Nov 30, 1953
.
Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper
I finished my first day. This morning a Col talked to us and that was the first hour. After that we had a class on map reading, PT, and leadership. My first talk will be next week some time. It will be from 10-12 min. I don't know what to talk about yet. I hope I make it OK. We have two more talks after that, one for 18 min and the other for 25 min. You have to get 700 points to graduate and if you get 900 points you get a promotion when you get back to your outfit. There are 1000 points altogether.
Our food here is plenty good compared to what we get at the company. Tonight I took some fatigue shirts to the laundry and bought some PFC stripes and patches at the Korean PX. I got a hair cut at the PX last night. They have a movie here every night but I haven't gone yet. We wear our thermo boot here in the morning. They have had 5 cases of frost bite in the last class. Today was payday. I didn't get paid yet. I think they will bring my money up tomorrow. I don't really need it though. Well I don't have much more to say. My mail will be 2 or 3 days getting here. I'll try to write a letter every day.
Love, Ted
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Letters to Dad
When I open envelopes from Dad, now and then I come across letters that were sent to him by others that he wanted to save. He had mentioned that he did not save letters sent to him by my grandparents (which would have been interesting if he would have) because he didn't have room. However several he received while in Korea he sent home so my grandparents would save them. I have blogged one letter like that, here are two more I just came across.
Sept 2, 1953
Dear Ted
Well I am betting you are thinking why I never wrote sooner. Well I went to leadership for 3 weeks and boy that was plenty for me so I dropped out and went down to the 507 for about a week before I got my orders. Well I am pretty darn happy where I am now. I am assigned to Ft. Lewis, Washington. I am in the a TO&E out fit. All we do is train and train but we are able to live off post and I brought my wife and car back here. If we ever go any place it will be to Alaska for three months and we will come right back unless another war starts.
Ge Ted I wish you would have come to Leadership School with me and we could have dropped out together. We would still be together. I sure miss the the good times we had. Well may be after we both get out of the service we can get together again. Guess where I am, I am on guard so I have time to write a letter.
Say, remember Livingston and Gillard, they both were in the second platoon. Well they went to Division Training Facility at Camp Roberts and were on the rifle committee. You know Camp Roberts is closing. Well the last of the trainees went though the rifle training and the two guys were assigned up here in the same Bn I am. I ran into them the other night. Funny how you run into two guys you thought you would never meet again. I sure wish you were here with me but you might have a pretty good dear where you are.
I am sending this letter to your mom. I hope she sends it on to you. Please write as soon as you can Ted. I would like to hear where you are and how you are getting along.
Your Buddy Martin
This is my address:
Pvt Wilford O. Martin
US 17335090
Co C, 123 Inf. Reg
44 Div. Fort Lewis Washington
(note: Martin was Dad's best friend in basic training. I have wondered if they would stay in contact.)
Sept 24, 53
Dear Mac
Sure was glad to hear from you. Yes we sure did get split up. I never saw you after we got off the landing craft. We were lost all that night and we got to the 25 Rept about 8 in the morning. I went from there to the 27 Wolfhound Regt. We are a line company. I am in the 1st Bn, Able Company. We are about 3 miles from the front. At the present time we are the reserve unit and we are digging positions in the mountains behind us. I am in a 57 recoiless rife squad. At the present time I am an ammo bearer and carry a carbine. By the end of the month or the beginning of next month I will be a gunner or asst gunner or even squad leader, the two guys ahead of me are going home. Then I will carry a .45.
We have to pull guard duty about every 4th night. It is a bitch. I sure do miss the gang. I was on guard last night and this morning so I have the rest of the day off.. It is kind of warm so I opened me up a can of beer. We get a case or 2 a week a piece. I am turning into a drunkard.
I can't explain to you exactly where I am at because I don't even know myself. I haven't heard from any of the other fellows yet. They had another USO show last night, it was all colored people so I didn't go. I saw the same USO show that you saw. The one where they played the electric guitar. It was pretty neat.
Are you near any towns? I haven't seen one since the night we came here. The rest of the squad went to Seoul last Sat, but since I had guard I didn't get to go.
A couple came down with VD in the other Co so that ends that. Well Mac I guess I will close for now and finish my beer and may be another one. Write soon and send the other guys addresses if you have any. After we find each other we may be able to get together some weekend and visit. There should be at least two of us near each other. So long for now MAC and write soon.
Your Buddy, Gary
Pvt Gary D. Sipes
US55337895
Co A, 27 Inf Regt
APO 25% PMSF
(note: Dad has mentioned Sipes several times in previous letters. They were in that special school they went to and Sipes was the nephew of Dad's ROTC instructor when he went to Northeast High School.)
Sept 2, 1953
Dear Ted
Well I am betting you are thinking why I never wrote sooner. Well I went to leadership for 3 weeks and boy that was plenty for me so I dropped out and went down to the 507 for about a week before I got my orders. Well I am pretty darn happy where I am now. I am assigned to Ft. Lewis, Washington. I am in the a TO&E out fit. All we do is train and train but we are able to live off post and I brought my wife and car back here. If we ever go any place it will be to Alaska for three months and we will come right back unless another war starts.
Ge Ted I wish you would have come to Leadership School with me and we could have dropped out together. We would still be together. I sure miss the the good times we had. Well may be after we both get out of the service we can get together again. Guess where I am, I am on guard so I have time to write a letter.
Say, remember Livingston and Gillard, they both were in the second platoon. Well they went to Division Training Facility at Camp Roberts and were on the rifle committee. You know Camp Roberts is closing. Well the last of the trainees went though the rifle training and the two guys were assigned up here in the same Bn I am. I ran into them the other night. Funny how you run into two guys you thought you would never meet again. I sure wish you were here with me but you might have a pretty good dear where you are.
I am sending this letter to your mom. I hope she sends it on to you. Please write as soon as you can Ted. I would like to hear where you are and how you are getting along.
Your Buddy Martin
This is my address:
Pvt Wilford O. Martin
US 17335090
Co C, 123 Inf. Reg
44 Div. Fort Lewis Washington
(note: Martin was Dad's best friend in basic training. I have wondered if they would stay in contact.)
Sept 24, 53
Dear Mac
Sure was glad to hear from you. Yes we sure did get split up. I never saw you after we got off the landing craft. We were lost all that night and we got to the 25 Rept about 8 in the morning. I went from there to the 27 Wolfhound Regt. We are a line company. I am in the 1st Bn, Able Company. We are about 3 miles from the front. At the present time we are the reserve unit and we are digging positions in the mountains behind us. I am in a 57 recoiless rife squad. At the present time I am an ammo bearer and carry a carbine. By the end of the month or the beginning of next month I will be a gunner or asst gunner or even squad leader, the two guys ahead of me are going home. Then I will carry a .45.
We have to pull guard duty about every 4th night. It is a bitch. I sure do miss the gang. I was on guard last night and this morning so I have the rest of the day off.. It is kind of warm so I opened me up a can of beer. We get a case or 2 a week a piece. I am turning into a drunkard.
I can't explain to you exactly where I am at because I don't even know myself. I haven't heard from any of the other fellows yet. They had another USO show last night, it was all colored people so I didn't go. I saw the same USO show that you saw. The one where they played the electric guitar. It was pretty neat.
Are you near any towns? I haven't seen one since the night we came here. The rest of the squad went to Seoul last Sat, but since I had guard I didn't get to go.
A couple came down with VD in the other Co so that ends that. Well Mac I guess I will close for now and finish my beer and may be another one. Write soon and send the other guys addresses if you have any. After we find each other we may be able to get together some weekend and visit. There should be at least two of us near each other. So long for now MAC and write soon.
Your Buddy, Gary
Pvt Gary D. Sipes
US55337895
Co A, 27 Inf Regt
APO 25% PMSF
(note: Dad has mentioned Sipes several times in previous letters. They were in that special school they went to and Sipes was the nephew of Dad's ROTC instructor when he went to Northeast High School.)
Monday, May 9, 2011
November Thoughts
November Thoughts
It seems to me that Dad was doing well and adjusting the first part of the month but as the holidays, Thanks Giving in particular, approached he started getting down in the dumps. GI Blues is common they say. I still am amazed at how many of his friends in the neighborhood were in the army and how many seemed to be around where he was. I guess Korea was not that big and most of the draftees were scattered along the front. It also sticks out to me how much letters and packages meant to him and how hungry he was for news from home.
It will be over a year before he comes home probably and discharged and already he is wondering what he will do when he gets out of the army. Some times the army I have noticed from my own accounts sort of make you do stupid things you think just to keep you busy. This is done on purpose I suspect to keep the young soldiers especially from thinking to much.
As usual I have not read ahead and don't know how he does in the NCO School (which seems to have lifted him out of his blues or depression for the time being) nor do I know how Christmas away from home will work on his mental state. Remember he is only 25 and this is really the first time he has been away from home. I was 55 before I spent a Christmas alone, everyone ought to do it at least once in their life.
Many GIs before Dad spent long periods and many holidays away from home, he certainly wasn't the first and unfortunately wont be the last.
It seems to me that Dad was doing well and adjusting the first part of the month but as the holidays, Thanks Giving in particular, approached he started getting down in the dumps. GI Blues is common they say. I still am amazed at how many of his friends in the neighborhood were in the army and how many seemed to be around where he was. I guess Korea was not that big and most of the draftees were scattered along the front. It also sticks out to me how much letters and packages meant to him and how hungry he was for news from home.
It will be over a year before he comes home probably and discharged and already he is wondering what he will do when he gets out of the army. Some times the army I have noticed from my own accounts sort of make you do stupid things you think just to keep you busy. This is done on purpose I suspect to keep the young soldiers especially from thinking to much.
As usual I have not read ahead and don't know how he does in the NCO School (which seems to have lifted him out of his blues or depression for the time being) nor do I know how Christmas away from home will work on his mental state. Remember he is only 25 and this is really the first time he has been away from home. I was 55 before I spent a Christmas alone, everyone ought to do it at least once in their life.
Many GIs before Dad spent long periods and many holidays away from home, he certainly wasn't the first and unfortunately wont be the last.
November 29, 1953
Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper
Now I am at the 3rd Div NCO Academy. I got here about 3 PM today. It's not far from the 5th RCT. I don't know much about this place yet. This is the first letter I have written since Thanks Giving.
Friday I stayed in and worked in the area. Friday night I went to the show and saw "Hans Christian Anderson." It sue was a good picture.
The Old Man sure has his eye on me. When he came up to me in the ranks he asked me who the Bn Commander was and who the exec officer was. I told him. I was the only one he asked in our platoon. He just wanted to see if I knew.
Sat night I was on Bn guard so I didn't get a chance to write. This morning I packed all my clothes and stuff up and left the Co at 1 PM to go over the Regt HQ to come to school. I think I will like it here OK. There are about 1000 men here all the time. They talked to us a little bit and also a Major has. I saw Guthemiller. He is in the tent across from me. He is in his second week now. I will have some one to help me out when I need it. At least for 2 weeks. I will be here for 4 weeks. The food is good. They have a good PX, showers, beer hall, barber shop, laundry, tailor, etc. I think it will be OK after I am use to it. They told us that if you are high ranking or out standing in your class you will get a promotion. If I can do that I will be a corporal and then I would have a good chance to make Sgt. About the hardest part for me will probably be the classes. But I thin I can get around that if I try hard enough and know the truth (note: I think Dad might have been referring to a portion of his religious up bringing as a Christan Scientist. He was taught in Church that "You shall know the truth and truth shall set you free.") This is the same as leadership in the states except you get 8 weeks in 4 week and they say it is better. I am glad I didn't go in the states now.
I still have my cold and I am trying to get rid of it. I haven't take anything for it since last weekend. It doesn't seem to help anyway. (note: if he is trying to get rid of it and not taking anything for it--hint of the Christian Scientist comeing out again.) I had a few letters from you and also that news clipping. I enjoyed reading them , also the picture of Jim Rountree. Is that Massie boy married now and out of the army. Did you know the boy who found the Raccoon. Tell Snapper to write good and draw some more pictures of soldiers. (note: I use to draw pictures of solders marching and send to him.) That was nice of Mr. Sharp to give you a box of candy. You might take some of my money and buy Jim and Rosalie something for Xmas. I will try to send some money back but I don't know yet.
I am glad that Westinghouse is expanding. You should go for that job dad. May be you will have Jessie's job before long. It is nice you get some extra time off for the holidays. They should get more.
I don't know what I want to do when I come home. I would like to do somethig worth while. It dosen't seem to me that there is much futre at the plant for me. Seems like the older men get the breaks and it would take me to long to get a good job that would pay faily good money. I still have a long time to think about that anyway. I should have been saving more money than I have for the last few years. I guess you could call what I got out of my car as saved.
Well don't have much more to say . I have a big day tomrrow so I will clsoe for now. I'll wrtie more about the school as I go along.
Lots of Love, Ted
November 20, 1953
(note: this letter was in another envelope for some reason and is being blogged out of sequence)
Nov 20, 1953
Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper
I thought I would write a little tonight. I didn't write one last night. Yesterday I did the usual. I worked in the area in the afternoon. I went to the show last night and saw "The Girl Next Door" with June Haven and Dan Daily.
I haven't had much mail the last 2 days. I got a letter form Dad. Today we had the day off to get ready for our 4 day problem. I guess we will leave tomorrow at 4 PM. I haven't heard about going to school this weekend so I guess it will be next week. We have to pack all of our clothes up and turn them into supply and then carry our sleeping bag in our cargo pack and our full field pack. It is going to be hard to get all of my clothing in a duffel bag.
I went to the PX last night and bought some things. They got a shipment in. I got 6 cans of tobacco, a box of candy and a hand warmer. I thought I would try it out. They didn't have any lighter fluid. I will have to borrow some. It's hard to get.
It sure has been cold here the last few days. It stays cold even in the day time now.
We will go on our problem Sat and come back Tues or Wed. I think I will take some writing paper with me and write a couple of letters. I don't know whether the mail will come in tonight or not so I will wait and finish this letter later.--------The mail came in and I got one letter from you. It was dated Nov 14, 1953.
I have most everything ready to go now and I am just about ready to go to bed. I don't know much to say. I am sure getting tired of Korea. There isn't anything to do here and it get pretty boring. I sure feel bad sometimes when I wake up in the morning and get up in the cold and think about having to say here for another year. It sure is discouraging. It might not be so bad if there was something to do. There isn't any place to go, no amusements and the shows only come to our company about once a week. All you do is work and train and you don't get anything for it. I'll sure be glad to get away from here.
I found out that they have me scheduled to leave here Jan 17, 1955 but I get discharged Feb 9, 55 so I will probably leave here Dec of 54, unless they change the present system. I think they might. Most of the GIs who are South of the 38th have it a little better. There is more to do back there and they get a lot of the things we can't.
Well I guess I'll close for now. I will try to write a letter tomorrow before I leave and a letter or two while I am gone.
Lot of Love, Ted
Nov 20, 1953
Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper
I thought I would write a little tonight. I didn't write one last night. Yesterday I did the usual. I worked in the area in the afternoon. I went to the show last night and saw "The Girl Next Door" with June Haven and Dan Daily.
I went to the PX last night and bought some things. They got a shipment in. I got 6 cans of tobacco, a box of candy and a hand warmer. I thought I would try it out. They didn't have any lighter fluid. I will have to borrow some. It's hard to get.
It sure has been cold here the last few days. It stays cold even in the day time now.
We will go on our problem Sat and come back Tues or Wed. I think I will take some writing paper with me and write a couple of letters. I don't know whether the mail will come in tonight or not so I will wait and finish this letter later.--------The mail came in and I got one letter from you. It was dated Nov 14, 1953.
I have most everything ready to go now and I am just about ready to go to bed. I don't know much to say. I am sure getting tired of Korea. There isn't anything to do here and it get pretty boring. I sure feel bad sometimes when I wake up in the morning and get up in the cold and think about having to say here for another year. It sure is discouraging. It might not be so bad if there was something to do. There isn't any place to go, no amusements and the shows only come to our company about once a week. All you do is work and train and you don't get anything for it. I'll sure be glad to get away from here.
I found out that they have me scheduled to leave here Jan 17, 1955 but I get discharged Feb 9, 55 so I will probably leave here Dec of 54, unless they change the present system. I think they might. Most of the GIs who are South of the 38th have it a little better. There is more to do back there and they get a lot of the things we can't.
Well I guess I'll close for now. I will try to write a letter tomorrow before I leave and a letter or two while I am gone.
Lot of Love, Ted
Sunday, May 8, 2011
November 26, 1953
Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper
Well we sure had a big diner today. We had turkey, dressing, potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, shrimp cocktail, peas and carrots, celery, radishes, onions, olives, tea, nut mix, candy, ice cream, fruit, cake and pumpkin pie. It was fixed pretty good. Better than I expected. We had a big breakfast too.
We didn't do anything all day but take it easy. Zink came by today for awhile and talked. Nut much new to say. I took a couple of pictures.
I still have my cold. I can't seem to do much for it. I didn't sleep very good last night. I wish I could shake it off but it seems to get worse instead of better. I think I will go to bed early tonight. We will probably train a little tomorrow. I don't know what it will be yet.
It was nice all day today. How do you like this stationery. It's the only sheet I had. One of the guys had a couple of sheets and he gave me one. The PO is an old one. It use to be 301. It has our 5th patch with G on it for our company. The other is a Korean service ribbon.
Well I don't have much more to say right now so I guess I will close. Thanks for the packages you sent and the cards. I hope I can come home next year by this time. Well lots of love and I miss you.
Love, Ted
PS: I wrote Frank Tucker a short letter at last. Tell him he can fix it up if he wants to put it in the paper.
(note: Frank Tucker was the editor and publisher of the local news paper called the Inter City News that circulated in parts of the unincorporated area of Jackson County between Independence and Kansas City. The paper was located under the Standard State Bank in Fairmount.)
Saturday, May 7, 2011
November 25, 1953
Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper
How is everything at home. I went to bed fairly early last night. I still have a cold and is a little worse than it was before. Today I went to the Bn aid station and go something for it. I got a shot. They don't give them out to much. I hope I can get rid of it before I go to the NCO school because I will sure need my strength and my voice.
We haven't done anything all day. I took a shower this morning for the first time in 2 or 3 weeks I think. That is one of the bad things about this place. This afternoon I cleaned my pistol for inspection and got ready for inspection.
I was told today that I am a PFC now. The Sgts told me. I had better get some more before I leave here. I think may be I can make Sgt before I leave here if I do good at the school.
The cookies were #1. I finished those already and also some of the spice cake. I woke up once during the night and got hungry so I reached my hand out of my sleeping bag for the cookies and finished them. All the boys in the tent say you are sure a good cook and know how to make cake and cookies.
I got some film for my camera and I am going to take some more pictures. Guthmiller is getting some of the 120 film developed at the NCO school. I should get them back before long.
I just got a letter from you mailed Nov 19. I guess the mail does slow up quite a bit. I write every chance I get but once in a while I don't write everyday, but almost. The weather is cold most all the time lately until today. I warmed up quiet a bit since this morning. You could go out in your t-shirt. We have tomorrow off and we are supposed to have a big dinner tomorrow for Thanks Giving.
No I haven't seen Carlin yet. What did you say he headed his letter as. The area map of here that I saw yesterday was the Chipo-Ri (Re) valley. I think I saw the name of the place he is and he wasn't to far. I guess I was as close to Joe Chink as I ever have been and hope to be while I am here. I could see the hills where their trenches and bunkers are. Their hills had snow on them (note: On the night problem he just returned from I guess took him to the front lines where he could see into North Korea. The term Joe Chink is a slang term the GIs used to describe the Chinese and North Koreans.)
It is nice that Mr. Sharp could stay with you for awhile. I have his name on one of the Xmas cards I have. I haven't mailed them yet. I think I will wait for awhile. I got a kick out of what you said about Mr. Sharp going to church. He sounded like he has been in the army the way he made the excuse. (note: this Mr Sharp thing is really getting to me. I asked mom about him and she can't remember anything about him other than a faint recollection of the name but she associates it with a lady, which might be correct because I surmise that Mr. Sharp's wife has just died.)
Isn't Mrs Peek going back to Calif to live (note: don't know who she is either.)
I can't remember the name of the China I looked at. I think I know what you want now. They will probably have more in Japan. Was that Violette you spoke of, was that like something pink and dainty.
I enjoyed reading in the Star about the Turkey for Xmas. Turkey wouldn't be much of a treat for us. We have turkey and chicken a lot. It doesn't taste as well as it does at home. A good steak would be better.
I enjoyed the letter Snapper wrote. Looks like he is doing pretty good with his reading and writing.
I hope the kidnappers get what they deserve. I haven't read all the clippings you sent yet.
I hope I can save some money while I am here. The money I put in Soldiers Deposits will draw 4% till I get out of the army. I can't be able to get t out except in an emergency. So I will probably have it for quiet awhile. I am going to try and put some in every month. I don't need much money except for R&R and I think I can save some each month for that and if I need any more I could have you send some of the money I have from home. A PFC draws 109 a month over here. I should be able to put a least half of it away. I don't know when the promotion went in to effect so don't know how much I will get this month.
There has been a lot of talk about making this tour 12 months rather than 16. I hope so. There sure isn't anything for us here at least any place north of the 38th. All the rear troops have everything easy. Good quarters, house boys, all the PX items and the best food just like that article said in the Star.
How come you are not going to be with Evelyn and Harley this year. (note: This Evelyn is my grandmothers foster sister, not to be confused with an Evelyn mentioned now and and then that was her biological sister.)
You didn't say in your letter. You always were with them for Thanks Giving, Xmas.
We got some new GIs in the company from the states. I thought may be it would be the group that came with Don but they came from Ft. Lewis. We will be getting a lot of replacements before long. The old timers are starting to rotate out now. It sure makes you feel good seeing them go home. The more that leave now and then will make it sooner for us.
Well don't have much more to say so I'll close for now. I'll write you another letter again tomorrow and tell you about our lives.
Love, Ted
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