I pray to God that the day will never come when I will no longer enjoy and appreciate the privilege of being alive. If I have learned nothing more except appreciation during my 25 months overseas then my time has been profitably spent.
When the weather gets cold and winter grips the land I want to remember the days and months I longed for a change of seasons. Every season is beautiful now. Winter with its Christmas spirit, snow, sleigh parties, skiing, basketball games, long cold nights around the fireplace, and the beautiful scenes which winter brings. Spring with the birds and flowers. Vacations, spring planting, the buds breaking and blossom time, the smell of the air on a spring morning. Spring should give everyone a new lease on life. Summertime with the canyon parties, wienie roasts, watermelon busts, summer vacations, beach parties, the thrill of a drive through the mountains on a hot summer day. Then my favorite - autumn - Indian summer time. Nothing like the football season, the smell of the autumn air, Halloween time, Thanksgiving time, the leaves turning and the crisp cold autumn air early in the morning.
Help me remember what the good food we have at home means. When I forget how lucky I am help me remember the days in Hollandia when we had bully beef three times a day, dehydrated spuds, dehydrated eggs, and nothing but nasty water and hot coffee, no matter how hot the weather. Help me remember the times we sat and talked of a good meal at home, of a milk shake, a chocolate malted milk, or just a glass of milk, or of eating fresh fruit again, grapes, applies, pears, oranges, and vegetables again. I hope I can always appreciate a good hamburger with chips or french fries, all the things I haven't had for so long.
Help me appreciate the friends at home. I want to remember the office gang, FEAF headquarters, particularly the petty jealousies, and all those things that made life unbearable, the PX, the mess hall, the filthy 22nd Replacement Depot, waiting for the movies.
Help me remember the heat rash, how I suffered with the miserable heartburn, the cankers that hospitalized me, the diarrhea, the impetigo that covers me and spreads so fast, and the unbearable heat. May I always appreciate my health to the fullest. If my time overseas has been unpleasant it has nevertheless been an experience I would never trade for a million dollars, for I have acquired a sense of values and an appreciation of life that I never had before. I hope I shall always be able to remember my experiences and use them to the best advantage.
Sunday, 11 November, 1945
Showing posts with label Favorites. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Favorites. Show all posts
April 6, 1945
The sun is shining beautifully and it is a wonderful day. The news has been all over the headquarters today about the peace negotiations that are supposed to be underway in Germany. As yet there isn't anything definite about it but we are all hoping that it is the end of the German war. The Allied armies were held on the Rhine until about the 28th of March when a mass breakthrough in force by all seven allied armies was affected. Almost simultaneously the Rhine was crossed in such force that the Germans were taken by surprise and haven't been able to stop us yet. The furthest advances are 160 miles past the Rhine at present. The latest cities to fall are Osnabruck, Fulda, Hamm, Paterborn with columns way out past that. Patton's 3rd army is really going to town and advancing rapidly. The Russians are within 5 miles of Vienna and within 33 miles of Berlin. They are poised on the Oder waiting for the word. When they launch their offense they will probably sweep clear into Germany and effect a junction with our forces if the Germans force it very much longer. I mad a bet with Joe that the war wouldn't be over my June 1st and I seriously hope I lose it.
Over here things are also going wonderfully well. The battle of Iwo Jima is over, the total casualties well over 19,000 with over 4,000 killed. Today's news carries a discussion of the reason for the Tokyo cabinet resigning yesterday. That is the 3rd time a cabinet has resigned and I don't really gain the significance of it except that things aren't going too well. We have completely cleared Manila and the mopping up of the rest of the Philippines is underway. Landings have been made on other islands without too much opposition. It is beginning to look as though MacArthur is a pretty smart man after all.
On the 15th of this month I'll have my 18th month completed and will be eligible for furlough. I'm not sure yet what I'll do. Right now things are looking so well that it would probably be a good idea to sweat it out but if I am going to have to sweat 36 months out anyway maybe I ought to take a furlough.
This movie "Wilson" was shown in our area last night. It was a wonderful movie except that it was made for the prime purpose of swinging votes over to Roosevelt last election. It is all tied in with our present situation and designed to fit the Democratic party's foreign policy last November. In other words, it made the average American feel that if he didn't elect Roosevelt again that the world would fall apart and there would be another war within about 10 or 15 years. I'm not in favor of ballyhoo and propaganda. It's awfully hard to decide what's correct and what is wrong in these days of war.
Over here things are also going wonderfully well. The battle of Iwo Jima is over, the total casualties well over 19,000 with over 4,000 killed. Today's news carries a discussion of the reason for the Tokyo cabinet resigning yesterday. That is the 3rd time a cabinet has resigned and I don't really gain the significance of it except that things aren't going too well. We have completely cleared Manila and the mopping up of the rest of the Philippines is underway. Landings have been made on other islands without too much opposition. It is beginning to look as though MacArthur is a pretty smart man after all.
On the 15th of this month I'll have my 18th month completed and will be eligible for furlough. I'm not sure yet what I'll do. Right now things are looking so well that it would probably be a good idea to sweat it out but if I am going to have to sweat 36 months out anyway maybe I ought to take a furlough.
This movie "Wilson" was shown in our area last night. It was a wonderful movie except that it was made for the prime purpose of swinging votes over to Roosevelt last election. It is all tied in with our present situation and designed to fit the Democratic party's foreign policy last November. In other words, it made the average American feel that if he didn't elect Roosevelt again that the world would fall apart and there would be another war within about 10 or 15 years. I'm not in favor of ballyhoo and propaganda. It's awfully hard to decide what's correct and what is wrong in these days of war.
January 24, 1945
Oh yes, 1945. As near as I can remember. Things went according to plans after arriving. We all left our reports on the boat (thought we were coming by boat) and so after arriving on the 4th we were stymied until the boat arrived. After the boats came in we were on detail three days out of the week. Nothing much got done in the office because of getting things straightened out and these details. The ducks go out to the ship and bring their load into the QM building and then take it from there around to the sections. Some of the files had broken into smithereens. All our stuff held pretty well because we crated it all up in good strong lumber. My foot locker etc. came through nicely. Finally got things straightened out and started working on September Reports for the first time since closing up shop six weeks previous in Hollandia. At the present we have September's out and within a few days all the October Reports are out. We have visions of catching up someday but we aren't worried too much about it.
The excitement with regards to raids and Japs etc: The facts finally came out about the paratroop landing at Hq 5th AF. It seems that about 3 or 4 hundred Japs landed at Hq 5th AF. They got areas mixed and got into the Signal company's area about a block away. The paratroopers were supposed to land at the same time as the Japs started a drive from the hills. Fortunately the plans were SNAFUED and they came a day early - otherwise they would have probably wiped out the whole headquarters. Anyway - the Signal company suffered a lot of casualties. A lot of the boys were killed in their beds. The Japs bayoneted some and threw grenades into a couple of tents killing all the boys sleeping there. The 5th AF dispensary was converted into an Emergency Hospital and the casualties were brought down there. The boys said that they really had the excitement for a few days because it was three days before things were restored to normal. Since that time they had Japs infiltrate through their defense perimeter nearly everyday and all the boys have had to take infantry training since. Altogether some 75,000 Japs have been killed on this one island.
The landing at Luzon on 8 January went according to plan. Langayen Gulf was the spot and since then we have advanced to within eight miles of Clark Field without the tough resistance that we met here on Leyte. We landed at Midoro around Christmas time in preparation for the Luzon, or else as a fake. We landed at Marinduque Island - off the South coast of Luzon three days before the Lingayen landing. It made it look like we were going right into the southern part of Luzon and surely had a lot to do with the Japs having all their troops and power concentrated there. We now have the planes hitting Luzon and Formosa with all fours. The Liberators and M-20's and B-25's are going over in strength every day. We have good strips on Mindoro, good ones here at Dulag, Tanuan Tacloban and Barauan.
We have seen a big map of our camp area and have most of the city plotted. If the Japs leave it in good condition for us as we are hoping they do it may be alright. There is a golf course right on the Fort and if they don't restrict it to officers it will be a good deal.
We get the official A-2 Intelligence Report every day about the day's operations and what progress we have made. It is very interesting to see it because with our elaborate maps we can keep close track. It gives ship sighting etc and all enemy intelligence and guerrilla reports.
A Jap plane came over one night about dusk with its lights off. It came over the trees directly over our area and not so much as a shot had been fired. We were standing there watching it and wondering if it was some new type of Navy plane or something our ours that we did not recognize. Just then we heard a bomb whistle and burst about 200 miles away (we found out the next morning that it was 1/2 mile away) and at the same time ack ack opened up from every direction. He was out of sight before they shot him down but the Report the next morning carried the report of him being shot down. A couple of other times we have had bombs land where we could hear the explosion but never within our area. A dud lit in the area with a whir one night and scared everybody to death but nothing happened. The worst barrage ever laid down was by the boys of the army, navy, and antiaircraft command on New Years Eve. At the stroke of 45 every GI in the island must have shot his gun. I don't know how many people were killed but I know of two. For fifteen minutes every kind and type and size of gun blasted away. We got tired of listening to it so we went outside and emptied our carbines into the air. The ack ack guns were blazing, the ship guns were blasting and it was one of those welcomes that I will never remember. It is dangerous because so many of the fellows had been drinking jungle juice and we we had three boys shoot themselves or other people cleaning their guns (not fatal), the latest of which was Major Redfield, a flight surgeon, who shot himself in the leg. Shattered the whole bone with a 45 bullet.
Beslau and Vienna in one of the greatest offensives and maybe the deciding one of the war. If the Russians could put enough pressure to the back of the German they would have to weaken the Western Front to stop them and that could be the last stand for the Germans. I am hoping for the end to come before too long. The boys here with 18 months or over are being offered furlough at home for thirty days - as many as they can spare. The question now is whether to take the 30 day furlough at home or to sweat out rotation. The boys that are going home on rotation have 34 and 35 months right now and some of the USAFFE boys have 36 and 37 months. Wasput in for Cpl 25 December. Ratings have been frozen since then. I would sweat for it if it meant anything but it doesn't matter much.
June has quit school and gone back to working full time. She is rather restless and isn't sure what she wants to do but I still can't blame her too much. Don Bailey and Stan Smith have been reported as prisoners of war in Germany. I got the notice of it from the folks Christmas day and that was enough Christmas present for me. I haven't received my packages from June or the folks yet. Heller got June some perfume and she liked it very well. The folks got her some roses and that was my Christmas for her. To make it worse I couldn't do a thing for the folks so I didn't feel too good about Christmas. I missed home and would have given anything to be there to see that the family and June had a good time. Signing of now at 2300. That's supposed to be 11 o'clock but it would be easy to figure out that way so it's 2300.
The excitement with regards to raids and Japs etc: The facts finally came out about the paratroop landing at Hq 5th AF. It seems that about 3 or 4 hundred Japs landed at Hq 5th AF. They got areas mixed and got into the Signal company's area about a block away. The paratroopers were supposed to land at the same time as the Japs started a drive from the hills. Fortunately the plans were SNAFUED and they came a day early - otherwise they would have probably wiped out the whole headquarters. Anyway - the Signal company suffered a lot of casualties. A lot of the boys were killed in their beds. The Japs bayoneted some and threw grenades into a couple of tents killing all the boys sleeping there. The 5th AF dispensary was converted into an Emergency Hospital and the casualties were brought down there. The boys said that they really had the excitement for a few days because it was three days before things were restored to normal. Since that time they had Japs infiltrate through their defense perimeter nearly everyday and all the boys have had to take infantry training since. Altogether some 75,000 Japs have been killed on this one island.
The landing at Luzon on 8 January went according to plan. Langayen Gulf was the spot and since then we have advanced to within eight miles of Clark Field without the tough resistance that we met here on Leyte. We landed at Midoro around Christmas time in preparation for the Luzon, or else as a fake. We landed at Marinduque Island - off the South coast of Luzon three days before the Lingayen landing. It made it look like we were going right into the southern part of Luzon and surely had a lot to do with the Japs having all their troops and power concentrated there. We now have the planes hitting Luzon and Formosa with all fours. The Liberators and M-20's and B-25's are going over in strength every day. We have good strips on Mindoro, good ones here at Dulag, Tanuan Tacloban and Barauan.
We have seen a big map of our camp area and have most of the city plotted. If the Japs leave it in good condition for us as we are hoping they do it may be alright. There is a golf course right on the Fort and if they don't restrict it to officers it will be a good deal.
We get the official A-2 Intelligence Report every day about the day's operations and what progress we have made. It is very interesting to see it because with our elaborate maps we can keep close track. It gives ship sighting etc and all enemy intelligence and guerrilla reports.
A Jap plane came over one night about dusk with its lights off. It came over the trees directly over our area and not so much as a shot had been fired. We were standing there watching it and wondering if it was some new type of Navy plane or something our ours that we did not recognize. Just then we heard a bomb whistle and burst about 200 miles away (we found out the next morning that it was 1/2 mile away) and at the same time ack ack opened up from every direction. He was out of sight before they shot him down but the Report the next morning carried the report of him being shot down. A couple of other times we have had bombs land where we could hear the explosion but never within our area. A dud lit in the area with a whir one night and scared everybody to death but nothing happened. The worst barrage ever laid down was by the boys of the army, navy, and antiaircraft command on New Years Eve. At the stroke of 45 every GI in the island must have shot his gun. I don't know how many people were killed but I know of two. For fifteen minutes every kind and type and size of gun blasted away. We got tired of listening to it so we went outside and emptied our carbines into the air. The ack ack guns were blazing, the ship guns were blasting and it was one of those welcomes that I will never remember. It is dangerous because so many of the fellows had been drinking jungle juice and we we had three boys shoot themselves or other people cleaning their guns (not fatal), the latest of which was Major Redfield, a flight surgeon, who shot himself in the leg. Shattered the whole bone with a 45 bullet.
Beslau and Vienna in one of the greatest offensives and maybe the deciding one of the war. If the Russians could put enough pressure to the back of the German they would have to weaken the Western Front to stop them and that could be the last stand for the Germans. I am hoping for the end to come before too long. The boys here with 18 months or over are being offered furlough at home for thirty days - as many as they can spare. The question now is whether to take the 30 day furlough at home or to sweat out rotation. The boys that are going home on rotation have 34 and 35 months right now and some of the USAFFE boys have 36 and 37 months. Wasput in for Cpl 25 December. Ratings have been frozen since then. I would sweat for it if it meant anything but it doesn't matter much.
June has quit school and gone back to working full time. She is rather restless and isn't sure what she wants to do but I still can't blame her too much. Don Bailey and Stan Smith have been reported as prisoners of war in Germany. I got the notice of it from the folks Christmas day and that was enough Christmas present for me. I haven't received my packages from June or the folks yet. Heller got June some perfume and she liked it very well. The folks got her some roses and that was my Christmas for her. To make it worse I couldn't do a thing for the folks so I didn't feel too good about Christmas. I missed home and would have given anything to be there to see that the family and June had a good time. Signing of now at 2300. That's supposed to be 11 o'clock but it would be easy to figure out that way so it's 2300.
Tuesday, November 21, 1944
We are all packed and ready to move but the latest is that it won't be until Friday or Saturday. It is alright with us to lay around for a while and take it easy because it isn't going to be easy when we get up to Leyte. The reports have it that our camp is going to be on a beach that was originally chosen for GHQ but that they have gone into Tacloban and we have their spot. I don't know how much is built up or if we have to do it be we'll soon see. They are still having large raids up there and it may be necessary to spend a few nights in foxholes or slit trenches. The Japs haven't given up yet on Leyte and have been successful in landing reinforcements a couple of times at Ormoc and the boys of the 24th say that the entire 21st regiment was wiped out. That is our boys I am talking about and the men that were left behind in the outfit are heartbroken. It is going to be tough even to leave this place. We have things fixed up so good that it is sort of hard to leave New Guinea behind. We opened the NCO's club the other (Friday) night. The club is just like a classy nightclub or something. All the booths are decorated and we have a smooth dance floor. General Kenney came in for a while and gave a very good short speech. He is just one of the boys and everybody appreciates and admires him. He said that he hated to move like anybody else when he got set up but that if we didn't move we could never win the war. I took Phyllis Rodd. I put on my zoot shoes and spent the most of the night jitterbugging. It was a lot of fun. I haven't danced since we left Brisbane. Phyllis is a nice girl but typical of the Wacs here because they can have any man they want. I think she likes me because she knows I love June and that I don't much care whether she comes or goes. Usually she comes up and goes down to the shows with us and I walk her home and sometimes she turns down dates with some good boys for that. I get a jeep so seldom that it wouldn't be worth a girl's time anyway but still she comes up. It makes the time go faster and keeps a man from going crazy to have a Wac, or I should say a girl, to talk to and look at. Men get calloused from working together all the time without no women around. I have seen men come to Australia from the North and have warped personalities that have developed because of the life they had to lead in the islands. Many of them actually fall into the psychoneurosis class and I don't want to become like that. I haven't told June about Phyllis because it isn't important and she would no doubt imagine all sorts of things that would only cause us to get mad at each other and that would never do. I hear of June going out occasionally but I prefer not to. It just burns me up and makes me jealous and all that but I really want her to go out and have fun even though I can't be with her.
Sgt. Gordon is back again from Brisbane and hasn't changed a bit - instead he is a little moreso. While he was gone Walter Teutsch was in command (Chief Clerk) and he being like Joe only more G.I. it was a tough fight all the way through. He starts trying to tell me what to do on the basis of his four stripes and I told him where he could get off. He is a Jewish German refugee that came over in about 1939 and immediately joined the Army. He still talks broken although he is a smart fellow. When he sticks to his report and doesn't bother me everything is alright but I can't take orders from a guy like that any more than I can take orders from Joe. I am developing a very un-Christian-like attitude for the Jews but it is being driven onto me. I have been thinking seriously of asking Colonel Withers for a transfer to the 2nd AAF Photo Intelligence outfit. T/Sgt Jack Strayer who is a very good friend of mine and wants to get me a rating has a good position open in his outfit and wants to get me in. I tried to get out once before although not very hard but this time I am considering making a real effort. I don't know and doubt very much if I will be able to manage it because there isn't anybody to take over my Care of Flyer and Aircraft Accident Reports but the Wacs will be coming up to Leyte soon after us and I am hoping that one of them will be able to take over for me. Anyway, Strayer says that he will be glad to take me in a month or even two if I can make the transfer and I am going to talk to Colonel Withers.
November 7th the American public elected Roosevelt back in as President for his fourth term. I was very disappointed in the result as I think we are heading for disaster on the home front. Roosevelt took over the country in the middle of a depression and with the aid of the powers the congress gave him created a false prosperity that fooled the people into thinking that he had done something wonderful. In 1938 and 1939 when the big business men of the nation told us that actually the country - as far as big business was concerned - was actually at a lower ebb than during the dark days of 1929 - yet the country was apparently prospering. For one reason - and that was because the threat of war had again created a false prosperity and industry was already turning to war even if it was only to the aid of Britain and not for ourselves. Since the war came there has been so much spending that no one can say what condition the country would be in if Roosevelt had been in and there had been no war. We call ourselves a democracy but it is hard to call our country a democracy sometimes. Maybe I am wrong but we will see ten years from now if the war is over.
The war situation on all fronts as near as I can remember is as follows: Over here: The main battle is the air battle over the Philippines and the ground battle taking place on Leyte Island. The Japs landed reinforcements several times at Ormoc bay and have succeeded in putting up some pretty stiff resistance. Apparently - and from what news we get - we are winning the battle, but we know from other sources that we are not winning without paying a terrific price in lives and equipment for whatever we do win. The Navy has pulverized Manila several times with carrier attacks. From all we can tell the island of Leyte should be cleaned up within a couple or three weeks or maybe sooner and unless the Japs have reinforced Samar we should take that without too much trouble. The Japs are still in a good position to give us lots of punishment from the Air because they have lots of air fields around Manila which are just a few minutes time from the islands we are fighting on. We are invading Luzon either today or tomorrow from the rumors that are going around. I have had it from about eight sources and everybody thinks it is the McCoy. We generally get pretty good dope on the invasions as somebody has to know about them. The big invasion of the P.I.'s couldn't have been kept secret no matter what because of the scope of the thing. In Germany they are still pecking away at the Germans just outside of the German border. The Yanks have a line of Armies from Holland down to Switzerland ready to pounce as soon as the Germans give any sign of weakening. Metz is reported to have fallen today. We have air power to pulverize any certain spot with any amount of tons of bombs we want. Cities like Aachen, Metz, Caen, Cassino where the Germans concentrate great amounts of men and arms to stop us can be literally obliterated, and are. The breakthrough hasn't come yet and it is a question now whether the Germans can hold out through the winter or whether they can be conquered by Christmas. It is funny how nobody seems to know what the situation inside Germany is but nobody has a concrete idea on whether the war in Germany will be over in a month or a year. Churchill recently said that with luck we could possibly beat the Germans in six months. That is a statement with "possibly" and "luck" included in it so it may go a year with bad luck. However we all hope that he is just being pessimistic. The Russians are hammering away in East Prussia around Konigsburgh and are closing in on Budapest in Hungary. They should soon break into Austria and then to noose will be pretty tight. With a little luck if we could break into the Rhineland across the Rhine we would have the Germans whipped because it is doubtful if they could then put up the barriers to stop us. The situation in China is appalling. The Japs are driving us out of one city after another and yet the people think all is well with the war. It appears that Chiang Kai Check didn't like the pressure Joseph Stilwell was putting on him to fight a war and asked the President of the United States to do something about it. Stilwell is now relieved of command. The situation came to light when the facts were found out. The Chinese communists have become such a power that Chaing Kai Check is saving all the lend lease and all the Army he can to fight the civil war that he must win to keep control of China. He thinks they are a much greater enemy than Japan because we are going to whip Japan anyway. So he was playing us all for suckers and fighting a sham battle against Japan to keep us satisfied and in the meantime storing up his arms and equipment to use against the communists, which number about 80,000,000 people. It is all very mixed up but maybe it will come out in the watch one of these days. It is not and I must quit not.
Sgt. Gordon is back again from Brisbane and hasn't changed a bit - instead he is a little moreso. While he was gone Walter Teutsch was in command (Chief Clerk) and he being like Joe only more G.I. it was a tough fight all the way through. He starts trying to tell me what to do on the basis of his four stripes and I told him where he could get off. He is a Jewish German refugee that came over in about 1939 and immediately joined the Army. He still talks broken although he is a smart fellow. When he sticks to his report and doesn't bother me everything is alright but I can't take orders from a guy like that any more than I can take orders from Joe. I am developing a very un-Christian-like attitude for the Jews but it is being driven onto me. I have been thinking seriously of asking Colonel Withers for a transfer to the 2nd AAF Photo Intelligence outfit. T/Sgt Jack Strayer who is a very good friend of mine and wants to get me a rating has a good position open in his outfit and wants to get me in. I tried to get out once before although not very hard but this time I am considering making a real effort. I don't know and doubt very much if I will be able to manage it because there isn't anybody to take over my Care of Flyer and Aircraft Accident Reports but the Wacs will be coming up to Leyte soon after us and I am hoping that one of them will be able to take over for me. Anyway, Strayer says that he will be glad to take me in a month or even two if I can make the transfer and I am going to talk to Colonel Withers.
November 7th the American public elected Roosevelt back in as President for his fourth term. I was very disappointed in the result as I think we are heading for disaster on the home front. Roosevelt took over the country in the middle of a depression and with the aid of the powers the congress gave him created a false prosperity that fooled the people into thinking that he had done something wonderful. In 1938 and 1939 when the big business men of the nation told us that actually the country - as far as big business was concerned - was actually at a lower ebb than during the dark days of 1929 - yet the country was apparently prospering. For one reason - and that was because the threat of war had again created a false prosperity and industry was already turning to war even if it was only to the aid of Britain and not for ourselves. Since the war came there has been so much spending that no one can say what condition the country would be in if Roosevelt had been in and there had been no war. We call ourselves a democracy but it is hard to call our country a democracy sometimes. Maybe I am wrong but we will see ten years from now if the war is over.
The war situation on all fronts as near as I can remember is as follows: Over here: The main battle is the air battle over the Philippines and the ground battle taking place on Leyte Island. The Japs landed reinforcements several times at Ormoc bay and have succeeded in putting up some pretty stiff resistance. Apparently - and from what news we get - we are winning the battle, but we know from other sources that we are not winning without paying a terrific price in lives and equipment for whatever we do win. The Navy has pulverized Manila several times with carrier attacks. From all we can tell the island of Leyte should be cleaned up within a couple or three weeks or maybe sooner and unless the Japs have reinforced Samar we should take that without too much trouble. The Japs are still in a good position to give us lots of punishment from the Air because they have lots of air fields around Manila which are just a few minutes time from the islands we are fighting on. We are invading Luzon either today or tomorrow from the rumors that are going around. I have had it from about eight sources and everybody thinks it is the McCoy. We generally get pretty good dope on the invasions as somebody has to know about them. The big invasion of the P.I.'s couldn't have been kept secret no matter what because of the scope of the thing. In Germany they are still pecking away at the Germans just outside of the German border. The Yanks have a line of Armies from Holland down to Switzerland ready to pounce as soon as the Germans give any sign of weakening. Metz is reported to have fallen today. We have air power to pulverize any certain spot with any amount of tons of bombs we want. Cities like Aachen, Metz, Caen, Cassino where the Germans concentrate great amounts of men and arms to stop us can be literally obliterated, and are. The breakthrough hasn't come yet and it is a question now whether the Germans can hold out through the winter or whether they can be conquered by Christmas. It is funny how nobody seems to know what the situation inside Germany is but nobody has a concrete idea on whether the war in Germany will be over in a month or a year. Churchill recently said that with luck we could possibly beat the Germans in six months. That is a statement with "possibly" and "luck" included in it so it may go a year with bad luck. However we all hope that he is just being pessimistic. The Russians are hammering away in East Prussia around Konigsburgh and are closing in on Budapest in Hungary. They should soon break into Austria and then to noose will be pretty tight. With a little luck if we could break into the Rhineland across the Rhine we would have the Germans whipped because it is doubtful if they could then put up the barriers to stop us. The situation in China is appalling. The Japs are driving us out of one city after another and yet the people think all is well with the war. It appears that Chiang Kai Check didn't like the pressure Joseph Stilwell was putting on him to fight a war and asked the President of the United States to do something about it. Stilwell is now relieved of command. The situation came to light when the facts were found out. The Chinese communists have become such a power that Chaing Kai Check is saving all the lend lease and all the Army he can to fight the civil war that he must win to keep control of China. He thinks they are a much greater enemy than Japan because we are going to whip Japan anyway. So he was playing us all for suckers and fighting a sham battle against Japan to keep us satisfied and in the meantime storing up his arms and equipment to use against the communists, which number about 80,000,000 people. It is all very mixed up but maybe it will come out in the watch one of these days. It is not and I must quit not.
September 9, 1944
The past few weeks have been so full of excitement that I haven't had time to write it down as I would like to. Two weeks ago Wednesday (today is Saturday), that was August 23rd, a familiar rumor went around the Surgeon General's Office to that effect that we were moving. On Thursday the Colonel called us into the office and told us that the GHQ has priority on all Air Transportation from the 31st of September on and so we had the job of moving our entire headquarters before the 30th and that gave us one week. This included approximately 1500 personnel and all the equipment that goes with it. We went to work and boxed all our office equipment up and got it ready to ship. By Saturday, two weeks ago today, we were ready to leave on a moment's notice. Colonel Elsmore, the DAT Commander, sent out the manifest and I was due to leave on Thursday on plane H. Then on Monday afternoon we received a phone call from Colonel Miller directing M/Sgt Joe Gordon and myself to go ahead and meet our equipment at Hollandia. So on Tuesday morning the 29th of August we pulled out of Archerfield at approximately two minutes after six in the morning. We were on a C-47 manned by an Australian crew. 21 men plus 1000 lbs of fright. At about nine o'clock we arrived at Rockhampton for refueling and a fifteen minute stop so the pilots could have their tea. Again at noon we stopped at Townsville for servicing and also for some chow at the Red Cross. About 4:30 in the afternoon we arrived at Marauke on the South Coast of New Guinea for the night. The base is just an airstrip manned by about 100 Aussies for planes that come over to land and refuel and get aircraft serviced. There were lots of natives working there. In the morning about 4:30 when we got up a native came around and said "Wakee Wakee." By ten to six we were finished with breakfast and ready to take off to Hollandia. About 8:30 in the morning of August 30th we pulled into Sentami air strip and boarded a truck up here to our headquarters. We live in tents with cement floors. It is plenty hot during the day and cool at night. Right now I am sweltering and tonight I will need a blanket to keep me warm. We sent all our personal belongings by air, including mattresses and sheets and pillow cases. We live in style up here. There is a swimming hole about five minutes from our tent. We live by a large mountain that resembles Olympus with a canyon on each side of us with a small creek that keeps us cool. We are more or less up in the hills and it affords a slight breeze which they don't get down in the valley. The rest of the boys arrived three days after Joe and I arrived. We went around to all the buildings hunting our office equipment and together we stole a truck from the motor pool and performed a job of moving that should have been done by ten men.
The scope of things up here is surprising. The engineers work in three eight hour shifts and build up a place right before our very eyes. GHQ is up on a hill higher than we are and General MacArthur has a house clear up on the top furnished with everything. The BS that gives around here says that it was a job that would have cost 3 million dollars back home just building the road up the mountain and that all the engineers canceled all their war bonds the day they finished it. Actually it is a terrific waste of money because there are so many excellent sites that are available down in the valley are are easily accessible to bay and the supplies but instead MacArthur picks out the highest mountain in Hollandia and builds himself a castle on top of it. General Kenney's house is right across the street from our office building no more than 100 yards from where I am sitting. It is a modest little house of about six rooms but nothing elaborate.
The war fronts are as follows. In Europe the entire German front broke before the onslaught of the British and American troops. After the fall of Paris the armies moved at unbelievable speed up toward Germany and now have taken Antwerp, Brussels, and are well into Belgium. They have occupied Luxembourg and unofficial reports have columns well inside Holland and some inside Germany itself. The Germans are expected to crack at any time but it is a matter of conjecture on the part of everyone concerned. I look for another big battle on the borders of Germany and then for the end to come. In Southern France the armies have moved clear up to Vichy and are reported to day as having joined up with General Patton's 3rd American Army. They have bypassed all the coastal strong points. The Russians have moved into Romania and Yugoslavia and now Greece in a lightning thrust across the Balkans. They are still held by stiff resistance around Warsaw. Finland pulled out of the war and gave the Germans ten days to get all their troops out. Over here we have done a lot of bombing but no new landings have been made. Gordon got a piece of correspondence by mistake telling about the landing that is supposed to be made at Palau very soon. We are wondering if it was the real McCoy but it told all about the different phases and D Day and D plus 2 and all such stuff. The boys are betting now on the dates that we will move into the Philippines but I think we have to take Palau first. It is in a straight line with the Helmahera's and the Mariannas and therefore looks like a logical place to launch an invasion from.
The boys around here have ack ack shows every night testing their guns but we are so far from the ineffective Jap planes that there is very little danger of attack here. All the headquarters from GHQ on down will be in this valley. It will be Brisbane moved to Hollandia. Ratings came out and all the boys except Luesing received. I made my long sought pfc. I was put in for corporal for the 4th time and it was refused because of the time in grade policy. I have been breaking my neck trying to do the work that I was doing and also Miss Archer and Miss Lewes was doing until I am about knocked out. I think we have to Wacs coming into the section right away so I will be relieved of my stenographic duties I hope. Hope to hell this damn war gets over pretty soon because I would like to marry June and forget about it. If I had a rating I could be saving a little money but not at a Pfc's pay. Oh well I'll have to work out a racket with Barlow after the war and don't think I won't. Left my bracelet racket behind. Was buying them for 13 shillings and selling them for 30. Made $50.00 on one order. Gotta go now.
The scope of things up here is surprising. The engineers work in three eight hour shifts and build up a place right before our very eyes. GHQ is up on a hill higher than we are and General MacArthur has a house clear up on the top furnished with everything. The BS that gives around here says that it was a job that would have cost 3 million dollars back home just building the road up the mountain and that all the engineers canceled all their war bonds the day they finished it. Actually it is a terrific waste of money because there are so many excellent sites that are available down in the valley are are easily accessible to bay and the supplies but instead MacArthur picks out the highest mountain in Hollandia and builds himself a castle on top of it. General Kenney's house is right across the street from our office building no more than 100 yards from where I am sitting. It is a modest little house of about six rooms but nothing elaborate.
The war fronts are as follows. In Europe the entire German front broke before the onslaught of the British and American troops. After the fall of Paris the armies moved at unbelievable speed up toward Germany and now have taken Antwerp, Brussels, and are well into Belgium. They have occupied Luxembourg and unofficial reports have columns well inside Holland and some inside Germany itself. The Germans are expected to crack at any time but it is a matter of conjecture on the part of everyone concerned. I look for another big battle on the borders of Germany and then for the end to come. In Southern France the armies have moved clear up to Vichy and are reported to day as having joined up with General Patton's 3rd American Army. They have bypassed all the coastal strong points. The Russians have moved into Romania and Yugoslavia and now Greece in a lightning thrust across the Balkans. They are still held by stiff resistance around Warsaw. Finland pulled out of the war and gave the Germans ten days to get all their troops out. Over here we have done a lot of bombing but no new landings have been made. Gordon got a piece of correspondence by mistake telling about the landing that is supposed to be made at Palau very soon. We are wondering if it was the real McCoy but it told all about the different phases and D Day and D plus 2 and all such stuff. The boys are betting now on the dates that we will move into the Philippines but I think we have to take Palau first. It is in a straight line with the Helmahera's and the Mariannas and therefore looks like a logical place to launch an invasion from.
The boys around here have ack ack shows every night testing their guns but we are so far from the ineffective Jap planes that there is very little danger of attack here. All the headquarters from GHQ on down will be in this valley. It will be Brisbane moved to Hollandia. Ratings came out and all the boys except Luesing received. I made my long sought pfc. I was put in for corporal for the 4th time and it was refused because of the time in grade policy. I have been breaking my neck trying to do the work that I was doing and also Miss Archer and Miss Lewes was doing until I am about knocked out. I think we have to Wacs coming into the section right away so I will be relieved of my stenographic duties I hope. Hope to hell this damn war gets over pretty soon because I would like to marry June and forget about it. If I had a rating I could be saving a little money but not at a Pfc's pay. Oh well I'll have to work out a racket with Barlow after the war and don't think I won't. Left my bracelet racket behind. Was buying them for 13 shillings and selling them for 30. Made $50.00 on one order. Gotta go now.
Sunday, August 27, 1944
Dizard and I have been playing tennis this afternoon at the W.Gabba police courts. Things have happened fast since my last entry. The war fronts are as follows:
In Normandy, the Americans cut Brittany off with a lightning armoured thrust to Nantes and then cut up toward Paris and outflanked the Germans holding the British around Caen and Liesiese and Argentan. The strategy working beautifully and resulted in the liberation of Paris and the destruction of most of the Nazis in that area. They are at present trying to escape over the Siene but the Air Force is giving them a bad time and they are losing everything in the way of vehicles, tanks, and men. The past couple of weeks have brought new landings in the vicinity of Merseilles and Toulon. Thsoe two cities have fallen and the Americans are advancing up the river to meet the other Armies and cut off all the reinforcements the Germans ahve in the Bayonne Area and on the Border of Spain. Besides this the Maquis (French Underground Army - Free French Army) have taken a lot of territory including Vichy and some other big towns and are a big aid to the Allies. The battle for Germany is nearing and the battle for France has been practically won. Our Theatre - the SWPA hasn't brought any new landings since Sansapor but we know unofficially that we have landed on a little island half way between Sansapor and the Halmahera's. Things are getting ready for some big happenings but we don't know just when or where. Mop up operations are still going on in Biak, Wadke, Sansapor, and those areas while they are still fighting defensive battles against the Japs trying to escape the Aitape trap which has many thousand Japs trapped. Nothing new has happened in the Central Pacific so they are undoubtedly building up the bases on Guam and Saipan and Tinian.
The big news around the office is the move, which is progress. On Wednesday we heard rumors about moving - the first that anybody had knowledge of. On Thursday we were given orders to dispense with routine matters and pack all the office equipment except desks and chairs. On Friday we packed our foot-lockers and brought them to ship by air with the office equipment. Everything went out Saturday except the desks, which apparently aren't going immediately. We stenciled ATR SURGEON, FEAF HOLLANDIA and the box number on all our items so we all know we are off to Hollandia pretty soon. Everybody in the Headquarters that is moving has been placed on a manifest and the planes are number A, B, C, etc. So far A, B, and C have gone and I am on H so it may be a few days as yet. Since all the files and everything is gone except the 65 pounds we are to carry with us we have been taking it easy and sort of having a furlough right here in Brisbane. The entire Headquarters is flying up in C-47s and C-b4s the rumors have it. It is going to be hell leaving Brisbane after spending ten months here for I have made lots of friends. I was down to the Riverview dance last night and am going again tonight. I will miss everyone but this move is one of those things that must come if we are to ever win this war over here. We are spending our last few days stuffing ourselves with food that we won't be getting in Hollandia. Mainly milk and more milk and steaks. The way I have taken on weight it won't particularly do me any damamge but I don't want to waste away to nothing.
Friday I received a letter that sent me nearly crazy. Weldy sent a V-mail in which he says that he has been notified of Don's death. His letter was brief and just stated those few facts. I haven't heard any more but it doesn't seem possible to me. I know that he has just gone back into combat but I didn't expect anything too terrible. I am afraid of what it will do to his folks at home. As yet I have been hoping against hope for a mistake but it doesn't seem possible, as Weldy seemed too sure and he is up there in the Admiraltys. Luckily Weldy has been with Don the past few months, almost as if fate had planned it to be so - if fate plans anything. It knocked me pretty low and I haven't felt like writing any letters to speak of because I don't know what to say. All the letters I wrote home kicking about ratings and such stuff seem so insignificant now and I am ashamed to have written them at all. Weldy's letter was the real shock. I was feeling so good because this move is more like an experience than anything else and I have been looking forward to my first big plane ride and along comes this thing. First is makes me sad and then it makes me fighting mad and then I feel like it isn't worth it anymore. Nobody understands the situation because nobody know Don at all. Dizard knew Weldy quite well and I can talk to him. Dad's letter arrived the same day and it was a wonderful letter. Dad mentioned how we were so lucky that the casualties hadn't struck close to home as yet and along with his letter come's Weldy's V-mail. All the boys will hate to get the news.
In Normandy, the Americans cut Brittany off with a lightning armoured thrust to Nantes and then cut up toward Paris and outflanked the Germans holding the British around Caen and Liesiese and Argentan. The strategy working beautifully and resulted in the liberation of Paris and the destruction of most of the Nazis in that area. They are at present trying to escape over the Siene but the Air Force is giving them a bad time and they are losing everything in the way of vehicles, tanks, and men. The past couple of weeks have brought new landings in the vicinity of Merseilles and Toulon. Thsoe two cities have fallen and the Americans are advancing up the river to meet the other Armies and cut off all the reinforcements the Germans ahve in the Bayonne Area and on the Border of Spain. Besides this the Maquis (French Underground Army - Free French Army) have taken a lot of territory including Vichy and some other big towns and are a big aid to the Allies. The battle for Germany is nearing and the battle for France has been practically won. Our Theatre - the SWPA hasn't brought any new landings since Sansapor but we know unofficially that we have landed on a little island half way between Sansapor and the Halmahera's. Things are getting ready for some big happenings but we don't know just when or where. Mop up operations are still going on in Biak, Wadke, Sansapor, and those areas while they are still fighting defensive battles against the Japs trying to escape the Aitape trap which has many thousand Japs trapped. Nothing new has happened in the Central Pacific so they are undoubtedly building up the bases on Guam and Saipan and Tinian.
The big news around the office is the move, which is progress. On Wednesday we heard rumors about moving - the first that anybody had knowledge of. On Thursday we were given orders to dispense with routine matters and pack all the office equipment except desks and chairs. On Friday we packed our foot-lockers and brought them to ship by air with the office equipment. Everything went out Saturday except the desks, which apparently aren't going immediately. We stenciled ATR SURGEON, FEAF HOLLANDIA and the box number on all our items so we all know we are off to Hollandia pretty soon. Everybody in the Headquarters that is moving has been placed on a manifest and the planes are number A, B, C, etc. So far A, B, and C have gone and I am on H so it may be a few days as yet. Since all the files and everything is gone except the 65 pounds we are to carry with us we have been taking it easy and sort of having a furlough right here in Brisbane. The entire Headquarters is flying up in C-47s and C-b4s the rumors have it. It is going to be hell leaving Brisbane after spending ten months here for I have made lots of friends. I was down to the Riverview dance last night and am going again tonight. I will miss everyone but this move is one of those things that must come if we are to ever win this war over here. We are spending our last few days stuffing ourselves with food that we won't be getting in Hollandia. Mainly milk and more milk and steaks. The way I have taken on weight it won't particularly do me any damamge but I don't want to waste away to nothing.
Friday I received a letter that sent me nearly crazy. Weldy sent a V-mail in which he says that he has been notified of Don's death. His letter was brief and just stated those few facts. I haven't heard any more but it doesn't seem possible to me. I know that he has just gone back into combat but I didn't expect anything too terrible. I am afraid of what it will do to his folks at home. As yet I have been hoping against hope for a mistake but it doesn't seem possible, as Weldy seemed too sure and he is up there in the Admiraltys. Luckily Weldy has been with Don the past few months, almost as if fate had planned it to be so - if fate plans anything. It knocked me pretty low and I haven't felt like writing any letters to speak of because I don't know what to say. All the letters I wrote home kicking about ratings and such stuff seem so insignificant now and I am ashamed to have written them at all. Weldy's letter was the real shock. I was feeling so good because this move is more like an experience than anything else and I have been looking forward to my first big plane ride and along comes this thing. First is makes me sad and then it makes me fighting mad and then I feel like it isn't worth it anymore. Nobody understands the situation because nobody know Don at all. Dizard knew Weldy quite well and I can talk to him. Dad's letter arrived the same day and it was a wonderful letter. Dad mentioned how we were so lucky that the casualties hadn't struck close to home as yet and along with his letter come's Weldy's V-mail. All the boys will hate to get the news.
Thursday, August 3, 1944
It is a beautiful sunshiny day here in Brisbane and Dizard and I have the afternoon off to play tennis. Things in the office are caught up and there is nothing to do. We have had rumors flying around the past two days and the latest rumor is that we have dropped the P from FEAF. Of course everybody is sweating it because that will mean a new T/O and ratings. The word is that a radio from Washington came through yesterday, giving us the official Okeh and now we are waiting for a special order and a general order to come out making it really official. I'm supposed to be in for two stripes but that is as yet problematical. It is going to be interesting to see what is really done now after all the snow jobs we have been getting.
June is working for the life insurance company (several of them at once I think) and appears to like the work quite well. I fall more in love with her everyday it seems. I didn't think it would be possible to be so sure about a person and not be near her but I'm sure I have found the real thing in her.
The Wacs moved us out of Archerfield and I moved into the Old Mess Hall Barracks in the Valley. It is must more convenient than riding back and forth so darn far.
The war fronts are as follows. The Normandy battle is down to Vire and a little past Caen and expanding very slowly. The Italian campaign has slowed up. They have half of Pisa and are fighting in the outskirts of Florence. In Russia the Reds have taken part of Warsaw and in the past few weeks have taken Lwow, Brest-Livotack, Kaunas, Drinsk, Narva, Vilna, and are driving toward the East Prussian border. The Germans recently had another purge - claiming an attempt on Hitler's life. We landed at Sansapor on the N.G. mainland without opposition. Slightly over 600 to the Phillipines. The Japs trapped at Wewak have been trying to break out of the trap without success. The Navy Dept announced that fighting on the Tinian in the Marianas ended yesterday. The battle for Guam is still raging. Gen. Stilwell made four stars today. Japan sacked Tojo and his staff about ten days ago. It shows weakness internally in Germany and Japan to have all this trouble. The greatest thing of the past summer has been the remarkable Russian offensive - called the greatest offensive in the history of warfare.
June is working for the life insurance company (several of them at once I think) and appears to like the work quite well. I fall more in love with her everyday it seems. I didn't think it would be possible to be so sure about a person and not be near her but I'm sure I have found the real thing in her.
The Wacs moved us out of Archerfield and I moved into the Old Mess Hall Barracks in the Valley. It is must more convenient than riding back and forth so darn far.
The war fronts are as follows. The Normandy battle is down to Vire and a little past Caen and expanding very slowly. The Italian campaign has slowed up. They have half of Pisa and are fighting in the outskirts of Florence. In Russia the Reds have taken part of Warsaw and in the past few weeks have taken Lwow, Brest-Livotack, Kaunas, Drinsk, Narva, Vilna, and are driving toward the East Prussian border. The Germans recently had another purge - claiming an attempt on Hitler's life. We landed at Sansapor on the N.G. mainland without opposition. Slightly over 600 to the Phillipines. The Japs trapped at Wewak have been trying to break out of the trap without success. The Navy Dept announced that fighting on the Tinian in the Marianas ended yesterday. The battle for Guam is still raging. Gen. Stilwell made four stars today. Japan sacked Tojo and his staff about ten days ago. It shows weakness internally in Germany and Japan to have all this trouble. The greatest thing of the past summer has been the remarkable Russian offensive - called the greatest offensive in the history of warfare.
July 10, 1944
This is a letter written about Giggs:
HEADQUARTERS
FAR EAST AIR FORCES (P)
APO 925
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:-
Private Gerald H. Bagley has been on duty in the Office of the Air Force Surgeon, Headquarters, Far East Air Forces (P) (formerly Headquarters, Fifth Air Force) continuously since 27 November 1943. During this period Private Bagley has been consistently under my direct observations and supervision so that I feel well qualified to judge his merits.
His duties have included stenography, typing, statistical computations, organization, and compiling of the Monthly Consolidated Venereal Disease Statistical Report to Washington, and assistant Chief Clerk in this Office.
In his performance of his duties Private Bagley has displayed initiative and dependability of a degree rarely found in the Army. He has been efficient, courteous, cooperative, and trustworthy at all times.
His present grade is absolutely no index of his abilities and is a result of circumstances over which he had no control (lack of T/O vacancies). This man is definitely officer material and would develop into an excellent member of the Medical Administrative Corps.
JOHN A. NORTON,
Major, Medical Corps
Friday, July 7, 1944
Spent last evening writing letters trying to catch up on the back correspondence. I have really fallen down lately. We had a real 4th of July celebration over the 3rd, 4th, and 5th, down at Riverview. Monday we picked a queen in a beauty contest. Tuesday night was the formal dance. I took Marian, my little Australian Wave or super. Wednesday night was the big square dance and I had a date with Ainsley Woodhead who works across the street in the Commonwealth Bank. She is a beautiful gal but I don't hit it off so well with her.
The work around here hasn't changed too much. The 5th Air Force at Nadzab is taking all our files and it appears all of our work. They are taking the Care of Flyer, the 86ab, 86c, and even my VD report it looks, as if. We are wondering when they are going to ship us all to Hollandia. The Avon of FEAF is going to be stationed at Hollandia and alot of the boys have already left. We are going to consolidate for the 5th Air Force, the 13th Air Force, FEASC, and the Combat Replacement Training Center at Moresby under FEAF. We are still a provisional outfit not authorized by T.O. so nothing has happened in the way of ratings. We still expect it to be dropped any day and are hoping for it to happen as soon as possible. Colonel Simpson met General Glenn. He is a one star General, the Surgeon of the Army Air Forces Training Command in the states. They are going north to look the situation over one of these days. Met a little Wac the other night and took her to Prince's, which is about the classiest place here in Brisbane. I have only been there once but I plan to go again right away. Heller has been washed out of the Navy Air Corps along with Coon and they are taking Boot Training at San Diego. He says he resigned because he got air sick. The Navy program is about ready to fold up anyway and it was better for him to get out now before he took another six months training.
The 13th is under our control now and it looks like the 419th N.F.S. is moving toward Biak or that vicinity but it is just my guess. The war is progressing nicely. The Russians are really moving and Cherbourg has fallen.
The work around here hasn't changed too much. The 5th Air Force at Nadzab is taking all our files and it appears all of our work. They are taking the Care of Flyer, the 86ab, 86c, and even my VD report it looks, as if. We are wondering when they are going to ship us all to Hollandia. The Avon of FEAF is going to be stationed at Hollandia and alot of the boys have already left. We are going to consolidate for the 5th Air Force, the 13th Air Force, FEASC, and the Combat Replacement Training Center at Moresby under FEAF. We are still a provisional outfit not authorized by T.O. so nothing has happened in the way of ratings. We still expect it to be dropped any day and are hoping for it to happen as soon as possible. Colonel Simpson met General Glenn. He is a one star General, the Surgeon of the Army Air Forces Training Command in the states. They are going north to look the situation over one of these days. Met a little Wac the other night and took her to Prince's, which is about the classiest place here in Brisbane. I have only been there once but I plan to go again right away. Heller has been washed out of the Navy Air Corps along with Coon and they are taking Boot Training at San Diego. He says he resigned because he got air sick. The Navy program is about ready to fold up anyway and it was better for him to get out now before he took another six months training.
The 13th is under our control now and it looks like the 419th N.F.S. is moving toward Biak or that vicinity but it is just my guess. The war is progressing nicely. The Russians are really moving and Cherbourg has fallen.
Saturday, June 10, 1944
Haven't written for an age but I've gotta put a few facts down. I asked for a furlough and got it. We spent eight days in Sydney and really had a wonderful time. Down and back was by train. Comfortable ride down but crowded coming back. Two M.A.C. were chosen for O.C.S. so I was out. Mail from June has been pretty good. The winter here is mild. Still wearing suntone. 2nd Front started four days ago. Have advanced to Caen. Big news - like election - at home. Ready to swing over to U.S.A.A.F.F.E. from 5AF any day and everyone is wondering who will stay and who will go?
I just got back from chow and have a few minutes with nothing to do. I am filling the role of File Clerk this afternoon. Things in Brisbane are getting pretty much back to normal as most of the troops are going north, slow but sure. We have just finished a batch of new regulations for USSAAFFE, which stands for the United States Army Air Forces in the Far East. We are to be the Administrative Headquarters of the combined Air Forces which are over instead of letting them all try to coordinate their actions. We have Biak in the Shouten Island Group and are about to hop on either Truk or on up toward the Phillipines. Most of the people seem to think MacArthur will try for the Phillipines first as he said "He'd be back" or something. Our Advance Ecehlon is in Nadzab and I expect to see the Headquarters of the Fifth Air Force to be transferred up there under General Whitehead. General Kenney will be the Command General USAAFFE I suspect. He comes over to our office quite often to see Colonel Simpson. Colonel Simpson is a fine guy for a Colonel. He is an old Optical man who grinds lenses for a hobby and so I have something to shoot the bull with him about. He is in like a burglar with General Kenney and takes his plane to Sydney once in a while. He recently tried to get the control of the hospitals for the Air Force but MacArthur stopped it. He is still trying though.
The offensive in Europe is still going swell. I have about four maps beside me now of different sizes with the play by play description. It is kind of like a football game on a cloudy day when I used to caddy and decided to stay home and hear Notre Dame play Ohio State. We are definitely cutting off the Cerbourg peninsula so we can have that big port to land heavy stuff. Then we'll head straight for Paris. I expect a landing in Denmark or Holland too right away as we haven't used half of the stuff that we have waiting over there. Colonel Klausner went back to the states day before yesterday after a couple of years overseas. He says he might call on dad if he gets to Salt Lake. I have eight months overseas service completed on the 15th, which is in five more days, four more months and I have a year. I don't think the people back home realize yet just what happens when we go to war. Dizard and Hansen and I have great arguments on the system of fighting the present war. The gov't upped the National Debt limit to 260 billion the other day. We used to think it was terrible when it was 40 billion. A big depression seems inevitable to me. Will sign off now as I must get back on the beam. So long.
I just got back from chow and have a few minutes with nothing to do. I am filling the role of File Clerk this afternoon. Things in Brisbane are getting pretty much back to normal as most of the troops are going north, slow but sure. We have just finished a batch of new regulations for USSAAFFE, which stands for the United States Army Air Forces in the Far East. We are to be the Administrative Headquarters of the combined Air Forces which are over instead of letting them all try to coordinate their actions. We have Biak in the Shouten Island Group and are about to hop on either Truk or on up toward the Phillipines. Most of the people seem to think MacArthur will try for the Phillipines first as he said "He'd be back" or something. Our Advance Ecehlon is in Nadzab and I expect to see the Headquarters of the Fifth Air Force to be transferred up there under General Whitehead. General Kenney will be the Command General USAAFFE I suspect. He comes over to our office quite often to see Colonel Simpson. Colonel Simpson is a fine guy for a Colonel. He is an old Optical man who grinds lenses for a hobby and so I have something to shoot the bull with him about. He is in like a burglar with General Kenney and takes his plane to Sydney once in a while. He recently tried to get the control of the hospitals for the Air Force but MacArthur stopped it. He is still trying though.
The offensive in Europe is still going swell. I have about four maps beside me now of different sizes with the play by play description. It is kind of like a football game on a cloudy day when I used to caddy and decided to stay home and hear Notre Dame play Ohio State. We are definitely cutting off the Cerbourg peninsula so we can have that big port to land heavy stuff. Then we'll head straight for Paris. I expect a landing in Denmark or Holland too right away as we haven't used half of the stuff that we have waiting over there. Colonel Klausner went back to the states day before yesterday after a couple of years overseas. He says he might call on dad if he gets to Salt Lake. I have eight months overseas service completed on the 15th, which is in five more days, four more months and I have a year. I don't think the people back home realize yet just what happens when we go to war. Dizard and Hansen and I have great arguments on the system of fighting the present war. The gov't upped the National Debt limit to 260 billion the other day. We used to think it was terrible when it was 40 billion. A big depression seems inevitable to me. Will sign off now as I must get back on the beam. So long.
March 24, 1944
Yesterday a lady receptionist, an Australian who goes with General Sutherlin and is a friend of General MacArthur was commissioned from nothing to a captain in the United State's WAC's. Everybody is fighting mad because she is nothing but a gal to answer a phone and sort of act like an information girl at the Red Cross. She has a desk in the small lobby of the AMP. The AMP and the Courier are the two buildings on the main intersection in Brisbane - Queen and Edward Street. Everyone is mad about the Aussie being made a captain to answer a phone, but then the Generals get away with murder. The high ranking officials all have excellent homes and government cars at their disposal. Also all the best food that can be obtained. The reason the headquarters hasn't moved north is that the officers and there are thousands of them - would have to use government billets and they like it down here. An officers club was just completed in Brisbane that cost a half a million bucks with everything in it. These men live like kings no less. Most of them do nothing - or very little work. Go to Southport twice a week in a staff car, go out every night to parties, go to Sydney every month on TD for a week's vacation, to collect 50% flying pay. And they are supposed to be fighting a war. The graft and politics in the army is terrible. The average officer from Major on up cares not whether this war ever ends. They all have girls that they live with and yet they generally write their wives once or twice a week and tell them of the rugged battle conditions they are living under. There are some good officers here but the majority are money grabbing loafers who love to be parasites and live on the fat of the land while the civilians back home are "blowed up" with patriotism and such malarky and don't realize what goes on. Why men should be given such power is beyond me. Some of them were nothing before the war but on the basis of a years R.O.T.C. or something were commissioned at the start of this war. Still, now they get all the money, do practically no work, and after the war will go home heroes, and honestly most of them will never again live under such excellent conditions. Some Mormon majors admitted the other night that not one of them had anything to do. About an hour's work a day does all their work. And we are supposed to respect the officers of the U.S. Army - it is hard to do, believe me.
Monday, March 20, 1944
Things are unchanged. I'm expecting a move above Wewak soon. We have admiraltys nearly under control. The blitz over Europe goes on day after day. Cassino has been reduced to rubble. The Anzio beachhead is getting stronger. One bunch of boys went home or at least went to Ascot to wait on a boat. Now rumor has it that the next three months quotas have been canceled. Everyone is p'd off about it.
Work in our office is about the same. I'm working plenty hard and getting nothing for it. My mail from June hasn't been so good. Sam Smoot from Provo works in our adjacent office and we shoot the bull quite often. Guess I'd better get back to work now.
Work in our office is about the same. I'm working plenty hard and getting nothing for it. My mail from June hasn't been so good. Sam Smoot from Provo works in our adjacent office and we shoot the bull quite often. Guess I'd better get back to work now.
March 2, 1944
Just came to work - the feud or hatred or competition between the Yanks and the Russians continues. The Aussie shopkeepers charge the Yanks nearly double what they charge civilians any time they can get away with it. The people treat the Yanks in general like dirt - it is only the personal friends that act normal. The Australian girls go crazy over the Yanks and the Aussie soldiers come to town, which is supposed to be home, and can't even find a girlfriend. We had a hard time out at Archer because the Aussies didn't like us using their latrines. The Aussie civilian girls that work here in headquarters are terrible. They have never had telephones before and as a result ask anybody to please call them up. We have had to put restrictions on at times because an Army telephone would never be free with civilian dames gabbing about dates. The girls here are having the time of their lives. Outnumbered about 15 to 1 by G. I. wolves, they can pick who they want to go with. Ugly old hokes are running around with officers.
The old saying war is hell doesn't describe what can happen to a city. The Tommies are coming over here too but for what, I don't know. Conditions in England right now must be worse than here. The 5th Air Force has frozen all ratings since December. I found out yesterday. That is a habit that the Army has, keeping down efficiency and morale. When a unit gives over their T/O they take about four months to get a new one through and by then the limit has expanded way above the new T/O. So all A-1 can do is just freeze ratings so the boys quit working and finally they start handing out stripes again slowly, to be sure for a few months and then freeze them again. Funny too because all the officers get promotions all the time. The average officer has a much better chance of getting a promotion than the enlisted man does a stripe. We have a couple of worthless officers in our office.
The old saying war is hell doesn't describe what can happen to a city. The Tommies are coming over here too but for what, I don't know. Conditions in England right now must be worse than here. The 5th Air Force has frozen all ratings since December. I found out yesterday. That is a habit that the Army has, keeping down efficiency and morale. When a unit gives over their T/O they take about four months to get a new one through and by then the limit has expanded way above the new T/O. So all A-1 can do is just freeze ratings so the boys quit working and finally they start handing out stripes again slowly, to be sure for a few months and then freeze them again. Funny too because all the officers get promotions all the time. The average officer has a much better chance of getting a promotion than the enlisted man does a stripe. We have a couple of worthless officers in our office.
Monday, February 14, 1944
Time really flies. Got up at 5:45 this morning and drilled for 45 minutes. Someone pulled a bicycle up on top of the flag pole and 1st Sargent says we get up and drill until we find the culprit. Of course the techs and masters didn't have to drill and they are the real drunks. The captain didn't know anything about drilling us. Everybody laughed about it as it is quite a joke. Hope to take a few pictures soon - I want to take one of MacArthur's fortress "Bataan" which sits 200 yards from my barracks.
Monday, February 7, 1944
Things happen slow but the time goes fast. Haven't seen Weldy yet but he and Jimmy Moulton are meeting me tomorrow at the Red Cross on Adelaide Street. Jimmy called me tonite and made the arrangements as he is a permanent porty mon at the O.C.S. that Weldy is attending. Weldy is in for a tough time. He takes a physical beating all day - and has classes at night so he is really earning what he will get. They start the O.C.S. with 12 or 1300 men and graduate 600 so that they guys will give it all they've got to get there.
Two letters from June today and one from Leo Barlow so I feel pretty good. The work in the Surgeon's Offices is coming along nicely. We are doing an awful lot of work. The 5th Air Force is really expanding and fast. A new group arrives nearly every month. The Marines and Navy and 7th army division hit the marshals and we now control most of them during the week.
The big push on Europe is still ahead. The Russians reached Narva and the 5th Army isn't in Cassino yet. Red Cross party last Thursday nite.
I spend some darn lonesome times as I sit and look at June's picture. She is such a wonderful person that I can't say enough about her. Some nights I almost feel that I can't take it any longer but I get up in the morning feeling better and plug through another day. Some days I feel good - some bad. Some times I'm very lonesome but I generally come out of it. I sent my "svenska flicka" a charm bracelet to wear on her lovely wrist last Thursday - hope she likes it.
Two letters from June today and one from Leo Barlow so I feel pretty good. The work in the Surgeon's Offices is coming along nicely. We are doing an awful lot of work. The 5th Air Force is really expanding and fast. A new group arrives nearly every month. The Marines and Navy and 7th army division hit the marshals and we now control most of them during the week.
The big push on Europe is still ahead. The Russians reached Narva and the 5th Army isn't in Cassino yet. Red Cross party last Thursday nite.
I spend some darn lonesome times as I sit and look at June's picture. She is such a wonderful person that I can't say enough about her. Some nights I almost feel that I can't take it any longer but I get up in the morning feeling better and plug through another day. Some days I feel good - some bad. Some times I'm very lonesome but I generally come out of it. I sent my "svenska flicka" a charm bracelet to wear on her lovely wrist last Thursday - hope she likes it.
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