11 June 1945
Monday, June 11
Philippines
Dear Mom:
Well, here I am with the same old gab again. I am trying to write this with a Jap pen, but not doing so good. Yesterday I received 2 packages. Both were sent to New Guinea. I got the mouth-organ, magazines, etc. I sure wish you hadn’t sent candy or cigarettes, as these two never keep. I sure do appreciate everything. The package I got from Maude was in a 5lb meat can and soldered shut. Well, it was full of dried fruit, and everything was perfect! It was the best package I have ever seen over here.
Things are pretty rough these days. Yes – today while on patrol I had to wade river right up to my chin. Then several miles up a cliff. What a mess and what a job! These Japs can live in the darndest places. And you never would believe the modern weapons and amount they have! If they are all as hard to get as these, this could easily be a hundred year war. What a thought! But there really are a lot of Japs yet, and they just don’t surrender. Yesterday we got a Jap officer who must have been a paymaster. So I have a lot of Jap pesos. I’ll enclose some, and if anyone wants any, tell them to drop me a line. I only wish this scrap was worth something; I’d be a millionaire!
You were all wrong about malaria. I have had it twice. Lots of fellow have [text cut out]. IF there is ever a chance of me coming back, I’ll let you know – don’t worry!
There is never a day goes by that I don’t think of you and Dad. I hope that I can live to repay some of your generosity. I know that I owe you both a lot. I must have committed some crime to be getting this punishment now. I do get some silly thoughts!
I’m glad to know everything is going so well. I think you and Dad should enjoy life a little more. Well, that darn pen played out. Tell George I said not to work too hard. Tell him to save some of those rabbits and pheasants for me! I am all out of GAB, so I’ll sign off now.
Be Seeing You,
Fred
P.S. No, I didn’t get that pipe yet, but will get it soon. Thanks again.
Philippines
Dear Mom:
Well, here I am with the same old gab again. I am trying to write this with a Jap pen, but not doing so good. Yesterday I received 2 packages. Both were sent to New Guinea. I got the mouth-organ, magazines, etc. I sure wish you hadn’t sent candy or cigarettes, as these two never keep. I sure do appreciate everything. The package I got from Maude was in a 5lb meat can and soldered shut. Well, it was full of dried fruit, and everything was perfect! It was the best package I have ever seen over here.
Things are pretty rough these days. Yes – today while on patrol I had to wade river right up to my chin. Then several miles up a cliff. What a mess and what a job! These Japs can live in the darndest places. And you never would believe the modern weapons and amount they have! If they are all as hard to get as these, this could easily be a hundred year war. What a thought! But there really are a lot of Japs yet, and they just don’t surrender. Yesterday we got a Jap officer who must have been a paymaster. So I have a lot of Jap pesos. I’ll enclose some, and if anyone wants any, tell them to drop me a line. I only wish this scrap was worth something; I’d be a millionaire!
You were all wrong about malaria. I have had it twice. Lots of fellow have [text cut out]. IF there is ever a chance of me coming back, I’ll let you know – don’t worry!
There is never a day goes by that I don’t think of you and Dad. I hope that I can live to repay some of your generosity. I know that I owe you both a lot. I must have committed some crime to be getting this punishment now. I do get some silly thoughts!
I’m glad to know everything is going so well. I think you and Dad should enjoy life a little more. Well, that darn pen played out. Tell George I said not to work too hard. Tell him to save some of those rabbits and pheasants for me! I am all out of GAB, so I’ll sign off now.
Be Seeing You,
Fred
P.S. No, I didn’t get that pipe yet, but will get it soon. Thanks again.