March 13, 1945,

Tuesday

This is the first chance I�ve had to write for quite a while but you know I�m still OK now.  Dad, you letter of Feb. 12 was damn close to right but just a little off in time & place. 

-o-0-o- 

 March 16

I�m finally settled down into the old routine again.  I went on a mission as you�ve already guessed and made it back all OK. 

Had a bad case of dysentery but am all OK again.  I really acquired the Jap souvenirs but all my personal stuff was in a fire & all I saved was 2 burnt watches & 1 ring & Jap coins.  One watch was an Elgin in a gold hunting case, & it was really beautiful but it�s burnt black.  The other one was a Jap watch.  I had a beautiful flag, scarf, fan, money, 3 fountain pens, razor, 3 billfolds, cig lighter (all jap stuff) & everything burnt.  Sure was disgusting cause I really worked for those souvenirs.  I guess I can�t write anything else about the mission, so will tell you sometime, I hope. 

-o-0-o- 

March 21

Seems line I�m pretty darn busy lately but things are getting straightened out OK now.  AM getting all new equipment, including rifle.  I lost just about all I had in the fire.  You�ve hit it on the outfit I�m in in your last letters but you named two of them & you�ll have to guess which one.  I think you can allright.  The class ring I got off 1 dead Jap is just about a duplicate of mine only more rounded.  The set is blue, 1938 Greenville H.S., Greenville, Ky., with the initials M.O.W. inside.  Do you think you could write to the high school & check on it for me.  The Jap mite have gotten it 3 years ago & maybe I could return it to the guy�s parents.  The school keeps a record.  I�m sure sorry to have missed your anniv. But I was in combat then.  I�ll make it next I bet.  What is the 25^th anniv., silver?  Yes, Dad, I was there for a while, just a very short time. 

-o-0-o- 

March 24

I got weighed yesterday & I only weigh 127 of my original 148.  I thot sure I�d gained most of it back but am just getting started.  Seems like I can lose in an awful fast.  I was pretty sick for 7 or 8 days, but feel swell now.    Say, Dad, how did the deal turn out with the guy down at Hays.  Maybe if you came up a little?  That seemed like a good price for all the stuff.  Use you own judgment tho. 

-o-0-o- 

March 29

Am very busy right now so won�t get to write for a few days.    Am feeling pretty good now.  We have a good place here & hope I get to stay here for a while. . .

-o-0-o- 

April 5

Well, the work has let up a little again, so have more time to write.  I saw some of the shoes, the Phillipinos make by hand.  Seems like this year is sure going fast doesn�t it.  I hope I�m home by next year.  I heard a rumor that Japan is asking for peace with China.  Sounds good to me.  Did you find anything about the class ring I wrote you about? 

-o-0-o- 

April 9

Went on a little airplane trip today, missed dinner, but where we landed I traded a pack of cigs for about 3 doz of the best bananas I ever ate.  It was about a 3 hr trip.  Was up the highest I�ve ever been.  We were above the clouds & in some to & really pitched around.  The country is really beautiful from there, when you can see thru the clouds.  When you pass over a little island in the ocean you can see the ground disappear in the water & there is about 5 shades of blue & green before the land is gone down too deep to see.  It�s really beautiful.  If and when I ever do get a furlough, the time & length to 45 days by latest rumor.  Sometimes, it seems like I�ve been over here 10 years instead of 13 months. 

-o-0-o- 

April 11

I took another little plane ride yesterday & never saw such beautiful scenery.  Coming back we were above the clouds & it was just twilite, what I saw I shall never forget.  I think the war will be pretty close to an end in 12 more months, don�t you.  What�s the general opinion back there.  I haven�t went out on anymore missions but I�ve been doing a heck of a lot of that other you mentioned.  The dysentery isn�t like that kind you have in the States.  It affects you a lot different.  We were above the clouds & in some to & really pitched around.  The country is really beautiful from there, when you can see thru the clouds.  When you pass over a little island in the ocean you can see the ground disappear in the water & there is about 5 shades of blue & green before the land is gone down too deep to see.  It�s really beautiful.  If and when I ever do get a furlough, the time & length to 45 days by latest rumor.  Sometimes, it seems like I�ve been over here 10 years instead of 13 months. 

-o-0-o- 

April 11

I took another little plane ride yesterday & never saw such beautiful scenery.  Coming back we were above the clouds & it was just twilite, what I saw I shall never forget.  I think the war will be pretty close to an end in 12 more months, don�t you.  What�s the general opinion back there.  I haven�t went out on anymore missions but I�ve been doing a heck of a lot of that other you mentioned.  The dysentery isn�t like that kind you have in the States.  It affects you a lot different.  Yes, I got those things that burnt the usual way all rite. 

-o-0-o- 

Friday April 13

Sure hope nothing unlucky has happened to you today.  The way I started off this morning, I really expected the worst.  I bumped my head twice in the same spot and boy do I have a knot.  Also just heard about Roosevelt & I sure do hate it.  If he could have lived just a while longer he could have seen the end of this mess. 

-o-0-o- 

April 15

I�ve written several times & said I wasn�t in the 11th A.B., but in your letter today you still insist.  It was the other outfit you mentioned in one of your letters.  The only other one left I believe.    I heard over the radio that Ks., Mo., & Okla. had quite a cyclone.  Did it do much damage there? 

  Your most loving son -

                                                   Buddy

April 17

I heard the news over the radio & we lost 11 Super Forts on the last raid, then Radio Tokyo said we lost 70.  We have been quite a few bananas and melons lately.  Trading for them, of course. 

-o-0-o- 

April 20,

I know a few guys in the air corp & I sure like their furlough system.  It usually takes from 12 to 15 months to get enough points.  Some of the guys in this outfit tho have 30 months over here, so I�ve still got a long ways to go. 

-o-0-o- 

April 22

Sure glad you received such a prompt reply from the School.  I�ll send the ring to you & you can send it on to them.  I�m positive it�s the right one & I�m sure they�d be glad to take a chance on it being the one so go ahead & write them.  If they don�t claim it after I send it, I�m sure they�ll send it back & we can look further.  

-o-0-o- 

April 26, 1945, Friday nite

I got the ring wrapped up & will send it tomorrow.  Tell the parents that I got it on Corregidor.  The captain gave me permission to tell them where I got it so that�s the reason I�m telling you so you can go ahead & tell them or wait til you get the ring. 

-o-0-o- 

May 3

I told you in my last letter that I mailed the ring & I sent it airmail, so it should be speeding on its way.  Heard the news today of Hitler�s and G. death & war coming to a close & all of Berlin taken and it didn�t affect me like I thought it would.  A year & a half ago I would really have been kicking up some dust, but I don�t know.  If they said the Japs had surrendered, then I�d probably go wild.  I�m sure glad to hear it anyway.  That sure was a nice letter those parents wrote you.  I surely feel sorry for them & as she said, it was an act of God that I found the ring where he was when those two places fell.  I found it on the last place.  The mission lasted about 22 days and was sure a hell hold.  I saw McArthur there.  .  Well, I sure feel good about that ring business and hope it gets there OK.

-o-0-o- 

May 7

Went up to the hospital today & saw a couple of friends.  The hospital was very nice, compared to the general run of them.  It�s back in the hills & the country is very pretty around it.  It rained here today, the first for quite a while.  This is the driest country I�ve been in since the States.  As long as I�ve been here the climate has reminded me of Kansas summertime.  There�s supposed to be some good hunting back in the hills, wild pigs and deer.

-o-0-o- 

May 9, 1945

Boy, the news sure sounds good, but it didn�t surprise me so much.  Was there much celebrating there?  I went to the cock fights last nite.  The Phlips really go in for them.    You ought to see my tan now.  I�m really getting brown. 

-o-0-o- 

May 13, 1945
Mother�s Day

I�d like to know what you are doing today.  I bet I�m home by next Mother�s Day, don�t you?  You ought to make Dad take you out to dinner, Mom?  We are sure getting set up here nice, so will probably have to move.  I hope you had a nice Mother�s Day. . .

-o-0-o- 

May 15, 1945

I wrote you the rainy season was supposed to start and I sure think it has.  Have you heard anything about Francis, maybe getting to come home soon?  I�ve got the war figured down to about 11 months over here.  That won�t be so much longer, or will it ????

 Your most loving son -

                                                   Buddy

September 14, 1945

I don�t know if I can write very much but I will try.  I guess I spoke too soon about moving.  Everything is all in an uproar.  I don�t know which was we are going this time.  Sure wish I knew.  I hope it�s the right way. . . .

-o-0-o- 

September 20, 1945

I�m afraid I won�t get to write very often for a while till we get moved.  I�m afraid it�s Japan, too & here I  had my mind all made up that we wouldn�t go.  Everything is the same with me & the dhow is getting worse, C-rations now.  I sure thought the war was over but this move has been more secretive than before.  Well, must close . . .

-o-0-o- 

September 23, 1945

Well, the latest rumor is that (you know the song I�m Off to Yokehoma)???  Don�t know for sure but I�ve got a feeling I�ll freeze my -- - - - off.  I sure don�t want to go to Japan, but guess it won�t be so bad. 

-o-0-o- 

September 24, 1945

Our moving orders were cancelled for a while.  We sure had the rumors flying around the last few days.  The latest is that the score will drop to 70 in Oct., 60 in Nov. which would put me home around Xmas.  I sure would like that . . .

-o-0-o- 

September 25, 1945

Can�t say yet if we are coming back to the States as a unit, although personally I think so, about the last of Nov.  I sure hope so but don�t get your hopes up.  I�ll sure be glad to get out of this place.  You have to spend too much to live.  Our bread is still wormy at the mess hall & they just don�t have anything to eat.  By the way, cigs are $1.00 a pack too. 

-o-0-o- 

October 2, 1945

Really been busy the last few days, so my letters are going in spurts.  We are still packing up, building boxes, etc.  Wish I could be there on my birthday. . .

-o-0-o- 

October 12, 1945

We are on the beach here and as you�ve always heard, there�s nothing like the south sea beaches.  I got me a pair of swimming goggles like the native wear for diving.  You can go down & see just about anything from real small octopus and every color in the rainbow.    There are all kinds  & colors of coral.  We aren�t setting up anything here, just storing.  The latest poop is this.  The 70 point men are leaving tomorrow & the 60 to 70 point men are supposed to leave the first of Nov.  Boy, I�m really sweating this out.  I have 64, so if things go right I would be home by Xmas.  Won�t that be something?  I just can�t believe it.  I�m pretty stale so when I do get home, I hope you will bear with me til I get straightened around again.  I sure wonder if I�ve changed enough to notice.  If I have, of course it will be for the worse, so I�m warning you a little before hand.  We are at Damaquette.  It�s not far from Bacolod and not far from Cebu. 

-o-0-o- 

October 16, 1945

I think I might accidentally make it home by Xmas day, but probably won�t.  It�s really hot here tonite.  We just had about like our tornadoes a while ago and it�s still plenty hot.  I�ll sure freeze my old hiney off if I make it home this winter.  I�m going to travel light when I start home.  I�ll turn in all my equipment & just carry blanket & clothes.  Well, all I�m thinking about anymore is getting home.  It�s getting close now. . .

-o-0-o- 

October 23, 1945

I�m still here and still sweating.  You know the 60 point men are supposed to be out of the Army by the last of November.  They are sure going to have to get going on me.  I still have 64.  That�s high anymore over here.  Have been sick the last few days.  Seems like I�ve been over here years.  It�s not so bad when there is a reason but they should have about all the Jap prisoners home by now.  That�s where most of our boats are, carrying prisoners.  Wouldn�t it be something if I should happen to walk in about 2 days before Xmas, if nothing goes wrong.  Don�t send any Xmas boxes to me this time because I sure don�t intend to be here by then. . .

-o-0-o- 

October 24, 1945

Well, my morale & spirits are about as low as they�ve been in my life.  We had a formation tonite & announced that the 65 & over would take the colors home.  I have 64 as you know.  What really hurts is that I�m one of the original or old men in the outfit since it was formed & I and several other old men will be left behind while several fellows that joined the outfit as replacements for the guys killed off will go home with the outfit.  They�ve only been overseas 7 months but have more time & kids in the sates.  They don�t want to send too many men out because they�ll lose command of the island.  When a regiment occupies an island the top men are pretty much the law.  We guys that are left are supposed to be transferred to the 96 div. & go off jump status.  How do you like that.  After we were at call & ready while the war was on looks like they could keep us on jump status til we are discharged.  Guess you�d better forget about me making it for Xmas. . .Course the Army changes orders about every week, so I�ve still got hope of taking the colors home.  That means a lot when you�ve been in an outfit so long.  Boy, this is really some letter, huh???

-o-0-o- 

October 28, 1945

Well, I am in much better humor than last time.  They must have gotten the big shots orders changed cause the 60�s go with the 65�s.  Happy day.  Everybody things we�ll be home by Xmas again.  But here it is the end of the month & I�m still sitting here.  I�ll probably get mail for about 10 more days.  When I move from here that�ll be all the mail I receive, so there�s no use of writing.  Boy, the time is sure getting close & I�m getting more jumpy & nervous, just 10 more days before we are supposed to leave.  I see that good old Kansas snow every nite in my dreams.  I�ll probably stop writing sometime next month.

-o-0-o- 

November 3, 1945

Well, here will probably be my last letter for a while.  We had a few more high point men come in today & they are supposed to go home with us.  The 59 and below are supposed to be transferred to the 11^th airborne in Japan.  We are supposed to leave from here and g direct to the states and miss Leite completely.  It�s sure crowded there now & they don�t seem to be moving very fast.  We don�t have any APO here, so I have to carry my money around with me.  Can�t hardly imagine being home again.  If I get back in time to have a few days before Xmas, I�m planning on getting a thorough check up.  May get my teeth fixed up a little & soak some of the yellow color out.   I�m going to go wild pig hunting tomorrow.  There�s a lot of them around here.  Teddy R. used to come over around here & hunt, you know.  Boy the army hasn�t issued me any clothes or shoes since Corregidor & I�m really in tatters anymore.   Hope to see you soon. . .

-o-0-o- 

November 9, 1945

Well, I guess my hopes got bilt up for nothing.  I know I won�t be home for Xmas, so don�t even think I might.  It�s all been changed again to leave the 20 of Dec.  You see how they keep putting us off?  Most of the outfits have sent their 60 point & above home.  Our low point men are laying out in the harbor.  They are going to Japan to the 11^th A.B.  Well hope you are all OK>  Just look for me when you see me. 

-o-0-o- 

November 17, 1945

Well, here I am again & still here sweating out my boat.  We live right next to the beach & a Liberty ship came in & we thought sure it was ours.  They are loading Copra on it by the truck loads.  They gave us the story that too many Liberty ships had been splitting in two in the Atlantic so they aren�t safe enough for troops.  Well, you may not believe it but I watch it everyday being loaded with Copra (dried coconut meat) & think about the government shipping that stinking stuff back instead of men.  They�ve been at it 2 days now.  Enough to make anybody mad.  And what do they do now but lower the points to 55 while we have 60�s and 75�s still here.  It�s just one big mixed up affair.  Hope you are all ok. . .

-o-0-o- 

November 24, 1945

Well, Here I am, still here, but it won�t be much longer now.  Our little paper came out with the news that the date was the 30^th.  Boy, I hope it pans out this time.  We were supposed to leave later but the 80 pointers that are still sitting on Mindinao started a few riots, so were set back another month.  They better get them boys out & on their way or there sure is going to be trouble.  As you can read in the paper I�m sending the �fiesta� is on . . 

This will be my last letter than I can write so don�t expect any.  I�m going to play poker on the boat going home so I can buy a gun & a few things.  I think it�ll take 17 days on the boat so I�ll either win a lot  or I can�t lose much.  The way I figure it now, I may make it home by New Year�s.  I won�t make it by Xmas for sure, so don�t wait Xmas on me cause you may be waiting til Easter.  You just can�t tell about this Army.  That Liberty ship pulled out with the load of Copra.  If the Pres. Could have read the letters the boys sent about that deal . . . . .

 Your most loving son -

                                                   Buddy