part0015

I got the package with the shirt in it & it fit perfect. Since the last time I wrote I’ve had more trouble with the car. No wrecks but every thing went wrong with it at one time first the wires to the head lights shorted off and the battery went dead, then the rusty rims cut another inner-tube. To top it off the steering gear broke, (one of the steering rods in the front end.) I decided to see if I could sell it. I found a man who wanted it. He was a friend of one of the guards at the main gate. I sold it to him for $87.50 after quite a bit of salesmanship. He had to tow it away that night after working on it all day trying to get it to run. He seemed to think he ought to get his money back because it didn’t run, but I told him I wouldn’t give his money back because he made the deal and he was going to stick to it. He paid in cash too! And it is awfully hard to turn lose of that much cash. I thank God I didn’t have this trouble on the trip down here. The next car I get is going to be a 1955 Chev. brand-new right from the factory door! This ends my career as a used car dealer! Every body down here is getting their orders except me. I guess I’ll be here for the next 2 yrs. Thanks for the shirt. It is swell.

I finally received the orders I have been expecting since last year. I am to report to Camp Pendleton on or before Nov. 10. Camp Pendleton is a marine camp, and I have been assigned there as a member of the Fleet Marine Force for service overseas in the near future. I have already received my pay for travel, food etc. It amounted to $264.00. I went to the bank today and bought $200.00 in travelers checks to make sure it’s safe. Don’t write until I send my new address because the letter would have to follow me all the way across the country. Oh! I forgot to say Camp Pendleton is in California. I’ll write soon! Don’t Worry! Love to All.

I got here 8 o’clock this morning. It was a swell trip all the way. Let me summarize it for you! We went from Beaufort to Charleston by car—from Charleston to Atlanta by plane—from Atlanta to Chicago by plane and from Chicago to Los Angeles non-stop by plane in 9 hours & 30 min.—from L.A. to here (San Diego) by plane in 45 minutes. We left Charleston S.C. at 4:30 P.M. 11-4-52 and got here 8:00 A.M. 11-5-52. Not bad time, huh! Here’s the way we went on a map. [A line diagram followed.] We’re going to stay here a couple of days to rest & go sight seeing. We have until 11-9-52 to report in. When I say we, another fellow and I left Beaufort together. I hope you all are well and stay that way. By the way, how did you like the Election? Pretty Good! I was for Ike all the way. We listened to the Election on the plane.

I rented a car yesterday & today. Yesterday I drove up to L.A. to do some sight-seeing. L.A. is 113 miles from here. It was a nice drive through the mountains and along the Ocean. I went to Beverly hills, Hollywood, Pasadena, to the San Fernando Valley. I saw all the famous Restaurants, and theaters where the Hollywood Stars hang-out Everybody up that way looks like they are about ready to step on a stage and make a movie. I couldn’t have told a Star from a Street sweeper. It gets dark around here about 5:30. I can’t figure out why! Today I drove down to Mexico, which is about 15 miles from here. Almost all the signs were written in Spanish and I got lost for 2 hours trying to find my way back to the border. Going in and coming out of Mexico they don’t even stop the car, just wave you through. I guess it is because I was in uniform. Tomorrow I am going to report to Camp Pendleton.

I know you have been waiting to hear from me for sometime but it has been impossible to write as I have been in the field living in a pup tent last week. This week I moved about 30 miles up the road to a place called Tent Camp #2 in Camp Pendleton. Tonight at 12 midnight I am leaving for the mountains in Northern California at 8500 ft Elevation. At last report it was 30 below zero. We are going up there for cold weather training to teach us how to survive a Korean winter. We get back here Christmas Day and we leave for Korea. I will send my address when I get there. Our equipment is great we carry M-1 auto. rifles. We have thermo boots that keep the feet warm at 50 below zero. We have fur lined clothes. I carry a pack on my back that weighs 45 lbs and about 30 lbs of other Junk. We eat C rations. I am in fine shape, no pains, no strains. Please don’t send anything for Christmas as I probably won’t get it. Let’s all wait until next Christmas if I am back by then or the one after, when we can all enjoy it. I don’t have any Christmas spirit now! I received the cookies & they were swell. They lasted about 3 seconds when everybody ganged around and grabbed. It would be best to cancel the paper. I received a Christmas card from Leila, Ray, & Bois Lee. Thank them for me! I had an hour off to write this letter and it’s taken me all most that long. I don’t feel bad about going to Korea, because if we get it over with now there may not be one for Vernon to fight in! I’ll sign off now. I’ll be in Korea the next time I write & I’ll send my address.

Like I told you on the phone we left Camp Pendleton at 0800 yesterday, caught a bus to El Toro MCAS where we boarded a plane to Moffett Field, San Francisco. At Moffett Field we got a bus to Treasure Island were I am now. Tomorrow we go to Travis Air Force base to get a plane over seas. The weather is still nice and warm. From here on Treasure Island we can see Alcatraz Prison. Treasure Island is half way across the Oakland Bay Bridge. It’s the first bridge I have ever seen were you can get off when you’re only halfway across. I am going into San Francisco tonight on Liberty and get some good chow and relax at a good movie. And maybe do a little sight seeing. You all stay well. I’ll write again soon.

We arrived in Seoul Korea today. Right now I am waiting to be placed with my outfit. it’s cold as the devil here, even with the sun shining bright. Yesterday I had 12 hours liberty in Japan so I went to Tokyo to look around. I found a place were I could get a good steak. It cost 700 yen (360 yen to the dollar), also I had a bottle of Jap beer. It’s a lot better than American beer. It comes in quart bottles. Here’s some American script money and Jap yen for Vernon to show in school.

I joined my company yesterday. I’ll be going up on the line with them Friday night. They’re a great bunch of guys. There’s are a lot of things I need that I can’t get and would appreciate it if you would get it for me when you have time. I need a flashlight, batteries, & bulbs, a comb, a pen (any kind), candles, and all kinds of canned food. I get hungry between cans of C-rations. I carry a forty-five all the time. Even behind the line there’s been a lot of guerilla action. Where I am at now it’s pretty noisy from shells coming in. When I get on the line I’ll write first hand account of what’s going on.

Write Soon, Love, Sonny

Well, I am on the line now in a bunker about 25 yds from the front trenches. We have a stove & Coleman lamp. The bunker is made of sand bags & pine logs. The top is about 3 ft, thick enough to stop a mortar shell. It’s warm enough to lay around in an undershirt. Once a day about noon the Gooks shell us for a while, but we just walk in the bunkers until they get tired and quit. Today just to have something to do I went in the trenches for a few hours and fired at a Gook machine emplacement with a bunch of other guys, the Gooks got up and left. No one’s been hit in my company (Knock on wood. I just did!) so I’ve had very little to do. Every other night I go on patrol with a squad. I am going on one tonight at midnight and stay out ’til 4 A.M. We lay out in front of the lines about 300 yds. to ambush any Gooks out there, who are doing the same thing as us. You would be surprised how far I can jump when I step on a dry twig. That’s all there is to do here. Not much excitement, except once in a while when a hillbilly band comes around. You all write soon and stay well!

I am catching on to the routine around here now. I am getting used to eating C-rations and staying dirty most of the time, although I did have a shower yesterday, and got a change of clean clothes. This morning I got up and lit the stove, and it back fired in my face and singed my hair. Half my face was black with soot. Everybody that saw me sure got a big kick. I wasn’t hurt a bit. I went on another patrol last night into goony-land to see what they were up to. We all got back all right. One of the guys sure was lucky, though. He was out in front on the point and stepped on a mine. I took off up there to see what happened. The mine just knocked him down, and when I got there he was up on his feet coming back to me. I treated a few small scratches out there, and when we got back I looked him over some more, but he was all right. Today he came in and we talked over how lucky he was. Everybody in this company must have a pocket full of horse shoes, because the Gooks just haven’t got any of us yet. And God save their souls if they try, because there’s nothing we would like better than sending them all to see their ancestors and getting back home. I am saving all my money over here, and when I get back I want you all to help me pick out one of the best looking cars in the town, and then we’ll ride all over the city showing it off. I am enclosing my driver’s license for safe keeping. I might lose it running around here. I am also enclosing a Korean newspaper page for Vernon to show at school if he wants. I hope you all are well, and don’t worry a bit about me; the gooks will never make a slug with my name on it. Don’t take any thing I write about this war too serious. I only write it because that is all there is to write about. We are a pretty gay [“gay” before it had another meaning] bunch of guys most of the time. All the guys are great from the Commanding Officer to the boot privates. We are 14 ½ hours ahead of you. When it’s midnight here it’s about 10:30 am yesterday there. I think. Well, coffee’s hot now so I’ll have to get my share. Please write soon.

I thought I would drop another line tonight, as up ’til now everything has been pretty quiet on the line. It’s about 25 tonight. We’re having a warm spell right now. It doesn’t snow here much, just a few flurries of snow now and then, sometimes enough to get a snowball battle on. It’s not too bad around here when there’s no patrol to go on into goony-land. I forgot to put in the letter last night, about the box of tea we found out there that some Chinaman dropped. I guess he will be without tea for a month now. It ain’t bad tea. About the chow you are going to send, I’ll tell you what we get here and you can figure from that: Canned Food, Meat & Spaghetti, Meat & Noodles, Pork & Beans, Ham & Lima Beans, Meat & Beans, Beef & Corn, Chicken & Veg., Corned beef hash, Beef Stew, Hamburgers in Gravy, Hamburgers without Gravy, Sausage Patties in Gravy, Sausage Patties without Gravy, Franks & Beans, and a few more I can’t think of now. For once I would like to open a can and only find one thing in it, like: Any kind of fish, Chicken, Cheese (1st rate chow), Corn, Weenies, etc. We also get canned fruit in heavy syrup. It’s good. Then we get dry rations in cans: Crackers, Powdered milk, Powdered coffee, sugar “a cookie” (1) piece of candy. Then in another can we get accessories like: matches, cigarettes, toilet paper, etc. We pick out what we like and save it. The rest we dig a hole and bury it, so a future generation can get a taste of the junk. This stuff is not bad, but after a while it all gets the same taste. Enough for chow. I guess I’ll try to draw you a picture of the bunker outside and in. I am not as good at drawing as I used to be. I guess I lost the touch. I am enclosing a c-ration can opener, I think it’s one of the best can openers ever made for its size. Try it out and tell me how you like it. I’ll probably open a million cans with it before I leave here. That’s all for now.

Tonight I am sitting around the bunker by myself with nothing to do. The two other guys Jim & Joe are out on patrol until 3 A.M. We usually sit up and wait on each other to see if he got back all right. We take turns going, two go out and one rest and we get one full night’s sleep out of three. The army is on our right flank (2nd Infantry) and they are sure a jumpy bunch of critters; they shoot at shadows and bushes all night long. It’s hard to sleep with all that noise going on. Sometime we get fed up with it and go out and yell at them to knock it off; it helps a little bit but not much. About 10 minutes later they’re back at it again. Tonight they got so jumpy that they were shooting flares all over the place, they also opened up with machine guns and artillery, so we went out to watch. It was just like the fourth of July at the monument grounds. I guess you know what we think about the Army. Today I traded a guy a British hand grenade. I found for a can of boned chicken. I heated it up and was ready to eat it, and I dropped it before I got one bite, so I picked it up, brought it in the bunker, and washed it, put it in a big can, heated it up, and had fried chicken. Not bad. Try it some time if you ever drop a can. So much happens some days I could go on writing for weeks and still not tell you all of it. I guess that’s enough sea stories for tonight.

Mom told me you liked that money I sent and I sure was glad. By the time you get this letter you will have received the one with the South Korean newspaper page in it. That page was the first one I had ever seen. I found it on the way back from the shower tents about 2 miles back of the lines. I have all kinds of souvenirs in a big box to send home, but I found out that I can’t send them. They x-ray all the packages here to make sure there’s no metal in them, and every thing worth sending is made of metal. I have a carbine bayonet, the nose of a gook 76 mm. cannon shell, all kinds of shrapnel, a full machine gun belt. I took all the powder out of them, but I still can’t send them, but if I find a way I will. When our artillery opens up on the gooks the shells come right over our heads. When some of them come over it sounds like a freight train going up a big hill. When our shells go out we call it “out going mail” and when the gooks shells come in we call it “in coming mail.” In the marines they call all hospital corpsmen “Doc.” They look to us for all their medical needs. Everywhere a group of marines go you will find at least one hospital corpsman. It depends on the size of the group as to how many go with them. In a Marine Division there are 987 hospital corpsmen spread all through the Division. Right now I am in a platoon. Just before I leave here for home I will be with a division command post. I’ll draw it for you on the other side of the page. Starting with the Division down to where I am, Division Headquarters 1st Div 5th Regiment 2nd Battalion, Easy Company, 3rd Platoon, this is were I am. See how it goes, each Div has 3 Regiments, each Reg. has 3 Battalions, each Batt has 3 companies, each Co has 3 Platoons, so makes me in Co. E-2-5 1st Mar Div. I am including some drawings of some of the weapons the marines have over here. There are lots more, but l haven’t seen all of them yet. I’ll close for now and I would like to have you write and tell me how you like the drawings I may be able to make some more if you want. Bye for Now.

I just got back off a five hour patrol, and am I tired. We walked all over goony-land tonight. Just as we were about to come in off patrol we ran into a bunch of gooks. The marines opened up on them, and that was it. We didn’t stay around to see how many we got. They’ll probably count them in the morning through field glasses. None of our guys got hit. This was probably my last patrol for a while, as we are going back into reserve for a little rest. In a way I hate to leave this nice warm bunker and move into squad tents. The tents get pretty cold at night. This afternoon I walked back to the showers. They sure felt good, but I got dirty again as soon as I got back because we had to clean the stove. Now Jim, Joe & I are all full of soot. We swiped a 10 lb can of cheese and 6 loaves of bread from the supply tent. I am now so full of cheese sandwiches I can hardly move. We can have cheese-burgers and coffee for breakfast in the morning now. Oh! about that TV show on Korea you have been watching, have you seen a picture of Panmunjom peace corridor? Well, I am only about 16 miles west of there. At night over there they turn on a search light and shine it straight into the air so they won’t get bombed by mistake. We’ve been thinking about stealing the light and bringing over here so the gooks won’t bother us. If you know anybody that wants to write give them my address. I’ve got plenty of time to answer letters, and the more the merrier. We get letters from all over the U.S. because we trade addresses around sometimes as many as 25 or 30 guys are writing to the same girl. We all look forward to mail-call more than any thing else. Well I’ll close for now, one more cheese sandwich and to bed I go! Write Soon.

I looked on a map today and found out that I am on hill 126 so if you hear any news about this hill I am here. Three other hills in front of us, which belong to the gooks are called: Betty Grable Hill, 98, and Frisco or Garry. I watched an air strike today by the Air Force. They dropped Naphalm, bombs and fired rockets all over the place. Tonight midnight is the Gook new year, and we have been up expecting them to probe us, but so far everything is quiet. I found out today we would be up here on the line a few more days then we expected. I just finished a can of hamburgers with gravy and I had some hot sauce to go on it, to change the monotonous flavor they get after eating them for a long time. Jim was relieved from duty today and is on his first step back home. He goes to Battalion Aid Station tomorrow for duty. When you get there you’ve got this place licked. I am next on the list for relief. I hope it comes soon. I am already tired of this war. Tomorrow I am going back to the showers again just for the walk, I get tired of sitting in this bunker all day. Dad wrote that you ll are worried, but there’s nothing to worry about. I play it as safe as anybody else, and I am very seldom exposed to direct fire from the gooks. Sometimes I think the Army might hit me, the way those guys shoot. I’ve got a story to tell you about the Army and us, when I get home. It would take too long to write it. I’ll tell you this much, though, it happened last night on Betty Grable Hill on patrol. You all write soon and don’t worry.

These last few days I have been going on patrol almost every night. I look forward to being relieved almost any day now. On the way back to the showers yesterday I found some of our “safe conduct passes” for the gooks who want to surrender. I am sending two of them along. And also two clippings from our newspaper, the “stars and stripes,” which had us all laughing. It might take you all awhile to figure them out. The guy walking along with the bullets going past him is what we look like when we go on patrol. About those safe conduct passes, I’ve never heard of a gook walking up to a marine and handing him one, and living to tell about it. In the Marine Corps we don’t take prisoners unless there’s an officer around to keep someone from shooting the gook. A good gook is a dead gook! Plenty of them turn good every day. All day today we worked inside the bunker, cleaning it up and patching air holes in between the sandbags because it’s been getting colder lately. Today it snowed about an inch with the sun shining. Tonight the moon is out and its reflection in the snow makes it as bright as day out. There is no patrol out tonight for that reason. I went down to the mess hall yesterday and got some steak and fried eggs. Man, was it good. That’s it for now! Write Soon.

I received three letters last night, two from you all, dated the 16th,and one from George Robinson. I received the flashlight and thought I wrote and told you about it. I guess I didn’t, though. As soon as I received it I wrote a thank you note to Haskel. I just burned out the first set of batteries tonight. The flashlight package is the only package I have received so far. It takes about 5 or 6 weeks for a package to get here by regular mail. I am sending two pictures of marine buddies and myself. If you could send me a cheap camera, I’ll take pictures of this place and also about 8 rolls of film. But when you send film mark the package like this: FILM DO NOT X-RAY They x-ray all packages coming in and going out, and if a package containing film is x-rayed it will ruin the film. Bye for Now.

I received your letter of the 21st tonight, and you asked about the packages again. I guess the last letter will explain about them when you get it. So far no packages have reached me. Last night our platoon pulled a raid on Frisco, and the other corpsman working with me got hit by a mortar fragment in the knee, not too bad, but they sent a corpsman I went through Pendleton with to relieve him. One of the marines that went on the raid, and a very close pal of mine was killed. His name was Benny Hudson from Lorton, Virginia. A mortar shell landed between his legs. I’ve set around all day today, and thought and thought and I can’t think of one reason why a guy should die for a hill that we don’t even keep after we take it, but we go out the next night and take the same hill again. I am sending a souvenir list that I picked up in Japan. It’s got a small list of Jap words that Vernon can twist his tongue around. Well I’ll say: O yasumi nasai.

I received your letter of the 27th just now. I have received 2 editions of the News, but no packages as yet. My relief has been held up, but I hope to go to the rear by the 25 of the month. The pictures sure were good, and it’s good to see home again for a change. Nothing new is going on over here. We moved last Monday to a new section of the line, the bunker is smaller but stronger than the other. I went to the shower today and also stopped at the P.X. and bought some canned shrimp and had a feast. I wrote to Grace & Jess, Al & Dorothy in Japan and Haskel & Aurelia. Is Hugh Weston at home? If not can you get his address for me? Well I guess I sign off for now and cook some chow. Write soon.

Tonight I received the fruit cake. and was it good. I eat until the cake was coming out of my ears. Today we were all packing up to go into reserve. We leave the front the 17th. You can see how things change around here, last night I didn’t know anything about it. Tonight I am on the phone at company command post, all positions just checked in, all quiet on the front lines. Tonight I traded 2 addresses from New York for one in D.C. That’s it for now. You all keep well.

I just received the second package today, the one with this pen I am writing with. I was so excited to get the package that I had a hard time opening it. Everything arrived in fine shape, even the crackers were still in big pieces. Last night I received comic books from Vernon. They sure were swell. Everybody has been in here all day waiting their turn to read them. I am receiving the News regular now. I also received a can of cookies, that were great. None of them were broken. I guess we finally got the package problems licked now. I am still on the line waiting for my relief, which is past due. I’ll have pretty near 60 days straight line time before long. We went on a patrol tonight, and we just got in. We didn’t hear, see, or smell a thing, but some of our supporting artillery rounds fell a little to close for comfort. Right now there’s a bombing raid going on out front. It shakes the bunkers until the dirt falls in from the sides. The bombs are 1000 lb ones. “Ours.” I walked back to the showers yesterday and also went back to Battalion Command Post to see about my relief. They don’t know any more then I do. It’s been raining the last few days, and we had about 3 inches of water on the floor of the bunker, but we got it drained off now. I’ve never saw such mud in my life. It seems there’s no bottom to it. It’s knee deep to a giraffe. Well that’s the straight scoop for now. I am going to eat some sardines and crackers from the package and hit the rack until about 2 P.M. today. Thanks again for the packages.

I am on phone watch again tonight from 12 midnight ’til 3 A.M. So far all is quiet on the western front, although the gooneys did shoot up a few white flares about an hour go. Our planes have been bombing the hills in front of us for the last week. Today I counted 26 bombers in the attack—it sure is a sight to see, they look like a bunch of model planes dropping a hand full of marbles. I wish I had a camera today to take some pictures. Our relief still hasn’t come in yet. I can’t figure out what happened to them, but they should be here soon. When the sun comes up in the morning, a other fellow and I are going to walk back to the showers and then go back to Regiment to the big P.X. to see what they got worth buying, and then hitch hike over to Army’s lines and see what we can swipe from them. The Army leaves a lot of stuff lying around we can use. The last time we “lifted” two Thompson submachine guns and a case of rifle grenades. It sure was a load to carry back. A Tommy gun sure makes a difference when you go on patrol. They sure can throw the lead around. By the time you get this letter we will have made a raid on hill 98 held by the gooks. The whole company is going in reserve to practice for it. The assault force will be about 180 men, 9 flame throwers, 6 machine guns, 6 bazookas, and the rest of the men will have B.A.R.s [Browning automatic rifles], and carbines. The raid is being preceded by this weeks bombing and 5 hours of heavy artillery fire just before the company jumps off in the attack. Four corpsmen will go, but Jim and I have been left back in the forward aid station to evacuate the wounded. We will be in a good sturdy bunker. What a break! After this raid, we will probably never come back on the line again, as we have served our two months’ line time. This is a drawing I copied of a map for the raid, but not in detail completely. [Drawing of the MLR and bunkers with Frisco left, hill 98 in the center further back, and Grable to the right. All labeled “Gook” hills.] This map will give you some idea of how close we are to the gooks. Don’t let this information get around. It’s just between us, and a military secret. I received two more packages today, a lard can of cookies and a cake tin of cookies. They sure hit the spot. They were nice and fresh and all in one piece. I don’t know if I told you, but I got the fruit cake two nights ago. It’s all gone now. I ate every bit of it, but did give a few of the crumbs away. It sure feels swell to get those packages. It brings a little bit of home with every package. You all write soon and stay well. (I am)

I received two more packages the day before yesterday. One had the camera in it, the other was chow (the peanut brittle package). It sure is swell to be getting all these packages. I really liked the deviled ham. I think that’s the first deviled ham I’ve had in about three years. The camera is great, just the kind I wanted. I’ve taken the first roll of film already. Some of the pictures were of Gook hills in front of us, a couple of the trench lines, one of my bunker, and the rest were of guys in my platoon. That raid I wrote about in the last letter never was pulled off. The guys that fly the desks in the rear finally wised-up to the fact that raids weren’t getting us any thing but a pile of wounded. There’s some scuttlebutt in the air that there may, sometime soon, be an amphib landing some where on the coast of North Korea. How true it is we’ll know when we hear it’s been pulled off. Until then it’s just a rumor. But the best news of all is we are being relieved tonight, and we are going into reserve at last. I went on my 13th patrol last night and this time it’s the last. The reason we had to go out was because some men from the 1st platoon of our company were out to set up an ambush for the gooks, but the gooks were all ready there and ambushed them. There was a lot of fireworks going on for a while. But the patrol got back, and when they counted noses one man was missing. So we had to go out and look for him. We looked for three hours but didn’t find him. Right now he’s listed as missing in action. While we were out looking for the missing guy some gooks threw grenades toward us, but they fell about 25 yds to our right. They didn’t hit anyone, but they sure scared the pants off of me. The patrol leader called in for mortar fire on the gooks, and that was that. I’ll write again just as soon as I get back to the rear. You all stay well!

I am sorry it’s taken me so long to write, but I’ve got a pretty good excuse. I am sending you all a clipping of where I’ve been for the last four days (on Vegas). It was pretty rough for a few days, but it’s over now. We are in reserve now where it’s good and quiet, and will be here 40 days. The beer just came in. W get 3 cans apiece. One of the guys has a phonograph—the wind-up kind, and we’ve got all kinds of records. I’ll write a lot more later and let you know how I like reserve.

Again I have to apologize for taking so long to write. For the last 5 days I have been at sea on the troop ship U.S.S. Talledega about 30 miles off the coast of Korea. We went out there for Amphibious Landing training. We made our landing on the Island called by a name I can’t even say much less write. These landings take place every year for a marine, as it’s their main task in war, and they always keep them trained for it. When I got back to the reserve area I was relieved from Easy Co. and transferred to H&S Co.’s [Headquarters and Service Co.] battalion Aid station. This is the first step in working back to the States. My new address is: H.G. R—HM3 USN FMF H&S Co. 2-5 1st Mar Div c/o FPO San Francisco Cal. I received a letter from Grace & Jess and they said how glad they were to hear from me. I bet you all really had a time in N.Y. I know Vernon must have had a good time, and he’s always been one for finding his way around. Also got another letter from George Robinson. I sure was glad to hear from him. I got an Easter card from Lula. I had a whole pile of letters I was going to answer, but some how I lost them in the last few weeks of moving around on Vegas & the troop ship. Most of all, all the letters had return addresses, and I can’t remember a one of them, except my Home!

Well, here I am again with nothing to write, so let’s see how much I can put in. Today is Sunday. At 3 this afternoon a buddy and I went for a little trip around the country to see if we could find any one we knew from Del Mar. We got back about 8 this evening. Pretty soon we will be packing up to move to Corps reserve for 105 days. The ROKs are finally going to fight their own war. We’ll be around to give them a hand if they need it. I like this new duty at Battalion Aid. We stand a three-section watch. One day off, one stand-by, one day of duty (holding sick call twice a day). I am getting plenty of sleep, & baseball, but the chow is still rotten, but I guess it’s the best they can do, with the Army getting the best of everything. We may go on another Amphibious Landing sometime soon. We got movies too. I am enclosing a picture of the last troop ship we were on.

I received your letter of April 26 and also a package from March 24. It sure arrived at a good time, in the evening when I was real hungry. We are all enjoying the books that the folks next door to the Dickersons sent. I’ll probably write them as soon as I finish this. I got a letter from Pete & Pearl also last night, which I just finished answering. I am enclosing some pictures of the corpsmen from Easy Co. When we were on the line another guy took them and gave us each a copy. I sent Pete & Pearl one. I don’t know how my pictures I have been taking will turn out. As yet I haven’t had any developed. I keep forgetting. I received the Easter package. It sure was nice, like every thing else you all send. They give me something to look forward to. Today I drew a few bucks pay to buy P.X. gear and play cards with hope I win some. Last night the tent next door burned down. It sure was funny, all the guys running around in their underwear trying to put it out. They are out there now putting up a new one.

Just a short note today. The main reason I am writing is to send you this money. You know that 40 dollars I borrowed just before coming over here, which I wired for? Well, take it out of this and save the rest. I will be sending more each payday unless I let it stay on the books. Today is nice and warm, but cloudy. The temp is around 75. I’ll write again soon!

Today I received those comic books you sent me. I sure enjoyed them and so did the rest of the guys. I went out walking in the hills around the camp today and got some pictures of South Korean farmers in their fields. The British have a camp right next to us. We go over and visit them once in a while. The Turkish army have some men over here again, they are on the line now. I think tomorrow I am going to be relieved from Battalion aid. We got 13 new corpsmen today. I will go back to a Hospital Company in the deep rear. I’ll probably stay there until I return home. Thanks again for the books.

Yesterday I was transferred to the 1st Engineer Battalion for duty. I will probably stay here for my remaining time over here. It’s great duty here, good chow, showers, movie, and we live four to a tent instead of twelve. I am getting broke in on Health Records and other office work, which, when I learn, will be my job. We’ve got a basketball court right outside, and we play every evening. As of May 16, I will be HM2, equal with the marine rate of Staff Sergeant. I’ve been figuring up my time in the Navy today. You know what! I had 4 years in last Jan. Reserve time counted. Time sure does fly. Send me my Marine Corps drivers license. I have to have it to drive a Jeep ambulance here—and it has to be renewed anyway I think. Write Soon.

I received your letter with the signature card in it today. It’s a good idea. I am back where I can get just about anything I need, even hair tonic. This Engineer Battalion I am in is in the peace circle now, and both sides can’t fire around here. It’s just like duty in the States. We even have running water from a tank that was rigged up. I have been trying to get a dog, but so far I haven’t found one I like. I guess I am trying to find one to equal Wimpy, but that’s impossible. I am gaining back some weight now from the good chow, so I am feeling fine. You all stay well.

Today we moved farther back of the lines, about 40 miles to be exact. We will be here about three months in Corps Reserve. The camp is called Camp Casey. It’s about 25 miles west of Seoul. As soon as we got here we put up tents, then had chow, turkey a la king, pears, turnips, fruit cocktail, bread and coffee. All the tents have wooden floors, and some will have electric lights. There’s a railroad track about ½ mile away. We’ve got a church & movie and three showers. The showers weren’t open yet so I had to take a bath in a bucket. It surprised me how good it felt and how clean you can get. I am still getting the News regular. It’s gotten so I get one every other day. Tomorrow I am going to boil clothes. They get good and clean that way. I guess you have been reading about the prisoner exchange. A good friend of mine that came over here with me, a corpsman, was captured on Reno while I was on Vegas. I read in the Stars & Stripes the other day that he had been liberated. His name was Thomas Waddill, that we all called “Bean Hill.” That’s it for now. Write soon,

Well, I am still in the same place, and nothing is happening around here. Got a haircut today and a shower and clean clothes, so I am feeling fine. They had truce talks today, but so far I haven’t heard how it came out. I received the drivers license and the picture. Vernon sure is getting big. I almost didn’t know who it was. In my spare time I have been developing and enlarging photographs. I am enclosing one of those I did. The thing I am leaning against in the picture is an old Korean land marker. Well that’s all the news and views for now. I’ll write again soon,

Well, it looks like there won’t be a truce after all since Rhee turned all those prisoners loose. After that trick I think we ought to just up and pull out of here and let these Southern Koreans get the devil beat out of them. There’s been a lot of air raids lately, but most of the time they only bomb Seoul & Pusan. Do you remember Willie that I worked with in Beaufort? Well, he’s over here with the 7th Marines. I haven’t seen him yet, but I am going to look him up tomorrow. Last night at the movies we had Pony Soldier , a real good picture. We have Steak for chow about 3 times a week and chicken the rest of the time. I am getting up to 190 lbs. again. I got a letter from Vernon the other day. Sure was good hearing from him. I guess you can tell by this letter that there’s not much to write about. Every thing is fine with me—just putting in time until I can get home.

It’s been raining cats and dogs today without let up. Out tent is good and dry, though, because of the wooden deck. I just finished a game of rummy, trying to pass the time of day. That sure was a nice birthday card. Thank you—I wish I could do the same on your birthdays. I told you about our dog I think. Name’s Queen. Well, we clipped her from behind the front legs on down and left the rest on, she looks like a little lion. She’s about 6” tall. We feed her hamburger, steak, ham, and powdered milk and cod liver oil. Only trouble is she’s not house broke. Gets a beating every day. The marines are going back on the line before long, but I am staying here along with everybody else who has already done line time. I get out of the Navy before the 15th of Dec. I think I’ll get out for 30 days, come home, and then go down to USNH Beaufort and reenlist down there. That way I’ll get out of FMF and go back to the good ole Navy and get $360.00 re-enlistment bonus. Four more months to go.

Only four more months to go in Korea. It’s getting short now. This last week has been plenty hot, every day over 100 degrees. One day it was 114 by the thermometer outside of our tent and raining. I am doing the same old job handling medical records in the sickbay. Are the Saving bonds still coming in regular? I am planning on taking out a $100 bond a month now and drop the $50 one since I got my new rate and raise in pay. I am going to the disbursing officer tomorrow to see about it. You all stay well! I am fine.

I received the tin of Peanut Butter logs. I didn’t know they still made them. They sure are good. It looks like the peace treaty will still come off, and I hope it does. It’s getting too hot here. We have a pretty good swimming hole where they dammed up a creek. I go in every day. Yesterday we had a USO show at 2 o’clock in the afternoon in 100 degree heat and no shade. That’s all for now. Can’t think of anything else to say

I received your letter the other day. It sure was good to hear from you. We have a real nice sickbay were I work, lots of Medicine & instruments to work with, we use penicillin & aureomycin in most of our treatments. The weather has been plenty hot the last few weeks over 100 degrees F every day. I guess you’re glad schools out for the summer. I hope you’re having fun. I wish I could be there to go to the beach and all the other places of amusement. I get out of the Navy in December and will come home before I ship-over for about 30 days I guess you know I plan on buying a new car, what kind do you like? (how about a Cadillac, powder blue, coupe, R&H, white wall tires, convertible, hydromatic, jet-propelled with a built in T.V.) I am sending you some more Military script and when I get to Japan I will send you some yen and few other things also something for mom and dad, but don’t tell them I want to surprise them.

I guess you know they signed the truce. I never thought it would happen. Don’t expect me home any sooner, though. We aren’t leaving until this deal is completely settled, which may be months and months. They might go back to fighting any day. I was on the road in the Ambulance Jeep yesterday when the truce team returned, and got a look at all the top brass, even saw General Clark. Instead of $100 I was going to send I am only sending $70 because I am going to Japan for a couple of days Rest and Relaxation (R&R). I can’t wait until I get hold of a couple of quarts of good fresh milk. That’s what everybody craves here. Well, that’s the news for now. I’ll write again soon,

I received the Salt Water Taffy yesterday, it sure is good and it always reminds me of Atlantic City on summer vacation. How did you all like it, is it the same as always? I am enclosing some of my negatives that you all can get printed if you want they’re not very good, but they weren’t taken under the best condition. The last few days another guy and I have been clipping coupons form magazines and writing for any thing free, like pamphlets & free art & music lessons. I even wrote to one company and told them I had a bagpipe and would like free correspondence lessons on it—I bet that stumps them.