August 30, 1944

(Letter from Vic in Bougainville to brother Paul in Berkeley, California. Photo is of entertainer Carole Landis in Bougainville, who performed at the USO show there in mid-August 1944.)

Wednesday evening,

Dear Paul,

Was surprised to receive a letter from Yuts on Monday that was postmarked in Racine. He certainly didn't waste any time getting home. Mentioned getting thirty days furlough! That's more than considerable when I learn that two-yr.-plus men that go home from over here (the lucky few) are only getting twenty-one days. I'm naturally referring to Army enlisted personnel.

Does Yuts know how fortunate he is? I sent him a prompt v-mailer on the spur of the moment the other nite and asked that he visit my friends. Find out if he got around much back in Racine. Incidentally, remind him to write immediately and give me the whole story when next you see him on the west coast. Noticed he has a new address so he must have been reassigned to another unit.

Had a brief line from Jake Valentine the other day and he mentioned that his name was finally drawn in the August quota to go back Stateside under rotation. Imagine the slap-happy character is almost blowin' his top! Execuse me, I know Jake better than that, but I don't think he'll especially regret leaving these jungles, but then too I can't imagine the ole Army red tape back there will please him either. Guess he's seen his share plus, and deserves any breaks they might possibly throw his way.

If you should see him in the bay area, I presume you gave him your address, show him a good time by all means but kinda take it easy. Quite a few of the lads who've been around here can't take too much at one time. There's any number of reasons for this as you must've heard. My guess is that Jake won't make the Frisco beach-head until Sep. or Oct. Have you heard from his recently?

Do you read Time, Newsweek and Yank regularly? Time is quite authentic in its report of these parts and a spring or early summer issue of Yank carried an interesting article on cannibalism in the Solomons. Have you noticed any interesting news items lately? Best you take most of them with a grain of salt.

The folks wrote to me from New Jersey and seem to be really enjoying themselves down there. However, at this time they must be well settled back home. Guess they had a vacation coming, eh? Do Ed and Rudy write you often? They haven't been too prompt at replying my letters of late. I imagine they're quite busy tho, and the summer heat down there doesn't instill any too much ambition in a person.

The war news from the European fronts is very encouraging and things seem to be coming along pretty good over here. Well, it's coming around to lights out so I'll sign off.

Vic

Paul, were you ever able to obtain copy of "Seranade" by Cain? None of your packages have arrived recently other than the air-mail envelopes.

August 20, 1944

(Letter from Vic in Bougainville to brother Paul in Berkeley, California. Photo is of entertainers Patty Thomas and Francis Langford in Bougainville, who performed at the USO show there in early August 1944.)

Sunday afternoon,

Your last letter of the 10th arrived Friday with the four prints enclosed I'd asked for. No, I haven't read "Man's Fate" and I appreciate you sending same along with a copy of the "Decameron". You mentioned a picture of yourself will it be with the books or was it supposed to've been enclosed within your recent letter?

Has my previous letter arrived with the three snap shots of Hope, Langford, Colonna and Thomas? Did the twenty buck P.T.A. check arrive?

Well, Jack Benny, Carole Landis, June Bruner, Larry Adler, and Martha Tilton did arrive here early in the week and toured the island for three or four days. I saw their show and thought it was swell.

Was reading the special service bulletin about coming films to be shown in this theatre and noted that the Army is not accepting anymore melodramatic war films and flag-wavers from the Overseas Motion Picture Service (Hollywood) for overseas consumption.

Give Yuts and Ted my regards the next time you see them and urge them to write frequently. Phil hasn't answered fro some time and I was wondering whether he had a new address when last writing you. Did you remind Bill Fiala to write? That boy isn't exactly prompt when it comes to replying. Have you heard anything as to whether or not he's set the wedding date? Did Yuts and Ted get home on furlough?

Do you hear much from Ray Reed these days? Recently I had a letter from hims - first in several months. Mike Principe still has visited me and I doubt whether he'll be able to make it. To whom did you send prints of those negatives I forwarded you some time back.

No, I've never been to Carmel but from your description I gather it must be quite scenic. Just inland from there the old Hearst ranch (Hunter-Liggett Military Reservation) must begin. That's where the C. Roberts lads get manuevers. I don't know what the coast-line up thereabouts looks like, but I've followed it from a town just west of San Luis Obispo down thru Santa Maria & Santa Babara. That section was swell.

Do you get out on such interesting trips very often. Are you a fiend for salt water swimming? I've just about had my fill of it and won't be complaining about the lake, quarry, or even Root River once I get home. However, the beaches here undoubtedly surpass even Atlantic Center or Jones Beach and the surf is big
(sometimes terrifically so!) and the water clean.

Still, most G.I.s prefer fresh water bathing. There are a few streams around but they're never more than waist-deep. I once did find a place where the swift current had gouged out the soft rock to a depth of about six feet, though. One can't swim just anywheres 'cause these streams supply our drinking water. In our btry. area we rely upon well-water for showering and clothes-washing. We dig down to depths ranging from five to fifteen ft. (depending on the water level) and place empty drums with ends cut out one on top of the other. Then the sides are filled in with dirt and a cover fitted over the top for screening purposes. Another drum with piping is supported on framework for a show.

Well, guess I'd best close now. Write soon!

Your brother,
Vic

August 14, 1944

(Letter from Vic in Bougainville to brother Paul in Berkeley, California. Photo is of entertainer Patty Thomas in Bougainville, who performed at the USO show there in early August 1944.)

Monday evening,

Dear Paul,

Surprised not to've heard from you at this date. Are you kept very busy these days? Please write whenever you have time and make it a long air-mail letter.

Received a letter from Yuts yesterday. He was writing from Calif. and said he intended seeing you presently so I imagine you two have gotten together already. He certainly was lucky to get home after such a relatively short time down in these parts. Tell him I won't write him until he sends his permanent address. However, that shouldn't stop him from writing regularly in the least.

Mike Principe wrote me a again recently and said he'd try to get up here in the near future. I answered him last nite and urged that we make it soon. Otherwise it's quite possible we won't get together over on this side.

I'm enclosing three snapshots of some of the entertainers who performed here recently. I got these prints from a friend of mind who's in another btry. Please forward them to Ed and Rudy and remind them to forward same on home after they've looked at the pics.

Did mother receive and forward on to you the five Kodachrome prints that were taken over here several months ago? The fellow I ordered them from is in this btry., and had his parents get the copies made back in the states. They were then sent home to Racine from Illinois.

You'll note a clipping from Time herewith enclosed that I wish you'd keep for me as it gives quite an accurate picture of G.I.s and their opinions of Hollywood products. Time is mostly reliable in reporting from the war theatres as well as the home front. Do you read it regularly? Write soon.!

Your brother
Vic

P.S. - Just happened to remember several other things I meant to've mentioned.

Last night (rather Sat. nite) I saw a good show up at Bosley Field. Re-knowned violinist Steven Hero, a ballet dancer, and met. opera singer Agnes Davies performed then and another divisions' dance band was also featured. Did I tell you that I saw the tenor Felix Knight down on the 'Canal last year along with a USO troupe? Perhaps Bill Fiala would be interested to know the above-mentioned so kindly mention it to him when next you write his way and please urge him to write me a very long letter in the near future. I wrote to him again but he's still not replied.

Did I tell you that Jack Benny, Carole Landis & troupe are due here shortly? Boy! We're finally get some entertainment up this way and it's surprising everyone.

Some time back, I inquired of Wm. Horlick High School of my total credits and the necessary work required to get a diploma. After much red tape and filling in forms to the Armed Forces Institute I got an evaluation of in-service credits and Acting-Principal Smith wrote and said they were crediting 72.5 credits fro work done in the Army. They added this to my previous 127.8 points and now I total 200.3 credits. How many are required normally for graduation? The catch is that I still require the completion of Am. Literature, and taking a course in each to the following: English Literature, Am. History, and Economics. I've already enrolled for Am. History and certainly hope I now have time to knock out the lessons.

I'd like to get into the U.S. F..S. after the war. Can you give me any dope on required Civil Service exams?

Please don't ask me what we're doing 'cause the censorship regulations are getting very strict again.

Best regards,
Vic