Furloughs Archives - Page 3 of 6

26 August 1944

Dear folks:

I just finished a game of volleyball and in this weather that’s pretty strenuous. Now I smell like a goat and will have to take a bath in a Japanese tub that we found. Our water supply for bathing and washing clothes is mostly rainwater. Almost every shack has a barrel with a drain pipe stock in the top. The day before yesterday I was out with the major and we pretty well covered all the island in his jeep. In one area at the southern end of the island we went into some of the caves where the Japs hid out when the Jig was up. There are still plenty of them there and only yesterday 64 were taken prison. We went into one large cave that had been hit with a big naval shell and we estimated there was between sixty or seventy dead ones there. In another we found two who had hanged themselves and their headless bodies were leaned against the wall and their heads still hanging on the wire. But a little time in those places and the stench nearly knocks you out, so we didn’t stick around long.

I was scheduled to see Dick last Sunday on Saipan. I was going to fly over but I couldn’t get away. Don’t know whether I will see him again or not. I wasn’t going to mention this but now that he is well and the same as ever again, I guess it’s all right. On August the 5^th he was injured when a Jap grenade went off near him and he got about a half dozen pieces in his legs and feet and back. He was sent to the hospital, and when I first got news about it I flew over to see him. When I got there he was getting along fine and able to walk in the chow line. He wouldn’t let me tell you about it and so I didn’t write anything, but he wasn’t seriously hurt so I thought is was all right. He was in the hospital until about the 11^th or 12^th and then released. He was a little shaken and damn glad to see me, but I assure you he is as fine as ever and the injury will have no effect whatsoever upon him. Undoubtedly he will be awarded the Purple Heart and maybe he has it by now. He will have plenty to tell you when he gets back. But please don’t worry for he is in the best of health.

Now that the 2^nd class mail has begun to catch up I have papers and magazines all over the place. The box of seeds came the day before yesterday and in good shape and now I can sit around and munch them when mealtime seems a long way off. Danny Gettman brings in armloads of Star Heralds and it’s a job to read all of them, but I don’t mind it. Jack Conklin and I swapped news and he told me Mildred Roberts was getting a divorce—How did it last as long as it did? He had a lot of other news and it’s all interesting. I haven’t received a letter from you for about a week now, but I suppose it will come in with a rush someday. Jack read me a few of his letters and in all of them everyone back there seems very optimistic and sees a bright future for the end of the war. I hope they don’t get too optimistic because there’s a long way to go yet, but everything does look pretty good on the whole.

Well I think I better stop and get ready to crawl in. I hope this letter doesn’t startle you and you won’t worry about Dick, because in all honesty he is fine. Yesterday two fellows left on furlough to the states and I would have given them two hundred dollars for their papers but I don’t think they would bat an eye at that price. I couldn’t blame them. Don’t get your hopes up about me getting back for the quota is so small it’s almost nothing and is more like dangling a piece of meat in front of a dog just to keep him going. Maybe the rotation plan will treat me better although that’s a year away yet. Well that’s enough for tonight, so I’ll just go to bed and think about all of you like I’ve done for a long time now.

Love,

12 August 1944

Dear Folks:

If this was a Saturday night at home I certainly wouldn’t be having any time to write. A Saturday night over here is pretty monotonous and letter writing is the chief way to kill some time. We have a small generator in the battery and a few tents have electric lights. So that’s why I can write at night. The ‘Hippodrome’ closes every week at this time, and when the show is going there isn’t much to do. I walked over to the Jeep and listened to some news and music for a while but that grew tiresome so this is where I ended up.

The day before yesterday I flew to Saipan in a Liaison plane to see Dick. You know I am now on Tinian and I believe I told you all about that if it wasn’t censored. It is only a ten-minute ride but it was a nice one. We landed on Aslitho airfield and then I went right to see Dick. He’s very well and looking fine. I think he’s even getting heavier if my eyes don’t deceive me. The mud is about ankle deep all over the island and the hitchhiking was bad. I hadn’t seen him since about the last of July, so I thought I better get over while I had the chance. Of course I took all the letters that I had received from you so he could read them. After I left Dick, stopped in at Jack’s outfit and spent a few minutes with him. I didn’t have much time but thought I better stop. I don’t think I’ll be seeing him for a long time to come. He was running around in shorts helping put up a building. He gave me the picture I’m enclosing. It was taken on Oahu just before I left. He took several others but this one is the only one he had time to develop. He said he would forward the rest as soon as they are done. I guess we both look kind of ‘goony’ in it but otherwise it’s pretty good.

The war news sounds increasingly good each week. We hear most of the world news and from both sides. According to our version we are going great guns in Europe and I guess the Pacific is rolling too. Tokyo radio the other day announced that all Jap civilians would be armed to defend the country – if that is the case it will be a bloody slaughter. But that isn’t so much different than here. Most of the civilians go with the soldiers and take part in the ‘banzi’ zero hour attacks. I hope you read in the July 24^th issue of Time about the last attack of the Japs north of Garapan on Saipan. That is the place I visited and that I told you about in one of my previous letters. The more you see of them the more you become convinced they are mad, unreasoning 20^th century cannibals.

I suppose by now that you have heard of the Army’s new rotation plan. The time is now three years overseas, after which you become eligible for return and reassignment on the mainland. Well that’s another year to wait before there is even any hopes of getting back, and even then much is still probable. There is a furlough plan in effect but the quotas are so small I think it must be more of a morale builder than anything else.

Well there isn’t much else I can think of to write, although it isn’t very late. I’m still getting along very well and feeling good. In this weather skin diseases and ailments seem to be common and coral cuts take a long time to heal. It seems like all little scratches and cuts don’t heal up like they used to at home.

Guess I better peel off, and go to bed and for the Nth time think of you without being able to say goodnight to you.

Love,

27 June 1944

Dear Folks:

This letter is in answer to several of yours that I received today and which were the most welcome sight I ever saw. In my last letter to you I said I was at sea going into combat and that Dick was also at sea. Well time has gone by and here I am. The details I can give you are necessarily very limited but I know you must feel anxious and perhaps some word will make you feel better – I think it will make you feel much better as you read what happened to me today. Under the circumstances you can well imagine how much your letters meant. I knew you must know something was up when you never heard from me, and that I wasn’t writing for no reason at all. I wish I could tell you all what you would like to know, but perhaps soon that will be possible. Wandering around the area today somebody grabbed me and said my brother was here. I ran over and there he was, grinning broadly and looking good. He had a little time off from ten thirty until twelve thirty when he had to meet the truck. He took a bath and cleaned up and had a good dinner then we sat around for a lengthy bull session. When we went to meet his truck he didn’t have to go back until two-fifteen so we came back and chewed the fat some more. In the meantime a slug of mail came in and I had several so we both read them. We made a lot of comments on them. Among them was a letter from Betty Sue Myers, still the same cagey Betty, undecided but engaged. I wrote her at the suggestion of Jack C when we were visiting on Oahu. When we were young and wholesome our old gang made a resolution to have a reunion at the Brown Palace (which I had forgotten) and she was anxious that we all remembered it. I think she (and Jack too) will still someday slip the noose on each other. I’ve read your letters about sixteen times already and will probably read them as many more times before tonight. I hope you can find a suitable watch – I didn’t ask for my own as it isn’t waterproof and it would take a bad time where I go. I would like you also to take my funds and buy one for Dick. As for myself I’m fine, getting good rations, and tolerating a few personal inconveniences. Also had a letter from Gramp today – Dick got a kick out of it. I thought the Chaplain’s idea for Mother’s Day was a pretty good one too. On the furlough plan. In the Central Pacific area the period is two years and the percentage allowed is very small, so small that it looks like a long time for one to come around. Probably the accident that Ike was in, he was drunk and horsing around. By the way I had an invitation from St. Andrews to a dance and house party. Also had a notice from Reader’s Digest today something about a half price subscription after the war – guess I better mail it in. I look forward to them.

By the way better quit a few of your letters V-mail for awhile – I think they will get here faster and surer. Well I think this is all I have this time. I will write you. Don’t worry if you can help it and I’m sure everything will be alright.

Love,

23 May 1944

Dear Folks:

This should be a long letter full of quite a bit of news for the past few days have been pretty memorable. A few days ago I received a letter from Jack Conklin and noticing his APO number found he was only a few miles from my station so I immediately tried to get hold of him. I was lucky enough to reach him on the phone and that night saw him for the first time in three years. And for the past three nights we have visited and rehashed all those never to be forgotten things that we did when we were young and foolish. It was as good as a week’s furlough. Jack looks pretty good and acts about the same as ever. He has traveled around quite a bit since he left the states and has a huge stack of pictures that he had to show me. He seems to have a nice job and one that is very interesting and not quite so GI as many of them. He was anxious to see me and neither of us could hardly realize that we were actually talking to each other. I couldn’t get a hold of Dick so that he could see Jack, but perhaps we can arrange that later. I haven’t seen Dick myself for over a week now and don’t expect to see him for a while. Yesterday afternoon (Sunday) got a pass, and just before I left got a letter from you and Dad and so had to tell Jack all the gossip in it. It was (a) good letter to get because there was quite a little in it about the Conklins. Well finally I had to say goodbye and probably our next visit will be many moons from now. You don’t know how good it was to see him and find someone that could talk to you about things in common. After he told me all his travels and we went through his pictures. We talked about the aftermath and what we expected to do. Jack does seem more serious about life and realizes his life was put to him on a gold platter. What did I think I was going to do? Well I said I was going to go home for a while then go overseas again and start myself something abroad. I wish I could realistically relate to you our conversation but I’m not good enough for that. You will have to imagine the rest. Now to get around to your letters and see what I can comment about. I’m so glad you liked what we sent and perhaps again soon I can send you some oddities. I wish I could have sat in with you on the Ouija Board session and added some firsthand comments. One of the big things Jack and I remarked about was the love life of the younger set at home – I mean all the marriages and babies. And now little Jimmie Colson (is) engaged. Jack couldn’t imagine Kate with a baby. And of course Krumenacher, Fry, Carroll, and some others all came into our frying pan of gossip. We feel that we are being left behind and that our future mates will be hard to find (ha). And talking about the late songs – it is the custom in our tent to schedule a bridge game during the ‘Hit Parade’ so we don’t miss any of them. No we don’t hear Tokyo Rose in the Islands, although those who have good radios can tune in Tokyo and hear them pretty good. I heard some about a battle in the South Pacific and compared it with our news broadcast and somebody is lying like hell, and I hope it was the Japs. I would like to meet R. Pitsch but it is increasingly difficult to get off and when I can get off a day I hardly like to spend ¾ of it looking for someone although perhaps I will happen to be out there someday and can locate him. All the busses and taxicabs are crowded to overflowing and the highways are an endless ribbon of traffic and a dogface doesn’t find it too easy to get around. And now around to Dad’s inimitable manuscript. Your business must be very good and I was certainly surprised to hear the amount of money that you grossed last year. It makes me feel very good. Why don’t you take a picture of the place with the new signs and send me one? By the way Jack and I took pictures and he will forward a set to you.

Bill Dick should be a good man to work for you. And with the landscaping and redecorating you are doing on the house, I can’t wait to see it and put out a tear or two just looking at home once again. I know it will be something to see. And I suppose that when the farm is fixed up that also will be quite a garden spot. I hope all your hopes about the war is true and I sometimes think that this thing may crack sooner than we anticipate, but on the other hand think it will take quite a while. I wish you and I could talk the whole thing over. The new furlough plan seems to (be) taking effect for the boys in the Aleutians and I’ll bet they are having a good time, but don’t get too optimistic about my chances for I can’t see anything in sight for some months to come. I had a very nice letter from Gram today and Dick and I both thought after we mailed the package that we didn’t send anything to Gram and Gramp and they probably felt a little put out but we will send them something and try to make up for it. I surely miss her and think she is very sweet to write when I know it must not be too easy for her. She is the most kindhearted and helping person, and I feel bad about not always treating her as I should have. Well, here’s another request. I want you to take some of my money and find me a good, waterproof, shockproof, and accurate wrist watch. One that I can wear anywhere and that can take a stiff beating. You will probably have to put out quite a little for one but I need one badly and I want one that I won’t have to worry about if I get it in water or in the mud or wherever else might happen. Well I think this is about enough and I have a lot to do so I’ll cut off about here. Seeing Jack and reminiscing brought both of (our) homes into clear focus, and we appreciate them much more than you think and know that never again will we hold some of the ideas we did when we were younger. Well, so long for now.

Love,

14 May 1944

Dear Folks:

It has been sometime since I’ve heard from you. Guess the mail has slowed up a little. Hope you have received the box by now and liked what we put into it.

Well this was Sunday, Mother’s Day and suppose I should be able to write something very nice but there is so much that I remember about you and all you have done that I couldn’t start to express all I feel. The church service this morning was in your commemoration and the Chaplain has something fixed up to send home, a little card with the program in it. And speaking of church, the church sends me something now and then and I thought perhaps you would be interested in the enclosed program. If you read them carefully, you can get an idea of the service and the size of it. I wish I could attend every Sunday.

Dick dropped around this afternoon but there wasn’t a lot we could do so we just loafed around and chewed the fat and once again put Minatare through the mill. He just bought a pair of glasses, dark tinted and he looks good in them.

The recent furlough plan has taken a little effect and two men from the battalion have left. However don’t regard it as any indication that I will get one, for I haven’t two years service yet and then there are other circumstances as shipping, etc. However I hope that in the next year an opportunity will present itself.

Well Mom and Dad, I can’t write much and I have a few things to do so I’ll put the breaks on about here. I wish I could have been with you on this Mother’s Day. Every year that day means more and more to me.

Love,

28 April 1944

Dear Folks:

Two of your letters came today, both good news so at least I better knock you out a V-mail at least. Today was a series of incidents and tonight is the kind of night it is nice to take it easy and lay around and reminisce. That was a bad mess that Shirley got into and I feel sorry for her too, although maybe there is two sides. Duane was always rushing women and generally cutting up and perhaps Shirley had some of his characteristics. With all the babies being born back there I feel like I’m losing out. Margie and June K seemed like fabulous girls when I left. And by the way Jack C did get a furlough but haven’t seen him. I certainly enjoy your letters Dad and sometimes Dick gets his copy before I do so I read his or perhaps mine arrives first. Hope Dick and I can see the All Star baseball game Sunday. By the way I have increased my allotment to $85.00 so effective the 1^st of May so be sure you get it. Perhaps it will be June when you get the increase. Tonight on the radio the Commanding General announced a furlough plan with those who have two years service overseas. Although I mustn’t allow myself to become over-optimistic at least there is a little something to look forward to. Well enough for tonight.

Love,

2 April 1944

Dearest Folks:

Well, there has been another lapse in my writing but there hasn’t been a change in my habits but a change in the training schedule. Interruptions are becoming more frequent and sometimes it isn’t always easy to find time to write. Also haven’t seen Dick for a week but am expecting to get a phone call tonight. Hope we can get together in a few days. I know you have had a birthday and Dad one soon, and Dick and I plan to fix up a box with a little of everything in it. Today was Palm Sunday but I couldn’t do anything about it—the circumstances precluded it.

Tonight I received a batch of Star-Heralds from Dan Gettman so had to glance thru them. Most of the fellows are from New York and California and when another fellow from Coldwater, Kansas and I discuss our small town life, they think it’s quite a joke. When I came across an item about an overseas soldier getting a furlough I mentioned it and that always draws a laugh or a divisive sneer.

I thought you might be a little interested in the clipping I cut from the Honolulu Adventurer of this Sunday. At one time or another I have been to most of them (attractions). These Hawaiian names might look difficult but they are very simple to pronounce.

There’s a lively, silly, conversation going on around me about the Army and us dogfaces that make it up. One GI sitting on the other end of my bunk is re-reading his wife’s letters and making some witty amusing remarks. He’s been here for over two years. This business of troop rotation gets quite a bit of discussion but few favorable comments are expressed.

Received two letters from you last week and also one from Nancy. I certainly look forward to them. There are so many things I would like to tell you about and experiences I have had but I can’t do that. Many of my letters must sound dry and newsless but actually I’m not spending the vacation the letters may suggest. About the AAL taking my job – no, I don’t think that is possible. Gee, you must think I’m not a fighting man—ha-ha. The WAC’s sure get cussed and discussed in this group. Sure we’d like to have a dozen or so. You know that recently a detachment arrived in the islands and they immediately caused a big flurry. Dick was telling me about a tough buxom sergeant he saw. Most of them go to the Air Force who usually have everything.

As I was writing Dick phoned and I was glad to talk to him for a few minutes. It certainly is a lucky coincidence that we can be so near each other and just by picking up the phone get in touch with him. He is expecting to go on pass Tuesday and we want to make that day a big one.

Well, I haven’t said a lot in this mess but it’s some sort of a communiqué, so until the next time I miss all of you so much and am busting to see home again.

Love,

16 March 1944

Dear Folks:

The mail dammed up for a while and today the dam broke and a deluge of letters came – at least it seems that five is a deluge. I had been wondering what (was) the matter but knew that it wasn’t your fault. Two came from you and one from Dad. Your letters are the only ones I pay any real attention to and the ones I look for the most. Also had a letter from Helen Barton Hartnett in Lincoln. She has a brother in the Air Force here and I saw him last December. Guess I better dig out the letters and see what I can put together. I’m glad you heard the Army Hour Program and about the Jungle Center here. You guessed pretty good. I wish I could tell you more about it. Although I didn’t hear the program I hope they did it justice, for it is certainly something. It must seem like old home week around there with Gram and Gramp back with you. I certainly hope they will find all they expect to in the farm, and that Gram doesn’t become to sick to enjoy it.

I read in the Free Press about the hot basketball team and Phil being high point man, and now your letters tell me that the team is going to Lincoln. It reminds me of the fall when I was at the university and saw the boys lose out by one point for the championship. I hope they come through and this time bring the bacon home.

You sound like you are really keeping busy with the Red Cross and getting the house cleaned up. But even with this I imagine you don’t have all the work you used to have riding herd on the five of us. What a busy bunch of years those must have been for you.

Yes, meeting anyone from the North Platte Valley would seem good. Anyone from Nebraska is a rarity here and even if they live four hundred miles away you can usually find something in common to talk about.

Dick called last night and it looks like we may be able to spend the weekend together although very little is certain. Monday he came in for a short visit and had supper with me. I know you are anxious to know something about him but I couldn’t intimate whether he may leave or not, and if I could say anything it would at most be only as the rumors have it. The prospect of seeing India appeals to me for having seen Hawaii, I want to get a look at more places of the world. It seems funny to us here how so many troops are still stationed in the states and especially outfits as what Berg must be in. And reading in the Free Press about fellows back on furlough brings a good howl.

When I first read about Swindell getting mixed up with the FBI over the draft deferments I had to laugh good and hard, but then thought I would like to choke everyone like him. Perhaps when I was drafted I should have offered to slip him a hundred bucks or so and maybe I would still be around. Perhaps the trial will bring out some even more surprising facts. How did they happen to catch up with him – did someone squawk after paying him?

Right now I’m deep in an outline of one of the law books I received and every evening I finish a page or two. It’s a big job but self-satisfying knowing our time is not being entirely wasted. Give Grandma a good kiss for me and my best hopes that she will get better quick. She has always been so kind to me that I kick myself for remembering the times I’ve been unkind towards her. I know it must be an effort for her to write and I do appreciate it. And the same goes for Gramp too. Well, quess this is ‘pau’ until the next time. As you never sit down at the table without remembering something or me so I never go to bed without thinking of you and wondering just how I would act the first minute I could walk in the door, and say hello to you both.

Love,

11 February 1944

Dear Folks:

Just a few brief lines to acknowledge your last letter and end the week up with a clear conscious. Received the check for 12/50 and the statement. It will come in handy. Our mail is certainly getting back and forth in good time. I received one letter from you and couldn’t believe my eyes when I read the date stamp next to the return address which is what everyone looks at first. This afternoon I had occasion to go to headquarters and I traveled the hi-way from a four lane one and crammed with vehicles. Your eyes would probably bulge to see the great activity everywhere. It certainly must be a blow to see so many close friends get billed[?] as was Waite and the others. I see the Free Press has started to carry the pictures and maybe the ones of Redding, Goolsby, and Petron will bring the war a little closer to some people. The Carrolls’ and Fry’s seem to be having a big round of dinners and parties—they are lucky to all be together. I keep telling myself a crack at a furlough will come up this year, let’s hope. Had a bridge game tonight and came out on top. I’m improving. Well goodnight for this time. I hope Dick can come around tomorrow.

Love,

10 February 1944

Dear Dad:

I just received another of your inimitable letters and it came at a most welcome time. My head is still going round like a merry go round. I have been very busy the last few days and just now has the volume of work begun to slacken off a little. But working like this makes the time slip by almost unnoticed. When I realize how long it has been since I’ve eaten a Moss meal, I appreciate that fact, more than ever. But maybe that’s because I’m older. I can remember when I couldn’t wait another day until I was old enough to have a bike and then later on to drive an automobile. But now here I am having gone through both and wondering what I’ll be doing when I’m forty or fifty.

I think if I take another look at your letter I can stretch this one out a little longer. Every time you say something about the cold weather and the snow, I have to pause and remember that in some places there actually is weather like that. Every afternoon around three the office knocks off for a little volleyball game on the big rambling lawns that are near our area. We’re getting pretty brown from it and we feel pretty good after sitting down all day. Last night we gathered together our best forces and had a game with some Hawaiian civilian boys and took a good beating. We played after supper with the little gathering there. It reminded me of a twilight softball game like we used to have. There was a few good-sized ‘wahines’ there together with some men playing poker on a little grass mat. They sure take life easy and are so darned good natured and hospitable. They’re pretty fat and look sloppy but you overlook that. The boys beat our pants off – they can hit a ball from any angle.

Dick and I went out together on pass last Wednesday and looked around for the shells but couldn’t find any this trip. But we’ll get them. I bought Mom and Nancy each one of those handkerchief affairs they wear over their heads and better get them mailed tonight. Dick and I are very lucky to be so near to each other but I think your summarizations are pretty correct. What did you think of the Marshalls episode? Boosts your morale up for a while and makes you a little more optimistic. There is a lot of talk around in the papers of troop rotation and furloughs but I don’t put much faith in any of it. All of it is so contingent upon other things that is seems pretty remote. Guess I’m getting used to waiting. I know what the deal on the bond allotment is. I had an allotment for that amount and it was automatically stopped in favor of a new plan so that represents the money not applied on a new bond. Hope you received the sixty bucks instead of the usual thirty-five.

Most of the civilians at home get a pretty good tongue lashing from the fellows – and especially the strikers. Boy what they wouldn’t do for them. I guess that shows that they didn’t realize what a swell place the ‘old country’ was until they had to leave it. Any little old corner of the states would satisfy most of us. But this business of laying off work sure raises the hair on us when we hear of another fifty thousand or so because they can’t get enough to have all they want. I think the situation is pretty lopsided too. Everyone whether he’s over here or back there is in the same kind of job and if he has to take bad breaks that’s just tough.

Well I’m going to do some studying for a while and the evenings are very short so I’m going to throw in the towel about here. The friend in Washington sent me another book a few weeks back and it’s full of interest so got to get busy on it. I have a little room by myself now and can setup books and spend a profitable evening with them. I think your sentiments are the best in the world although they aren’t expressed in the language of Longfellow, which is the least important part.

Love,