(Letter from Vic in the Philippines to brother Paul in Berkeley, California. Photo is of a Japanese soldier.)
Thursday
Dear Paul,
Can't recall whether I've previously answered your letter dated the 26th January which I rec'd several wks ago. However I did drop you several lines since arriving here in the Philippines.
At present I'm in a large hospital with foot trouble. My old case of jungle rot came back and I got infection. They're giving me penincillin injections every three hrs so it should clear up shortly.
One Monday there was not further use for artillery in our sector so the infantry released our liasason and forward observation parties. My feet and legs were bothering me plus fever so I made this place Tues. nite.
Am enclosing two Nip occupation currency note (a one shilling job and a P100 affair) that you might not already have. Also please note the ten snap-shots that I took off Nips. Evidently most of them were taken in these parts. Send them on to Rudy & Ed with instructions to send them on home.
No, Bill Fiala hasn't written in a dogs' age but was surprised to hear from K.G. Also have recently heard from Jake V., Yuts C., Phil M., Dave Altman, Sid Goldberg, & Ray Reed. Met Max Mueckler who's stationed in an outfit out here on the grounds.
Best regards,
Vic
March 1, 1945
February 10, 1945
(Letter from Vic in the Philippines to brother Paul in Berkeley, California. Written on Chinese stationary. Photo is of Japanese occupation money used in the Philippines.)
Somewhere in the Philippines
Saturday
Dear Paul,
Just a short line to let you know I'm OK so far. Thought my number was up more than once and had plenty of close ones. Quit hunting souvenirs but have some junk on hand that you might get a kick out of. Enclosed please find two five centavo notes, a one, a five, a ten, and a hundred peso note plus a negative of a deceased Nip.
The mail situation isn't so hot. Worse yet are our stationery supplies. Must resort to this cheap stuff 'cause there's nothing else available.
Please urge everyone you know to contribute substantially to the Philippine Relief 'cause these people really need & deserve all the help we can give them.
Best regards from your bother,
Vic
February 1, 1945
(Letter from Vic in the Philippines to his parents, Peter and Emilie, in Racine. Vic's 135th Artillery Battalion was part of the U.S. Sixth Army landing on Luzon on January 9, 1945. Photo is of U.S. forces advancing through Philippines.)
Dear Folks,
We're getting a little break this afternoon so I'm using the opportunity to write this letter. We've really been around and seen plenty. Per - (rest of sentence has been cut out by army censor) It seems like a very long time ago that we landed here in the Philippines. Censorship is still strict so we can't mention much. This is the dry season and it's very hot and dusty - something like the back country of Calif. or Arizona.
Am enclose the Jap occupation currency in the following demarcations: a 1 peso note, a 5 peso note, a 10 peso note, and a 100 peso note. Also contained herein are three Nip post-cards. Hope the contents of this letter will still make air-mail.
Please tell Paul and everyone I'll write them soon. At present one can hardly tell where one'll be five minutes from now. Trouble is, we done quite a bit of foot hiking which isn't good.
Best regards from your son,
Victor
November 31, 1944
(Letter from Vic in Bougainville to his parents, Peter and Emilie, in Racine. Photo shows Vic holding a bottle of beer.)
Friday
Dear Folks,
During the past several days I've written to Paul, Rudy, and Ed, and urged each of them to write you more regularly. Let me know if any response on their part has been forthcoming. Notice none of them've been too prompt to answer of late.
For about ten or twelve days we had no rain and the dust caused by heavy traffic was terrific. The sky was cloudless and it was very hot and unusually dry for the tropics. However on Wednesday some rain fell which amounted to at least temporary relief from the dust. Since then it's been cloudy and rain seems iminent.
I understand that Ran DeFaut was expected home. Did he arrive, and if so, did you talk to him?
Paul said he wasn't very lucky while hunting in Wis recently so don't imagine you had any pheasant during the past season. Boy! I'd certainly like to be home now for deer and rabbit hunting season.
I sent you a $50.00 P.T.A. check the other day. Please inform me upon receipt of same. Are prices very stable now? What foodstuffs are still rationed?
Last week I saw an exceptionally good film on the past campaign here that was filmed by an Army photographical unit. The screen journal completely covered all the operations and was so detailed as to indentify specific units in the engagements. A good commentary accompanied the film and it was very well edited and arranged. However I don't believe you'll be able to see it 'cause it may contain too much info for public release at this time.
During recent months the Japs have been working overtime jamming the Frico shortwave news broadcasts so I don't imagine they intend we should be getting any straight dope. On their own programs, Jap announcers will say something like "Any interference on the frequency is caused by American authorities in Hawaii." Thus they intend to discredit us but still continue to interfere with the reception of Am. programs being broadcast for Allied forces overseas.
A short time ago we were given a lecture on security measures. The counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) is really on the ball but deserve more cooperation than they normally receive. Surprising to learn of some incidents that've happened in the past.
Has Bob Hoey been home yet? If he arrived when expected, I imagine he's already completed his furlough and is now back at some Marine base. Did he visit you? Once I thought he was in a Marine Division that we had occasion to work with but later learned I was mistaken.
I still haven't been able to find out whether Jake Valentine arrived Home yet. If he has, I believe he must've visited you. What did he have to mention concerning his travels down in these waters? Jake was fortunate to've spent so much time in Australia. I understand he got around there considerably.
It's fast approaching chow time so I'd best sign off so that I can wash up a bit. I'll write again at my first opportunity.
Best regards from your son,
Victor
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.
