me one.  Evelyn sent 2 green backs in the one she sent.  I will write them and thank them for it.  You can thank them for me when you see them if you want. 

Nothing new for me to write about over here.  It’s been drizzling all day so its been wet and muddy.  Didn’t do much last night but go to the club.  They had  Korean Band and Floor Show which was pretty good.  All the Sgts were there from the company.  15 of them.  We all sat at the same table and had a good time.  Not much new for me to write about besides that. 

Thought I would write you a line and tell you about the cards.  Our company hasn’t staring pulling guard yet.  Probably pull it about Saturday from what I hear.  Hope you get the bird tame before to long.  Yes I am getting the mail OK.  Once in awhile I get one to the old address but think I have them all now. 

Well tell Sam Coomer hello again for me too.  Wish I could be there to help you with the work you are doing around the house.  You can save some of it if you want to.  Well I think that about does it.  I’ll write again later.

Lots of Love, Ted

October 8, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

It got two packages today.  I sure want to thank you.  I really like the billfold.  I needed one.  My other one wouldn’t last too much longer.  Those cookies were sure good too.  I like the candy you sent also.

Well today was about like yesterday.  Rained and drizzled all day and it has been cool.  I put on a pair of long underwear tops and they feel pretty good.  I write Daisy last night and thanked he for the card. 

Well I go on guard tomorrow afternoon.  The 19^th is working heir guard different   I can’t explain it to you because I don’t know much about it myself.  1^st relief goes on at noon for 4 hours and his other company goes on for 4 hours and the 2^nd relief goes on for 4 hours and then off 4 hours and then back on.  I think it must have been too simple for them to do it the other way.  I will sure be glad to get out of here.  Hope I can be going home before to long.  Sure am fed up with things here.  I guess I was to use to the 5 RCT.  Seems to be to much prejudice in this company.  The company commander and most of the officers are Catholics and they favor and give a lot of breaks to Catholics. Reminds me of basic the way they did. (note: that might be a reason why I grew up in a household that never had a good word to say about Catholics.)

Well not much more to write about so I will close.  Thanks a lot for the 2 packages.  Sure like them and the billfold is real pretty.

Lots of Love, Ted

Sunday  Oct 10, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Had a letter from you today.  Oct 3.  The time is going fast.  By the time you get this letter and write one, and then when I get yours the month will be more than half over. 

I bet the kitchen sure looks nice.  I wont know it when I see it. 

When does Mrs. Underwood say Donald will be on his way home.  We should be going from here about the same time.  Sure don’t blame him for not liking the army after being in this outfit if the 34 Rgt is anything lie this 19^th.  To bad he couldn’t have got in another outfit and see what it would be like.  About the only thing wrong with the 19^th is the officers and the Col.  They mess things up and make it hard on the men.  I hadn’t heard anything about not having %PM on the letters.  I got yours OK so guess I can fix mine that way.

Well yesterday was Saturday and we started our guard.  It sure is messed up.  We are doing all the MP work on the docks now.  Fill out all kinds of papers.  We are responsible for all kinds of men and we never see them  I am Pier NCO on Quay #2.  I post guards on the ships and the gang plank, in the hatches and different places on the pier where they keep rations, equipment etc.  They have everything from root beer to armored cars and tanks.  When a guard reports something broken open I have to make out a dozen different reports.  Well the time is what’s bad.  We left here at 7:30 PM to get posted at 9 PM.  We were on till 1 AM Sun which is 4 hours, then we relieve the guards and went back to the guard house and stayed.  We ate breakfast at 3:30 AM in back of the MP station (PMO) and which was outside.  The company brought it down to us.  Then we went back on guard at about 5 AM and stay till 9AM.  We were off then and came back to the company.  But it was 10:30 AM before we ever left the docks.  So that makes 14 or 15 hours we are down there rather than the 8 hours before when we were with the 5 RCT.  We can’t sleep the 4 hours we are off because you only have about 2  hours and its cold etc.  When I got back to the company it was time fir dinner so I ate, went to bed and got up at 530 to eat again and here I am.  Well we go on again early in the morning and have to get up at 230 AM.  So I am going back to bed when I finish this letter.  We will be off 20 hours now between guards.  I use to get as much as 3 days off before.  Well that’s what we are doing now and probably will be for the next couple of weeks.  It will make the time go faster.  Will try to write more later on.

Lots of Love, Ted

Oct 12, 1954  Tuesday

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I got a letter yesterday Oct 5.  Thought I would write a few lines to let you know everything is OK.  Had guard again yesterday and have it again today.  It’s 7:30 AM now.  We are going to put our stoves in this morning.  Sure got cold fast over here.  I have been wearing long handle tops and they feel pretty good. 

Don’t know why you are so long to get my letters.  I sure hated to heard about Paul Hosted.  He sure is a nice guy.  Hope he gets OK.  I didn’t get Snapper’s birthday cared yet (note: earlier he said he had gotten it.)  Might be later.  Hope the TV set isn’t in to bad a shape.  Those pictures tubes cost plenty don’t they.  Well I guess the mail is slow getting to you for some reason.  I have written all most every day.  Well not  much more to write about.  I got to see that the stoves get in and I got to draw some winter clothes and get a hair cut and then be ready to go on guard at 1PM.  Will write again later.

Love, Ted

Oct 13, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Just a few lines to let you know everything is OK.  We started guard at 4PM tonight again.  Getting it everyday and it sure keep you tired.  Last night I found over 1000 flash light batteries had been stolen.  Those Koreans sure got them fast.  We got a lot of them back.  I couldn’t catch any workers with any of them so I planted a flash light battery on a Korean when I was search him.  I pulled it out of his pocket and he said he picked it up off the ground.  He sure looked surprised.  They lie fast.  Later on I found a Korean walking around where the batteries had been stolen.  I left a box of 25 where  some one could find them  He must have seen me and didn’t pick them up.  So I walked over to where they were and called him over.  I picked the box up and handed them to him and motioned him to follow me.  He thought I wanted him to carry them for me.  I took him up to the main gate and arrested him for stealing batteries.  He sure was mad.  Later on I saw him at the MP station after they beat him up.  I was sorry in a way that I turned him over but you have not idea how they steal.  If you cold see how they are you would understand.  I have to tell you more about it when I get home.

Well we got a little Korean boy in the company.  He has been well cared for by somebody.  He speaks only English.  As far as I know he has been living on a ship and they gave him to one of our guards to take back to the company.  He talks good and is real smart for a 6 year old.  The company commander likes him so we are going to keep him here.  We already have one Korean in the company that is 12 years old that they found I  the hills in North Korea.  One of the Sgts had to teach him grade school.  He is a good kid.  But this new 6 years old we have is real cute.  Don’t know all the story as of yet.  He hasn’t any clothes to wear, all his has is a shirt and blue genes.  If you think Snapper has any old pants and shirts how about sending them.  Just a little bit that you could send airmail.  He might not be here long enough for a  regular package.  He like toys too.. I’ll take a picture of him and sent to you.  So far he is kind of a mystery.  One day in formation he was standing next to the 1^st Sgt.  The 1^st Sgt just got finished telling us not to swear in from of him because he didn’t know any bad words.  He had just told us that and stared on something else when eh wore a little bit and the kid turned his head and said, “That’s OK Sgt.”  He told us at the table we shouldn’t cuss because God didn’t want Love, Ted 

soldiers to cuss and he asked a Sgt if he said his prayers at night.  He is Korea but I think he is half GI.  Can’t speak Korean at all. (note: sort of touching. I guess Dad was not 100% a bigot.  He always said it is not who or what you are it is what you do.)

Well not much more to write about so I will close.  Write again later.\

Love, Ted

Letters Dated Sept 30, Oct 2 and 3, 1954

Sept 30, 1954  Pay Day

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well its noon now and we are going to get paid.----I just got back from Pay call and I drew $119 and put $70 in the soldiers deposit which make me an even $900 now.  I got only tow paydays left.  It make me feel like a short timer now.  I should have well over $2000 all together when I get home. 

I didn’t get any mail yesterday and I think the mail is in now but they haven’t delivered it as yet. 

I don’t k ow why I am printing this letter, just started out that way.  I can print faster than I can write anyway.  Hope you can read it. (note: he prints much better than he writes.)

Not much to say about any thing.  Our company is on guard today around the compound.  I am not on guard.  It only take on Sgt and we have plenty of Sgts.  I think we will pull compound guard about one more time and then start pulling dock guard. Around Oct 6/  I don’t mind that but what I don’t like is going to the field Nov 1^st..  Well I think I will wait and see if I get any mail before I finish this letter.-----Well I got one letter, it was late getting here.  Dated Sept 17.  Its 4:20 now here in Pusan.  Must be morning back home about now and you are starting your work day and I am finished with mine as much as I know except for a show and lecture by the CID on narcotics.  For the 1^st three grades.  That’s at 6:15 and then will probably go to the NCO club with a few of the boys.  We usually go every night.  I usually manage to get away early and walk a straight line back but most of the other close the club up and stagger back.  Then the next day they don’t feel so good and they take it out on the troops till about noon.  I guess that is one thing that make the Sgts sour and mean.  And the old timers have done it so long they stay that way all the time except when they are at the club and then they forget about duty and are more like their selves. 

Quite a few of the boys are going home now.  I think there is about 260 or 270 left now from the nearly 300 that was her at first.  I am 38 on the 5 RCT list now.  I am still section Leader in the 57 and only have about 17 men for now.  Probably get some more before long.  The 17 is just right.  TO&E is three 5 man squads and a runner and one section leader.  So its just the right amount.  But always before we have had more to help out o the guard.  Simonie is mortar Section Leader.  He will probably make Sgt before long.  Sgt Turner is Asst Platoon Sgt now because he going home soon.  Well not much more tow rite about so I will close for now.  Will write soon.

Love, Ted

Oct 2, 1954  Saturday

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I had the usual today.  Sat inspection and it went very good.  It rained today a so we just had the inspection in the quarters rather than outside and inside booth.  Its rained most of the day and it has been cool.  Not much to write about.  The executive officer asked me today if I was going to stay in the army and if I ever thought about OCS.  They always try to talk army to you and it’s more so in this outfit than in the 5 RCT. 

Yesterday I I got a letter from Sgt Wood and I answered him today.  He was home in his old job and seemed to doing OK.  I got two letter from you today.  Sept 22 and 23.  Guess you hadn’t had the letter about me being in the 19^th Regt yet.  Probably by the time you get this letter you should have your kitchen fixed up.  But it really looks nice.  It was good to hear Don made Cpl.  Seems to have taken him a long time to make Cpl. But that the way it goes sometimes.  His regt is still up north and I think Jane’s brother is still up there too.  His address was APO 24 and that s the 24 Div.  You said something about him going to OCS.  If he did he should have come out a 2^nd LT if he finished .  If he didn’t finish he was lucky to ever make cpl.  He might ha gone to Leadership.  I don’t think Ft Leonard Wood has an OCS.  That bird you have sure must be wild.  They are usually tame and quiet.  Tell Sam Coomer hello for me.  I thought he was made a foreman but from what you said about him being a set up man he must not be.  Well not much new toad so I will close.  Sure be glad to see you all.  It wont be long.  We start another month now.  Hope it goes just a the other months have.

Lots of Love, Ted

Sunday Oct 3, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Another quite Sunday.  Didn’t do much of anything today.  Went to the show this afternoon and say “Return From the Sea.”  Wasn’t much of a picture.  First one I had been to since I saw “From Here to Eternity” again. 

 

I got a letter from you today.  Sept 25.  You still hadn’t received the letter about being transferred to the 19^th Regt yet and you hadn’t received the thinks I sent yet.  I sent something the last of August and you should be getting it.  I hope you like it.  I don know whether you will like it or not.  I had to order  it from a picture and didn’t see the real thing.  Let me know. 

I don’t think I remember Luellen  that you wrote about seeing.  I remember Sara Jan only my name.  don’t remember much what she looks like or anything about her.  Funny how you forget thins like that.  I try to remember people who lived on the street but can’t think of only a few people and sometimes I can’t think of their names also the bunch at work.  Probably when I see them I will remember them and their names.  I always had a bad memory for names anyway.  I bet the guys I ran around with have probably changed and got married or moved away.. Guess I have been gone from home longer than I realize.  Sometimes it seems like a long time and then again it doesn’t.  Any way its been almost 2 years and that a long time anyway you look at it.  Sure don’t seem right that I will be 26 in 3  more days.  Seems lie 2 years have gone for nothing being away form home and all.  2 years that I could have been doling some good and getting ahead on a civilian job.  I don’t feel like I lost a 100% though because I like the army and like to soldier.  But don’t think what I h I think what I have learned in the army will do me much good when I get out.  To bad I had to get in an infantry outfit even thought I like t.  I don’t think I like things as well though as when Cpt Book was the company commander.  I don’t remover whether I told you are not but he went home with 5 RCT as a casual, not exactly with the 5 RCT.  He is going to Virginia Military Institute and have an executive type job.  He likes that.  Probably make major before long.  He has just about been Capt long enough to make it and has the highest efficiency rating of any officer in the 5 RCT including the Col.  You don’t see many like him in the army or eve in civilian life.  He will probably be a General some day.  He is the type of man Generals are. I think I would have made SFC if he was still here.  I don’t much look for it now though. (note: a couple of years before Dad died he looked up Book.  He had retired as a Col was living in Texas and remembered Dad well.)

We got a nigger 1^st Sgt and I got one in my section that lazy and don’t do nothing and he tells the 1^st Sgt that I pick on him and I am prejudice against colored.  Even if I am not when they say that it don’t look good.  They sure have a lot of them now and none of them are any good.  They try to take over if you get to many.  We got a 1^st Sgt, 2 platoon leaders and a platoon Sgt and they are colored and the other Sgts are mostly from the south and they don’t seem to click.  Sure get bad.  The 32 QM NCO club is off limits to the 19^th Regt because of the niggers.  Booth their and ours.  They have had a lot of race fight over there.  (note: in all previous letters Dad had very little to say about Black.  It had not been very long that the army had been integrated and I guess a lot of the problems were growing pains.  I don’t know why Dad has all of a sudden started talking about Blacks in a negative and bigoted way.)

Well can’t think of much more to write about for now so I will close.  I’ll wrie again later.

Lots of Love, Ted

Letters dae September 26, 27, and 29, 1054

Sept 26, 1954 Sunday

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

It isn’t raining anymore and the sun is hot today. It rained all day yesterday and all last night. I went to the show yesterday and saw "From Here to Eternity." I sure enjoyed seeing it again. It was cool last night and I sure slept good. Not much of anything new to write about here. It’s a nice day to day. I might go over to the 32nd QM this afternoon. I cleaned my boots and washed some other equipment this morning. Yesterday I got a letter from you dated Sept 18. I bet the kitchen will be pretty when it is finished. I bet I wont know the neighborhood and the kids around there when I get home. Don’t worry about my birthday. You don’t need to send anything at all. I could use a billfold, that’s about all I need. I hate to have you send anything at all. Nothing seems to last very long over here in the weather. T shirts and shorts get washed and they are rough on them and they don last long. I guess if you want you could send a couple of T shirts and a billfold. That’s about it. Nor hurry about it. You don’t need to send a big box. I don’t eat much between meals and if I get hungry I eat at the NCO Club or over at the 32 QM.

I guess Jim is at Lee by now. I haven’t heard anymore from him That will be a good school for him. Well don’t have much to writer about for now so I will close. Write more later on.

Lots of Love, Ted

Sept 27, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, Snapper

Well this month is all most over. I just have a little over 2 months to do after the 1st of Oct if the luck holds out. Yesterday I went over and saw the 5 RCT boys. They were leaving this morning and I guess they did. They are supposed to get a 30 day leave when they get home. They don’t know much of what kind of training they will do. I sure hated to say good by to them Seemed like I should be with them If I go through Ft Lewis when I go back I am going to look them up.

This is the 19th Stationery I got today. The Regt Cress is in the upper left hand corner.

Didn’t get any mail today. Probably get some tomorrow. In another week or less I should be getting mail direct to this address. Probably get it a little better.

Well it seems like winter is about here. I don’t know whether it’s fall or not as I haven’t noticed any trees around to see if the leaves were turning. Anyway the days are growing shorter and the eve is cool and you don’t get the breeze from the rice paddies much. I doubt if you have ever smelled anything lie it in the States. I never have. They use human fertilized in them. One of the worse things that can happen to you over here is to step or fall in a rice paddy. There is about 3 inches of water over 2 or 3 feet of mud. In the winter they freeze over. They have well around the rice paddy where they keep the fertilizer. You cant imagine the smell. Also the Kempshe when its cooking. That’s what they eat with their rice. It looks like brown gravy. It’s got fish etc mixed with it, heads and all.

Well not much more to write about for now so I will close. I’ll write again tomorrow when I get a letter.

Lots of Love, Ted


Sept 29, 1954


Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I had 3 letters today Sept 19, 20, 21. I was glad to get them. Not much new here. I guess Jane’s brother is not around here. (note: He has mentioned Jane and her brother a couple of times now and I don’t know who he is talking about.) He must still be up north. I enjoyed reading about what Snappers teacher said. That was really nice of her and it was quite a compliment to say about Snapper. (note: Don’t know what she said, but I liked Mrs. Dodd <she lived to be 100 and had a son who went to West Point> and I have always been charming.)

We will have to go to one of those smorgasbords when I get home. Sounds good. (note: they were just coming into popularity around KC.)

I don’t think I told you but 1st three grades have their own dining room now in the mess hall and the Korean boy named George serves us. I get plenty to eat now and the food is good. Guess it taste better and I can ear more because some one is serving it. It the 5 RCT we had our own table to eat at and the Platoon Sgts and officers were the only one who got served. Its pretty nice. I think I am picking up weight again. We are training etc and do PT every morning. I think we start pulling guard on the docks again about Oct 6.

Haven’t seen Zink anymore. He is probably in the 19th Regt. He was in King (K) Company. That was the 3rd Bn and they are about 50 miles north of here at Tugrea. The 1st Bn is 5 miles out of Pusan and of course the 2nd is here in Pusan. That is why I haven’t seen him. He is to far away. Probably wont see him again. Seems like in the army if your best friend was next door you would never seen him. I don’t know why. The 8the Army is what all the Div here in Korea are in. Its just the 8th Army Headquarters that is moving to Japan not the whole 8th Army.

I am glad you got a good grade at Westinghouse. It must have been darn good. I am liking this out fit less every day. The officers throw all the work on the NCOs and don’t do anything but lay around the orderly room and mess hall drinking coffee. They don’t come around the troops much. I’ll be glad to leave here . In ways it’s better that the 5 RCT but over all the 5 RCT was much better. I am sure hoping that I don’t have any field training with them as they will really be messed up. The officers don’t know much. Most of them are ROTC or jst out of OCS and don’t know to run the new army the old way. The 5 RCT had a lot of West Point Officers, Airborne, and rangers. They had been in the army a long time and new the ropes. These officer try to teach by the book and the manuals. You can’t always do that. The 5 RCT was never like the old army from what they old timers say.

Well I don’t know much more to write about so I will close . Will write again.

Love, Ted

Letters date September 22 and 25, 1954

Sept 22, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I had two letters today Sept 14 and I had one from J.Q. Not much new on this end to write about. I am glad to hear Snapper is OK now and back to school. I guess you are really laying cement around home. That’s hard work. It reminds me of the time we poured cement for the back room and we had all the beer in the tub of Ice and Old Curley came and turned the water on and off for us so he could get in on the beer.

I have heard about that picture Rear Window. I don’t go to the show much any more. But if it gets here I will go see it.

I guess that was quite a surprise for Quinton. Sounds just like him. (note: Quinton was J.Q.s dad and our uncle who was married to Mama’s sister Edith. Don’t know what the surprise was.) I would sure like to see the gang. I think about them all the time and I sure miss them.

Well I am going on less than 3 months now so it wont be much longer. I think the 5 RCT leave on a boat about the 27. They moved to the 8069 Baker Co to get clothes etc and they are just waiting to go now. Well I don’t know much more to write about so I will close . Will write again soon.

Lots of Love, Ted

P.S. Here is another patch for Snapper. It goes with the Stem up. It’s the 24 Div patch. 



                            


Sept 25, 1954 Saturday

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well it’s Saturday afternoon now. I haven’t written for awhile. Not much to write about. I had a couple of letters from you and one from Jim. I guess Jim was enjoying himself while he was there.

We had an inspection today. First one I have been in for quite awhile. My first with the 19 Regt. It came out darn good and I was complimented on my barracks and the men. It sure is a job getting a bunch of guys ready for an inspection like that. Everything has to be just so and if it isn’t you sure hear about it.

It has been raining all day today. Looks lie it will for most of the night. I thought I would go to the show tonight and see "From Here to Eternity" again. If you remember I told you about it being about a Company G. Well it was this same Co that I am in now. Co G of the 19th Regt. I don’t think it was in the 24 Div at that time. But any way they said it was about Co G of the 19th Regt. It was a good picture and I think I will see it again. The last time I saw it was up north.

I heard that the other Div that was leaving Korean was the Third Div but I didn’t hear that the 1st Marines were leaving. They said over here that the other Div would announced when the 3rd started its move. I thought it would be the 24 Dvi. These guys here are staying in the 24 for 17 and 18 months depending on how much time they have till their discharge. The reasons is that they had been in Japan and rear areas so long and had not had much combat time since the middle of the war. General Dean was the Div Commander at one time if you remember. He was captured.

I got a kick out of what Dad said about that Spade that o worked for him. I know just what they are like. I have had to live , eat and take orders from them for a long time or since I have been in the army. I sure hate them. How do they act in KC now. Are they going to the same school with the whites. I read something about that here awhile back. They sure try to take over the army. None of them are any good. There are a lot of southern NCOs in this Co and they make it rough on them. The1st Sgt that stayed here from the 5 is a nigger. These niggers have been ganging up on the white guys down town in Pusan and they cut up a few guys in the company. This morning the CID was here looking at every man in the co. I don’t know what they wanted. I don’t think they found who they wanted. (note: What can I say. Dad was a product of his time and place. I never heard him say very much about Blacks except on one occasion. His only exposure to Black people was in the army and I guess it was not a good experience. He did mellow in later years but was in his heart a segregationist. I have often wondered what he would have thought about having three African American Great Grandchildren and how I didn’t fall into the trap and that my kids don’t even know there was a trap out there. Each generation gets a little less prejudice but the tendency is out there most of us unless you are very carful.)

Well not much new. I’ll write more later on.

Love, Ted

Letters date Septemeber 18, 20, and 21, 1954

Saturday Sept 18, 1954 (note: a couple of these letters may be out of order.)

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

No mail for the last couple of days. The last was Sept 9 and 10. Well I got my orders for the 1 Inf Regt. 24 Div but no orders for what company as yet. I may find out today. None of the NCOs know what company they are going to. It may come down today. They say I will most likely stay right here in this company. Don’t write me anymore at my old address , use the address I have on the envelope. The 5RCT is leaving tomorrow to process here in Pusan and will probably leave in a few days. The mail will probably be messed up for awhile. At least until I find out what company I am going to for sure. If you go ahead and mail the letters to Co G, 19 Inf Regt, 24 Dvi Apo 24% PM SF Calif they will send it on to me and it wont take to long. When I find out what compay you can change that part of it. The 19 Regt will move ito our company tomorrow. The ROKs left last week and a bunch of PFC are leaving tomorrow for the 8th Army Hqs. Don’t know what they will do. Most of the other guys are going to George Co of the 19th Regt. All I know is that I am going to the 19th Regt. Hope to stay right here so I wont have to move.

Glad Snapper has his same teacher this year. (note: I had Mrs Dodd for the 1st and 2nd grade.) Hope he gets to feeling better. Seems like he doesn’t feel well quite often.

You said something about troops that are send back being sent some place else. They probably will but the reason they wanted guys with 6 months is so they could help train the men and get more time out of them rather than some one like me.

The days a fairly worm but not lie they were. I bet Larry’s car is really pretty. Tell him to take care of it and not burn it up all at once. Dad said something about the Koreas being beat up at some time. The Japs were ruling the Koreas for 40 years before World War II. They use to beat, kill, and treat them pretty rough. That is about all they know. When you catch one stealing he expect to be beat up. The MP knock them around quite a bit when you take them in. I have watched quite a few. The young ones are worse about wsing off than the older ones. I watched on MP Desk Sgt (GI) knock one clown across the room one day because he insulted me.

Well I got a feeling I wont get quite as good a deal as I had when the 24 moves in. I’ll let you know. Will write again.

Love, Ted

Monday Sept 20, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well I am in the 19th Inf Regt, Co G 24 Div. They moved in yesterday morning and I think it will be OK for awhile anyway. I to to keep the same job as Section Leader. We have a good Platoon Leader. I think we will get along OK. It sure had been a mess getting guys moved around where they belong. Haven’t had any mail lately. It will probably start coming slow now. As far as I know we will do nothing for about 2 weeks and them pull guard for 3 weeks and go to the field and train. That should be my last time in the field before I go home. I hope so any way. I think I might even make SFC before I rotate if everything goes OK before I rotate. They do thing a little bit different around here than in the 5 RCT not much different but a little. The NCOs run the company 99%. I didn’t have to move anything when I moved it. They moved in around me. Tell Mrs Underwood and Betty that I am in the 24 Div now. If I am ever close to the 34 Regt I will look Don up. Right now I thing the 34 Regt is till up north. We have a lot of me in the company. A lot of them rotate before long though. Quite a few in the next 30 or 40 days. I think there is over 240 men here now.

I scrounged up 8 pairs of fatigues now and I can change every day. Took me a long time to get that many but that’s what I have. Well not much new to write about today. If you know anyone who you thing will write you had better tell them my new address. You might tell Jim if you write him.

Lots of Love. Ted

Tuesday Sept 21, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Not much new to write about. Not anything doing today but I thought I would write a short letter anyway.

We just worked around the area today. We had PT this morning and I am a little sore. I got two letters from you. Sept 13. Guess everything is going OK. I am sory I forgot your anniversary. Time sure goes fast any more. 28 years is a long time.

I got a few pictures I am sending you. They were taken this last week. I guess you have heard that the 3rd Div is moving out of Korea. They start next month. I all so heard that we are going on the field about the 1st of Nov for 3 weeks. Hope we don’t but if we do I should be on my way home soon after we come back. Well not much more to write about. I will write again later.

Love, Ted

Letters 18, 20, 21 September 1954

Saturday Sept 18, 1954 (note: a couple of these letters may be out of order.)

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

No mail for the last couple of days. The last was Sept 9 and 10. Well I got my orders for the 1 Inf Regt. 24 Div but no orders for what company as yet. I may find out today. None of the NCOs know what company they are going to. It may come down today. They say I will most likely stay right here in this company. Don’t write me anymore at my old address , use the address I have on the envelope. The 5RCT is leaving tomorrow to process here in Pusan and will probably leave in a few days. The mail will probably be messed up for awhile. At least until I find out what company I am going to for sure. If you go ahead and mail the letters to Co G, 19 Inf Regt, 24 Dvi Apo 24% PM SF Calif they will send it on to me and it wont take to long. When I find out what compay you can change that part of it. The 19 Regt will move ito our company tomorrow. The ROKs left last week and a bunch of PFC are leaving tomorrow for the 8th Army Hqs. Don’t know what they will do. Most of the other guys are going to George Co of the 19th Regt. All I know is that I am going to the 19th Regt. Hope to stay right here so I wont have to move.

Glad Snapper has his same teacher this year. (note: I had Mrs Dodd for the 1st and 2nd grade.) Hope he gets to feeling better. Seems like he doesn’t feel well quite often.

You said something about troops that are send back being sent some place else. They probably will but the reason they wanted guys with 6 months is so they could help train the men and get more time out of them rather than some one like me.

The days a fairly worm but not lie they were. I bet Larry’s car is really pretty. Tell him to take care of it and not burn it up all at once. Dad said something about the Koreas being beat up at some time. The Japs were ruling the Koreas for 40 years before World War II. They use to beat, kill, and treat them pretty rough. That is about all they know. When you catch one stealing he expect to be beat up. The MP knock them around quite a bit when you take them in. I have watched quite a few. The young ones are worse about wsing off than the older ones. I watched on MP Desk Sgt (GI) knock one clown across the room one day because he insulted me.

Well I got a feeling I wont get quite as good a deal as I had when the 24 moves in. I’ll let you know. Will write again.

Love, Ted

Monday Sept 20, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well I am in the 19th Inf Regt, Co G 24 Div. They moved in yesterday morning and I think it will be OK for awhile anyway. I to to keep the same job as Section Leader. We have a good Platoon Leader. I think we will get along OK. It sure had been a mess getting guys moved around where they belong. Haven’t had any mail lately. It will probably start coming slow now. As far as I know we will do nothing for about 2 weeks and them pull guard for 3 weeks and go to the field and train. That should be my last time in the field before I go home. I hope so any way. I think I might even make SFC before I rotate if everything goes OK before I rotate. They do thing a little bit different around here than in the 5 RCT not much different but a little. The NCOs run the company 99%. I didn’t have to move anything when I moved it. They moved in around me. Tell Mrs Underwood and Betty that I am in the 24 Div now. If I am ever close to the 34 Regt I will look Don up. Right now I thing the 34 Regt is till up north. We have a lot of me in the company. A lot of them rotate before long though. Quite a few in the next 30 or 40 days. I think there is over 240 men here now.

I scrounged up 8 pairs of fatigues now and I can change every day. Took me a long time to get that many but that’s what I have. Well not much new to write about today. If you know anyone who you thing will write you had better tell them my new address. You might tell Jim if you write him.

Lots of Love. Ted

Tuesday Sept 21, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Not much new to write about. Not anything doing today but I thought I would write a short letter anyway.

We just worked around the area today. We had PT this morning and I am a little sore. I got two letters from you. Sept 13. Guess everything is going OK. I am sory I forgot your anniversary. Time sure goes fast any more. 28 years is a long time.

I got a few pictures I am sending you. They were taken this last week. I guess you have heard that the 3rd Div is moving out of Korea. They start next month. I all so heard that we are going on the field about the 1st of Nov for 3 weeks. Hope we don’t but if we do I should be on my way home soon after we come back. Well not much more to write about. I will write again later.

Love, Ted

Letterd dated Septemeber 11, 13, and 16, 1954

Saturday Sept 11, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

I had two letter from you yesterday afternoon Sept 3 and 4. Nut much doing today. I am on guard tomorrow which I am glad to do as I get tired of doing nothing for 3 days at a time. I get plenty of rest though.

Don’t fee to bad about me not leaving with the outfit. I was disappointed OK but I didn’t feel fad about it. I am getting used to things like that anymore. I guess I had my last chance to go yesterday as the CO sent the 1st Sgt over to ask me if I would go again and I said no. I am kind of sorry I didn’t say yes in a way as I think I would like it at Ft Lewis. Yes I will stay here 15 months but those guys that are leaving here in 14 are mostly going to get discharged and can’t stay 16 moths as in my case. (note: I think he is explaining that he will have been in Korea for 15 months by the time he returns.) And some of the 14 month guys, now, have had some combat time which counts some. Hope you don’t write Symington about anything as it would do any good and I would probably have to see the Col about it. (note: Stuart Symington was the Senator from Missouri, if I remember correctly my grandfather was going to write him and tell him and demand that Dad come home because he had been in Korea a year.) I only have 3 months and 10 day to do over here. It should go fairly fast and I should get away early as every one else has left 2 week early.

I guess if the 5th would have got to Camp Carson, Colo. I would have probably taken another year and gone back as I would have been close to home. I had just as well be over seas as to be in Ft Lewis.

I didn’t catch would Dad said about alligators swimming around in the Missouri River. What did you mean. (note: It seems that I have a vague memory of some urban legend going on at the time that there were some alligators in the Missouri river.)

I guess the weather should start getting milder in KC now. It’s hot over here and has been for a couple of days. Has Jan still got the Dairy Queen. Are they going to close it this winter. If they do I guess they will be looking for work. (note: Mom and a sister-in-law ran a Dairy Queen on the corner of 24 and Noland Rd. Back then DQs only stayed opened during the summer. The sister-in-law ran off with all the money. That is when mom went to work for the telephone company.) Does she still drive the Chevy she bout from me. (note: It was a yellow convertible.)

Today is a holiday for the Koreans. I think it is their Xmas. Well not much new towrite about so I will close. Hope I get some mail today again.

Love, Ted



Monday Sept 13, 1954 9:30 AM KAT

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

How is everything going? (note: one of the first times he has used a question mark.) I don’t have much to write about but thought I would write a line anyway. It s raining and the wind is blowing today. I think there is another typhoon on the way.

I was on guard yesterday again. I think that will probably be my last time. With 5 RCT anyway. We finish in a couple of days and some one else will take over. Not much going on yesterday. Ti was Sunday and there was only one ship unloading. We did get a couple of Koreans for eating potatoes on the ship. I didn’t see any mail yesterday but I should get some today.

12 men went home today and that puts me father down the list. I think I am about 42 or 43 now. I don’t know how I will stand when the 24 Div moved in. I should keep the same rotation date anyway as they can’t keep me to much longer than Dec 20. I think there will be another drop this week which will get a few more men.

Still no word for sure as th what they will do with us but it pretty certain that we will be in the 24 Div, no change of addresses yet. Be sure to write me what Jane’s brother’s address is. The 25 Div moved 3,700 men now from Korea. It will take 1 month to get them all moved. I guess the 2nd Div is moving now. Now word on the other Divs moving yet. They just have the 3rd, 7th, 24th and 1st Marine Div here now. The air force is starting to move out and they are taking the AAA from the Pusan. That is Anti-Aircraft Artillery. They have guns set up around Pusan and the harbor area.

Have you heard of Operation Glory. that is taking place here in Pusan on Pier #1. The 5 RCT has an honor guard there during the operation. I think it is about over now. You might see it on TV or news reels. If you do you’ll know that’s where we are pulling guard. I thin Easy Co had Pier 1 and 2 and George Co has 3 and 4. Well not much new to add. So I will close. I will write again late.

Love, Ted



Sept 16, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well we are finished with guard for a while now and the 5 RCT is about no more in Korea at last. The 24 Div, 19 RGT, 1st Bn, took over our guard on the docks at Pusan. I didn’t have anything to do and I was tired of laying around so I went on guard Tue night at midnight and pulled till Wed morning at 8 AM. This is probably the last time I will pull guard with the 5 RCT. We had a company party yesterday afternoon at the beach. It was a little to cold to swim and anyway the ocean had quite an undertow so they would let anyone swim anyway so I didn’t go in. The 5 RCT has an officers club there. Kind of beach house. We had been, cold cuts, potato salad etc. I filled up with everything and helped out behind the bard. It went pretty good. They on had one fight. We had 45 cases of beer there which made an average of 14 can per man.

I had two letters from you yesterday Sept 7 and 8. Glad to get them. I haven’t been told where I am going yet but the company commander said that most everyone would stay right here in this company and be in the George Co of the 19th Rgt. No new address yet. The 5 RCT hasn’t let yet but they are ready to leave. They have their cadre picked and men are coming to the out fit from all most every Div to go back with the 5th. Most of them are Regular Army. I think they leave on the ship about the 27 of Sept. The 19 Regt will be moved in to camp #2 in the next few days. They have all ready moved into the 1st Bn.

Well I have 13 weeks and 4 days left till Dec 20. That’s 95 days. Hope it isn’t that long and I don’t thin it will be.

That wasn’t a very big article you sent me about the 5 RCT moving out of Korea to Ft. Lewis. Those parakeets are cute if they are tamed (note: my grandfather started buying parakeets for pets, he did this for several year. One died laying an egg, another flew into are front door and broke his neck, and another was eaten by the cat.) I have always liked them and would have brought one home but didn’t think it would have gone over to good. I bet the kitchen will looks nice when you get it finished and the back porch too.

If I figured right that make 3 checks you have got for 50. July, Aug, Sept. I drew $163 last pay day. I don’t know why I drew so much money all the time. I should get 161-50=111. Hope they are not over paying me any. Don’t know much more to write about so I will close off. I’ll write later on.

Love, Ted