In God We Trust
My Dearest Darling Wife,
Hello again Sweetheart. I wrote you a letter this afternoon while I was on the train. I gave it to an officer to mail for me when we got off. the train took us straight to the dock where we got right on the boat. I am writing this letter from the lounge on the boat. We just pulled out 10 minutes ago. We are now leaving Japan and in about 12 hours we will be in Korea. From there who knows what. I have pulled myself together and my nerves are more settled than they were this afternoon on the train. You have given me the courage and the strength to carry on like the soldier you think I am. I won't let you down Baby. I want you to be proud of your husband in whatever he does. For I am doing everything for you Dear. I can just close my eyes and see your sweet, beautiful face before me and the wonderful memory of our short time together and I know that there is nothing in this world that will keep me from coming back to the one I love. And that is you, my darling and only you. Keep that in mind Darling--and thank you for being such a wonderful inspiration to me. For with you as my prize darling, I don't see how I can fail. The only thing I ask you is to remain as brave as you have been and just pray for my speedy return. For that is all I have to live for now Dearest--is my return to you.
I can't write much more Darling. The water is awful choppy and rough and I am beginning to get sick. I feel like throwing up right now. I never could take the water. Even those couple of moonlights we went to I got sick. But I didn't let you know. -- Excuse me darling, but I feel it coming now. Ooops. No, Cassie. It didn't quite come up. As far as my throat and back, but I don't think I can continue writing anymore. I'll try to write you when we get there if I can. Gee, I'm really sick in the stomach. There are a few others sick too. It's just a small Korean boat and it's packed. Gee whiz, this is an awful feeling Cassie.
Let me know how long it took for this letter to reach you. But I don't know when I'll get your answer. I'm so anxious to hear from you Cassie. You also showed me what true love is and what living can be like when you are with the one you love. When I can smell the sweet fragrance of your hair against my cheek and kiss your sweet lips the way I used to.
Well Darling, I'm going to have to lay down. I feel worse all the time. The wind is really rough out there. So long for now Sweetheart and take care of yourself. Keep your chin up and don't forget that your husband is right this minute thinking of you and wishing for you--as ever. All my love Baby to the sweetest wife in all the world. I love you. Your own, Bob
P.S. - Don't write to this address after you answer this letter. I will have a new one. I am going to the 1st Cavalry Division which is now at Teague.
Here I am once again Cassie. Still in the same place. I don't know what time it is. My watch stopped during the night. Time doesn't mean much anymore. I know it's sometime Saturday morning. I've been in this hole for three days now. Honey, this is plain hell on earth. They are still firing on us, so we can't move around much. I never felt more miserable in my life. I wonder what you are doing now Baby. Maybe you are writing to me too.
It's really getting hot now. The sun is just beating down and the flies are enough to carry you away. Last night it was bitter cold. I still haven't taken my clothes off. I'm glad I brought this writing tablet with me Cassie. We wasn't supposed to for they said we wouldn't get any time to write. And we wouldn't if we weren't being held up by the Koreans in front of us. I just hope they don't attack. They seem to be pulling back on the other fronts. A jeep just came up from Headquarters with a bag of mail. But I didn't get any yet. They say that it will be at least a month before I get mail in this outfit. I hope not.
How is everything with you Darling? What have you been doing with yourself? I suppose it's starting to cool off in Linthicum too by this time.
There is a river flowing about 400 yards to the right of us. I'm going to sneak down there and get me a helmet full of water after while. There is only one thing the matter with that though. There are a bunch of dead Koreans in the river. There was a big fight on this hill and this area about four days before I got here. In the field in front of me is a ditch with about 200 dead in it. It must be a little later than I thought. Here comes a truck with some more rations for our dinner.
Later afternoon - after noon - They surprised us and for dinner they brought us lima beans and franks in tomato sauce and warm coffee. It usually is cold by the time it reaches us.
I also shaved Darling. Just for the heck of it I left my mustache on. I wish you could see what your husband looks like. I feel a little better with all that beard of f my face. But it sure hurt shaving in that cold water. As I was shaving two tank shells went zooming over my head. But they were way over honey. About 20 or 30 feet. But still I almost knocked my helmet over dodging them. I sure need a shampoo Baby. I can feel that my hair and scalp is really dusty and dirty.
I have your picture before me now. And I think you are the most beautiful sight in the world and that is a fact darling. I believe you are the most beautiful girl in the world (to my eyesight anyway).
I am now out of my foxhole. I'm sitting under a tree facing the hill where the Koreans are. They're about a half a mile or a little more to our front. Naktong River separates us. Tonight I will place my men along the river bank in case they send a patrol over. I hope they don't.
As I'm sitting here Darling it doesn't seem like there is a war going on. The grass is green and birds are flying over and around the tree. Around me there are some Korean flowers growing. I also see some daisies and morning glories further on. I don't know what kind of a flower this is. It's right by my foot. And just think--down the road and across the hill there is bullets and death.
This is all for now I guess. I will try to write you again the first chance I get. Stay sweet for me Baby and keep loving me. All my prayers are for you. May God bring us together again soon. Say "hello" to everybody for me. How is my Aunt getting along? Tell her I said "hello" and give her my love. Keep thinking of me Darling, for I'm always loving you. Yours forever. Your own, Bob
My Dear Wonderful Wife - Good morning Darling. Here it is another day without you, but nevertheless you're forever on my mind. Yesterday I received my second letter from you. The one with Al's letter in it. You'll never know how happy your letter made me Darling. It was just like giving me new life and strength to carry on.
I don't know if you got my letter which I wrote you Saturday or not. The one I told you that we were moving out to make an attack. Well, we did Honey--on Sunday. We took two villages and a high mountain. Cassie darling, you'll never be able to understand how horrible it was. We fought all day and advanced about two miles. And we paid for it Honey, in life and blood. I don't think I'll ever be the same again after that. I went through it in a daze with a prayer and your name on my lips with every step. The resistance we got from the enemy was more than Headquarters expected. And if we didn't have the tanks with us, we never would have made it. One of my squad leaders got cut in half by machine gun bullets right before my eyes. We were all pinned down to the ground by the fire from the hill. I lay down on the side of the road and pretended I was dead. Bullets whizzing all around me. This soldier was in front of me and to my right. He got hit in the leg and fell down. Then he started to crawl for the ditch. They saw him crawling and I think they all started using him as a target. Then there was nothing left of the lower part of his body. And for a few minutes, Darling, I know I went out of my head. I dug a trench as I was laying down with my bare hands and a piece of rock. I dug it deep enough to get my head and neck into it. Pretty soon our tanks arrived and opened up, which knocked out the enemy position and forced the rest to run away. When we advanced further on I saw our mail clerk laying on the road shot through the eye. I know that he had two of my letters in his jacket pocket--one to you and one to my aunt. He didn't get to mail them Saturday night. But the letters should have been sent after the medics picked up all the dead and wounded, and his pocket was full with outgoing mail. But I thank God darling that we got through it and did our job as we did.
I am writing this letter on some captured enemy paper. At the present time, I have twelve men with me and am guarding 80 enemy prisoners. My company is further up front holding the high ground. We are back here at Battalion Headquarters. It's a break for us Darling and I hope it lasts for a while. Don't worry about me Dear. For as far as soldiering goes and maneuvering around the enemy, I can well take care of myself. These people are not as smart and can't shoot as straight as the Germans.
P.S. - Here are a couple of North Korean officers we captured. Also some North Korean money. I love you.
My Dearest Darling - Hello honey. Here I am once again with all my love to you. I am fine and I sure hope this finds my baby the same. Did you receive my letter that I sent the day before yesterday. In it I told you that I was guarding some eighty prisoners with 12 men. Well, before the day was over I had over 120 and yesterday the total reached 200. I had more than we could handle, and they were getting pretty restless for they had nothing to eat in over a day and a half and I had nothing to give them.
I sent a man up to where the Battalion Headquarters was and to find out what I should do and when he got there, there was no one around. The whole regiment went forward and forgot all about us. For a while I did not know what to do. But I knew that was no place for me with only 12 men and all those prisoners. So I went on the road and flagged the first four Army trucks coming from the front and heading for the rear. I piled the prisoners in and brought them here to Kaesong, which is about 40 miles from where we were. I turned the prisoners over to the MPs here. Got here late last night. We spent the night and all day today in a school building. I am writing this in a classroom. But there are no seats anywhere. I am sitting on the floor and using a candle for light. Here is a melted drop of my candle.
It was sure good sleeping in a building again. Even if I only had one blanket and a raincoat to sleep on, and the floor is hard, it is good being indoors for a change with a roof overhead. My outfit is at this time six miles from Pyongyang the capital and is meeting stiff resistance from the enemy. That's the news that came down today. I will leave here with my 12 men tomorrow and join them again. I hope things are under control by the time we get there. For Honey, I'm so sick of shooting and fighting. I'm just plain tired of it all. As much as I hate the North Koreans, I get a sick feeling in my stomach every time I pull the trigger.
Right now it's raining hard outside. It's been cold and rainy all day. I'm sure glad I'm away from the foxholes, even for two or three nights.
Enough about me for this time. How are you Honey? I sure miss you Darling--more each day. I dreamed of you last night, but it was all mixed up. I can't remember what it was all about now. I guess this is about all I have for this time Cassie. I'm really tired and I want to get some sleep as I will have to get up pretty early. Please tell my aunt that I am o.k. I'm too tired to write any more tonight. I will try to write to you both as soon as I can. Please don't worry about me sweetheart. I'll be o.k. I'm sure anxious to hear from you. I hope I have a letter from you when I reach my company.
Give my regards to everyone Darling and please remember that I love you with all my heart. Until the next time dear, I'll close with all my love. Your husband, Bob
P.S. - Please excuse the writing. I can't hardly see with this small candle. Outside is pitch black.
My Sweetest Wonderful Darling - Hello Baby. Here I am again tonight. I wrote to you this afternoon. I told you I had to go to Headquarters. I had to have my allotment changed--all the married men. Instead of getting $67.50 a month for our apartment, they will give me enough to make $147.00 if I put in 480.00. So that is what they will send to you. But I also had a Class "E" allotment made for $52.50 to make it an even $200. So instead of getting one check for $200 you will receive two checks--one for $147.50 and one for $52.50. I hope it doesn't mess things up as far as my records go. They could not tell me whether you got the allotment for this month. All they said was that you should have gotten it. I hope so. It's pretty dark now and I'm writing to you by candlelight.
My Darling, I don't know just what the papers back home are saying about this war. My aunt says that according to the Baltimore papers it's actually over or just about over. But that's wrong Cassie. It's far from over as far as the troops here are concerned. There are a lot of enemy troops still hiding out in the hills carrying on guerrilla warfare and underground. And they are dangerous. They always attack the small groups of soldiers, and the supply convoys and hospitals in the rear. And they are hard to catch and track down, for they change clothes into civilian and you never know who they are. But I don't see why the South Koreans can't take care of them. I believe they can if we give them the equipment.
Baby, I've got some bad news to tell you, but my luck still held out. You know about that 30 man patrol that went out today that I told you about. The one that I was supposed to go on but they didn't send me. Well, they were on a truck coming back and on the way the truck overturned. Nine of them got hurt bad. One with a broken back, another with a smashed chest. Another a broken leg. One a broken arm. And the Sergeant who went in my place got a smashed shoulder and a cut across the eye. And there were more with minor hurts. Who knows what would have happened if I were along. I thank God that I wasn't.
Sweetheart, I don't think I can write much more tonight. It's too dark now and my eyes are sort of hurting. I will try to finish this early tomorrow morning.
Hello again, sweet stuff. In a few minutes we will have dinner, but until they start feeding, I will continue to write. All morning we have been busy and this is the first chance I've had.
Today is not as cold as it has been. The fire is out. Last night I got very little sleep. I've got an awful cough, Cassie. Just coughed all night. Remember how I was last year at your mother's when I coughed so bad. Well, it's the same way now. But my throat is not sore anymore.
I hope they get us out of here soon. How much longer can this last? How I hate this--living like an animal you might as well say. I get so sick when I think of the nice apartment we have and I have to be out here in this lousy place. But not only me Darling. I guess every one of us feel the same. The only thing that makes me so mad is that I've got so much time overseas now and still they don't consider that. But I guess that's the Army--and complaining won't help.
I have a captured North Korean flag that I would like to send you but I can't do it now. I hope I'll be able to hold on to it till I can send it to you or bring it to you. Gee Darling, I would like to send you something nice but there is nothing around here to be had--and then there is no way to send it. I sure miss getting you little things.
Well Dearest, I guess this is about all I have for now. It is time for dinner anyhow. But I will try to write to you again later. All my love. Your husband, Bob
My Dearest Darling,
I don't know how to start this. I don't even know if you will receive it. This is the first chance I've had to write in over a week. I can't explain everything now. All I want to do at this time to let you know that I am O.K. and for you not to worry. I will try to write you a longer letter tomorrow. I've got to hurry this off, Darling. The past two weeks have been nightmares-simply hell. I could never begin to explain just what happened. I'll try to in my next letter. I only hope this gets to you. I know you must be worried. Please don't dear-don't worry-just keep loving me and praying for me. It's so cold now I can't hardly write. I also drew this Christmas card for you. It's the best and only thing I can offer you this year Darling, other than my love. And you've always had that.
I hope you are O.K. Cassie. Please take care of yourself and please stay strong. All my thoughts are of you Darling-and you're the only reason that I've made it through so far. I love you more than ever Cassie and more so each day.
Forever yours, Love Bob
My Dearest Darling Wife,
Honey, I don't know when I'll be able to mail this letter. I won't hardly have time to write it. I'll have to hurry. I just thought I'd let you know that so far I'm O.K. and that I still love you more than ever. Right now Darling I'm in an old shack trying to get warmed up a little. On the hills around me I have my men all dug in in their fox holes. We have been here 2 days and nights now. The Chinese are on their way. We are the out post line - that is - we are about 2 miles in front of our regiment. I have 50 men with me. The enemy will hit us first - or else we will fire on them as soon as we see them-then pull back to our regiment. I hope everything works out all right. It will if they don't cut us off. (If you get this letter - then you will know that we made it O.K.) This is a very dangerous and important job for us. I just hope they don't attack us at night - for we have only one trail to use to get back to our lines. Everything else is mined and barb wired. But we will make it Darling --- for we have God on our side and I have your love to guide me.
Well Dearest - I hope this finds you well. Please see my aunt and tell her this. I'll write you both the very first chance I get. Till then Darling - please don't worry and remember that I love you. I will forever.
With all my love, Bob
My Darling Wife -
I hope you never receive this letter-unless I show it to you myself. As I am writing this, we are out on patrol. Right now we have stopped for a rest. I've had these few sheets in my pocket so I thought I'd write you this letter. I hope I get it finished in time.
My platoon has the mission of clearing out the surrounding villages of all enemy snipers who are hiding and shooting our troops one by one. Most of them are wearing civilian clothing. At the present time we have just cleared one village and are now taking a short rest before starting on the next one. This is a dangerous job dear. Anything may happen. I hope it all goes O.K. With God's help, it will. However darling, if anything should happen to me today-or before this war ends and I do not return to you, please do this one thing for me. I don't want you to break down and lose all hope. I don't want you to pine your life away. Please don't dear-for it won't help you any.
I want you to get accustomed to your new life and make your mind up that you will remain strong and face the future with a strong will. You still have a lot to live for Darling. You are still young and beautiful and have a long life ahead. I know it will be awful hard for you at first-but that is the way life is. For a while you will be well set as far as money goes. You will continue receiving my pay for 6 months and besides that you will collect my life insurance.
Darling Cassie, I want you to try to find someone else for you can't go on alone-and shouldn't! Only please be careful who you choose Cassie. Make sure it's the right one-for you deserve the best. I only hope whoever you choose will be worthy of you and appreciates you-for there is no one else like you, dear. God made only one like you and He made you mine.
I want you to be happy darling-for you deserve happiness. Just think of me as someone you just knew long ago-and remember that it's God's will that we had to part. And wherever I may be Cassie-I'll be wishing you happiness. And I'll hope that you'll have everything that I wanted to get for you-but didn't get the chance.
Above all else darling-don't wander away from my Aunt Mary. Don't forget her for she loves you too and will always continue helping you I'm sure.
So if this is my last letter to you my Darling-I want you to know that I left this world loving you-and only you. I didn't die here on the battlefield dear. I think I died that night at the station when I said Goodbye to you.
I want to thank you over again sweetheart for making me the happiest man in the world by marrying me. The days we spent together dearest were so happy and Oh! So few. But those few days were a whole lifetime to me Cassie-for right now they are the only days I remember.
My only regret dear is that you had to bear through all this heartache. For if you love me as I love you, and I'm sure you do-then I know just how you must have felt all these lonesome days. I'm sorry darling for causing you all this misery. For in marrying me dear-that is all you've had, misery and heartache. Rather, I should say Cassie-that since we've been married we have both had at least a month of misery for each happy day.
However-I'm asking you again to try to put that aside and start life anew. Life is what you make it darling so please-for my sake-make it as bright for yourself as possible. So in saying Goodbye, my darling-I want you to remember that I love you and have loved you till the end. May you have a happier life in the future than you've had with me. And if there is a life "hereafter" as they say-I hope someday to see you again.
Till then Beloved wife-I'll keep on loving you-even from afar. You're the only one.
- With all my heart and soul - your husband, Bob
[Editor's Note: Bob Spiroff made it out of Korea and has now written a book about his Korean War experiences. His bride Cassie (pictured above with Bob at Ft. Meade, MD on January 7, 1950) never received her husband's farewell letter from Korea.]
December 25, 1950
My Darling Cassie,
Merry Christmas Dearest. Here it is Christmas morning. Last night I wrote you a letter. After I wrote the letter I started to draw this picture. I hope it gets to you by our anniversary. I'm sorry I can't send you anything-not even a real card. You don't know how much I miss not being able to be with you today-and on our anniversary. Hope this finds you well darling-and not worrying too much. I hope we won't be separated too much longer. I miss you more than ever. I wonder what you could be doing today-and where you are. It is now almost 10:00 a.m. They are having Catholic services at 11:00 and I hope to go. Will write you later. All my love.
Your husband, Bob
My Dearest Darling,
Here I am once again Sweetheart. I wrote you a letter earlier, so I figured while I still had time I might as well draw you a Valentine card. Our patrol has not returned yet. I hope they didn't hit any trouble on their mission.
Honey-this will probably get to you too late for the 14th of February. But I want you to know that I'll be thinking of you on that day and wishing so much for you. I hope you like this Valentine card I drew. I can't do much better-here on the hill using my lap as a table. The sun is still shining nice.
I'll finish this later darling-we just got word to move out. How far forward we are going I don't know. I'll let you know later. So long dear. I'll see you later on. I love you.
Back again Baby-we just walked up the road a couple of miles. Gee, I sure am hungry. Didn't have much for breakfast and no dinner as yet. And it's starting to turn windy.
Yours forever. I love you. Your husband Bob XOXO
Submitted by his nephew, Frank Warner
I'm sending you two letters my late Uncle Carl Dorsey wrote to my father during the Korean War. SSgt. Dorsey was part of a C-119 "Flying Box Car" crew that flew between Japan and Korea during the war. USAF SSgt. Carl J. Dorsey, was an aerial engineer for Combat Cargo Command and, later, 315th Air Division. His birthday being January 2nd, Sgt. Dorsey was 26 years old when he wrote from Tachikawa [probably] Air Base, Japan, during the Korean War. These letters were written to his brother-in-law, U.S. Army Sgt. Thomas E. Warner, Easton, Pennsylvania. Sgt. Warner was 28.
On June 3, 1951, SSgt. Carl J. Dorsey was killed when the C-119 "Flying Box Car" he was in accidentally was shot down by "friendly" South Korean artillery during a re-supply airdrop over advance United Nations positions. His was one of two 315th Air Division planes mistakenly downed that day. Altogether, 10 Americans died in the two crashes. The incident led to new procedures for identification of Friend or Foe.
Notes: Tom and Georgiana Warner's first son was born December 20, 1951. He was named Carl J., after Sgt. Carl J. Dorsey. "Mary" is Mary (Emrick) Dorsey, Sgt. Dorsey's wife; "Gana" is Georgiana (Dorsey) Warner, Sgt. Warner's wife and Sgt. Dorsey's sister; "John" is John Dorsey, Sgt. Dorsey's brother; "Tom" is Tom Dorsey, Sgt. Dorsey's brother; "Hugh" is Hugh Dorsey, Sgt. Dorsey's father; and "mom" is Mae Dorsey, Sgt. Dorsey's mother.at happens when they have a fire?
Greetings Brother-in-law,
I got your letter a few days ago but as you so aptly phrased it I've been shagging ass all over the place since then. How I ever got talked into the Air Force is beginning to bother me. I must have holes in my head. I think I'm getting too old for that stars and bars routine but it's too late to quit now. I shoulda stood in bed. All kidding aside if this crap keeps up I'm going to have grey hairs up the gazoo. I try to kid myself that I never get scared but I ruin more shorts that way. How about sending me some nice tender replacement that wants to get a couple of air medals real quick. I'll teach him more about a C-119 in a week than the people that built it know about it.
In three days of 1951 so far I have three missions including two paradrops behind the lines. To top the works off at exactly midnight on New Year's Eve we were lost in the fog out over the drink between here and Korea. The pilot was tuned in on the wrong radio beacon and by the time he realized it no one knew where we were. Did you ever sweat at -10 degrees? We had enough gas to fill about five Zippos when we finally got parked on the ground. The airplane will never replace the bird. They know enough to stay on the ground once in a while. Old "Ten Ton Tunner" [Maj. Gen. William H. Tunner] can't see it that way. As my co-pilot puts it "Oh my aching back, what a great outfit." We used to piss and moan all the time but after a while everything became a joke. You know how much sympathy you get from a gang of GI's.
When you ask one of the flight crews what kind of a trip they had you can expect one of two answers. Oh well, meaning fouled up as usual, or Oh well shit! The latter is strictly a double snafu. Instead of bitching about missing a meal someone generally pops up with, Geeze Christ, no rice, pretty soon die. A slight Japanese accent adds to the gag. They've come out with some better ones that will have to wait until I get a chance to pull a mission on your wine cellar.
We made a drop today to an outfit that got themselves surrounded. The ROK's [army of the Republic of (South) Korea] have a habit of doing it. As usual it has to start at two in the a.m. Rush like hell to get ready for a four o'clock take-off and then wait until five while the wheels get the word on where we're going. The names of the places over there all sound alike. Longdong, Pingpong, Whoflungpo and just plain shit. Anyway we were off at five with a formation and at seven we were over the IP [insertion point?] which gives us twenty minutes to check everything and get the load ready to dump. At the five minute warning all the lines are out except one and the DZ (drop zone) is generally in sight. The formation goes into a trail, follow the leader in steps, and we start the run. At seven or eight hundred feet over a T pattern laid out on a flat spot on the ground, the pilot pulls the nose up sharply and the last line is cut. Out she rolls and then we pour on the coal to clear the mountains. It's always in the middle of a range of mountains which aren't at all hard to find in Korea. It's mountains from one end to the other. After we get back to altitude we reform and head for home, wondering how long we'll have between trips. Right now I'm alerted for another one but they'll probably wait until I get in the sack.
We have good heaters on the crater which is one good thing. Flying with the back doors off is mighty cold. We've had the heaters freeze up already and that's practically murder. We flew one day zipped up in sleeping bags and the pilots kept taking turns trying to warm up. I was afraid to move in fear of my jewels, they'd have dropped off.
I don't know what you could add to the "Capers" ["Circle Capers," the Easton recruiter's office newsletter about area servicemen]. It seems to cover everything unless you could roll Mary up in the next issue and send her along.
There are more rumors about us going back to the states. We're supposed to get the word one way or another in two weeks. I'd like to get that off my mind, either we do or we don't. As it is I sweat out every rumor I hear.
I don't want to hear any remarks on my spelling. As Gana may have told you I'm the best in the family. The only trouble is half the people I meet spell their words differently. I have more trouble trying to read what the ign'rant bast-ds write half the time.
I don't think I told you how they load these barges for a drop. First of all the clam-shell doors are removed and the cargo floor is covered with roller racks. Then the bundles are put on plywood pallets and tied down. Each bundle weighs between 3 and 400 lbs. with a cargo chute fastened on the top. A static line is hooked to an anchor line in the ship and we're ready to roll. Our loads average about seven tons on a drop. A little less than we carry ordinarily.
Enough war stories. I'll have combat fatigue the next thing you know.
Don't tell me about Tony Farino [of Eighth Street, Bangor, Pa.]. I worked with the sad sack for quite a while. He's a first-class stooge, should get along good in Washington. When bigger and betters stooges are found they end up in D.C.
Sorry to hear business [Sgt. Warner's Army and Air Force recruiting] has fallen off. I thought there'd be plenty of red-blooded American boys signing up since this deal started. I guess there's too many guys back there telling them what they're in for. You can have that job. I blow my stack too fast. I hope you don't get run out though. It's no fun being married by mail. If and when I get back I sure hope I get stuck someplace for a while. That's the biggest trouble with troop carriers, they're always on the go. You'd swear there was a war going on the way they operate.
Well, sarge, take it easy. I might even come in for a meal if you two have had enough practice by the time I get home. Be seeing you.
As usual,
Mick
[P.S.] I tried to get you a copy of the "Airlift Times," our personal propaganda sheet. They're always fresh out when I get to the orderly room. One of these days. They have the best cartoons in the far east command.
Greetings Soldat,
Got your letter and the latest copy of "Circle Capers." The latter is the best so far I think.
No sign of coming back yet. In fact things seem to be turning the other way. We're in a temporary change of station (indefinite) status now. We were supposed to get the word today again, but so far the only word we got is to get everything ready to fly. We have another maximum effort coming up as soon as the weather breaks.
As you probably know, the gooks have started another counter-offensive. Every time they do it means the works for us. I'm supposed to be off today and so far I am but my flight chief told me I'm on stand-by. In other words if the weather clears it's the end of my day off.
I have 71 missions in now and about 375 combat hours. I'm number four man in the squadron. I'd be in the lead if I hadn't got stuck in transition flying for a week straight. I'd much rather fly the missions, especially the drops. I'd rather take my chances with the gooks than with some of the pilots we've been checking out.
I don't know what the old man is but I know he's not Irish. He and I are buddies now. We went on a three-day jaunt over the weekend. He's a pretty good pilot and he even went out of his way to see that I was taken care of at all our stops. He's a bit different from McNulty though. He's strictly regulation. I had the "Red Rider" snowed!
I doubt if you have any trouble getting people to help you on the stock in the wine cellar. I'll give you plenty of help as soon as I can. How does Gana do? She used to get wound up on a couple and talk her head off.
I heard about the television. That's a good deal. Now all you have to do is follow the instructions in cc and buy your hootch by the gallon.
Are you a member of the local fire company up there? I hear they have quite a joint. John's going to sign me up when I get home. What happens when they have a fire?
I tried to tell Tom to join the Navy or even the Air Force rather than get drafted but I guess Hugh had a lot to say about that. [Tom Dorsey was drafted into the Army.] He might still get a half way decent deal out of it. I hope so.
I don't appreciate the way the Air Force has screwed up my marriage so far but I'm still ready to sign up for more. I only hope they don't change the re-enlistment deal before my time is up in October. I'll really make a haul on the loot if they don't foul up and change everything.
How's the chow up there these days? Do you work in shifts or what? I'm going to have to give Mary a demonstration when I get home. She was doing so good before I didn't want to foul up the routine.
It looks like the baseball around Bangor is going to air [?] out again. Hugh will have to get himself a television set to occupy his time. I don't know why he hasn't done it before anyway. I'll have to talk to him about it when I get a chance. I don't owe him any money anymore so I can afford to give him a little hell.
The house will really be dead when Tom leaves. The place sure can change in a year. I'll bet mom has to look around for something to do. We sure kept her busy while we were there.
I hear John's new buggy is pretty sharp. I wanted to get a new one but I can't quite make up my mind. The way things look it'll be old before I can see it anyway. I've almost given up the idea of getting home in the near future but I'll be ready whenever they give us the word.
Well I guess I'll sign off and go to the VD lecture. We have to make one a week. I'm one behind now. They always have them when I'm flying. I'll be an authority on it in another few months.
Take it easy. I'll be seeing you.
Mick
Oh well, yourself.
Lavar was always a close friend of mine and for years we were always messing around with old cars, hunting rabbits, and building things that had motors on them. When the Guard Unit was organized, we joined and later became non-coms and section chiefs, etc. Lavar was about 22 and was never interested in girls. He was a real tough kid. If it didn’t have a motor on it, he wasn’t interested in it. Along came this young 17-year-old girl and melted his heart. I don’t know exactly where Patsy’s motor was, but she talked him into marrying her. They were married on the 19th with the rest of us and we all moved to Fort Lewis and all found our little homes next to each other and lived there for 4 ½ months before they shipped us overseas to Korea.
Lavar had nicknames for a lot of the guys. "Senator" was the name he gave Clyde Evans who was a young kid who came from Minersville, just west of Beaver. Lavar’s wife came from there also. Lavar became his Mentor. In all these letters he refers to Clyde as Senator or Snuffy. Clyde was also my Jeep driver for a while.
Lavar died four years ago. He lived mostly in Pioche, Nevada, and when he found out he had cancer, Patsy brought him back to the Beaver Hospital, where he died. Patsy gave me the copy of his letters that I am sending you. She was here in Beaver last week for a funeral of a friend and I got her permission to send a copy of the letters to you. My history covers some of both of us while we were in Korea. [See the Memoirs of Conrad Grimshaw, Veterans’ Memoirs, Korean War Educator.]
Memoirs of the Korean War (The Forgotten War)
Taken from letters that Lavar Hollingshead sent to his wife from Korea
[KWE Note: The following letters have been edited by the KWE for grammar and spelling, but not context.]
We have just arrived in the port of Yokohama, Japan, and this is the first chance we have had to send any mail off from this damn ship since we left Seattle. From what they say we are going on to school at a place they call Pusan. I guess we will spend our vacation there for a while. Right now I have a feeling of hate for the Navy. Some of the junk they feed us on this tub, the fish won’t eat when it is thrown overboard. It turns the water pink.
I don’t want you to worry too much about me. I think the war will be over soon with the way it sounds now.
We just had mail call and I had three letters from you. You don’t know how happy I am to hear from you. Another mail call and I just got six more letters from you. That makes nine letters I got from you today, and two from Mom, and one from Dee. Please keep on writing the way you have been. You don’t know how great it is to hear from you when I am so far away from home. I am afraid I am going to be over here for quite a while. I let Senator read one of your letters, I hope you don’t mind. His morale has been so low. He is still chuckling about some of it.
Senator and I have been trying to find out where Grant’s ship is, but so far, no one seems to know. We will find him if we have to swim to his ship. If you know where Grant is, write and tell us in your next letter.
I just got one more letter from you. You can’t imagine how much letters have cheered these guys up. Keep on writing, keep on writing.
They are going to let us off this ship for two hours this morning, so I think I will take a look at this city. They say it is quite a modern city and from the looks of the people around here, they wear the same style of clothing that we do at home.
I think we will be leaving here at one o’clock today for Pusan. I don’t know what we will do when we get there because our equipment hasn’t gotten there yet.
Just got back from the city. I have never seen so many pretty things in my life. I wish that I had enough money to buy some of those pretty things for you.
You ask about going to church here on the ship. They have had Sacrament Meeting twice and I went both times.
Jack has some film for this camera so I will send you some pictures of me when we get to Korea. Please send me some airmail envelopes and writing paper. It is hard to get around here.
We are about to land in Pusan. I guess we will stay and train there awhile. I will be really glad to get off this boat. I need to move around a little. It is getting so it stinks worse than a pigpen.
I haven’t had any more letters from you since I got the nine letters in Japan, but I guess you haven’t forgotten me. There will more than likely be some mail waiting at Pusan. I have been reading your letters over again every night before I go to bed. It makes me feel closer to you.
We are about six miles north of Pusan now. We finally got off from that ship and it was about time, too. It was 22 days that we were on it. I don’t think I would make much of a sailor. We are living in tents here and it is sure cold at night. The weather is a lot like the weather around home. This sleeping bag is sure nice to sleep in on cold nights. Some of the guys just about froze last night in those damn Army sleeping bags.
These Korean people are the dirtiest people I have ever seen. They stink so badly you can smell them a block off. People can say all they want about our American Indians, but they are polished brass compared to these people.
We will be here for about a week and then we will move out to some place north of here and train for a while--I think for about three weeks or more. They made me Battalion Motor Sergeant. Now that we are off the boat, I should get a promotion.
We heard on the radio last night that the U.S. was not going to send any National Guard troops overseas. I wish you would write and tell them they are damn liars, and who are they trying to fool, the Chinks or us.
They are feeding us good here. I wish the food on the ship would have been this good. Sure hope we don’t have to stay over here too long, but seeing that we’re over here, I guess they will keep us as long as they want to. If you can send me a radio battery for this radio, I need a spare. By the way, my APO # is 301 now.
I just got back from taking my first bath since we left Seattle and it sure felt good to get that old dirt washed off. We wash our faces and hands in our helmets and also our clothing. The helmets are the best piece of equipment we have with us.
There was a Master Sergeant killed in town last night by some of the South Koreans and as far as I'm concerned, I wouldn’t trust them any more than I would the North Koreans. I hear they will steal you blind if you don’t watch every move they make and they say they will kill a man for a dollar. I carry my pistol with me all the time. I am sure there are a lot of North Koreans mixed in with the South Koreans, because the streets are covered with people coming in from the north where the fighting is.
I just got back from Sacrament Meeting, so I’ll finish this letter. Senator and I went down to the Red Cross Club last night and we had a good time. They serve coffee and donuts, all you can eat and drink. I tried one cup, but that was enough for me. Don’t worry about coffee becoming a habit with me.
I haven’t got the package you said you sent me. I guess it takes longer to get packages here, so I won’t give up hope of getting it.
Just received two letters from you today. While sitting here reading them, I realized that we have been married for six months today. Is that an anniversary? I’m afraid that we won’t be together on our one-year anniversary either, but we will be able to be together some day.
Today a Korean woman wanted to sell me her two babies for $1.25 each. If you want them, just write and let me know. They are two little boys, with dark eyes, and cute as can be. Just look at all the points I could get for them, then if we could find one more, I could get a "Dependent Discharge" and come home to you. Think about that won’t you?
We will be paid on the 28th, and they don’t take any Income Tax out, so I should have a pretty good check. I get paid $16.00 more a month for being here. As far as I’m concerned Uncle Sam can keep the $16.00 and send me home to you.
The way your letters sound, you haven’t had any letters from me yet. But I have been writing to you about every day and I am going to keep writing to you every day as long as I can.
Last night Walter Messinger woke up about 12 o’clock and there was a Korean stooped right over the side of him. Walt said he yelled, "Get the hell out of here," then he pulled the blankets up over his head and lay there and shook. Then a little while later, Max Lewis came stumbling in the door of the tent and Walt thought it was that Korean back again trying to steal something and Walt threw his boot at him. He broke Max’s nose.
Today I received two letters from you, one postmarked the 12th and the other postmarked the 13th. I was sure glad to get them. I wish that some of the other guys could get as many letters as I get from you. It sure makes them feel bad when they don’t get a letter for 2 or 3 days at a time.
It has been raining here for two days and the mud is getting real deep. These rice paddies are one hell of a place to be camped when it’s raining.
We had an air raid alert the other day and we all run for holes. Then to top it off, I had to pick an old latrine to dive into. You should have seen me when I came crawling out. The guys wouldn’t even let me in the tent to take my clothes off.
They sent Marshall to the hospital in Japan. He had a growth on his lip they thought might be a cancer, but they weren’t sure.
Jack just came in and gave me some fruitcake he had won down at the Red Cross Club, playing pool. It sure tasted good.
It has quit raining here at last, and the sun has come out. I haven’t worn a coat for the last two days. I hope it doesn’t get as cold as it was when we got here. It wasn’t any colder here than it is at home this time of the year. But when you live in a tent you can feel cold a lot easier. When you want to know how the weather is here just listen to your radio and you will hear how many sorties the Air Force make for the day and they will also tell you the weather conditions they were flying in. The weather here is just like the weather up north by Seoul. The Air Base that all the sorties are flown from is only six miles from here and all of their planes come right over us when they fly up to the front. You can see the bombs and their rockets hanging from their wings as they fly over.
If you haven’t sent that radio battery to me yet, never mind. Some of the Army batteries fit this just fine.
Senator is here writing a letter with me and he is sure put out because he hasn’t been getting very many letters from home. But he seems to be having quite a bit of fun.
I shouldn’t have said anything about the rain stopping, because it just started again. The mud will be ass deep to a giraffe instead of a tall Indian.
If I don’t get some stationery pretty soon I will have to write on the backs of your letters and send them back to you.
The Koreans stole two trucks from the 204th and they can’t find them any place. I wish they would steal everything we have and maybe they would send us home.
We are going to leave here on the 28th and we are going to a training area. We will be there for quite awhile.
I received four letters from you today. Great! We are listening to my little radio. The Hit Parade is playing "Thinking of You" right now, and that’s what I’m doing.
This list is so bad in here I can’t hardly stay on the lines of this paper. All we have for lights are some coal oil lights made out of beer cans. We bought them from some Korean kids for $1.00 each. I think they kind of beat us in the deal, but we have to have some kind of light to see in this tent.
I didn’t get this letter finished the other night, so I am finishing it now—it’s the 26th. I have been working at the Port the last two days and I haven’t been able to finish writing to you until today. We got our equipment the night of the 24th and I have been going night and day since then. Some of it has been broken up pretty bad. The bad part about that is we can’t get any more equipment here to replace it. I got a big box last night that I thought was a light plant. It was on a two-wheeled trailer and boy was it heavy. When we tore the box off from it I was madder than all hell. There were six Singer sewing machines in it. I put the box back on it this morning and took it back to the docks and I told them that we made a mistake and got the wrong trailer. From now on I am going to look in the box before I take it.
When Grant told you it was hell over here, he wasn’t kidding. These people over here are all but starving to death. There are 50,000 of them that don’t even have a place to sleep and more are coming in from the north all the time. This morning I saw someone lying in the middle of the road dead. This was while I was going into the docks to check on some trucks there. Maybe when I get home I will have a burlap sack wrapped around me and go from door to door saying "chop chop." That means food. If I came to your door, would you feed me?
I went into the docks today to bring back a tank. While I was down there, it started to rain and it is still raining tonight. I guess it will rain for two or three more days now. When I was coming back, I ran out of gas and I had to walk for two miles in the rain. Boy, did I get wet. I got my clothes washed right on me.
As you can see I have some new writing paper. I didn’t have to steal it. Ronald Smith’s mother sent him a whole box of paper and envelopes and he gave some to me.
I am going to get paid tomorrow. I think I will get around $300.00. I will send you a money order for $250.00 and you can do what you want to with it. You said you needed new clothes, so use what you need.
We have a Korean kid with us now. He is 18 years old and is about 5’5" tall. He lived in Seoul before the war started. He can talk as good as a lot of Americans I have listened to and he is quite smart. I will send you a picture of him soon. He is living in our tent and I can say one thing. He is the cleanest Korean I have seen yet. He washes and brushes his teeth every night.
I have a nosebleed right now so I will close. I have a head cold, so that is probably what is causing the nosebleed.
I got paid today and they beat me on it again. But this time I filled out some papers to have them get me the rest of my pay. I got $150.00 and I should have gotten better than $200.00. They didn’t pay me my overseas pay, which is $16.00 a month, and they didn’t take my income tax from my pay record, so they kept $12.00 out of my pay for income taxes. I will send you a money order for $125.00 and when they make up the rest of my pay, I will send it to you. I am going to keep $25.00 to buy a few things for myself.
It has been raining here for the last two days, and it is still raining. We can’t even get the trucks out of the motor pool without getting them stuck in the mud. We had one of our tanks sink about two feet in the mud when it was setting still. I don’t know how we will get it out.
Some of the guys have lost all of their money already playing poker. Jack has lost $55.00 playing poker. I bawled him out about it, but I don’t know if it will do any good. He doesn’t act like he cares much about anything.
Senator hasn’t been feeling too good lately. I think he is worrying a lot about going into the front lines. Some of these guys around here keep telling him a lot of tales and they scare him so much that he won’t pull guard duty without somebody with him. Just before we went on guard duty the other night, hey told him that there were some Korean war prisoners running loose around here. He got sicker than a dog and they couldn’t put him on duty.
Don’t lose too much sleep worrying about me. I can pretty well take care of myself. Tell some of the people around there to write to Senator.
We are leaving here in the morning. We are going to a place about 25 miles north of here and we will stay there for three weeks or more. I think it will depend on how the war is coming out for the length of time we have at the place we are going. It has finally quit raining here and it has got colder than all hell.
I received a letter from you yesterday. It sounds like you haven’t received any mail since we were in Japan. I don’t know what the matter is. It takes 7 to 8 days to get a letter from you.
We have moved to our new area, and I like it a lot better than I liked the other place at Pusan. We are living in 12-men tents. They only have dirt floors, but that is a lot better than all the mud we had at the other place. We are only one half of a block from a good-sized river. It is the only clean water I have seen since I have been in Korea. We are about 25 miles north of Pusan and it is quite a bit warmer here. When I said that we were camped on dirt, I should have said sand because this whole area is clean sand and gravel that has been washed in here by the river.
I got a letter from you yesterday and one today. I got a parcel from Mom too. I still haven’t received the parcel you sent me yet.
Senator is really a’hopping around here now. They told him he could take his pick of the jobs around here and Senator can’t make up his mind which one is the safest. He has asked me 20 times today which job I think is the safest. He is driving Beeson crazy. Beeson says he is going to trade Snuffy to the Koreans if he doesn’t find something that Snuffy can do without causing a lot of trouble for him.
I haven’t been able to write for the last two days because I have been working until after dark both days. I have been going back to Pusan in the mornings and not getting back here until after dark. The road I have to drive over is about like one of our cow trails back home. I spend all day trying to get parts to keep these damn old trucks running. All of the parts I get, I have to steal from some Ordnance outfit. I guess when I go to see St. Peter and see if he will let me through the pearly gates, and they hand me the chalk to mark down my black marks on the way up the steps, I will more than likely run out of chalk and have to come back down for more.
It rained here yesterday, but it didn’t get muddy at all. I was sure glad of that. Last night it sure got cold and the way it feels tonight, I think it will be just as cold.
I sure wish I had the old shotgun over here, because there sure are a lot of pheasants here. The Battery has been going to get us a shotgun ever since we got over here and they haven’t got it yet. I don’t suppose we will ever get one.
From the way the radio sounds, they have started the rotation plan to work and I guess if it works out all right, we will be coming back in about six months. I guess some of the 18-year old boys aren’t too happy about the draft law they passed, are they?
They sure are feeding us good here. Better close for now.
I haven’t received a letter from you for three days, and I don’t know what is the matter. I just got through writing a letter to Mom and Dad.
They killed a North Korean over on the road today. He was dressed in a G.I. uniform and he had some Russian-made guns hidden under his clothing.
It has been quite warm here today. I’ll bet it gets hot here in the summer time. I still haven’t got the parcel you sent me. I guess someone else has it by now.
Have you heard anything about Marshall lately? We haven’t heard a thing about him since he left us two weeks ago. From what they say, he won’t come back to us when he leaves Japan. Can’t think of anything else to say except I miss you.
I finally got a parcel from you. It had popcorn and cake in it. Did you make the cake? It sure was good. I also got eight letters from you, and was I glad.
Senator has been getting letters just about every time I do. Sure makes a difference in him.
Jack has some film for his camera now, so he will more than likely send some of the film home to be developed.
You don’’t have to send any more writing paper and envelopes. We just got a shipment of it. They have issued it out to us and I have plenty of it now. But if you can send me a wash cloth and towel.
How are the boys taking the new draft law? Still crying over it? Has Noal Wood left for the Army yet or are they still trying to get him out of it?
Is Grant going to get out of the Navy this year or is he frozen in for the rest of this war? As far as I can see, they could fight over here for 100 years and not gain one thing. There isn’t anything over here worth fighting for. I wouldn’t have it if they gave me the whole place. You can’t hardly trust one of them. If they did win the war with the North Koreans, they would have to turn around and fight the South Koreans to keep them from stealing everything we have. They kill two or three of them every day around here trying to steal ammunition from us.
Just a few lines before I go to bed so you know how things are going. I still have some of that cake you sent me and I still don’t know whether you made it or not. It sure is good. If you made it, just keep up the good work.
I got a little scarf in town yesterday and they sure took me on it. It cost $1.00. I got it for a souvenir just so I can remember this damn place when I get home. The black market prices are higher here than the prices of things at home. In the PX you can’t buy anything except cigarettes, but you can walk across the street into a gook store and buy all the American goods you want. A bar of soap costs you 25 cents. They should drop an A bomb on the whole works and they would have peace from then on.
If you tell a South Korean that the U.S. is going to stop at the 38th Parallel, it scares them to death. They want us to take all of Korea for them. These Koreans are all alike, north or south. If you take three of them out to do some work, two of them will be bosses and the other will do the work. There isn’t one out of a hundred worth shooting. Guess you’ve heard me cuss them enough, but the more I see of them, the more I dislike them.
I received three more letters from you today. You sound like you have the blues. I guess we all have them at times. Try not to worry. Go to a movie and have some fun with the girls.
They have put Senator in my section now as my Jeep driver. I think he will be quite content now. I’ll try to watch over him.
About Max Lewis’s nose, they found out it wasn’t broken, but it sure was swollen and they thought it was broken for a while.
The 204th moved up here by us the other day. I guess they will be training with us. The way things sound now, I wouldn’t doubt if this war is over soon--that is, if they stop at the 38th parallel.
I got a letter from Bill Cox today. I guess he is doing fine now. The boys sure miss him, so do I. He is sure a lot of fun to have around.
Don’t listen to all the rumors you hear, just keep those letters coming.
I received a letter from you today, and I was sure glad to hear from you again. It has been two days since I heard from you. I guess the mail is messed up on both sides of the water.
I’m sorry that you are not going to have a baby. It would make it a lot easier on you, and take your mind off your worries. I think it will be better if you were older before you had a baby. You are still too young. I know the waiting wouldn’t seem as long until I came home if you had a baby. I am afraid we are going to be over here for quite a while by the way it looks now.
Senator and I got picked up by the MP’s today in Pusan. They were going to send us back to the front lines. It took us quite a while to convince them that we had never been up at the front lines. After about an hour, they let us go. One of them tried to steal my pistol from me while we were at the MP station. I had to tell them that I was going to call the Battalion commander if they didn’t hand my gun over to me.
These dried peaches you sent me sure have a potent smell to them. They smell just like my feet. They taste pretty good though.
Have to close now. Remember I love you and miss you.
I received three more letters from you tonight. Sounds like you worry too much.
They put me on guard duty tonight. I guess I am the only one around here that doesn’t cry about it, so they take advantage of me. Service Battery hasn’t been pulling guard duty until tonight. The rest of the Battalion went out on a two-day problem and left us here by ourselves.
I received two letters from Mom tonight also. She told me that I should be glad that I was able to find a wife as nice as you. Believe me, she didn’t have to tell me that. I found that out already. It’s nice to have people tell me what a nice girl you are, anyway.
Tomorrow is Easter. It sure won’t be like last Easter will it? When I think of all the things that have happened to me since last Easter, I hope to hell that this many things don’t happen to me within this year.
Better close and get some sleep. I have to get up in four hours and go on guard again. Remember I love you and want you to go out and have some fun, not stay home all the time. I agree with your dad. You don't need to baby-sit every day.
It seems that no matter where you are, it always rains or snows on Easter. Well it’s raining here today. I really don’t care much because I would like to see the ground get wet again and maybe there won’t be so much dust flying around here. It has been quite hot here the last week or so and has really dried things up. I know this place is not as cold as it is at home because there isn’t any snow on the mountains around us. I guess it just seems cold because we are living in tents. I would hate to live in a tent at home, at this time of year.
Polk and I just got back from Pusan a little while ago. We went out to the airfield to see what we could steal from them, but they had everything locked up because they didn’t have to work on Easter.
The other day Senator, Paul Thompson, and I went into Pusan. On the way back, Senator said he was going to pick up one of the girls that were hitch hiking along the road. We told him that he didn’t dare, but he did. I made him get in back with her and I drove. He was really acting up and having the time of his life.
Some of the guys in the Battalion have been hitting the "Cat Houses" pretty good lately. There is one just up the hill from us. Every time you go past there, the girls come out and try to get you to come in. Don’t ever worry about me stopping there. I hear there are six cases of gonorrhea in the Battalion.
I received a big candy Easter Egg from Mom today. Since you sent me all of that candy in your parcel, I have really got filled up on candy. I haven’t opened two of my parcels yet. Bob Low got some cheese from home today and is it strong. I can smell it all over the place now.
Bear in mind that I love you very much and I promise that I will not do anything that you wouldn’t, so you know I will be good like you.
Just a short note. Jack took these pictures. I forgot to put them in the letter yesterday. I sure look pot-gutted in this one. Scribe Gillies is in back of the ambulance pulling faces. The other picture has Bob Low, Rondo Farr and Don Yardly in the center sitting down. Love you.
The way your letters sound, you haven’t been getting very many letters from me. You should have until the last four days, I haven’t even had time to get a good night’s sleep. I think we are going to move out of here in the next week. We will go back to Pusan and load our equipment on an LTD and go up the coast to Inchon and from there to Seoul. We have finished our training here.
It has started to rain again tonight, but I don’t mind the rain here at all. It isn’t like the rain at Fort Lewis. It is more like home weather. Spring is setting in around here now and it is getting quite pretty around the hills and the grain fields. We hardly ever wear our coats.
We got paid today and I got $115.00 for this month. They still owe me about $40.00 from last time we got paid.
I went to a picture show last night and it was pretty good. It was called "Kim." I don’t know if you have seen it or not. Better go now. Love you much.
I received two letters from you yesterday. The mail has been pretty slow getting here lately. I know I haven’t been writing to you every night like I should be doing.
I got two money orders today and I am sending them with this letter. What are we going to do with all of our money anyway? Shall we go get on a big drunk and spend it all? We could sure have a lot of fun, don’t you think so?
I haven’t seen Jack for about a week now. I guess I will have to go up on the firing line and see him. They can’t find any "Chinks" up there to shoot at, so all they have to do is eat and sleep, and pull guard duty of course. Some of the "chickens" up there can’t sleep without a lot of guards. That’s the officers you know.
Did I tell you about Senator the night the Chinks run us out of Kapyong? Well, everybody thought he would be scared to death if he had some Chinks chasing him. But it turned out the other way around. He wasn’t half as scared as the "brave" ones around there. While I had all of the guys loading up the trucks, Senator drove up in his jeep and asked me when I wanted him to leave. He had all of his things loaded in the Jeep with him. I told him that he might as well get out of there as soon as he could. So he went all alone. Some of the boys were so scared that they didn’t know what they were doing. You bet they don’t tease Senator anymore about being afraid of the Chinks.
Oh yes, I’ve got a shotgun now, and I got two big pheasants this morning. There sure are a lot of them over here. Better close now.
I heard of your Grandpa’s death and I can’t believe it could have happened to him. He always seemed so healthy. I guess you had a bad time with losing your Grandpa during Grant’s wedding reception. I’m sure sorry.
We have moved again. We are about one mile east of Inchon. I am getting pretty tired of moving every two or three days.
I don’t know if I told you that I received a big parcel from you or not. The cake was sure good. Did you make it? I also received two parcels from Mom. I am sure glad you are sending me these parcels because they sure do come in handy when we are moving from place to place.
The gun batteries are about 20 miles behind the front lines now. Jack is still with them though. I think we will be moving up again pretty soon now. They say that the "Chinks" are clear back at Kapyong where we were at when they run us out of there.
It is getting hotter than hell over here now. I hope it doesn’t get too much hotter, or we will roast for sure. We can hardly work in the afternoons now. I guess we’re just not used to the hot weather. I’ll close for now and get some sleep. Lots of love.
It’s raining again and the way it looks, it isn’t going to quit very soon. I guess the rainy season is sitting in now. But then, I would rather have rain than dust.
I got a big parcel from you yesterday. I sure like the candy, but Honey, I have got so much gum now that I don’t know what to do with it. I don’t think I will need any more for quite a while. I just opened a parcel that Mom sent me before we left K.P. Yong. That was a month ago. It was a fruitcake with white icing on it, and it sure is good.
We got some Japanese beer today and some are getting drunk. They say it sure is good.
I went to Inchon today to get some parts for our Caterpillar. They sure have got a lot of salvage Caterpillars and other big equipment rusting away down there. But I got what I went after. Inchon is 115 miles from where we are now.
You asked in one of your letters if my radio was still working or not. Well, it’s working fine. I am sure glad that I have it here with me. It is the only way we have of finding out what is going on around the world. And every night we listen to the request songs that are broadcast from Japan to the GI’s over here. The requests come from the folks at home.
Honey, I have about forgotten what you look like, and you haven’t sent me any pictures of you, so please do. I wish I could be with you now instead of being so far away from you. Love.
Well Honey, we have moved again and I guess we will be moving again pretty soon. It seems like we are always moving.
We are just about back up to Kapyong again. The firing batteries have gone within three miles of the 38th parallel. I guess they are really shooting the hell out of the Chinese from what they tell me. They seem to be giving up and surrendering pretty fast now. From what we hear around here, there is a lot of talk about the Chinese wanting to quit the war. The air observers say that there are more Chinese going back across the Manchurian border than there has ever been coming across into Korea here, at one time.
I just got three letters from you and I sure was glad to get them. You said that it is snowing at home. It should help out a lot this year. I also got the graduation announcement you sent me. I’m glad that you could graduate.
It seems that our mail comes to us in spurts, with three or four letters at a time, then none for several days.
It is raining here again. This place might be as bad as Fort Lewis for rain. And they tell me the rainy season hasn’t started yet.
Some seem to think that we will be out of here pretty soon, but I don’t think we could have any luck of that kind.
Jack and Scrib went hunting Chinese on foot today. I don’t know whether they got any or not. Four of our boys went hunting Chinese today and brought back 400 prisoners with them. I guess Jack and Scrib have been having quite up there the last few days. The Chinese are surrendering by the thousands today, because they are trapped on all sides.
Well Honey, I will quit for now, so remember that I love you more than ever and I hope we can be together again soon and make up for some of our lost time.
Tell Mom not to worry too much over Jack, because he is quite safe at his job and I don’t think he takes any chances he doesn’t have to. Lots of love.
How are things going with you, Honey? I am sick again. The old one-holes we have just about grew to my butt in the last two days. I’m doing pretty good tonight though. All of the boys have been sick, I think it’s the water that is causing us all to get sick. I guess there are too many dead "Chinks" in the river where we get our water.
I don’t know if I told you before that we were north of Chunchon now or not. We are about three miles north of there now. We moved up all of a sudden the other day.
We got paid today. This month went by pretty fast. I hope that all of them slip by just as fast.
I have some negatives of pictures taken by Sergeant Teazel. Some of them are pretty good. All of the Battalion motor section is in some of them. Have some prints made for me will you?
I got a letter from you yesterday. I guess you old gals have quite a BS session when you get together, from the way you talk in your letters.
Senator went to Japan today on a 7-day furlough. I’ll bet he has quite a time if one of those little Japanese gals get a hold of him. They say if you will treat them good, they will hang on to you as long as they can.
We don’t know for sure when we will be rotated. Some say in two months from now and some say longer, so you can see that no one knows for sure. Some of the ERC are getting out of this outfit this month and are getting out of the Army. I do know one thing for sure and that is, they won’t get me in the National Guard again with their damn lies. Remember I love you very much.
I have been sent on an advanced detail and I haven’t had a chance to mail any letters for the last three days, so don’t think that I have forgotten you. I am driving a Cat. We are on the south side of the Hwachon reservoir building roads and digging gun pits for our big guns. All of the Army units up at the front are going to pull back and dig in and wait to see if the Chinese want to quit fighting or not. Some seem to think they will, but there’s no way of finding out until we all pull back and see if they are going to come back after us.
Jack is still with HQ Battery. They are about 20 miles from here. Our Battery has already pulled back from the front lines now.
I haven’t had any mail from you for 5 days now. I guess they have it messed up somewhere in the Battalion.
Connie Grimshaw is leaving for home tomorrow. I guess I won’t get a chance to see him before he leaves. Three other guys are leaving with him from Service Battery. Seventeen men are leaving from the Battalion. They are enlisted reserves that came into the outfit when we came over here.
I have buried 20 dead Chinese in the last two days with the Cat. Some of them were still in their foxholes. All you have to do to find them is just take a big deep breath of air and you can walk right to them. The civilians are dying off like flies around here. They are getting Typhoid Fever out of the water. I walked over to a little shack the other day and looked in it. I found two little girls setting over in the corner of a little room and in the next room their father and mother was lying on the floor dead. They had been dead for about a week or two. We got the little girls out of the house and set it on fire. We have burned five houses with dead people in them so far. We’re feeding about 15 kids from around here. I don’t know where they come from, but every day when we eat, here they come. After we feed them, you can’t find any of them anywhere. They were so dirty you couldn’t see them, so Puffer had some soap sent up here and last night I took it up to a place where five families were living and I made the women take their kids down to the creek and give them baths. When I got them down there, the old gals, kids, and all went in for a bath. Boy, did some of them old gals have black old bodies.
I’ll close for now. Honey, don’t ever let yourself get that dirty. It might remind me of Korea. Loads of love.
I just received eight letters today. Six of them were from you. They were the first I have received in ten days now. I don’t know what is happening to the mail, but I sure don't like it. You said in your letters that you haven’t had a letter from me for two weeks, so I guess the mail is messed up some place along the line. I always write every two days when I can and never let it go over three days at the most.
Connie Grimshaw left for home yesterday. He felt pretty bad over leaving all of the guys behind. They gave him and two others a farewell party the other night. All three of them started to cry when the cooks gave the three of them a cake each. They had "Good-by Buddy" written on them with white icing. I went down to Service Battery the day before yesterday to say goodbye to Connie and the others. Connie asked me what I thought about him going home before the rest of us. He feels like he’s running out on us, but he still wants to go home, and I sure don’t blame him. Anyone who has been over in this damn place would want to get as far away from here as he could. If Jack and Scribe would have stayed in the Guard instead of going into the Army for a year, they could be going home with Connie too. So I don’t think Connie is pulling anything by getting out.
I am still digging gun pits but I don’t know whether they will get to use them. The Chinese don’t act like they want to stop fighting. If they don’t we will move back up to the front line.
It sure is hot today. That is why I am writing this letter now. I have to take time off until it cools off a little.
You said you weren’t feeling very good. What does the doctor say? For hell sake, don’t be sick when I get home--that is, if I ever get home from this damn place. I’ll close for now, just remember that I love you very much and I always will.
Well, Honey, there’s not much to write about around here now but I have some time so I’ll write anyway.
There is going to be quite a few guys going home next month, from what they say at Battalion HQ. But they say the officers are going to be the very last of us to go home. I guess they haven’t got everything in their favor, and I wouldn’t give a hell if some of them had to stay over here for the rest of their lives. That’s kind of a bad way to be talking isn’t it?
It’s cooled off today, I guess it’s going to start raining again. It sure rained here the other day. I was about a block away from the tent and I was soaked before I could get there, and the sun was shining just as bright as ever. A little black cloud can come floating through the sky and if it’s coming your way, it will rain on you for sure.
The mail just came in and I was the only one that didn’t get a letter. I guess they have my mail mixed up again down in Battalion some place. That is where it was the last time I didn’t get any for just about two weeks.
I had my hair cut "Teddy" before I came up here from HQ Battery. It is just long enough to keep the flies off. That’s about ¼ inch long. I look like a big German when I take my hat off, but it sure is easy to comb now.
Have you got those pictures I sent you yet? There are some pretty good ones in them of Scribe and Bob Low.
Old Senator got back from Japan a few days ago. He bought a guitar and radio over there. Ronald Smith says that he has just about driven him crazy since he got back. He sure thinks those Japanese girls are cute as hell. He said if he could go back to Japan he would stay there for the rest of his life. If you ever write to him, ask him if those little Japanese girls are nice girls or not. I really had him going the other day when I went down to see Connie before he left. I told Senator that I was going to write and tell June that he was chasing Japanese girls.
Well Honey, I better close for now. If you get a chance, send me some of this writing paper with lines on it. Lots of love.
Looks like we’re going to move back to the Battalion today, so maybe I might start to get some mail again.
I went hunting pheasants last night and I got a big one. There’s quite a few of them around here now, but they’re sure hard to run out of the brush. This is quite a pretty valley. After you get some place, you can see it all.
They say we are going back up to the front in two days so I guess this stop fighting deal was just a lot of B.S. This deal over here makes you wonder who in the hell we are fighting over here after you see all of the equipment that is made in USA that they have. All of the Chinese smoke American cigarettes, so they must be shipping them to China all the time. All of the medicine they have is made in the USA, so they must be shipping that to them also. I think we all should come back to the States and take care of those Reds there and let these over here go. If they don’t have someone else to fight with, they will start fighting among themselves.
They say they are having picture shows down at HQ Battery now, so maybe I will get to see one tonight. I haven’t seen one for so long I don’t know what it will be like.
I’ll close for now, loads of love.
Well Honey, I am back with Jack again at HQ Battery and I haven’t had a thing to do since I got here.
It is sure getting hot over here now. You can’t even lay down and rest because it’s too hot and you start sweating. I sure like it up here with HQ Battery. I am sure glad that I’m not with Captain James and Service Battery now. They say that he is getting more chicken every day. Somebody will shoot him yet.
I got a letter from Mom today, but I didn’t get one from you. I should get two or three from you tomorrow.
I would sure like to know what is going on over here with the war. Some say that the Chinese are getting ready to make another big push pretty soon now. Others say that the war will soon be over. So we are all in the dark around here on what is going on over here. The little radio doesn’t work too good up here where we are. I guess it’s just a little too far away from Japan. All my love.
I received two letters from you yesterday and I was sure glad to hear from you again. It has been four days since I heard from you last.
I hope that the operation cleared up whatever is wrong with you, and that you get feeling better. I don’t think we can have that much luck anymore. I think you have been cut up too much already and I hate the thoughts of them cutting you up anymore. Write and tell me all about it as soon as you can, Honey.
It is sure hot here now. We can’t work in the afternoons around here. All we can do is hunt for a cool spot and they are damn few. I have been going swimming just about every afternoon for two or three days, and I am getting a pretty good sun tan. It is getting pretty dry around here now. It hasn’t rained for about two weeks now, but it looks like it is going to rain tonight by the looks of the sky.
You asked me how long I was signed up in the Army for. Well. I’m on my one-year extension now, so I will get out of the Army about the 3rd of next March. They are going to start rotating us about the 15th of August. I don’t know when I will get home for sure. All of the ER’s will be on their way home by the first of August and there are 127 of them in the Battalion. About 30 of them have left already. All I can say is that NG boys sure got it poured on them over here. All my love.
I haven’t had any mail from you for two days now, so I hope I will get a letter from you tomorrow.
Senator came up to see me today. He said that his girl friend has a new boyfriend from Minersville and he is pretty heart broken over it. I don’t know if it is true or not, but Lenzy Hoopes got a letter from his girlfriend and she said something about a certain girl that she knew was doing that to one of the guys in Service Battery, so it might be right. Anyway, poor old Senator is sure heart broken over it. He said he had to talk to someone about it, so he came up to see me.
I think we are going to move up to the front lines again in three or four days. I wish this damn war would stop. I have had enough of this running around all over Korea. About what is going to happen, the Chinese will drive us back down the country for a hundred miles or so before we can stop them again.
Douglas McShane and a few guys from Headquarters Battery are leaving for home today. I guess Connie isn’t the only lucky one. There are quite a few NG boys going home now. They are the ones whose enlistment day is coming up soon. They get sent home ninety days before their time runs out. Always thinking of you, loads of love.
We have moved back up to the front again. We’re six miles south of Kumwha. We’re 4000 yards from the front line and we are the only artillery outfit this far north of the 38th parallel in all of Korea. They all think we’re fighting fools over here, so they put us right on the front lines. We’re all waiting for the war to end and all of the boys are saving their whiskey for the end of it and then they are going to have a big party. They said today that we will know in 48 hours whether we are going to have peace or not. If we don’t, all hell will break loose around here. We were doing a lot of shooting last night. I guess the Chinese were moving around a little during the night.
Did you ever get the $200.00 I sent you last month? I can’t remember if you said anything about getting it or not. When you write to me again, tell me if you received it or not.
We’re camped on top of a big mountain now. It is just like camping up in our mountains. It is a lot cooler than it was in the last place we were in, and we haven’t got a place to go swimming. We have our tents put up right in among the pine trees and it is nice and cool. I have a pup tent that I sleep in now. I think it will keep the rain off from me, but it hasn’t rained for three weeks now. It’s going to rain pretty hard one of these days now, soon.
It is the first of July today. The last month has sure slipped by fast. I hope that this one goes by just as fast. Tomorrow is payday again. I think I will send you $100.00 and keep the rest with me, so that if I get the chance to go to Japan, I will have some money to buy a few things to send home to you.
Have the shots they are giving you been doing you any good, or are you going to have to have the operation? I sure hope not, honey.
I haven’t had any mail now for four days. Some of the guys said there was a lot of mail came to Service Battery today, so I should get two or three letters from you. Lots of love.
I received a letter from your mother day before yesterday, saying that you had to be operated on for appendicitis. I hope that is all that was wrong with you. Honey, I hope you will feel a lot better and won’t have any more trouble. I wish to God that I could be home with you, instead of in this hellhole over here. I have been hoping that I would get a letter from you so that I would know that everything is all right now.
It sure looks like its going to rain tonight. I’ll bet it just pours on us.
Bob Osborn and I just got back from washing our clothes down at a creek about two miles from here. I had a whole box full of dirty clothes. Bob said, "If our wives could only see us now." We were really pounding on our clothes with our paddles. We looked like a couple of old "gooks."
It’s the Fourth of July over here today but it’s just another day to us. I guess you are up and around and going to see the parade today. I hope you can have lots of fun, Honey.
Well it’s supper time so I guess I had better go and eat while it’s still hot, so I’ll finish after supper. I sure wish it was your supper I was eating and that you were sitting across the table from me.
I guess there is to be another meeting tomorrow to try for a cease fire with the Chinese. I sure hope they stop fighting and maybe we can come home for the "Deer Hunt." I think the Chinese want to quit fighting because they have started to pull their men back the last two days. Loads of love, sweetheart.
I received four letters from you last night. I was beginning to think that you had forgotten me, but you haven’t, not after last night.
I am sure glad that you are starting to feel better, Honey. I hope that you will be all right now, don’t you?
It finally started raining last night. They say we can expect 15 inches of rain this month. I would like to see half of that much rain get back home where they could use it. So far this month we are having very good weather. It stays nice and cool all day long. Thinking of you, all my love.
I received four more letters from you last night. That makes 8 letters from you in three days. I am sure glad that the mail is coming through now. I am a lot happier to know how you are doing, and the only way for now is in the mail.
Why don’t you make some fudge candy and send me some. Scribe got some from home the other day. It was sure good. I can’t eat this damn candy they give us over here because it’s so old and stale when we get it.
Scribe went to Japan yesterday. I guess he will have a wild time over there. They say that the Japanese people sure treat you good there, especially the young girls, (ha ha). Some of the boys have said they would stay in Japan for 10 years if the Army would let them. But there’s only one place for this lad, and that’s right back home, tied to your apron strings.
I have run out of words, honey, so I will quit for now. You can never tell about things over here. Loads of love, honey.
How are you feeling now, honey? I hope life is wonderful with you by now.
I received a parcel from you last night. Thanks ever so much, honey. Jack said to tell you thanks too. The boys sure are getting a kick out of the funny books, but Bob Low said that he wished you would send some "True Love" funny books to me instead of those Donald Duck type. We don’t get very many magazines or books to read around here, so when we do get one it don’t last very long when they all start quarreling over it. Boy I wish you would have sent me two or three cans of shrimps. They sure are good for a change.
I heard over the radio last night that they had their first peace meeting and it turned out pretty good. So maybe they might come to some terms on the peace plans. It’s worth its weight in gold if we have peace.
It’s going to rain tonight again. I’m going to take a picture of my bedroom and sent it to you. It’s a pretty good one if I do say so. It keeps out the rain and keeps the mosquitoes out, and more than anything else, I get plenty of fresh air.
I just got a letter from you tonight, again. Don’t you think I worry just as much about you as you do about me, especially when you haven’t been feeling good? You are all I care about in this world. I didn’t know I could miss anyone until I had to leave you and come over here. Before I was married, I could leave home and stay away for months and never get homesick to see anyone. But now, honey, I’ve got you and I have never wanted to see anyone so bad in my whole life. If I didn’t know that I had you waiting for me at home I wouldn’t give a hell if I never got home. Now I know why Jack acts the way he does sometimes.
The rain is just pouring down now. I guess we’re in for another soaker tonight. The Battalion just started to let go with everything we have, that’s the big guns, if you don’t know what I’m talking about. I guess the Chinese are pulling a banzai attack. They take dope and it makes them go crazy and they don’t care if they get killed or not. They have been having quite a few of them lately.
I’ll close for now, honey. Remember that I will always love you with all of my heart and soul.
Honey, I hope I get some mail from you tonight. It has been three days since the last letter, so it is today that I should get two or three.
I bought a camera the other day. It is a $75.00 camera, and I bought it for $35.00 brand new. It’s a 35MM camera and it takes 35 pictures on one roll of film. Will you send me two rolls of film when you can? I have one roll now, but I want to get as many pictures as I can of this place over here. Some of the guys have really got a lot of good pictures now. I also bought a 17-jewel wrist watch for $16.00. It’s about a $40.00 watch if you bought it in the States.
Senator came up to see me today. He is down against the whole world now. He said that he is going to see if he can’t stay in Japan when we get to go home. He said that the Japanese girls are always loyal to their men and that’s the kind of woman he wants. He said that he wrote and told June that he wanted all of his things back that he gave her, because he was going to give them all to a Japanese girl that he could trust instead of a damn thing like her. But he still can’t see why she would do a thing like that to him and go with that other guy. Anyway, old Senator is feeling pretty bad about it. But I think he will live through his crisis all right.
I don’t know what to think of their peace plans now. We are still shooting "Gooks." C Battery captured 8 Chinks yesterday afternoon. They’re sneaking in behind our lines somehow, but only in small groups. I haven’t heard anything about how the peace talks are going. Some people over here think that everything is going to come out all right. Still, I can’t quite make up my mind whether to believe that they are going to stop fighting or keep on going the way they are now.
Jack Benny is over here putting on road shows. I went to one of them last night. He’s quite the boy, that Benny. He had Errol Flynn and Marjorie Reynolds with him.
Honey, how are things going with you now? Just a minute, I just got two letters from you. Why don’t you wait until I get home and we’ll go nuts together. Don’t you think that would be more fun? If you want to go camping with the 4-H that’s okay with me. Go have some fun. I’ll close for now. Lots and lots of love.
Well honey, here goes the end of another long day. I wonder how many more there will be until we are together again. I hope there’s not too many more left.
It sounds like we have peace over here, that is if everything works out the way they have things planned. But if it doesn’t end, we’re going to have the damnedest fight on our hands that we have ever had. There are thousands of Chinese and North Koreans back in the hills on their side of the lines and I think all their waiting for is to see if they get the peace terms the way they want them. I hope the hell they give them the whole place. I know they won’t have much when they get it, and that it is only a headache. You should see how these airplanes of ours give them hell. All I can say is, I would hate to be those Chinks at times.
I am sending a little scarf to you. I traded two packages of cigarettes for it when we first landed at Pusan and I have had it with me every since. So I am sending it to you so that I can get it out of my way and don’t lose it. It is something that I can remember Pusan by. As always loads of love.
I received a letter from you tonight, honey. I was pretty sure I would get one though. I also got a letter from Doug Farnsworth. I guess he is having quite a time around there now. He said they were going to move away from Beaver.
I have been pretty busy the last two days, inspecting all of the vehicles in the Battalion. Mr. Nelson passed it on to me, because I was the only one around here that knew how to inspect all of the different kinds of vehicles in the Battalion, or so he tells me. But I think he was too damn lazy to do it himself, so he pushed it off on me. Anyway, I sure haven’t been getting in any hurry doing it. I have to do it alone, so it will be another two days at least before I’m through.
Honey, Puffer told me that sometimes the government will pay for a hospital bill if it was an emergency--that is, if you couldn’t get to an Army hospital. He said that when I am overseas, the Army is supposed to take care of my wife. If you get to see the doctor up to Beaver, ask him what he knows about it. I will try to find out more about it around here. I’m sending you loads and oceans of love.
I received three letters from you last night. The mail seems to be getting here pretty good lately.
It looks like they’re going to have peace over here now, doesn’t it? I hope so, and maybe we will be coming home before long. Things have sure quieted down around here in the last three days. We are going back on a training program like we were on at Fort Lewis, so there must be something coming up. If they don’t send us home as a unit, it might be two or three months before I get out of here. If they rotate us, the men that have been overseas before will be rotated first and then those with the most dependents will go second. They are supposed to start rotating us on the 15th of August. But if this war stops they will have to ship all of the National Guard outfits home. I should say, that they are supposed to send us home, but you can’t tell what they will do over here. If the war ends, the national emergency should be over, shouldn’t it?
It’s started to rain again. The moss is starting to grow on my backbone now. Do you remember about me telling you about the lizards packing a canteen of water and a pair of sun glasses with them, because it is so hot? Well, honey they’re all trading them in for paddles and Mae West life jackets to keep from drowning. So you can see what we are up against over here.
Honey, one of the guys just came up and said that he could see a pheasant up on the hill, so I took the shot gun up there and got him. Then we skinned it and rolled it in flour, and fried it. It sure was good. It only took us twenty minutes to kill it, cook it and eat it. Pretty good time, don’t you think, honey? Well hon, I’ll close for now. I love you more and more each day.
Well, honey, we’re damn near drowned out. It has been raining for four days steady, without stopping once. It has finally stopped this afternoon and the sun is starting to shine a little again. I am sure glad, because all of my bedding is wet from the moisture and steam that comes up from the ground. You can’t get dry no matter what you do. All of my envelopes are stuck together now.
The peace plans don’t look too good the last two days do they? I don’t know what to think about the way things keep turning out. One day things look like they’re going to make peace for sure, and the next day, they’re talking about fighting it out again. I know one thing for sure. If they don’t come to some terms for peace, there’s going to be an all out war with China and that will mean that we will never get out of this damn army. They can’t do anything else but start a major war with China, unless China just pulls out of here and quits. I don’t think they will do that. If we go any closer to the Chinese border, they will come after us with airplanes. The only way we will be able to stop them is to go over the border after them. If we do that, we will have to declare war on them, and we all know that it is the only thing we can do if we don’t have a peace treaty pretty soon.
My new watch broke on me so I am going to send it home to you. The main spring is broken, I think. You can more than likely get it fixed pretty cheap. I got another one yesterday, but it’s not as good as the new one.
I haven’t had any mail from you since I got the letter saying you were going up in the mountains with the 4-H, so I guess you weren’t able to mail your letters from up there. I would like to have been with you up there in the mountains instead of being over here camping in these mountains. All my love, honey, and I love you a hell of a lot.
Honey, I got four letters night before last. I would have written and answered than last night, but Jack, Bob Low, and I went down to Service Battery to say goodbye to Polk. He is leaving for home tomorrow morning. He said that he might come down to Beaver when he gets home. So if he does, he will look you up. He is sure happy to be leaving here and I can’t blame him.
I guess you had quite a lot of fun up in the mountains, huh? I’m glad you did, because it’s good for you to get out once in a while.
I got a roll of film for my camera yesterday, so I will be sending the film home to you to get it developed.
Today is the day that will tell if we have peace over here or not. I don’t give it much hopes. I sure wish that they would fool me though.
About you going back to work, honey, just be sure that you are healed up good, and feeling all right. You make up your own mind about it, if you want to or not. You’re your own boss, now. I just help you make up your mind, sometimes, don’t I, honey.
I should get a letter from you tonight, so I’ll write to you tomorrow. I love you so much, if I don’t get to be with you pretty soon, I going to get me a rowboat and start across this ocean to you. Lots of love.
I received three letters from you last night. I didn’t expect to get that many, but it sure was nice.
I got two Angel Food cakes from Mom, two days ago. They looked like somebody put both cheeks of their big butt right in the middle of both of them. I was sure mad about it, but they still tasted good, even as flat as pancakes.
The war sounds like it will soon stop, the news we are hearing today. I wonder what will happen tomorrow. You just can’t be sure about anything over here.
I have been taking pictures all day with the new camera I bought. I don’t know if they will come out because this camera has more gadgets on it than a French Girdle and I don’t know how to work them all yet. I guess I can learn in time.
The firing batteries have been shooting the hell out of the "Chinks" in the last two days and nights. They killed 76 of them in one bunch yesterday. The Chinks made an attack about six miles down the road this morning, but our guns shot them up pretty bad and stopped them. The airplanes were really shooting them up over the hill to the north of us today. I guess they’re going to show the Chinks that we are not quitting until they sign the peace treaty.
Honey, I have run out of words tonight, so I will close for now and write to you tomorrow. Loads of love.
I got your two letters tonight. I sure feel bad that something like that would happen to a young boy like Melvin Carter. It makes you wonder what the hell is the matter with this life we try to live. It seems to me that the more a person tries to live a good, happy life, the more life turns against him or anyone. If you could see the kind of life some of these guys over here live, you would wonder what keeps some of them from killing themselves to hide their rotten conscience from themselves and others. But it seems like that they’re always the ones that come out of the battle and go home without a scratch, while the guy who tries to live right lies dead after the fighting is over. I don’t know why it is true, but it sure seems to go that way all the time. And I don't think it’s luck, because the same people get away with it time after time. Jack Brinkerhoff said that it didn’t matter how good or how bad you were living, because when your time comes, it will get you whether you’re driving 100 miles an hour or lying sleeping in bed. It sure looks that way with Melvin. I don’t know the answer, but honey, if you do, tell me. I have been looking for the answer to that for a long time.
It’s raining again. We had a cloud burst this afternoon. I thought this hill we are camped on would wash away. It was the first time I have heard it thunder over here. You should have seen the lightening flashing around here. I didn’t know whether to jump for my foxhole or stay in under my pup tent. I guess it will rain all the rest of the night now.
Tomorrow will make it a month we have been up here in this place. They should be sending us back to the rear area for a rest pretty soon. Then maybe I will get to see a picture show again.
There is another bunch of guys going home on the 3rd of August from this outfit. There are a lot of rumors around saying we are going home as a unit pretty soon, but I think it’s all talk right now. I think if this war ends pretty soon, we will come home as a unit. But I don’t think we would leave until September, at least.
Bob Osborn is signing up for three more years and getting a 2nd Lieutenant rank. Boy, he can have it. Three years is a long time to put in this damn army, as far as I can see.
Well honey, I’ll close for now. Remember I love you very much and we WILL be together one of these days pretty soon.
To start with, honey, it’s raining again. It’s just about as bad as it was at Fort Lewis, only here the sun shines once in a while.
I got two letters from you last night, and a big box of candy from Mom.
Most all of the officers got drunk last night, and they sent Puffer back to Service Battery to stay. He is going to lick a captain. Don’t know what it was all about.
Jack is going to be motor sergeant at Service Battery now. He’s going down in the morning. I think he will make out all right down there.
I am going to try to see Clair Farnsworth in the next couple of days. He is only 256 miles from here now. Arlow just found where he is at, so we are going to try and see him.
It sure looks like they’re going to try to have peace over here, doesn’t it. You sure wouldn’t think so if you could hear all of the shooting around here at nights. Our firing batteries have shot better than 35,000 rounds of 105 Howitzers shells since we have been here. They shot 1000 rounds the day before yesterday, so you can see the war isn’t over with yet around here.
I’ll close for now. I love you a bushel and a peck and a couple hundred hugs around the neck.
I received a letter from you last night. It’s the first of August. One more month is over with and I hope this month brings an end to all of this fighting over here. It kind of looks like it will by the sound of the news lately.
I would sure like to taste one of your cherry pies with a big scoop of ice cream on it right now, honey. I’ll bet you are getting to be a good cook.
I rolled over in bed this morning on top of a ground hornet. Boy, you should have seen me come up out of the bed. It sure did hurt for a while. Bob Low was eating some Cracker Jack popcorn and there was a hornet in it. He didn’t see it when he put the popcorn in his mouth, but he sure felt it. He let out a war hoop that you could hear for five miles. He looks like he’s got the mumps now. They are the same kind of hornets that we have up in the mountains at home.
Max Lewis and Scrib are up here now. Jack went back to Service Battery to take over his new job. Bob Low took over Jack’s M32 Tank Retriever.
I guess I have run out of words now honey, so I will close for now. All my love.
Honey, I haven’t had a letter from you for four days now. I don’t quite know what to write about without answering your letters. We are all damn near to go crazy around here wondering what is going on and what we are going to do next.
I got so tired of sitting around today, that I went up to the front lines and stayed all afternoon. Boy, things were sure happening up there. The South Koreans were taking a hill from the Chinks and they were sure having a fight trying to take it. We were across the canyon from them and could see everything that happened over on the hill. There were about ten South Koreans going up a slope towards the top of the hill they were trying to capture, and they got about 50 yards from the top when a Chink mortar landed right in the middle of them. It blew two of them down the hill for 50 feet, killing both of them. Two of them got up and ran back down the hill for a ways. The rest of them were wounded pretty badly. Two more mortar shells hit down below us about one hundred yards, and they threw dirt all over where we were. Four P80 jet fighters dropped napalm bombs and shot rockets at a bunch of Chinks in bunkers just down from the top of the hill on our side, so we could see everything. You should have seen the poor beggars come running out of those bunkers when they dropped the napalm bombs on them. Some of them were running and their clothes were on fire. We could see the Chinks and the Koreans throwing hand grenades at each other. They brought nine dead Koreans back past us while we were there and 23 wounded. They had 160 dead and wounded since last night, so you can see they were having quite a fight around there. That hill will go down on the books as Hill 307l. All of the mountains and hills have a number on them. It is the only way they can find the mountains and hills on the map.
Well honey, that’s about all I know, so I will close for now. I hope I get a letter from you tomorrow and maybe I will be able to write something you will be interested in. Loads and loads of love.
I received two letters from you tonight. I was sure glad to get them, honey. It is raining again tonight. We had two days of sunshine though--the last two days, that is. When it isn’t raining there is fog all around us and it is just as wet as the rain.
I’m afraid it’s going to be quite a while after my birthday before I leave here. I might not be home for New Year’s Day, for all we know now. They should start to rotate us on the 15th of this month, but I don’t think they will. Replacements aren’t coming over here as fast as they say they are. I don’t think this war is going to end either. It doesn’t sound like they’re getting anyplace with their peace talks. I think it’s just a big stall the Chinks are pulling. But as I said before, I hope I’m wrong again. I would hate to be an officer over here, because they have to put in 9 months before they can even think of rotating and then it’s hard for them to get out of here. Officers are hard to get around here, now. I could get a commission if I would apply for one, but I wouldn’t have one now for anything. I wouldn’t stay in this army one minute longer than I have to.
You must have bought colored film for me if it cost more than $5.00 a roll. The regular Super XX film only costs $1.89 a roll. That colored film will take some real pretty pictures though. I have taken 22 pictures since I got a roll of film. We haven’t had any good days to take pictures around here. I wish I had taken my camera with me up to the front lines yesterday. I could have taken some real good pictures up there. I’m going back up in a couple of days and I will take it with me then.
Well Honey, I guess I will close for now. I love you so damn much, Honey. I hope we can be together before too long and maybe we can forget all about this damn war and have a lot of fun together again. I am so glad that you wanted to get married before I came into this army. If I didn’t have you, Honey, to write to and think about all the time, I know I would either go crazy or to the dogs. I am only thankful that I was lucky enough to get a wonderful girl for a wife. Loads of love.
The airplane that brings our mail in from Japan didn’t come in today, so there is no mail. It quit raining this morning and the sun came out again. It sure feels good to get dried out again. When the sun isn’t shining, the moisture in the ground keeps everything wet and sticky. Our clothes just stick to our skin like they were glued on.
I am setting in bed writing to you, Honey. It’s nine o’clock at night now. I have a pretty good light in my little pup tent. It runs by flashlight batteries, and it lights things up good enough to read and write letters. It is quite hot tonight.
I guess Jack is getting along pretty good down at Service Battery as motor sergeant. They say that he has all of the truck drivers down there working like hell on their trucks. So if he can get those guys to work, he must be doing all right.
They had church today. I went but didn’t enjoy it without you, Honey.
We are getting just like a bunch of old women around here. Every time we get mail, we sit around and gossip. We find out who is chasing who, and who is pregnant, and all kinds of good stuff like that.
I can’t think of anything to tell you so I will close. Always thinking of you. Love.
I got your parcel last night, Honey. The fudge was really good, but it was all smashed over the whole box. The box must have had some rough treatment on the way over here. I guess I should have thought to tell you to put the fudge in a coffee can, so it wouldn’t get smashed all over, but I forgot to. Anyway, Honey, it was really good. I didn’t know you could make candy that good. It kind of surprised me when I tasted it, because it was so good. The film is the colored kind all right. When I send them back to you, all you have to do is write the address of the place where you got them on the little red bag, which is in the can that the film in, and send it to them. They will develop them and send them back to you free of cost. The cost was included in the price of the film. And, Honey, thanks for sending me all of these magazines you sent. I sit up just about all night reading some of them. You just don’t know how much it means to have something to read and look at over here. Some of the old magazines we have around here I have read at least three times. It is sure a dead life over here, so the love stories really hit the spot.
I haven’t had a letter from you for three or more days now. If I don’t get one tonight, it will be four days, but I know I will get one tonight. I would like to know what is the matter with the mail because I know that you write to me every day if you can.
We are going to move back from here on the 10th from what I hear. Maybe I will get to see a movie. It has been two months since I have seen one, at least.
I have changed my mind again about going to Japan. I’m going to go and just as soon as I get there, I’m going to call you on the phone and talk to you for as long as we want to, providing my money holds out.
It’s been raining again today. I’m afraid I’ll have web feet and be walking like a duck when I get home if it doesn’t stop raining pretty soon.
I’m finishing this letter tonight. I was waiting to see if I was going to get a letter from you, but I didn’t. I thought sure I would, I’d like to know what is wrong.
I am taking a college correspondence course that the Army puts out. I got the lessons tonight.
I have a certificate which they gave me when we crossed the International dateline on the way over here on the boat. I am sending it to you before it gets lost or something. It’s just a souvenir. Guess I’d better close for now and get to bed. Good night, Honey. All my love.
Well, Honey, we’re still up on this wet old mountain and we can’t get off unless we walk. It has been raining for the five days without stopping. It cleared up this afternoon for a little while, but it is raining again. All the roads were washed out for two days and we couldn’t get any food for the two days. I would sure hate to see the "Chinks" come after us now, because we would have to leave our tanks here and go out of here in trucks and Jeeps. They can get trucks up to us now, but the roads will cave off if we try to take our tanks over them now. We were going to leave here and go back for a rest the other day, but we will have to wait until the roads dry out. The way it’s been raining, we might get out of here for a week or more.
Senator is up here with us now. Ge is taking Bob Low’s place while Bob is in Japan on R&R. Senator and the boys are down in their tent singing cowboy songs now. One of them has a guitar and Senator is playing it for them.
We haven’t had any mail for three days. I guess this rain is stopping it from getting here to us.
The cease fire talks don’t look like they’re going to work out, do they? I haven’t heard any news for three or four days, so I don’t know how things are going now.
Did I tell you about Senator up on the front lines the other day? I can’t remember whether I did or not. We were right up where they were fighting. We watched them shoot mortar shells at some Chinks over the top of a hill. When he left old Senator said, "just wait until Grant Wood hears about me being up on the front lines and he won’t think he’s so smart. I don’t know what Grant has on Senator, but he’s always trying to do something to show Grant off when he gets home.
They just said the mail just came in so I will finish in a few minutes. Honey, I got three letters from you. I am sure glad to get them. They were sent on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of August.
You asked if it was Pelkey’s wife who wanted a divorce. It was a guy named Hale. He’s from Washington, too. Hale hasn’t given her the divorce yet. He says he’s going to let her suffer a little while longer. I’ll bet she’s living with the other guy, anyway.
Well honey, I’ll close now. It’s 11 o’clock and I had better see if I can get some sleep tonight. I wish I could hold you in my arms tonight and tell you how much I love you instead of just writing it to you on a piece of paper. All my love.
There’s not much doing around here today. We’re getting ready for an inspection on the 17th. Senator and I have really been washing this old tank retriever to get it ready. I wish Bob Low was here to take care of it instead of me.
It looks like it’s going to rain, but I don’t think it will tonight. I hope it rains on the 17th. That would fix that old General who’s coming up to inspect us.
Senator just turned on a bug bomb and he’s damn near fumigated me. If I had wings, he would have got me for sure. The mosquitoes are bad here.
I bought a radio today for $4.00. It’s a big portable one. It plays pretty good too. I had to work on it for awhile to get it to work.
Honey, I guess this is a little short, but I’ll write a longer letter tomorrow. Always thinking of you. Loads of love.
I received another letter from you last night. Is it still raining there? We have had sunshine for the last three days and it sure feels good to get dried out again.
You should have about all the canning done by now, shouldn’t you> Or are you just getting a good start on it? I sure would like to set down to a table right now and have a big dish of peaches to eat. That is home bottled ones, I mean. No more of these canned peaches like we get over here, when we get them.
I guess we will be moving out of this place in two more days, anyway. That’s what they’re telling us. They told us that we would only be here for a month when we get here, but it’s been 49 days today. That’s quite a long month, isn’t it?
We have some Ethiopians camped by us now. They are all around us, so we don’t have to pull any guard duty now. I wish they had been here when we came up here. I guess we are expecting a Chinese attack pretty soon, so they have sent this Battalion of Ethiopian Infantry to patrol around us.
Senator is still having troubles over June. He talks about when he gets home and buys his new car, so that he can drive around where she can see him and get jealous over him. He thinks that when she sees him, she will want to go with him again. But he says he will tell her to go get the old grandpa she’s been chasing. I tell him that she will throw rocks at him so that she won't have to look at his ugly mug. Boy, it sure gets him down to have me tell him that. He thinks every girl in Minersville and Beaver will be crazy about him. I tell him that the only thing they will be crazy over, is crazy with fear that they might see him. He got madder than heck over that. I’m kind of mean, aren’t I, Honey? When I’m teasing him, it keeps him from feeling sorry for himself.
I went out and took some pictures with that colored film. They should be good ones because it is real pretty around here.
You know, Honey, I would sure like some more of your fudge if you ever get time again. Only if you do send it, put it in a big coffee can so it won’t get smashed again. It’s too good to let that happen to it. Never mind sending me any other kind of candy. But the shrimps are all right. We can get plenty of lemons over here so you don’t need to send them.
It’s damn near the 19th, isn’t it Honey. It doesn’t seem like I have been in the Army that long, but it seems like I have been gone from you for ages. I hope it never has to be this way again. I wish I could send you something on our first anniversary, but I can’t go anyplace to buy something for you. So, Honey, I guess all I can send you for now, is my love. If I get to Japan, I will get you something real pretty for you. Lots and lots of love.
We have finally moved back to what they call a rest area. We have been cleaning on these two M32’s since the day before yesterday. That’s when we got down here. I didn’t have a chance to write to you in the last two days. We had our inspection today. I’m glad it’s over.
Boy, it’s hot down here. Makes you wish you were back up on top of that mountain. It was at least cool up there.
That was sure a cute anniversary card you sent me, Honey. I only hope we can be back together soon too. I wish I could be home having a war with you now, Sweetheart. I like the kind of wars you make.
We are about one mile from Service Battery now. We’re staying with C Battery where Es Beeson is 1st Sergeant. They treat us pretty good too.
Jack is doing pretty good with his new job and I don’t think my old pal "James" is bothering him either. James and I had a few words again the other day. I have been after him to get us a six-man tent for some time now, so the other day I told him if he didn’t get it pretty soon for us, I was going to the Battalion Commander and tell him about it. Boy, old James sure started to shout then. He was going to do everything to me then. I asked him if he was going to keep living in Cedar City when he got out of the Army. He asked me why I wanted to know that. I told him that Cedar City was only 54 miles from Beaver and I thought that I would be able to find him pretty easy when I came over to settle a few things. He just turned around and walked off. He’s the biggest coward that ever lived.
I went swimming a little while ago. The sun isn’t shining, but it’s still hot enough to sunburn you. I even did my washing while I was swimming. I can sure see what Mom went through every weekend.
Honey, I lost my old pen. Could you send me one. I don’t want an expensive one, just one that cost one or two dollars would be fine. I’m using one of the other guy’s pens.
Those are sure good letters you have been writing to me lately. You were right when you asked if all I had to do was lay around and think of you. That's about all I do. When I go to bed nights, I just lay and kind of daydream about you until I go to sleep. Do you ever do that? Sometimes they get almost real. It seems that I am talking to you and you are talking to me. I got four letters with that card you sent me. They were postmarked from the 8th to the 12th.
When they were making those records you heard on Cedar’s radio station, we were with Headquarters Battery up on the front. They make them at Headquarters Battery, but they didn’t let us in on it, or I would have talked to you on it, Honey. They are all out for themselves and to hell with anyone else.
Well, Honey, I just had my supper. They had rice pudding and it was pretty good. These boys are better cooks than those in HQ Battery. I’ll close for now Honey. Always thinking of you, all my love.
I received two letters from you last night. They were postmarked on the 13th and 14th.
I finally sent that watch and film to you. I have $150.00 I need to send to you soon. Bob Osborn is going on R&R on the 28th of this month. He said he would buy a present for me to send to you. I told him to get a housecoat and pajamas set for you. I saw them in Yokohama and I thought they were kind of cute. They have some pretty Chinaware sets over there too. If he has time I am going to get him to send you a set of them too. They are 90 piece sets.
It’s been raining all day and it doesn’t look like it’s going to quit. If it doesn’t quit pretty soon, we will have to move out of this riverbed we’re camping in.
The last two nights I have seen a movie. They were called, "The Prince who was a Thief" and "Raw Hide." I think you told me you saw "The Prince who was a Thief" just a couple of weeks ago. They’re going to have a show every night as long as we are down here.
I have a picture of me that was taken up on our forward observation post on the lines. I stayed up there all one day watching the Chinese. We were trying to see what they were doing. About all we could tell was that they were building bunkers. We shelled them that night and really blew the hell out of things.
Old girl killer "Senator" is still talking about his women. He has just about driven me crazy with it today. I sure wish he would make up his mind which girl he is going to chase when he gets home. We have a big quarrel with him every day over him and his hundreds of women lovers.
You don’t need to be afraid to tell me your troubles, Honey. It helps me take my mind off my own.
Don’t worry about Grant. They won’t do anything to him for being two hours late reporting back to ship. They might not give him a pass for three or four days, but that shouldn’t hurt him now.
We will have 30 points by the end of this month. The last bunch of guys who went home had 41 points. It is down to 40 points now. So it will be two months before we will be rotated out of here unless something else comes up for us. Better close for now. Always loving you.
Honey, we have moved again. We are about five miles below Hwachon. That is where we were camped yesterday. It is a lot cooler down here than it was at Hwachon.
We haven’t had any mail for three days now, but I think we will get some tonight.
Jimmy Dean was transferred down here with C Battery. James and him have been having quite a lot of trouble lately, so Jim asked for a transfer. It sure made old James mad. Jim will be able to get a sergeant rank out of it down here, but it will take him two or three months to work up to it. If he had stayed in Service Battery, he wouldn’t be able to make any rank at all, because James won’t give him a break of any kind.
Senator has been sick for the last two days with a cold. You would think he is going to die if you could hear his complaints every time he sees one of us. All he wants is some sympathy, but he sure won’t get any in this tent. We sure have a time with Snuffy.
There sure isn’t much to write about, so I think I will wait and see if I get a letter from you before I finish this letter.
Tomorrow is my birthday. Your old man is sure getting old fast, isn’t he, Honey.
Well, we didn’t get any mail at all. It’s all fouled up in Japan from what they say.
Jack got his sergeant rank today. He and James get along pretty good. He sure thinks Jack is doing a good job in Battery Maintenance.
I guess I will close for now, Honey. I’ll write a longer letter tomorrow night. Maybe I’ll have more to write about. Loads of love.
My 23rd birthday. Boy, Honey, you sure had that parcel timed right. I got a parcel from you and Mom tonight. I also got three letters from you. Your parcel got here in pretty good shape this time. I got a cake from Mom too. You don’t need Sharlene to help you make candy, Honey. Yours is plenty good.
I sure had a lot of fun today. I just sat around on my bed wondering what to do with myself. That’s the way to spend a birthday, isn’t it? I was so glad to get those letters and parcels from you.
If I have to spend another year in the Army, I would apply for Japan and send for you. It costs about $300.00 to fly to Japan from the States. The Army furnishes a good modern home to live in and a houseboy and maid for $67.50. We could sure live high then, couldn’t we, Honey. Sergeants get all their belongings shipped free too.
I have some pictures I’m sending you. They were taken over north of Kapyong where we killed all of those Chinese. These are some of them. The ones who are standing are some of the prisoners we captured there.
Yes, Honey. I’m in charge of both of these old M32’s. An Englishman was looking at them a while back and said to me, "I say old man, those are some bloody hunks of iron you have there." And I think he hit the nail right on the head when he said they were a hunk of iron, because that’s all they are.
It’s starting to rain tonight. It will be muddy as hell tomorrow. It’s been nice and cool at this place we are in now.
I sure chewed on Jim Dean’s butt for not writing to Rhea Dean. He said that he would write to her tonight. He only writes to her every four or five days.
Well, Honey, I don’t know of much more to tell you right now. I know that we won’t be coming home for two months anyway. But after that, we should know for sure when we are coming home. All my love. Thanks for the parcel and letters, Honey.
Honey, I got two letters from you last night. I have received five letters from you the last two days.
It rained all last night and today, and it’s sure muddy around here.
I don’t know of any of the boys who have been taken to the hospital lately, as you asked me about.
I let Bob Osborn take $120.00 to Japan on R&R. He is going to send some dishes and nightgowns to you for me. I hope you will like them. They’re some fancy ones. If there is anything you would like me to send you, just let me know, Honey. All of the stuff in Japan is really cheap, so don’t be afraid to have me get something you would like.
It seems like ages since I have seen you. I hope it won’t be too much longer until we are together again. I’m glad that I have the biggest part of my time in over here.
I’ve run out of words for now, so as one lover to another, Honey, I love you.
Hwachon, Korea. We are back up on the front again. It was sure a short rest, those dirty b_____ gave us. We were supposed to get a month of rest, but this is the way it happens every time. Bob Low and I are staying with B Battery now. Scrib and Max are with C Battery.
I received one letter from you yesterday. It was mailed on the 20th of Aug. We got up here four days ago, and this is the first chance I have had to write you. The Chinese shelled this area around us for the first time last night. It had the boys in C Battery a little worried for a while. Old Jim Dean was laying under a truck. They told me he had to crawl out from under the truck seven times to go potty. Jim said there was two times he didn’t make it. So, I guess he was pretty worried about things too. But when you hear one of those shells come screaming over the hill, it makes cold chills go up your back. We were up all night last night shooting back at them. B Battery shot 960 rounds at them during the night, so you can imagine how much noise there was around here. It will more than likely be the same way tonight. Anyway, Jim and the guys he sleeps with have a foxhole seven feet deep. Jim said he doesn’t know which is worse, hearing James scream, or hearing shells screaming over your head. I told him that nothing could shut James up when he goes crazy, but we can do something about the Chinese.
It sure gets cold up here at night. I have damn near frozen the last three nights. I put another blanket on my bed today, so I will see how that works out. They say it usually starts to snow around the first of October and the way it feels I believe them.
I guess you know the peace talks turned out to be a big flop. All the Chinese wanted was a little time to get ready for another big drive, and they got it. And believe me they’re ready too. But I think we will hold them this time, because there are sure a lot of artillery and tanks up in here.
Those guys who are sending winter clothes home are the ones who didn’t turn theirs in this summer, so they are sending them home now so that they can get some new winter clothing. I had my winter clothing stolen from me, and all of my T-shirts and shorts went with them. They were stolen about three weeks ago. I got some shirts and shorts from Jack, and Clarence gave me ten pair of stockings, so I am pretty well off now. I carry all of my clothes in my sleeping bag now. It has pouches built in both ends for clothes. Honey, if you have any old sheets, that don’t have too many big holes in them, send me one of them, because this one I brought over here from home is getting mighty thin. I got a sheet off from the ship we came over on so that I would have a spare, but it was stolen with the rest of my stuff. I would sure like to find the person who took them.
I got paid yesterday. I have $240.00 and I need to find some way to get a money order, so I can send it home before I lose it or something. I haven’t been able to get money orders since we came up to this damn place two months ago.
I’m afraid snow is going to be flying pretty heavy before we leave Korea, Honey. So lots and lots of love, always yours.
Honey, I got another letter from you today. It’s finally catching up with us again. I doubt if Service Battery knows where we are now.
It was pretty quiet last night. Our guns didn’t do much shooting and the Chinese didn’t try to shell this area around here either.
What did Snuffy tell you in that letter about me? He said that he was going to tell you that I was chasing after every little Korean gal I see, and I wouldn’t doubt it that isn’t what he did. I told him I would kick his butt if he did, but he just laughed at me and told me that when you got through with me, I wouldn’t even be able to think about kicking his butt. He isn’t up here with us this time. I don’t think he wanted to come when he heard we were coming up here on a "Task Force" to run the Chinks out of a little town about ten miles north of here. It fell through when we got back up here. They always do though.
I’m still planning on getting out of the Army on the 9th day of May in 1952 and just let anybody try to stop me.
Sam Hickman is leaving for home on the 7th of this month. He is sure glad to be getting out of here.
I got another pheasant today and I knocked one down, but I couldn’t find him. The grass and bushes were too thick.
Well, I didn’t get very cold last night after I put another blanket over me yesterday, but I could sure sleep a lot warmer if I had you to keep me warm, Honey.
If the fudge you’re making doesn’t turn out too good, send it anyway, Honey. I’m not very hard to please. I still have a little of that fudge left that was in that last parcel you sent me.
Well Honey, I’ll close for now and get to bed. Loads of love.
Well, how’s my little business manager doing now? I got a letter from you and one from Sonja this morning. It had been sent to C Battery last night.
Seeing that I have a redhead in my family now, you had better send me a picture of you so I can see what you look like now, Honey.
I didn’t get any more pheasants last night, so I guess we won’t have a fry after all.
I don’t know which would be the best to do. Stay here for three months or go to Japan for a month. I guess when snow starts flying, I’ll be able to make my mind up in a hurry.
It sure looks like it’s going to rain tonight. It hasn’t rained for almost two weeks now, but the ground stays wet all the time whether it rains or not.
By the way things are going now, it looks like we’re going to have an all out war again. They’re really having some battles all along the lines now. Our airplanes have really been hitting the Chinese the last few days. We see three or four air strikes up here every day. Our guns did quite a lot of shooting again last night.
I have been doing my lessons on Diesel Electric Engineering today. I’m on lesson number three. It’s on AC and DC voltage regulators, if you have any idea what they are. It’s pretty hard too. I got 100% on both of my other lessons. I have to send them to Japan to my teacher. That’s quite a system, isn’t it?
I just got a Beaver Press, and Bob Low is looking for the latest news. He’s looking in the cradle corner to see who has new babies.
Well, Honey, I can’t think of anything else to tell you except I love you more than words can tell and I could go on forever telling you that. Lots of love.
September 6, 1951:
I received the pen and the fudge and also two letters from you. I didn’t expect to get the pen so soon. It seems to be a pretty good one. And, Honey, if that fudge is what you call "not too good," then just send all of your old no good fudge to me.
I just got two more letters from you tonight and one from Mom. One of the letters I got from you was written on the 22nd of August and it was sent to APO 707, wherever that is. Anyway it’s been around quite a bit, because the other letter was written on the 29th of August.
The way Mom talks, Bill Firmage sure must have blown his top over at that meeting they had in Cedar City about the National Guard. Good for him. We need somebody to put a few of those big shots straight and make them do the things they said they would do.
I’m glad you got your Mother’s camera back because I’m sure looking forward to getting some pictures of you.
Last night I was laying in bed, just about half asleep and a big rat ran right across my face. I damn near went right through the bottom of my sleeping bag. When I got my flashlight and looked out from under my blankets, there he was down at the foot of my bed. I gave a big kick and he went off on the floor, I mean ground. Well, he ran under Bob’s bed, so I grabbed my .45 and shot its head off. Boy, old Bob thought the Chinks had him for sure. You should have seen him come up out of that bed. Everybody in the Battery was up here to see what was the matter. Next time a rat comes in this tent, I’ll just quietly hit him in the head with the gun barrel and go back to sleep. Bob talked all the rest of the night in his sleep and Honey, has he got a lingo.
Honey, those "Love Stories" you sent in that last parcel are sure getting better all the time. I sure do miss your loving.
Sam Hickman is leaving for home tomorrow. I wish I was going with him.
We have been having corn on the cob for dinner the last two days. It sure is good. We go out and get it out of a "Gook" corn patch. Bob and I got a Jeep this afternoon and went down to C Battery and picked up Scrib and Max, then drove down to Kumwha looking for a good corn patch. We saw a Gook with a big watermelon on his back. I was just about to hit him over the head with a gun and drive off with the watermelon. We looked all over down there for a watermelon patch, but we couldn’t find any and we know there are some down there. I guess we will have to look again.
I just killed a mouse. I hit him over the head with a flashlight instead of shot him. These mice over here are just like the people here. They all like chocolate bars.
Why didn’t you buy that swimming suit and have your Mom take a picture of you in it so you could send it to me?
Well, Honey, I will close for now. Thanks for sending me this pen, fudge, and everything else. When I get back to you, I’ll make it all up to you. Loads and loads of love.
Jimmy Dean was here this afternoon and he was telling me a lot of gossip. I don’t know whether to believe it all or not, so I am writing you to see what you know about it. What is happening to Beaver? Is it true about all the stepping out? Jim also told me that his Battery Commander told them this morning that they were going to start rotating NG men on the 15th of October. I would sure like to believe that.
I made out a money order today for $150.00, so you should get it soon. And as soon as Bob Osborn gets back from R&R, I will send you another $100.00, which he borrowed from me. I hope he sends those dishes and stuff for me. More than that, Honey, I hope you will like them.
If we don’t get to doing something pretty soon, I’ll get to be the laziest bird that ever lived. I haven’t hardly done a thing for two months now. All I have done since we came back up here is lay around on my bed and wonder what I can do to make some excitement. If it wasn’t for a few rats and mice we would all go crazy.
I sure have a sore right eye today. I think that damn Bob hit me in my sleep last night. This pen you sent me sure writes good, Honey. XOXOXO. That’s for sending it. One can of your fudge is gone. It sure is good.
If that old doctor told you that the operation would only be $150.00, just pay him that much and let him wait until I get home and then we can go and see him together. Maybe he’s trying to pull one.
I’ll close for now, Sweetheart. Lots of love.
My little Darling, I received two letters from you last night. They are starting to get our mail up here to us a little better now. Bob Osborn got back from R&R the day before yesterday and from what he told me, he must have had a good time over there. He sent you a pajama set, but he didn’t buy the Chinaware because they only had second grade sets. I am still going to get a good first grade China set.
One of the guys at HQ Battery sent to Yokohama and got a real pretty set, so he is going to send and get one for me. It will be sent right from Yokohama to you and it’s first class Chinaware.
Is that jeweler going to fix my watch, Honey? This other watch I have isn’t a very good one. It keeps stopping. I am going to see if I can get it fixed over here. If not, I will send it to you and let you get it fixed somewhere. Also I hope what’s left of films turn out all right.
You said that Hoddy Gale and Gail Farnsworth both got drafted huh? Those boys are going to be our replacements. Bob Nowers was smart to join the Air Force before they drafted him. The Air Force is a good deal, any place you go. They sure don’t do without anything.
Jack, Paul, and Mitch Martin went to Inchon to see Jerry Robinson. They heard that he was docked there for awhile. They will have a good party out of it, even if they don’t find Jerry. I would sure like to go down there for a few days just to have something to do for a change. I guess I will close for now, Honey. They’re calling for supper, so I’ve got to go. Lots of love.
I can’t think of very much to write about but I guess I had better keep writing anyway so that you will know that I am still thinking about you, Honey.
We haven’t had any mail for three days. One of the mail agents said there was something wrong at Chunchon and he hasn’t been able to get any letters from there, but he has been getting parcels from there all the time. I think we will get some mail tonight, though.
I am sending two money orders with this letter and I will send you another $100.00 as soon as Bob pays me back.
I have one roll of that colored film all used up now so I will be sending it to you in the next day or two. I am going to send another watch to you with the film. If you will be able to get it fixed and send it back to me. I will still have another watch here with me. I sure have good watches. Three of them, in fact, and not a one of them runs.
I saw the movie called "Half Angel" with Loretta Young and Joseph Cotton. I saw the "Duchess of Idaho" night before last. I think you and I saw it somewhere, didn’t we? We only have to go up the road from here to see a movie. It’s not very far. We can walk up there in five minutes. Our Battalion could have movies, but those chicken officers are afraid the Chinese would see it in their airplanes and bomb us. We can go to another outfit who are up here with us and see a movie with them. We have some good officers in this Battalion, but they can’t do anything against the click in HQ.
I heard over the radio the other night that they might let the NG units go home as units. They said that they would let all of the units over here know within seven days, so we should know anytime now. Everyone seems to think that the biggest part of us will be on our way home within two months. Things seem to look a little better for us all the time now. I’m glad the people of Utah are starting to raise a fuss over the NG boys. That is the only way we will get out of here within the next month or two, is as a unit.
Jack just sent me up a feather tick mattress and pillow. They’re pretty fancy too. He bought them in Seoul for $5.00. He didn’t get to see Jerry Robinson, he had left Inchon about a week before they got there. Well, Honey, I will close for now. I love you very much, and miss you so damn much. Loads of love.
Honey, here is that film and a watch. I hope the film turns out pretty good because there should be some pretty good pictures in them. Do you think you could get two prints of them? Bob Low would like one of them. This old watch isn’t too good but if it can be fixed, I will have you send it back to me. That’s about all my troubles right now, lots and lots of love.
It’s getting cold pretty fast now. Winter will be here before we know it. I wish we had a little stove of some kind right now. I would make us a oil stove if I could gather up enough parts around here. Bob has been taken back to Service Battery to stay and there is a Bland kid staying with me now. He is from St. George, Utah, and is a NG man. Bob is going to get some parts to make a stove and send them up to me, but it might be one or two months before they get here if I know the way Bob does things.
I haven’t received any mail from you for five or six days, I can’t remember which. I haven’t got much of a memory anymore. When the mail does come through I will more than likely get five or six letters from you. But, I hope my letters are getting through to you.
I finally got a letter from you tonight. It was written on Sept. 5. I hope you don’t get the flu. The Koreans get sick with something just like the flu, and lots of them die from it. I saw some of them that had it when I was driving cat over by the Hwachon reservoir. Their stomachs would turn blue and all they could do was roll around on the ground and moan. Anyway, that’s what it looked like they were doing.
Would you like to be going to school this year? Maybe you should go to college. It would be good to have something to do and you could get out more. I’ll bet you could have a lot of fun.
I’m kind of feeling a little low today. I’m getting so damn tired of sitting around wondering what’s going to happen next that sometimes I think I’ll just go crazy and forget the whole thing. It’s sure getting on my nerves lately. If you thought I used to walk the floor a lot before, just watch me when I get back home from here. Better close for now. So remember that I love you more than anything else in this world. XOXO.
Honey, I got those lost letters of yours--three of them, in fact. They were mailed on the 4th, 5th, and 6th. I got one from you the other day that was mailed on the 5th and that is why I ask you if you had written to me between the 31st of August and the 5th of Sept. I don’t know where they have been this time but just as long as I get them I will be happy.
Honey, what would you say if I told you I got drunk yesterday? Well I did, in a manner of speaking. I was down in the bottom of the tank retriever washing it out with gas. "Boy, what potent gas." I had a gallon can full of gas. When I went to suck the gas out of the bottom corner of the tank with a little hand pump, I could only get enough to cover the bottom of the can. The rest had evaporated and it was about then that I could tell it. Bland was sitting down watching me. I never felt so funny in my life, and when I looked up at him I started to laughing and I don’t know what I was laughing at either, but I couldn’t stop. When I tried to stand up to get out of there, my legs wouldn’t lift me. So I went to reach up and get a hold of the top of the tank to pull myself out and I couldn’t even feel my arms raise up. Boy, you could have hit me in the head with a hammer and I would have never felt it. I finally crawled up through the top of the tank. When I stepped down off from the front of the tank to the ground, it felt like I stepped for a mile. I didn't think I was ever going to get to the ground. Anyway, I landed right side up and I was still laughing as hard as ever. I started to walk to our tent and I was making 20 feet to the step, just like I was stepping over barrels. I looked back once and Bland was just crawling out of the tank and he was laughing too. I knew damn well if I flapped my arms I would start to fly. When both of us got in the tent you should have heard us. Bland was lying in the middle of the floor, between our beds, and I was down on my knees hanging on to a bed, trying to get my breath. Anyway, that’s the funniest I have ever felt in my life. Now I know why Dee would act so crazy when he would come back from over to Carlos Murdoch’s gas plant. Dee would put his face right down in the hole that Carlos puts the gas into his gas trucks. Now I believe in laughing gas.
It sure is cold tonight. I have got a little gas lantern to the side of me and I’m still cold. I think I will go to bed. Honey, I love ya.
How is ya, huh? I’m pretty good because I got two letters from you last night. It’s nice and warm today, but I’ll bet it gets cold again tonight. I finally got an oil stove made, so it can get cold now for all I care. It’s a pretty nice little stove too, even if I did make it, and it gets red hot if we turn it up very high. I am going to take a picture of it and maybe I will go into the stove making business—ha-ha—when I get home.
I went to a movie, The Flying Dutchman, the other night. It had Ava Gardner in. It wasn’t a bad show.
James never did get us a tent, but if we could get a little more canvas for the front of this thing we have now, I think it will be good enough for us. There are some pictures with our home in them in that roll of film I sent home to you.
There was a big task force left here today. I’m glad we are not going on it, because with all of the tanks that are going with it, I’ll bet they are really going up after the "Chinks" and there is a mighty lot of them to go after.
I’ll close for now. I love you so much it hurts.
I received a letter from you night before last. I wasn’t surprised to hear that you have the flu. I hope you’re not very sick.
I just came back from the movie, it was called, "I was a Communist for the FBI." It was pretty good. I saw "Francis goes to the Races." It was the first Francis picture I have seen, and I got quite a charge out of it.
I heard them say over the radio that the peace talks are going to start again. I think they will stop fighting this time. I think the Chinese know that if we start after them again, we will run them right out of Korea, and we have enough men and equipment over here now to do it. Our forces have pushed them back all the way from 6 to 10 miles all across the front and they really killed a lot of them doing it.
That girlfriend of Bob’s must be pretty smart if she can outwit Bob. She is working and buying furniture, and Bob is sending her half of his pay, and she’s banking it for him. I guess they are getting married when Bob gets home. I can’t think of much more, so I might as well close and go to bed. I love you.
This morning I got three letters from you, Honey. I was surprised to get them in the morning. I guess they have been all over the Battalion before they came here. I’m glad you are getting my letters OK now. I try to write every day, but sometimes it is only every other day.
I don’t get quite as nervous as Jim Dean. I don’t bite my finger nails like he does, but I get so I can’t sit still at times.
I guess those colored films I sent you are there by now. If you can, Honey, try to have them enlarged and have those others enlarged also. All of the trees and bushes are turning colors now over here. I am trying to get some good pictures of them with this roll of colored film I have in the camera now. They should be pretty good.
Honey, I still have two pieces of your fudge. It sure keeps good in a coffee can. I want you to pay your Mom for the sheet she is giving me. When I leave here, I want to get my sleeping bag sent home. I think I can. When I move the sleeping bag, I move home with me. It never gets too hot that I can’t take a few blankets out, or if it gets cold, I can put more blankets in.
I have my fourth lesson back on Diesel Electric engineering course. I’m doing pretty good, too. I get 95 or 100% on every lesson, and they are hard too. I send them to a branch of an Electrical Engineering College in Tokyo.
I just shot another pheasant, Honey. I was sitting on my bed writing this letter and I heard him crow. I ran out of the tent and saw him land over on the side of a hill about 100 yards from here. That’s number 115, and he’s pretty big, too.
I guess you know Bob Osborn took that commission they offered him. He had to join up for another three years and if we don’t go home as a unit, he will be stuck here for a year, I’ll bet. I think Bob is planning on staying in the Army for a few years anyway.
I sent my other watch to Japan to get it fixed. If they don’t’ fix it, I will send it to you and have you send the other one to me. I sure have troubles with watches, don’t I?
We are all planning on the first bunch of NG men leaving here about the 15th of next month. That is, if we don’t come home as a unit. I’m not planning on much until November and then things better start happening to get me out of here, or I might start down the road
You know that "Task Force" I told you about, Honey. Well, they came back out from where they went. They said old "Joe Chink" didn’t like their company and didn’t want them to stay. We had six tanks knocked out and it killed seven tank men. We had about 45 infantrymen killed, and 300 wounded. They said they killed 5000 or more Chinese in two days. There is a rumor around that they’re going to have another one three times bigger, soon.
Well, Darling, that’s about the amount of it. I think I will go to the show tonight and Honey, don’t’ worry about little old me too much, will you? Old "Joe Chink" ain’t a going to get very close to me unless he can outrun me, and sometimes I’m pretty fast on these little ole feet of mine. You sure have been good about writing letters to me, Honey, and I really love you for them. Lots of Love.
Kumhwa. How’s my gal getting along now? I hope that mean old sore throat is better now. You know, I got another letter from you last night, and one from Mom, also. That made four letters from you yesterday. It will probably be a couple of days before I get any more. They usually drop off a few days, after I get so many at once.
I saw Senator yesterday afternoon. He is sure put out over June getting married. Everybody is ribbing him about it. I told him that’s what he gets for writing mean letters to her and trying to break her heart. The other guys just tell him that his game’s backfired on him. He doesn’t seem to mind much anymore, though. He just laughs.
Honey, do you remember those film negatives I sent home to you? If they are still around there, put them in one of the letters and send them to me. Some of the guys want to get some copies of them. If you don't have them, forget about it, okay?
It’s been quite warm here this last week. This weather here is just like the weather at home. It seems colder because we have to live out in the weather here. It doesn’t get any hotter here than at home either.
James broke Ronald Smith back to Corporal the other day. I don’t know what it was all about, but he didn’t give Ronald a trial to prove him guilty. The Army law says that a Sergeant has to be broke by a court of officers and other Sergeants working as a jury to determine whether he is guilty or not. James just broke him without doing anything to prove him guilty. It won’t work if Ronald wants to push it. But I think James will give him back his sergeant rank next month, so Ronald is going to wait and see before he does anything about it. If a jury found Ronald guilty, they would break him of all his rank, so it’s best to wait and see what happens don’t you think?
Well my Darling, I have written it all for today. Bye for now, Pat. Loads and loads of love.
Well Honey, I see you have been on a little trip. I hope you had a chance to enjoy yourself. Did it scare you on that roller coaster? Two years ago when I went to Camp with the NG, Jay Gillies and I went for a ride on the roller coaster at Lagoon, and that scared me before I got off that thing. We had to be big boys and ride in the last car, and it’s the one that’s never on the tracks.
I’m glad you got to go to Mexico too. I’ll bet you had fun. You weren’t looking at those Sailor boys, when you visited the ship Grant is on, did you?
There’s not much going on here, now. I have been inspecting halftracks today, and tomorrow I am going to inspect the M1 tanks in the Battalion. It’s just a lot of BS, but I have to do it anyway.
I guess they’re going to take our tanks away from us and make us a 155mm outfit. They’re towed artillery instead of being self-propelled like these 105mm guns we have now. The 155mm guns shoot a 95 pound shell and the 105mm only shoot 45 pound shells, so you can see the guns we are going to get are quite a bit bigger than the ones we have now. I hate to see them change now, because those big guns are so hard to pull around over here in the wintertime, and they haven’t any protection for the gun crews, like the M7 tanks have.
I got another pheasant yesterday, #16. If I’m not careful I will get all of the pheasants over here and there won’t be any left for the Koreans. But they sure taste good.
I would sure like to get out of here. It’s starting to get me down a little. I would just like to go on R&R, just so I could get out of here for a while.
I guess they have started up those peace talks again. I wonder how long they will last this time. In a way, I have a feeling that they might have a cease fire agreement and pull back out of here, but you can never tell what either side will do.
It’s dry and dusty over here now. All of the leaves are turning. It’s a little colder tonight than it has been for the last week or so. It looks like it might rain in the next day or so.
Well, Darling, I will close for now. Just remember I love you so very much and I’m always thinking about you and about the things we are going to do when we’re together again like we should always be. Lots of love.
Honey, guess what! It’s raining and it’s 11:00 o’clock and I just got out of bed. I sure am getting lazy lately.
I haven’t received any mail for two days, but it should get here tonight, that is, if those air boys dare fly in the rain.
We are going to get our bigger guns on the 2nd of October. I guess I will be without a job then, because I don’t think we will keep any of these M32 tank retrievers. We will more than likely all go back to Service Battery. I don’t know how I will be able to get along with James, but I’ll stay just as far away from him as I can. We’re not going to have Mr. Nelson down there to bother us anymore, because he hasn’t got a job anymore either, and it sure is worrying him. He is afraid they will put him in one of these firing batteries. Boy, I wish they would, just to watch him sweat it out. If I don’t get along very good with James down there, I’m going to get a transfer out of this outfit, because he will try every way he knows to break me. I guess I had better wait and see how things go first. We have a new maintenance officer now, and he and I get along pretty good, so he might put Brother James in his place if he gets smart. He’s a Captain too.
It’s sure a fine life we are having isn’t it, Pat. Married and can’t even be together. Maybe someday we will be able to have a little happiness together. I hope it can start soon, don’t you, Honey?
I went to a show called "Texas Rangers," but it wasn’t much of a show. I saw one night before last. I can’t think of the name of it, but it was one of the best shows I have seen for quite a while.
I have been outside of the tent, digging a drain ditch around the tent. The water was starting to run in under the sides. This rain will probably last all night too. It is a little cold too but we have the stove going. I’ll bet it turns off cold for a few days after this rain stops.
I’ll close for now. I love you more and more each day, and I do miss you something awful. All my love.
Well, Honey. It’s the 30th and I haven’t had any mail from you for four or five days now. It seems like it has been shut right off from us. I don’t know whether you made it home all right or not, but I guess you have. Did you enjoy the trip back home from California, Honey?
I guess we will be going back to Service Battery in two days. I don’t know what I’ll be doing down there. Service Battery will lose 25 men from this new change we are having. Battalion maintenance will lose six or more men. They will all be transferred to the firing Batteries, so I hear. There are only going to be two sergeants in battalion maintenance now. Maybe I’ll be one of them, I don’t know. Jack will still be the battery motor sergeant though.
It has started to rain again tonight and it really poured down for a while.
Honey, remember when I told you I was having some chinaware sent to you? Well, I haven’t had them send for it yet. They have ordered three sets of it so far, and none of it has got home to the guys’ wives yet. I am waiting until they get word that it has reached the wives before I have yours ordered and sent to you. Have you got those pajamas yet, Honey? They should be getting to you by now.
I woke up last night, at two o’clock, and my back was hurting me so bad I had to lay on my stomach or I couldn’t lay at all. I finally had to get out of bed, so I spent the rest of the night sitting up on the bed. I sure don’t know what was the matter, but it sure hurt. It has been feeling pretty good today, but it’s hurting a little tonight. I hope it doesn’t get like it was last night.
Well, Pat, I can’t think of very much to write tonight, so this letter is going to be a little short. Just remember Darling that I’ll always love you and I miss you.
Well my darling, another month behind us, but still no good news about our rotation. Something worse than that, no mail for a week now. I haven’t been getting mail from anyone, so it’s not your fault I know. I’ll bet that when it does get here, there will be dozens of letters for me.
Today is payday again. I should be able to send you another $150.00 as soon as Bob pays me the $70.00 he owes me. I hope you get that other $150.00 all right.
Clair Farnsworth came to see me this morning, Arlow was with him. He said he has been planning on going home for the last two months now, but hasn’t made it yet. He’s a sergeant now, but other than that, he is still the same old shag.
I guess we are not going back to Service Battery for a few more days now. But I guess it will be sometime around the 8th or 10th, you can never tell anything for sure over here.
I hope you put a lot of envelopes in that parcel you have sent me, because I’m right out of them. This letter will take my last envelope and I haven’t been able to get any of them lately. I will have to bum a few until yours get here, or until I can get some myself.
I think I will go to the movie tonight, "big deal". It will be better than sitting around without anything to do. Well, Honey, I have to make these letters short. I don’t have much to tell you lately and these letters aren’t very interesting I know, but they’re all I can think up.
Loads of love, Honey.
My Darling, I finally got my mail, 8 letters. Six from you and two from Mom. I was sure glad to get them from you. There was one for every day from the 19th to the 25th and I got one of those traveling letters. It was postmarked on the 13th. I wonder where it has been. You said you got one like that from me in one of those letters. I don’t care where they have been just as long as I get them, because Honey, I don’t want to miss one thing you write and tell me.
I have been out hunting this afternoon and I must have walked ten miles. I just got back in time for supper and I left right at noon. I found a peach tree and had a pretty good feed, even if they were a little green. I didn’t get anything else though, except tired feet and legs. These mountains are sure getting pretty over here now. I saw a tree today, and I have never seen one like it before. The leaves on it looked like big saucers hanging on the limb, and they all faced the same direction, to the west. I don’t know if that means anything or not. It was sure an interesting sight.
Honey, when you get homesick for me and feel bad, you can tell then just how I feel and I sure can’t blame you when you say you would like to cry at times. But Pat, maybe we can wait a little while longer until I get back to you and we can both have a good long cry on each other’s shoulders, and forget about this whole damn thing if we can.
I’m glad you received that $150.00. I’ll send some more in a few days. Hon, about how much money have we got saved up? Do you think we will have enough money to buy the furniture we will need, or do you think we should try to make a down payment on a house to live in? I have been thinking if we could get a place to rent, which didn’t cost too much, we could get what furniture we needed and just put a down payment on it and make monthly payments. If we can, I would like to try to keep a little money saved up just so we have a little something to fall back on. But Pat, I’m going to let you do what you want and whatever you do, it is what I want also.
There is something in the air around here on our rotation, but it hasn’t come out yet. I kinda think that some of us are going to be leaving here before people think so. Anytime now is good enough for me. I’m going to tell them that just so they won’t be holding up that rotation just cause they are thinking I don’t want to go home. "Ha ha."
Well my little darling, I will close for now and finish the rest of this chapter tomorrow. I’m thinking of you always, and I love you very much.
I received another letter from you tonight. I have been to the movie and just got back. It was called, "No Questions Asked." It was a pretty good show. It wasn’t very cold up there, so that made it a lot more enjoyable I think.
I got another lesson back from Japan, tonight. Another 100% on it too.
Honey, I sure do like pine nuts. They have them over here, but you have to use a hammer to break the shell on them. They are a little bigger nut than ours at home, but they taste the same.
Pat, I don’t like to see you working if you don’t have to, and I don’t think you have to either. But you know what you want to do. I’m not going to tell you what you can and can’t do all the time. So Honey, you just do whatever you would like to do and if I don’t like it, I’ll kick your pants and tell you why. Just promise me you won’t get like some women, just lay around on a couch all day and read love stories, until you get as lazy as they are.
Honey, when we come home, do you think you could come meet the boat? Jimmy and I have talked about having you and Rhea Dean come and meet us. We could spend a week or so just having some fun. Think about it.
I’ll close for now, Darling. I’ll have to bum an envelope from someone to send this in. I love you.
Maybe you will think I’m crazy for writing a letter on the back of this letter from you, but I’m out of writing paper also. So in order to see that you keep getting letters from me, I have resorted to this, and it’s a lot better writing paper than I have been using. I received this letter and another last night. I hope that parcel gets here soon because everyone is having trouble getting envelopes and I can’t get many around here.
If the Indians are getting $1.25 a pound for pine nuts, they will be driving Cadillacs around in the hills pretty soon, won’t they? I don’t think anyone but the school kids can afford to pay that much for them.
I saw a good movie last night. It was called, "On the Riviera" with Danny Kaye and that cute French girl. Well I have to close for now. I guess there is no use telling you that I miss you. It doesn’t do much good. I love you so much.
We are moving up today, Honey. I don’t know for sure where we are going or how far we are going. It will more than likely be about six miles from here because the lines aren’t much farther away from here than that. I guess the lines are about eight miles from here because these 105MM guns can just reach them. We haven’t received our bigger guns yet. They are supposed to be up here today, but they sure must be taking their time with them. This moving before they get their other guns is the craziest thing I have ever heard of, but this Battalion has some of the nuttiest officers I have ever seen, so I guess that is the reason.
I wish they would tell us if we are going back to Service Battery or not. They will probably wait until we get moved from here and get our tent put up and then tell us to go back to Service Battery.
There was a guy named Darrin McKnight here to see a little while ago. He used to live in Punk, but his family lives in Milford now. I have seen him before down in Milford. He said he knows you, but the last time he saw you, you were just a little girl. I told him that you weren’t a little girl anymore. He said, "I’ll bet she’s got a couple of kids by now." I said, "Nope, not yet." He didn’t know that I was the old man of the family and he looked a little silly when I told him I was married to you. I guess he has heard about all the rest of the young gals down there and thought you must have been like them, but Honey, I set him straight. He said that the biggest part of the guys he came over here with have been rotated home and he is leaving here this month. From what he said, he hasn’t been over here any longer than we have. You know Honey, I think we are getting the short end of the stick. He is going to go down to Service Battery and see those guys. He knows a lot of them and he was sure surprised to know there were so many of them down there.
I haven’t received any mail from you for a couple of days, but I think I will get some from you tonight. That is the way the mail comes in after we get a lot of it all at once.
I’ll close for now, Sweetheart. Sending you bundles of love.
We have moved, Honey, but we are staying with "A" Battery now. B Battery moved up above C Battery so we are all down close to one another now. B Battery got their bigger guns today so guess it won’t be long until the rest of the Batteries get theirs.
Pat, I got that parcel you sent me. It had all been torn apart and was wrapped over by someone along the line. It had a note on it that said it was received in poor condition. Well, anyway, there weren’t any cookies in it. Just a few crumbs. There weren’t any pine nuts, and only six pieces of fudge. Two magazines, and a sheet and a sack of candy. That was it, so I guess the rest of it was lost out of the package on the way over here. Honey, you must not be wrapping or packing that kind of stuff in a heavy enough box, because every one I get from you have been re-wrapped and marked saying that they were in poor condition when they received them. This one was the only one which was short anything though. It wasn’t in a box of any kind, just had paper wrapped around it. I might as well quit crying over it and forget it. Oh yes, I did get some envelopes and a writing tablet in that package, so I’m not really so bad off.
I got a letter from you last night also. I sure wish you could get feeling better. This knowing about you being sick and feeling rotten all the time kind of worries me. Mom said she was going to take you to the doctor in Cedar City if you didn’t start to feel better soon. Patsy, I hope you don’t stay cooped up in the house all day long, because that is one of the worst things you can do to yourself.
I’d better close for now. Please try to start feeling better. I love you so much.
I haven’t had any mail from you for two days, so I don’t know too much to write about.
Leon Swindlehurst left for home yesterday. I don’t know how some of these guys get all the luck.
The firing batteries just got the rest of their big guns today, so I guess we will be going back to Service Battery tomorrow, unless something else turns up. We’re still with A Battery.
It’s sure been warm this week. The flies are just as thick as they ever were. It looks like it might rain pretty soon. I wish it would start raining good tonight, ad wet these roads down good. You can hardly see the road at times, the dust gets so bad. I sure hate to drive this old tank retriever on dusty roads because you couldn’t get any dirtier if you laid down in the road and rolled around.
Honey, I found one cookie in that parcel and it sure tasted good. I thought it was a piece of fudge until I took the paper off from it. What a surprise.
I went to the show last night. It was called "Two of a Kind." Liz Scott was in it. What a woman. Max Lewis said they could end the war if they put Liz in a big fast tank and headed it north, then told the Army that the first guy to catch her would get her. Even the "Big shots" from the rear would be up here getting shot at with the rest of us. Max said in 48 hours we would have all the North Koreans captured, and even if you didn’t catch Liz, look at all of the fun you could have trying.
I can’t think of much more to write about, only there is a big Task Force going up after the Chinese in the morning. I would sure like to watch it. I’ll bet it will really be a "shoot ‘em up Charlie" up there, because it’s the biggest force yet.
I will close for now, Sweetheart. They say that there might be about 50 men leave here around the last of this month. I sure hope so. Lots of love.
I received two letters from you last night. I had to walk up to B Battery to get them though.
Hell, I hope whatever is wrong with you isn’t too serious. I would die if anything happened to you, Darling. I don’t care how many doctor bills I have just as long as they help you to feel better and be happy. You take good care of yourself for me, Honey, and when I get home I will take over. You will be in real good hands then, because I love you so much I wouldn’t let anything bother you.
Pat, I don’t know for sure if I will be home for Christmas or not, but I think I should take a chance saying that I will. So for right now don’t plan on sending Christmas packages over here. If I have any reason to think I won’t be home I will let you know in time to send them.
That big Task Force jumped off this morning and there is sure a battle going on up there. I have never heard so much noise in my life as there is around here. There are eight battalions of artillery around us and right now they are shooting so fast they sound like machine guns. These big guns we have now will just about throw you out of bed when they go off. I have a headache tonight from the blast they make. They can take their big guns, and give them to someone else. They will deafen a person in a week at this rate. They have been bringing a lot of dead and wounded GI ‘s back past here today. I guess there is a lot of Chinese up there by the way this artillery has been shooting since four this morning, I’ll bet they are slaughtering the "Chinks". The sky has been full of our planes today. They have been giving them hell too.
Well Sweetheart, I will close for now. I didn’t go back to Service Battery today, but I am pretty sure of going tomorrow. Take care of yourself and don’t let anything happen to you. Lots of love.
I am back at Service Battery now. I got here two days ago. I hope that by the time this letter gets to you, you will be all better. I haven’t had any mail from you for four days. I got a letter from Sonja tonight. It was the first for four days, too. I hope those damn planes start coming in with our mail better than they are now. I got a letter from you four days ago which was mailed on Oct. 4th and so tonight I get a letter which was mailed on the 4th too. Sometimes it makes me wonder.
Last night Jack had a battery blow up in his face and the acid hit him in the eyes. They took him across the road from here to a receiving hospital. It happened the night before last, instead of last night. Anyway, yesterday morning they shipped him down to Yongdongpo. I went over to see him before he left. He said his eyes didn’t hurt as long as they were bandaged up, but he said he could see all right. He will be down there for a week or so. They didn’t have room for him over here because the hospital is full of wounded men, so they sent him down there. It’s a lot better down there because they have buildings to stay in instead of tents like they have at this one across the road.
Captain James might send me back up to one of the batteries from what I hear, but he hasn’t told me anything about it yet. I am supposed to check on the maintenance in the batteries if I go up there.
I also got a quart of pine nuts from Mom tonight. She said Ray got them out to Pine Valley and baked them himself. They sure tasted good, but I can’t stop eating them now.
It is a lot warmer down here than it is up where I was. And you should see the dust down here. I would just as soon be up with the firing batteries as be down here.
Old Senator is getting along pretty good down here now. He said he gets a few letters from you every once in a while. I showed him that picture of you and he thinks that you have changed a lot too. You have grown up. Not a girl anymore. He says I shouldn’t have shown him that picture. Now he is going to start writing love letters to you. He said he is going to beat my time. I told him he would have to stop writing to you. He thinks I’m getting jealous over him writing to you and he is sure getting a kick out of it. Honey, why don’t you write him a big love letter? I want to hear what he will say. I’ll close for now. All my love.
I received two letters from you tonight. They were written on the 5th and 6th. I am sure glad to know that you are getting better now. I hope it’s not long before you are all better and feeling good.
Never mind having that watch fixed, if that is the case. If you can, send me that other watch back. The one I sent to Japan with Rondo Farrer was stolen from him on the way over there.
Jack came back today and he’s all right. His eyes are pretty red though, but they don’t bother him much. He said he traveled all over Korea in the last three days.
I am going back up to the Battalion tomorrow sometime. I’m not going to hurt myself for them either.
I have old Senator thinking that I’m jealous about him writing love letters to you. Boy, isn’t he having fun with me, he thinks—ha ha.
I have run out of words so I will close for now. And Honey, please don’t think these letters of yours have crazy writing in them. They’re wonderful letters. Keep them coming. I love you.
October 20, 1951:
I received two letters from you last night. I am staying with HQ Battery now and I don’t know how long I will be up here. We are going to move tomorrow. I think we will go up towards Kumwha, about three miles from here. I am Sergeant of the Guard tonight. It’s been raining all day and I wouldn’t be surprised if it snows tonight. It sure feels like it’s going to. It’s been pretty cold all day. I think our good warm weather is over with from now on.
Jack is back at Service Battery now and his eyes are all right. They were really blood shot. He looked like he had been on a big drunk.
Honey, why don’t you tell that old Doctor to make up his mind and tell you if you’re getting better or not. I would like to see you go to another Doctor to make sure what is wrong with you.
Captain Firmage left here this morning on his way home. He should be home in three or four days. They were flying him to the States.
No one around here can tell for sure when we will be able to come home. We all know that if we don’t get some replacements pretty soon, none of us will leave here. The Battalion is about 75 men short now and they can’t get enough men to fill us up as it is. I would sure like to know what is happening to all of those men they are supposed to be shipping over here to replace us. I will still be sure of letting you know whether or not to send those Christmas packages in time for them to get here. I am sure hoping you don’t have to send them. At the end of this month we will have our 36 points and if we can get replacements enough, some of us will be able to leave this damn place next month, so it all depends, as you can see, Honey.
All of the firing batteries have moved up closer to the front. B Battery is only 3000 yards from the Chinks who are on the other side of the hill from them. B Battery knocked out eight of the Chinks big guns the other day. Our forces are still pushing the Chinese back all along the front around here. They found four dead GI’s with their heads cut off today. The Chinese had cut their heads off and put land mines under them, so if someone tried to move them, the mines would blow up and get them too. They had to bury them on top of the ground because they couldn't move them. They never did find their heads anyplace. They think the Chinese took them.
Things don’t look so good over around Egypt does it. I hope we get out of here before anything over there happens.
I will close for now so remember that I love you very much.
I received two letters from you tonight and was really glad to get them. Honey, you had better take a trip to Salt Lake to that Doctor up there. I would like to know for sure what is wrong with you. This two or three year business is worrying me quite a lot. I can’t see how anything can stay with a person that long and not harm them. Iris Osborn had about the same thing wrong with her didn’t she? Anyway, it was about the same thing. She had water retention in her legs and arms and she couldn’t eat salt either. All I hope is that you are going to be alright. I’ll say my prayers every night for you, Honey.
We have moved now and this is a pretty good place where we are now. At least we don’t have to walk up a hill to eat our meals now. It’s getting real cold around here now, and it froze ice last night. It is just like the Deer Hunt over here. I guess everybody is hunting deer around home now, and I guess your Dad has got his deer by now.
Ronald Gale and Bryce Barton are leaving for home in two days. They’re having a party for them tomorrow night, so I am going down if I can get away down there. Paul Thompson is going to Japan tomorrow morning and Doug Briggs is going with him. They borrowed $105.00 from me today to go on so they must be going to have a good time. I hear that Jack and I might go on R and R together. That would be something wouldn’t it?
I went to Chunchon today after a small light plant for Headquarters Battery. They sure have a time keeping one running so they can have lights at night.
Honey, did I tell you about me telling Senator that he was going bald. Anyway, he sure did believe me, he had all of his hair cut off today when I saw him. I damn near died laughing when they told me had it all cut off because of me.
I will close for now, Sweetheart. Whatever you do, don’t start thinking that you are not going to get better, because you have to get better for me. Loads of love xoxxoxo.
Well, Honey, I got two more letters from you tonight and I sure don’t like the sound of them either. I sure hope that the Doctor in Salt Lake can help you to get better soon. Darling, I hope you never get so sick that they have to send for me. I would like to come home to you, but not that way. If I ever get word to come home to you in a hurry it would scare me to death, but if you find some way to send for me and you’re going to be alright, do it.
Last night I went down to Service Battery to the party they were having for the boys leaving us. It turned out to be a pretty good drunk too. Your little cousin was really on one. You should have seen him. He came up to me and he started to bawl because I thought he was writing love letters to you. I had to promise him that I didn’t think he had ever done anything like that. Anyway, about 10:00 p.m. they had to carry him by his arms and legs and put him in bed. The Burton boys sure hated to leave each other. I guess it’s pretty hard for them.
I found out tonight that Jack and I are going to Japan together. We’re going on the 10th of next month. I will call you on the phone as soon as I get over there, but they say it takes two days to get the call through.
We have about 100 new replacements in the Battalion, in the last two days, so now we are filled up in all of the batteries. I am sure we got them because it will help our rotation a lot.
It’s raining tonight but I won’t say it is going to snow though. Last time it rained I told you that it was going to snow but it didn’t. It is getting cold enough to snow anytime now. It is freezing ice every night around here now.
Well, Honey, I can’t think of much more to say. But there is one thing I want you to know, don’t worry about spending our money because I don’t care if you spend it all if it helps you to get better soon. I only pray that you do get well soon. I’m not going to spend very much money when I get to Japan, so I will send you some more money soon. I’ll close for now, so just try to get well for me won’t you. All my love.
I received a letter from you tonight which you wrote in Salt Lake. We have moved again and I didn’t get a chance to write you for two days. We are all settled down now and I think we will stay here for quite awhile now. We are about six miles north of Kumwha, and the Chinese are about 3000 yards to the west of us. Our forces have got them trapped in there so I guess they’re just going to starve them until they give up.
I would sure like to know what that Doctor found out about you. I hope he’s wrong about you having that all of your life.
It is getting colder than hell around here at nights now, but in the daytime it stays nice and warm. I guess I should put my long johns on but when I wear them to bed, I get so twisted up in them I can hardly move. I have been having trouble with this stove I have. It keeps flooding with gas because the float in the carburetor keeps sticking. I have been working on it for the last 15 minutes and if it doesn’t work now I never will get this letter finished. I’m living by myself in this area. I have a pretty nice little place here if this damn stove would work right. Right now it’s a little cold in here. That’s the breaks, huh?
Mom sent me a picture that she got from Faye. It’s got Jack, Faye, you, and me in it, and you were really cute. The last picture of you looks like you have really grown up.
Another of our officers went home yesterday. He was Major Fenton from Cedar City. His wife was sick and the Red Cross sent for him. That makes three men who have left here that way. One of the guy’s Mother died before he got home though. That’s the reason I don’t want to come home that way, Honey. I sure wish that something would come out on our rotation. We have plenty replacements now, we have more men in the Battalion that we’re supposed to have. Clair Farnsworth is on his way home. He’s put in 11 months over here. I hope to hell we don’t.
Well Sweetheart, I will close for now. So God bless you and loads of love.
Honey this old month is just about over with and I wish the rest of the months I have to spend over here were over with too.
I haven’t had any mail for the last two days so I don’t know how you are getting along, but I hope things will look better for you from now on. I would really like to know how that Doctor in Salt Lake sized things up for you. I haven’t written to you for two days and I sure am getting behind on my letters to you and Mom.
It has been raining a little today, but I can’t figure gout why it hasn’t snowed yet. I’m not complaining because it hasn’t though. I don’t think our good weather is going to last very much longer, but I would like to see it last until the first of the year, like it does at home.
I went down to Service Battery today to get my pay, so now I have $280 to go on R&R on the 10th of November. If I can I think I will do quite a lot of shopping while I am there. Jack, Ray Pearce, and I are going together and I think we will go to Tokyo.
Old Senator thinks that I wrote home to you and told you not to write to him anymore because he hasn’t been getting any letters from you lately. I sure had him going today over him getting drunk the other night.
Paul Thompson and Doug Briggs came back from Japan the day before yesterday and I guess they had quite a time over there.
There is not much going on around here now. Our firing batteries haven’t been shooting very much since we moved up where we are now. Our forces are going to make another little push tomorrow, and then dig in for the winter. We have a big bunch of Chinese cut off over to the west of us and I guess we are going to starve them until they give up. None of our forces are going to push further north until these peace talks are over with.
I haven’t heard much about our rotation the last while, but I know there is something going on that we don’t know about. A lot of the guys think some of us will be leaving here around the middle of next month. I sure hope so.
These last few letters to you have been pretty short, but I don’t know of anything else to write about so I will close for now. Always thinking of you with love.
The last letters from Korea were lost. LaVar went to Japan on R&R. While there the Red Cross contacted him, and had him fly home immediately, as his wife was very ill. He served the rest of his Army time in Camp Stoneman, California, and Camp Carson, Colorado, where he was discharged in April of 1952.
At the beginning of this compilation of letters, we put only what we though of as more historical. But as we went on with the letters, we decided that we wanted our children and especially our grandchildren and great-grandchildren to know that we did love each other and that it was okay to tell each other. After all, I was only 17 years old and LaVar turned 22 years old just before he went to Korea. We had only been married about 4½ months when LaVar shipped out to Korea. The names of those in the service with LaVar were not mentioned to in any way to hurt or degrade anyone, merely to state the facts as LaVar recorded them in his letters.
There is little mention of the court martial of Captain James for desertion in the face of enemy fire, though both LaVar and Eslin Beeson, as sergeants in Service Battery, did testify against Captain James. Nor is there any mention of the $60,000 worth of new radio equipment left in a tent when James left the area and was not found for four days. LaVar accompanied Captain Lamb from Headquarters Battery and some of the Sergeants from HQ back to that tent with cans of gas, in the middle of the night, and set the radio equipment on fire to prevent it from falling into Chinese hands. Both LaVar and Es Beesin were moved from Service Battery, but stayed within the Battalion during their tour of duty in Korea.
You will note that there are no letters for the whole month of April. This was during the time of intense fighting, the "Big Bug Out" and total confusion. The following is LaVar’s memories of that time:
We all remember Kapyong. In the afternoon a couple of the guys came into our camp from the other batteries on foot. They told us that their halftrack was tipped over up the canyon about a mile above us. We needed to get it back on the road again, so we took the big wrecker up there.
At that time things were getting pretty hot up the canyon. There was shooting on all sides of the canyon. Our guns were firing salvos just above where the halftrack was laying on its side. We couldn’t figure out how the halftrack had run off the road where it did, as the road was straight as could be, but it was off the road and lying on its side. After we got it back up on its wheels and tracks, we could see a line of machinegun bullet holes right through the armor plate, and that was a great surprise to me. I didn’t think machinegun bullets would go through that armor plate, but they did. I could then see why the halftrack was where it was. The guys had "hit the floor boards" and had run off the road. When it was righted, the guys got in and went back up to their unit. I later learned that they were bringing orders for Service Battery to get ready to pull back to a certain point.
When we returned with the wrecker to Service Battery, we had to pull off the road for Captain James to pass us in a ¾ ton weapons carrier. He was standing over the windshield screaming, "Priority, priority." He was gone. When we got into Service Battery area, 1st Sergeant Beeson came running over to me and said, "Var, have you seen Captain James?" Service Battery was in complete turmoil at that time. The guys had heard something about orders to pull back.
Beeson was not able to get hold of HQ by phone, as the lines were gone. When everyone heard that James had left them, they all panicked. They had left tents, bedding, clothing, and everything but what they had on their backs. Everyone was leaving and Beeson told me he would take the outfit down the canyon five miles, pull off and park in some trees, and wait for all of us to catch up. My maintenance crew pulled down all of our tents and loaded all of our equipment. We had an ammo truck that did not have a second rear-end in it, but we chained up the springs to the frame, and put Rondo Farrer in it to drive it with just front wheel drive. To show how wild the situation was, Rondo drove about 10 feet, and hit a tree. He jumped out of the truck and run around the truck and tree. On the second time around the truck and the tree, we jumped on him. We pinned him down on the ground for just a minute. He got back in the truck, and drove it down the road just as calm as could be.
That left Bob Low, Senator, and myself. Senator was in the jeep waiting for me. We went to the crossroads and stopped. That was my orders, to wait there for the guns to come down. Bob and I were in the tank retriever, Bob driving. I sent Senator on down the canyon to wait with Beeson. We sat there waiting. It was near dark. We could see enemy soldiers about 600 yards from us running along the top of the ridge. Low was shooting at them with the 50 cal. machinegun that was mounted on top of the turret. All I could see was that he was hitting was limbs off trees. Every time he cut loose with the gun, he started to giggle. The limbs were flying through the air. He shot 250 rounds, and was hollering for more ammo. We had to change the barrel on the gun, it got so hot. There were so many empty shells on the floor boards, we could hardly stand up.
Just at dark, the whole Battalion came down to the Kapyong crossroad. They had lost one gun. It was hit in the side with a bazooka, or what we called a French 75mm cannon. They told me not to go after the gun, as it was burning. No men were hurt. We were lucky guys. The gun had been hit low in the tracks, not in the side, or it would have killed some of the guys. At that point, Battalion lined 17 guns across the canyon, side by side, pointed north, up the canyon. That was to support the Australians who were coming down the canyon. It was just after dark when the Australians got back and were up on the ridges around us. The orders went to each gun to fire up the canyon at tree top level.
At the time when the firing commenced, we ran into a problem we hadn’t ran into before. The guns were so close together that, when two guns fired at the same time, the shell went off about 200 feet in front of the guns. We were shooting a new radio VT fuse that went off when it got within 50 feet of anything. We had to fire each gun one at a time, starting with #1 to #17. It was continuous for several hours. It lit up the canyon almost like daylight. The Australians estimated that about 10,000 Chinese were coming down the canyon in big waves. It turned out to be quite a slaughter. In the meantime, Major Fenton couldn’t find Captain James to find out where Service Battery had the ammo for the big guns. We were starting to run short on ammo.
Major Fenton was on one of his stomping fits. He came stomping and raging over to me, and asked where Captain James was. I told him the Captain had left before anyone else, and that Service Battery had gone on down the canyon toward Seoul. Major Fenton went back to the Colonel just stomping and cussing. Just a few minutes later, here came a Lieutenant from Battery B, wanting to know if I knew anything about any ammo. Two or three days earlier, I had dug a pit near Service Battery, and Hard Ward Marqueson had unloaded about a dozen ammo trucks into the pit.
All the gun Battery sent their halftracks, and I went with them back up to the camp. We loaded them with ammo, and sent them back to the guns. That was about 9:00 o’clock at night. About midnight, the guns were shooting so fast and hard that they had to wrap blankets around the barrels and pour water from the creek on them in order to keep shooting. The canyon was full of powder, smoke, and steam. About that time, Captain Lamb came over to me and asked me if they had loaded the new radios up and took them out. That was the first I had heard of new radios. They were in a tent by themselves, stored. I then told Captain Lamb that Service Battery had loaded nothing but what the maintenance took. Everything else was left. He went back to the Colonel, and returned to me in a few minutes and said the Colonel wants us to see if we could go back up along the creek (we didn’t dare go on the road) and take two 5 gallon cans of gas and burn the radios. They were the latest model out, and we didn’t want them to fall into Chinese hands. Captain Lamb,two other Sergeants, and I went back up there, about 1 ½ miles back up. We poured gas over the whole stack (they were in crates). We threw a match in the door and ran like hell. We got back to the guns about 3 or 4 in the morning, and by that time they were almost ready to pull out and go on further down the canyon.
About two days later, we wound up just south and east of Seoul on the Han River. That ended the "Bug Out" or the advancing to the rear. It took the MPs four days to find Captain James. He was somewhere down around Taegu when they found him. That was about 30 miles south of Seoul. After the Court Martial of James, both Beeson and I were moved out of Service Battery. Beeson went to A Battery (Richfield) and I was Battalion Bastard, going from one Battery to another. Out of a dozen or so of the sergeants who signed the complaint on James, Beeson and I were the only ones who showed up to testify. We were the chief witnesses and the ones in charge that day and night. During the Court Martial, I heard the IG Colonels tell Captain James that the crime was punishable by death in front of a firing squad. James came out of the tent, and was holding on to a tree, sobbing. I felt sorry for him then. The two IG colonels came out and got hold of Beeson and me, and they handed us both a slip of paper with their names and how to get a hold of them. They told us if there was any rebuttals or hostility against us for testifying in the Court Martial, we were to contact them. This was in front of the whole group of officers and sergeants at the court martial. Anyway, the colonel couldn’t leave us in Service Battery with James, and that is why Beeson was sent to "A" and I was given a position as battalion motor officer. The only one I answered to was the colonel. No one bothered me after that. I didn’t have to pull guard duty or anything. Jack was then sent to Service Battery to fill my position as Battery motor sergeant. This is the way it was as I remember the war and those months in Korea. – LaVar Hollingshead.
"And now it came to pass that Helaman did march at the head of his two thousand stripling soldiers, to the support of the people in the borders of the land... And they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them." – Alma 53:18-21; 56:47 –
Could a comparable scenario take place in our modern day and time? It not only could, but it did.
It was the night of May 26, 1951, near Sanghong-jong-ni, Korea. The Guard was camped in a narrow valley with sagebrush higher than a man’s head. They bedded down on hard earth under tarps attached to their vehicles on one side and staked to the ground at the other.
Patrols had returned with word of an enormous enemy force numbering in the thousands pausing for the moment barely over the next hill. The grim order went out: "Nobody sleeps tonight!"
Lt. Col. J. Frank Dalley of Summit, Utah, felt enormous responsibility for the safety of his men. There were six hundred of them and they hailed from the small southern Utah towns of Cedar City, Fillmore, Beaver, St. George and Richfield. They made up Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, Batteries A, B, C, and Service Battery of the 213th Armored Field Artillery Battalion of the Utah National Guard, and Col. Dalley was their battalion commander.
These "weekend warriors" were not hardened soldiers lusting after the thrill of battle, but scholars and farmers, gentle, honorable men who were also brothers, cousins, uncles or nephews-relatives and lifelong friends. They were young. Except for a few officers, they were "green" to the rigors and hardships of war. They hadn’t joined the Guard because they hungered for or even expected a fight. Most devoted weekends and two weeks in the summer to training maneuvers in order to finance their college educations.
But they had done exceptionally well in training. Levels of education and intelligence among the six hundred were extremely high, as was their spirituality. Col. Dalley muses, "I would never expect to see another group of the same caliber, with the same dedication to righteous principles, gathered in one spot again in my lifetime."
Col. Dalley was assisted in command by Major Patrick Fenton, executive officer. Third in command was Major Max Dalley, battalion operations officer. They were men he could trust and he knew that they, also, were close to the Lord.
This was an LDS battalion. Numbered in their groups were bishops, high counselors and a counselor to a stake president. Like the stripling warriors of Book of Mormon fame, they were "men of truth and soberness for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before Him." And they had been taught to honor their country.
Now, almost without warning, they found themselves suddenly called up, federalized and shipped to the Korean conflict, involved in battles at uncomfortably close quarters and sometimes in hand-to-hand conflict with an enemy so vast in numbers and so ferocious that prospects of returning alive to families in those southern Utah homes seemed dim indeed.
Except for one advantage. Their hope lay in turning their safety over to the Lord directly, and their prayers for His aid were earnest and consistent—all the way to the top. Every morning their colonel’s tent flap was lowered for a space of time and they knew he must not be disturbed. He was pleading with the Lord for guidance.
The battalion arrived in Korea on February 16, and in less than a month they’d completed shakedown training and were in the thick of serious battles. Several times they were separated from all friendly forces. In their very first encounter, the Republic of Korea units they were supporting fell back with no warning, enabling the Communists to encircle them almost completely before the trap was detected. All alone and outnumbered in a foreign land, surrounded by enemy soldiers committed to their destruction, their annihilation seemed a foregone conclusion.
Col. Dalley says, "For moments I suppose I was almost dazed. Then instinctively my thoughts turned to our Maker. I humbly and sincerely asked for help, as I knew and felt others did who were near me.
"The change in my feelings is hard to explain. Our course became clear. All the men calmly and instantly responded to a rapid series of instructions, and in superhuman time the Battalion assembled and headed for the temporary safety of friendly lines. For nine grueling hours while we picked our way over rough, steep canyons a prayer remained in our hearts. And we made it."
That was only the beginning. By the night of May 26, they’d already assisted a number of the army’s finest infantry divisions and their reputation as soldiers of merit was rapidly growing.
Yes, they were honorable men, gentle men, but they were convinced they were fighting to make the world safer for their families, and if they did their job well, their sons might be spared.
The Guard established some military procedures which were unusual for artillery units. One such practice was to send out nightly scouting parties, pinpointing exact locations and strength of their adversaries.
That’s how they became aware of the thousands of troops poised to attack just over the hill. And they were startled to learn that once again they were alone and vulnerable. With no word of warning, their protective infantry had quietly crept ahead in the dead of night, hoping to locate their enemies and surround them.
It was 2:00 a.m., Gordon Farnsworth’s turn to stand guard. He was lacing up his combat boots when, literally, all hell broke loose.
Four thousand Chinese soldiers, finding themselves surrounded by the infantry, made a desperate bid to break through by the only escape route available—the narrow valley where two hundred and forty men of Headquarters Battery and Battery A were camped—a minor obstacle in their rush for freedom, and the four thousand launched a vigorous attack.
During those early morning hours the fight for survival was ferocious. They fought hand-to-hand in the darkness, but miraculously the two hundred and forty were able to hold their ground against the four thousand, enabling their comrades to continue firing in support of the distant infantry.
At dawn the enemy attacks abated. In the temporary lull, the two batteries organized a combat patrol of eighteen men, using a self-propelled 105 Howitzer as a tank. Captain Ray Cox rode at their head in the open, non-turreted Howitzer with automatic weapons on either side. Following his lead and with guns blazing, the eighteen (most of them on foot) hurtled down the valley. They engaged the enemy wherever they found them, hiding behind every bush, rock or tree. Numerous machine-gun emplacements were destroyed as they fought their way forward.
These scattered, bitter engagements continued for several hours until the opposition finally withdrew, attempting to climb surrounding slopes under an intense artillery barrage by the men of the 213th. That devastating fire convinced them escape was impossible and they turned back in massive surrender.
With the roar of guns stilled, the artillerymen returned to count the cost. Hundreds of soldiers lay limp and dead, but not one was from the Utah National Guard. There were Guard injuries, but none that proved to be fatal.
Three hundred and fifty of the enemy lost their lives in that night-to-morning encounter, and eight hundred and thirty surrendered. Likewise, casualties among the American infantry were tragically high. But not one man from the Guard had been killed.
Before rejoining their infantry, these "warriors" performed a humanitarian act that set them apart as sensitive, caring men. They paused long enough to be sure the enemy dead were properly buried.
A newspaper clipping from the Stars and Stripes states, "Certainly few artillery units have ever fought as aggressively at close-in fighting as have these men from the Beehive State. As artillerymen they are classed the best in the business."
They were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for their "unshakable determination and gallantry" and the Citation further states: "The extraordinary heroism displayed by the members of these units reflects great credit on themselves and upholds the highest traditions of the military service of the United States.".
Frank Dalley and his officers brought all six hundred relatives and friends home safely. Thirty years later we still detect more than a trace of hero worship from the men in Frank’s command. In answer to my question, "Why were you able to make it home?" they say it was a combination of Col. Dalley’s dedication to making that happen and his common-sense, sometimes-unusual military strategy. But more importantly, they attribute their safe return to the will of God.
So does Col. Dalley. He was a guest on Edward R. Murrow’s national radio program, "This I Believe," and was invited to air his conviction that they were guided from on high. He sums up their experience like this: "Early in 1951, I found myself in Korea in command of a Field Artillery Battalion, with the immediate prospects of taking these men into battle against the Communists. Many of them were relatives or personal friends and practically all of them were from my hometown or nearby communities."
"With this to face I knew I must have help. I was taught from childhood to seek help from God through prayer. I believed in God as a Supreme Being and believed in the power of prayer, but the events that happened in my battalion’s participation in the Korean War did much to strengthen this belief. Although the situation was precarious, not once was the outcome doubtful to me.".
Col. Dalley was dedicated to bringing every one of his men home alive. Striking physical changes in appearance attest to the price he paid for shouldering that awesome responsibility. He began their year in Korea weighing 179 pounds and his close cropped hair was dark brown. At the end of that year he went home weighing a slight 147 pounds and the hair on his head had turned white.
"For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles: and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith." - 2 Nephi 27:23
The 213th Field Artillery Battalion earned battle participation credits for the following campaigns during the Korean operations: First UN Counter Offensive, Chinese Communist Forces Spring Offensive, UN Summer Fall Offensive, Second Korean Winter, Korean Summer and Fall 1952, Third Korean Winter, Korean Summer Fall 1953.
On October 28, 1954, the 213th Field Artillery Battalion was returned to the Utah National Guard. Even though the unit designation of the 213th remained in Korea until 1954, the men of the unit returned to southern Utah where the 213th Armored Field Artillery Battalion (National Guard of the United States) was federally recognized October 5, 1953, with Headquarters at Cedar city, Utah. On December 1, 1953, the battalion was reorganized as the 202nd Field Artillery Battalion and given federal recognition in the home stations of the 213th Armored Field Artillery Battalion (NGUS).
Letters I wrote to my family from Korea were published by LIFE Magazine in 1951 and by LIFE Books in 1958. One of the letters from LIFE is included in a book I wrote entitled, Tent Pegs and 2nd Lieutenants.
I commanded a rifle platoon with the First Marine Division in 1951 in Korea. The book is composed of memoirs and short stories drawn from the September and October fighting of 1951. My point of view in the memoir chapters is from ground level; a small unit leader of Marines facing units of the North Korean People's Army. They describe my experiences in infantry combat, including an assault on a North Korean redoubt. The short stories are aggregates of rear area happenings and personalities with whom I was familiar.
The book has been submitted to and received praise from historians Colonel Allan R. Millett, USMCR (Ret) of Ohio State University, Sir Michael Howard, retired Professor Emeritus of Yale University, Sir John Keegan, lecturer at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, and Professor Samuel Hynes of Princeton University.
The past few weeks have been described, officially, as quiet ones on the Korean battlefront. In this time, a Marine lieutenant in a line company, John W. Harper, wrote two long letters to his father, a World War II Marine lieutenant colonel who now lives in a suburb of Chicago. Written as one combat veteran to another, the letters cover in some detail small unit actions from Sept. 10 to Oct. 14, including the skirmish in which Lieutenant Harper was wounded in the stomach. Although they were not intended for publication, LIFE presents the letters, unedited and cut only for space requirements, as a small masterpiece of reporting on life at the front during a "quiet" period. - by Lt. John W. Harper, USMCR
Dear Pappa, I hope all of my own and the government’s communications arrived in the least jarring sequence. They probably did not, so I apologize again if news of the events out here caused too much upset. Since the last two weeks have been pretty crowded, I think the best way to try to describe them is day by day, since we seemed to do something special and different each day.
Moved out at dawn via trucks to the assembly area. The road distance was 40 to 50 miles to the northeast. As I believe I said in my previous letter, it was to the sector north of Inje, just north of the "Punch Bowl", an oval shaped piece of low ground about three miles in diameter.
We began receiving our ammo in mid-afternoon. At 6:00 p.m. we moved out of the assembly area, following G and I companies. We followed the road for a distance, and turned north again. But the blasted river crossed our route again and we had to walk up the middle of the stream for about 200 yards. The Korean rivers in September grow chilly at nightfall, I might add.
By now the moon was up and there were enough scattered clouds for the engineers to supplement it with "artificial moonlight"—searchlight beams reflected forward off the clouds. With both the natural and artificial types on our side, visibility was good—good enough to make out the white tapes marking our route which lay through an extensive mine field. By about 10:00 p.m., the first stretchers and walking wounded began passing us going the other way. As each stretcher passed, we looked to see if the patient’s face was covered or not. The first four or five passed before one went through covered from head to foot with a riddled poncho.
The column was moving very slowly by now with frequent halts. We were fully loaded with food and ammo all of which makes a pack very, very heavy, especially at midnight. We found later that we were moving into positions held by the Seventh Marines, and as we passed through one of their mortar positions, we were somewhat shaken to see scores of covered up figures lying on the ground. As we looked closely, we could see movement or breathing or one would toss and roll in his sleep. Quite a relief. By the time we made the valley on the other side, dawn was beginning to break and we were nearing our assigned position.
As we moved closer, 76 millimeter shells began screaming in. These were hitting the ridge beyond us as we crossed the last ridge between us and our position. We went down into another valley, forded another stream and were at the base of the ridge I show as H Co., 1st Ridge on my attempted map.
It was now full daylight at 6:00 a.m. We had been on the march for just 12 hours—all night—and had covered only about seven miles.
After a rest we moved up onto the ridge to replace the survivors of H Company Seventh Marines who had taken the ridge. They brought out about 10 dead as we moved up. The living were gaunt, dirty and staring as they went down. One was singing a crazily inappropriate song as he moved along, lurching from one side of the trail to the other. Eighty men out of 240 walked off that hill which had not been held physically very strongly by the gooks. Mortars and 76s had done the work.
The top of the ridge was heavily bunkered for living quarters—which we took over. There were a number of Russian burp guns, piles of ammo for them and two heavy Maxim machine guns with their wheeled mounts and protective armor shields, plus a number of rifles and a .50 caliber antitank shoulder rifle—about 15 feet long!
We began reoccupying the positions as our artillery companies jumped off at 1:00 p.m. for 1052 using the ridge line routes I have indicated on the map which converged on the objective. My platoon selected positions held successively by the gooks and the Seventh Marines and prepared for the night’s activity. My platoon sergeant selected a smallish bunker for the two of us. To "lie down" in same, we had to recline almost doubled up with our feet up in the air almost sticking out of the entrance.
Along about evening meal time, true to form, the gooks tossed in a few 82 millimeter mortar rounds, one of which burst about 25 yards from me nicking my machine gun section leader. Subsequent rounds hit one of my squad leaders and a rifleman. About this time I began to realize the superficiality of fully 80% of all "casualties." They are lightly hit by small splinters, but, of course, rate full medical attention. In fact, speaking from my own experience, to deny it to them would be criminal because once you are hit, all you can think about is getting the metal removed or taken care of in some way.
As night fell, we could hear light firing before midnight in addition to our artillery support, but much heavier firing after midnight. The gooks held off their counterattacks until the stroke of midnight. Then, preceded by the usual bugle call, they stormed down the ridge of I Company’s little perimeter. This attack and the four successive attacks all executed exactly on the hour, were beaten back with light losses to the Marines.
Early in the afternoon, my platoon was ordered out to set up an outpost on the ridge in g Company’s rear so the gooks couldn’t run behind them. I consulted my map and moved out. After a short hike, I arrived at a place where the ground forms looked exactly like the features shown on the map. My orders were to put part of my force on top of the ridge, the rest on the trail at the base. I moved ahead of the platoon and up a trail leading up to the top of the ridge. About 50 yards up, I spotted a Russian trip wire stick type booby trap set in the middle of the trail. These gadgets resemble a potato masher grenade, with a stake to fix them in the ground and a cast iron serrated body containing the bursting charge. Kick the trip wire and off she goes, spraying splinters.
It appeared that the usual approaches—i.e., the little ridges running up the slope—were mined, so my next guess was to try to draw where the run off and resultant rolling rocks should have cleared out the mines. By this time, I had four riflemen with me and we began working up a draw. Not many feet further on, the second man behind me, walking right in my footsteps, kicked off one of the mines, getting a piece in the back himself, while the man in front was hit lightly in the leg
Mines like this are very mean when one lets go because the men think they are under mortar fire and throw themselves on the ground anywhere, and are apt to set off other mines. It developed that only the base of the ridge had been mined so that we were able to install the prescribed outpost on top and settle ourselves at the base of the ridge for the evening as ordered. In the middle of the night, an infiltrator sneaked in and nicked tow of the boys in the leg with a rifle.
We evacuated our night’s casualties and went to work improving our holes. Then the battalion 91 millimeter platoon moved up and informed us that we were in the wrong place—forcing us to move on up the valley to the position I show as the 2nd OP on the map.
During the night, another infiltrator nicked a man with a grenade. The machine gun section picked up five prisoners in the valley to the right of the spot where I show the mortar position.
About noon, the battalion was pulled back into a reserve assembly area for a stay, we were told, from one to 30 days, but 45 minutes later we were on our way up to the ridge I designated 2nd ridge H Co.
Before pulling out, we had a giddy sort of reunion with G and I companies. We found ourselves mutually tickled almost to tears on meeting old friends, whether officers or enlisted men. We exchanged jokes and close calls and laughed at everything that had happened, then off H Company went again.
The second ridge had been complete devastated—blasted and seared and shredded—by the Seventh Marines’ assault. My hardheaded platoon sergeant found us a bunker that was out of this world. Another eight-feet-under job, dry, clean, with mats thoughtfully left behind by our enemies.
The new problem – my company’s baby—was to secure the middle portion of Ridge 847 which had been taken by the ROKs, who had in turn lost the middle lower portion to a counterattack. We were to be able to approach and jump from the peak of the ridge and run our attack downhill—something new. We moved out early, marched slowly all day, getting the whole company on top of 847 at about 4 p.m. we expected to be able to rest, reorganize and prepare ourselves for assault the assault the next morning—but no. Someone got gung-ho and decided to jump us off as soon as possible, assuming an under strength company could make a mile and a half advance in one hour of daylight!
As we organized for the assault, my platoon was assigned a follow-up mission behind the leading platoon. The route of attack starting from the peak of 847 is shown on my map No. 2. It was to start at A, run down a smaller ridge around point B, turn south and cut east through a saddle at D, run downhill and curve south again to link up with I Company attacking north. Keep in mind that all these ground forms were on top of an 800 meter ridge. My third squad had been neatly removed from my command and sent on some ridiculous security detail so I was way under 2/3 strength, close to half as a matter of fact, before the shooting started. Dandy!
At possibly 5:30 p.m. we got the word to assault, and the troops jumped over the ridge and started down the other side.
You would have been very proud, as I was at the moment, to be a member of the same organization as those guys. Bayonets fixed, with a storm of fire from their rifles, machine guns and auto rifles, they rushed down the side of the ridge, whooping and shouting defiance and encouragement as the few gooks in the nearest bunker area to the front opened with rifles, auto rifles and burp guns. A squad leader of the leading squad was hit in the head and knocked out. The second platoon corpsman rushed to his aid, stepped on a ROK land mine and was blown up. Both died soon. The Korean stretcher bearers supposed to follow up and evacuate such cases jumped into holes shivering and refused to function. They were routed out into action at bayonet point.
The 2nd Platoon’s first rush carried about 125 yards from the jump-off point at A down behind the scant cover of the little ridge line to b and got up as far as the big bunker on top of the hill at C where they received a shower of hand grenades, which drove them back to the nose at B leaving several wounded behind.
While this was going on, the gooks trotted out one of their 76 millimeter guns onto a ridge about two miles to the west to a position where they had a clear direct shot at the attacking formation and at all activity and observers on top of the main ridge. When they opened up, they put rounds within 25 yards of where I was behind the 2nd Platoon, but as luck had it, the attackers suffered no losses from it—amazing because we were completely exposed but possibly hidden by the few trees on the hillside. They went to work instead on the people they could see near the top of the ridge. One shot killed the company commander. After another shot, an empty helmet went bounding down the hill—a direct ht on one of my second squad people who was moving down the slope to join the rest of the platoon. Two of his buddies formed a stretcher party to get him out—both were hit by another round. Still another broke my platoon guide’s leg. They kept banging them in while our artillery dawdled. Minutes after their firing stopped, an artillery concentration fell on the spot where the gun had been—and I’m sure had left.
In the midst of all the commotion, someone ran close past me, connecting with a bullet in the arm as he did so and spraying me with his blood. All of a sudden I began receiving as yet unnecessary medical attention until I convinced all concerned—and myself—that it wasn’t needed.
By now, the sun was down, and we decided to dig in on our little salient and renew the attack in the morning.
I have forgotten an episode which almost crowned our initial set-back with complete disaster. Minutes after we had recoiled to the positions where we spent the night and were trying to collect our wits, a Marine Corsair, which had been circling over the action, came in on a low pass from west to east. We thought it was to take a closer look, but as he came boring in we could see a napalm bottle still slung under his belly. We held our breaths in disbelief, but sure enough, he let it go at us, but it fell short by about 100 yards bursting with amazing flame and heat, leaving everyone limp with fear.
Things were calm during the morning with only sniping going on. The plan developed that we would try another assault about noon, and we supplied and prepared ourselves for same. I wasn’t too optimistic about the success of the move, but move we must.
Let me insert another overdue clarifying detail here. Note that the direction of the company attack was south, where the overall direction of advance was, of course, straight north. Also, our artillery had to fire straight north—directly at us—for support. Our 81-mm mortars were east firing over the ridge.
I was able to collect my third squad finally, allowing me to marshal about 30 men out of my original 60 some. We all got more ammo, loaded ourselves with grenades to knock out bunkers, and ate what food we could lay hands on. We had completely outrun our food supply and were receiving only limited amounts of ammo. The weather was good, clear and bright and cool—football weather at its best—also fine for our air strike which began about noon.
The F-51s made their runs from east to west in long flat passes, firing machine guns and rockets into the hillside. What made us jump for or joy and what insured the success of the first part of our attack were two superb napalm hits. The first was on the east slope of the little hill marked D under which we were to pass. One of the air boys, bless him, bored into about 50 and drenched it with two cans of napalm obviously completely neutralizing it. Seconds later, another came in from southeast to northwest plunking a can on the hilltop at C, which stopped us the day before, smearing napalm all the way down the nose and instantly neutralizing it for our passage. Note that this bit was a bare 75 yards to our front—close support with a vengeance and none too soon. They made a number of additional rocket and machine gun passes, then departed and the artillery opened.
This was accomplished with 155-mms and they did a terrific job. They "walked" the bursts—tree, ground and delay—back and forth over the area around D. Keep in mind they were firing almost directly at us from the south—no long rounds please! The target area became completely obscured by smoke and dust. Splinters began falling in our position. A dud ricocheted over our position with an amazing moaning noise, a as you can image. When the artillery shifted its fire further out on the ridge, we jumped off—1st Platoon first since it hadn’t been in the assault the day before, followed by my 3rd Platoon.
Again the war whoops, yells and shouts, and the storm of fire. We moved up to the napalmed ridge without opposition, grenading all the bunkers we passed. On the napalm ridge, the 1st Platoon set up a firing line raking the bunker village in front of them. I moved up and peeked over and could see no return fire. They were completely pinned down—if anyone was home at all.
Firing continued enthusiastically and resistance was very slight. The machine gunners were firing merrily at the heels of the leading riflemen, chewing up great spouts of clay, apparently to make sure they kept moving. Hearing the grenades and the firing, gooks began popping out of bunkers waving surrender pamphlets over their heads.
I found myself a convenient, I thought, shell hole on top of the ridge form which I could survey the situation while waiting for the assault platoon leader to decide what he was going to do. He moved one squad about 50 yards down the slope and promptly lost a man to a certain sniper. He again began calling for an air strike. While I waited for him to finish negotiating, a bullet cracked into the dirt about 10 feet in front of me causing me to pop back in my hole. He then called for a white phosphorus grenade to mark out the flank and in a position to toss one somewhere besides down the neck of the people out in front of us, I ran out, did same and got back in my hole and watched the white smoke billow up. As I faced out to the objective toward the sun, a flash of sun on copper sparked for a split second about 15 feet in front of me—and I was had. I’m sure I saw the bullet that hit me.
The boys all pounced on me, looted me of my maps and ammunition in very methodical fashion, and heedless of further sniper fire, carried me off on a stretcher. I didn’t feel too badly, managing to save my .45 only with some effort. My platoon sergeant came, noted the disgusting turn of events, and took over the platoon.
The Doc at the helicopter strip at the foot of the hill pulled a pair of forceps out of his breast pocket and neatly removed the offending metal as I stood there. I lay down in the sun and took a nap in lieu of a night’s sleep. After about an hour, three more of my boys—all nicked by the same sniper—came down to the strip, grinning sheepishly as I guess I was, and poking fun at each other for being so incompetent as to get hit.
A small, two-basket ‘copter came in, and I was packed into one of the outriggers; the guy who had been lightly hit on our first ridge and who had not been evacuated, was put in the other. This time he had stepped on a land mine shortly after I had been removed and it had blown off his left foot.
The flight to the division forward medical company was easy but chilly. My wound was cleaned, bandaged and I went out to police up some food. All I could find were some apples which put me to sleep and had a good rest.
The docs and Navy corpsmen are a hard-working and competently nonchalant crew. They do a fine job. That forward medical company layout and experience will not soon be forgotten. The seriously wounded, strong young men out of their heads with fear and pain…
The ambulance ride down here was easy. I rode in the front with the driver. As soon as I was admitted here, the doctors took me under their wing had I moved into their quarters with them. I should be here too much longer. This is my fourth day. I think. Rumor has it the boys are digging in up on the hill. I have tried to keep melodrama out and the facts in throughout. You asked for color—if most of it happened to be hemoglobin red, it wasn’t because I wanted it that way.
Much love to all.
Your son
Dear Paw,
Please excuse the delay in writing. It was not caused by anything more serious than natural laziness and inconvenience. I regained the 3rd Battalion on October 1. I discovered that H Company had been assigned a sector on the battalion left which extends down to the base of the hill and into a valley. My platoon sergeant had taken over the platoon after I was hit and carried it right on through to the conclusion of the assault and then set it up in a very good defensive position. He did a fine job then-in fact from the time I took over the platoon—and I have recommended him for a meritorious promotion to the next higher grade although he has only been a sergeant for about five months. I also discovered that one of the squad leaders—the Indian boy named Yellowhead—conducted a wild one-man banzai charge during the assault, killing a number of gooks and collecting four or five prisoners. For this, he was recommended for the Silver Star Medal by the other platoon leader present. After getting back to the company, I found a new C.O. The former exec had been sent to Regt. Having served four months on line and also the 2nd lieutenant in charge of the 2nd platoon, having been given a job at battalion. The 60 mm mortar officer, too, was rotated rear-ward to the 4.2 mortars leaving three vacancies. Then the 1st platoon commander was given an emergency leave home.
I ended up with the 60 mm mortar section in the company. The other day we caught four gooks cooking rice outside their bunker. I won’t say that we splashed it right into their bowl, but all four were in a state of collapse when we ceased firing.
To go back to when I first got back to the line, the minute I arrived I could tell that morale was fair. From a quarter of a mile back, I could hear whooping, laughing, cursing, trees being felled, holes being dug, trails being hacked out, word of one kind or another being passed up and down the line from bunker to bunker with yells the gooks across the way could surely hear and probably understood. The boys all had unnecessarily big grins for me when I trooped the platoon line to see how they were set in. Light wounds remain a big joke and excellent luck, it seems, especially for rank of any kind.
That night was the last of the very active nights as far as infiltrators were concerned. The whole company line is inter-connected with telephones so that the nightly frights and jitters can be communicated from one end of the line to the other with maximum speed. As soon as darkness settles there is a wait of about a half an hour before the first man gets rattled and heaves the first grenade. Then someone else hears the bushes shake and heaves two or three, then he gets to a phone and wants a flare so he can see the charging hordes. If a parachute flare is shot over his head, the hard white light of the burning magnesium coming from the falling and drifting parachute throws jet back shadows through the trees which move, creep and jump from side to side just like a gook. The only satisfaction they give is that they fail to reveal the imagined charging phalanx. One night on the platoon phone watch went something like this when my platoon sergeant was on the phone.
(Crash of a grenade)
PLT. Sgt.: Did you get him? You better have!
PHONE: Yea – heard his pants rip on the wire!
PLT. SGT.: Never mind pantsing him. Did you kill him?
(Wild confusion on the other end of the line followed by another grenade crash.)
PLT. SGT.: Okay! 60 mm fire coming up.
(A delay of five or 10 minutes while the mortar crew is woken up, gotten to the gun and the rounds pooped out. They crash into the hillside close in to our lines.)
PLT. SGT.: How does that look to you?
PHONE: Fine! Fine! Only now it sounds—sounds like somebody chokin’ a pheasant!!
PLT. SGT.: Choking a pheasant! How do you know—go back to sleep!
PHONE: OK, OK. Thanks for the mortar fire.
(Half an hour passes)
PHONE: Platoon CP!! Platoon CP! Cee Pee!!
PLT. SGT.: Yea?
PHONE: They’re blowin’ a bugle!!
PLT. SGT.: Oh? – Well – What are they playing?
PHONE: I dunno – I can’t make it out. I tell you they’re blowin’ bugles!!
PLT. SGT.: Who’s blowing bugles?
PHONE: The GOOKS!!
PLT. SGT.: Well – can’t you tell what tune they’re playing? Listen close and see if it’s on the hit parade—
PHONE (squawks and rattling noises then very calmly): I don’t know what they’re playing. All I know is they’re blowin’ a bugle.
PLT. SGT.: Roger. OK. But if you hear a piano and violin accompaniment, let us know and we’ll come and help you get back to the rear.
PHONE: Yes, Sgt. (Followed by sputtering noises.)
Later on, one of the boys heard noises in front of him and screamed for a parachute flare. When he got it, he could see the squirrels which made the noise.
In another hole, having heard a noise, a rifleman prepared to toss a grenade and roused his buddy in doing so. As he wound up to make the throw the buddy sat up and the grenadier smacked the grenade into the buddy’s teeth, knocking him cold. This threw his aim off and the grenade flew out, hit a tree, bounced back and exploded just a few feet from the bunker. The grenadier thought that a gook had tossed it back to him, so he threw another half dozen grenades in all directions to defend himself. When his panic subsided, he realized what had happened and helped his buddy look for his teeth in the dark.
Yesterday, October 15, the 7th Marines on our left, under orders from X Corps, had to run a combat patrol (pronounced "Probing Attack" by the press, I believe) onto the ridge to our front. They trundled up 14 tanks, ran an air strike, and fired artillery and mortars (mine included) in battery and battalion salvos all morning and early afternoon. In mid-afternoon they were moved through our lines and minefield and on out into the wide open valley.
From my own CP, I had a 50-yard-seat of the whole show—just like a football game only the other team not only fought our team, but they shot at the spectators as well. The infantry was preceded by the tanks which drew fire from a 76mm up on a high ridge about 3 miles to the front. The long rounds from the 76 mm landed all around my bunker because the tanks thoughtfully parked right to my front. The first round hit three men in the 3rd Platoon to my right. Another, a dud, missed the new company commander by about 4 feet. Another cut my telephone line to the mortars in effect putting them out of the fight because I couldn’t shift their fire as the infantry advanced. So we watched. The tanks took up positions out in the open and began to whack away with their 90 mm at point blank range (about 600 yards) at the little ridge. The 76 gun put round after round within yards of them. But they nonchalantly stood their ground firing 90s and machine guns whenever the infantry radioed for it.
I finally spotted the 76 by its peculiar muzzle blast. It took about 17 seconds for the rounds to hit after being fired—17 seconds to ponder a misspent life and swear never to drink more than 3 Martinis at a sitting again as long as-I-live-crash—shooting at the tanks that time. Serves them right for moving out in front of us—crash. Speaking of Martinis—and so on until the infantry broke cover to run across the valley to go up the ridge. No sooner had they begun their dash when a gook 82mm mortar splashed a fountain of dust and smoke right at the feet of one of them. A Navy Corpsman who must have nerves of steel and ice water for blood, whoever he is, rushed to the fallen Marine, in full view of the enemy, in an obviously "zeroed-in" spot, opened his pack, pulled out his bandages and went to work. In a few minutes a South Korean stretcher team was coaxed out to pick him up and carry him back.
Another 82 went to work on our lines, joining the 76. They kept firing and we kept firing, both close support and counter battery on the ridges and ravines of the big hill, 951, to the front.
The attack patrol regrouped under the little ridge to the front and moved up onto it as rapidly as their equipment would permit. They climbed to a level just under the sky line on our side and moved quickly toward the known bunkers. The tanks by now were blazing away and were joined by a 75 mm recoilless higher up on our ridge. A gook popped out of one of the bunkers to see how close the attackers were moving and the 75 mm slammed one right into him. Another trotted up from somewhere underground and took his place. When the patrol got to within about 75 yards of the bunker position, he fired a shot with his rifle and the patrol took cover. Round after round of 90 mm and 75 burst on and near the position and the ridge from the bunker on up to the right was raked back and forth by tank and infantry machine gun fire, plus 75 recoilless. But every time the patrol tried to move, the little gook, clearly visible in his new green quilted winter uniform, would pop up, fire a few rounds and duck back underground before a fresh storm of TNB and steel broke over his head. One gook with a bolt action rifle stopped the platoon cold in its tracks.
For some reason, the gooks didn’t drop mortars on the patrol while it was on the ridge. All the fire seemed to fall on the spot where its route crossed our lines. As the sun went down, the patrol was ordered to pull back under cover of a heavy white phosphorus smoke screen. Then all the gook fire shifted to our lines and rear. They dropped a few within 50 feet of the 60 mm section area, but no one in the section was hurt. Aside form that, today was a beautiful, quiet Indian Summer day.
The surrender propaganda leaflets in another envelope are dropped impartially from airplanes—half to the gooks—half for us. They seem to work, as the company picks up one or two deserters a day. One of my agents conned the red bills off one of the deserters who said he had been told that the Russian Army was coming through here any day now. We also use a loudspeaker set up on a hillside to broadcast propaganda. It pulled 28 deserters in 2 nights. So much for the war news.
Thanks again for your fine services, and thanks to Carrie for her "get well" note. The wound cases no inconvenience and is closing nicely. I’ve been on patrol (no shooting) and am doing everything else I am supposed to do and it causes no trouble whatever. My rugby knee injury will cause me much more grief in the future than the wound ever will.
Will write again much sooner.
Regards,
Your Son
The following excerpts are from letters written by me while serving on the front line during the Korean War. I was a 20-year old Private First Class with the United States Marine Corps Reserve. The letters were written to my wife and father-in-law while I was serving with the 5th Marine Regiment, First Marine Division, April 5, 1951-April 10, 1952, at which time I was rotated home and honorably discharged from active duty as a Sergeant.
I served with Easy (E) Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, April 5, 1951 through July 17, 1951. Some of the heaviest fighting of the Korean War took place during this period of the two phases of the Chinese Spring Offensive and the United Nations Counter-offensive. My unit was the 3rd Light .30 caliber machine gun section (two machine gun squads totaling 17 men at full strength), supporting the 3rd rifle platoon of Easy Company. The First Marine Division was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its performance during this time.
On July 17, 1951, I was transferred to H&S Company, 5th Marines to serve as Assistant to the Protestant Chaplain, traveling with the Battalion Aid Stations. In this assignment, I served as needed with three Chaplains of the 1st, 3rd, and 2nd Battalions (respectively) of the 5th Marines. The warrant for promotion to Corporal submitted while serving with the machine gun squad was granted around January 1st. Shortly thereafter the promotion to Sergeant as a Chaplain's Assistant was given. I returned home May 1952.
The letters were gathered from various sources over a four-year period. Letters to my wife were found by her in a cedar chest and presented to me in 1990 (we were divorced in 1985). Many letters written during this period have not been found.
In early 1993, my former father-in-law, Lee Hess, found two letters stashed away in a drawer. Then later, a deteriorating scrapbook containing photos, poems, cartoons, and propaganda leaflets were discovered in a storage locker where it had been placed in 1987.
Some names and personal references have been deleted or changed to protect privacy. All other statements are as they were written. Deletions are designated by dots (…) and changes are in brackets [ ]. Letters were written with lead pencil on whatever paper was available.
The motivation for this effort is to memorialize the brave men who fought, at great cost in that terrible war, sometimes under great deprivation and adverse environmental conditions; especially the men of E-2-5 where “uncommon valor” was, indeed, a “common virtue.”
To exemplify this, a machine gunner in E-2-5, Cpl. Duane E. Dewey, USMCR, was the first person to receive the Medal of Honor from President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Corporal Dewey earned the nation’s highest award for heroism on April 16, 1952. When already wounded, he smothered an exploding enemy grenade with his own body to save the lives of his comrades.
Special appreciation is given to those who assisted in organizing the various documents on the computer, especially to my colleague Bill Tubbs, whose father 1Lt. Bill Tubbs, Sr., flew air support for the troops in Korea from July 1950 to April 1951. Flying ground support missions against North Korean artillery, he flew 12 missions in the new F-80 Shooting Star, and 93 missions in the tried and true F-51 Mustang. On his 17th mission his Mustang was shot down over the Sea of Japan while strafing North Korean gun emplacements. He was rescued from the water by the destroyer USS Mansfield and returned to complete his 105 missions before rotating back to the States. The elder Tubbs had an interesting Marine connection during his tour. While waiting for spare parts for his Mustang at Hungnam near the Chosin Reservoir, he flew a combat support mission with an F4U Corsair squadron, covering Marines during the early retreat in December 1950. The senior Tubbs retired from the Air Force in 1968 as a Lieutenant Colonel with 26 years of service. Bill Tubbs, Jr. is currently a Lieutenant Commander in the Coast Guard Reserve, stationed at the Marine Safety Office in Alameda, California.
The name “Korea” was derived from the Koryo dynasty (AD 918-1392) and literally means “high and beautiful.” During Japanese control (1910-1945), the country was called Choson, literally translated as “land of the morning calm.” This designation probably refers to the mild, misty mornings that filled the Korean valleys between the mountain ridges.
At the end of World War II Korea was divided into two parts for the purpose of accepting the surrender of Japanese troops. Soviet troops occupied the country north of the 38th parallel while American troops occupied the area to the south. In 1948 the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea was formed in the North. The Republic of Korea was formed in the South.
On June 25, 1950, the North Korean communist army invaded the South. For the first time in its young five-year existence, the United Nations had to respond with force to resolve a problem. By the time an armistice was declared on July 27, 1953, almost 37,000 Americans had died; 103,284 were wounded; and over 8,000 are still missing in action. More than 5.7 million American men and women served during the Korean War, 1.5 million of whom served in Korea. These figures do not include those from Britain, Canada, France, Turkey, India, South Korea and other UN participants who served or became casualties. The civilian as well as the military of the Korean people bore the most bloody burden of the war. It is estimated that 1,467,000 of the North Koreans and their Chinese allies were killed or wounded. These figures do not include the civilians of either side who suffered great hardships, atrocities, and disruptions of their lives (e.g., Seoul, South Korea changed hands four times during the course of the war. By early 1952, Seoul was a shambles of shacks. Most of its inhabitants had fled South.)
In the author’s mind, the Korean War had three basic phases: (1) 1950 – Inchon, the drive North, the Chinese invasion, and the Allies’ retreat. (2) 1951 – The second drive North from the Pusan Perimeter, breaking the Chinese resistance, resulting in their call for talks on an armistice. (3) 1952-53 – Peace talks, stalemate, trench warfare. This is no doubt an oversimplification. Much action took place in each phase which took many casualties on both sides.
Generally speaking, the front line of September 1951 is the “Demilitarized Zone” maintained today by the Republic of South Korea Army with the support of 36,000 U.S. Army troops.
The Korean War has been dubbed “the Forgotten War” due to the lack of attention by historians, authors, media, movies, and teachers. In spite of the staggering losses, there have been no great books or movies about the Korean War. World War II veterans came home to the glory of victory. Vietnam veterans returned in defeat to hostility. Korea veterans returned to indifference, as if we had never been gone. In fact, the Korean War was a victory. The UN forces drove the enemy out of South Korea, which was their mission, albeit a forgotten victory. It was the first time the United Nations fought against aggression of one nation on another, and sent a message to the communist empire that violation of the treaties made by the United States, Britain and Russia at the end of World War II would not be tolerated. This "Truman Doctrine" was used to justify the war in Vietnam and the Gulf War I. The outcome of the Korean War was the beginning of the end of the Soviet Empire and the destruction of the Berlin Wall. The Korean War dominated U.S. foreign policy of "containment" and war against an aggressor nation for the last half of the twentieth century until 2003.
To James S. Bannon and Earl J. "Smitty" Smyth, semper fidelis, forced out of action by severe wounds in September 1951--the last two survivors of our original machine gun squad of April 5, 1951. Bannon died July 24, 1995, three days before the dedication of our memorial. Smitty is presumed to have died about the same time.
To my late brother, Cpl. Richard L. Janes, USMC, who served with the First Marine Air Wing in the battles for Bougainville, Leyte, Mindanao, and Luzon, Phillipine Islands, during World War II in the Pacific. Upon returning home in 1945, he advised me, "Bob, if you ever have to go to war, don't go with anyone but Marines." He died in 1990.
"This day will not go by, nor we in it.
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.
For he who sheds his blood with me will be my brother."
William Shakespeare, Henry V
The "Dad" I wrote at the time was my father-in-law. He was a great person & the only "dad" I ever had. I married into a great family- hard working, loving folks who treated me like their own.
Those on 1st Mar Div flanks I heard were ROKs on one and US Army Div on other. Being only a PFC grunt, I cannot be sure who it was, only rumor--which is probably fairly accurate. It was my first time under fire and I was scared and angry as hell, so spouted off probably to make myself feel better. It was a difficult transition to make, even from good training to reality. I'm not sure repeating those tirades would serve any good purpose. I do know that we marines had no respect for the US Army or ROK performances in "my" part of the war. "Tirades" were excluded from the following letters.
What you are about to read will reflect somewhat the conditions and experiences of the typical front line infantry combat marine during the war in Korea, primarily a "conventional" ground war. That is, each side was lined up against the other across the Korean peninsula, with a "no man's land" separating them.
Dearest One,
Alone. How terrible it is to be away from you…perhaps in the future, many weeks. It is, I guess, one of those bridges that can’t be crossed until we get to it. Then our sorrow…must be balanced by our faith in God… in order to endure the long lonely days…Please forgive me (for “those few times of grouchiness and temperamental attitude”)… I don’t really mean to; it’s just the edgy feeling I get sometimes after a day of learning the killer trade. I know you understand... … I can’t wait for the day to come when we can live and raise a family together in a peaceful, tolerant world. …It’s cold now and the stove doesn’t work, so I think I’ll get this in the mail and hit the sack. God bless you…and keep us both safe and healthy so that when that day comes when we can live our lives as he first directed, we can really build our future with no strain.
…I’ve tried writing this [personal poem enclosed] amid rifle fire, mortar fire, and a crap game, which makes it hard to think…nevertheless…with faith in God and each other, we’ll be together again someday and be able to live our lives…and raise oodles and oodles of children. – Love, Bob
OH NIGHT!
Oh night! How thou dost whisper about the broad, strong face
Of high mountains and gleaming shores
Bound by the vast ocean’s tight embrace
So clenched to cling forevermore;
And fill the valley so deep and dark
With clear, clean moisture of ocean spray
That nourishes the green meadowlark
Throughout the long & weary day.
And by the cliffs where humans dwell
You send thy restful din
That saturates and cools so well
To allow relaxation for tired men
Who labor and struggle throughout life’s way,
Fighting and trying to obtain earth’s best
Which consists of what may come by day
Then praying for darkness to give them rest.
Oh night! Don’t let my tired bones down
By being such a pest at present,
And pushing upon my face a frown
Because to me now, sleep is giving me resentment.
Oh night! Goodnight! And turn out the light!
[R.C.J. – March, 1951]
[Janes Note Year 2000: This poem was inspired by my mother Elizabeth Dunlap. At Camp Pendleton, my wife and I shared a one bedroom apartment in San Clemente with Jim and Pat MacManus. Jim was a boot camp buddy. We took turns sharing the bedroom. One night we'd have it and they'd take the couch. The next night, we'd have the couch, etc. When my mother came from Ohio before I shipped out, it naturally placed a strain on our small space. To compound matters, Mother liked to stay up late. The poem was jotted out and presented to her one night while we tried to go to sleep on the narrow couch.']
Darling - ... We board ship tomorrow and I suppose will head out to sea by nightfall... You probably won't hear from me for a couple or three weeks, so don't worry. I'll write every possible chance I get. I tried to call you tonight, but the line for the phones is pretty long...and I can't hold my place. The poor guys; they look so sad, waiting nervously for their long distance calls to come through. It was heartbreaking to see the excitement on their faces as they absorbed every precious [word] from their mothers, dads, sweethearts, and such.
I wish I could hear your sweet voice just once more before I go. We've been pretty lucky... [that] we had as much time together as we did... write as often as you can... and every once in awhile send me a newspaper so I can read how I'm winning the war and losing the peace... You might send a carton of cigarettes now and then starting with next week and maybe once a month unless I say stop. If I can't smoke them all, there'll be plenty of marines around to help... Remember to keep your chin up and don't worry... we'll be together again soon. - Love always, Bob
[Janes Note Year 2000: I couldn't hold my place on the phone line because I was prisoner-at-large (PAL) and had to report into the Company Sergeant every hour. Ten percent of us were granted special liberty to take care of personal affairs before shipping out (i.e., get our wives back home). That meant we were excused from the "Draft Parade" on Saturday morning. On Friday night after coming out of the field, they announced that Special Liberty was cancelled. Most of us went anyway, not returning on Saturday. Charles Nitsche, mentioned later, missed the ship entirely because he took his pregnant wife back to Missouri. He left with the 8th Draft a month later. I came back on Sunday evening and was placed on PAL status. I had drawn $100 or $200 advance "dead horse pay" (you didn't have to pay it back if you got killed) and my wife and I had a great time in Hollywood dining and dancing at the Paladium. We thought it was worth it and willing to take the consequences. I was PAL aboard ship, chipping paint in the boiler room until the Major could hold "mast" for us, at which time the charges against me were dropped. Charlie only received a few days "extra police duty", which he never had to serve.]
Dearest... Happy anniversary, or is it? New address is: "A" Co., 7th Replacement Draft, FMF Pac. c/o F.P.O. San Francisco, Calif. Tell everyone my address... Leaving tomorrow... Love you ... - Bob
Wonderful one - The Red Cross gave us this "Gung-ho" stationery... Just got back from Palm Sunday services... It's beginning to seem more real but still it's hard to believe I'm going to fight a war...
We left the dock at San Diego Thursday noon after spending the night aboard ship. The marine band came down to play us a send off. It was quite sad. The first day out we ran into rough weather and half the guys got seasick. I got a little woozy but managed to keep everything down. It doesn't bother me now at all!!
The name of this tub is the U.S.S. Thomas Jefferson. It's a very small ship that's supposed to be used in amphibious attack operations. There's about a thousand men aboard and we're so packed in, that even a sardine would be embarrassed. The officers... have their own cabins and eat in plush dining rooms with waiters and lavishly decorated windows and tables. We aren't allowed to get anywhere near. The food is the best I've had since I left boot camp... These navy boys really eat. I have to laugh, the only work a sailor does at sea, is sweep and paint. What a life they lead. They do work, thou, when either coming in or out of port, but that's the only time.
We have muster, rifle inspections, and lectures every day, so that kills a little time. Already I've finished two murder mysteries... That's all I could do without getting sick the first couple of days. I guess I've gained a few pounds the last couple of days. Get plenty of sleep and good food...
Darling - Again I'll try to write a few interesting lines. Nothing about this trip seems worth talking about. Today, while the gun crews were testing their guns, a .20mm shell fell short and exploded on deck and wounded three marine spectators... Today, some of the boys put on a "Happy Hour" consisting of music. One of the numbers they played was "Blue Moon"... I pray and pray that this mess will soon be over and we can live a peaceful life together. Why? Why? Why? I've asked myself a million times and the only answer I come up with is:
"Tis not ours to reason why,
But instead, to do or die."
That's it... that goes for any fighting man. Maybe God will show us why someday.
... Well, right now we're about 400 miles north of Midway Island, about 1/2 way there which is about 1600 mi from San Diego. We land in Yokosuka, Japan about the 30th.
The food is still good, and I'm getting awful tired of seeing just water. We ran into the tail end of a typhoon yesterday and it was pretty rough. Those with weak stomachs caught heck again. It didn't bother me, tho, thank heavens. I see Sims all the time now...
I still have hopes that the war will be over by the time I get to Korea. Promise that if anything happens, which won't, you'll go back to Ohio to see the folks. They love you, too. Thoughts of you are clogging my mind so, I find it hard to write. - ... yours forever... Bob
POUND!
Pound! Beat, oh waves, against the ship
Until the mariners pay heed
To your strange and powerful grip.
Smash! Crash your strength against the steel
Until it gives and splits on the seams
And injures the vessel, unable to heal.
Forget! Give up your battle in vain
After you've been defeated by the hands of men
That assembled the steel, and don't return again.
Pray! Give thanks, oh mariners, to your Lord
Who deserves thanksgiving for saving you from wrath
Of a watery grave, and the briney horde.
- [R.C. - March 1951]
Wonderful one - Happy Easter... Because we crossed the international dateline Fri night, we are one day ahead of you, so it's Easter there and Easter Monday here. It was kind of funny... I went to Good Friday services, then woke up the next morning for Easter Sunrise service...
For the last two days we've really caught heck as far as the weather is concerned. For awhile, it felt as if the ship was going to break in two. It was really rough.
We land in Japan Thurs Mar 29 at Yokosuka and from there it's anybody's guess how long before we hit Korea. Anywhere from 5 days to five weeks, I guess.
I bet it was nice back there today. You probably went to Sunrise Service wherever you are now, then to church and communion... I know you've going to have a much tougher time than me... Someday we're going to have a family... How fun it will be to tell our kids how [we] had to be separated for a few months so daddy's boys won't have to go to war. God, make it so. It's like when we used to walk in the rain. If we...got caught in a storm, it was a little unpleasant until it was over, but we'd end up laughing and happy as ever. This is one of those storms...tell everyone hello and to write when they can...tell them not to wait...God knows when I'll be able to write...keep your chin up... - love...Bob
Dearest - Well, they pulled a fast one on us. We were supposed to land at Yokosuka today, but at the last minute the ship got a change in orders and now we're going directly to Kobe, Japan, and are supposed to dock tomorrow noon. Whether it has any significance or not remains to be seen. I saw my first sight of land tonight as we passed some Japanese islands. It looked good despite the fact it was Nip country.
What I need now is a letter from you...Soon I'll be home again and we can take up where we left off...Nothing on earth can do away with me because I've got too much to live for...Pray hard...All my love, Bob
(Written by Robert C. Janes, U.S.M.C.R., while enroute to the Korean War in March, 1951, aboard the U.S.S. Thomas Jefferson)
WHILE WATCHING...
While watching the ocean slip silently by,
And hearing the emptiness of the sea gulls cry,
A lonely Marine bowed his head
To pray, and softly said -
"Dear God, blessed are Thy works and ways,
That guide us through these trying days,
And give themselves from You so free,
And furnish comfort to men like me.
I pray forgive me when I'm blue,
And help me all good things to do.
To be more tolerant of my fellowmen,
And consider them all as my closest friend.
Please watch over and comfort my wife,
Who is waiting and worrying for my life.
And if I shouldn't return, let her know the great love,
That I have for her from You above.
For mother, I pray there will always be,
Peace, happiness, and security.
And let her know the thanks I commend,
For making me the man that I am.
To all my friends and family too,
I pray give the blessings that come from You.
And help them to live and happy be
In a land that is forever free.
And now dear God, as I watch the sea,
I give You my life, for what Thy will might be.
I pray, during the story days, take away the rain,
And bring me safely home again." Amen
My darling - We arrived in Japan this afternoon and the only good part of it is that nine letters from you were waiting on me...
They pulled another fast one on us... We aren't leaving the ship at all and the day after tomorrow (Sun.) we shove off for Korea and should get there in about two or three days. The only liberty the guys are getting is for two (2) hours. I doubt if I get it. I don't care, tho. I lost nothing over here; nothing but time...
They're assigned us to units now and I won't know what I get until tomorrow... Stringer was assigned to the 5th regiment (infantry) and Widiger was assigned to the 11th regiment (artillery). I could be assigned to either of these... Most likely it'll be an infantry regiment. When we leave the ship in Korea we are given one unit of fire for the rifle (80 rounds) and one day's rations of food. The next couple of days may be my last opportunity to write, so don't worry if you don't get letters. All I got to say is they're wasting no time with us... There's not much to worry about my going to Korea. Casualties have been extremely light and I'm too damn good a marine to let anything happen to me...
I read about MacArthur's visit to "his old friends the marines" in the ship's paper. Poor guy, got within a whole mile of the front. Gee gads!
This orient sure is a strange looking place from what I can see. It's just like a different world. The ... Japs are really friendly [people]... I feel awfully bitter right now. I guess that's a good way to be where I'm going. I'm just dying to try this pistol out.
... It's really nice to be able to walk about this tub and not grab on something to hold me steady. Right now I'm in the mess hall and some marine's beating out some melodic strains on the piano. Sounds nice. Will close here until I can come back again tomorrow with more information... Goodnight, sweet dreams, sweetheart... - Bob
[Janes Note Year 2000: I got the two-hour liberty after all, and went with two other Marines. They wanted to go to a house of ill repute. I did not. So we compromised. We pooled all our money and went to a house. We had just enough money to buy two girls and three quarts of beer. I sat in the hallway drinking my quart of beer until they finished with the girls. We had just enough time to get back to the ship. I've never been able to get anyone to believe this story, but it is true.]
Dear Bob:
I have carried your letter around in my purse for so long and read it over so much I've practically worn it out. Your letters are very precious to me. ... There is always a little prayer for you in the back of my mind... we are all rooting for you and with all that backing I'm sure things will be allright in the end.
Of course the chief topic of conversation here is the firing of MacArthur by Truman. How do the boys feel about it there? The papers say you are not permitted to express yourselves for publication. The preponderance of opinion here seems to be in favor of MacArthur. Well, I don't care who they fire from Truman on down if it will just get this mess over with.
... Please write me when you can and remember, we are all pulling for you. Lots of love, Mother
Dear Dad - This is one of those man-to-man letters so standby. I've got to talk to someone and it does no good to talk to fellow marines, because even tho they're as scared as I, they'd never admit it. They're real marines. Great guys and great fighters. I'm writing you personally because I don't want the women to know what the situation is and cause them to worry.
Well tis is it. The expected Chinese offensive has started. Yesterday we pulled out where we were... and moved into secondary positions behind the lines of the 7th Marines because we got a tip that the Chinese would hit last night. The ROK (S. Korean) troops were on the 7th Marines flanks. The Chinese did hit and hit hard and the ROK's took off leaving the 7th reg.'s flanks open and the Chinks hit the 7th from 3 sides causing heavy casualties. So we moved up to this high ground we're on now and the 7th Marines withdrew this afternoon and we are now the furthest forward point on the front lines. We expect the Chinks to hit us tonight and are preparing for them. From where I am, I can watch the Marine Corsair planes bomb and strafe the hell out of them on the next mountain.
To tell you the truth, I'm really scared. It's my first time under fire. I don't know what to say. It's hard to realize what's happening.
Since I got a letter from [my wife] Saturday telling me we are expecting, I've done a lot of praying and thinking. I was so happy I laid down and cried like a baby. We've prayed it would happen for four months now and I'd almost given up hope. At least if I shouldn't return, part of my own flesh and blood is still alive...
... Now, especially since we're expecting, I want you to kind of keep her from worrying and don't mention the war around her. Kind of smooth things over. It's hard to write letters to anybody because the only thing there is to write about is what goes on here and I can't write about that.
This life is really miserable, but I guess it never really killed anybody. You just can't realize how terrible war is until you see it, and then it's hard to believe. This war is different than any ever fought by Americans. Korea is all mountains and the army doesn't know what the scoop is. They're getting better lately, though. If it weren't for the marines, I don't know who the Army would get to take their tough spots for them. A captured Chink Colonel called us the "yellow legs" because of our leggings. He said the marines "don't eat or sleep, they just fight. They would rather die than give up their positions." Which is about right. For the first time since I've been in the Corps, I'm really proud to be a marine. I've got a better chance of living. The marines don't leave dead and wounded behind like the army has done many times in the past. Thank God for the marines, they're a bunch of good men.
Just back from down off the bottom of the mountain where I picked up some more ammo for our machine gun. If the gooks hit us tonight, we're ready for them.
Better not let the women see this letter. No sense making them worry. You being a man, I thought you'd understand how I feel. I'm wondering how you've been and wondering what you've been doing, so get the lead out of your pants and write me. How about a hunting date for next fall? If I'm home by then, which I doubt.
It has sure made me feel better writing you. Tell the women this is just one of those man to man letters. I'll write [my wife] after this thing is over with.
The sun's about to go down and it'll probably be a long and sleepless night. The gooks only hit at night and they come in groves.
Give my love to everyone and I know you'll take good care of my wife. Thanks, dad, and God bless you. Love from son Bob. Give mom a big kiss for me.
Dad - Both of our flanks got hit last night and a few casualties were inflicted. We're now withdrawing back a few more miles. Our company has got the great job of rear guard. There are gooks all over the area below us. Since we're last to leave, they will be hot on our tails. God, what a nightmare. All because of those dirty, yellow cowards... They do it every time.
Don't know if I'll mail this or not, but I've got to do something now besides smoke one cigarette after the other. All I can do now is hope and pray I get out of this mess alive. I don't know why we're withdrawing. I guess the leaders know what they're doing. We're the furthest forward point and the gooks are on both flanks. I guess they don't want another trap like up north last winter.
1 hr. later
We're still waiting for the word. Down below to our rear the whole battalion is moving slowly back. A helicopter just came in and flew out some wounded. I wish we'd hurry and get the hell out of here. We'll be like fish in a rain barrel moving out with the gooks on both sides. All we got is one platoon for flank security. They'll be lucky if they don't get slaughtered.
Can't get Kools over here, so I've become attached to Camels. I'm sure going through the packs now. One after another. Can't help it.
The boys up here want to stay and fight it out but that would be suicide...hell with this glory stuff.
Our first gunner is due to go home in the next week or so, but he doesn't seem a bit worried. The second gunner has got the G.I.'s and feels miserable. Our section leader who has been overseas for 29 months, 7 months in Korea, doesn't expect to go home for quite a while. He was in the trap up north and is half shell-shocked. He's a heck of a good man, up for the bronze star and purple heart. [Unfortunately, I didn't mention any names.]
Tanks are going to help us guard the rear. I like those big iron cans. God bless 'em. Still waiting. Our battalion has already pulled out and I guess we'll wait until the 1st battalion pulls out.
This morning at sunup they told us to "standby to move out in an hour." The sun keeps going slowly across the sky and we're still here. Just finished a can of cold chicken & vegetables for lunch. We're going back to the very same place we were a week ago when our skipper got hit. He's probably back in Japan now, lucky guy.
[This paragraph is a tirade against the ROK's for not defending their own country & blaming them for our need to withdraw.]
What a crazy letter this must be. Like a diary. Doubt if I ever send it. It's just something to keep my mind occupied. The other guys are keeping a lookout and squeeze off a few rounds every now and then. I'll wait until I can see the rats before I go wasting any ammo. Our company has just about all moved out, so I suppose we'll be moving before long.
Dad - Just to let you know what has happened since yesterday. Well, we got out all right from where we were yesterday. Tanks and marine Corsair pilots covered our withdrawal with unmatched efficiency. We drew a little machine gun fire as we walked out of the draw, but not much. I had a chance to see some of my old buddies in "A" Company when we crossed the river. They're all vets now, too.
Where we were yesterday we were 18 miles north of the 38th a little east of Chunchon. We walked 8 hours straight and came up to where we are now about 3 miles north of the 38th. We're still the furthest forward point in the line and I hope to God we don't get trapped. We're dug in on the high ground. two regiments, the 5th & the 7th are forming this part of the line. The draw our squad and the adjoining rifle platoons are covering offers perfect fields of fire and no human could possibly come up. The chinks have crossed the river and are coming our way, but let 'em come, because we're ready for them. We've got a double supply of ammo for the gun and each man has at least a triple unit of fire for his own weapon. And me, I've still got my trusty .38 revolver besides my rifle. We expect to get hit hard tonight, but I don't think they'll run us off. No doubt we'll withdraw tomorrow or next because we're too far forward, and we have to go back where the army is to even up the line. It's for sure we'll leave many dead gooks behind.
[Another tirade about the ROKs & army doggies for causing the retreat.]
If they had enough marines to form a line from coast to coast, this war would have been over long ago. These boys don't run like the doggies and the ROKs. Right now the gooks are to the right, to the left, and right in front of us to the north. All that remains in our control is a narrow passage to the south. Thanks to the ... Army division, we're outflanked. They told us the gooks awre now 10 miles from Seoul and have the west coast supply route cut off by a roadblock. Thank God we get ours from the east coast.
The First Cavalry Division rushed in to fill the gap that the ROKs left and dug in around Chunchon. The ... ROKs came walking into Chunchon last night with the chinks on their tails and the 1st Cavalry cut the ROKs up before they found out they were S. Koreans. We've been receiving gook artillery all night and it's starting to get heavier now. Tonight we'll catch hell. A few of the guys are playing "hearts" as if nothing was happening. I like fighting with these men. They're the best in the world.
I'm sitting here in a hole trying to be calm and not jump every time a shell hits.
We had a few minutes this morning to write a letter before the mail went out so I wrote [my wife] a short letter and told her we were on the move. I hope she doesn't worry about it. Truthfully, I'm in good condition. This mountain climbing with 50 lbs. of ammo & weapon plus a heavy-as-hell pack on the back makes you hard in a hurry. Haven't lost much weight that I know of. Got a nice crop of chin whiskers and am dirtier than I've ever been in my life. It's a long way to water.
Well dad, this is all the paper left in this notebook I carry, so I guess I can't write anymore on-the-spot stuff. Have to clean my weapon, anyhow. Probably won't ever mail this letter.
You'll be reading about us in the papers, only when you do, cut it in half, take out the drama and adjectives, mix a grain of salt with it and treat it as a fiction story and you'll have the straight facts. Signing off for now. Love to all. - Son, Bob
[Janes Note Year 2000: I still remember how scared I was. I could not sleep, listening to every little sound, sleeping with my shoes on. As mentioned in later letters, we walked out of three traps. One especially sticks with me. When we came down a mountain in the middle of the night, it was raining and so dark we had to hold onto the entrenching tool on the pack of the man in front us like the "blind leading the blind." When we got to a road, there were burning trucks everywhere. But at least the fires provided some heat and light.]
Dearest ... wifey - Hi, momma. I got all your back letters yesterday and just now got the one dated the 18th telling me it's for sure we're going to be parents. I'm so happy I don't know what to do... I feel like crying every time I think about it, and sometimes do... it sure puts a new slant on life, doesn't it?... Be sure to let me know every little detail about everything...
... You have probably heard how the situation is here. Three days ago we, the marines, were 18 miles north of the [38th] parallel and had a line an ant couldn't even get through. Thanks to [those] who [were] on our flanks, the flanks gave way and we had to withdraw so we wouldn't get trapped. Now I'm one mile south of Chunchon south of the parallel and I think we're going back to Hongchong. If there were marines all across the line, it would have held. We would have stopped them cold. As it was, we had to withdraw without hardly a fight.
Those chinks are afraid of us. They're smart, they hit the weak spots where the [non-marine units[ are, then we have to withdraw for fear of getting trapped. We sure were wishing they'd hit us in force, but they didn't. If they had of there'd have been many, many less Chinese. Those boys are sure going to pay for getting me here.
Don't go believing all that baloney about the war and the rotation system. Just pray I get home in time to meet the baby. And above all, don't worry about a thing because I've learned to take care of myself like I never have before and I'll let you know when there's anything to worry about. I'm still healthy and in good shape.
... It's raining now, so don't mind the water spots... i'd better close because we'll be moving out any minute now. Don't know when I'll get to mail this. Don't worry, darling...say hello to junior for me... - Your husband, Bob
Dearest darling - Hello... How are you and junior getting along? Our own little child...it will no doubt be the best looking ornriest kid alive. Gee, I'm so happy. Your tired old husband is still alive and in good shape. We've been moving a lot lately, but got a decent night's sleep last night, thank God... We'll be moving again today.
I believe I'm finally getting used to this life. I say that every time I'm sitting down, but when we start climbing these mountains, I change my mind. The past comforts I once knew are nothing but vague images of a dream I might have dreamed a few nights ago. Necessities like hot water, a bed or even a hard cot, fresh fruits and vegetables, and fresh, hot food are considered nothing less than the most lavish luxuries. Probably when I get home I'll be sleeping on the floor so I can sleep, and eating out of cans so I'll know how to eat. You'll have to beat me to start shaving again. And a bath every day would probably eat my skin off. Ha! Ha! It's funny. The worse it gets, the better it is. We make jokes about each other's miserableness and it's quite morale building. I'm afraid Bill Mauldin left out a lot of things when he drew those cartoon in "Up Front." But what he did draw was 100% correct.
The water we drink, which is mountain spring water, tastes just like Ogden City water and makes me homesick with every gulp. That's because of the Chlorine pills we put in it to purify it. Water -- what a precious commodity! ... Tell junior (I'll call him junior until we find out whether it's a boy or girl. It makes no difference which, just so it's normal.) ...
... Got to get this ended before the runner takes the mail down. - Love, Papa Bob
... Darling - Guess the letter I wrote you this morning was dated 31st, so disregard it. I'm having a heck of a time keeping track of the days. Don't know when I'll get to mail this. They usually tell us when the mail goes out and we have just so much time to write a letter... I write every chance I get. We get so terribly busy at times.
We moved this morning and didn't move as far as I thought we would. Wee came aobut 300 yds further up the ridge. We'll probably move again tomorrow...
I just can't explain how much your letters mean... It's such a relief from this terrible tension... I usually read your letters over several times, then ___ burn them. I hate to, but I have to because, believe it or not, I'm so weighted down with equipment, I don't have room for them. That probably sounds funny, but you'd be surprised how heavy even a few letters get while climbing these mountains. The only clothes I have are on my back except for two extra pairs of socks & one pair of skivvies. I threw away some dungarees, skivvies, socks, part of my sleeping bag, and any gear that isn't absolutely necessary, and still I wish I could throw something else away. Us ammo-carriers have it 'toof.' Ha! The riflemen kid us and sing to us as we go by, the ammo-carriers famous battle-cry, "I can't make it!" Unquote. I've uttered it myself a few times.
It's getting about dark, so I'll have to close shortly and maybe finish the next chance I get. Got a letter from your dad... He's happy about our baby, too... I get so excited. All the guys call me "daddy" and it sure makes me feel good. I take a lot of ribbing, too, but it's great. Can't see, so I'll finish later... - Love always... - Bob
Darling - I'll try to write some more. We've been standing by to move since 6:30 this morning and haven't moved yet. These are the most unstable front lines I've even ever heard about.
The division's got the record now of days on line. We'd better get a rest before long or there's going to be some sick men around here. Since I joined the regiment we've been on line about 21 days. Only 3 hot meals in 21 days, the rest all C-rations. The last time the regiment got off line after 30 days, they were supposed to have 15 days rest , and after four days, we were on our way again. It's not good for men to be on line this long, but I guess they know what they're doing. There's just so much a man can take. I don't feel it much yet. Still healthy and in good shape. Get a little nervous once in awhile, but I've got plenty of cigarettes to help that... I don't know about naming our baby Robert if it's a boy... Maybe if I got home by the time the baby is born we can decide then.
The weather is fine since the last lousy rain we had. It's hot as the devil in the day and colder than that at night. Just like regular mountain weather.
That's really [nice] about my name being put up in the narthex...I'm glad there's someone back there that knows there's a war on.
The general feeling among the boys here is in favor of MacArthur, so I have my hands full of arguments because I favor Truman's reason for firing him. I don't believe he should ha ve gone so far as to fire old "Doug", but agree that MacArthur's policy is too dangerous. No one has ever conquered China and never will. This Chinese soldier is a good fighter, I respect him muchly. The U.S. can hardly take care of this front, let alone open another one. I say get out of S. Korea altogether and make a defense around Japan. Why should we fight for a country, when its own troops won't fight for it? If it weren't for [them] we'd still be up north 18 miles above the 38th. You see, these guys have a different outlook on things than I do. I'm the only married man in the squad and one of two reserves. That makes a big difference. Oh well, it's for sure they'll never get me again. There's a lot of easy jobs in the service and if there's a next time, it's an easy job for me, or nothing. If I have to join the Air Force to get out of marine reserves, I'm going to do it. Even tho it's the best outfit in the world, they'll never get me again. Too tough for me... All I want is the right to live my own life as I see fit and raise my family and mind my own business not bothering anyone, or anyone bothering me. If my being... over here means that our son will never have to live through this hell, then I'll stay and even die if I have to. If I were only sure that there would never be another war that our children and their children would have to fight, then I say keep me here until this useless bloodshed for politics is done with. Forty-nine thousand Americans [160,000 by war's end in 1953] have shed their blood on this worthless soil, and I've seen a few of them, and it's much too big a price to pay for the reason they try to feed us. But far be it from me to ask why. I'm just a peon and a puppet on a string that has to do what I'm told. I know I'll come out of it all right because I've never been closer to God before than I am now... please... don't ever have the least amount of doubt in your mind.. doubt is no good at a time like this. There's been times when I thought I couldn't move another inch, and there'll be more such times, but I pray and beg for strength and He keeps me going. Without God, I'd probably be laying at the bottom of one of these mountains right now...
Enough of that, for heaven's sake. Above all, don't worry, because I'm fine and I'm always going to be fine until I can hold you in my arms again and this horrible past will all be forgotten about.
I had the opportunity to take another cold water bath yesterday in the stream way down below. Boy,d id it feel good. Especially when I washed my feet. Hmmmm. Some nights I sleep with my shoes on and after a week or ten days the feet become very unable to live with, if you know what I mean. The only clothes we take off when we retire for the night are the shoes, nothing else, so a guy gets pretty stinkin' dirty in a short time. Still, it doesn't seem to hurt much. Whenever we pass any "doggies" on the road, we poke fun at them and bark like dogs. The only come back they have is, "you might as well bark, you live like dogs anyhow." We don't have the gear they have, but anyone of them will tell you, meek like, that we're the best over here.
I sure got excited writing this, didn't I? Don't mind it, I guess I have to speal off once in a while. ... It won't be long before we'll be together again..and raise the best family ever...without you, I'd be just as worthless to the world as this war.
I just had a drink of that ice water that flows at the bottom of the mountain. The guys just came back from making a water run. The first water I've had since last night. Hmmm Good!
... I'll write every chance I get...keep faith and keep praying, and I'll soon be home to you and our baby. God bless you. - Bob
Bless 'em all
Bless 'em all, bless 'em all,
Those doggies are sure on the ball;
They started a drive for the river Yalu,
While we froze our butts off on old Hagaru.
Then they bumped into five million reds,
And headed for Pusan instead.
We'll be home for Christmas,
The kids never missed us.
So cheer up me lads
Bless 'em all.
Bless 'em all, bless 'em all,
MacArthur and Ridgeway and all,
They know all the answers,
Just how to withdraw;
They're the speediest allies the marines ever saw.
But we're saying goodbye to them all,
As southward their asses they haul.
There'll be no gumbeating,
We're glad they're retreating.
So cheer up me lads,
Bless 'em all.
Bless 'em all, bless 'em all,
The Commies, the U.N. and all.
Those slant-eyed Chink soldiers
Struck Hagaru-ri,
And they now know the meaning of U.S.M.C.
So we're saying goodbye to them all,
As home through the mountains we crawl.
The snow is ass deep to a man in a jeep,
But who's got a jeep?
Bless 'em all.
Bless 'em all, bless' em all,
Bless Truman the cause of it all.
He cut down the Corps,
And he kicked off the sea,
The last rusty ship of the U.S. Navy.
But we're sure that old Harry S.
Will get us out of this mess
He'll write another letter
And make things all better.
So cheer up me lads,
Bless 'em all.
- Anonymous
Sweetheart - How are you and junior coming along by now? I don't suppose he's started kicking yet, has he?
...We're entering the 3rd day of a 5-day reconnaissance and combat patrol. Our company has been sent out, reinforced, to find out where the gooks are. We're 6 miles into enemy territory and using this ridge as base of operations for smaller patrols like we went on yesterday. Yesterday, we took only weapons and ammo and walked 5 miles up and over mountains, but still couldn't make contact with them. there were some gooks here just before we came, but they pulled out. I imagine they'll move our lines up further now since this area has been patrolled.
This is our 27th day on line. I told you wrong, the last letter and, someone corrected me. When we get back to a rest area, I'll try to write every day. It's hard telling when that will happen, tho.
... When I get home I'm going to eat nothing but ice cream, milk, fruit, and T-bone steaks. Gee whiz, how I wish I had some.
I'm selling my pistol and sending you the money and I want you to buy something for you for Mother's Day...Also something for the baby... Mail's going in, have to close... - God bring us together soon. - Bob
...Dearest... - ... I still haven't got any packages yet, but expect to when and if we get back to a rest area. I can hardly wait. I know one thing for sure, I'll never complain again. If I ever do, I want you to say just one word: - Korea - and that should shut me up in a hurry.
We're still on this patrol and tomorrow I think we'll be going back to our lines again. I'll sure be glad when it's over. From there it's hard telling where we'll go. Everybody's praying for a rest, but I doubt if we'll get it for awhile. Our regiment holds the record for days on line and the division holds the record, too. The last time the 5th was on line for 42 days and then had four days rest when I joined it and it looks as if we might break the old record. I hope not. The doggies only stay on line 3 to 4 weeks, if that. I'll be glad just to get back to our lines again so we can get 3 rations a day again.
It rained all day yesterday and last night and thank God the sun's out again. So our baby as of Apr. 21st was 1" long and 1/8 of an ounce...Isn't that wonderful? ... If it's a boy I hope to God he never has to go to war.
There are a few guys I've seen here who never went to boot camp and I can sure see the difference. In a way, I'm thankful I went through.
I finally got a carbine which lightens my load about 15 lbs. I'm getting better climbing now, too. As a matter of fact I was the only ammo-carrier that made it up the final mountain the other day without konking out. The heat got the others. I'm satisfied with my position now in machine guns. In the assault, we stay behind and give support fire to the riflemen (what I trained to be) and move up after the position is taken. In the defense, we've got the advantage because these light machine guns really spit bullets and boy that counts. The CP usually digs in by us because it's safer. So, honey, you've got nothing to worry about, I'm quite as safe as I can be on the line.
...You're being here [as you wrote] could never help me. This is strictly a man's job... I never want you to see this kind of stuff and the sooner we forget about this part of our lives, the better. ... Doubt if I'll ever want to handle a weapon again after this.
That's a shame about the plaque [sic] from the DAV... It was just for a good cause... Can't ever tell, maybe I'll be needing help from them some day... Somebody's got to do something for those men that gave their all for their country. It's sure as heck the American people don't care about them...
Don't worry about this Chinese offensive, it'll be their last one. They can't beat us, and if we only had enough marines, the old mess would be over in no time. I'm glad MacArthur has been relieved and don't sell this Ridgeway short, he's young, smart, and a hard driver. I feel sure he can do the job. Hope Truman doesn't get too much criticism for it, because he's dead right. The people back there can sit back in their soft chairs and raise hell over something they know nothing about and scream for a second front that would keep us over here for years and knock the U.S. for a loop she's never been knocked before. Why, they can't even keep this front going, let alone another one. What a bunch of stooges those people are. Always thinking about how much they can collect off war. Nuts!
... probably won't get to mail this until we get back to the lines and I can scrounge an envelope. Got one sheet of paper left, too. In case anyone wants to know what E-2-5 means on the address, it means: Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Regiment. So long... until i can be with you again in words .. Love, Bob
[Janes Note Year 2000: I never touched a weapon again after release from active duty except when serving in a color guard for the River City Chapter, First Marine Division Association, during special events in 1992-1993. My four children grew up without weapons, toy or otherwise. I did not realize until recent years that this was out of revulsion to my war experience.]
Hello again... We moved back on the same hill we were on the first day of this patrol. We're going back tomorrow morning, thank heavens. I'll be able to mail this letter then.
I just finished a can of wieners and beans mixed with a little garlic some of the guys pulled out of a [Korean[ garden down below. Really good, esp. when I'm hungry. Your husband is developing new tastes. First time in my life I ever liked garlic. Guess I'll have to try that when I'm home, garlic and beans. Probably sounds sickening to you. I'll probably lose my taste for it when I start eating decent food again. We got some awful good cocoa, too, that just takes water. I sure do like it. We get soluable coffee that hits the spot once in a while. I suppose I'll forget that, too, once I get back to the old faithful milk bottle again. I've almost forgotten what eggs taste like. And a hot bath. When I get home I'm going to fill the tub to the brim with hot water and just lay and soak for hours. It'll take that long to get this dirt off of me. The last hot shower I took was at Pusan many days ago. I did manage to give my teeth a good brushing tonight. It's funny how the necessities I used to have and the little things I always took for granted have become large luxuries and dreams now. What made us the maddest during our withdrawal [April 1951] is that they burned truckloads of candy bars and beer to make room for troops in the trucks. And here we are half starving. Oh well, we'll be back on three meals a day again, once we get back to our lines. I'm still fine and healthy so I guess that's what counts. What's a few months of sacrifice for a life of happiness? ... I thought of you an awful lot today... I was hoping I was laying in the back yard dreaming all this and you would come and wake me up... there'll be many more happier times. - I love you, Bob
Hi, Mamma - ... Well, we made it back to our lines all right and had a double ration waiting for us and some of the guys got packages (not me, their's were dated March 6 and 14, so I guess it takes about 2 months to get here). Anyhow, now I'm so full I'll probably be sick. My stomach has shrunk, anyhow, and I really put away the food and pogey-bait and I'm so bloated I can hardly move. This is quite a change after starving to death for five days.
The patrol was a huge success and we found out a lot of information. It's sure a relief to be back to the lines again, it gets kind of tense in enemy territory. We didn't lose a man. There's still no word of a rest for us, so we may break all records again. Our company's been pretty lucky, so far, tho. Now that it's over I guess I can tell you that we walked out of three traps, one we walked all night long in fog and rain, praying that the [enemy] wouldn't find us. We've only lost 2 men, one in my section, since we've been on line, and believe me, that's good. Some of the other companies lost quite a few. Things on the front are going pretty good, and Seoul didn't fall after all, so I don't think there's anything to worry about. Things are pretty quite [sic] along our lines. The gooks won't throw a frontal attack at us because they know what we marines can do, so they concentrate on the [non-marine units], but now even the doggies are getting good, so this war will be over soon. They seem to think that this is the last Chinese all-out effort for victory and when we crush that, they'll make a bid for a settlement. I hope and pray that hunch turns true.
It's rumored that we'll pick up our replacements tomorrow that came with the 8th draft. Boy, are they in for a surprise! Those packs and hills they climbed at Pendleton were nothing compared to these here. I hope I know some of them.
... One of the guys just vomited from eating so much. Hope I don't do the same, but oh, what a pleasant way to get sick.
Summertime is well on its way and flies and mosquitoes are getting thick. The days are getting long and hot and dustier. They gave us another canteen to help the water situation.
... Guess I'll get in the bag. We're moving again tomorrow. I believe when I get home I'll just get on the couch... and not move for 3 months. - ... Love ... Bob
Dear ... mama - I didn't get sick after all last night and this morning I feel great. My stomach is contented because of the double rations we got and the other guys' packages that they passed around. Looks like I'll be sharing the packages you sent me, too. These marines are great, if they've got something you haven't got, then they share it, no matter what.
They're going to let us rest a day or two to recuperate from that patrol, so I hear. We might stay right where we are, about 200 yds. behind the line. Oops! Spoke to [sic] soon, we're moving at noon. Nut's we're right by a stream, too. I knew it was too good to last.
The doggies have their lines set in right next to ours. The marines pass the time barking and yelling remarks at them. It's quite funny. Morale last night was pretty high after we got our bellies full. Long into the night marines in our company yelled all kinds of funny noises and remarks that aroused a lot of laughs throughout the black mountain sides. Morale is always high among these real fighting men no matter how tough the going is, and when it does get a little bit pleasant for them, they really cut loose.
It was kind of hard to sleep last night on a full stomach...
To quit dreaming is almost impossible... To live in the past is the only thing I can do... Every little detail of our time together comes back to me clearly when there's a lull in this rugged life and I can think of something else besides saving my skin. I used to think it was bad for me to live in the past because it tore down my morale, but now I've changed my mind, it helps keep me going.
We moved back up on line again after one night's rest and as usual, we're on high ground far from water.
We got our replacements a little while ago and I feel like an old battle-weary veteran next to them. They're clean, fat and healthy and loaded to the gills with equipment that they'll soon be throwing away. I guess I was the same way when I first joined the company, but it's quite funny the difference that can be seen between them & us.
Most of the guys now have the G.I.'s and sick at their stomach from eating all that junk yesterday on an empty stomach. I'm fine, tho...
The sun is about to call it a day and this new man we got in the squad is talking to me, so I'm having a heck of a time concentrating on this letter. Now we're shoving our pictures back & forth...
You'd never believe this is the front lines. It's so quiet it's getting on my nerves. Another company went out on a five-day patrol this morning. I sure feel sorry for those guys.
Some of our mortars are zeroing in on the mouth of the draw and breaks the uneasy silence once in awhile.
They brought steaks and bread up to us today for lunch. I had a cold steak between two big slices of bread topped off with a chocolate bar they gave us. Not bad.
... I'll close now so I can clean my carbine before dark... All my love, Bob
... Darling... - ... Things are awfully quiet along the lines lately except for a few artillery pieces (ours) zeroing in. They've been sending out an awful lot of patrols which you're probably reading about. As a matter of fact, things are so quiet that part of the company goes back to battalion headquarters for a day to get 3 hot meals and a hot shower and clean clothes tomorrow and the other part goes next day. I get to go tomorrow and believe me it will certainly be welcomed.
Rumor has it that we're going to set up a permanent line here just below the parallel and not go north anymore because the State Dept. says not to. How true it is, I don't know. They've been setting out barbed wire and stuff, so it might be true. I hope so.
Please... don't worry... Honest, there is absolutely nothing to worry about. I'd tell you if there were... I know it's hard, but please try... You've got it much tougher than I... You're brave... much braver than I would be in your case.
The way things are going I think I'll be home in no time. Things are looking good for me because I'm a 3-b reserve and replacements are coming in right and left. Just a few more months of hardship and sacrifice and I'll soon [be there[ ... and we can await that glorious day together when the stork comes.
I've really got plenty of rations now and believe I'll be getting fat if I keep this up. I think we're going to be set up here for awhile and that means plenty of goofing off, hot chow, and rest. They're not sending machine guns on patrols so much anymore, so that means much more crop-out time for me. I'll be awful lazy... when Ig et home. Please don't worry, darling, everything is fine. Your ... papa, Bob
Dearest - A little present for you to buy yourself and the baby something. This will help take care of any of the birthdays, anniversaries, etc., until I can be there in person... be sure to buy yourself something and something for the baby collection. ... love you, Bob
...Sweet mama - Since it's been so quiet, I've been trying to write a few letters... The flies are driving me crazy... I'm getting so I can call them by name (names I wouldn't write). I thought that was quite funny after I wrote it and me and myself had a big laugh over it.
I sent you a $50 money order yesterday... that's what I sold the pistol for...
... Went down to BN H.Q. yesterday and had three hot meals. Same old marine chow, but it tasted pretty good. The hot showers didn't show up, so I took a bath in the stream and even shaved off all my beard. I looked almost human again for awhile. I managed to scrounge a clean dungaree shirt and gave a little... boy a pack of cigarettes and a candy bar to wash my skivvies.
You might know that as soon as I dig a perfect foxhole, we move out. We're moving further down the ridge tomorrow. Doggonit.
...Last night during my watch, I made plans for our future and I thought about our child and how fun it will be to grow up with "him" (used because I don't like to call my child "it"!)... Next Christmas should be our best ever, huh...? ... I think I'll close here and see how many of these flies I can kill. ...love always... Bob
Darling - Had a [Korean] give me a haircut today for a package of cigarettes. This outdoor life is something I would really have relished when I was a boy. I used to eat this stuff up--of living under the trees, sleeping in the open with the stars as my roof, living in the mountains as if I were part of them. Without the [Chinese] and the flying bullets, this would be a camper's paradise. Not much to hunt or fish, but with plenty of food a mountaineer would really have fun. A forester's paradise--plenty of room for land and soil improvement. All the small bit of reforestation that has been done here has either been burned out by napalm or cut down by the enemy to afford him protection from our great firepower. Now, summer is underway and the wild apple trees are breaking out in colorful blossoms; strawberries are showing their first signs of progressing as the little yellow blossoms peek their heads through the evergreen duff. Many wild flowers are displaying themselves amid the blackened areas and add their bit of color as if trying to cheer the faces of these worn trampled over, fought over mountainsides. It's God's way of showing that He is still here, and that man can't altogether, through his warring ways, destroy all of the little natural beauty that remains here and that I am sitting here trying to enjoy.
The days are getting longer and the sun is turning our white skins to a deep bronze under the coat of dirt that quickly collects on us. The air is filled with the throated strains of the hummingbirds, pheasants, magpies, undisturbed by the clank and thuds of entrenching tools and marines' loud profanity as they dig vainly at a root or a rock in the bottom of their foxhole. The streams are getting smaller as the sun draws the cool moisture into the air. My mind, from lack of mental exercise, is growing stagnant along with the rice-paddy water, and I wonder if I'll ever be the same again, or ever again take for granted the wonderful luxuries that American civilization had to offer...
We moved a few hundred yards yesterday, and that's all. We still get that lousy hot chow every other day that isn't worth walking six miles round-trip for, except the breakfast.
... This is the last of this stationery, so will write again tomorrow...when I can burn some. - God bless you...
Dearest... - Just got back from making a water run and the guys that came back from getting hot chow brought me two letters... You certainly should have got the letter by this time that I answered the one I got from you saying that we were expecting. I wrote it on a Sunday about 2 days before the chink offensive started. I think about Apr. 24 or 25, we had a roadblock set up and got hot chow that day. I was so happy... I can't understand. Sure makes me mad. You know, it takes at least 20 days for a letter to go to you and the answer to come back to me. It takes, I guess, about 10 days for a letter to reach you from me.
A lot can happen in that 10 days... We might have moved all over Korea in that time. My mood and being probably changes a hundred times in ten days, depending on the situation, and if I wrote a moody letter griping a lot, chances are I'm in a fine mood by the time you get it, and you feel bad for me feeling bad 10 days before you get the letter, and I'm feeling fine, when you're feeling bad. Confusin', eh? So remember that when you read a letter from me, that was me ten days before.
In case you don't get that letter... When I first found out we were going to be parents I'll tell you my reaction I was so happy... I laid down in my hole and cried like a baby. All night long I laid awake... and thought and made plans. During my long night watches, I think and dream and make plans about us and our baby. It takes me away from these surroundings for awhile and sometimes it's a great let down when something snaps me back to the present...
I just read a clipping one of the guys had about our withdrawal from up north. It was titled, "Marines Plod Tortuous Trail," and went on to say how we hated to leave and the tortuous mountain trails we took in the rain and so on. "We lived with death. We had steel in our eyes." Very dramatic, but so true. According to the Chinese radio, we've been completely wiped out. That's a laugh, they'll find out how much we've been wiped out when they meet us the next time. According to the papers, we saved the whole front. Small wonder. Also the guys heard down at Batt. H.Q. today that we get $75 more a month now for front line pay. Not bad...
... Wondering if there are any prince fly-fly boys in your office. If there are, don't hesitate to let them know that your husband is with a line company in Korea and doesn't like little boys that make passes...A guy can get awful bitter in a place like this and a fly-fly boy would be just another thing that a combat marine could take care of. Those guys are so far behind the lines, they even sleep in the south end of their tents. I respect the pilots, tho, they do a lot for us and we never have a chance to thank them. (Marine pilots are best, tho.)
... I'll mail these when I go down to hot chow tomorrow... it's so dark I can hardly see to write...Goodnight... dear wife, - Bob
Darling - ... Happy Mother's Day. ... I'm down for my hot chow today and waiting for the protestant services to begin. Finally got in stride with the rest of the marines and got a case of the dear old G.I.'s. Feel okay now, but don't know the outcome yet... Everyone's got them. The doctor says it's the change in diet from C-rations to hot chow. Kind of hard for the old stomach to get used to eating C-rations one day and chow the next. The only thing that makes me mad is that I can't eat much, but the swill they feed us isn't worth eating, anyhow.
I'm wondering if you've been getting all my mail. Did you get those souvenirs of good money... and those letters that were written on 8th Army stationery?...
I just read in the San Francisco Chronicle that the marines saved the U.N. lines from disaster, with the help of the British Brigade and Korean marines. Didn't know we did that much. Guess I'll have to ask you if I want to know what's going on here. Send me a paper now and then... Hope you can read the letter I wrote in the dark last night... - Love, Bob
One thing about the rain that is falling now is that there aren't so many flies around. Even our planes don't fly in weather like this. I'm snuggled inside of a little shelter I just built and it's quite cozy. Step in, won't you? (Said the beast to the beauty)... How I wish it were that easy. I'm sure getting to know all the angles of camping.
As long as we stay in this one place and as long as I can bum stationery, I'm going to write everyday.... There for awhile we didn't have time to- you know what.
The G.I.'s I had yesterday are gone now, thank heaven. Believe it or not, I feel lots better eating C rations than I do when I eat that slop they give us at batt. H.Q.
Oops, it's raining in a little... shut the windows, mama.
They're starting to hold reville and school everyday now. Imagine, right here on the front lines! Something big is about to happen pretty quick now. We're sucking the chinks into a nice big trap. By the time you get this, it'll be all over but the shouting, and Joe Gook will be running for home. They would never push us off this ridge. Every day we dig and improve positions. Batt. Commander came up yesterday & inspected them and said our particular squad had the best dug positions in the company. You should see mine--about chest deep with a nice little ledge to sit on and take life easy. Did a nice job of camouflaging, if I do say so myself. I can just imagine how the rain is filling it up with water now. You see, we usually dig two positions--one to sleep in and one to fight in. We sleep on the reverse slope and fight on the forward slope. That way we are concealed from the enemy until they start coming. Reminds me of the forestry, when the man on watch yells that the gooks are coming, I hop out of my bag, throw on my shoes, grab my gear and away I go into my fighting hole. Ah, yes, it's a great life.
... A few flies just flew in to keep dry. I blew smoke in their eyes, and they left again. Guess I'm not a very good host.
I woke up this morning to a bird call that sounded like a duck and it reminded me of our trip to the Columbus Zoo... and chuckled to myself... until I finally had to get up and heat me a can of beef stew for breakfast.
Sure am smoking a lot lately, can't help it...
Cut down all 5 day patrols to 3 days now. They decided that 5 days on two C ration meals plus the work and tension involved was too much for a man to take. We were the first and only company to go out for 5 days. Guinea pigs, so to speak. When I got off that patrol the size 30 pants I was wearing was way to [sic] big (I used to wear 32) but now I'm getting fat again.
Stationery is getting awfully scarce now. They sent us a tablet & one envelope for the whole squad in our PX rations. What a joke... Yesterday the guys got packages as far back as February. Naturally, things like candy and fudge were melted or moldy. The only things that last are packed in cans.
Don't mind me rattling on... I'm not going crazy... I'm getting so this kind of living doesn't even bother me anymore. Just have to close our eyes to it and take it as it comes. No use ducking it, just makes it worse.
... You should see the short haircut a [Korean] gave me for a pck. of cigarettes, can of corned beef hash, and a bar of soap. The last two articles I gave him for a bonus. Nobody here ever eats the lousy hash they put in rations. It's getting so the [Koreans] don't even take it anymore. Of course we ate it out on that patrol, after we loaded it with garlic. I found out what being hungry was out there. Found out what being scared was a long time ago. Never get used to that, tho.
In case you don't know what C rations are, I'll try to explain. One day's rations (3 meals) consists of seven cans about the size of Campbell's soup cans. Three cans contain 3 of the following variety: hamburgers, p. & beans, meat & beans, weiners & beans, beef stew, sausage paddies [sic], chicken & veg., C.B. hash, spaghetti, & ham & lima beans. Three cans contain such things as suckers, jam, candy, coffee, & cocoa. The remaining can is fruit of some sort. Therefore, one meal consists of 1 can of heavy, and one can of light. A packet is also added which furnishes cigarettes, gum, water pills & toilet paper. Live on these everyday and you even get so you like them. That two meals a day tho, is no good. When we get our rations everyday it's just like opening a Xmas package to see what you got. After everyone gets his box open, he runs all over trying to trade a can of something he doesn't like. It's quite funny. I got two hash & one beans one day and I'll never get over that. You can't even GIVE hash away...
Still raining, looks like an all day and night job... This paper's getting wet... I'll close here so the other guys can make use of this tablet. Time for my quinine, anyhow. ... Pap, Bob
Dearest... one - As long as there is stationery to scrounge, I can keep up writing everyday, until we get a little busier.
... It is still raining and let up just long enough this morning to allow us to make some much needed repairs on our shelters. It was all right until the wind changed and blew all the rain in the open end of the shelter. I woke up this morning in a puddle from head to foot and everything was soaking wet. When it let up, I got out of the wet bag and changed my shelter a little and half-dried out my gear and sleeping bag. So now I'm all snug in my little home again and outside it's drizzling and the heavy fog that left awhile this morning is rolling back in. I wish the sun would come out...
I've been finding a little joy in working out homemade algebra problems to keep my mind from growing too stagnant... I've forgotten quite a bit that I learned. Also have been entertaining myself with a book of Damon Runyon short stories. Pretty good.
These clippings [you sent me] I've been reading about describing our withdrawal make me mad. It's no wonder you people back there worry like crazy. There's absolutely no sense in writing all that crap down to the detail. Anything to sell newspapers and it's really dramatic. They play it up good & bloody. Don't believer or take serious all that baloney they write. Someday, if I feel like remembering any of this, I'll tell you all about it.
It's starting to rain harder again... reminds me of Oregon. Imagine yourself living in the Oregon outdoors during a week of their drenching wet rains and that'll take care of two Korean rainy days. At least that's the way it seems to me.
A guy just passed me in two cigars and I'm laying here enjoying it... I won't do such things when I get home... I have to be doing something all the time. smoking or chewing gum or something, anything. They just passed the word that we can buy 8 cans of beer that'll come up tomorrow, but a guy is buying for the whole squad. Good, good, good! Haven't had any beer for a long time...
Today is our 38th day on line. I guess they're considering this lull in fighting & 3 days a week of hot chow is a rest. It just isn't the same back in the rear as it is up here. A man can't relax up here, no matter how quiet it is. Every man stands a watch every night and back in the rear it's only a short one every 3 nights or so, and then back there you only watch like a stateside firewatch. Up here, it's different.
It's quite funny when a guy gets to thinking of the habits he's formed here and what would happen if he went home with the same habits... Such as: going into the bathroom and bracing the legs before sitting down (developed on these mountain sides) and then trying to dig up the floor in an effort to cover up the product. Then at meal time coming in with filthy hands, putting a can of beans on the stove, eating them, and then throwing the can in a corner. At bed time, going into the back yard, dig a hole and throw out a sleeping bag and checking with the wife what time you have to stand your watch. Then there is of course the rolling out at the slightest noise, or diving for a hole w hen a car backfires and other such oddities that make up our present life. You get used to anything after a while and it's not so hard to take.
Had to break myself of sleeping all sprawled out--sleeping bag isn't big enough. Sleep with my field jacket as a pillow--ground doesn't serve the same purpose that the mattress used to. ... I'll never complain about anything again.
Can't wait to hold our baby, you'll have to teach me to change diapers, too. I'll never care if the baby wakes me up in the night. Can go a long time without sleep, found that out here.
Well... I think I'll heat me up a can of corned beef hash (ugh) and a cup of cocoa for supper. These letters are in bad shape from the rain so hope you can read them okay... Always remember that I am with you in my prayers and dreams... - Bob
Darling - Am now down for hot chow again and I must say they finally put out some decent food for a change. I snuck in the line twice this morning and ended up with four eggs, 2 sausages, 3 boxes of cereal, 2 oranges, and drank about a quart of that powdered milk they mix. No. 1. I just got through the lunch that consisted of fried spam, peas, potatoes, cake, peanut butter & bread, & that whitewash they call milk. It was pretty good and I'm wondering if I'll be able to climb back up the mountain with all this chow in me.
It finally quit raining, but is still gloomy & foggy.
I went to church service this morning and going again this afternoon. The chaplain holds three a day... they give me quite a lift. It seems funny going to church with a weapon strapped on my back and ammo around my waist. Back to that old irony again.
Haven't had any mail for a long time. Nobody seems to be getting much. Can't understand it unless it's fouled up somewhere. A guy got an airmail package today that only took 12 days to get here. It cost too much, tho, and don't think you'd better send any airmail...
We're supposed to get shots for sleeping sickness on e of these days...
You've probably got a letter from me since the chink offensive began and now I hope you've stopped worrying. Nothing at all to worry about, except maybe I'm getting a little fat from not doing much of anything. Haven't seen any gooks for ages...
Just happened to be meandering past one of these rear echelon pogey's tents and a radio was giving out with some symphonic music, so I hung around and listened until it was over. It's the first music like that I've heard since I left Pusan. I don't know whether it made me better or worse, but it was sure nice.
Think I'll cut this short... and wash up before I go to the service... hope the baby isn't causing you much grief... - ... Love..., Bob
Dear ... mama - Please pardon this dirty stationery, but beggars can't be choosey.
Business is picking up again and I suppose we'll be back to the old routine before long. Remember the [Korean] barber that cut my hair? He's now in a P.W. stockade. Somebody finally got wise and picked him up. He was a spy and had all our positions and barbed wire mapped out. I thought he had no business up here on the line, but nobody seemed to care, so I didn't either. Next civilian that comes up here gets clobbered.
I went down for hot chow again today and it was pretty good. My stomach must have shrunk because I can't eat as much as I used to... I eat as much as I can stuff in and get so full I can hardly move, which isn't near what I used to pack away. Nobody gets to go down tomorrow, so I'll maybe get to rest a day up here...
I get a kick out of trying to talk to the Korean laborers and odd-balls they have around. The best statement I heard today from one who travels with our company was, "U.S.M.C. - No. 1 (best), U.S. Army - No. 10 (no good)." We talked all afternoon trying to explain to each other what different things meant in our own language. This one particular guy explained to me in a roundabout way that he was going to school in Chunchon before the war and his mother was there. Then he asked me if the Chinese were in Chunchon yet. I told him I didn't know. I told him, "Chinese would soon be no more," as I made like a machine gun... These Koreans are really bearing the blunt end of this war. Hardly a house is left standing, and only the old people are left to cultivate the paddies. The chinks carried off a lot of young men and women during their last retreat. We have a little Korean boy with the company that we picked up when we walked out of the second trap. He was living in a cave on the 38th and as we walked by, he came wandering out half-naked, half-starved, so we picked him up, hoping to drop him off in a S. Korean village so someone would take care of him. He's been with us ever since and the boys feed him and clothe him and teach him naughty words to say to other marines. He has a better pair of shoes than I do. His name is Pisan.
I've got the first watch tonight, so maybe I'll get a decent night's sleep if nothing happens. About 7 hours in all.
The sun finally came out this afternoon accompanied by a very chilly breeze. A new moon comes out early and retires early every night. I'm glad to see that moon again.
Dog company went out on a patrol the same place we did and ran into some gooks. They (D. Co.) laid on a ridge and watched these [enemy] change into civilian clothes so as to infiltrate our lines as refugees. After waiting a half an hour trying to get permission to fire on them (a recon patrol trys [sic] to avoid a fight) they finally did and left many, many [enemy] behind that will never ever again make trouble for anyone...
The mail situation is nil... I hear there's quite a bit back at Div. H.Q... I go nuts when I dont' hear... how I dream and live for the day when I can take the two of you (you & Jr.) in my arms and hug you... and never let you go.
After this is over, there will be a future to work for and a terrible past to be forgotten... I have so much to say that can't be put into... lines that I slowly jot out while lying on a Korean mountainside... So many things I want to tell you... and plans...
It's getting dark and almost time for my watch, so I'll have a last cigarette... - God bless you, Papa
Dear Bobby,
...thought I would take time to write you a letter... I was tickled to hear that [your wife] was pregnant. I think it is wonderful. She'll be a wonderful mother and of course you will be a pretty good father. Who am I kidding, you'll be the best ever. You should be home by December. I hope and pray you are
... We are all sitting around waiting for our babies to come. More women are pregnant. Must be something we ate or something in the water. I'll be so glad to be slim again. When the guys stop whistling at you, then you know there's something wrong, and they stopped whistling at me months ago. I think I've lost my sex appeal. I haven't really lost it it's just settled in my seater. (Isn't that an awful way to talk. I'm so sweet, too). - Love, your sister, Betty Anne
[further pages lost]
... Darling Husband,
This is the 4th time I have written this letter and each time it gets harder. If only I were there to tell you and not have to write it.
We have lost our baby... I just came home from the hospital today... It all started last Tuesday night... Thursday I got so bad they had to take me to the hospital... what a nightmare these last few days have been...
I'm still asking why and hurt of losing our baby is still there but God will help us. A little more rain in our life... to make the sunshine brighter... The hardest part of it all is writing and telling you...
I'm going to concentrate on getting good & strong so when you come home we can have another one...
I know that this is harder on you being so far from home and I know how much you wanted it... I'm praying that God will help us understand why and I know this is where you'll turn too... May God take good care of you and help us both at this time...
I just read the paper where the Chinese are starting another attack & my heart goes to my toes...
You must get awfully hungry [eating weiners and garlic]. when you get home I'll be in heaven just to be able to cook & take care of you.
The months... will pass eventually... - Love always, [Your wife]
Dearest ... Mama - Only a few minutes until dark, so will write what I can.
We moved and it came as a complete surprise to us. We rolled out early yesterday morning... We're getting awfully busy again. The army relieved us and we thought sure we were going to a rest area. When we got to the bottom of the hill, I got a package and 3 letters... I've got a lot to tell you so I'll probably make it short, or wait until I have more time... Maybe I'll have time tomorrow...
We walked 15 miles to Hongchon yesterday and thought sure we were going to be there to rest a few days, because that is an ideal place in the rear to be. They told us we were to be held in reserve to plug any gaps in the line in case of a breakthrough. Well, early this morning we boarded trucks and rode east about 15 miles and then walked north about 6 miles and relieved an army unit, so we are back on line after 8 whole hours in a rest area. It seems [some non-marine units retreated last night' so us marines have to come up and hold the line... There's a lot of humor connected with our march yesterday, so will describe details later... - Goodnight, my love, Papa
Honey-bunch,
We moved about 200 yds up the ridge, and are dug in, so I think I've got time to write a little. We're in business again and it's getting heavy. all night there was an artillery duel and our guns finally won out. The shells from our guns were coming so close over our heads, I felt as if I could reach out and touch them with my hand; of course, I wouldn't try it! Of course, there was no sleep for anybody. Since sunup the Marine Corsairs and Navy Panther jets have been giving the gooks on the next high ground from here about 1000 yds seven kinds of hell. They've really been pasting them. A nice, quiet Sunday afternoon. We don't have to worry so much about them in the daytime. I'm becoming quite a night owl and don't require near as much sleep as I used to.
We moved from the other place the day before yesterday, quite a few miles from here. They gave us strict orders that we were not to bark or whistle at the doggies who relieved us. That made us mad and we had to have SOME fun, so we made many, many signs and hung them all around the place. As we moved down the hill, we met the doggies coming up and we didn't say a word. One doggie said to us, "U.S.M.C. - U.S. Muscle Corps." A big negro doggie, who was catching his breath on the trail, was telling us how far it was. We told him we walked it every day just for hot chow. he said he'd starve to death before he walked that far for chow and one marine said, "Ah, hell, it's just a short walk." The negro breathlessly said, "It's a short walk for a marine but ah'm in da army, tho." We got a chuckle out of that. When we reached Batt. H.Q., I got a package of letters and had just time enough to read the letters and strap the package to my pack. During a break, I opened it, passed out the candy and stowed the Kools. Another guy got a package, too, and we ate during the whole march. Also at Batt. H.Q., there happened to be an empty doggie jeep with a crate of Schenley's Canadian Brand whiskey in it. Well, some of the boys, being rather chilly, because of the rain, decided they needed a stimulant, so one by one, nonchalantly, they walked past the jeep and each grabbed a fifth and hid it in his jacket. All during the march, guys were swiping boxes of chow off of passing trucks and passing it around. As we passed different outfits, we yelled at guys we knew and had one big circus the whole fifteen miles. We reached Hongchon and everybody thought sure we were there for a rest because Hongchon is really in the "rear with the gear." That night, we got our 8 cans of beer that was paid for the day before and everybody was drunk and having a merry time that night, what with all the whiskey and beer. It was the first night we could relax for the 41 days on line, to that time. I drank one can of beer before hitting the sack, because I was tired and in no mood to make merry. I drank another can while I stood watch, gave two away and packed four. We got word to board trucks the next morning and everyone thought we were just going further to the rear, so we drank beer, whiskey, swiped chow off of trucks, made cracks, and whistled at the doggies and M.P.'s and just had one big time for about fifteen miles; then the trucks pulled to a stop and we thought, "Boy, they're going to give us a break so we can heat our rations." What a laugh, we got word to unload and saddle up. Faces dropped and the laughing stopped. Then the doggies told us what happened. Our boys, the ROK's hauled ass and the doggies lost some more ground, where we are now. It just so happens, this is where the 5th Marines jumped off into the attack during "operation killer" last March. The marines had all of this ground secured for miles around two months back. Everyone was mad and our gunner screamed to the doggies standing by watching, "Once, just once, why can't your guys hold on to ground we take for you! Just once!" The poor doggies grew red in the ...
[letter ends abruptly. Apparently next page(s) lost.]
[Janes Note Year 2000: The Army troops did not wait for us to relieve them in their positions. They were coming down the hill while we were stumbling up. I'll never forget the Army 2nd Lieutenant begging and pleading with his men to wait for us to relieve them. They paid no attention to him and kept on coming down the hill. We secured our positions at the top and held the line. I don't remember getting attacked that night, but I do remember the Air Force B-29s and Navy 16-inch guns laying down a barrage right in front of our lines all night with the earth shuddering beneath at every explosion. When we jumped off after a day or two, dead Chinese troops were everywhere, ripped apart in many grotesque ways, with their supply animals, including camels and horses. There were also some dead medical personnel, including females wearing red crosses on their caps. Later on we discovered 200 dead and wounded U.S. soldiers--mostly dead--who had been caught in an ambush as they fled in retreat down a draw. It is my understanding that this particular Army regiment lost its flag to the enemy and to this day is trying to earn it back.]
Dearest...
I just received your letter telling me the news. At a time like this I am lost for words. All I know is that it's God's will... I keep telling myself that but it's hard to take. I haven't been able to talk to anyone or think of anything since I got the letter and as I am writing this my throat is stuffed and there are tears in my eyes. I cried it out in as private place as I could find and I prayed to God and thanked Him for keeping you safely through what must have been a terrible experience. We still have our future ahead of us... and that's what we must have in mind constantly. Let us not lose our faith in God and each other... We can still have children... I could never have taken what you did... I know that if I had been there it might not have happened... I only wish I could have shared some of that burden & pain for you...
I got the airmail package yesterday morning just before we jumped off and ate most of it on the spot...
Today we secured our objectives early and there is now a lull in business and only because of this is there time to write. This stationery and one envelope was given to the squad, so I grabbed it in a hurry. We are terribly busy so don't worry if you don't hear from me so much... I'll always be safe so there's no need to worry. We are a little south of Hwachon Reservoir... and we are jumping off for the reservoir tomorrow morning.
I just wish I had plenty of time to write... while we're on the offensive, we go from dawn to dusk and there's hardly time to eat. It has to be that way, and I think Joe Chink is on his last lap,. I hope and pray so.
It's getting quite late... I hope you can read the letter I wrote on the back of Betty Ann's letter... I carried them around in my pocket for 5 days before I had a chance to give it to a runner to mail for me. I hope he doesn't forget. All that counts now is that you're all right... Goodnight, my dearest... - Bob
... Letters I didn't get a chance to mail. We're on the offensive & got the gooks on the run. Very busy every day. Now east of Chunchon, 7 miles south of 38th... this is the toughest I've ever had it in all my fouled up life...if I ever have to serve again, which I'll shoot my leg off before I do, I'll get in the Air Force. This infantry is for the birds. We do the most, deserve the best, and get the least, but it's always been that way and I can't change it...
... I think I'll be a better man after this. Things don't faze me anymore like they used to. I mean things like somebody being hurt or something. We close our eyes to a lot of it, but deep inside it still hits hard. "He was a good guy," then it's never mentioned again, but I think every man's insides cry with sorrow while his surface remains hard. I know I'm that way. It has to be that way or a man would go crazy over night. It's something every man here wants to forget, if you can forget this kind of stuff. No man wants to purposely hurt someone, but when good buddies get hurt, it's not hard at all to repay the responsible parties and laugh about it afterwards. It's a dirty job that has to be done, so do it, get it over with, and forget about it. Forget, forget, God help me forget!
The doggies are tied in with our squad. We're okay if they don't run off and leave our flanks open... if they do, we'll just turn our guns on them. There's no room for cowards up here... There must be better things to write about... oh, shut up Janes... I just run off with myself.
It's not like in the movies over here...there just isn't the background music to make it more exciting. There is a lot of drama and emotional moments and different characters play the parts...
They still call me daddy, and I call them son. It's quite funny.
... The corsairs are still going strong. I'm sitting here in my hole watching the show. It's a wonderful feeling to know those guys are on our side. These marine pilots are the best there is. They're noted for the close support they give us. And yet we never get to thank them...
Dearest ...
I have no idea when I'll be able to mail this, and it's almost dark so I won't be able to write much tonight...
... Your letter telling me the heart-breaking news... hurt me deep inside and I've never had such sadness... I thought of seeing the Chaplain, but I'm much to [sic] badly needed with the squad and there wasn't time. Every time I read your letter I had to sob a little and I didn't care what the other guys thought. I think they understand. If only I could have helped you in some way...
... As for the news now, which you are reading in a hashed-up newspaper story, is good. We have two Chinese armies trapped and are closing it like a ___ claw, taking everything it its path. The big wheels think the chinks will quit fighting if we close the trap successfully. That would be to [sic] wonderful for words. I am now about 10 miles north of the 38th on the eastern front, I think. Today is my 50th day on line and I think when this deal is over, we'll get a long rest. We've shattered all records and a little peace & quiet for awhile should put us back to par again. Just a little peace & quiet!
It's getting too dark now... - Love always..., Bob
... Wonderful one,
I feel better this morning after a little bit of rest last night. We jumped off at 2:30 a.m. yesterday and by last night I was done in. We are now waiting for the 1st battalion to catch up with our flank and are moving out then, which could be any minute now...
... My insides are still eating away at me and every time I think of [losing our baby] it darn near gets me... The best thing to do now is try not to think about [it]. It is necessary for me to have a clear mind at this time... say a little extra prayer of thanks for me... I've remained unharmed thus far... We're moving out... - I love you, Bob
... Wifey,
Don't have much time to write. This is to let you know I am fine and there is nothing to worry about. We have been terribly busy and you may not hear from me so regular now. Today is 58 days on line and with no hope for a rest for awhile. If we could only get a few days to relax and write letters and wash up. Our company now consists of about 1/2 of its men. Replacements are due any day now so that should bring us up to full strength.
... I probably won't be home before Nov. unless something happens. There are still guys here that have been here since last Sept. & Aug. I hate to dissapoint [sic[ you honey... but facts are facts.
... The last two weeks have been nothing short of hell [and the mail I got from everybody was very uplifting.]
... No one can ever talk to me again about the [non-marine U.S. forces]. I know how they operate because the last two weeks we've been tied in with them on the offensive. We had to hold up a day and wait for them to catch up with us. I saw 200 dead & wounded they left behind when they retreated a couple of weeks ago. The 5 wounded were lucky, the Chinese let them go. Right now we've got to go up and secure 9,000 meters of ground they bypassed. The only way they can fight is from the back end of a truck... As for the Air Force, the ground men of the Air Force... [are] far behind the line. The pilots help us a lot, but when their mission is done, they go back and have their hot meals and clean, soft bed. The only man that knows what war is, is the man who is serving in a line company. Even many marines who are rear echelon don't know what it is. Nobody can tell you what it's like, you've got to be right there on the spot, then the feeling you have is undescribable [sic] hell. There's nothing I could do that would send me to hell, because I'm already here.
... Thank [your brother] for his well letter... I've lost his address tho, the rain ruined all the letters I was carrying. Enclosed is some [Chinese] money, & propaganda that I picked up after we took a hil... - Your ... husband, Bob
[Janes Note Year 2000: Our company got lost from the rest of the battalion due to the fog and rain for a few days. About the second or third night we set up a perimeter on the top of a mountain. The only water our squad had was what I had collected in a poncho and poured into my and other's canteens. After a night of raining and shivering, we again rose to thick fog. Our squad broke all our weapons down, parts spread all over a poncho, to clean off the mud and rust. We did the machine gun first, then our own weapons: carbines, .45 automatics, and M1 rifles. All of a sudden the fog lifted and the sun shone. Then all hell broke loose, bullets flying, men running from a northern direction, bleeding and clenching their wounds. We threw our weapons together and took off North a few yards to return fire. While putting my carbine together, my trembling hands dropped the sear spring into the dirt, without which my carbine was useless. Luckily, even though shaking severely, I was able to recover it, finish reassembling my weapon and quickly joined the squad in returning fire and going into the assault. We found out later we had completely surprised a battalion of the enemy. This was on the Southern rim of the "Punch Bowl" area.]
... Sweetheart,
... We were supposed to move out first thing this morning. Here it is afternoon and no word yet.
What has happened the last two weeks -- We jumped off into the attack the day after I wrote you the letter on back of a letter from Betty Ann. We took all the ground back in two days that the army units had lost, then we broke through the gook lines and went hog wild and gained mucho ground. Our company alone took the battalion objective and we were so far ahead of everyone else they didn't know where we were (fog, rain, no radio or air contact). We went 2 days on 1 1/2 meals and one day on no food at all. Finally the other companies caught up with us, the skies cleared and they dropped chow to us from "flying box cars" and we continued on to take more and more ground and stopped to where we were last night with only 50% of the company left. We paid a terrible price and the going was tough, but the gooks paid much higher than we did. The Korean marines relieved us last night and we thought sure we were going to get a rest, but we've got to go relieve some doggies so they can rest. Nuts! We walked about 15 miles and got here last night, somewhere behind the lines. We're supposed to go back on line today. Yesterday we were about 5 or 6 miles west of east of Inje. I don't know where we are or where we're going. All I know is everybody is pooped and sick and tired of fighting. All we want is just a few days rest and hot chow. The gooks are probably going crazy trying to keep up with us, we shift so much.
It has done nothing but rain and fog for the last two days. The sun shines about 2 days a week. There's nothing I could ever say that would describe this deal. I don't think anyone could. Best thing to do is forget about it.
It does no good to talk about it now, but if you had wired me when it happened, I would have got it when we were sitting around... and I could have got over it sooner. As it was, I got your letter a couple of days after we were in the attack, and if it's any time a guy should have a clear mind, it's then, and it was a whale of a load to carry for awhile...so let me know right away when anything comes off...
... I try to sound happy and sometimes I write you when I shouldn't because of the moods created by this life... It's a hell of a feeling having my hands tied like this and helpless to do anything.
Ask [...] how he can be such an authority on this war & the marines and the army & the air force when he's never stuck his clean, white neck into anything like this? It's the same over here. A rear echelon marine picks up the stories of experiences that we on the line have, also buys souvenirs from us that we get when we overrun a hill, then he goes home or writes home in detail about the bloody battles and action he's been in when actually he doesn't know what it's all about. We who do the fighting and the dirty work try to forget a fight when it's over with, because it's more terrible than you can imagine. I would have gook weapons or a number of things that are there when we take a position, but I don't want them. The thought of past firefights make me sick and I don't want anything to remind me. I carried a tooth I knocked out of a dead gook's mouth for awhile after my first fight, but then I got so sick of misery & death and all this horrible stuff that I gave it to some punk who likes to snow the new replacements. That's the kind of man he is. When we got word we were jumping off into a big push he turns into sickbay and missed all of the worst fighting this company's had since the trap up north last winter. So what does he do? He came back yesterday and we told him about the hills we took and the gooks we killed, so he writes home and tells everybody he went through what we did. There's a lot of jarheads like that. They live off the glory and get credit for something that other marines die fir. No man in his right mind wants to remember or talk about this. A guy that goes home and talks about what he's been through probably never even saw the front line. Anymore I just close my eyes to it and hope I don't go crazy.
Whew! I sure got excited, didn't I...? It's raining again so I crowded into my little shelter.
Remember Fred Bogner? He led a squad of snipers that was attached to us, as a point when we assaulted the last hill we took. Well, every one of them got wounded. I was just talking to him before we jumped off that morning. I don't know how bad. That was last Sat. morning... he hadn't heard from MacManus, either.
I scrounged a no. 1 poncho off the army and a rubber "blow 'em up" mattress from one of the guys that got wounded, so now I'm sitting pretty. I have to blow the mattress up about 4 times a night, it's got a leak in it somewhere. Sure is better than trying to sleep on the cold, hard, rocky ground.
... I can't imagine how wonderful it will be to be home safe again...
This letter hasn't done much but bitch so I'd better quit. Don't worry if it's too long between letters...
God bless you, Bob
...darling,
The main trouble with stationery is that the envelopes always stick together, either from rain or sweat. But it's just another thing to put up with.
We secured some of this by-passed land yesterday and are set up on one of the ridges. We're supposed to get relieved for a rest today, but we've been supposed to be relieved for 3 weeks now. i daren't think about it. I'm leaving the "bitching stage" of this life and entering the "I don't give a damn" phase. It doesn't pay to get mad or listen to all the promised they feed you.
I'm in E category of the reserves and probably will serve my time in this forsaken land before I come home... I can figure on 6 more months here, which brings it up to the average of what every marine is serving on the "6 mo. rotation plan"... They don't start figuring your time until you've actually joined your company which I did on April 5th...so that means I'll be here until Dec... I'll be darn lucky if I get home by Christmas...
You've never seen a rougher-looking bunch of men than we are. We're actually crummy. The last I touched hot water was Apr. 4 at Pusan, except the time a month ago when I heated a helmet full the last time I shaved. I've changed clothes once and the only time they've been off is when I got those few opportunities to bathe in a stream. I'm afraid if I took them off now, they'd run away from me shouting, "Keep away from you, you cruddy thing." If the replacements join us before we have a chance to clean up a little, we'll probably scare them to death.
Sixty days on line today. Everybody's so washed out they don't even bother... prisoners... anymore. A prisoner is a sorry thing in the hands of marines, but the ones we took the last couple of days have been lucky.
Don't know when I'll get to mail this. Just put it away until I can. Me oh my what a life.
... I'll close here and write later when I'm in a better mood... - Your ever-lovin' husam, Bob
Well, I feel much better now. We came down off the hill we took yesterday and are set up on low ground by a river. The 1st batt. relieved us and we are now in regimental reserve for a couple of days, I hope. We get hot chow tomorrow, I hope again. Actually the whole regiment gravely needs a rest and I have hopes that we'll be relieved in a few days. We came down this afternoon and it was pretty hot. Well, we took a break by the river and this skipper said we'd have 2 hours, so everyone went crazy with joy, threw off all their crummy clothes and dove into the river. It was wonderful and I soaped myself down about ten times before the scum finally came off my skinny body. I plan on going swimming tomorrow. We're a few hundred yards from the line, just enough to relax a little bit.
I hear we got a write-up in a paper telling the story of how our platoon took the batt. objective. We "fixed bayonets and ran a battalion of gooks off of hill 808." We did run a lot of 'em off and we watched them as they ran down into the valley out of range of our gun. But many didn't have a chance to run and my carbine talked mucho pretty music to them. There's a long story about that hill and some humor that I'll tell you about someday maybe. It wasn't funny then, but it is now. Also some sadness that I don't like to think about. Maybe you'll read about it in a magazine or something. Actually, it wasn't as tough a fight for that hill as it was for the ones following. A guy that came over with me knocked out a light and heavy machine gun by himself on that hill, but he paid a big price for it. He'll get either the Navy Cross or Silver Star--posthumously. I'll tell you about him someday maybe. So if you read about how the 3rd platoon Easy Co. 5th marines took hill 808, you'll be reading abut me and the rest. Enough of that.
Replacements should be in shortly. The company is desperately short of men, so it's a good thing.
Tell ... [...] about ... [the] Air Force... jets pounded the hill (next one after 808) one evening and morning and then we tried to take it and got pinned down for six hours, lost many men and had the toughest fight we've ever had. The gooks were still there--300 of them, so intelligence said, and they were still there when we secured it, only not able to fight. I'll never forget that fight and believe me, I never prayed harder or was more scared in all my life. The army never would have taken that hill... [planes aren't around when it's raining or foggy] ... no ground is ever taken until we secure it. We--the men who live--exist--in the mud and rain and eat meager rations and sweat out the heat and shivver out the cold. We who never take our clothes off for weeks on end, and fight no matter how hard it rains, or how heavy the fog and lose sleep at nights and buddies all the time. We meet the enemy face to face. We wipe out bunkers that all the planes in the world couldn't harm.. sure, they help us a lot, but the infantryman bears all the brunt of battle and before battles. We know what being hungry, thirsty, tired, cold, hot, and every human misery is. We have to put up with all of these besides the enemy. Oh, what's the use, no one will ever know or realize what it is until they're actually going through it. It's just beyond words so why ever talk about it.
I don't know why I even mentioned what's going on, guess it's because I feel so good right now. It's just something I want to forget...
I'm glad you're on your feet again... you'll never know how I worried. ... Don't know when I'll get home again, truthfully...
I'm full of words, but it's getting dark. I'll write again tomorrow if nothing happens... - Good night... darling, Bob
My Dear Grandson -
Well - you are a full fledged scout now. ... Your letter was sure full of fire... My gosh boy - why didn't you wait awhile. Don't you know I am great grandmother ten times (or nearly) now. First thing you know I am going to turn into a peacock with my feathers all aflare...
Bob, I do hope you will not have to be in the front line and that God will ... protect you every moment...
Now Bob, you don't have to apologize for the dirt and smudge on your letters. That is all on the outside. The inside is the hardest to keep clean. Know what I mean? You sure have enough load to carry -- it will make you strong and able to walk the floor at night carrying the baby. I am proud of you boy, and hope your bravery will help build the morale of others about you.
Now one thing I differ with you. My whole support is for McArthur. Our President is just a nincompoop. If you could have been here and heard McA talk, you would have been won by his voice and words... [Truman' should go back to the farm & raise tomatoes...
Thanks for the description of frontier life in your letter. I have read it to several of my friends & they all said, "God bless you and protect you."
... Hope this finds you well and strong and hopeful... - Lovingly, Grandma [Janes]
Dearest,
I'm trying hard to get this letter started but interruptions keep coming up. I just wrote the draft board to let them know where I am in case they need me. Ha! Ha! [I had received a notice to appear before the Draft Board of Columbus, Ohio.]
We got our hot chow this morning, all right. After wading two rivers, walking a mile and standing in line for two hours. It was good, tho. Had 3 hotcakes and two razor blade eggs with plenty of "butter" and jam & coffee.
... I heard that the Chinese offered peace if both of us would stay behind the 38th and even the Russians offered to help the U.N. and the U.S. turned it down. Sure made us mad that U.S. turned down a chance to end this war. Don't know whether it's true or not. Seems funny if Russia did offer help, we've captured a heck of a load of Russian ammo & weapons that the gooks were using. They're as good, if not better, than ours.
I'll enclose another pamphlet that the [enemy] leave for us. There are all kinds of these things around. Some are actually funny they're so full of lies & baloney.
... It's clouding up for rain again. This is the darndest weather I've ever seen in my life. Enough to drive a man crazy. Never saw so many different insects and varmits before. And in such quantities. The frogs, which are everywhere, even on the highest mountains are the funniest looking things I've ever seen. They are dark green with black speckles and bright red toenails. Like to have scared the pants off of me the first time I saw one. They hop in your shelters, sleep with you at night, and hide in your shoes. Just raise hell in general. On quiet nights they sing and argue with each other like crazy. They're a pretty good alarm, tho, when they stop croaking, we start looking.
Saw a lot of my buddies I went through Pendleton with. I was worried about them because this regiment has hit the stuff all over... one I saw was Seagrave...
Our replacements just came in. I used to like to snow the new men, but anymore I just keep my mouth shut. They'll find out what it's like before long.
Write and tell mom to tell Lois that [...]got wounded. He caught one right through the cheeks of his rear end...
Changed my mind about what kind of a guy makes a good combat marine. A guy that horses around and cuts-up all the time and doesn't give a darn about anything, makes the best fighter. Me, I ain't worth a damn because I take things serious and won't take chances because I've got too much to live for. No-siree, I let the goof-offs do all the chance-taking. [So don't worry.]
Sure am getting my belly full of this war. Sick of it. Dread going back on line. Oh well, with help from God I'll see it through.
Too cold to go swimming today, so I didn't make it. Haven't showered yet, either, so I guess I'd better before I scare the new [replacements] to death...
Heard from Pop Gauggel again the other day but the rain ruined it so I can't send it...
Am sleeping in a rice paddy now and the flies are as thick as ever. They almost carried off my carbine this morning, but I caught them just in time. A wittle itty butterflie just drifted by and said to tell you hello...
One thing I'm going to try to keep as a souvenir is my air panel. That's a bright-colored piece of good cloth which we put out so the fly-fly boys know that we're friendly troops. It would make an awful good bandanna for you.
Got to go now to get me some clean dungarees, I hope. Just got a brand new pair of pants. Whee! When I took the others off, they ran and jumped in a hole by the gun screaming, "Where are they, where are they!" Still got my crummy jacket, it wasn't torn so I couldn't get a new one...
... God bring us together again very soon...
Your scatter-brained husaban! - Bob
Rain. All the time rain. Nothing ever but rain. Went over to church service but got rained out.
I got promoted 1st ammo-carrier. "Chief," they calls it. I'm first to take over the gun if one of the gunners get hit. Don't know whether I like that or not. There are five ammo-carriers (if T.O.) and I'm the head of them, more or less--mostly less.
... Rumors say we're going back on line tomorrow. Don't doubt it, we're almost back to full strength. Oh well, 2 nights sleep and one day of hot chow helped a little. This is still counted as time on line. We're only a few hundred yards from the line.
Just got back from chow. Still raining like crazy. I've never been so wet so much. The funny part of it is, I never catch pneumonia or even a cold, darn it. If I slept all night on the cold wet ground and at the same time soaked to the skin and shivvering [sic] my teeth out in the states, I'd be sick in no time. Must be getting used to the outdoors.
Didn't tell you about the run-in I had with a doggie lieutenant, did I? Well at that last place we set up before securing this by-passed land, we were next door to a doggie artillery outfit which always eats hot chow. Well, we just came off line after two weeks of hell and starving to death and so marines went to various doggie chow halls to try and scrounge some left overs. Another guy and I were the only ones at this one tent and things looked pretty promising until 15 other marines came walking up. This lieutenant got perturbed and told us to clear out. So everybody did except me and I was busy talking to Seagrave and Ramsey whom I hadn't seen for some time. The doggie looked at me and said to clear out, they didn't have enough to feed us, too, very sarcastic like--and said we got our own rations. I gently told him in the worst tone I could manage that C rations got a little tiresome after 3 months. He said, "We get them once in a while, too." I said, "Yea, once in a great while," then went on to tell him to take his hot food and jam it, then I walked away. You should have been the food they were eating! Cake, macaroni & cheese, coca cola and all kinds of things very demoralizing to us marines. Even doggie line companies carry a chow tent with them. We don't get anything. We beg, borrow, and steal what little we do get. Maybe that's why we're so damn good at fighting.
Every time I think of the misery and pain you went through, it makes me feel so bad. Our day is coming...Darkness is shutting me out... - God bless you, Bob
... Darling,
I still can't find out what day it is, nobody seems to know. I'm laying here enjoying a [cigarette]. Got your package today mailed April 25th...
It rained all night last night and is still cold and dark. No doubt the newspapers back there start out with, "Rain-drenched Allied troops, etc." Ha!
Had a nice feed this morning--scrambled eggs, potatoes, oatmeal, applesauce, puffed rice, "butter" milk, and plenty of cherry jam. Too bad my stomach isn't as big as it used to be. Sure do stuff myself. My system doesn't know what to think.
Just passed the word that there will be a weapons inspection this afternoon. Nuts! They just can't leave us alone for a minute...
It's anybody's guess how long we'll be here...The new replacements went on a conditioning hike this morning. Ha! We're still a few men short.
I hear Walter Winchell has been making some wild predictions about the end of this war. I hope he's right.
... can't wait to get my hand on one of those banana cream pies.
... Well... I'd better get my carbines cleaned. Don't want to have my liberty card taken away. Ha! - All my love... Bob
...Sweetie Pie,
...Rumors are flying, as usual. Only this time it's that as soon as the 1st Batt. secures two more objectives, the whole Div. goes back in X Corps reserve. Of course that's probably a bunch of baloney, like all the rest of the stuff, that flies around here. The Division has been on line Since Feb. so maybe there's a possibility.
...Wonder how it would feel to put on a dry pair of pretty sox and slip on some of my old "civvie" shoes with heel cleats and go stromping down a nice, solid, level, cement sidewalk? ... Hope I slow my stride down before I get home, or you'll never be able to keep up with me. I'll just have to carry you in my arms, I guess. Oh, what fun!
I've been photographed by a marine photographer about 15 times since I've been here. He went out on a lot of patrols with us and seemed to like our machine gun squad, or something, and I managed to get my ugly mug into a lot of them. Movies, at that...I guess he sends them to D.C. and then Hollywood takes their choice of different action shots to put into movies.
You surprised me...when you said, "If there are any left, mow a few down for me." I think I've already paid them back, if that's possible...but for even one marine's life, there aren't enough of gooks to kill to even up the score. I've been so lucky...you'll never know. I've seen all I want to of this war and in one big chunk. Two months on line and I'm sick of it. I never thought I could actually have done what I have without cracking...and I'm still fine and healthy. There are men here that have 3 times as much time on line as I have, so I can't say much.
Where they bring the hot chow to us there are a lot of dead gooks laying around, partly covered with dirt and boy, do they smell! Don't faze me, though. Sat right by a couple tonight and stuffed myself, as usual. Guess I can take anything after this.
...I'm really enjoying myself today. Reading a lot of old magazines they gave us. Just laying here on the steep mountainside on a spot I leveled off and got my poncho over me for a shelter. While I'm writing this the rain drops are spattering and making sounds like raindrops will, when they land on a poncho. The artillery in back of us lets go now and then and in the distance a volley of small arms fire breaks loose where the 1st batt. is taking some ground. There it goes now. All hell sounds like's flying through the air when those boys let loose.
... it's a good idea enclosing an envelope & writing paper when you write a letter. Usually, the envelopes I have on hand stick together and sometimes I can't get to my pack when I hear from you so I can answer. We drop our packs as soon as we hit the stuff, and there's a good chance of losing it...I always address an envelope before I write to you, because I never know when we might move out, and I have to cut it short...
Even these few days of rest has done me some good. [My waist is] back to 31". Got one good bath the other day in the river, so I'm good for another month again!
Did manage to get my carbine cleaned today and back to T.O. on my ammo, so I'm all set. There's more than one gook with one of my slugs in his rear-end. We won't talk about that...
It's just about dark... - I love you... Bob
... Darling,
... So we the marines were having it rough about then [April 29th]? Can't dispute it.
We moved across the river yesterday morning closer to the galley and was informed we'd stay 7 or 8 days. So, naturally, we moved out a couple of hours later and are now pretty close to the line, backing up the 1st battalion. Seems they're having a bit of trouble. But we're still in reserve, and I like that. We got hot chow this morning, they brought it up pretty close to us and we didn't have to walk too far to get it... Where we were yesterday was too good to be true, anyhow--low ground by a river. I still haven't shaved and not going to until the regiment gets relieved. We set up here last night in a drenching rain, as usual, but I managed to dry out in my sleep, despite the shivvering. The sun came out for a short while yesterday afternoon and brought the planes out, but they left when the rains came. It rained all night and is__still dark and trying to rain some more. Don't even bother griping about anything anymore. Tain't no use. Caught myself whispering a vulgar word last night while digging a mud hole and pitching a shelter in the pouring rain. The new replacements are having a tough time getting used to it.
I often catch myself dreaming about going home...but try not to. I figure I've got a lot of time here yet and thinking of home just drives a man crazy. All the things I used to know and the happy life I once experienced is just a vague memory. Seems like...something I might have drempt [sic] once. Can't imagine what it would be like to live that way again. But I know I will...
Yep, for once the news might have told the half truth. We had a tough time and the gooks just didn't seem to want to give, but when marines meet an immovable object, it suddenly gets moved. Never before have I seen such bravery and courage among men. It's unbelievable and I don't know what it is that makes marines so stubborn and hot-to-go, but they'll face anything and keep moving. When the doggies meet resistance...they either dig in or withdraw and call for artillery and air strikes until most of the resistance is wiped out. The gooks like that because it gives them time to organize and escape. But as soon as we get hit when assaulting a hill, there's no stopping for nothing and we go right after them. It throws them off balance and they get flustered because they're used to fighting doggies. Most of them try to run and that's when we nail them. We even take a few prisoners... If a gook position is impossible to take any other way, it gets bonzaied by marines...Thank god I'm a machine gunner and not a rifleman, because when such antics are pulled, we stay behind and give supporting fire. I was trained to be a rifleman, you know, and didn't like machine guns at first. I sure do no, despite the heavy load. Don't think I'd ever have guts enough to charge a gook machine gun like our buddies have done a couple of times in the past. Nope, the gooks don't care for us one bit, and I don't blame them.
Saw another thing the other night that is uncommon among the Air Force. That was Marine Corsairs pasting a hill at 2:30 in the morning... You just can't get around this Marine Corps...they're the best in the world. I used to think myself that the marines got too much glory, but I know different now. I've seen it with my own eyes and experienced it myself and it's something more marvelous than anyone can explain, the way marines go right into action at the first sign of enemy. I just can't describe it on paper.
... I dread going back on line. Maybe I'm a coward, I don't know, but I'm so sick of this fighting. Fighting for no reason at all, seeing buddies get hit just for this useless, lousy cause. There's just no sense in it. if it were for a cause it would be different. I don't know, it's beyond me. Why even talk about it, I get going and can't stop.
.... I haven't laughed like I used to in a long time. When I get home I'll let you tickle me for one whole hour just to get my laugh muscles back in shape. I plan on getting my eating muscles back in shape while on the way home so I can eat our way to poverty. Here I am talking about home again...
I've got it planned for when I get back (here I go again). I'm going to take a couple of days rest and rehabilitation, then get a job...get us a place to live, start teaching Sunday School and from that first second on through the years make mad love to you & never stop...And we're going to raise oodles of little girls...will those days never come?
... This letter is probably a depressing one...It must be the weather... I'll close for now so I can scrape the rust and mud off of my sweet little ole carbine. Got to take care of her, she keeps me going... ...love... Bob
...Honey...
Nobody seems to know whether it's Sunday or Monday, and rather than argue with them, I'll just make a wild guess. I wrote to you two letters yesterday, so this is just the next day. Days have absolutely no significance, and even the guys with pocket calendars can't keep track, so I've given up. There are no such things as regular hours or holidays up here and I guess that's what makes it so hard.
... I got the "Look" clippings you sent. The boys get a bang out of them, esp. the little notation you wrote on the one with the girls on the other side... I didn't look at them longer than two hours. Ha! Ha! Just kidding...
I'm back to 2nd ammo carrier. Some of the new replacements were corporals, and a lot of men got promoted to corporal that have a lot of time overseas, so that really fouled things up in the section. One of the guys that got promoted was last ammo-carrier...and they had to move him up to gunner, which moved the asst. gunner back to 1st ammo carrier and me back to 2nd. Oh well, "chief" for a day. I have no desire to make corporal at all...they certainly aren't very fair about it...We had a PFC as our section leader all through the hot fighting and he was darn good. He has been with the company over ten months and hasn't missed a fight and has a purple heart. He's been canceled twice to go home and is still here, a PFC, but someone woke up and decided 10 months on line was too much for any man, so now he is ammo-"corporal" for the M.G. Platoon, which is an easier, safer job, although he's still with a line company. I sure hated to see him leave this section...We've got a bunch of ... [new] squad leaders and a section leader and it's interesting to see how they'll turn out in our next fire fight...
Old Sol still hasn't shown his face since the day before yesterday and it spits rain every now and then. Just like Oregon.
Got C rations to eat today, so they must have something up their sleeve. Probably move out pretty shortly. Was supposed to go on patrol this morning, but that was cancelled, too.
...Artillery has been going full force all night and day today. Can't sleep anymore unless those guys are sounding off. I wonder how it would be to sleep in a nice, warm, soft bed and sleep all the way through a quiet, peaceful night?
Got three cans of beer last night that was paid for by somebody else. Drank one on watch and one for breakfast and gave the other away. Don't care for it so much...
I'll end my humble words here... - God bless... Bob
...Darling,
... Just after I got through eating a noon C ration meal they passed the word anybody who wanted to take a hot shower could take off and go back 3 miles to Batt. C.P. and take one. So, two other guys and myself took off down the mountain to the road and hitched a ride back. The water was hot, all right. Oh yeah! Just as we got there the oil run out and so the water was cold as ice. So we took one anyhow. The shock of hot water would probably have killed me, so what the heck. After a freezing shower we stopped by the galley and had some...fried eggs, potatoes, corned beef (ugh!) and apricots. I was really full after that...we hitched a ride half way back. The rest of the way we horsed around, blew up some gun powder that once belonged to the gooks, and raised hell in general. It was quite fun being away from the company for a while. I got a couple of tags off the captured gook ammo that was made in Russia...
Issued five more cans of beer today, so I think I'll get drunk tonight, if a person CAN get drunk on five cans.
Believe it or not the sun is shining. Doesn't look like for long, tho.
We were going to shave while we were down to batt. but we got so mad at the cold water, we said, "To hell with it." I'll shave when the regiment gets relieved. I've got a blond beard and moustache with black sideburns that go all the way down under my jaw. What a sight...Ha! Ha!
Expect to move out anytime now. We've had 3 days rest and that is really something. - Your devoted...Bob
Dearest...
...Today, we went on patrol without breakfast and got back around noon pretty well pooped and hungry. They had rations by the time we got back, so I hit the sack for a nap and slept all afternoon. Wasn't feeling so hot, but feel fine now.
Got the cookies the church sent. They came last night. Been on the road 3 months, but they were in fine shape. Tasted like they had just been made...They...lasted about ten minutes. I ate about a dozen and the squad ate the rest. The two cans of beer I drank on top of the cookies made me feel fine until about two a.m. this morning. I threw every bit of it up. Oh well, it tasted good going down, anyhow...
Passed up another chance to get some good souvenirs today. Maybe one of these days I'll make myself pick something up. Can't get in the rear far enough to sell some of to the R.E.O.'s (rear-echelon poges), and don't think I deserve to keep the bloody things myself. If I had a way to carry it, I'd pick me up a [enemy] weapon to use when I get home for hunting, etc. Oh, the heck with it...
The sun has been shining all day and brought the flies out with it. They're trying to grab my pencil so they can write you a note...
I sure am in a bad mood...
I did take a spoon off a dead gook today so I'd have something to eat my C rations with. Everybody's got one... Haven't seen any Chinese for quite awhile...all North Koreans. Hope that's a good sign. These N. Koreans sure are tough and stubborn fighters.
Well, well. I believe we're going to get an apple. Hmm. That will hit the spot.
It's getting dark... I think we're moving tomorrow. Don't know where. God only knows... - ...Love...Bob
...Darling,
After a swim, a bath, and a shave, I feel mucho better now...
I blew up my rubber mattress and despite the many leaks, I had a lot of fun floating around the river. It was as crowded as a stateside pool on Sunday, only less modest, if you know what I mean. We just grin and BARE it.
Had a heck of a time shaving my beard off, but it feels lots better now. Look almost human again. Somebody said something about a movie over at the artillery camp, so maybe tonight I'll get to see my first movie in about three months...
I wonder how I'll stand with the draft if I get discharged? If I ever have to serve with a line company again, I won't serve with anyone but Marines...
The sun has been out all day and it's really been hot. I feel sorry for the guys on line today. The flies are as bad as ever, and the little frogs with the red toenails are still running the place. These little frogs are sexy things. When a male wants his female, there's none of this serenading back and forth. He just hides behind a weed and when the girl of his choice hops by he jumps out and grabs her until she finally gives in. Then they retire to their own little paddy and live HOPPILY ever after...
It's just about chow time... - ...Always love... Bob
...Darling,
...Hold on to your hat on this one--it's rumored that we're going in Corps Reserve to Wonju (don't know when) for a nice rest, then to Masan where 5,000 regulars from Lejeune will replace all the reserves, and the reserves will go home to serve more duty in the States. That's the biggest pile of chicken scrappings I've heard in a long time, and don't even dare to believe such a fairy tale.
We moved further to the rear this morning and still in Reg. reserve. Can't understand such a long rest. Almost a week now...But God knows we deserve it. The 2nd battalion's got more straight time on line than any other unit in Korea. We're set up by the river, on low ground, and next to the galley, and are getting hot chow again. Don't know how long we'll be here...
Haven't been feeling so hot lately, anyhow, maybe that's the reason I'm probably better off on line where I can't think so much. This thinking can get a man down. Probably snap out of it soon...
....You've got it tougher than I. Everybody here is in the same boat, but it's different back there. Oh, I don't know, maybe some of those guys that got the "million dollar" wounds in the arms & legs WERE lucky, at that... Always changed my mind, tho, when the stuff started flying. Just want to live a life of peace & quiet and nobody outside to bother me.
Guess I'd better write later when I'm in a better mood. Pretty bushed right now. Guess I'll go wash and even shave. Take a swim, too...
I'll write again tonight. I'll probably feel better then... I love you, Bob
This is my third letter to you today...
It's so peaceful tonight. You'd never know there's a war going on a few miles from here, except for the artillery. The sun is about to call it a day and there are dark clouds in the west, trimmed with gold. The river is drifting lazily by and the crickets are signing their melodious strains to one another. Even the flies are getting drowsy. It's sure going to be hard to go back on line. I shudder to think about it. This is the first time I've been away from the line since I've been in Korea, and it's going to be tough leaving here. Maybe we'll get lucky and the regiment will get relieved before we have to go back. I hope so.
We've really eaten good today. Nothing out of the ordinary Marine Corps chow, but it just seems so good to eat hot meals again. My hands are even clean. I hate to touch anything. I feel so good all over. I wish I were in the rear all the time, like some of the guys. They really have it made.
Sat around a small fire with the guys and relived some of the past firefights, while I brewed me a cup of C ration cocoa that I had left over. A couple of the new men listened so intently and I had to laugh at how their eyes got big when they'd ask us silly questions. I hope they never have to find out what it's like. You can't tell them about it and expect them to know. Nobody will ever know until he's actually lived through it. But that's the way it goes.
Most of the guys still have the G.I.'s mixed in with diahherea [sic] and have had them for days. I've been lucky so far.
There's also a half moon out tonight to go with this peaceful atmosphere. I keep wondering--the calm before the storm?
The guys are regaining their energy and vim. It's surprising what one day of relaxation can do for a man. They've been swimming all day and now they're throwing stones in the river, singing, and raising hell in a gentle sort of way.
The artillery moved further up, so there's no movie tonight...
I'm glad you got that letter I wrote on Betty Ann's letter...it was mailed on the run. Kinda beat, tho, huh? ... Maybe I'll come out of this a better person... - ... Love...Bob
...Honey...
...I got the airmail package...The cookies were in fine shape...It's almost too dark to see...Probably move out now that I get a package. It never fails...
Dearest...wifey,
...Tomorrow there is a Memorial Service for all our guys that paid the supreme sacrifice during the last push.
I feel so much better now. Last night was the first night we didn't have to sit and watch since I've been in Korea. So I laid awake and thought of you for hours. finally amid a din of singing voices from marines all around, I dozed off.
It's rather cloudy today, but the sun is still shining, and it's unbearably hot. Again I feel sorry for the guys on line today.
We've got school on the gun this afternoon and then I think I'll go swimming. What a nice rest area. Sure am going to hate to leave.
Any cartoons I might draw aren't for the sake of art, but for what they mean...
Just got back from taking a swim. Feel very refreshed now. What a vacation this has been...
Enclosed will be another propaganda leaflet. What a bunch of baloney.
One of the guys got a "Dear John" from a girl he was engaged to...
It's taken me all day to write this letter...I'd like to write some nice, long stories, but I daren't think about them now. Would rather tell them when I can wave my hands around in the air...
It's clouding over again and ten-to-one says we'll get another one of those miserable rains before morning that will last 3 or 4 days. About that time we'll be back on line again.
It was rumored that we're moving up tomorrow. Just something to keep us worried. I hope it's not true... - God bless you, Bob
One Night
Who knows what's out there
This rainy, black night?
I can see nothing
But silhouettes moving slight.
They say they're coming this time-
But let them come;
We're ready for them all down the line.
I'm ready, my light .30 is full
With bits of death
That are released at a trigger pull.
Hear that, Bob? It's them
Sure as hell!
Get ready men, they'll remember this well.
"Marine, you die tonight!"
Listen to that slimy gook.
Come and get it, rat, right
Through your lousey guts!
There go the flares! There they are!
Right in my sights.
Take this and let your blood feel air!
Air cold and damp.
Oh, I'm hit! It stings and burns
Here deep in my chest.
Don't get a corpsman, this is my turn.
- R.C.J. - 1951
...Darling,
Just got back from school on the gun. It's early morning and I think we're moving out some time today.
The boys went crazy over your cookies...Of course they're gone now...
I hit the sack at dark last night and dozed off until about eleven o'clock. Then I woke up and laid wide awake for about three hours thinking and worrying...about you and us...
I've started on Mickey Spillane's third mystery book. They're quite good. Also sexy...
Will cut this short and write again later... - ...Love...Bob
...Wonderful one,
It's been thunder showering all day and right now it's coming down in buckets full. This is the second time since I've been here that thunder & lightning have accompanied the rain. But I have it licked. I'm lying here in my little abode made out of an army poncho and nice and cozy. Me and about three hundred flies are staying dry and laughing at the big blotches of rain that are falling heavily down. I had to take those [newspapers you sent me], and prop them at one end to keep the water from blowing in.
This has really been a nice vacation. Almost unbelievable. I guess I had forgotten what relaxation was. Maybe some of my past letters written while on line the last couple of weeks showed the fatigue and weariness I had at that time. I hope not, but it's one of those things. We're still eating like kings, at least it seems that way. I even got a brand new pair of dungarees. Everyone is nice and clean-shaven, clean clothes, haircuts, and gaining back lost weight. Can't even tell us from the replacements anymore...
It's still raining hard, and each little drop seems to have a tune of its own when it strikes my shelter. It's a relaxing sound, like that of rain, hitting a tin roof. Of course there was a time not long ago when I didn't think such nice things about rain.
The two chaplains put on a wonderful memorial service this morning. Each man's face showed the heavy sadness in his heart as the names were read off. Even the battalion commander, who sat next to me, had tears in his eyes. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes. He sends us into battle. He gives the orders.
I finished that mystery...today...it was really terrific...Don't know whether I should let you read it or not, it's kind of shady... Ha! Ha!
Imagine we'll move out tomorrow. Thank heaven we didn't move today. There's so many rumors flying around here, it's actually funny. Everything from going back on the line, to going home by July 1st. All I can say is look for the worst and hope for the best.
When we shifted to this sector a week or so ago, after the last tough fight, we walked quite a few miles on a road and there were lots of doggies riding by in trucks, and standing along the road. We were beat, and felt it. Just a handful of half-starved, dirty, stoop-shouldered skinny marines struggling to make our legs move down that road. One of the doggies remarked to our company jeep driver what a bunch of scroungy-looking me we were. The jeep driver told him, "They should look beat, they've only been on line for the last hundred and some days without a break (actual record-breaking Battalion time)." The doggie couldn't believe it. A lot of doggies felt sorry for us and passed out chow and pogey-bait...
Ran into an old slop-chute boot camp buddy of mine back there. I hardly recognized him with his boney face and long moustache.
What you consider a rough face, I consider mighty smooth right now. It seems funny to run my fingers over skin instead of hair when I rub my face. But it sure feels good.
I think I'll light up a [cigarette] and dream some more... That's all I do. - Love & Kisses...Bob
...Darling,
Rec'd 3 letters...after dark last night and read them by candle light in a neighboring shelter...
It's still raining and rained all night. The thunder showers changed into that good old drenching downpour, familiar to all fighting men here.
Well, I finally got 'em--the dear old G.I.'s got out [of] my sack just in time early this morning, and kept jumping in and out all night long in the rain. But I think they've stopped now. Must have been something in the chow, because everyone that didn't have them, got them. Some of the guys have had them for days, and often they dirties their scivvies in their sleep. They really suffered. I attribute that to too long, too many, and not enough--too long on line, too many gooks, and not enough food and rest... Guess I spoke too soon. I've still got 'em.
I can't imagine anybody being engaged for two years...Maybe they ARE young but young people have to grab their happiness while they can. I've seen some heartbreakers here. One in particular...His name was Miller and we called him "Baby-san" because he was only 18. He was next to me when he got hit and I saw him pass away. There was a young kid whose folks probably took great pains in raising him for 18 years. He never had a girl and has never known the happiness of sharing & giving with a wife. He never had a chance to know what life really was, because his life had been run for him for the 18 years. He never had a chance. I guess that's a reason I don't want anything but girls. Why rear a boy for 18 years, teaching him the right way of life, and telling him what's right & what's wrong, and how to be a clean, God-fearing man; then have him taken away to war, taught how to kill and be tough and then maybe never return?
I guess it's such incidents that make marines so...[fierce]. marines have a comradeship all their own in battle and seeing a guy like Baby-san go down is enough to make anyone bitter at the people who did it. I try not to get hard, and I haven't been cruel...they they say I will before I leave here...
Got the clippings...Don't let that picture bother you. To me, it looks like a bunch of guys fighting a forest fire...
Don't mind the rain spots on the paper. It's still coming down in a good gait... - ...love always..., Bob.
...darling...
Here we go again! We moved up this morning right in back of the line and are going to relieve the 1st battalion in the morning. Whether or not we jump off and continue their attack remains to be seen. I hope not. I can't tell you how much I dread going back up. It makes me shudder to think about it...
I sure got out of shape laying around for those few days. But it shouldn't take too long to sweat and work the grease & pogey bait out of our systems. My stomach's still a little tempermental, but think it'll snap around by tonight.
There was a heavy fog this morning, but now there's a nice blue sky and a bright sun shining. Once again the Air Force shows their stuff.
There sure was a hot rumor going around yesterday. This one is really rich and our gunny will even vouch for it. We're supposed to go to Japan by the end of June, where the Division will rest and reorganize for about 130 days, and all the reserves will be replaced and get to go home. Oh brother, what a fairy tale that is! Just to prove how true it is, we came up here this morning and are going on line tomorrow...
The mulberry trees here are now ripe and loaded with berries. I'm sitting next to a pile of silk worm cocoons that a [Korean] civilian once worked over. In the house where we played a game of "hearts" a little while ago, was a spinning wheel used to spin the stuff. Also found a bunch of copper & brass bowls & sauces that would make darn good souvenirs, but no way to send them, so-hava-no.
Just got back from chow. Couldn't eat very much.
If you've got a map of Korea, I think I have a general idea where we are. Look on the Eastern-central front and find a river that flows north over the 38th and continues North for quite a ways. Pick a spot between Hwachon & Inje about 15 or 20 miles north of the 38th, and I think that's where we are. Not sure, tho.
There's a chance I might not be able to write for a day or two, so don't worry. When we're on the move forward, we go from dawn to dusk. If there's anytime left over before dark, weapons have to be cleaned and then there's that old hole that has to be dug for our own safety. Usually, we're so bushed at the end of a day the only thing we can do is try to get all the rest we can before morning. That's why sometimes I can't write.
Guess I'll go take one last bath before we shove off. Heaven knows when we'll get by water again... - ...all my love... Bob
...Darling,
I had to write you again. I saw something tonight that really broke my heart. I'll tell you, but I don't want you to worry about it or make you feel bad. I've just got to talk to you about it.
Tonight at chow, I was sitting enjoying a hearty meal, since my stomach finally settled down, when a bunch of refugees came walking through. Old men & women & little kids that were so starved and diseased they could hardly walk. One little kid had legs about as big around as your thumb. He looked me right in the eyes just as I started to shove some chow into my mouth. I couldn't eat and got tears it my eyes. It just got me. I thanked God right then and there that [we] live in a land of plenty and will never have to bear these real misfortunates of war. The people who really suffer. I gave them my bread, and all the other guys passed theirs out, too, except those inevitable bitter few. Then later the mess sgt. passed out oranges & bread & potatoes to them. Those poor little kids, it made me feel so doggone bad and made me feel so thankful to have what I do. Maybe I've been away from the line too long and am getting to be a softie because I've seen them like this before. Maybe I didn't look close before, but I did this time and it really got me. I don't want this to make you feel bad...but I got so stuffed up inside with feeling that I had to tell you...
Saw on the casualtie [sic] list today that Charlie Nitch (remember?) was evacuated for heart disease & something else (not a wound). I don't know whether that's a break for him or not. It's about dark... - God bless you, Bob
...Sweetie,
Borrowed this ball-point, so writing in style today. Don't know when or where I'll get to mail this. Back to the same old line and the same old miseries, heart-breaks, and glory.
We relieved the 1st Batt. yesterday and I saw Ramsey again. Seagrave wasn't with him. He...got a stateside wound. Shot three times. It was good to see old Ramsey again.
Never thought I'd see the day when there would be just two ammo carriers in the squad, and me one of them. We're as bad off now as we were when we came off line 3 weeks ago. Only four left in the squad: 2 ammo-carriers and 2 gunners. No squad leader. So, I'm "Chief" [ammo carrier] again.
I sure had funny feelings going on inside of me yesterday on the way up front. I don't know what it was. Maybe something was wrong back there. Anyhow, when I woke up this morning and found the sunshine and a million flies about to carry me away, I felt so good. Now I'm sitting in the shade of some kind of evergreen tree, fighting off a thousand big black ants that are crawling up my sleeves and pant legs chewing the heck out of me.
Rumors this morning say we'll be here for several days until we get relieved. Of course that means we'll probably move out in an hour, which is usually the case. I've been here too long to swallow that kind of baloney.
This N. Korea is pretty. The mountains are much higher, and the valleys are bigger and seem richer in vegetation and soil content. Of course the little green frogs with black polka-dots and red toenails are here, too. Yesterday, during a break, I was catching flies and feeding them to the little frogs. They would pounce on the flies, gobble them up, and then roll and blink their big glassy eyes at me as if to say "thank you."
We got off to a wonderful start yesterday. Everything went wrong, and by nightfall I was set to go crazy. Can't take my spite out on [anyone]...
Got my kicks in yesterday afternoon. I asked one of the [new men] in the rifle platoon if the bunker he was standing next to had been checked. He said, "no"...I was tired and grouchy, anyhow, so I screamed..."Well, check it!" So he ambles down in front of the entrance so nonchalantly and someone told him to stay away from the opening. He looked at me like he didn't know what to do, which he didn't. I said, "for hells sake, throw in a grenade before you stick your nose in." Then I started up the hill. A few minutes later I heard "Fire in the hole." I had to smile to myself, because I knew there wasn't anybody in there. If there were, he'd of had his...head shot off.
Us four (left in our eight-man squad) had a great time this morning laughing at past incidents and miseries that are funny now that they're over.. It's great to do that, because when you can still laugh, you know you're not cracking up. There are some things I want to remember that are funny in their own odd way...
Maybe I can mail this when rations come up today. Yep, back to good old C rations. Maybe tomorrow I'll be able to button my size "30" pants... - Love always...Bob
... Sweetie,
...I've got mail somewhere because a guy that got back from sickbay saw it, and when the mail came up yesterday, nobody in machine guns got any. There's been a mix up somewhere and I'm so mad I can chew nails. Haven't had any mail for 4 or 5 days...I've been all over this line tracking it down, but it's fouled up somewhere. Nuts!
We're set up where I wrote...from yesterday, and from all indications it looks pretty permanent. We've got a solid defense line set up somewhat similar to that with which we stopped the last chink offensive. Our offensive has stopped and I don't think we'll be jumping off any more until this next chink counter-offensive is over. We weren't stopped here, we stopped on our own accord, keep that in mind. They just don't stop marines. We are setting up what is called the "Badger" line, in case the papers mention it. The papers...usually don't mention individual units, so the gooks won't know which is where (as if they didn't know already).
Never had I seen scuttlebutt linger so long as the rumor that we're getting relieved about the 28th and going in Corps reserve. Even the lieutenants are talking about it. Of course, they don't know anymore than we do.
... It's later--and still no sign of our mail...
It's really hot today. The flies and the big black ants are making it more miserable, but I'm thankful we're not out assaulting any doggone hills.
I gave my letter yesterday to little Pisan, our mascot, to mail for me. I hope he did. Speaking of Pisan, you should see him now. He's nice and healthy and full of hell. He's really picking up English, too. Of course the guys have taught him all sorts of dirty talk...What a little dickens he is.
Only three of our ORIGINAL squad is left. One came over with me and one came over in the 4th draft. It's funny how time changes things. I'm still "Chief" and I will probably remain same. The other one left us yesterday, early morning, and is on his way home, only not in such good shape. He had his time in, anyhow, so, in a way, he's better off.
Not doing much except pulling patrols now and then..The ROKs are on both sides of us, and I don't like that a bit.
There's been a beautiful moon the last few nights, and no rain for at least three days. There's a big, ugly thunderhead in the distance, so I suppose we'll catch a good one before morning...
I'll close here... - You're always in my heart, Bob
...Darling,
...mail mixed up with the evacuees...It's still down at Batt. C.P., three miles from here, where it's been for three days. I went through all channels as high as the Company Commander, and still couldn't get permission to leave the line and go down to check on it... Nuts! Heaven knows when we'll get it.
We went down to the stream tonight and captured a box full of little frogs with the hope of having frog legs for supper. Once we got them up here, they looked so little we didn't have the heart to cut them open, so now they're hopping all over the place. Hope they don't hop away with me tonight...
...Sweetie,
We finally got our mail... I didn't finish this letter last night because I had some more digging to do before dark. We're rally going whole hog here, and every day there is something else to dig...
It was good you got to see some slides of this hell hole...Sometimes I wish the correspondents had enough ambition in them to climb these hills and come up to where the war is being fought. Maybe then somebody back there would realize what it is. You wouldn't believer your eyes at some of the conditions of _ the men and their equipment (marines, at least). We have guys in our company that are almost barefooted, and yet, they still can't get shoes for them...
We had a nice hail storm last night, but I stayed dry. me and the flies and the ants that clung to the top of my shelter...
By this time, I suppose you've got my letters [written] in rest area. See...? There's no need to worry. I made it through the last batch of hell, so I believe, sincerely, that no matter how long I'm here, I'll always be okay. You'll never know...
This bunch of merry-grab-a-(censored) has been going now for over a year and over 10,000 marines alone have paid some kind of a price. And for what? What? That's a question in all our minds over here. There's absolutely no patriotism among the men. I wouldn't doubt if the republicans didn't want to end now, because then it would look good for Truman. But Truman's right, dead right. We can lick 'em this way, and bombing China, or anything like that would get us up to our ears. If we just sat here and let them come for us, they'd never break our line (except maybe the [---]. I'd even go so far as to say the doggies could hold out. From now on it's nothing but politics, and we know it, and it's up to them whether any more guys hit the deck for this worthless, useless, senseless fight for nothing. I'm going to be able to vote the next time, so somebody'd better stand by.
I looked at myself in the mirror yesterday...I noticed wrinkles across my forehead...Did I ever have wrinkles there? Also, in the corners of my eyes. Maybe it's because I haven't seen my ugly mug in the mirror for a long time...I already had gray haairs, so they weren't unusual.
Heard any peace rumors, lately? We seem pretty confident that the war will end soon. Maybe somebody should tell the gooks...They can't win. Why don't they quit?
Haven't seen any Chinese for a long time. Nothing but N. Koreans in front of us. I think they're going to start a drive soon. maybe even tonight, we've been expecting them for two days now. They must be nuts.
...For a brief time I live in the past... I've got to go dig some more before the "boss" comes around...
God bless you, Bob
...wifey-dear,
Rec'd your two letters..where you worried so much...There was about an 8 or 9 day stretch that I wasn't able to write. Please try not to worry when that happens...
...I sure have come to like [cherry jam', and I can't understand how you could get tired of looking at strawberries. I could sure go for some right now, smothered with Dairy Queen...If you happen to send a package, why don't you sneak a jar of that strawberry jam in it. Me & the guys would go nuts over it, esp. the guys. Me too!...
I know what you mean about not writing in certain moods. I've written you sometimes when I shouldn't and maybe I've said some things that I should say only when this is all over. You don't kno whow hard it is to write letters from here. There's nothing to write about except what goes on here...I don't think you'd like that... I'll be the same by the time I get back. You can't live to _ kill and remain the same, or you'd never live thorugh it. There's things that [we've] got to shut our eyes to right now and forget about later. I fear God greatly during these days because I never considered myself a killer. Now it's just something to laugh about, and I do, and that's the only way to do. I have no regrets about the yellow beings I've taken to hell, because it would have been they or me... When I get home again after all this we'll just forget it ever happened and old hubby will be the same old softy again.
...Right after the last fight was over, and we secured the hill, our company against 300 gooks, I sat down in a blood-spattered hole and tried to cry. I couldn't. It was a feeling I'll never forget and I thought maybe I was cracking right down the middle. Maybe it was just a climax to that two weeks of hell of which every day was worse than the day before. Maybe it was hunger & fatigue mixed in with seeing guys I lived with, fought with, and laughed with, fall down beside me, never more to talk again. Maybe it was the feeling of being safe again, with victory, and not being scared anymore, which I was, more scared than I've ever been in my life. But they say that if you make it through the first series of fights, you've got it made thereafter. So from now on, it shouldn't effect [sic] me so much...everything is fine now.
Had a talk (?) with a S. Korean policeman last night. He couldn't speak a word of English, and I couldn't speak a word of Korean, except a few words I picked up. It was quite fun.. through drawings on the ground, he explained to me that he likes Americans and wants us to stay in S. Korea because as soon as we leave, the Chinese, Russians, and N. Koreans will come in. He explained [he had no confidence that the S. Korean army could] keep them out.
It has rained hard off and on for the last couple of days, and looks as if it will start again any minute. Last night the sky was clear and full of stars, but there was a coat of fog lying on the valley floor. It was real weird the way the mountains looked peeking above the fog, with the moon shining brightly on it. Later on the fog came creeping up the draws and gulleys, and by this morning we were completely surrounded with it. Gives me the creeps sometimes.
Have found a way to make the corned beef hash more edible. We now take our entrenching tools (shovels) and put in in the fire getting it griddle-hot. Then we make paddies and fry them on the shovel. Just enough grease in it to fry it good. It's different and keeps us from throwing it away like we usually do. Think I'll go heat me up a can of chow before it gets dark...
Hugs & kisses from hubby, Bob
...Darling,
...The flies are absolutely terrible. They're driving me bats! Oh well, as long as it's just the flies that bother me, I'm okay.
...[I heard two of the new men] were with an "old salt" out on outpost [the other night] and the wind blew a trip-flare off and the two men came screaming and crying, running like crazy, back to the lines. The "old salt" slept through it all. They left him out there all alone and even left their weapons...I've been scared before, and as has everybody else, but we'd never pull a stunt like that...
...in the last war, marines...battles lasted anywehere from 72hours to 30 days...This war just goes on and on, without rest for anyone. Well, our _ battalion, which has been down to almost nothing three times since the war started, put over a hundred days on line (61 for me) before we went in to reserve for 10 days (4 days actual rest) and here we are back on line again, bringing my total to 68 days on line out of the 75 days that I've been here. But, that's the way the ball bounces...
I'm still "Chief." Think damn well I should be corporal, too, but that's the way it goes...
That was a long walk to Batt. today, about 6 miles round trip. Only three hills to climb, so wasn't bad. I'm surprised they even let me go.
... Now if the flies would leave me alone, I could relax...
It sure has been hot. Gads, what will July & August be like? Still rains, but not as much as it used to. It'll probably rain like crazy when we're on the move again.
The war was supposed to end today, according to rumors. It didn't, just like all the other baloney that floats around here...
Goodnight... Bob
Headquarters, 5th Marines
1st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force
c/o FPO, San Francisco, California
25 June 1951
From: Commanding Officer
To: Officers and men of the Fifth Marines and supporting units
Subj.: Performance in Combat
Please express my appreciation and high commendation to the officers and men of the Fifth Regiment, U.S. Marines, and its supporting units, for their valor, persistency and combat effectiveness in the fighting of the past ten days. Today I made an aerial reconnaissance of the near impossible mountain peaks east of Taem-san captured by the Fifth Regiment. I have nothing but admiration for the dauntless men who scaled those peaks and now remain on their assigned objectives.
Signed/Almond
1. I extend sincere congratulations to the Fifth Marines for this recognition of their excellent combat effectiveness. - Signed/G.C. Thomas
2. I want you, every man, the rifleman, the artilleryman, the tanker and the engineer, to know of the pride I have felt in watching your actions in the past two months of combat. You have done so well, worked so smoothly as a team that at times the most difficult missions have seemed deceptively easy. From the initial attack on 22 April and capture of Hwachon, through the repulse of the ferocious enemy attack north of Hongchon and the offensive into North Korea, you have proved your skill and courage. Even when higher commanders were planning your withdrawal, you were aggressively getting set to attack. Not once did the enemy force you from a position; never were they able to deny you an objective.
3. The operation that we have just finished has not been easy. You have fought a skillful, fanatical enemy, who defended rugged mountain peaks with great determination. They wanted that high ground and meant to stay there. You made sure, by effective use of supporting arms, and finally with grenade and bayonet, that the enemy remained--permanently.
4. Your courage, endurance and devotion to duty have been outstanding. I consider it a distinct honor and privilege to serve with you.
RICHARD W. HAYWARD
Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps
Commanding 5th Marines
Dearest...
...Gee, it would be nice to sit down on a chair at a desk with an overhead light and write this eltter. These flys [sic] are bothering me to pieces.
Yesterday, we went out on one of those all-day shindigs from dawn to dark..
This morning, I went to church service. The chaplain, came up on line and held services at each of the companies locations. That's the first time he's done that, and I'm glad, because I was critically wondering the other day why he didn't come up here with the men.
Also got shots this morning for sleeping sickness & Japanese something or other.
All afternoon I've been cutting down poor, innocent young trees and filling sandbags for our bunker. I still must have some forester's blood in me, because it sure hurt to cut those young trees down. Oh well, the good old U.S. gov't will probably pay them for 'em.
I'm now second gunner for the time being. When the squad gets back to par, I think I'll request to be knocked down to second ammo-carrier. I discovered myself getting too shaken up yesterday and don't want to take any chances. Lately, I feel as if I'm pressing my luck too much. I just want to get home again, I guess. Anyhow, it's safer, and that's for me.
Yea, the little frogs are still around. I honestly think they're pretty. I turned one over the other day and found out that not only their toenails are red, but their whole underside is red with black speckles. You can't even see them when they're in the grass. All you see is a bunch of green and black speckles jumping up and down. If you didn't know they were frogs, you'd probably turn in for eye trouble...
...We were also supposed to go in Corps (according to rumors) reserve today, but have-a-n0. I did read the division news sheet today, dated 25th & it said that Russia was trying to make peace & have us withdraw back below the 38th. Oh me, think of that walk back! It'd be worth it, tho, to stop all this useless merry-goround!
... I've got to clean the machine gun... - Your old adoring hubby, Bob
...Darling,
At last I can settle down and rest a bit. All day we've been building, digging, & stringing barbed wire. If any gook makes it to the top of this ridge, I'd gladly give it to him, because he's earned it. This line is getting to look pretty permanent...
The gookies was supposed to come last night, but they didn't. I don't know which is worse, fighting, or waiting. Waiting, listening, straining your eyes trying to see through the darkness. No moon for a few more weeks. The minutes seem like hours, and the hours seem like eternity. Every little noise or ruffle of leaves makes you jump and strain your eyes and ears again, and causes you to raise your weapon at nothing bu the darkness in front of you. Pretty good dramatic description, eh? Maybe I should write a book. It's really not that bad...One of the guys got the devil scared out of him last night. He said he was sitting there and something made a lot of commotion in the bushes (booshes) behind him. He first lost ten years of his life, then spun around, carbine in hand, ready to crank off a few rounds, when what should come bounding off the brush but a little old frog with red toenails and hopped happily on his merry way. I split laughing when he told us this morning...
It's raining lightly now, so me and the flies are sitting here in our newly made bunker trying to keep dry.
The impossible happened today. They brought us up some ice cream. Of course it was like soup, and we only got about three mouthfuls, but it was delicious. It was also torturing. The guys Hmm'ed and haed, trying to squeeze the most enjoyment they could out of it. First ice cream I've had since I left the ship at Pusan.
I am now using my "last resort" paper because I'm getting low on writing material again. I've got insect repellent on my hands, trying to keep the doggone flies off me, and getting it smeared all over the paper. The flies seems to like the stuff, because now more of them than ever are walking around on me. They drink their fill of it, then fly drunkingly away, cussing because of the low alcohol content.
One of the [new men and another man in the squad] got into it today and I had to break them apart. We've got enough to contend with without having to fight amongst ourselves.
What do you think of that letter of commendation Gen Almond (U.S. Army) gave us? ...He's the same guy that bawled out that [non-marine U.S. unit] that jumped off with us d uring the last push (pposh) and told them to get on the ball and catch up with us. By the way, that [outfit] went back to Japan for a rest, after spending a whole 20 days on line. My, my...
... I'm so used to living in dirt and eating dirt, I don't even notice it anymore. It's clean dirt, tho, and not dirty dirt. Dirty dirt only exists in civilian life. This dirt is outdoor dirt, so it's clean. Unnerstan?...
No more dangerous living for me...since I left high school I've done nothing but take risky jobs...fighting fires..horsing around with 40,000 volt cables, then molding, and now this...
Summertime is tanning my arms & face and my dungaree jacket is nothing but streaks of white, which is salt left by dried perspiration. Known what's called as a salty dog." Memories of that patrol the other day. Ugh!
...Guess I'll hit the sack. It'll be another long watch tonight. - ... Love...Bob
[Janes Note Year 2000: "That patrol the other day" was June 25, 1951. Higgins and another man (Art Busby, I think) were wounded, Higgins mortally. It was also on that patrol that when we were fired upon, going up a hill, someone in front gave the word to "go back down." Everyone turned and started running for cover. An officer at the base of the hill yelled, "Where the hell do you guys think you're going? Get up there!" We meekly turned and trudged back up the hill. We got pinned down for hours trying to get the wounded men out.]
...Wifey,
After drinking 6 cans of warm beer, I feel out of this world, so pardon me if this letter is a little screwy. I feel like I did last New Year's Eve, and believe me, it's a wonderful feeling. The first time I felt so good since I've been here.
I've been up since 2:30 this morning. We went on one of those hellish patrols this morning and I'm pooped, first class. But there's nothing like beer to replace the gallons of sweat I lost today. We went loaded for bear and had negative contact with the enemy. Wouldn't you know it. The other day we weren't expecting to meet the enemy, and all hell broke loose...
Had a very interesting talk with one of the new interpreters today. He was born in N. Korea and went to Tokyo U. of foreign languages. His brothers were forced to fight for N. Korea & were killed last fall by us. His father was also killed by the Communists. He has a wife and two children somewhere up north, he doesn't know where, but as he told me, he still has hope. He is now fighting with us to avenge hs father & brothers. he told me he was a Christian, but now has no faith in God because of what happened to his family... I learned some very interesting things. He told me 1 out of 10 N. Koreans hate Communism and fear & propaganda keeps them from revolting...
...I'm having a heck of a time writing this. Kind of light-headed. Guess the brew hasn't worn off yet. Stomach went haywire again today, but seems to be okay now. Of course everything seems okay right now.
Traveled as 2nd ammo-carrier today, at my own request. Am supposed to be 2nd gunner in a few days, but will turn that down, too. I won't make corporal on account of it, but I got my fill...
We are all pretty confident that the war will end in a matter of weeks. I hope & pray so. The prisoners we took today said the N. Koreans were starving & had no supply lines to give them ammo. Of course they're natural liars & whether or not that's the truth remains to be seen. Haven't seen any Chinese for a long time.
I don't know whether I'll send this or not. I'll read it over tomorrow when I'm in a better frame of mind...
I had a beautiful dream last night...then it was interrupted by a guy who called me at 2:30 a.m. so I could stand my watch. Boy, was I mad. But I kept on thinking...all through my watch & almost did the sin of sins by falling to sleep on watch. A rifleman called me just in time at 4:15 telling me to wake the boys so we could move out on our patrol at 5:00 a.m.
... It's almost dark, so I'll close until tomorrow... - Your devoted husan' - Bob
...Sweetheart,
Well, I'm sober today, so can think a little better. I was really feeling good last night. Then about dark I came back to this awful reality around me. For awhile I was laughing and everything looked so rosey and all right. I was having an awful lot of fun with the S. Korean laborers. They must have thought I was nuts.
Sometimes I sleep soundly...and...dream... Then when I wake up and find myself lying in a hole with a poncho over the top. It's a terrible let down, and actually takes some time to get over it...
...Had a swell, serious talk last night with this red-head from Glendale. He's a rifleman and we discussed different battles we've been in together, and the feeling we experienced under fire. Really a fine guy, and I promised if I got home before him, I'd stop in and see his folks...Name's Paul Campbell...his address is 413 East Dell...
...Been digging & stringing barbed wire again all day. Sure was hot. Got a swell tan on my arms, and had my jacket off for the first time so got a little red on the back.
Probably pull another patrol tomorrow. I sure hate those things.
Stand watch 4 1/2 hours out of each night. There's only four men in our squad and two men take it one half the night and two the other half. Then they expect us to get up at seven, start working at night, one hour for lunch, and quit at five. That's the trouble with staying in one place so long, it gets more like stateside Marine Corps everyday. I'd just like to know when we're supposed to sleep. Of course the officers we got now are new...and don't seem to realize a man can't watch all night, and work or climb hills all day. I sure am bitching tonight...I get hot under the collar once in a while.
A new pest has been added to this outdoor life of ours. Grasshoppers. Big ones, little ones, fat ones, skinny ones, and all different colors are flying and hopping all over the place, keeping pace with the little frogs. I guess I never mentioned the mosquitoes, either. Yep, they start about dark and -- buzzzzz - until daylight. Since April we've been taking pills for malaria, altho the danger of getting it isn't very great. Got a boost shot today for sleeping sickness.
Every once in awhile, almost every day, I mean, we get an apple or an orange or a couple of hard boiled eggs apiece. That's one good thing about staying in one place. Even with all this B.S. we put up with, it still beats assaulting the high, high, mountain peaks.
A guy came back from Pusan today and passed some scoop about a peace treat being signed by everyone except S. Korea's president. But there's been a twelve day delay, or some darn thing. Probably just rumors, but oh I hope and pray it's true. Send me clippings about the war, etc...
... I think I'll try to get some sleep before dark. I've got watch until 2:00 in the morning... "Red" just gave me some cookies & candy he got in a package. - Goodnight... Bob
...Wonderful one,
Rec'd...a reply from my draft board. Very nice of them. [Glad] you have received all the many letters I wrote while back in reserve. Now that I'm on line again, I don't suppose you'll get quite as many. I try to write everyday, even up here, but sometimes it's almost impossible.
...What will it be like being with you again after all this time being with the toughest of men? I hope the change won't crack me up. How will it be [holding you] after holding nothing but sure death in my hands for SO long? I often wonder about that, and it scares me... I sometimes wonder what effect this experience will have on me. I wonder_ if I'll ever forget it, or the names of guys that fell beside me. Sometimes I have nightmares and wake up in a cold sweat and shaking. Sometimes the slightest sound will bring me out of a sound sleep and on my feet. I can't explain it, or what it is. I guess it just goes along with this life. Things like this hit deep inside and it takes awhile to explode them. Always considered myself too doggone sentimental for my own good.
Have been digging all day and have a red-brown back that is a little sore. I shouldn't have any trouble keeping warm tonight.
We really made out today. We got three oranges, an egg, crackers, bread, & pogey-bait, plus our rations. Quite a luxury.
I hear the war is almost over. Too good to be true... Getting more confident I'll be out of Korea by October...
Hope we don't have to go out on patrol tomorrow. I dread anything like that anymore. What dirty business this is.
I read in an old Newsweek that the army is going to make their training tougher and start getting spirit into their boys so as to "bring them up to the Marines' level." Ha! We sure got a kick out of that. Anyhow, they sure need it.
Hasn't rained for a long time. Season must be over. Good!
...think I'll hit the old bag... - ...yours forever, Bob
... Darling,
... Finally got the straight scoop on this "peace" deal. They flew some June 30th Stars & Stripers up to us to quench all the rumors. It was discouraging, but at least we know what's going on.
Took a nice bath in a stream on my way back from batt. today. First I've had since the rest area... Washed my socks & scivvies and laid on the rocks in the sun until they dried. Also had many talks with many Koreans... I'm really getting good at talking to those many Koreans... It's quite interesting.
There's been nothing but generals visiting us the past few days... Gen. Thomas (1st Mar. Div.), Gen. Almond (X Corps) & yesterday Gen. Van Fleet (8th army commander) came up and looked over our lines. I feel honored that the great man himself got to see my own little foxhole. Van Fleet was B.S.ing with some of the peons in Fox Co. just u a few yards from us and told them, "The marines have taken their last objective for awhile. They won't have to climb any more hills." I hope he meant [that]... Division's only been on line since February, 1 1/2 months longer that's advisable for a division. 120 days is supposed to be the maximum.
Fox co., up the line is test-firing weapons. Sure is making me nervous. I hate the sound of a weapon going off, anymore.
Spent some more time digging this afternoon & accumulated more sun tan. This reminds me of pictures I once saw of World War I. There's now a shoulder-deep trench all along this ridge, about 2 or 3 miles, & it's supposed to be this way all along the front. In front of us are about four different barbed entanglements plus booby traps, trip flares, & mines. 105's guns, 4.2 mortars, 81 mm mortars, & 60 mm. mortars have the front all registered in. What a line we've got here.
Got the devil scared out of me last night. A chipmunk or ground mole got caught in a constatino of barbed wire and made a lot of noise like someone running up the hill right in front of me. I was half asleep when it started, jumped on my feet, got set to fire my carbine and throw an illumination grenade, when the thing started squealing, then I knew it was an animal. I shook for a long time afterwards. I was standing watch & it sure woke me up... That's what I mean about waiting, staring at nothing but darkness and dark mountain silhouettes in front of you, depending on your ears to pick up any movement. Anyhow, walked up the line a few feet and talked to "Red" who was also on watch. He was as shook up as me. But it was fun laughing about it this morning. Just like "Blackie" and the little frog that scared him to death.
The 1st batt. sure is getting a good rest. They've been back in the rear since the 17th, eating hot chow.
... I never did explain the organization of a marine regiment... Maybe it will help you understand some of the tings I write... There are 3 rifle companies to a battalion, one weapons co. (rockets, 81 & 4.2 mortars, heavy machine guns, flame throwers, etc.) & one H&S co. (messman, clerks, REP's, etc.). There are three battalions to a regiment, & three regiments to the division plus attached units such as motor transport, artillery, engineers, laundry, etc. [All non-combatants}. Each regiment therefore consists of 9 rifle companies: Able, Baker, Charlie (1st Batt.); Dog, Easy (me), Fox (2nd Batt.); and George, Hal, Item (3rd Batt.), plus the three weapons companies & three H&S companies & attached units. The 1st Mar. Div. (re-inforced) here in Korea is made up of the 1st Marine Reg. (infantry), 5th Mar. Reg. (infantry) (me), 7th Mar. Reg. (infantry), 11th Mar. Reg. (artillery), & supportive, and attached units. Now -- Easy Company (me), consists of three rifle platoons (approx. 43 men each, riflemen, barmen, 3 squads of 13 men to a squad); one light machine gun platoon, which is divided into three sections (2 squads to a section, 8 men to a squad) & those three sections are numbered 1, 2 & 3. The 1st section is part of the 1st rifle platoon [and so on]. I'm in the 3rd M.G. sec. so am with the 3rd rifle platoon... Also there is a 60 mm. mortar platoon which is divided the same as artillery F.O.'s, radiomen, & so on. I forgot to mention the one corpsman (God bless em) who travels with each rifle platoon... All in all, there are around 250 men to a company. To think we were down to 98 men not long ago, and are still a few short... The corpsmen, God bless em, are wonderful. The bravest of all men are the Navy's Corpsmen. And what souvenir hunters they are! Ha! Ha! Our Corpsman got himself a Russian carbine and gets right in the fight (altho he's not supposed to) & shoots that darn carbine until he gets that famous marine battlecry to go help out a wounded man... this Marine Corps is strictly an infantry team that can't be beat...
... A marine corps rifle company has three times as great firepower as a doggie rifle company...
... It's getting dark, have to go on watch... - ... love... Bob
...wifey-dear,
... The F.O.'s just got it over the radio, that cease fire begins tonight. There was a quick cheer among the men, but we refuse to believe it, esp. since...the artillery is letting go right now. No official word yet... We'll know tonight, if the artillery stays quiet. Probably won't be able to sleep if it does.
Got first watch tonight, so can't write too long; it's almost dark. They cut the watch down to 25% last night, after two weeks of 50%, so I only had to stand between 12 & 2 a.m. Tonight it's from dark until 12 midnight for me. Last night the wind was blowing and the sky was clear as a bell. It was very cool and the bushes...were waving back and forth, and making all kinds of noise. Gave me the creeps. Don't know what's the matter with me anymore. Didn't get this jittery at night even when I first came over. Must be that we haven't been hit at night for several days... Sometimes I'm so sleepy when I get off watch, and still can't sleep for thinking...
We paid $2.30 (a guy bought mine) for 16 cans of beer & 2 Cokes & 2 Pepsis. The Coke and Pepsi came up tonight. Probably get the beer tomorrow & next day in lots of 8 cans each.
Somebody better tell the gooks about that cease fire, now they're throwing artillery at our lines about a mile from me. You don't know how really insignificant you can feel until mortar & artillery starts dropping on you.
... [One of the squad is supposed to go home in a few days after putting in a lot of time]. He sure is happy, hope he isn't disappointed. our former squad leader now ammo-corporal (finally made corporal, darn good man) has been on the rotation list three times & cancelled off three times. He's been here for 11 months. Not going home THIS time, either...
...[Our new squad leader]...is beginning to meet my approval...he gives me jam once in a while.
Dug a little this morning but said the heck with it, crawled down into the bunker & slept until this afternoon when the flies got so bad, they woke me up. Then I ate and cleaned my weapon until "quitting time". At supper tonight, I got all the little packets of powdered milk...that I've saved for a week and mixed them with a half a can of water, and had what looked like a "can of milk." It didn't exactly taste like it, but was okay fur dunking my cookie into. A perfect C ration meal to me now is a can of Ham & Lima beans, crackers & cherry jam, & a cup of hot cocoa. Ham and limas are the only things that appeal to me anymore, and I'm even getting tired of them.
This is Red's ball point pen... He stands the same watch I do [and we talk once in awhile on watch'... He's a big, ex-half-back for a Catholic school in Glendale. He hopes to go to U.C.L.A. when he gets out of this man's outfit. He...came over in the 5th draft...He was a BAR man but is now a scout (rifleman). Heck of a good fighter.
Everybody is discussing this cease fire rumor. Our C.O. hasn't heard anything about it yet. But it came over the radio from Regiment C.P. So I don't know what to think. Sure as heck am going to lower the boom on any [enemy] that comes stomping up here tonight.
Gen. Van Fleet says he's [hoping] for another push...from the gooks so he can deliver the knockout blow... Well Red & I will keep on praying for a peace settlement RIGHT NOW.
... I've got to go on watch...Maybe it'll rain... - Goodnight... Bob
...Sweetheart,
... Had three shots this morning (Typhus, cholera, & Japanese something-or-other) and I'm really bushed right now. You know what that typhus shot does to me. Also dug all day and dug myself a deep hoel to sleep in and sandbagged it. Now I have a nice, humble abode to "crap out" in.
Tomorrow is independence day. Probably be lots of "fireworks" here. That cease-fire B.S. that came around was the usual pound of baloney. Some guy back in the rear thought it would be funny to see the guys so happy and then so let down an hour later. What happened was, a 4.2 mortar outfit got word to temporarily cease their harassing fire because one of our pilots was shot down in enemy territory and trying to make it back to our lines. So naturally, some fathead had to twist things around, call up here and tell his buddies--(the F.O.'s), and they told us...
Our rifle platoon has got a patrol tomorrow & we just got word that the guns aren't going, oh happy day!...The battalion send out patrols everyday, each company takes turns each day so we pull it every third day. Sometimes the whole company goes, sometimes just a platoon or more. I myself think they are idiotic right now, because they know where the gooks are, and every day a patrol goes out, someone gets hurt. You can always find trouble if you look for it...Red is sure P.O.'ed he has to go out tomorrow. He's sitting a few feet away from me, heating his chow and swearing to himself. Don't blame him. The guys just don't want to take chances anymore, because we think the war might end soon. They're going up on the same hill the fox company patrol got hit on today. Lost a few men.. one, a negroe whom I met several days ago and admired very much, passed away. He was such a swell guy, too...But I guess we can't think about those things too much.
We had a Korean laborer working for us today...When I offered him a cigarette, he refused and said, "Korean Shmol (God) [doesn't like]," and made motions of praying & then started signing a hymn in Korean...he's the first religious Korean I've met...He was a good worker...so the guys gave him 7 cans of extra chow...
Latched myself onto a summer type sleeping bag today. Now I can take my shoes off and sleep warm for a change. When we jumped off a month or so ago, it was so hot, and we were in the middle of a hill, so I "canned" the other one to lighten my load. Have been sleeping in a thin water-repellant cover ever since.
It rained just a "skoshi" (Korean for little) bit last night, and my watch didn't go so bad. The artillery was going like crazy and I didn't wake up but once when Blackie came off his watch and walked through the buses making a little noise. Then I sat up, half asleep, & thought he was coming to wake me up. But I guess he didn't, because I woke up again this morning.
I'm the only one left in the original squad I started with. Two of the other guys have been transferred for the time being to man another gun down the line. I wish we had our old squad back, it was the best of the six in the whole machine gun platoon. As far as I know, they are still alive, but back in a hospital somewhere. There's only four left in our eight-man squad, but a new batch of replacements are due in any day now, so maybe we'll get up to T.O. again. Haven't had a full squad for several weeks...
It's just about time for me to crank into the old sleeping bag... Four o'clock comes early... I go on watch until daylight, then if we don't go on patrol, we're going back in the valley to see a variety show of some kind...
... I'm always thinking of you... Bob
Dearest...
...I'm banking on...a peace settlement, then I'd be home...by October or the 1st of Nov...
Stopped by Able Co. (1st batt.) ... today I saw Ramsey. Seagrave is back with the company again & Ramsey said he really looked bad. Thought sure he'd be on his way to the states after being shot three times. I guess he didn't get it very bad. Also heard...a lot of other guys I used to know cracked up...
Ramsey looked good. The 1st batt. has been in reserve since June 17th, eating hot chow & going to movies. He wanted me to stay & go to a turkey dinner with him, but it was getting late & I had to get back up here.
My ... section leader told me tonight he was putting me up for corporal...
It's awfully dark and gloomy out now and is starting to rain. Also very chilly. I'm laying here in my little abode. This morning I dug it deeper and put a better roof on it.
Stopped down in the valley on the way back from batt. & picked me a can full of mulberries. Then when I got up here, I put sugar & p. milk on them. Quite a delicacy. If I'm here this fall, there will be plenty of apples & peaches to eat.
Just got 16 cans of beer, but the sipper says we can drink only four cans a day, and he's going to check. Nuts to him, I'll drink as many as I like...
The patrol didn't run into anything today, so all they got out of it was the exercise & one half-starved prisoner...
[Didn't feel like] going to that U.S.O. show this morning. Jack Benny & Debbie Reynolds are going to be there tomorrow afternoon, but doubt if we get to go...
What a holiday today. You'd never know there was one...Everything went as usual. No celebrating. The only noise-making was the usual racket of artillery and a few air strikes across the way.
It's almost too dark to see, so I'd better close... - ...Yours always, Bob
[Dear Bob]
Another July 4th. Remember last year? That's all I've been able to think about...that day we didn't even know we were going to be married in 10 days. The only good thing to come out of this terrible war was us getting married sooner than we could have otherwise.
...This morning we went swimming...then this afternoon [we all] had supper out here in our back yard. Last year remember...it started to rain while we were eating...last 4th of July was fun because you were here...
Tonite I talked [everybody] in to go to the Drive-In show. We're going to see "The Girls from Jones Beach." Gosh I didn't get any mail yesterday so sure hope I get some tomorrow. I get sick to my stomach every day when it is time for the mail to come. [My sister] tells me that I'm going to get ulcers.
They're playing the Marine's Hymn on the radio as a tribute to all the fallen men on the fighting front. It's practically making me cry. ...I'll be so glad when you're home... - All my love... [Your wife]
...Darling,
...Went to see Jack Benny's show yesterday and it was really swell. Marjorie Reynolds the movie star was there and a couple more famous entertainers. It was quite a spicy show but oh so nice. Half the company got to go way back in the rear to see it. We took trucks.
Got back late last night and got high on 7 cans of beer. Was so hungry while I was "feeling good", that I ate a whole box of rations...I don't even like the stuff, but it's an escape from this life for a few short hours...I can relax and forget about the gooks and everything looks rosy...I think we've got it coming to us, we that do the fighting.
Red got a break today. He has been made the new Catholic Chaplain's Assn't. The other one got hurt...So he'll be doing no more ridge-running or assaulting hills...he really deserves it. He's going to be missed around here. There were three of us getting to be pretty good friends, "Sol", a Jew; "Red", a Catholic; and me, a Protestant...there's no prejudice in foxholes.
I'm sure getting heavy again. This staying in one place, getting a decent amount of sleep has done wonders... muscles (?) are beginning to form over the bones & I feel my old self again. Wouldn't mind sitting out the war right here, which may be the case.
...Three months ago yesterday I joined this line company. Three months of the worst hell, the toughest ordeal I've ever had to bear in my life...at least I know I've accomplished something...That two weeks of hell from 20 May to 10 June was the worst fighting this company's ever had since the beginning of the war...
The sun is shining brightly again and our positions are almost finished. The frogs, flies, mosquitoes, ants & grasshoppers remain as pestering as usual.
Jack Benny said yesterday that he was in the navy in W.W. 1 and they placed personnel according to their civilian occupation, so his one buddy who was a street cleaner in civilian life was put on a mine-sweeper, and his other buddy who worked for a wrecking company was put on a destroyer. Then he paused and said, "I'll never understand why they put me on a Ferry boat"... His show was terrific. For a short while it took the guys home again...I hope he knows how much everybody appreciated him coming over here...
I need a letter from you very badly. - Your...hubby, Bob
Sweetheart,
... I'm so disgusted. Those clippings you sent...made me so bad... Young men's lives don't mean as much as votes or the money those stuffshirts are making. Neither side will gain anything if this war keeps on. Both sides are going to lose heavily in human lives...We will never push them fron N. Korea, & we will never be pushed from S. Korea...We will be going back and forth like a yo-yo and many more young men [will] lose their lives [or] some physical part of their bodies...What counts with most Americans [is] losing that big business and...money they're making and the votes their [sic] getting...I'm just blowing off steam... We came over here [to run] the aggressors from S. Korea. We have done that three different times. Oh cool down Janes...
Yes, I heard about the Marine Corps being represented in the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Now maybe we'll get some half decent equipment. Think draftees will ruin the efficiency of the Corps, tho...
All the guys are depending on that cease fire deal. If it doesn't come, it will have a great demoralizing effect for awhile. We're sick & tired of fighting for nothing...
That guy went home yesterday...Now we have three left in the squad, but new replacements are due in any day...
You know we're going to have to start from scratch again? ... After this...never again will I worry about money...
God bless you... Bob
...wifey-dear,
First, the news from...here. Yesterday, the brass...met with the enemy & made arrangements to meet tomorrow to start talking peace. By the time you get this letter, the outcome may be decided. Dare we hope?...I suppose the papers [back there] really make it sound encouraging. It's just the opposite here, so as not to demoralize the troops so much...
The skipper says we're (the whole division) getting relieved between the 13th & 16th. Of course we've been told that before, but this time it came out in a written statement and last night they came around and got our shirt sizes. (If I remember correctly, a shirt is something we used to wear with a uniform)...And this'll floor you--after we get back in the rear, we go on a training schedule. That's the funniest of all--they're going to train us how to fight. Ha! Ha! Ha! or maybe their [sic] going to train us how to be gentleman marines again. Oh, I can see it now: rifle inspections, discipline, saluting, saying "sir" to an officer, and keeping clean-shaven. All of that old baloney. But it still beats fighting, and means a little bit of relaxation after hours. Rumors...say that if the war ends, we leave Korea for the good old U.S. within 60 days. That's logical, marines aren't supposed to fight this kind of a war, we're costing the navy too much money...
Haven't done a thing for the last two days except read & sleep. Did take an hour yesterday afternoon to string some harassing wire...We started a "hearts" tournament last night with a can of fruit as a prize...
For heaven's sake, if you can dig up a May 26tyh & June 2nd COLLIERS, send them to me airmail. We started a mystery story, "A Shot in the Dark", and were unaware that it was a serial until the very end when it left us dangling in midair with "continued next week"...
You know, looking through these magazines at the pictures & ads, etc., it seems almost impossible that such wonderful things exist...
[I've been] thinking...of some of the habits I'll have to change before I get home. Getting ready for bed, for instance...Right now it takes about two seconds to get in "bed". All I have to do is take off my shoes & leggings, slip into my bag, zip it up, and that's it. Think of the bother I'll ahve to go through when I get home...it'll take at least a good hour to get ready for bed...
I never did mention the "lightning bugs", did I?...First time I saw one, it looked like a rifle firing in the distance...Then after I climbed out of my hole again (Ha! Ha!), I saw others...
...I'm getting awful fat. Must be up to 180 now. Suppose to make a patrol next Friday...sure am out of shape.
Haven't got anymore envelopes, so will go scrounge one...
Your fat & devoted...Bob
Darling,
Here I am again a couple of hours later. It's been raining...for the past hour...this is the driest I've ever been when it rained...I've got a no. 1 abode here. Got the flaps down on the sides and it's kind of dark in here...
...TThere are a few men in this company that have been here for 11 months and have AT LEAST six of it on line...so far I've got...83 days actual time on line [not counting] that measly 10 days in regimental reserve...Our battalion's got more time on line than any other unit in Korea. I've only been with the company for 95 days, and haven't missed a single day, firefight, or patrol...
...[3 left in our squad and 5 left in the other squad in our section] and that's all there is left out of 17 hard-charging men...["Blackie"...Semple...me...other squad; George Howell...B. Connors...Collins...Busch...Harvey...]
Ode to the Korean Frog - July 7, 1951, N. Korea
Hey, little frogs, what's da matter wit youse,
Gittin' in ma foxhole and sleepin' in ma shoes?
Yo' ugly things wit yur red toenails & black polkadots.
Why, if dis was'nt yur land, ah oughts
Teat yur measley, skinny legs.
Oney they h'aint much bigger'n turtle eggs.
Ah, what's da use? Stay there in ma' foxhole.
Yo cain't git out, nohow, witout a pole.
Youse silly little things, yo cain't HOP out!
Oh, okay, git here in ma hand
So's ah can lift ya up and on the land.
Oney tonight, dammit, stay away,
Then youse won't be trapped in ma hole all day.
Love, Bob
Dearest,
...Didn't get down for hot chow today. It rained hard all night, so I guess that's why they wouldn't let us go. I think it's silly, anyhow, walking all that way for hot chow when we're supposed to be relieved in a few days. The guys got all the ice cream they could eat yesterday. Sure was counting on it today.
Today, the peace talks are supposed to start. Everyone is pretty tense about it...We got one free beer apiece today, so we can celebrate if the peace everyone is counting on comes through.
...During the days of the retreat & the traps...thought sure I'd seen my last days...that was all new stuff to me, and I had a hard time getting used to it. I worried myself sick afraid something would happen to me [and the effect it might have on you]...It's all in the past now, and no sense thinking about it...
For details on Fred Bogner he got hit in the arm. Whether he'll be back again, I don't know...
Our former battalion commander was awarded the Silver Star for what WE did during the last push. He was a good man, so was transferred to the 1st battalion [which had a difficult time during the enemy counterattack and needs a strong leader]... Never have marines been pushed off a hill yet, & I don't imagine they will.
Remember Weeks? I hear he got wounded. He's in 3rd batt. Didn't even know they were in this war. [Just kidding].
...I'm about writ out. - ...All my love...Bob
...Sweetheart,
Got back from patrol just a little while ago & [got some mail]...Cheer[ed] my weary bones.
I know how you feel about the baby...you...bore the burden & pain when it was lost...one of these days we'll have many babies & I'll be by your side where I belong...
Good news...It's looking pretty good about us getting relieved. Some doggie brass was up here looking over the line. Either them or the French are going to relieve us...within a day or two. Just so we don't go to another part of the line like we have so many times before...This looks pretty good, because we're leaving most of our ammo for them. Think we've pulled our last patrol for awhile, thank God. Came as a surprise because it wasn't our turn..but they're always pulling quickies on us. Didn't see a thing this morning, again thank God. Sweated out many days of laziness, beer-drinking, & pogey-bait...Only got three hours of sleep last night (which would have been normal 1 1/2 months ago). It was all my own fault. We played "hearts" by candlelight far into the night, then I stood watch, & got up early this morning for the patrol.
...Guess I'll turn over now & write later.
Hello...
The guys drug [sic] me out of the sack an hour ago to play some hearts...and won the game, which puts me back in the running for that can of fruit...
The talk of peace has subsided among the men. "Combat" says there'd better be peace, because he just couldn't "jump-off" anymore. (Jump-off means to approach & assault an objective)...most of us feel that way..."Combat's" real name is Busch...
Speaking of nicknames, our "hearts" foursome has picked up some good ones as follows: Black - "Blackie", "Sambo", Solomon - "Sol", "King", "Bennie" & "King Cole." Me - "Janesy", "Dad", "Daddy", "old man", & (this'll kill you) "Pussy-face". Still universally known as "Daddy" & "Janesy".
...Get to go down to batt. tomorrow for hot chow. Hope they have ice cream... - ...Your loving hubby, Bob
Dear Bobby:
I've been holding my breath over these peace negotiations...afraid to think about them for fear they fizzle out...I say cease fire now and talk later.
...I don't think you have gotten all our letters because the girls have written quite a few times...Write me when you can.
Lots of love, Mother
Darling,
...We got one replacement in yesterday for our squad. Six for the whole company which means we're still under T.O. for another month. The one we got is a great big red-head from Penn. Just got through giving him some school on the gun. Had to laugh...he asked me how old I was, I said 21. He said he thought I might have been about that, but I looked and seemed like 30 or 35--oh brother. Ye gads! He'll be 21 in August, almost my age.
...We heard the peace talks are progressing nicely. [Then] we heard they would be called off until the chinks allowed the reporters to sit in. All of us are so mad we daren't even think about it, because the U.S. gov't really took a good cussing. The U.S. gov't is trading human lives for a few pictures that will sell newspapers. I'm not even going to think about it.
We're getting relieved Sunday & going to Inje. SUPPOSED to have a few weeks re-training.
...All day I've been as jumpy as a pregnant nun...Showed the new man "Red" around the lines & explained various set ups to him & gave some salty advice... "sea stores" of past combat...
Took a cold shower yesterday and acquired a new set of clothes. The showers naturally turned hot as soon as I was dressed. Hot water would probably shock me anyhow. Now we're all cleaned up & look pretty for the French (mais ou!) that are supposed to relieve us Sun. - ...Love...Bob
...wonderful one.
...I think my cover-kicking days are over. I'm so used to being trapped inside a sleeping "sack"...I can't even sleep without my pack as a pillow...
...I've been kind of afraid because maybe I'll come home a little different, even maybe physically...IO've tried...to see...if I really have changed, and I've come to the conclusion that these minor changes will all vanish when I [am home] again... Perhaps I'm a little more crude & hard in my thinking & ...talking, only because it's necessary , so as to maintain sanity.
...The new man...got [the squad leader] out of the bag twice last night while he was on watch, because he kept seeing things...But we were the same way when [we] were green...
Couldn't sleep last night...so I got up & went up the line to talk to the riflemen...Hit the sack around 2 a.m., got up at 4:20 for watch & stayed up...We had to set up line because we were supposed to get hit this morning...
The guys are hounding me to play cards...Just two more wins & the fruit is mine... - ...Your loving husband, Bob
Dear Bobby:
It's been a long time since I wrote you but I wanted to be sure you had gotten the news from [your wife] first...I know how disappointed you must be about the baby... It is quite an ordeal for a girl to undergo without her husband with her...
I received your nice Mother's Day card and it made me very happy...
Hope things haven't been too bad for you. I just hope and pray the darn thing gets over with soon. We think of you and talk about you all the time.
Lots of love, Mother
...Darling,
Have I got good news for you. First, I am now attached to Regimental H.Q. (rear-echelon poge) as a Chaplain's asst. Isn't that wonderful? A new Chaplain came in & needed an assistant, & "Red", old buddy "Red" mentioned me to him. Last night I came down & talked to the Chaplain & today was transferred from Easy Co. There'll be no more firefights, C rations, patrols, etc. for me...The Chaplain & I put our tent up today (a big tent) & it really feels good.
...The French relieved us last Sunday, & we're now at Inje, N. Korea in a number one rest area. It's wonderful back here... But I'll never forget the guys on line and how we lived & fought together...
...it's getting too dark to see & I can't find the candles (yes, even candles)... - Your...husam', Bob
Dearest...
...It feels so good to be living like a human being again...I'm still overwhelmed with surprise, because it came so suddenly out of a clear blue sky.
I took a kidding yesterday when I left the line company. I'm a rear-echelon poge now, ha! ha!...this is one job I really want to make good on...
That picture you sent was the 1st batt. memorial service. It was held while they were in reserve. They lost more men that we did on the last push--300 W. 37 D... Each battalion held its own memorial service & each one was as sad as the other. I'll never forget as long as I live, those guys that I lived & fought with.
... I don't think it will be too long before we're together again... - Love always, Bob
...Darling,
...Have been running all over the place from battalion to battalion doing things...We're supposed to be here until Aug. 11th, then I don't know what comes next. The whole division is off line getting a rest they greatly deserve. My regiment is on standby in case of a breakthrough. We're right here next to __the town of Inje. It's a swell rest area... The boys in my old outfit are doing nothing, which is about time for them. When I went over today, they had more beer than they could drink, and most of them really showed it... I had a great time talking to them... Will feel kind of bad when they go back on line without me, even tho I wouldn't want to go back. I've come to know & like some of those guys during my 3 months time...spent on line with them. It's not like friends you meet while at work...Those were the men I lived & fought with, sometimes even our lives depended on each other. Someday I'll forget their names, but never will I forget their character & bravery & the miseries we went through. I'll never forget...
Your loving husan', Bob
Hello Sweetie,
...It has rained steady for the last two days...the river we're next to, rose quite a bit & we had to move. Weapons Company got cut off and when they woke up this morning, they had to wade to chow. It was quite funny, of course to everyone but them.
Tomorrow we have three services to give. One at 3rd Batt., 1st Batt., & then we're going up near the line where Charlie Company has a perimeter around the 11th Marine Artillery. The army didn't furnish protection for our artillery, so we've got to send a company which is supposed to be resting. Nuts...Anyhow, I know the guys up there will appreciate it...I think we'll be gong up [on line] quite a bit, because by my suggestion, we're going up tomorrow.
Guess what? A little froggie just hopped in here & on my leg and looked me square in the eye. The Chaplain & I had a good laugh about it & then I threw him out (the froggie).
Starting Monday we visit all the companies in 1st & 3rd Batts. & interview every man...ought to be close to two thousand men...
(Little froggie just happened in again & got thrown out.)
This Chaplain is the first one to try this choir idea. I got some of my buddies & they got some of their buddies so we're going to start off with a bang tomorrow...at our first service...[with] "Softly & Tenderly". The Chaplain & I * another guy make up the bass section. I sure am rusty.
Can't tell you how thrilled I am in getting this job...One thing about this job, I have to stay clean & shower all the time. I'm even combing my hair. Also sleeping on a nice, soft, stretcher until I get my cot...
See "Red" often. Good old Red. If it hadn't been for him, I'd never even known about this job. Funny how things happen that way...
...the bugs which the light...is attracting, are eating me up, so...I'll close for now. - Goodnight... - Bob
Hello...
...It sure feels wonderful to sing & take part in church activities again...
...Chaplain told me today that I was smiling a lot more than when I first joined him. And I'm not near as nervous as I used to be. Don't stand any watch at all at night, so get a full night's sleep on a nice, soft stretcher. Am just getting back to normal again. Found out how really stagnant my mind had gotten. When I first joined the Chaplain I could hardly talk & think straight or intelligently. Had also forgotten a lot of common courtesies, too...I guess that's a result of too much, too many, & not enough. Heaven knows what I'd be like if I put any more months on line, so I'm certainly lucky.
...it looks as if the Chinese are preparing for something big, but...we aren't stopping all of OUR preparations, either...
...four Marine Corps jets flew over us about 100 feet from the ground doing barrel rolls & such. Quite a spectacle...
Guess now that I'm off the line I won't have much to write about. What I'm doing now doesn't sound so interesting, but it is, believe me. - ..Goodnight... - Bob
Dear Bobby:
...You probably know by this time that Lois had her baby on July 5. Another boy--! ...We were with her when she was coming out of the anesthetic and the first thing she said to me was, "Did you get a letter from Bobby?" I remember when she had her appendix out she kept crying because you were in California. So you see your family has you on their minds all the time...Now, the doctor tells Betty Anne she may go to the hospital any minute...
...I don't mind telling you I've had many sleepless nights in the past few months...I carry your letters around until they are almost worn out...Every conversation starts with "Any mail from Bobby...?" ...If we get the war over, get Betty Anne's baby here, and get you back home--then I'm going to start living again.
We have all been hoping these peace talks mean something...So take care of yourself as much as possible...
Lots of love from all, Mother
[Janes Note Year 2000: Had received a notice from draft board to report for physical in Columbus, Ohio. Wrote back & said I'd love to, but was currently too busy. They wrote this in return & sent a can of candy for my 21st birthday.]
PFC Robert C. Janes U.S.M.C.R. 1066824
E-2-5, 5th Marine
1st Div FMF
c/o F.P.O. San Francisco, California
Dear Robert:
Your letter is very much appreciated by this board and we assure you your records are up to date. This is your Board of Registration and all changes in status which you have given us have been recorded. We are very appreciative of the service you and your comrades are rendering our country and we pray for your welfare and safety. According to our records here, you will soon reach your 21st birthday. We wish you could spend it as you would wish to--here with your wife and your family. We are mailing a small gift to you under separate cover and hope it will reach you in time for your birthday--to brighten the occasion in a small way. Thank you again for writing and we would appreciate hearing from you again.
Sincerely yours - For the Board:
(Mrs.) Delia Wagner, Clerk
Darling,
...Twenty-one yesterday & don't feel too different except now I can go into a bar & buy a drink without turning red. All I lack is a bar...
Have been quite busy lately...Interviewed 500 [men] today and boy does that wear you out...but it's fun meeting people & laughing again...Can now talk & laugh & carry on like I used to...
Met the Battalion C.O. personally the other day...
...I can hardly believe how much better I feel & look now. I'm even using Vitalis on my hair now...Shave and bathe everyday, keep my dungarees sparkling clean, & just live & feel like a human again...
The Chaplain tells me I yell out in my sleep once in awhile. I hope I get over that before I get home. Every now & then, an experience comes back in a dream.
The Chaplain is a swell guy...
That package from the draft board came the day before my birthday. It was two cans of candy. Nice of them, huh?...
Saw a movie the night before last (2nd in 4 months)...It was quite funny.
...Time seems to be going so slow...All the officers are very optimistic about this peace coming through...
Always, Bob
...Honey,
Another busy day just about gone, and another one coming up tomorrow...we have services to give all over between here & the line... Monday morning is a memorial service for a boy who was accidentally shot with a .45 nine days ago. I was there with him when he died, the Chaplain & I...my new job is keeping me busy, and I love it...
The line troopers are now on a training schedule & run problems & such in the morning and have the afternoon to "crap out". They're learning how to assault fortified positions & how to live in the field. Ha! Ha! That sure tickles them. I don't get to participate, poor me.
A marine just rode up on a donkey expecting to see a movie. Sure see some funny things over here...
We're moving out in a couple of weeks. Anybody's guess where, but I've got a good idea. I feel sorry for the line companies. Howe we all pray this war will end soon... - ...Love, Bob
...wonderful...wifey,
...gave all our services...running all over in a jeep, up and down all over dust, winding mountain roads...tired...[but] not that weary, fatigued, done-in feeling like [I] experienced on line.
...Back here, life is so much easier...living like a [human being] again. Up on line all actions & talk were strictly war & hell & I wouldn't have wanted [anyone] to listen or see or share that kind of a miserable life...
...Would never have taken the physical & mental shellacking of combat without...faith...
...I'm getting fat...Can't even wear a pistol belt...to hang on my hips [like when] I was on line. My 32" dungarees even fit...not too long ago a 30" used to sag on me.
See lots of buddies...they were all split up when we hit Korea. Still haven't heard or seen anything of Sims. I'm worried about him...I saw a Donald Sims on the casualty list & don't know whether...it was him. Hope not.
...Seagrave, by the way, caught a couple of slugs a couple months (or less) ago & looks just terrible now. I've never seen him so skinny. That's the way it goes...
Haven't seen my old friends the little froggies for a long time. Guess they only cater to line troopers. - ...Goodnight, dearest - Bob
Darling,
...We were supposed to have a memorial for the kid who was accidentally shot last week, but postponed it because one of the guys in our Bible class was KIA today on a patrol...What a shame, sure am thankful I don't have to do that kind of stuff anymore.
...I haven't been further south than Inje, N. Korea since May 22. But maybe one of these months I'll make it.
...Going to the movies tonight... - Love, Bob
Dearest...
...We had ice cream for dinner today & had three helpings...The chow varies from...bad & not so good, but I GUESS it's better than C-rations...
...In the distance the old familiar sound of rifle & machine gun fire is coming from the range that marines are becoming familiar with their weapons on. (Ha! Ha!)
I still like my job immensely...I don't like the atmosphere here, tho. Same old "crotch" (marine Corps) [stuff]...I might even...ship back to a line company where the MEN are...Just kidding...I go visit the guys in my old outfit now & then & still get a warm welcome...I miss those old boys in the company & sometimes...I wish I were back there...Sure going to hate to see those guys go back on line, if they have to...
What I'd like to know is, what happens to the hundreds of replacements that come over here every month? They sure don't get to the line companies...
Next Sunday I begin my 5th month in this rat hole. Sometimes it seems as though it has gone fast, then...most of the time, it seems like years...
Sure have improved my language since living with the Chaplain. Ha! Ha! - ...with all my heart, - Bob
Dearest Bobby:
Hi sweetie pie! How ya be?
Well something new has been added. I had the baby July 5...The only part that looks like me is his BIG FEET...of course, he cries all night and sleeps all day...
...I can't get used to the fact that I'm a mother...
Betty Anne went to the hospital this morning...false labor.
In case I don't get out to get you a card, Happy Birthday!
Love ya lots, Lois
Sweetie,
At least I can keep track of the dates at this job.
Easy Company went up to protect our artillery, so I have to wait until the mail gets transferred before I get it...no mail for another week. Nuts.
The 2nd Batt. Chaplain's asst. & I rode up to the 11th marines about 2 miles from the front today...we had a nice ride in a nice open jeep in a nice hot sun with a nice temperature of 111 [degrees]... Sure am thankful I'm not out running ridges.
Some of the line companies had night problems tonight...glad I don't have to put up with those, either.
My spec. no. is now officially changed...Second time it's been changed since I've been here...Started out as a rifleman, then machine gunner, & now... [Chaplain's Asst.]...a real break...
I'm getting awfully fat & healthy...people are going to think I've been on a vacation in Florida...If you could have seen me around the 1st of June, you'd never have recognized me. It's almost unbelievable the good change that has come over the men in my old outfit. Sure would hate to see those guys go back on line...
It's just about lights out...I even get my teeth brushed every night & sleep with only my shorts on. Seems wonderful...I'm a human being again... - All my love... Bob
...Darling,
...bugs swarming around the lamp are driving me crazy...[used] an insect bomb, but they are as allergic to that stuff as marines are to beer...
Tomorrow is a battalion inspection...they're a pain in the neck...getting just like stateside...
As usual, there are a bunch of guys in here. It's a nice place for them to come...
See good old "Red" all the time...You know, if it weren't for him, I'd still be a rip-roaring, bloody, bloomin' machine gunner... I'm a very lucky marine...
All my love... Bob
Dearest...
It rained like the devil through [the movie tonight] but...have been mucho wetter before...
I've never had it so good since I've been in the Corps...Maybe if I'd never been on line, I wouldn't appreciate this so much. Sometimes I feel a little guilty...I'll never forget how it was on line...Those are the men, everyone a hero, & I'll remember all my life what the real marine goes through. Only one man can talk intelligently...of what war is, & that's the line trooper...
Have plenty of all kinds of gear. The Red Cross gives us things to distribute among the men... - Your most devoted hubby, Bob
...Sweet Darling,
... As to your question about Sims, haven't heard hide nor hair of him. He's in the 7th Marines...the good old fighting fifth was last to leave the line after losing most of there [sic] men & gaining most of the ground...we already know [we're the best]...The next best is the 7th [marines], they were responsible for the breakthrough at Hwachon...[they] passed through us, broke through, & then we passed through them, & they went back in reserve...& while the peace talks were going on, the 1st & 2nd batt., 5th marines were assaulting hills & took an expensive beating, but still kept on taking hill after hill. The 9th draft that joined us is almost exterminated! They sure stepped into the stuff. Glad I had a little time to get indoctrinated [sic] before I stepped into it. Everyday I discover one of the guys I came over with won't be going back...it's a shock because some were such darn good guys. Not many of us 7th Draft left, either. But that's the way it goes...
Yes, the whole division is off line, except the 11th marines [artillery]...the 5th...finish...training...August 18th...& where we go after that is anybody's guess...
I hear peace talks have all but quit...When those guys go back on line, I'll be with them in spirit. I know what they'll be going through & sure hate to see them go back up there...
The Chaplain...was telling me [yesterday] what I looked like when I first talked to him. It was funny...
...If I ever had to go back up there again, I'm afraid it'd just about do me out. Twice I came close to snapping at the brain. One night on a force march walking out of one of the traps last April, 1st of May, I let loose, but that was more fatigue & nerves than anything else. Started screaming like an ape, for a break, a rest, or something. We walked, almost running down the road to Chunchon without a break, but we kept on going. Jim Bannon, the gunner at the time, stopped, rested his head on the gun & started crying, "How long, how much more can we take, why don't they let us alone..." He kept mumbling that. We were carrying hellish loads, I guess that's what did it, plus the sleepless...nights of fighting the way out. Just when you think you're finished, something...happens to lift you up a little. We finally got to the trucks in the wee hours that morning & they took us at top speed through Chunchon...was new then & things hit me more. Jim & I & the rest of the squad (Smitty) that's left of those 7 men that made up the original squad & witnessed the blowing of our stacks, have sat around many a lonely night & laughed at that. It's funny now. Guess Jim & Smitty are the only ones left in the squad I started with last April 5th. Back in those days seems like a million years ago, & are so mixed up in my mind...it seems now like one long nightmare. The 2nd time I just about popped...we held up a whole day on that ridge & delivered supporting fire for the 1st Batt. who was having much trouble on the next ridge over. The box cars dropped plenty of chow, & we really got our fill of C-rations after starving to death for three nightmarish days...Don't guess you'll ever know what dear old hubby has done...I won't have to shoot at anymore people [now].
...Maybe I'll be a better, stronger person now, & no doubt more broad-minded. Was getting too old too fast. Thank God it's over... - ...Love...Bob
[Janes Note Year 2000: When we held up on that ridge to deliver supporting fire for Able Company (First Battalion, 5th Marines) who were struggling to take their objective on the next ridge, Marine Corsairs suddenly dove out of the sky to bomb, strafe, and drop napalm, mistaking them for the enemy. It was almost more than I could take to see that. In recent years, I have been in steady contact with Jim Mortensen of Vacaville, California. We had gone through Pendleton together, but got separated when we reached Korea. He went to A-1-5, and was there when the Corsairs attacked. He said that there had been a mix-up between the "spotter plane" and the people laying out the "air panels", which were supposed to designate our troops from the enemy. He also said that miraculously, there were few casualties from the error.]
...Darling,
...If you write [our Pendleton friends] Jim & Pat again, here are some guys he might remember: Cpl. Damon, Helms, Moody, Hightower, Miller, Swisher, Pap, DePallis & some others...that won't ever coming back again. Those guys were all in our company back in the states. I was with Hightower when he got hit. A real guy. He...knocked out a heavy and Namboo (light) machine gun by himself, but failed to see a gook to the right of him...He went fast, tho. His wife was due to have a baby any day then. That was last June. He got the Navy Cross. I also saw baby-san Miller pass away. He was lying right next to me when he got hit. Swisher passed away a minute after he got it. DePallis was singing, "I'm Going to Love You for the Rest of My Days" when he went down. Heaven knows how many are left that went to the 7th marines.
Seagrave was wounded, returned to duty...Pettigrew...Brewer [were wounded mentally, it is said'. Mortenson got a purple heart. Charlie Nitche turned in with a bad heart. Helms was the guy that drove a...Oldsmobile at Pendleton. Andy Anderson was on the other side of me the same day Miller got it...I bandaged for him...Cpl. Holmes is in 3/5, Ramsey is in Able Co...Cpl. Kidd is a light machine gunner in Baker Co., Weeks was evacuated...Whitley is in anti-tanks. Propes, Garrett, Stringer & Pisci are back in the rear...Rogers is in 60mm mortars in Easy Co. Nannetti is a BAR-man in Baker Co. Taulkan is a squad leader in Baker Co. Sure would like to know where Sims is...That's all I can think of right now.
...If the regiment goes back on line again, [the Chaplain & I] travel with the furthest forward aid station...messy sometimes, but that doesn't bother me so much anymore.
...Nothing at all to worry about.
...Goodnight, Sweetheart...Bob
...I just found out that Nationalist China invaded Red China. My, my, now they've stuck their foot into the soup...
Took a nice hot shower today & a dip in the river. It sure did feel good. Will never take those things for granted anymore.
...[There's a Corpsman...in the tent next door...who knows [your family]...His name is Jack Vandenberg...just came off a line company (Able) & is now with Batt. Aid Station...
...see you in my dreams...Bob
Dearest,
...now serving...1st & 2nd [Batts.]...It'll be good to be back with my old outfit again...
I never realized how much my mother [and you] were worrying, even from what little smoothed-over stuff I said...It was just impossible to write without mentioning what I was doing. I tried to make it sound so calm and all, even though I didn't near explain what goes on "up there".
...I...wish I'd kept a Diary, but at the time, the...experiences I wanted to keep out of mind so much & it made me so sick & nervous...to remember the miseries that a Diary, I could never have kept...
All my love...Bob
...Sweetie...
...over a hundred marines of the 2nd Batt...gather together every morning at 6:15 by the river, and pray together for peace...They've done so every morning...since the peace talks began (since we came off line)...rain or shine...I wonder if anyone back there [is doing that]...These men have seen their buddies fall to the ground & some of them...have already shed [their own] blood on this soil, only lived to tell about it.
Easy Company came back off outpost today, so naturally, I had to go see them. Only one left out of the original squad I started with...Bannon was carried down yesterday deathly ill...That leaves good old Smitty...a real guy & a swell buddy...now he's a gunner & happy. What a good man he was in combat...We were always giving each other moral support...I'd have gone completely haywire if it hadn't been for him...He was the first one I talked to when I got your letter that evening last May after a rough fight...Really like old Smitty. Miss all those guys...
...See you in my dreams...Bob
...My darling,
...Saw my first little froggie in many days the other night...one wee teeny came hopping in...He looked as if he had just become an adult in froghood. Real cute tiny thing. I picked him up and looked at his belly, and he was just a light baby pink with gray dots. He was rather anxious for me to put him down. You know how little frogs are when they just turn from being tadpoles to froggies. I guess you don't.
...Smitty dropped in today. We talked over old times and laughed & griped together. He really liked my cot. Also asked about you.
Your devoted husam' - Bob
...Darling,
...the old familiar sound of rifle & M.G. fire is coming from the [training] range... (Ha! Ha!). That sound still shakes me up...How I hate it... Used to get a kick out of firing, but not anymore. Turns my stomach...
...When Smitty dropped in yesterday he revived a lot of old times we went through up on line and...the humorous aspects of them, but... I'd better wait until I get home to tell you... It even shakes me up to think of how it was up there... it won't affect me so much when I tell you [in person]...
When the companies go back on line, I'll be at the aid station...so don't worry... - ...I'm yours, Bob
...Wifey....
... Took a little ride up to the Wichita Line yesterday. Discovered it is up at the same place where our company hit all the stuff. I was feeling fine before I went up there, but that road & those same old hills stirred up something inside of me... - ... God bless you... Bob
...Sweetie...
...That time on line just knocked everything out of me. Heaven knows what I'd be like after spending the rest of my time in a line company. You'd probably never have known me. I know you wouldn't have if you could have seen me last June... Maybe I wrote normal, but... I couldn't talk straight, think straight, or hold my hand... steady. I stuttered, & after the next to the last firefight, lost control of my hands altogether & couldn't see very well... I thought I was really splitting... now I'm back to normal... am steady as a rock (except a little shakey... because of the firing today)... The sound of firing shakes me up a little... When the Chaplain & I took the ride up to the Wichita Line, we drove right up the same road (what was left of it) my company force-marched out on after two weeks of hell... At that time (last June) there was nothing but dead gooks all along the road. All the hills were familiar & stimulated many past events that had been pushed in the back of my head... made me feel kinda bad... - ... always... Bob
wonderful one,
... The 1st Batt. is getting split up, the different companies going to various... outposts... It'll be... lonely around here with most of the companies gone...
I wonder how the peace talks are coming? ... Doesn't pay to get all worked up about them... - ... your devoted husband, Bob
Darling,
... I've cried once since I've been over here, and that was when we lost our baby, but reading over that [casualty] list just about got me... I knew them all. Must be getting soft... [Higgins & Buttery were also listed] ... Was with them when they got hit... Two guys in our section carried "Hunch" all night until noon the next day, through the mountains to the Aid Station... All the guys in the old outfit felt bad when I told them. We sure did like him. He'd been over here for a long time & was due to go home. NUTS!!
I hear Sygman Rhee gave the U.S. a bill for a billion dollars for services rendered by the Koreans in fighting this war. That takes the rosey cake... Americans have only paid a price of 78,000 men.
... going to take a bath in the river right now... - ... All my love... Bob
Dearest...
Well, here we are protecting the artillery. The line companies are up in the hills... gets a little noisey [sic] once in awhile because of our artillery popping off. But, I've slept through much louder barrages...
There's a dozen guys in here... We're discussing past events. Now I'm all shook up. Doggonit! ... Everytime I get to talking about it, I get all worked up... - ... All my love... Bob
Dearest,
... We woke up this morning with water all around the place. Even the froggies headed for high ground. [Even] Oregon was never this bad...
... Sometimes I feel like going back to my outfit. I would if it weren't for the stuff I'd have to take again. Don't know what to think about me. Something just seems to be gnawing at my insides...
The peace talks were called off, and we're moving in a few days... back into combat...
Getting more used to the artillery as the days go by. Get so you can sleep through anything up here...
... Can't close my eyes to [memories of guys getting hit] like I used to...
There's a million guys in here...screaming...for a game of "hearts", so I'd better go to keep the peace... - ... Your devoted husam' - Bob
...Sweetie...
... The peace talks started again... The 5th Marines are going to stay in reserve...the 7th go on line within two weeks...
... Now maybe the 5th will get the break it deserves.
... Used to think when I first came over, that it would be nice to catch a slug in an unimportant place so as to get away for awhile, but when the stuff started whizzing around, I sure changed my mind in a hurry. Everybody does... All I got... up there is a few scars on my hands... a little bit of fungus... on my feet... & a little shook up in the nervous system with nightmares & such... Never missed a day, a patrol, or a fight with that good old company & came through unhurt. Can't thank God enough for that...
I have to turn in my cot, because from now on, we travel light (Ha! Ha!). - ... with all my heart, Bob
...Darling,
... It sure was cool this morning... Something tells me it's going to be a long, cold winter.
... There's a dead Korean woman in a house about 100 yds. from here. Ran across her today when Dewey and I were ransacking houses for straw mats... Hard telling how she died... disease or...a soldier of one of the armies fighting here... if I'd seen something like that five months ago, I'd probably lost my insides... Wish I had a dollar for every dead, mauled body I've seen since... - ... Your devoted husband, Bob
Dearest...
... Sometimes I get so fed up [here] I feel like requesting transfer back to my old outfit where the men are. Maybe I was happier there than I thought I was... I doubt it very much...
Honey, I have so many conflicting thoughts tonight, I'd better close... - ... Love always, Bob
KNOWN BUT TO FEW
The morning sunrays beamed slowly down
Over the hills, in valleys dark and cold,
And turned flowing streams into molten gold
That twisted and wound, and colored all things 'round.
In one small valley, the beams stopped their play;
There, a group of men knelt to pray
For their comrades, who only hours before had fallen
In a fight to take a mountain, and now lay sullen.
One young man sobbed without shame,
Another stared deeply ahead when he heard the name
Of his childhood buddy, being repeated by the Chaplain
Who was ministering the prayer to his fighting bretheren.
In a far off American city, people were coming and going;
The streetcars were clamoring and auto horns blowing.
A lady stopped her neighbor on the street and said,
Hello, dear, how is your husband and little Ted?"
In a farm house by fields of grain,
A mother wept, because her son won't return again.
By her, was her husband, and in his eyes were tears;
("My son, my son, why - After all these years.")
A news-caster was blaring into his microphone,
About a far off war in an Oriental zone;
He dramatized a bloody fight for an unknown hill,
How American troops captured it and went on to kill.
Back in the valley, the men turned to their weapons again;
The sun rays were gone; it began to rain.
They advanced down a road and up a hill
Toward a deeply-entrenched enemy that they had to kill.
- Robert C. Janes, Yanngu, Korea
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to the FIRST MARINE DIVISION, REINFORCED for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
"For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea during the periods 21 to 26 April, 16 May to 30 June, and 11 to 25 September 1951. Spearheading the first counteroffensive in the spring of 1951, the FIRST Marine Division, Reinforced, engaged the enemy in the mountainous center of Korea in a brilliant series of actions unparalled in the history of the Marine Corps, destroying and routing hostile forces with an unrelenting drive of seventy miles north from Wonju. During the period 21 to 26 April, the full force of the enemy counteroffensive was met by the Division, north of Hwachon Reservoir. Although major units flanking the Marine Division were destroyed or driven back by the force of this attack, the Division held firm against the attackers, repelling the onslaught from three directions and preventing the encirclement of the key center of the lines. Following a rapid regrouping of friendly forces in close contact with the enemy, the FIRST Marine Division, Reinforced, was committed into the flanks of the massive enemy penetration and from 16 May to 30 June, was locked in a violent and crucial battle which resulted in the enemy being driven back to the north with disastrous losses to his forces in the number of killed, wounded and captured. Carrying out a series of devastating assaults, the Division succeeded in reducing the enemy's main fortified complex dominating the 38th Parallel. In the final significant offensive of the action in Korea, from 11 to 25 September 1951, the FIRST Marine Division, Reinforced, completed the destruction of the enemy forces in Eastern Korea by advancing the front against a final desperate enemy defense in the 'Punch Bowl' area in heavy action which completed the liberation of South Korea in this locality. With the enemy's major defenses reduced, his forces on the central front decimated, and the advantage of terrain and the tactical initiative passing to friendly forces, he never again recovered sufficiently to resume the offensive in Korea. The outstanding courage, resourcefulness and aggressive fighting spirit of the officers and men of the FIRST Marine Division, Reinforced, reflect the highest credit upon themselves and the United States Naval Service."
For the President,
- signed - Charles S. Thomas
Secretary of the Navy
Dear sweet (wife):
Testing my typewriter since I got it repaired. Thought I'd better before the next (KIA) list comes in... Besides c rations, we get a lot of stuff like apples, bread, juice, candy, hot soup, and various kinds of stuf [sic]. Right now I'm drinking a cup of hot soup, but don't ask me what kind. I think they just put a lot of stuff together with water and call it soup. It's good, tho. I ran into a buddy of Shellhorn's just now and he said that Shellhorn was still at Pendleton in the band. Oh brother, does he have it made...
Yes, honey, the marines have again proved what stubborn fighters they are. No matter how bad they get hit, they just won't give up until their objectives are taken. That's how it's been the last few weeks, and we sure paid for it. War is really something to see. You'd never believe it.
I hear peace talks may reopen. Everyone is sure praying hard. Those rats back in the states don't want it to end, or it would have ended before this.
I've been helping out at the aid station. Been bearing stretchers, riding shotgun at night, anything I can do to help. Have got to do that, honey. Don't have to, but I've got to. We've really been busy, too.
I guess we're bogging down here for the winter. For awhile, anyhow. The boys up on line are digging in and setting up a defense similar to that last June & July when the peace talks were going on...
Enclosed is a picture of the corpsman that wants you to find a girl for him to write...
It's getting too dark in here to see, so I guess I'll quit...Thank you for marrying a lug like me.
Now and always...your loving husam' - Bob
Dear Uncle Bernard & family:
Many, many thanks for the fine letter and Prayer Book just received...
(Wife) and I know that, God willing, we'll be together again in the not too-distant future, and all this will be in the past. It certainly has been difficult being apart like this, but it is a good test of our love...
The job I have now offers a challenge... I'm very thankful for it... and also that I don't have to fight close combat anymore.
The Chaplain I work with is a wonderful man... a United Presbyterian, but there is no segregation over here. His congregation consists of all faiths of men, which all believe in the same thing... His services are held on any day of the week that any marines are available to come worship.
Besides our regular services, we hold a short devotion every night in our tent and have a goodly number attending. This is quite ironic, because we receive and are susceptible to enemy artillery fire. When we were back in reserve and the marines were getting a rest after six months on line, we had a choir and a Korean boy who played a field organ. This was the first choir in the history of the 5th Marines. Now that our boys are back in the fight, such activities are impossible, but we hold Divine Services whenever possible, sometimes three times in one day. Our main job now is taking care of the wounded and dying.
My duties besides helping in the Services are answering all correspondence, writing condolence letters to next of kin, bearing stretchers for the wounded, and riding shotgun for the ambulance at night. All in all, I manage to keep myself busy with these things and keeping the men supplied with morale building material.
The horrors of war here are un-describable. Americans can be proud of the way our men undergo untold hardships and still maintain a constant faith in God. God is winning many souls over here... I've seen quite a few, esp. under fire. - Yours... - Bob Janes
Dear Dad,
Six months in this damn hole now. Guess I'm starting on the down grade now & in six more months may get to come home. It's hard telling, tho cause anything can happen.
Rec'd yours of the 19th yesterday & it was quite cheering. Well, with me, it's just the opposite. Have been around men so long, forget what a woman is like, but still have memories to cling to, & even they are vague...
My mail got fouled up last week & didn't get any for quite awhile & thought I'd been forgotten. Should have known better. Anyhow, yesterday, got a pile of letters and feel much better now. Still have to have that mail, or I'm not worth a damn.
It's hard for me to visualize all that has happened back there. I suppose it will hit me all of a sudden when I get home... God's time sure does change things. Never can tell what's in store from one day to the next...
...have had enough fighting to last me the rest of my life.
The way things look now, I'm afraid you'll have to cross me off that Christmas list. Looks like a long, cold winter.
Speaking of winter, it's easing itself in slowly, but expect a big jump any day now. Am going to pick up my winter sleeping bag today. The wind has been raising havoc the last two days & has brought a cold rain with it. But I'm much better off now than if I were back in the Company.
Better keep this under your hat. The offensive you read about & the marines "thrusting deep into N. Korea" as the papers say, has been at a standstill for a week or so. We had to abandon the original plan of taking the high ground. We're in a terrible defense set-up now, & may pull back for the winter, a few thousand yards. We had planned to take the high ground directly in front, but couldn't do it, because the 1st Marine Div. suffered 2000 casualties (200 KIA) in about two weeks. It's a good thing I wasn't with my old outfit because there's not much left of them. The 5th Marines are on line now with the 1st Marines. I felt like going back to the company when they went back into the fight & probably would have if I were still single & didn't have anybody. I guess it was mostly from force of habit, but when my old buddies went back into the grind, I wasn't doing much of anything & felt kind of worthless.
Of course I wouldn't be so stupid as to do a thing like that. That's just asking for it. Anyhow, none of my old section is left up there, but three new guys who I didn't know.
You just can't know how it is up here until you've lived through it. Even back here where I am 1,000 mtrs. from the line, you don't know how it is. The further back you go, the pogier the men get, they loose all of the spirit & comradeship that makes the Marine Corps line troopers so great. It's disgusting, really, & these poges will go home & be heroes with all the combat stories when they don't even know what combat is & the line trooper who knows what the scoop is will keep his mouth shut because it's not very pleasant to talk about. These pogey rear-echelon marines wear the same uniforms & same campaign stars that line men do, so actually there's no distinguishment between the poges & the real marines, who make the glory & history of the Corps & get absolutely no credit. But that's the way it goes.
Had a little excitement when we first got up here. Gooks (N. Koreans) were getting through the lines and they ambushed our ambulances, between here & the line & between here & back to Regiment CP. The only thing these poges knew what to do was not to make any more night runs & a man died because of it. That certainly isn't the Marine Corps I knew up on line. Letting a few scraggly rats run this place. I offered to take 5 good men, preferably line experienced, & set up a trap for the infiltrators. I'd have armed them with all automatic weapons & illumination grenades & frag grenades. I knew I could have got them that way, but the CO, who is a green old lady didn't want to take the chance. Instead, he takes five inexperienced rear-echelon poges & puts them all in a jeep to follow behind the ambulance. That went over big & the gooks had a field day. They got quite a few men & when the poges in the jeep got ambushed they hauled ass down the road as fast as they could go. That's what kind of stuff the army pulls & I was P.O.'d highly. Anyhow, the last week was pretty quiet & they caught quite a few infiltrators. Before we moved up here, the gooks got back to our last CP, kidnapped three keep drivers who were driving at night--stripped them, killed them, booby trapped their bodies & left them on the road for us to pick up. They also mined the roads & caught a truck, bulldozer & tanks the next day. They even got back to the Regiment CP & mines & booby trapped the roads back there. What a disgrace to the name Marine. We still got incoming mail [artillery] & have casualties around here, but I've got a nice bunker built. It's all in a war.
Better close now. Got carried away here, I guess. Better keep this letter under cover, too. Give my love to Mom & all the family. Write again soon. - Love from son, Bob
Dear Bob,
Just a line to let you know everything is just peachy-keen with me. I imagine by this time you have heard all about the beating Easy Co. took a few weeks ago. It was pretty bad, heard the expression 'dropping like flies', well Bob in about 10 minutes they got about half the third plattoon [sic]. It was really something.
I got hit with a burp gun, up high on the chest, damn near in the throat, they removed it about six inches above the ol' 'knobby' hip bone. Didn't puncture the lung, but tore up the lining. Feel pretty good, am short winded as hell, and have to breathe real shallow. Pretty sure am going to Japan the end of this week. May go to a field hospital here in Korea, but I doubt it. Anyway won't be able to carry a pack for quite awhile.
Quite a few of the boys are here with me. Elsie (Borden), Harvey, Howell, Buccerni, Zeke, Lt. Koons, and quite a few others from the Co.
It was a dirty shame about Semple. Al used to get mighty pissed off, but I hated to see him go like he did. It's a dirty deal, from high school to graves registration with no chance to really enjoy life. There must be a reason for it, but I can't figure it out.
The one that I felt the most was when they killed Murphy. So help me, when I get back on line, no mercy. Never thought I would feel this way. But are they going to pay. Let's change the subject.
Saw Connors at Able Med. Heard Jim Bannon didn't get hit too bad either.
How the hell are things going with you. Not 'WORKING' too hard I hope. If they give you shit, tell them where to get off, and that you'll go back to a line co. (Yeah, in a pig's ass.)
Not much else doing. Would sure like to hear from you. Be sure and tell your wife-o I said hello. Hope to hear from you soon.
As always, Smyth
P.S. Be a good boy, "pussy face".
Peace (When?)
No more battles
No more fights
No more long & fearful nights.
No more duckin'
No more cryin'
No more pals layin' there dyin'.
No more wounds
No more blood
No more crawlin' through the crud.
No more gooks
To cut right through
When they comes t'decease you.
No more climbin'
These damn hills
No more sweatin', and then the chills.
No more walkin'
And fallen arches
No more a'them force-marches.
No more hot
No more cold
No more rocky peaks to hold.
No more t'shake
No more t'starve
No more holes in gooks t'carve.
Nuthin' but peace & solitude
Where's I kin set aside my shoes
And sit here peacefully a'drinkin' my booze.
Just nice solemn quiet,
As I kneel here on the sod
And give my thanks to almighty God.
- Robert C. Janes
Eastern front, Korea
20 December 1951
(Sint'an-ni area)
[Follow is a letter to Jim Mortensen, member of A Co, 1st Bn, 5th Marines, 1s Marine Division. He was wounded in the spring fighting and had gone home to be discharged since his enlistment had expired. We became friends at Camp Pendleton and went to Korea together in the 7th Replacement Draft. We were assigned to different companies. After I became a Chaplain's Assistant in July, Jim asked me to carry his Purple Heart to safeguard it from loss while he went back to the front line after recovering from wounds. This letter was written on Red Cross stationery.]
Hi Mort -
Here's a couple of pix you might be interested in [he and Bill Ramsey, also a member of A-1-5]. As soon as I get Doc's [Ramsey] address from Sib [Ray Sibley], I'll send him same-same.
Hope you are rehabilitated by now used to that soft life as a blessed civilian. Tote a couple for me...
3/5 relieved 1/5 yesterday & things are now going pretty good. 2/5 is still getting hit every night by probing gooks who speak perfect English. Let the people back there know what this is all about over here, if it's possible.
Good luck & go with God. - Sincerely, Bob Janes
My Darling,
Christmas Eve. Thirty-five marines huddled together tonight in a squad tent and sang and prayed by candlelight in commemoration of this Holy Eve of the birth of Christ. It was a short service with a short meditation, but in all our hearts it was deep & long-lasting...the original spirit...not commercial & an excuse for drunkenness & money-making the way it is now. The decorations found across this area of the front are simple, crude, handmade things that in their own simplicity express the real joy of Christmas. Here and there a marine has taken great pains to scrape together enough tin foil & red paper to make a sign bearing "Merry Xmas". Elsewhere there are evergreen trees decorated with toilet paper, Christmas rapping from home and wads of silver paper to add brightness to the tree. Tonight, men knelt in a dimly-lighted tent & gave thanks while at the same time artillery & machine gun fire penetrated the cold, clear darkness. Thus creating in those men maybe the first real meaning of Christmas they've ever known.
But the line companies were given an extra present for Christmas. The security was doubled, sleeping time cut in half, all but 1/3 of the men sitting in their bunkers waiting for an attack in force by our beloved night-fighting enemies. Our enemy is not so stupid. They know what Christmas Eve means to us soft-hearted Americans, therefore through the blackness of their hearts we figure tonight they will strike in force, hoping to catch us doping off. But they will have a surprise coming. Maybe a Christmas present they don't bargain for. Our marines are waiting for them behind fully loaded machine guns that only takes a slight pull on the trigger to send 400 lead slugs a minute singing northward, also with cocked rifles & carbines, rockets & recoilless rifles, mortars & grenades that can literally dent every square inch of sloping mountain side ahead within hundreds of yards. The enemy will not catch us off guard this Christmas Eve - "business as usual", has been doubled.
It seems that every day is growing with intensity in contact with the enemy. Two days remain before the 30 day truce line runs out. Two days & the last bit of hope for remaining in this eccatic (static?) position vanishes. Once more, men will be assaulting mountain tops, only this time will be much more severe. Our enemy has had 3 1/2 months to prepare his defense. God help us.
... went back to 5th Marines' rear today just this side of Inje & had an opportunity to check my pay record...as a corporal I'm now making 95.50, whereas I was making 82.50 [per month]. This doesn't include longevity & I don't know how much that is. [After returning home, Congress awarded $50 per month combat pay to men in the combat zone. I received $550--11 months.]...
Also found out today we might get a 10% raise at the 1st of next year.
Saw "I'll Get By" again today, just for the sake of seeing a movie.
The little firetruck you sent for Jimmy I gave to Chaplain Ruleman & Keith [Reg. Chap's Assnt.) because they are without a jeep & I thought I'd give them something to get around in. Also gave the plastic trumpet to Father O'Neill & Paul [Campbell] because Father O'Neill was always kidding Paul about trying to get him up in the morning so I wrote "now you can blow reveille for each other"... [Jimmy was a young Korean boy who lived with us for a while.]
Sure could have used a letter from you tonight...was just eating my heart out...& I felt so low. Just three more months or so, I keep telling myself. Sometimes I choke up inside thinking...but I fight it so hard. It's not good to get that way over here.
We are starting early in the morning and are going to cover the whole line (3/5 area). That will be a job, but we're going to do it. Tomorrow night we'll have to stay all night, but will endeavor to write you a letter. Tomorrow really is Christmas. God grant us all the Christmases together for years & years to come... - Your husband, Bob
My Darling,
Christmas Day. Services on line were even more spiritual than last night...
We finished 1 2/3 companies by 1 p.m. this afternoon, but it started snowing & the trails were too slippery from ice & snow that we couldn't make it the rest of the way, so we came back & will have to go up tomorrow or next day when the snow packs down a little. The trail going to George Company is almost straight up & down, so, the Chaplain didn't want to risk any broken necks. It's bad enough without snow. It is still snowing very hard & already some tents have caved in under the weight. It's getting very deep & should be a piperoo by morning.
The service that struck me most today was held on the 'copter landing high up on the ridge that Howe Co. controls. it had just started snowing & during the service all you could hear was the gentle noise of the snow flakes. Even the [enemy] stayed quiet & I believe it's the first time it has stayed quiet so long since I've been here--about 45 minutes of nothing but the snow falling, the men singing, & the Chaplain ministering. Don't be surprised if I'm a little jumpy when I first get home.
In terms of battle, it was quiet along our lines last night. Just the same old clamor that goes day & night, but no attack came. They are ready again tonight just as last night. The snow may cut down on patrolling activities a bit, tho.
Dreamt about you again last night...Also, along towards morning had a terrific nightmare. Some yardbird was choking me & all I could do was holler "Help". Thought I was a goner for awhile. Ha!
...We had our Christmas dinner at Howe co. & it was about the same as Thanksgiving--plenty to eat. It wasn't flown up to the guys this time, but instead was cooked in the company galleys right up on line. - ...Goodnight & God bless you...Always, Bob
...Honey,
Happy New Year again & I'll start it out right by trying to write you a nice long letter...
The hardest part, I believe, is now over. The "holidays" are gone & it feels much better to be going down the ladder than up. It's much easier going from January to March, than it is from Sept. to January. If Easter is in April, I hope to make it home by then...& in church together. But if not then we'll take it as it comes, as in the past...
Another bunch of men go home today, which makes the 9th time I've seen them go. What Gen. Sheppard said about men going home for Christmas that were here last year at the 1st of the year was [not accurate]... The men going home today arrived last Dec. & spent 2 Christmases here...
My thoughts today naturally turn to this same time last year when we had so much fun in that little Italian place in Hollywood eating pizza & champaign [sic]. That seems so long ago.
Celebrated last night by beating the Chaplain in a couple games of cribbage...
Little Jimmy is going home tomorrow for a visit. He & his brother (2nd Lt. KSC) are going to Pusan for about 2 weeks... Jimmy drew a picture of Jesus this morning that I'm enclosing. The kid's really got talent, hope he'll be able to see it through. When he gets in his bag at night I ask him if he's cold & he says, "No cold." Then I ask him if he wants a cigarette, he says, "no smoke". He says it real cute & I keep asking him just o hear him say it...
Saw in the Stars & Stripes where this gal's husband was reported killed over here so she married again then he was reported alive by the PW list...wouldn't want to be in her shoes...
Felt so doggone low tonight, I had to do something, so I drug the Chaplain out & we went for a walk down the road. The snow is still about a foot deep & the air was cold & crisp. The sky was fading away & the snow crunched under our feet as we walked. There wasn't much to talk about, so we just drank in all the beautiful scenery. Here & there were scattered the footprints of animals walking across the snow. Other than that & a few trails made by humans, the snow blanket is completely unbroken & it glistened so brightly. Nobody dares to stray off the well-beaten path. Land mines, you know.
The thought of spending 3 more months in this place gets me, & sometimes I find myself wishing I'd slip & break an arm or a leg & get out of here. Yes, it's that bad.
Each day, things grow more tense & it appears like any moment all hell will break loose. We had all hoped against hope it wouldn't come, but from now on it's just a matter of waiting...
According to plans, the 7th marines relieve us the 10th & we go back & rest for a few weeks. In a way that will be welcomed, but sometimes I think I'd rather stick it out up here for the remainder of my tour. It gets on my nerves back there as much as it does up here, so what the hell's the difference. The only difference is there are movies every night, 3 meals a day, & a little peace.
We may go up to Item & Howe Co's tomorrow if the Chaplain is feeling any better. He's still under the clouds & can hardly talk.
Was looking over the casualtie [sic] list tonight in the Leatherneck for that operation in Sept. & found the names of all the guys. Smitty's was there, too. All the guys & I came over with & in my old section have been hit over here at least once. Good average. There's not many men that put in 9 months on line & come out without a scratch. As a matter of fact, I don't know one. Ed Kotke & Al Collins are the only 7th draft men left that I knew, & both of them have been hit. Collins is the only one left in the section I started with (he just got back from the hospital, as did Kotke) & Kotke is the only one in the whole machine-gun platoon. Kotke, as you remember, was at Pendleton with us * was in my squad for awhile before he got evacuated in May...then came back [and] transferred to another section. Jim knows him real well (he was in his squad at Pendleton) & he chummed around with Weeks quite a bit. Anyhow, Kotke's a pretty good Joe & we're still pals.
I asked Jimmy last night if he'd like to go to America with me & he said no. Hmmm, must like this place.
We have mice in here at night. If you happen to wake up, you can hear them tearing paper & squeaking & everything else trying to get into our chow. One did manage to get into your cookies the other night, but he must not have liked them because he took one chomp & left the rest for me & didn't even tough the others. So I took him up on it & finished them up...
I'll have to close for now. I'm so lonely & blue...I don't know what to do. Maybe a cup of hot cocoa & fruit cake will make things a little more cheerful...
Goodnight & God bless you...love...Bob
Once Over Lightly
When I goes home,
No more to roam,
And they asks me how I want my eggs-
"Once over lightly".
And when a steak confronts me,
And they ask that age-old query,
I'll just reply so bright and merrry-
"once over lightly".
When my wife puts on that toast,
Or that bacon and that roast,
And says to me, "How ya like 'em?" -
"Once over lightly".
And that soft, clean, white bed
That greets me when I'm almost dead;
I'll just crawl in and turn-
Once over lightly.
The car I'll have all brand new,
I'll climb in like most folks do,
And push that old starter button-
Once over lightly.
And when my sweet Mrs.
Wants to smother me with kisses,
I'll say, "Sure, but not-
Once over lightly."
- Robert C. Janes
22 February 1952
Sohuigu (Sint'an-ni), Korea
Eastern Front
I'M
ON
MY
WAY!
P.S. And I love you, too. - Bob
Names mentioned in the letters [*] = Killed in Action
The Corpsmen who served so courageously, and other men of the 3rd M.G. section.
Release from Active Duty
HEADQUARTERS
MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT
SAN DIEGO 40, CALIFORNIA
From: Commanding General
To: Sergeant Robert C. JANES, 1066824/5243, USCMR
Subj: Release from active duty
Ref: (a) Marine Corps Memorandum No. 107-51
W.J. WHALING
- signed - D.M. SIBOLD
By direction
1st Endorsement
Received these orders at MCRDep, San Diego, California at 1300 on 4 May 1952.
- signed - Robert C. Janes
Copy to: CMC (DGH) 12th MCRD, Disb0
After returning home, I buried myself in school and working. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Utah in 1956. After a year of teaching math and history at Bakersfield, California High School, I hauled my wife and two children off to Rock Island, Illinois, where I attended Augustana Lutheran Theological Seminary. I received my Masters of Divinity degree in June 1960. By this time I had three children. I then served as an ordained pastor for 25 years for congregations in Oceanside, Inglewood, Milpitas, Santa Barbara, and Sacramento, California.
In 1967 I took three years' leave to work as an Administrative and Personnel Manager for a management consulting firm in Los Angeles. We added our only daughter during this time and also lost a son (1964 and 1983, respectively). In the 1970s, I earned the MA and California license in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling. In 1985, against the Bishop's wishes, I resigned my ordination and worked in the Sacramento County Mental Health Treatment Center until 2003, retiring (for the second time) as a Mental Health Program Coordinator. My former wife and I divorced in 1985 after 35 years. The same year MaryAnn and I were married and will celebrate out 26th anniversary next week.
When the ground war of the first Gulf War broke out in the early 1990s, I became physically ill, and then sublimated my feelings by joining every Marine and military organization I could (except the American Legion). Sublimation turned to survivor's guilt, depression and anxiety attacks along with the nightmares I had had over the years, and more. I became aware that this was related to my war experience. When my two sons wanted to take me back to Korea in 2000, the symptoms became so severe that I sought private therapy at my own expense. Intense therapy with EMDR helped greatly, but residual symptoms have continued to this day. I am now aware of how my experience affected life choices I have made over the years. Since last year, I have been occasionally in counseling at the Vet Rehab Center in Sacramento. There are some symptoms I just have to live with. The Commandant of the Marine Corps recently said in Leatherneck Magazine (October 2011), "PTSD is not a disorder. It is an injury." I agree.
Jim Bannon's letter to Bob Janes 23 February 1995, when Janes asked him to write of his experience on Hill 812 September 1951. Bannon died three days before the dedication of the Korean War Memorial in Washington D.C.
"Dear Bob:
I will try and relate the saga of hill 812. We jumped off the morning of the 17th of September. By early afternoon we were halfway up. Semple, the gunner on the light .30, got a round thru the head and died almost instantly in my arms. I took over the gun and worked our way up that God-forsaken mountain. Sent Smitty down the mountain for more ammo and he caught a burp gun in the chest. We must have run 15 boxes of ammo through that gun plus I believe two barrels.
By the time we got to the top of that mountain we had only about 20 able men out of the original 240. We had about 150 yards to cover with the handful of men. At about 6 a.m. John Murphy and I were in a shell crater eating some "C" rations when a Chink mortar round was fired right into the hole. Murphy was killed instantly, and I was blown out of the hole approximately 15 feet on the forward side. The concussion and pieces of that mortar round in my head and arms left me unconscious and paralyzed from the waist down. Someone thought I was dead and put a poncho over me. It began to drizzle and light fog covered the peak.
My buddy Stan Barker, an ex Seattle cop, World War II SeaBee, who went through boot camp with me, came up the mountain with supplies and about 50 Korean litter bearers to evacuate the dead and wounded. I had told Stan that if I got hit he was to take my wallet and class ring and send them to my father back in Kansas. Stan found me and thinking I was dead, proceeded to get my wallet and ring. Since my hand was swollen, he was going to cut off my ring finger with his K-Bar to get the ring. As he leaned over me he could see my breath, and then knew I was still alive. He picked me up and brought me to what was left of the CP. I was scheduled to go down on the litter train with about 25-30 other members of Easy Company. At the last minute Stan picked me up and told whoever was in charge that he would take me down to Easy Med, since he had to go down anyway.
About 300 yards down the mountain path, the chink gunners zeroed in on the trail and killed all the wounded and Korean litter bearers. Had I been allowed to go down with the rest of the wounded, I would have been killed for sure. Stan got me down to the Medical Battalion in good shape, got my wounds dressed, and within a week, I got feeling back from my waist down. - Semper Fi, Jim (James S. Bannon)"
My memberships include the E-2-5 Korea Association, First Marine Division Association, Marine Corps Association, Korean War Veterans Association, the Marine Corps League, and the Veterans of the Foreign Wars.
There were positives that came out of my experience in Korea. I learned the value of sharing, team work, camaraderie, a sense of humor, and converting the energy of fear into courage, or at least the will to do the job. I learned how to live in the outdoors. My family and I backpacked and camped in the high country through the years. This gave my kids the same values of sharing, helping, teamwork and the appreciation of nature and life.
Hopefully by writing this it may help some other old veterans or new ones cope with their "coming home" experience. I think anyone who has been in combat, be it air, land or sea, has to deal with the same kind of feelings. I believe the effect of them is about the same. Each man's war is really his own. Human beings are asked to do what is contrary to what they were taught growing up.
Letters from Don Loraine to his Parents
Macauley Dissertation
Jim Elkins Letters to his wife - Group 1
Jim Elkins' Letters - to his wife - Group 2