October 15, 1945

(Letter from Vic in the Philippines to younger brother Paul in Berkeley, California. Photo shows war damaged pier in Manila.)

Monday evening,

Dear Paul,

Yes, I'm still here at Camp La Croix. According to rumour our sailing date has been changed to something like the first of November. Personally, I'll discount the whole works, and only when I'm aboard ship will I actually believe we're at last headed for home.

Yesterday I was in Manila on pass. Went over to Nick Julian's unit and learned he'd departed the day before upon very short notice. Understand he went to the 29th Replacement Depot prior to embarkation for the States. He's getting out on that over 35 yrs. and 2 yrs. service deal.

Incidentally, here in the div. we've quite a few guys who're eligible for same and many other men with high-points (80,85,90 & 95) but they're getting screwed in that they'll have to wait and go home with the div. The GHQ, Service Command, and other base and rear echelon units get all the breaks.

Not that Nick doesn't deserve it 'cause he's not in such good shape. In N.G. he had a spinal injury lifting something heavy and said x-rays showed one of his vertebrae to be broken. However, even tho he's a medic in a hospital detachment they never did much for him.

While in Manila I began to feel quite bad shortly after noon. Because there's practically no place to sit down in town for even a short break without parting with a fair part of a month's pay, I went into one of the very few remaining theatres. That is, I first sweated out a two-block-long ticket line.

Upon entering the theatre proper I stood for nearly an hr. awaiting a seat. When I finally parked my rear I was in poor condition and felt so damn punk that I sat there thru 2 1/2 shows resting.

A G.I. next to me said his gang were driving back up to Angeles so I decided to ride along for 25 miles and then get off where the two main hi-ways split. Could've waited until 11:PM 'til my truck headed back but I couldn't stand the misery of waiting around so I took off about 7:30. In all it took three rides to get into camp which is a good 65 miles. Checked into the aid station, had temp. taken, got quinine, and hit the sack about 10:30.

Well today's blood smear came back positive on the malarial check, but it didn't surprise me 'cause I knew all along what it was. After five knock-downs from the stuff I should damn well know all the symptoms. Anyhow, I'm on quarters now getting plenty of quinine which kinda knocks one out.

Our generator is on the blink hence no lights for the battery to-nite. Am writing by candlelight and'll retire early 'cause I've a head-ache and think the fever is coming back. Believe the div. doesn't want to evacuated anyone for hospitalization unless in an emergency because we're so close to shipping out, and they probably figure a guy'd rather lay around on quarters than leave the outfit and take the chance of missing the boat with the rest of the guys. Well, so far this recurrent attack has been damn mild as compared to my last when we were making the push up north last July.

Just got word that we're to be issued "Eisenhower" blouses and overcoats to-night so I'll have to get in the formation in a short while. Bet the fits and material will be as sloppy as ever. Recently we received a set of O.D.s which were crummy as hell and general misfits. We've more clothes now than we need, but they continue issuing stuff probably thinking we'll all die of influenza, pneumonia, etc. the first day in a cool climate. That gag is that we've only one back to stuff it into and we carry that around with us. Boy! you should try to lift mine up as it's loaded now.

The line is still very long and I certainly don't want to stand around sweating it out. Maybe I'll wait till morning to draw my woolens. These new guys we received are seemingly all chow-hounds and "come-firsts" 'cause every time I see a formation awaiting something the majority in line and always the head of same will be composed of these new guys. Guess we've been over too long to get excited about anything the Army does or gives out.

Say, Paul, I still haven't come to any definite conclusions regarding post-war plans. Some fellows here are positively going to school, but either they've already had some such or else they were just out of high school and may've been planning to enter some college when they entered service. Practically all of them haven't held a steady job in civilian life and don't believe they'll have much of a chance to get one for several years.

I only completed on of my three A.F.I. correspondence courses and don't think I can finish the whole thing up to credit the necessary credits before becoming a civilian. As things are now, I'll be the only son at home and think I should stick around for awhile at least. Do you plan to remain in Calif. indefinitely? Do you have any job in view out there for the future? Say, don't answer now but let me know later. I'll write again later this wk.

Your brother,
Vic.

P.S. - I'm enclosing three old prints that I want you to send on. Just got them from another fellow in the section when we traded some pics.

October 13, 1945

(Letter from Vic in the Philippines to younger brother Paul in Berkeley, California. Photo shows Vic's friend Ben Louie and another soldier posing with three friends.)

Saturday afternoon,

Dear Paul,

It's past chow time now and if the brass intended falling us out for detail they would've called formation by now. Looks like we may actually get an afternoon off. Pulled guard last nite and then stood their chicken____ inspection this A.M.

Signed up for to-morrow's one-day Manila pass deal, but so did practically everyone else so'll have to wait 'til morning for final results. Would like to pick up some good souvenirs down there, but my pesos aren't too many this far on in the month. Maybe I'll get over to see Nick Julian and possibly even Floyd Hiller. Nick's one happy-go-lucky guy. He should be shipping out for the States this month 'cause he's over 35 yrs. We still might go back to-gether.

Did I mention having phoned Phil Mascaretti a while back? Reached his outfit thru long-distance via numerous Army exchanges and was told that his unit had shipped out. The operator wouldn't (probably for security reasons) commit himself as to probably destination, but I think it's Japan. Well, here're those addresses which I'd like re-prints from those negatives mailed: addresses follow.

Hope you sent copies to the folks, Ruts, & Ed. Guess this business get mighty damn tiresome, eh what?

Last night we received a few more new men who've enough points to go home. They're from the 86th "Black Hawk" Div. and were in Europe for a while but saw little combat. They seem to dislike the tropics even from what little they've seen. The Philippines (especially Luzon) are comparitively OK as tropical islands come. They told me about the European areas they saw and it really sounded like a good deal as far as conditions are during war-times.

I have almost a half-dozen of your previous letters which I intend answering fully within a very few days - so standby, no?

Your brots,
Vic

Enclosed are five recent pics. Kind send them on to Ed or Ruts in your next letter to them and please ask that they send same on home.

October 11, 1945

(Letter from Vic in the Philippines to younger brother Paul in Berkeley, California. Photo shows picture of formal surrender ceremonies at Tuguegaro, September 10, 1945.)

Thurs. Eve,

Hello again, Paul,

Christ! I'm really passong on some head-aches to you in the form of all these damn photographic requests. I realize somewhat what it's like 'cause while in Manila I had to have a matter of 63 reprints made up for our section.

Forgot to thank you in the previous letter I just knocked out for your two letters of the 30th Setp. containing the pics and clippings. You certainly went into detail in that letter and covered a lot of ground. Those're the type I really enjoy receiving, but know it's quite a lot to expect when the other correspondent (me, in this case) hasn't been on the ball lately and insists on continuously asking questions, putting in your innumerable time-consuming requests and actually giving out with little dope on things in general.

Well after you've been over in these parts for around 28 months morale does tend to drop and correspondence to putter out. I have one helluva time of late to knock out decent replies what with the war kaput, state-side return a vague dream and being in the old Army rut. Some alibi, huh?

Here're four color prints that Bob just enclosed in a letter of Karl's. They're really swell, eh what? I'm gonna pick up a good camera job-ee when I've been home a while and try my luck with a a pack 'o' color film. K.G. has quit Case's, and he says Bob is home on furlough and expects a discharge along about Xmas time. Perhaps they've given out with more dope to you, no?

Jake is is attending U.W. and taking up Wild Life Management. That's a good deal & he'll make it, but I think it requires a heap of credits. Actually received a fairly long line from Bill F. to-day but he won't commit himself as regards the exact date of his marriage to Irene. According to he and K.G., Racine is still the same old Racine with no changes.

Imagine the folks wrote and requested that you cease writing me. That's right. Don't answer any of these letters 'cause we're scheduled to embark during this month (Oct.) - exactly when we don't know.

Here it comes - better duck! The enclosed six prints'll also require preservation. They're of the surrender ceremones up at Tuguegaroa by our div. Will you send copies of the four negs to Ed, Ruts, the folks, Yuts, Phil, Ted, and Sid Goldberg? All their addresses will follow in the near future in a long letter.

Your brother,
Vic

October 11, 1945

(Letter from Vic in the Philippines to younger brother Paul in Berkeley, California. Photos show two American officers.)

Camp La Croix, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Luzon, P.I.

Thursday,

Dear Paul,

Intended writing you earlier this week but got a two day pass to Manila and just pulled in last evening. Saw a few Racineans, namely Nick Julian, Joe Anzalone, and Floyd Hillier. Got around some with Nick, drank his beer, and generally had a fairly good time.

Nick told me that on Monday nite Izzy Shapiro (Ensign or Lt., J.G.) is in Manila harbor aboard an A.P.A.) and that they'd gotten to-gether. Izzy was supposed to've come around again while I was there after he'd driven up to Lingayen Gulf area for mail or something.

"Big Tom" Dominich is working in some Army Hosp. just out of Manila, but didn't show up as expected while I was around. Recall me mentioning one Marv Yoccum about four or five months back? Well, Hiller said he'd gone up to Japan and then headed home along with high-pointers in the 43rd DIV.

Did I tell you that Phil Mascaretti was located comparatively close by and that I was trying to get over and look him up? Well, in his last letter he stated his outfit'd been alerted for shipment to Japan. I called his unit long-distance thru many Army exchanges and learned they'd pulled out presumably for Japan.

Yesterday most of our guys with less than 60 points were shipped out to various outfits. We received a large bunch of higher point guys from other artillery units around the island. When I pulled in last nite I was confronted by countless strange faces and many newly erected tents. I still feel lost along with the other old fellows and amidst our own outfit!

Our division is being brought up to a point where it'll be way over-strength with high pointers from various bastard outfits. These guys are mostly from 155 Long Tom, 8 inch and 240 outfits, and have much less overseas time than us and practically no combat, but they have the points due to dependents and state-side service. Guess out HQ. BTRY. received about 6 privates in this group and countless S/SGT.s, T/3s, Tech SGT.s, T/2s, and M/SGT.s. These fellows even wear stripes on their denims.

Am enclosing a bunch of prints and six negatives. The positives I got from a pal in our section and are Manila-made. These prints will probably face out in a few months and I'd like to have them for a while so would you please have them 'dipped' in a preservative (whatever that dope is they use) and then sent on home by way of Ruts or Ed? I promised to send copies from the 6 negs to: Peter Anderson, 194 Illinois Rd., Lake Forest, Ill. and Peter Breclaw, c/o Walter O'Polka, 9 Highland Ave., Wells Mich.

Would you please oblige by doing same and also Ruts and Ed (plus Phil M., Geo. Conrad, & Ted Kraznik only if you have to bother with this detail.)

Regards,
Vic

October 1, 1945

(Letter from Vic in the Philippines to younger brother Paul in Berkeley, California. Photo shows Vic's 'dog tags' that he wore around his neck.)

Camp La Crois, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Luzon, P.I.

Monday

Dear Paul,

Well I hope a reply to my previous letter is already underway. Keep writing during this month 'cause we're not embarking until the fifteenth November so any mail post marked not later than about the 30 Oct. should reach me before we shove off.

Say, we may not land on the west coast. It's possible that the ships we pull out on pass thru the Panama Canal and then dock at an east coast port. Nothing is really definite at this date or at least we haven't yet received reliable & definite info.

I'm enclosing five pics that you not've seen. Do you have any more late snap-shots of you and Gene? Have you been doing much cycling lately. Taken any interesting sight-seeing trips?

Say, I've often thought of your present & former addresses. Are you located near the tunnel thru which the main hi-way from the Bay area to Pittsburg, Antioch, Stockton passes? I've walked all thru that section of Berkeley. Isn't there a dam alongside the hi-way just west of the tunnel? Guess you're back at school now - how is it?

Best regards,
Vic

September 30, 1945

(Letter from Vic in the Philippines to younger brother Paul in Berkeley, California. Photo shows truck loaded with GIs moving out.)

Camp La Croix, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Luzon, P.I.

Sunday Evening

Dear Paul,

Presume you've already received the letter in which I requested that you cease writing me 'cause we were expecting to embark for the States at an early date. Well as the situation now stands, we're scheduled to leave somewhat later - 15th November to be exact. That's as it is as of now and anything in this Army is always subject to change.

Therefore you can continue writing me until about the last of October, and I should receive all mail before leaving this theatre. I hope!

You've probably noticed the change in our location. This is the old 43rd Div. rest area, and we moved into it over a two week period. Our bn. drove down in two seperate convoys last Monday. It was a long, tiresome and dangerous trip. Several vehicles cracked up in mountain passes, but the casualties weren't too severe. I was atop a heavily loaded 6X6 in the first echelon, and we really high balled it in an beat the others. It was about a three-hundred mile displacement.

Tomorrow we go on another new training schedule which calls for more calesthenics, foot-drill, etc. We're supposed to have the afternoons off, but that phases has been slightly over-used commencing back on the 'canal in '43. The div. expects to begin an educational campaign, but classes haven't been announced yet. They asked us what subjects we'd like to participate in some time back.

I was on a pass to Cabanatuan last nite with two other fellow from my section and it unfortunately turned into quite a bender. Could've gone down to Manila to-day but'll go later in the week. Cabanatuan has electricity and some of the joins are fairly modern. It's the provincial capitol, and also houses the notorious PW camp where the Nips held Americans.

Thanks for the pic of your girl-friend. Seems Gene is quite intelligent and interesting. Do you see each other at College? Any change in the situation since you last wrote? I'd appreciate any more pics of you both.

Still haven't any definite post war plans cause I'd like to make some final judgement back in civilian life. Received a letter from our uncle Ebert from Denmark.

Here're three occupation notes that Ted K. sent. Will write again soon.

Your brother,
Vic

September 19, 1945

(Letter from Vic in the Philippines to younger brother Paul in Berkeley, California. Photo shows Vic's friend Ben Louie in front of Church ruin.)

Cagayan Valley, N. Luzon, P.I.

Wednesday evening,

Dear Paul,

Still haven't received that expected letter from you. It might possibly arrive to-morrow - hope so because after that our division post office will be closed for an indefinite period. After 9 a.m. to-morrow, Thursday, Sept. 20, we can no longer mail anything until further notice, and we probably won't be receiving our mail and packages for quite a spell.

I hope you won't write me after receiving this 'cause the mail situation may become snafu. That is, don't use this old address unless I write otherwise at some future date.

This coming week-end we're moving down south many miles to our new temporary div. area near Cabanatuan (place where the Nips used to keep Am. PWs).

We passed thru Cabanatuan in convoy enroute from Manila to Balate Pass last May, but I can't picture the location selected for us. There we'll probably be seperated - some fellows'll go into occupational forces while others will go home for discharge. I hope to be in the latter group. Just when we'll go aboard ship is not definitely known though rumors place it as the 1st and 15th Oct.

It's planned to send the high-point men home in a group to represent this div., and parades thru out Ohio are scheduled for us during Nov. This is part of publicity scheme of Gen. Beightler, div. comm. & Ohio Rep. politician & petty grafter.

Please tell Ed & Ruts not to write me any longer at this address.

Am enclosing a copy of probably the last issue of our div. newsheet.

Best Regards,
Your brother,
Vic

To-day we got rid of the last of our equipment (all signal, engineer, QM, Ordnance, ETC leaving only personal stuff). Sent same up to Aparri where it's supposed to be shipped to Japan for use of the combat-less 86th INF. DIV. as regulation issue.