I think if Dad had been able to swim back to the United States, he would have given it a shot. He and the other soldiers in his unit were very tired on the island of Guam and truly ready to get back to civilian life. Rations kept them alive, and Dad said that at times they weren't bad at all. He acquired a taste for hard tack and cheese that he kept the rest of his life. It was a favorite snack that went back to his days in the army. In this letter he complained about the shrinking quality and quantity of the food they were given on Guam.
Evidently, his sister Violet wasn't writing often enough to suit him, and he makes a joke about it in this letter. Any little tidbit of news from home provided a connection that was like a life-line for soldiers waiting to be shipped back to the USA.
Evidently, his sister Violet wasn't writing often enough to suit him, and he makes a joke about it in this letter. Any little tidbit of news from home provided a connection that was like a life-line for soldiers waiting to be shipped back to the USA.
Oct. 5, 1945
Friday
Guam
Dear Mom & Dad, & Vi,
It gives me great pleasure in writing this letter, telling you that I am practically on my way home. I’m so darned happy I can hardly write. Please don’t send anymore packages, because I may not be here to receive them. We are supposed to be alerted on November 15th for shipment to the states. The way we found it out was that a major and another man from the personnel office told us. They said they have seen it in black and white. It hasn’t come out on orders yet, so it is just in the making. I only hope that these orders to come out aren’t changed this time. Anyway, please don’t send me any X-mas packages. If I’m not home for X-mas, I’ll be home shortly afterward.
I haven’t written to Eddie lately, because I had hoped he was on his way home. If they leave him over here, they should be shot. He has served honorably on that ship in action for nine months, and when that ship leaves for the states, the full crew should be on her. Sometimes I can’t understand the damned service. The next time they want this boy, they are going to have to find him, and I’m not kidding. Eddie has been through an awful lot over here, and he should be the member of the McKee’s crew that’s on duty on her in New york on Navy Day. He should be entitled to go home before any of us. He’s been through more in one month than we were in our twelve months in Europe. I’m still hoping to hear that he is on his way home by now.
Well, how is everyone there at home? Ask Jesse if he broke his fountain pen, will you? Did you find another place. They must be as scarce as hens’ teeth.
I just wrote to Bonnie and told her the news. Maybe I won’t need those battle stars now. The way it is supposed to work, all men in the 90th Service Group, who have 45 points or more up to V-J Day are supposed to go home. (That gets me.) Have you seen or talked to my honey lately? I sure hope she is getting along alright. Has she ever gone to the doctor yet? She doesn’t seem to want to answer that!
Boy, they are starving us to death over here now. For instance, I didn’t get up for chow this morning, and this noon I had one salmon patty, one spoonful (one helping) of rice, and two pieces of jelly bread and a cup of coffee. The salmon I had to throw away, because it tasted spoiled. The rice I couldn’t eat without fixing it up some way, so I put sugar on it, so what I had for dinner was a helping of sugared rice, two pieces of jelly bread, and a cup of coffee. I’m just waiting to see what we have for supper. I’ll know in another half hour. This has been going on for a week now. Maybe it’s just that they don’t want us to get too big for our clothes, aye what? Well, I’ll close for now. Write soon. Be careful. God bless and watch over you.
Your loving son,
Elwood
For Vi.....................your loving brudder
For Vi.....................No remarks
For Vi......................Write me a letter.
For Mom & Dad.......Make Vi write!!!
Friday
Guam
Dear Mom & Dad, & Vi,
It gives me great pleasure in writing this letter, telling you that I am practically on my way home. I’m so darned happy I can hardly write. Please don’t send anymore packages, because I may not be here to receive them. We are supposed to be alerted on November 15th for shipment to the states. The way we found it out was that a major and another man from the personnel office told us. They said they have seen it in black and white. It hasn’t come out on orders yet, so it is just in the making. I only hope that these orders to come out aren’t changed this time. Anyway, please don’t send me any X-mas packages. If I’m not home for X-mas, I’ll be home shortly afterward.
I haven’t written to Eddie lately, because I had hoped he was on his way home. If they leave him over here, they should be shot. He has served honorably on that ship in action for nine months, and when that ship leaves for the states, the full crew should be on her. Sometimes I can’t understand the damned service. The next time they want this boy, they are going to have to find him, and I’m not kidding. Eddie has been through an awful lot over here, and he should be the member of the McKee’s crew that’s on duty on her in New york on Navy Day. He should be entitled to go home before any of us. He’s been through more in one month than we were in our twelve months in Europe. I’m still hoping to hear that he is on his way home by now.
Well, how is everyone there at home? Ask Jesse if he broke his fountain pen, will you? Did you find another place. They must be as scarce as hens’ teeth.
I just wrote to Bonnie and told her the news. Maybe I won’t need those battle stars now. The way it is supposed to work, all men in the 90th Service Group, who have 45 points or more up to V-J Day are supposed to go home. (That gets me.) Have you seen or talked to my honey lately? I sure hope she is getting along alright. Has she ever gone to the doctor yet? She doesn’t seem to want to answer that!
Boy, they are starving us to death over here now. For instance, I didn’t get up for chow this morning, and this noon I had one salmon patty, one spoonful (one helping) of rice, and two pieces of jelly bread and a cup of coffee. The salmon I had to throw away, because it tasted spoiled. The rice I couldn’t eat without fixing it up some way, so I put sugar on it, so what I had for dinner was a helping of sugared rice, two pieces of jelly bread, and a cup of coffee. I’m just waiting to see what we have for supper. I’ll know in another half hour. This has been going on for a week now. Maybe it’s just that they don’t want us to get too big for our clothes, aye what? Well, I’ll close for now. Write soon. Be careful. God bless and watch over you.
Your loving son,
Elwood
For Vi.....................your loving brudder
For Vi.....................No remarks
For Vi......................Write me a letter.
For Mom & Dad.......Make Vi write!!!
