July 22, 1945

(Letter from Vic in the Philippines to younger brother Paul in Berkeley, California. Photo shows soldiers in Manila swimming pool. Bottom photo is of Stan Valandia, a Souix soldier from North Dakota.)

Cagayan Valley, N. Luzon, P.I.

Sunday morning,

Dear Paul,

Well. it's a rather cool morning and we've actually relatively little to do for once hence the correspondence. Why haven't you been writing more frequently? Please drop a line whenever you can find time. What do your studies consist of now? Are you working part-time? If so, where and what're you making?

Am enclosing seven (7) negatives that we took just before leaving the Manila area two months or so ago. Most of them were taken out at the swimming pool on grounds that our outfit rented. Those were the days. Didn't get much of it tho 'cause we were pulled out once to go back into combat for over a month, but then returned to that general area for a little over a week. After that we came up here and we've been in action since.

Could you possibly have eight or ten prints made of each and forward the pics to me? I promised the gang copies of same. Some of them have already gone home or either rotation or points and several others are waiting for the call. Also you'd best send a copy to the folks, and also Ed and Ruts. Send the negatives on home. Believe you could have fair enlargements made from those negatives 'cause they're pretty fair. Will you kindly ask the photo developer to clean the negs and make enlargement of about three inches by four and one-half (3"x4 1/2")?

Has Ray completed his furlough yet and is he stationed on the west coast temporarily awaiting re-assignment. Do you see much of him? Did he go up north while in Wis.? Do you know if he tried his hand at a little fishing or poaching? Come to think of it, I guess venison isn't very good eating at this time of the year.

Say, there are quite a few Philippine mallards hereabouts but I haven't bagged any yet. Numerous wild turtle doves also - got a few of those and also wild chickens with the carbine. One fellow here in this inf. bn. hq. picked up a perfect 12 gauge double parker from a Nip but can't get shells for same. If he does, we're going out pot-hunting. Nips seem to like shot-guns and usually carry Jap buck-shot loads as anti-personnel weapons. All the pieces I've seen were Am. made and probably confiscated them from Filipinos. The Nips sometimes put on bayonet attachments and mount a wicket blade on same. They sure can improvise but usually it's a fizzle - especially their improvized mines and booby traps.

Speaking of guns, what was the condition of my Rem auto when last you seen it and how's the shell supply? Do you do any shooting out there?


We're still in combat and I've had about enough. Had some close calls during the past two weeks or so. Once it was a bomb during an air strike and more recently it was heavy Nip mortar and machine gun fire - but altogether too damn close. Also some other rather mildly exciting incidents but nothing harmful developed. Sure hope we get a break and go into a rest area - better still I'd like to get back Stateside or at least go down Manila way. Please Write!

Your brother,
Vic