Saturday 7:30 P.M.
16. Mar. 46
My darling Fran:
Well here I
am in the land of the Rising Sun and for my part they can have all of it. Our
gang debarked from the boat about 12:15 Friday noon at which time we were
herded in Army trucks and taken to the Yokohama
station. At the station we boarded trains and proceeded to this point which is
approximately 18 miles from Yokohama and about
27 miles from Tokyo.
I can’t tell you the name of the place but it’s the only other replacement center
in Japan outside of Yokohama. The trip from Yokohama out to here took
us just 4 hours (18 miles). We made a number of stops, why I don’t know. Every
time the train stopped Japs including all ages would
crowd around the train trying to sell us souvenirs or else buy cigarettes or
candy from us. I didn’t buy or sell anything as some of the money they had
wasn’t any good so I didn’t take any chances. Most the people are queer looking
but all seem to be happy. They all wave and smile as we passed by but the more
I see of them the less I like them. The land is very level and well cultivated, all you see is rice fields and occasionally
small gardens. I guess I had my last bottle of milk in Seattle because cows are very scarce as they
haven’t the place for them to graze. I can’t tell you much about the cities
because Yokohama
is the only one I’ve seen and I just passed through it. You could see some
places where our air force had laid their “eggs” but the most part of it was
pretty well cleaned up. This camp I’m at awaiting assignment was at one time Zama Military
College (West Point of
Japan). There are a number of buildings but most of the troops including
ourselves are sleeping in tents, 12 men to a tent with two little oil stoves.
Everything here is very primitive including outside toilets and wash outside but since this is a replacement center we are
only expected to be here from 3 to 5 days and honey that’s too long. From all
reports the mail situation is very poor. Most men that are stationed
here haven’t received any mail since the first of Feb. I understand you can’t
insure over seas mail so if that watch you mailed me returns to you just keep
it until I return. I’m hoping wherever I get assigned I’ll find mail awaiting
me because it will certainly help my morale because it’s certainly at a new low
since I’ve hit this place. When we went to school in [Holabird, Pennsylvania]
they sure painted a rosy picture but it hasn’t panned out as yet but it may as
time goes by. As far as recreational facilities go here the only thing here is a movie and the Red Cross building with a pool table and
4 ping pong tables. When I hit here I had .98¢ so some colored
fellow gave me 15 yen for it. They have a P.X. here with sundries, tobaccos,
candy, and fruit juices. Tell dad Sunshine Cookies are represented but I didn’t
see any N.B.C., maybe he’d better ask for a transfer to Japan. We
haven’t done anything all day except play pinochle and write this letter but as
I said before there isn’t anything else to do. The weather here is plenty cold
and at the present time is snowing a little. We have several Jap kids running
around here so we have already learned to make them do our errands, you just
motion what you want done and let them no you mean business and they do it.
Well dear I know by the time you receive this mail you’ll probably think I’m
dead or lost but if it doesn’t get on a plane (one per day) they throw it on a
boat and that means two weeks before it even gets to the states so please don’t
think I’ve forgotten my darling because I haven’t. By the way dear it might
interest you to know I love you more than anything in the world and I miss you
even more than that, if that’s possible. Most of the boys have colds including
myself but they aren’t bad enough to worry about. Honey
I only hope you are well also our families because I certainly haven’t any way
of knowing since mail deliveries are so uncertain. I was very disappointed to
day because so many fellows cabled their wives and I didn’t have money enough
but I can assure you one thing I certainly was thinking of my honey. Well dear
I’ll write again as soon as I’m assigned which probably will be within the next
two or three days so don’t be cussing me or the mailman because neither of us
can help it. Well darling give my regards to your mother & dad also Geo.
& Blanch and the rest of our friends. Be a good girl for me and I’ll be a
good boy for you dear. God Bless my darling and our families.
With
all my love,
Your honey always.
XXXXXXX This is just a few of the
million kisses I have saved up for my darling.