May 19, 1944

(Letter from Vic in Bougainville to his parents, Emilie and Peter Petersen in Racine, Wisconsin. The envelope has been passed by a U.S. Army Inspector. The photo is of Camp Tiki, the Royal New Zealand Air Force headquarters near the beach airstrip at Bougainville in April 1944. The photos of the letter is from a longtime Bougainville Missionary from New Zealand. Click on them to enlarge. )

Thursday evening,

Dear Folks,

Your letter dated the first arrived last week, but as I'd just mailed you a letter about that time I thought I'd best let a week or so elapse 'cause I really have little to write about.

Yes, Bill Fiala has started to write me at more regular intervals again. However I haven't heard from Karl Greubel and Phil Mascaretti in months. I don't know Bob Hoey's whereabouts 'cause he likewise isn't very reliable at answering. Jake Valentine and Bob Mueckler are both writing often from New Guinea tho.

Why do so many people neglect to register and vote in the primaries? Aren't we in the first precinct or is it the second?

Is Pa working steady? Is he still at Walkers or back outdoors for the summer? Will there be any new building work in Racine this summer or have they ceased constructing homes entirely for the duration?

I imagine home-grown strawberries will be on the market when this letter arrives. Do you intend canning any this season. Wish we had some such fresh luxuries over here. However, about a month ago we had fresh apples for several days!


Why don't you write on both sides of your stationery and make your letters somewhat longer? There must be things you can mention that take place daily in Racine and the States as a whole that I'd find interesting.

Did you find that copy of a letter from the N.Z. missionary interesting? Perhaps Paul, or Rudy and Ed would care to read it. Incidentally, have they forwarded you any of those photos and negatives I mentioned sending to them?

According to the clipping you enclosed the people back home aren't very interested in exercising their right to vote.

Our censorship regulations are as strict as ever and we're still not allowed to mention our location or describe it in any manner although we receive newspapers that go into detail about us and give all the latest dope. This censorship business is simply the bunk! I had a letter turned back to me on Wednes. that I'd mailed on the previous Fri. and couldn't pass our local battery censorship officers. There was practically nothing contained in that letter (which was to Rudy). Once even the title of some books I mentioned were clipped out so you can understand how screwy things stand.

Best regards,
Vic

No, Jack Johnson has never written.