June 13, 1945

(Telegram from Vic in the Philippines to his mother, Emily, in Racine Wisconsin)

MY LOVE AND GREETINGS ON MOTHERS DAY WISH I COULD BE WITH YOU. REGARDS TO EVERYONE. VICTOR PETERSEN.

May 28, 1945

(Letter from Vic in the Philippines to younger brother Paul in Berkeley, California. Photo shows medics treating an injured civilian.)

Monday evening,

Dear Paul,

Well, herein you'll find four negatives that I'd previously mentioned I'd be forwarding you. Would appreciate that you get quite a few copies made and mail a set or whatever you please to various persons 'cause it'd take so much longer for same to arrive were you mail prints to me. However, I'll get rid of the prints if you wish. Would like a set sent home and some to Ann and Rudy, Ed and Rose, Bill Fiala, Karl Greubel, Ran De Faut, Akabe Gulbankian, Ray Reed, Phil Mascaretti, George Conrad, Ted Kraynik, Jake Valentine, Elmer Balzer and Sid Goldberg.

If you don't have the new addresses of any of these persons or correspond with them please let me know and best you sent me prints. Actually I've promised to send so many pics that I finally decided I might as well do it all at one time even tho the shots aren't very good. Have plenty of film on hand at this time so don't send me any. Hope the stuff doesn't get ruined before I get around to using same.

So Yuts is finally enroute overseas, eh? Do you correspond with him regularly? Where is Dick Symmes now? Do you hear from Ray R, Karl G, or Jake Valentine?

You should have plenty to tell about the S.F. Conference. Understand that you intended sitting in on a few sessions were any open to the public. Was there any noticeable atmosphere in the Bay area? Do you think any noteworthy steps have been accomplished. Understand that at this writing they're just underway. Leastwise, I haven't heard any reports of same for a while now.

We're still in a rest area but that can change overnite in these parts cause there's still too damn many Nips around. Certainly hope that sometime in the future our division gets a real break. By that I mean we really deserve a good, long rest in a fair bivouc area and receive sufficient replacements to fill our ranks.

Now, I won't get home under the so-called demobilization plan (only rate 69 points) and doubt if a furlough will come thru before the duration plus.

Your brother,
Vic

May 13, 1945

(Letter from Vic in Philippines to brother Paul in Berkeley. California. Photo taken from vehicle moving on Luzon road.)

Sunday afternoon,

Dear Paul,

Didn't intend writing you for several days but just got these two negatives back and would like some re-prints made as soon as possible hence this brief line. Can you have five or six prints made of each and send all but one copy to me?

Please send a set home. The negatives may have to be cleaned and I suggest you have them intensified or something 'cause they're nothing as is.

We may go into a rest are and be re-organized. In my opinion we need replacements badly and deserve at least six months non combatant duty.

Don't expect me home on furlough for months to come. If this de-mobilization is actually inaugurated some guys may get a long-deserved break. Would certainly like to hit the States at least by hunting season but think it improbably. Understand the rotation (if ever it was such) plan may be completely dis-continued. Please write soon!

Best regards,
Vic

May 13, 1945

(Letter from Vic in Philippines to brother Paul in Berkeley, California. Photo shows two Japanese bills from war. The top one is a 50 Sen note from 1938 showing Mt. Fujiyama, Sunshine and Cherry blossoms. The bottom one is a 50 sen note from 1942 showing the Yasukuni Shrine. )

Sunday morning,

Dear Paul,

Well, I guess it's time I commenced writing again. Several days ago I sent you a regular letter containing five negatives that I want prints made of. That was the first letter I'd written in over a month to anybody. didn't get to knock any others out since, but intend writing quite a few to-day.

Am enclosing two snap-shots that Elmer sent me and three German currency bills that Johnny Rody sent. Also you'll note a Japanese bill. Please send these items on home in one of your next letters to the folks.

Tried to get a refraction of my eyes but the Army in these parts doesn't seem to service us to any extent. Leastwise I couldn't get any satisfaction from the jerks after spending almost the whole day in a large hospital getting eye tests. Said jerks claimed supplies were short (but they did fit civilians while I was there) and that I could drop in at my convenience in three or four months and pick up a new pair. Meanwhile I continue to use these misfits with the cracked & tarnished frame.

In three or four months from now I could possibly even be in China or Japan. Yeah, it's the ole Army game of passing the buck. Army dentists operate under the same rules - "come back again in six months and we may be able to fix you up." Trouble is, they keep better hrs. that bankers could possibly hope to and don't recognize the war. Wish someone had the authority to get these rear-area commandoes off their fat asses and put them to work. Best thing could happen would be to have them all broken & transferred into the infantry as much needed replacements to fill the ranks of the guys who do all the work without the comforts, credit or recognition.

Received a swell letter from Fred Blair from Milw. the other day. It certainly is lengthy & deserves a somewhat detailed reply.

I saw Nick Julian again the other day. Max Mueckler is some distance from here at present I've recently learned. May run into him within the next few weeks however.

Please write as often as you can.

Your brother,
Vic

May 12, 1945

(Cover letter and citation for Bronze Star Medal awarded to Vic. Pictures show the original documents.)

RESTRICTED

HEAQUARTERS 6TH INFANTRY DIVISION
APO 6

SUBJECT: Award of Bronze Star Medal
TO: CO, 135th Field Artillery Battalion, APO 37

1. Attached is citation to accompany Section VI, General Orders No. 71, Headquarters 6th Infantry Division, dated 8 May 1945, which awards the Bronze Star Medal to: Technician Fourth Grade VICTOR PETERSON, 36262157, 135th FA Bn.

2. It is desired that one copy be furnished T/4 Peterson and the second be retained in the enlisted man's 201 file.

FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL:

E. LEE CARTERON
Major, A.G.D.,
Ass't. Adj. Gen.


CITATION

Technician Fourth Grade VICTOR PETERSON, 36262157, Field Artillery, United States Army. For meritorious achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on Luzon, Phillipine Islands on 24 April 1945. Technician PETERSON performed outstanding services as radio operator with an artillery liaison party. As no cover was available he was forced to set up his radio in an exposed position and relay fire commands to his battalion. He carried out his mission while enemy sniper and mortar fire was falling within fifteen yards of him. Technician PETERSON's courage and devotion to duty reflect high credit upon himself and the military service.

Home address: Mrs. Emily Peterson Wife (sic - she was his mother) 1950 Prospect Street Racine, Wisconsin.

May 11, 1945

(Letter from Vic in the Philippines to brother Paul in Berkeley, California. Photo shows Bronze Star awarded to Vic for action on April 24, 1945. The ribbons are: Two Bronze Star ribbons - similar to pattern on Bronze Star cloth; Two Philippine Liberation ribbons - two flanking red bars with thinner blue and white centre bars and small bronze star; Two Good conduct - the red background with two flanking triple white stripes; American Defense Service ribbon - yellow with two thin red, white and blue stripes - and two stars; 1945 Victory ribbon - solid red middle flanked by two multi-coloured bars; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign ribbon - yellow with two flanking white/red/white stripes and a thinner blue/white/red center stripe.)
Friday morning,

Dear Paul,

This is the first letter I've written in over a month. Will get busy & write the folks to-day and also try to catch up on my correspondence in general.

Came in off liaison two days ago after a month on the line with our infantry. We're up in the mountains and it's one tough and dirty war. The Nips have good positions and plenty of supplies - food, clothing, equipment, & ammo. In fact, they don't hesitate to share with us their lead in the form of rifle & machine-gun slugs and grenade, mortar & artillery shells.

If you think the war is over in the Philippines I suggest you talk to someone just back from the line - not the rear area commandos. After we take one mountain we can look forward to taking another, and they continue on over the sky-line out of sight. Nips have all underground positions and tremendous supply caves.

Your last letter dated the 26th April arrived OK. Yesterday I 4received your package containing the six roles of 620 film. Thanks for them, Paul. It's impossible to obtain film over here & we must depend upon getting them sent from the States by our families & friends. I realize how tough it is to obtain same back there and fully appreciate the pains you took to get ahold of so much film.

I put in for furlough tho it means if I'm lucky enough to be picked I'll have to return to my outfit & this theatre. If I don't hit the states soon I figure on blowing my top. And still we have some original N.G. vets with us who can't get home come hell or high water it seems. Can't understand how they can take it and so damn much of it. Wonder how many troops will come over this way now that the show over on the other side is over. Boy, that Okinawa deal sounds like a tough nuts, and it's Army troops who're doin' all the fighting & pushing there.

Did you know that Dave Altman was killed over here several months ago? His unit was on our right flank, and recently I intended going over thataway on some pretense & looking him up when I received a letter from Johnny Rody from Germany giving me the brief news about Dave. I was shocked to hear of it, and intend looking up his buddies some day & asking how he got it. His outfit is in rest area now now but I can't locate his particular unit.

Was sorry to hear of Kingsfield. A lot of home-town friends certainly have been getting it lately.

Hear from Phil quite regularly now. Was in to town yesterday on a one day (actually about 10 hrs.) pass and looked up Nick Julian, Lt. Floyd Hillier, and some Filipino friends.

Had my ole case of jungle-rot came back. Need a new fitting (refraction) of my G.I. Specs. The frame is cracked & out of shape so I should get a new one plus different lenses.

Am enclosing five negatives that I took about two months back. Have two good prints made of each and send one set to me & one set home.

Best Regards,
Vic

Am sending this via regular mail which means it won't arrive for thirty to sixty days. Won't travel any other way with negatives enclosed.

May 8, 1945

(Nine page Army comminique of awards for four classes of Silver Star and three classes of Bronze Star for soldiers acts of heroism by soldiers. More than 20 soldiers received medals, several posthumously. Picture shows apparent battlefield action in the Philippines.)


Restricted
Headquarters 6th Infantry Division
APO 6

General Orders
Number 71

Section 1 - Awards of Silver Start - Posthumously....
.... Section VI - Awards of Bronze Star Medal

.... page 7
Technician Fourth Grade VICTOR PETERSON, 36262157, Field Artillery, United States Army. For meritorious achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on Luzon, Philippine Island on 24 April 1945. Home address: Mrs. Emily Peterson, Wife (sic - she was his mother), 1950 W. Prospect Street, Racine, Wisconsin.