21 Oct 52
15:15 hrs
Tuesday
U.S.N.S. Black
Hi Pal; (S.H.)
Hows tricks. Life aint useing me so good these days these
days as you’ve probably herd by now. I am in route to
Korea. This ship is due to dock in inchon Korea Thursday
noon. Thats just a few miles below the 38th parallell. I am
assigned to the 40th Inf. Division. Better known as the
california National guard. They are located between White
Horse and Iron Horse Mt. I understand. I presume you’ve
heard of those.
Boy am I lucky! Just think in another week I’ll
be getting combat pay. Thats an extra $45. a month. Thats
supposed to be a joke you can plosuly see what this army
has done to my sence of humor.
I haven’t heard from you since my Daughter was born. But I
went up to see Al. Thayer while I was on leave and he let
me read a letter you wrote him. I’m very glad to hear you
have got another good job. I hope you don’t get any nutty
ideas this time. You aint getting any yonger and you’ve got
a lot of responsibility. Look whoes talking. I guess right
now I’m as close to the bottom as a man could ever get.
I expect to be in Korea from 9 mos. to a year. That is if
I’m lucky. It don’t seem fair. With all the single men
there are going to europ but who am I to say. I’ll just
have to stick to the old saying, “Not for me to reason why,
but for me to do or die.”
I’ll give you a little dope on the past few mos. and you
can guess the rest.
First I spent a very plesant leave with Dotty and brenda.
Then I flew to Oakland California. Mom flew as far
as boston with me. It was her first time up but she was so
busy talking she didn’t even know it. You know our mom.
Always got to get in a last word.
Well I crossed the states in 18 hrs to the tune of $157.00
and began my processing in Camp Stoneman. That took 14
days. Then I was put on the “General W. M. Black U.S.N.S.”
and I pulled 14 days of K.P. between Frisco and Yokohama.
At Yokohama I boarded a train that took 4 hrs. to travel 35
miles. The latest thing in Japanese rail development. I was
in “Camp Drake” just 48 hrs. Thats 14½ miles west of Tokyo.
Then I returned to the black for another 3½ days of sea
life. Now I have captured the honor of duty as Latrine
Sargent.
Right now we are in the “Japan Sea”. We will probably inter
the yellow sea sometime tonight.
I guess my daughter will be about davids size when I see
her again. I hope shes as cute. Wish I could see him now.
I am sitting on deck now It is a butiful day. I imagin
it will be a lot colder tomorrow at this time.
Here in the orent we don’t pull any K.P. and very few
detales. at Camp Drake the Japs do it all and I understand
it is all done by South Koreans in Korea. That don’t hurt
my feelings any.
While we were at Camp Drake we turned in all our outter
cloths and got combat dress. now the O.D. pants and shirts
are for every day instead of class A. They have all been
impregnated against the lice and desease carrying ticks
that we will contact over here. After all the needels I’ve
had stuck into me I should be emuned to everything
including women and eating.
Speeking of women you should see the sluts theyve got in
Japan. Some of these guys are nuts about them. I can’t see
it. They say after I’ve been here a couple months I’ll
change my tune, but I know better. They just haven’t got
the wife I’ve got. as long as shes wiating it’ll take maney
a year to change my tune.
This damn deck gets pretty hard sitting. Don’t know why
they haven’t got 3 or 4 thousand deck chairs.
Well brother I can’t think of much more to say so guess
I’ll nock this shit off. Maby I’ll do better when I hear
from you. You’d better write and often. You know how
valuable mail is when your this far away from home. I may
be to far away now but if you don’t write I’ll kick your
dambed ass all the way back to Florida when I get home. Ha!
Ha! Mad Cow: Dam! This army. Say Hi to Dot, David, and Ann,
and seriously Vic, be greatful your not here. Your a Rich
Man.
Your Brat Brother Woody.
Woody home page
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Brenda Woodbury