November 28, 1944

(Letter from Vic in Bougainville to younger brother Paul in Berkeley. A Berkeley post office stamp indicates it did not arrive until February 12, 1945. Photo is of Vic posing between signs, likely in Bougainville. He may have a camera strapped around his neck.)

Tuesday afternoon,

Dear Paul,

Many thanks for your two recent letters dated the 20th and 22nd Nov which arrived during the past two days.

Hasn't rained here in a week and a half and the dust arising from the traffic is terrific. The sky has been cloudless and it's been very hot and surprising dry.

Did I tell you that while working on detail last wk. I saw a duck fly past? It resembled a pintail and was the first such I'd seen in the wild state in these tropics. Several other fellows commented on it and this led to quite a lively duck-hunting discussion.

We got a locally made variety of ice-cream occassionally. It's made from powered milk & other material and we've had several different flavours. Trouble is, we get it so seldom and in such insignificant quantities.

During recent wks. the Japs have been working overtime jamming the Frisco short wave newsbroadcasts so I guess they don't approve of us getting the straight dope. On their own programs, Jap announcers will state that "any interference on this frequency can be blamed on the Americans at Pearl Harbor". In this manner they seek to discredit us yet they continue to interfere with the reception of Am. programs?

Recently we were given a lecture on security measures. The Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) is really on the ball but deserve more cooperation than they generally receive. Surprising to learn some of the things that've happened in the past. Seemingly inconsequential & harmless info can become quite dangerous in the hands of the enemy as you well know. Spreading of rumors, especially the malicious types, was discussed & condemned.

Guess I'd previously mentioned most of the aforementioned. Hate to repeat a subject but couldn't recall definitely whether I'd written to you about it.

Heave you read or heard much about Erskine Caldwell's new "Tragic Ground"? If it's very interesting I appreciate receiving a copy. Don't send any others for the present. Can't pack them around very well if incompleted. Incidentally, you might be interested to know that any books I receive usually make their way around a large per-cent of the battery and then I give them to the island Special Service library so you can readily see that they're apt to circulate.

Gil Campbell is certainly sending you plenty of stuff, eh what? Have you learned whether he's actually in the Army? He's in Alaska, isn't he? Paul, have you seen and had the chance to fire a carbine? If one had mushroom slugs for it it'd probably be swell as a deer arm. Read that it'd probably be banned in Wis. after the war should it become very widely used. Will write again soon.

Your brother,
Vic

P.S. - sorry to learn that the meals served in the U.C. Students Coop Ass. houses are getting worse. Do you have ample supplies of fresh foods? Boy! What I wouldn't give for some fresh fruits and salads such as oranges, bananas, pears, tomatoes, lettuce, etc.! When I get home I'll probably have a many for ice-cold foods 'cause this never-ending heat seems to make one crave very cold drinks & foods.

Yes, I'd certainly appreciate one or two rolls of either 120 or 620 film. If you send some please pack them in a small, compact bottle, jar or can and make the container airtight and light-proof by sealing with was or tape. However, I can't guarantee that I'll get some good exposures 'cause cameras aren't always available when good subject material is on hand.

Can you get Yuts to drop me a line or two? I've written to him about three times within the past two months but as yet no reply has been received by me from him. Yesterday I had a nice long letter from Elmer Balzer & he mentions having been home for 32 days (in Racine_ during the latter part of July and most of August. His wife also came to Racine & they met Yuts Conrad out at a quarry one day. Elmer also saw Ray Campbell and quite a few of the other boys.

Here's another Sad Sack cartoon. It's quite old so you might've seen it already. I sent an interesting issue of Yank to Rudy & Ed recently. Write soon! Vic

November 16, 1944

(Letter from Vic in Bougainville to younger brother Paul in Berkeley. Photo show Vic, second from right with mates, Pete Anderson on left, Pete Breclaw on right. Other soldier is not identified. Note all four hold Japanese swords. )

Thursday evening,

Dear Paul,

This is my third letter to you in as many days and I hope you'll oblige me by answering promptly. Realize you may not have very much material to write about but please mention as many things as you can recall.

Neither Yuts nor Ted are very prompt to answer of late. Have you seen them recently? How're they spending their time off duty? Do they come into Frisco and Berkeley regularly on liberty? Do either of them expect to ship out this way soon? Exactly what's Ted maritial status?

I've just finished reading "Bushido" by Alexandre Pernikoff and am starting on Pearl S. Buck's "China Sky." Have you read either of them? What good books have you read during recent months?

Boy! Were there ever some vicious articles in the Oct. issue of Reader's Digest. That rag is certainly dragging in the mud these days, eh what? Some of their red-baiting and anti-Roosevelt tactics should even make yellow-guard Hearst envious.

Normally we have an orientation lecture or class weekly. The enlisted men are urged to actively participate in the discussion of weekly events. To many fellows are apt to ignore the world news or leastwise don't seem inclined to discuss much openly at these informal battery meetings. To promote greater interest in current events the Special Service div. stage oral tests in our bn. theatre just prior to the movies and award three prizes such as fountain pens or sheath knifes to the those who best qualify.

Last wk. I became rad. oper. for one of the liaison parties. I've done this work before. Jake Valentine can give you the dope on such duties 'cause he was a liaison sergeant in his organization.

Just caught the last part of a news-broadcast and heard something about a foreman's strike at the Paterson Wright Aero plants that caused all the plants to close. Did Ed and Rudy say that they were expecting trouble from the Capone Clique as well as the Co.? What's the situation down there?

Do you know the Vicki Landish that Sid Goldberg saw in Berkeley just before he shipped out? Write soon!

Your brother,
Vic

While you were at Greubel's house did you note whether Karl had a Jap bayonet that I sent him last yr.? He never acknowledge receiving same. Incidentally, it's practically impossible to send Jap material home as souvenirs nowadays.

November 13, 1944

(Letter from Vic in Bougainville to younger brother Paul. Photo is of Vic posing with mate, Pete Breclaw, outside of Bougainville mess tent.)

Monday Evening,

Dear Paul,

Thanks for your swell letter of the fifth which arrived to-day. Was surprised to receive it in such a brief time. Sometimes the mail appears to travel via slow dog-teams.

Appreciated the detail you described your material with. Please be as lengthy in the future.

I just came back from our theatre where we had a movie and numerous short subjects. After all the G.I. film was run they showed a new Technicolor picture made by Cleveland Press for Clevelandites in the 37th Div. Many fellows here recognized their folks, wifes, girl-friends, relatives, and friends upon the screen. These shots were taken in some Cleveland part at a picnic for relatives of this division. A commentator named the people and places shown in the pictorial screen-magazine.

The audience was shown various scenes in and around that city. Several days ago, a short film on Toledo was shown here but I didn't get to see that one. Possibly other Ohio cities will present films to be shown to this divisions' personnel. Wonder if the Badgers and Wolverines (32nd Div. boys) were shown anything like it on Wis. & Mich.?

During the past wk. or so we've been receiving many of our Xmas packages. For several nites running my section put on the feed=back after pooling such shipped-in delicacies as salami, anchovies, chicken, goose-liver, green, ripe, & stuffed olives, various cheeses, sandwich spreads, crackers, cookies, assorted candies, etc. Saturday we drew twelve cans of beer per man to complete this months' ration.

I have a busy day scheduled for to-morrow, so I'd best close for the present and hit the hay. Haven't been averaging much sleep of late but it's been my own fault usually.

Your brother,
Vic

I'm enclosing a Xmas card in photo form. Let me know how it passes censorship & arrives OK.

October 23, 1044

(V-mail from Vic in Bougainville to older brother Rudy and wife Ann in Passaic, New Jersey. Photo is of a group of 'Solomon Islanders')

Monday evening,

Dear Ann & Rudy,

Have some time before "lights out" to drop you a few additional lines this evening. I'd appreciate a prompt reply on your part. Please write more regularly in the future.

Recall mentioning some of the wild life hereabouts in a recent letter to you, and thought you might like to know that there're also wild pigeons or doves in these tropics. These birds are larger than the mourning doves which are so common in the U.S., but resemble them somewhat in coloring. The species over here also coo in the same manner as those back home.

Hundreds of different varieties of trees are to be found on these Pacific islands and in denser growths or jungle areas vines of several types generally cover most of the tree foliage and trail in messy streamers to the ground.

Tremendous banyan trees are numerous and mahogany is common. A certain prickly vine that grows everywhere in the jungle is referred to by the native phrase "wait-a-minute". This vine is something to keep away from because once you tangle with it it's difficult to become disengaged and trips clothing and lacerates flesh upon undesired contact.

Write soon.
Best regards,
Vic

Octover 20th, 1944

(Letter from Vic in Bougainville to older brother Rudy and wife Ann in Passaic, New Jersey)

Friday evening,

Dear Ann and Rudy,

Thanks for your letter of the twenty-ninth Setp. with articles enclosed. I enjoy receiving any enlightening clippings so don't hesitate to send any you might think I'd enjoy reading in the future. However, please don't send me any additional packages unless I request something at a future date.


I'm enclosing a Xmas card to you in the form of a photo. It'll probably arrive considerably before the holidays but I thought it best to send some at this date due to the forthcoming seasonal mail rush.

Yes, I also received the clippings concerning Jake V. He should be home within a few wks. now 'cause he's already left on rotation.

From my personal viewpoint I'd say the Anzacs are good soldiers and are quite well informed concerning war developments. Haven't seen either of their home-lands so can't comment on their economic and social reforms, but from what I've heard I judge them to be very progressive. We can't mention anything of our association or contact with Australian or New Zealand troops, if any, simply because the present censorship regulations prohibit same.

Did all of the negatives and prints that I previously mentioned sending you during the past arrive OK? Some fellows have had film and photos bounce back or confiscated and I've understand a few of mine didn't get thru. Are you showing what few prints I've mailed your way to Ed & Rose before sending same on home as requested? Did you (rest of paragraph cut out by censor, about four lines)

If you don't receive word from me regularly in the future please don't hesitate to write me as often as you can. Sometimes we're kept busy or don't have the materials for correspondence on hand or the situation may hardly permit but I'll try my best to keep you informed as regards what little we may mention.

Sorry to learn of the huge cut-backs in production at Wrights that will probably result int he laying off of many men and women. Please keep me informed on the matter. Will it effect either you, Ann, Ed, or Git?

Was glad to hear of our invasion of the Philippines. Hope the war situation in Europe clears up in the near future. Write soon.

Best regards,
Vic