July 11, 1954

Sun July 11, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well not much doing today.  Have taken it easy today (or this morning.)  Yesterday we had inspection and yesterday afternoon I went over to see Arkie.  He called and said he was going home this next Thursday the 15 of July.  He came after me and brought me back in a jeep last night.  Had a good time with him.  They had a dance etc.  He had a couple of steaks and French fries for dinner.  I should be on my way home in about 3 months after he gets home.  I don’t know if I will see him anymore or not before he goes home. 

Friday our company went out to the beech and had a party.  I swam in the ocean and it sure was nice.  The waves were the biggest I have ever seen.  Way over our heads and we had our air mattresses with  us and rode the waves in like a surf board.  We had fried chicken, potato salad, cold cuts and buns beer and coke.  Sure had a good time.  Hope we can go out there later on.

To bad about McLaughlin breaking his back.

About the classes I wrote about given in the field was on the 57 recoilless rifle.  I gave 4 hours altogether.  They were (note: could not read the next word.)  I was teaching the 57 RR etc.  I gave a class on the Range Estimation too.  Most all of it was talking. 

Well I don’t have much more to write about.  I will write you later.

Love, Ted

PS:  I still have the same job.  I was going to take over the 57 section when Sgt Wood left but we got another Sgt First Class who moved in the platoon so I guess he will take over.

July 8, 1954

July 8, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Not much new at this end.  Thought I would write anyway.  I got you can of cookies last night.  They sure were good.  Did I tell you that Captain Book left the company and is the Bn S-3 now.  1^st Lt Hooper is CO now.  Book left before I got back.  Simonie told me he talked to the company before he left and said that he hated to leave the company as he had been here a long time and had watched the men grow.  Said he had a man go from Pvt to Sgt while he had been there etc.  He was talking about me I guess as I am the only one who had done that since he has been here.

Tomorrow our company has a part at K9 beech on the ocean.  Food, beer and cokes.  I still have my trunks so I will use them.  Bet I am the only one in the company with a pair.  Not much to do around Pusan.  They have a NCO Club for the 1^st 3 grades.  It is nice.  They have a band and bingo every night.  Mixed drinks are only 20 cents.  It’s a nice club.  Only 5^th RCT Sgts are allowed.  It’s run by the Regt.  We haven’t done much in the way of training since I have been back.  Monday we start guard down on the docks in Pusan. 

I am sending pictures I took in Japan and out in the field.  One of them was when Sgt Wood and I were taking a bath and had washed our clothes and waiting for them to dry.  Well not much more to write about so I will close.

Lots of Love, Ted

July 6, 1954

July 6, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well it has been several days since I have written a letter.  I mailed one from Japan and I had to wait till I went back to Camp Hakatu to mail it.  I enjoyed my trip to Japan.  Not much to tell about it.  It cost me enough money there.  I saw some good show while I was there.  “How to Marry a Millionaire” – The “French Line,” “Pony Express,” “Red Garters,” and “It Should Happen to You.”  I took some color pictures.  I didn’t buy anything in Japan except a lighter for Dad which I am going to mail in a letter later on.  I looked at China and had planned to buy some.  They wanted quite a bit in town for China.  There it would have been about 100 for a 93 piece set.  I can order it here in Korea for less and get a better pattern.  I’ll look at the PX next time I am down there. 

I had several letters when I got back fro about the 18 to 28.  I enjoyed reading them.  Glad Jan is doing OK at the Dairy Queen. (note: Mom and sister’s sister-in-law worked at a Dairy Queen that summer for extra money.  It was sort of a lease situation.  The other lady ran off with the money at the end of the summer and didn’t leave Mom anything.)  I haven’t heard from Jim any more and have been wondering what he is doing now.  Glad Snapper is swimming good.  He stared plenty young.

I have quite a few pictures that I took in Japan.  I’ll send them a few at a time.  I also have some color pictures I took but I haven’t finished the roll.  When I do I will send them.  I have a registered letter I haven’t picked up yet.  I will before long.  I have a pair of Sgt stripes for Snapper too.  I’ll send them soon.  I don’t know if we will be going back out in the field again soon or not.  I wont mind if we do.  I have an idea that the 5 will leave Korea this month or in the month of August.  The rumors are pretty strong.  Better not wait on your vacation though.  Better take it now as I might not be coming with the outfit.  They might move to most anyplace. 

What has Keith said about the army.  What is his rank.  It must have cost a lot of money to come home.  When I was in Japan I saw the overseas telephone and I thought about calling home but it would have cost a fortune and I couldn’t have talked very long.

Guess it has been plenty warm in KC.  The weather here you asked about is all messed up.  It’s worse than Calif.  It rained wall 7 days I was in Japan except for a couple of afternoons.  I rains here all most every day.  It isn’t to hot and the night are cool.  Mosquitoes are bad.  We haven’t go or nets yet. 

I got a kick out of you getting rid of the rug.  That was an easy way to do it.  I do things like that just for the laugh I give myself. (note: My Grandfather rolled up the rug and put it in front of the house with a for sale sign on it and then ended up giving it away to a couple of kids who were walking home from school.)

That extra pay I wrote about was for the 5 years navy reserve I have.  You get more for each year you have in.  I haven’t  heard anything yet.  I haven’t done anything about the application for the Helicopter School.  I have to take a test and have’t been around long enough to do it yet.  If I don’t make it I wont stay in most likely.  I saw that picture “Elephant Walk” you wrote about.  The Photostats you sent were the right ones. 

Well I don’t know much more to say now.  I weighed myself in Japan, 178 lbs.  I didn’t think I was that heavy.  Well I’ll write again tomorrow.

Love, Ted.

June 29, 1954

June 29, 1954

(note: this letter was written on stationery from the Daiich Hotel in Fukuroka, Japan.  The address was 528, 9 Bancho, Haruyoshi-machi, Fukuyoka Japan.  Tel Eukuoka, 2-2638, 2639,2630.  The above picture is a modern one but the same hotel.)

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well I am on the R&R now.  Having a good time so far.  We left Pusan Sat eve and came across to Hakata port.  We were on a LST.  It only carried 150 of us and it was sure rocking.  It was raining and the sea was a little rough.  It all most rolled me out of be a couple of times.  When we got to cam Hakata we processed and they turned us looses about 2:00 Sunday afternoon and then we came into Fukuoka and got a  hotel room.  There are 5 of us from the company.

Daiich (Die – E – Chee) means Number one which is an ex prison used by GI’s in the Far East to say they like something and if they don’t like something they say number 10.  The hotel is like a state side in a way  Room service and it is modeled like a state side hotel.  The street in front is about 10 feet wide and smaller than our alleys down town.  There is a GI club close by and that is where we have gone the past few night.  It’s cheaper than the clubs down town.  They have a band, girls and the drinks are on 15 to  20 cents a piece.  Last night they had bingo 500 dollars jack pot.  I didn’t win anything but I enjoyed playing.  Yesterday I looked around town and went to a Japanese show and saw the French Line.

 It sure was a good show.  The theater was nice and modern like our shows down town.  I think I will look around today for some China etc.  I will have to take it to Camp Hakata to mail it.  The camp is about 20 miles from here.  I have till 8:00 Monday morning July 5 before I have to go back.  It has been raining every since I left.  Hope it stoops so I can take some pictures.  What do you hear from everyone.  I haven’t heard any fro Jim for quite a while.  The rumors are strong about ht e 5 RCT moving out of Korea  the 27 of July. Hope there is something to it.  May be Japan, Hawaii, or Camp Carson.  The other outfits may be leaving too this year.  I hope they do. 

Well I don’t have much more to say so I will close .. I have a few pictures to send you that I took in Mason.  Will write soon.

Love, Ted

June 26, 1954

Sat  June 26, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well Thursday I came in off the field and got paid etc for R&R.  I drew 115 this month.  While I was there I checked to see why my pay had been so much.  This month is the first time they have kept out anything for that 50 dollars allotment I have going home.  So I had been getting back pay etc.  My pay had been right.  Now that I am Sgt I should draw 111 plus the 50 they send home.  Which make 161.  I think I draw some money for the naval reserve time.  (note: this is a little confusing to me.  I did not really know he was ever in the naval reserve.  If so how did he get drafted?  Might have been something like ROTC, but ROTC at Northeast has always been army.  Just a family historical loss I guess.)

Well I stayed back in our Co Thurs night and Friday morning they took us to Co. C 8069 the R&R center for the Pusan area.  We are going to Camp Hakato Japan; from there we can go any place we want to.  I might go to Tokyo.  We were supposed to leave last night but they said the 5 RCT sent us a day early so we have to wait till tonight.  They send us by boat to Japan and the same way coming back.  Haven’t anything to do but lay around till this even.  It is an overnight run to Japan.  So it will be Sunday morning before I get started etc.  We have to process in Japan again.  The first thing I am go8ing to do is send somethi9ng home and after that take in the sites and look around. 

Well not much more to say.  I will write again from Japan.  I won’t get any mail till I get back to camp so I’ll write late.

Lots of Love, Ted

June 23, 1954

Wed June 23, 1954

Dear Mom, Dad, and Snapper

Well not much new to write about.  We finished our classes today with the 57 recoilless rifle and tomorrow we are going to have a test on things we have covered.  Today I gave a class on Range Estimation.  How to guess ranges, methods used etc.  It went over pretty good.  I a m getting so I can give a pretty good class now.  The Co. Clerk asked me last night if I wanted to go on R&R to Kakaton or something like that.  I said OK so I leave the 26.  Hope I am there for the 4^th of July.  I am going to send some things home when I go. 

It’s been windy and cold the last few days with a little rain but it doesn’t bother me to bad.  I sleep worm at night.

I haven’t had anymore mail since I got the card from you for Father’s Day.  The mail hasn’t come in for today yet.  Will probably get a letter when it does.  It might wait till I see before I finish this letter. 

That is quite a flare up in South America isn’t it. (note: There was a coup de ta in Guatemala around this time.)  Hope it wont amount to much.  I read in Stars and Stripe also about Harry Truman going to the hospital for an operation. (note:  Truman suffered a gallbladder attack while attending the Starlight Theater.)

Well I am beginning to feel like an old Sgt now.  I walk around with a clip board with my motor and a Sgt Stick.  That is just a name we have for it.  It’s a stick or something we cut from a tree and whittle on while some one is giving a class and also use it for a pointer. 

I just got a letter June 14.  So Keith came home on a 30 day leave.  How is he doing.  Has he made any rank yet.  I guess he feels good to be back home.  He has only been gone a years.  I remember I was home about a years ago today or starting home.  Wish I was coming home soon but it wont be for awhile yet.  The time sure goes fast.  This month is about gone now and another one to start.  Well I don’t have much more to write about for now so I will close .  Will try to write before I go on R&R if not I’ll write you in Japan.

Lots of Love, Ted

June 21, 1954

Monday June 21, 1954

I had a card from Snapper tonight.  It was a Father’s Day card.  I had forgot all about Father’s Day till I got the card.  I thought the card was nice.  I guess I will be later to wish you a happy Father’s Day Dad, but hope you had a good one anyway.

Well I didn’t do much yesterday but lay around and study the classes I was going to give today.  I gave 4 hours this afternoon to 3 sections in the 2^nd Bn.  It went pretty good.  The Bn Commander LTC Luckas came up while I gave one class.  He sat and watched for awhile and then left.  Guess it went OK. 

I don’t have much new to say.  I am getting use to having people call me Sgt more now.  It seems like I made it pretty fast.  I still have plenty of time to go over here .  I don’t know whether I can go any higher or not before I go home.  I doubt it.  It would be unusual if I did.  I only know of one guy to make SFC before he went home and he had been Sgt for quite awhile and had about 8 months combat time. 

Everything is going OK out here.  They had a band here this morning and they played at reveille.  I have enjoyed my stay out here and I think we will come out here again next month. (note: remember he is still on a field problem.)  The country is sure pretty here.  We are in a high valley here.  To our rear is a high peak with a spring and a waterfall coming out.  The water is ice cold.  That is where we wash up .  Tonight there is a cloud hanging down between the foot and the peak.  It sure is pretty.

Well not much more to day so I will close.

Lots of Love, Ted

P.S.  I’ll send Snapper some Sgt stripe when I can get some.  (note: he did and I still have them.)