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 2, 1944

(In early August, Bob Hope and other Hollywood entertainers arrived at Bougainville as part of a Pacific USO tour for soldiers. Among the documents in Vic's trunk was a mimeographed copy of Hope's Bougainville version of his theme song 'Thanks for the Memories'. The photo shows Hope performing in Bougainville with Jerry Colonna and Tony Romano on guitar. The mimeographed lyrics are shown below. )

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

Thanks for the memories>
For long nights in the rain
And sweat and mud and pain
You did your bit, you must admit
To drive us all insane
We thank you so much
Thanks for the memories
For headaches without cause
Your strategy with flaws
Ideas mixed, rotation fixed
Your simple childish laws
We thank you so much
Oh many the orders you have pasted
And many the days we have wasted
And much is the spam we have tasted
We must confess
T'was quite a mess
Oh thanks for the memories
You'd steal, lie, cheat, connive
We're lucky we're alive
We leave today - So now we say
We loathe the one three five
We hate you so much

Oh thanks for the memories
At least ten million men
Have roared and cursed and then
They've snarled and scowled and groaned and growled
But, still, they say again -
We thank you so much


Oh thanks for the memories
Of O.D. painted cars
And twinkling tropic stars
And G.I. stuff we've had enough
Of stripes and leaves and bars
We thank you so much
In mud we have scrambled and slithered
In sunshine we have roasted and quivered
In cold we have shaken and shivered -
But now w'e through -
So nuts to you -
And thanks for the memories With eighty-five and more
We leave this distant shorte
From now on in its cokes and gin
The Army will ignore -
Banzai! Goodbye

July 31, 1944

(Letter from Vic to younger brother Paul, sent from Bougainville, Solomon Islands to Berkeley, California. Photo shows several members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force stationed at Bougainville in July 1944. Note the Japanese writing on the back of this motor-tricycle.)

Monday afternoon

Dear Paul,

Had several letters from both Rudy and the Folks recently and wondered why you haven't been writing regularly of late. How's about a prompt replay in the form of a nice long air mail letter?

Had any recent word from Ted Kraynik? Is it possible he's back out to the West coast already? Did Yuts mention to you that he might be seeing you in the future? Talked like he was going back to least to Frisco. Seems unusual considering the relatively short period of overseas service he's put in.

Mike Princippi hasn't paid me the visit he hoped to. Perhaps he'll be coming up one of these days. Max Mueckler still writes regularly from New Guinea. Jake V. may've gone home considering two facts" he hasn't replied for some time, and I heard a large percentage of his div. went home under rotation enmasse. Still haven't had Phil confirm same but I believe Phil's outfit went up to the Admiralty Islands. Bob Hoey either saw action again at Saipan, Tinian, or Guam if he's still with his old unit.

Today I had a P.T.A. check made out to you for twenty bucks and it'll be forwarded to you shortly. Kindly use same for a straight present for Mother, and purchase something for yourself with the remainder. Have no way of telling what'd be most appropriate for you coming birthday so please excuse the outright money gift.

Last nite I saw a splendid performance given by the military band and dance orchestra sections of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band. It was the best show I've seen overseas, and it was rendered up at the Bosley Field Recreational center. Their (R.N.Z.A.F.) military band consisted of many pieces and their uniforms and techniques were unique in a gala fashion. Their dance orchestray changed into formal attire, and gave a show featuring practically every form of modern dance music from sweet swing and latest jive thru conga and rhumba. Guess the after G.I. would rate them top-notchers comparing with our best Am. bands after the show they gave. A New Zealander told me that their leader, Walters, had a large orchestra in pre-war times down in Wellington.

Within the next few days Bob Hope and Frances Langford plus troupe are expected on the island to give entertainment. They won't be here long and we may not get see them (our outfit) 'cause we begin some fancy training manuevers on Wednesday. The Div Arty rad. school I have been attending winds up to-morrow. Heard Jerry Colonna may be amongst the entertainers. I (rest of letter has been ripped out, likely by Army censors.)