New Guinea
Fri. eve.
Sept 29, 1944
My Precious;
I'm going to start this with an apology. This is going to be a short letter 'cause I went to a show tonight instead of writing to you. It was "Secret Command". Pat O'brian and Carol Landis. Pretty good and I enjoyed it for a change. First time I've gone to a show for over a month. I just got an idea to go so I did. It's really not late by the clock yet, only 9 o'clock but it has been dark since five. I'm like you, I can't understand this business of changing time down here. Seems like they set it the wrong way. We are getting up at four in the morning and start work at 5:30. Quit for noon at 10:30, go back to work at 12:30 and quit at 3:30. It's just breaking day when we get up and by the time we stand retreat and have supper it is dark again. Little more daylight here at any time of year than we have at home in the winter. That's a long story just to explain why a letter is going to be short, but I almost have to be in bed by 10 to get enough sleep. Either the old man is slipping and can't go without his sleep or this climate does it. I think it's the climate mostly. Constant heat seems to slow a man down. I think I can see it in all the fellows. I do know that I'm feeling perfect and fit. Skinny but hard as nails. Anyhow I promised you I'd take good care of me and I'm doing it. I never get less than six hours sleep and most of the time it's eight or more.
I'm rating at mail call again. At least I did today. Four letters from the sweetest girl on earth. I'd even turn away from Carol Landis if you were available, and one from the folks. I also am told there is a bunch of packages for tomorrow. Gosh, honey, a few letters sure do brighten up the day plenty. Your letters were all in order. Sept 14,15,16& 17. There was another with the Beagle club card and the article from the Post. I haven't really read the article yet, but in glancing over it, I can almost see familiar territory. I'll read it closely and comment on it in another letter.
They have us taking calisthenics and road marches all the time these days so we are interrupted in our work a lot of the time. I don't like the calisthenics any better than I ever did but the marches are rather easy to take. Especially so after this recent one I took with a heavy pack. The one we took today was really good. Only walked about five miles and stopped for an hour in the middle for a swim in the river. Those kind are fun. I'm sure getting lots of opportunity to indulge in swimming this year. Haven't been to the beach for some time but one of these days I'll go again. The ball playing cut into my time for a while so I've quit now. It should be winter and time for football anyhow. Funniest kind of winter I've ever seen.
That's the stuff, honey, you see the football games for me. Maybe next season we'll be able to go together again. We did have fun at them didn't we? I have fun at anything when you're around. You add that something that seems to magnify all the pleasures and make them really worthwhile. If what you do to me isn't love, it'll do for the rest of my life anyhow. Nothing could be more precious to me. This all adds up to the simple fact that you are my one and only love and wife. You've got 'em all beat so far I can't even see them. Well not much anyhow and when I'm looking I'm only taking note of how far they miss being as nice as you are. Best loving ever came down the road, sweetheart. I'm not kidding either. I mean it, every word. Proof - I haven't even made an attempt to see the W.A.C. or the Red Cross girl either. If you don't think that much proof, just try imagining yourself in a similar position. Lots of girls around you all the time but you've only seen a half dozen white men [and only at a distance] for more than four months and see if it isn't proof.
Aw, honey, I know you know, I can't really see any girl but you. Somehow though I want to keep telling you so you don't forget and get interested in some other man. I've just got to keep you somehow. You're necessary to my well being even at this great distance. When you are close or closer than that - gosh, honey, there is nothing more to be desired. I love you, you beautiful hunk of desirable feminine charm.
I guess I better quit and get my beauty sleep. I've got to keep in shape so I can make a good try at carrying out all the promises and threats I've made. I'll sure try, I betcha. Night sweetheart, I love you so much.
Your Hubby.
Norm.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Letter # 482 September 28, 1944
New Guinea
Thurs eve
Sept. 28, 1944
Hi Beautiful;
Another day and still no letters from you. There has been very little mail coming into the outfit for several days. Must be some holdup either at the base or in the movement of mail. It'll all come at once one of these days again. I do miss having those nice sweet letters every day though. I know I can't kick. You just had two weeks with no letters at all. T.S. isn't it, honey? I love you even if I do go gallivanting off and don't write.
Got our issue of cigarettes for October today. I got one carton of Luckies, two Chesterfields, and one Raleigh. Some mixture isn't it? No more get used to one brand and you get three others the next time. Also could buy two packages of pipe tobacco. Bond Street. I sure don't know where all the Camels are going. We've never even seen one over here yet. No beer this month either. I don't care about that at all. Warm beer isn't anything to go wild about.
Things have been happening in the outfit. Since we've been overseas our commander has been loosing his grip and paying no attention to business, except monkey business, and "chicken", so an I.G. [inspecting general] was called in and listened to all the bitches and complaints of the officers and enlisted men alike. The result is we have a new commander. An old army man and boy is he G.I. He'll probably be a much better leader if we do any fighting, but it's basic training all over again now. Our Captain says he is ok. I'm withholding my judgement for a while yet. I can't see any sense in a lot of the things he is having done so at present I'd be prejudiced against him. I'll see what happens in the future and then draw an opinion. One thing that tickles me is he seems to have put the officers as well as the men on the ball. That's a big point in his favor.
I haven't done any more work on my little projects but they are still cooking and one of these days they'll be on their way to you. Gosh I'm having a lot of fun getting back at you for teasing me so long. I guess I'm not being quite fair about it either 'cause these won't be as nice surprises as the ones you sent me. I love 'em, honey. I love you too.
Almost the end of September again. Time sure does fly doesn't it? Even as much as I miss and want to be back with you the time isn't dragging. I wish I knew how much longer it was going to be though. On second thought, maybe I don't want to know either. I remember a year ago about this time. I knew I was coming home in a couple weeks and boy, how those two weeks did drag. Time just wouldn't seem to pass fast enough to suit me. Then they made me wait another two days before I could come home. That was a swell furlough, honey. I'll never forget a minute of it. We loved and loved and went places and had so much fun. The next one will be better yet 'cause I think it will be a permanent furlough from the army. Happy day for us. I know for one, I'm going to try to make up for all the things I'm missing. Sound like fun? I'll say it does.
Now I guess I'll tell you a little about the rubber industry here in N.G. Full of lessons ain't I? I can't figure any rhyme or reason for the location of these rubber plantations. I'd think they would be as close to the coast and transportation as possible. Instead of that they go way back into the interior where, until very recently, the only way in or out was on foot or by air. Like Australia, N.G. used air transport for nearly everything back from the coast. The rubber seems to grow any place it is planted in the lower altitudes. It is a very fast growing tree and gets rather big. It is white barked and has leaves similar to an ash only bigger. In thirty years the trees grow from seedlings to 3 feet through and 70 ft tall. Very bush top. Trunks usually divide a few feet above the ground into three or four sections and makes a beautiful shade tree. Nice places to camp or stop for a rest. Rubber trees are native to only S. America and all of this in the S.W.P. has been planted here. They are the only tree here that looses all its leaves for a short time each year. The rest of the trees here are evergreen. I don't mean of the pine family, and loose leaves all year around, few at a time so they always look the same.
The rubber trees are tapped all year around at present. In normal times the owners will let them have a rest of three to four weeks a year, at least, and may give them more. The tapping is started when the trees are eight to ten inches through. The trunk is divided into three equal sections and the first slanting cut is made about four feet above the ground and as long as the one third section. The cut is only through the first bark. A small wooden trough is stuck into the bark at the low end of the cut. The thick milky sap follows the cut and drips from the trough into a cup. A tree will only yield about a pint a day. The tapping is done every day, only a very thin shaving being taken from the bottom of the former cut. The shaving is so thin that it takes three years to tap to the ground. Then another one third section of the trunk is tapped for it's three years and then the last. That makes nine years that the old scars have had to heal before re tapping is started.
The sap is gathered every day and is handled in two ways, depending on the size and equipment of the plantation. On the larger ones it is poured into divided wood settling tanks to a depth of about two inches. The divisions are about ten inches wide. A small amount of chemical is poured into it to hasten the settling. Stands over night and the crude rubber has settled into a spongy sheet about an inch thick. It is taken out and put through a wringer to squeeze out all the water and compress the rubber into a pure white sheet about 1/8 inch thick. This is hung out to dry like the wash. From a distance it does look like a big wash of handkerchiefs or three cornered pants. I thought that when I first saw it. When dry it is hung over sticks in the smokehouse and smoked like ham for another day. That cures it and turns it a rich golden brown. It is now ready to bale and send to the rubber factories. Pure gum rubber.
The cruder way used on plantations of small size and run by natives is to gather the sap in a bucket or any kind of container and just leave it stand for several days. By this time the same spongy mass has settled and the natives then pack the crude rubber to someplace where it will be smoked before being shipped. This rubber looks like a dirty white sponge varying in size and as thick as six inches. Doesn't take much equipment does it? A tree of average size will produce about $20.00 worth of gum rubber a year or about 280 pounds. There, sweetheart, is another bit of information I picked up first hand on my trip. Now do you begin to believe it was worth the trouble and the lack of letters to you? I really did see and learn as much as I ever have in a comparable length of time. If I could do as well every two weeks I'd be an educated man and be able to keep up with my librarian.
Night, sweetheart. I'm not getting much loving in these letters but love and lessons never did mix. To hell with the lessons. Give me the love every time. I'll write a loving one soon. I do love you more and more all the time. You're my perfect wife.
Your hubby.
Norm.
Thurs eve
Sept. 28, 1944
Hi Beautiful;
Another day and still no letters from you. There has been very little mail coming into the outfit for several days. Must be some holdup either at the base or in the movement of mail. It'll all come at once one of these days again. I do miss having those nice sweet letters every day though. I know I can't kick. You just had two weeks with no letters at all. T.S. isn't it, honey? I love you even if I do go gallivanting off and don't write.
Got our issue of cigarettes for October today. I got one carton of Luckies, two Chesterfields, and one Raleigh. Some mixture isn't it? No more get used to one brand and you get three others the next time. Also could buy two packages of pipe tobacco. Bond Street. I sure don't know where all the Camels are going. We've never even seen one over here yet. No beer this month either. I don't care about that at all. Warm beer isn't anything to go wild about.
Things have been happening in the outfit. Since we've been overseas our commander has been loosing his grip and paying no attention to business, except monkey business, and "chicken", so an I.G. [inspecting general] was called in and listened to all the bitches and complaints of the officers and enlisted men alike. The result is we have a new commander. An old army man and boy is he G.I. He'll probably be a much better leader if we do any fighting, but it's basic training all over again now. Our Captain says he is ok. I'm withholding my judgement for a while yet. I can't see any sense in a lot of the things he is having done so at present I'd be prejudiced against him. I'll see what happens in the future and then draw an opinion. One thing that tickles me is he seems to have put the officers as well as the men on the ball. That's a big point in his favor.
I haven't done any more work on my little projects but they are still cooking and one of these days they'll be on their way to you. Gosh I'm having a lot of fun getting back at you for teasing me so long. I guess I'm not being quite fair about it either 'cause these won't be as nice surprises as the ones you sent me. I love 'em, honey. I love you too.
Almost the end of September again. Time sure does fly doesn't it? Even as much as I miss and want to be back with you the time isn't dragging. I wish I knew how much longer it was going to be though. On second thought, maybe I don't want to know either. I remember a year ago about this time. I knew I was coming home in a couple weeks and boy, how those two weeks did drag. Time just wouldn't seem to pass fast enough to suit me. Then they made me wait another two days before I could come home. That was a swell furlough, honey. I'll never forget a minute of it. We loved and loved and went places and had so much fun. The next one will be better yet 'cause I think it will be a permanent furlough from the army. Happy day for us. I know for one, I'm going to try to make up for all the things I'm missing. Sound like fun? I'll say it does.
Now I guess I'll tell you a little about the rubber industry here in N.G. Full of lessons ain't I? I can't figure any rhyme or reason for the location of these rubber plantations. I'd think they would be as close to the coast and transportation as possible. Instead of that they go way back into the interior where, until very recently, the only way in or out was on foot or by air. Like Australia, N.G. used air transport for nearly everything back from the coast. The rubber seems to grow any place it is planted in the lower altitudes. It is a very fast growing tree and gets rather big. It is white barked and has leaves similar to an ash only bigger. In thirty years the trees grow from seedlings to 3 feet through and 70 ft tall. Very bush top. Trunks usually divide a few feet above the ground into three or four sections and makes a beautiful shade tree. Nice places to camp or stop for a rest. Rubber trees are native to only S. America and all of this in the S.W.P. has been planted here. They are the only tree here that looses all its leaves for a short time each year. The rest of the trees here are evergreen. I don't mean of the pine family, and loose leaves all year around, few at a time so they always look the same.
The rubber trees are tapped all year around at present. In normal times the owners will let them have a rest of three to four weeks a year, at least, and may give them more. The tapping is started when the trees are eight to ten inches through. The trunk is divided into three equal sections and the first slanting cut is made about four feet above the ground and as long as the one third section. The cut is only through the first bark. A small wooden trough is stuck into the bark at the low end of the cut. The thick milky sap follows the cut and drips from the trough into a cup. A tree will only yield about a pint a day. The tapping is done every day, only a very thin shaving being taken from the bottom of the former cut. The shaving is so thin that it takes three years to tap to the ground. Then another one third section of the trunk is tapped for it's three years and then the last. That makes nine years that the old scars have had to heal before re tapping is started.
The sap is gathered every day and is handled in two ways, depending on the size and equipment of the plantation. On the larger ones it is poured into divided wood settling tanks to a depth of about two inches. The divisions are about ten inches wide. A small amount of chemical is poured into it to hasten the settling. Stands over night and the crude rubber has settled into a spongy sheet about an inch thick. It is taken out and put through a wringer to squeeze out all the water and compress the rubber into a pure white sheet about 1/8 inch thick. This is hung out to dry like the wash. From a distance it does look like a big wash of handkerchiefs or three cornered pants. I thought that when I first saw it. When dry it is hung over sticks in the smokehouse and smoked like ham for another day. That cures it and turns it a rich golden brown. It is now ready to bale and send to the rubber factories. Pure gum rubber.
The cruder way used on plantations of small size and run by natives is to gather the sap in a bucket or any kind of container and just leave it stand for several days. By this time the same spongy mass has settled and the natives then pack the crude rubber to someplace where it will be smoked before being shipped. This rubber looks like a dirty white sponge varying in size and as thick as six inches. Doesn't take much equipment does it? A tree of average size will produce about $20.00 worth of gum rubber a year or about 280 pounds. There, sweetheart, is another bit of information I picked up first hand on my trip. Now do you begin to believe it was worth the trouble and the lack of letters to you? I really did see and learn as much as I ever have in a comparable length of time. If I could do as well every two weeks I'd be an educated man and be able to keep up with my librarian.
Night, sweetheart. I'm not getting much loving in these letters but love and lessons never did mix. To hell with the lessons. Give me the love every time. I'll write a loving one soon. I do love you more and more all the time. You're my perfect wife.
Your hubby.
Norm.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Letter # 481 September 27, 1944
New Guinea
Wed. eve
Sept. 27, 1944
Hello Beautiful;
No letters again today so this will turn into another traveltalk or something. My day was the usual things except that it was Wed and we have the afternoon off. We are now getting Wed & Sat afternoons off and all day Sunday, so you can see we aren't hurting ourselves very much. If my Mummy were only someplace near it would be a pretty good life. Have lots of time to see you. The nights are nice and long too. I like long nights when I'm with you. Here there is nothing to do but sleep and while I guess that doesn't hurt me any, I can think I can think of lots of things I'd sooner do with part of that time. Sure are wasting a lot of valuable time aren't we? I love you so much, honey. I want you darn it.
I just want to tell you that I used up part of my afternoon working on my project and even got a start on another so you see, in place of one project I now have two in the fire. So far they are doing satisfactorily and I think you'll like 'em. Now don't wet your pants 'cause they won't be finished for some time and I'm not sure they will come air mail. Don't you wish you knew what they were? Can you guess? Aw, come on and try. This is fun, honey. I told you I'd get even some way and I think I'm doing it now. How about it? Mean isn't it, honey? I also took a couple links out of my new bracelet so it fits real good now. I like it a lot, honey. Means an awful lot.
While I'm thinking about it, here is another request. If you can still get it, I could use a couple tubes of Lepage's Liquid Solder and a couple of Dupont's Household Cement. Harold will have them if they are available. Also a couple bars of red sealing wax. The stuff that gets real hard and looks like a
chocolate bar.
You are probably wondering what in the hell I want those things for. Well, you can wonder but I won't tell you. They are the beginning of some more surprises that I have in mind for the future. I should have asked for them long ago but I never expected to have the time to use them. May not when they get here but then again I may. That's all I'm going to say about that now. I'm teasing you. Can you tell? I love you too. You're my beautiful, bewitching and beguiling Baby. My wife too and that's the best part of it all. I'd be lost without you even now when I don't have much of you. You're sweet.
Now I'm going to talk a bit about Australia. I know you could find all of this in books but I got it first hand and most of it is something I never knew so it may be as interesting to you as it was to me.
The chap I was talking to is from the southern part, about 160 miles west of Sydney and a hundred north of Melbourne. He is from a sheep station, as they call them. We'd say ranch 'cause they have about 3400 acres and sheep is about all they raise. They have a small herd of white face beef that they pasture ahead of the sheep to eat off the taller grasses. The pastures are largely native virgin grass but in the past few years they have been planting some alfalfa. That grows easily, no lime or fertilizer necessary. This probably isn't very interesting to you but Pop may be interested. The sheep are all Moreno. Here was an interesting point. They are subject to drought some years that get so bad there is absolutely no feed at all. Instead of having a store of hay or grains or feed of some sort all ready for such an emergency they cut the tops from a native bushy tree and feed that. The trees grow in spots all over that area and they are careful to keep them and even plant more. The topping doesn't hurt them much and in a season or so will be grown out enough to use for feed again. The leaves are very nutritious and even when fed exclusively for two or three months the sheep are still in good shape. One tree will furnish a day's feed for about a hundred sheep. Some work though I'd say. Think of feeding 5000 sheep that way.
Water wells are easily had at a depth of only 50 to 80 feet and never run dry. Funny for a semi arid country. In that area about half the wells are artesian and the rest have to be pumped.
Farther north around Charlesville and Winton, the whole valley west of the coast range, all the wells are artesian and some so strong they spout ten to fifteen feet above the ground. They never know though until the well comes in if it will be cold water or hot water. Isn't that something? Both good water so it should be handy if a man was lucky enough to have one of each. I know if we had that we'd have a swimming pool in no time and even be able to control the temperature of the water. All the hot water you could possibly use. They make no attempt to irrigate any of their land. Don't need it. They only have a small population,
7 million, and can grow all thy need and more in the coast areas where they have plenty rain.
One of their biggest pests is the lowly cottontail rabbit and he is so bad they are compelled to fence their land with netting fences or they eat everything in sight. They kill them wholesale and since the war they are used for food for the army. We've had them once here.
Another pest as well as useful, is the emu. It's an ostrich like bird of great size. They are so strong that they tear up the fences if they want in or out and so, cause trouble. The Aussies make sport of running them down on horses and roping them. The useful part is the eggs. They raise no fowls in Australia so the emu egg is their only eggs. Big enough to make a meal for six men and good tasting. They are plentiful so when they want eggs they hunt one up and lug it home. Only enough dairy to supply their own wants. They have no market for any produce unless it is shipped such great distances so they have lived largely for themselves. Now they are supplying a large part of the food for the Yanks down under and you can see why we eat as we do. They must be doing a wonderful job under the present pressure. They have a larger percent in the armed forces in proportion to population than we have. Labor is really scarce. After getting used to their manner and speech I like the Aussies I've met very much.
The climate was a big surprise to me. I had always thought that it was largely the same as our country. It isn't. The entire northern half is sub-tropical, very similar to New Guinea. The southern half is more temperate but compares to the climate in our southern states. It freezes in the southern part and has been known to get as cold as 15 above zero at times but snow is rarely seen except for the mountain peaks. How does that compare with your idea of it?
The interior is largely semi arid, like our own New Mexico and Arizona, and grows a bush similar to our sage brush and sparse grass. It is largely open land. Only mines and etc. have as yet opened it up at all. That explains the large Australian Air Force. No roads and vast distances to be covered so they did it by plane long before nations like ours used them much.
Editor's Note: The closing page of this letter is missing. May find it yet.
Wed. eve
Sept. 27, 1944
Hello Beautiful;
No letters again today so this will turn into another traveltalk or something. My day was the usual things except that it was Wed and we have the afternoon off. We are now getting Wed & Sat afternoons off and all day Sunday, so you can see we aren't hurting ourselves very much. If my Mummy were only someplace near it would be a pretty good life. Have lots of time to see you. The nights are nice and long too. I like long nights when I'm with you. Here there is nothing to do but sleep and while I guess that doesn't hurt me any, I can think I can think of lots of things I'd sooner do with part of that time. Sure are wasting a lot of valuable time aren't we? I love you so much, honey. I want you darn it.
I just want to tell you that I used up part of my afternoon working on my project and even got a start on another so you see, in place of one project I now have two in the fire. So far they are doing satisfactorily and I think you'll like 'em. Now don't wet your pants 'cause they won't be finished for some time and I'm not sure they will come air mail. Don't you wish you knew what they were? Can you guess? Aw, come on and try. This is fun, honey. I told you I'd get even some way and I think I'm doing it now. How about it? Mean isn't it, honey? I also took a couple links out of my new bracelet so it fits real good now. I like it a lot, honey. Means an awful lot.
While I'm thinking about it, here is another request. If you can still get it, I could use a couple tubes of Lepage's Liquid Solder and a couple of Dupont's Household Cement. Harold will have them if they are available. Also a couple bars of red sealing wax. The stuff that gets real hard and looks like a
chocolate bar.
You are probably wondering what in the hell I want those things for. Well, you can wonder but I won't tell you. They are the beginning of some more surprises that I have in mind for the future. I should have asked for them long ago but I never expected to have the time to use them. May not when they get here but then again I may. That's all I'm going to say about that now. I'm teasing you. Can you tell? I love you too. You're my beautiful, bewitching and beguiling Baby. My wife too and that's the best part of it all. I'd be lost without you even now when I don't have much of you. You're sweet.
Now I'm going to talk a bit about Australia. I know you could find all of this in books but I got it first hand and most of it is something I never knew so it may be as interesting to you as it was to me.
The chap I was talking to is from the southern part, about 160 miles west of Sydney and a hundred north of Melbourne. He is from a sheep station, as they call them. We'd say ranch 'cause they have about 3400 acres and sheep is about all they raise. They have a small herd of white face beef that they pasture ahead of the sheep to eat off the taller grasses. The pastures are largely native virgin grass but in the past few years they have been planting some alfalfa. That grows easily, no lime or fertilizer necessary. This probably isn't very interesting to you but Pop may be interested. The sheep are all Moreno. Here was an interesting point. They are subject to drought some years that get so bad there is absolutely no feed at all. Instead of having a store of hay or grains or feed of some sort all ready for such an emergency they cut the tops from a native bushy tree and feed that. The trees grow in spots all over that area and they are careful to keep them and even plant more. The topping doesn't hurt them much and in a season or so will be grown out enough to use for feed again. The leaves are very nutritious and even when fed exclusively for two or three months the sheep are still in good shape. One tree will furnish a day's feed for about a hundred sheep. Some work though I'd say. Think of feeding 5000 sheep that way.
Water wells are easily had at a depth of only 50 to 80 feet and never run dry. Funny for a semi arid country. In that area about half the wells are artesian and the rest have to be pumped.
Farther north around Charlesville and Winton, the whole valley west of the coast range, all the wells are artesian and some so strong they spout ten to fifteen feet above the ground. They never know though until the well comes in if it will be cold water or hot water. Isn't that something? Both good water so it should be handy if a man was lucky enough to have one of each. I know if we had that we'd have a swimming pool in no time and even be able to control the temperature of the water. All the hot water you could possibly use. They make no attempt to irrigate any of their land. Don't need it. They only have a small population,
7 million, and can grow all thy need and more in the coast areas where they have plenty rain.
One of their biggest pests is the lowly cottontail rabbit and he is so bad they are compelled to fence their land with netting fences or they eat everything in sight. They kill them wholesale and since the war they are used for food for the army. We've had them once here.
Another pest as well as useful, is the emu. It's an ostrich like bird of great size. They are so strong that they tear up the fences if they want in or out and so, cause trouble. The Aussies make sport of running them down on horses and roping them. The useful part is the eggs. They raise no fowls in Australia so the emu egg is their only eggs. Big enough to make a meal for six men and good tasting. They are plentiful so when they want eggs they hunt one up and lug it home. Only enough dairy to supply their own wants. They have no market for any produce unless it is shipped such great distances so they have lived largely for themselves. Now they are supplying a large part of the food for the Yanks down under and you can see why we eat as we do. They must be doing a wonderful job under the present pressure. They have a larger percent in the armed forces in proportion to population than we have. Labor is really scarce. After getting used to their manner and speech I like the Aussies I've met very much.
The climate was a big surprise to me. I had always thought that it was largely the same as our country. It isn't. The entire northern half is sub-tropical, very similar to New Guinea. The southern half is more temperate but compares to the climate in our southern states. It freezes in the southern part and has been known to get as cold as 15 above zero at times but snow is rarely seen except for the mountain peaks. How does that compare with your idea of it?
The interior is largely semi arid, like our own New Mexico and Arizona, and grows a bush similar to our sage brush and sparse grass. It is largely open land. Only mines and etc. have as yet opened it up at all. That explains the large Australian Air Force. No roads and vast distances to be covered so they did it by plane long before nations like ours used them much.
Editor's Note: The closing page of this letter is missing. May find it yet.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Letter # 480 September 26. 1944
New Guinea
Tuesday eve.
Sept. 26
My precious sweetheart;
Well, honey, you can quit wondering and teasing me about your second little surprise. It got here today. I can see now why you were so anxious for me to get it and get whatever comment might be forthcoming. After the many times I told you I didn't want one I can imagine you are wondering how it would be received. I'll be honest about it. I really didn't want one as you know. But, honey, I love it anyhow. Those two words inscribed on the very back make it very precious. Love, Babe. That makes it so much more than an ordinary identification bracelet that I'll always love it and wear it too, whenever I can. It's too nice to wear for work and everything everyday but you can bet that if we ever start moving it'll be on my wrist all the time. Like having a picture of you in my pocket where I can look at it all the time. Your best wishes and love with me at all times. I like it an awful lot for what it means and I think you sent it with that idea in mind more than as an ordinary bracelet. This may not all be very clear but what I'm trying to say is I love it. I love you too. It's a beauty, honey. I'll be proud to wear it for you, so there too. Does that ease your mind and satisfy you about what I think of it? Your letters and the hints about it sounded a bit like you almost expected a calling down about it. Am I right? You should have known better. I like anything you send or anything you do. I love you. It really is a beauty. I'll have to take a few links out of the chain but that is a small matter and then it will be perfect. The boys all thought it was a dandy also. I can't get lost now, can I? I could even wear that when I'm around you. Wouldn't be in the way like dog tags are. You're sweet, honey. I love you so much. Love, Babe. I like that, honey.
The little package was all I got today. No letters. Must be some congestion in the mail both ways. You weren't getting yours very regularly and I'm not either. Can't kick yet though. The last letter I got is only thirteen days old. I'll be getting a bunch of them again one of these days.
As I've said before, don't ever doubt for a minute that I'm not taking care of myself 'cause I am. I'm making as sure as I can that I'm going to come back as good as I left if not better. Anyhow I think my beautiful wife will have her hands full with her old bald headed man. He'll be ornery as hell and hard to get along with.
I will avail myself of the permission to take a ride in a transport if I ever get the opportunity. I do think it would be fun to go someplace that way and then I'd like to see what the country looks like from above. Beside that, it's free if I can manage it. That may be just another way that you will change. The day may come when we'll go on our weekend trips in our own car of the air. It's very probable a few years after the war.
Yes, you probably could do something about it or at least as much as you could if you were right here. Even though you wouldn't ever know if I did things you didn't want me to, I still respect your wishes as much as I can. I love you and I like to do what you want me to in most cases. I sure proved that by going to Jungle School didn't I? Right after you had told me you didn't want me to go back into the interior. It wasn't altogether my adventurous spirit although that had a lot to do with it. What I learned may someday mean the difference that counts. Anyhow it didn't hurt me a bit and it will make a good story for you to hear someday.
Sweetheart, I don't think you need to worry a bit about my Mom not liking you. I'm sure she does. Remember she has some of my traits and one is not to show what our feelings really are. She has never said much to me on the subject but I've always been of the opinion that she approves of you very much. Why shouldn't she? You're the best a man could ever have and I love you.
Yes, honey, the score of seven is very correct. We made that mark on Aug 7, 1943 and I'll never forget it. Will you? We were both hurtin as a result but by Tuesday we were good as new. I don't mind a bit hurtin that way. Like it much better than hurtin the way I am now, that's for sure. I'm not going to promise to break that record either but I sure intend to try and with a lot of help and encouragement of the right kind it could easily happen. Guess I'd better make a note to cut the phones wires though. No interruptions needed or wanted. Your exclamation to Art when he called at an inopportune moment about covers the situation. Another of your involuntary exclamations that I'll never forget.
I sure do remember the time at Bub & Betty's when I got mad at you and I'm not a bit repentant for being mad even yet. That was about the first time a girl had ever done that to me to that extent and I was hurtin plenty. I couldn't believe that you could be innocent of the turmoil you were causing and I guess I did everything but use force when we walked down the lane. I was even tempted to use force. I still can't understand how you were so innocent when you had a brother like Ed around and had gone about with Len Rotman and Bill Hartman but I have since come to believe it and you're forgiven. You were forgiven very soon after that anyhow, and I got rather used to it so I wasn't hurtin too bad the rest of our courtin days. I just couldn't help but love you. You're what I want. Gee, I'm glad I gotcha.
You seem to think some of the things I do now are recent developments but not all of them are, as Mom can tell you. I used to spend a lot of time drawing maps and things and they tell me I used to sew when I was a kid. Started out like a priss didn't I? I'll admit I've learned a lot about telling and even showing my feelings but that can all be credited to your influence. This separation has made it necessary for me to talk a lot more than I had to at home.
There, beautiful, I guess that finishes your letters up to date. If I don't get any to answer tomorrow I will have a chance to give you another "Traveltalk" letter. I hope you like those kind and can get an idea of what I've seen from them. I was intending to put a little of it in this one but I guess I'm about unwound for tonight. I'll start on that when I feel in the mood and can do justice to the subject material.
Thanks an awful lot for the "token" bracelet, honey. It's a dandy. I'll love it and think of you every time I look at it. I wish the "Love, Babe" were on top but I know it's there and that is what counts.
Night my sweetheart. I'm loving you so much. I'm thanking you with a lot of hugs and kisses, the kind you like. Of course they are long distance, imaginary ones darn it.
Your hubby.
Norm.
Tuesday eve.
Sept. 26
My precious sweetheart;
Well, honey, you can quit wondering and teasing me about your second little surprise. It got here today. I can see now why you were so anxious for me to get it and get whatever comment might be forthcoming. After the many times I told you I didn't want one I can imagine you are wondering how it would be received. I'll be honest about it. I really didn't want one as you know. But, honey, I love it anyhow. Those two words inscribed on the very back make it very precious. Love, Babe. That makes it so much more than an ordinary identification bracelet that I'll always love it and wear it too, whenever I can. It's too nice to wear for work and everything everyday but you can bet that if we ever start moving it'll be on my wrist all the time. Like having a picture of you in my pocket where I can look at it all the time. Your best wishes and love with me at all times. I like it an awful lot for what it means and I think you sent it with that idea in mind more than as an ordinary bracelet. This may not all be very clear but what I'm trying to say is I love it. I love you too. It's a beauty, honey. I'll be proud to wear it for you, so there too. Does that ease your mind and satisfy you about what I think of it? Your letters and the hints about it sounded a bit like you almost expected a calling down about it. Am I right? You should have known better. I like anything you send or anything you do. I love you. It really is a beauty. I'll have to take a few links out of the chain but that is a small matter and then it will be perfect. The boys all thought it was a dandy also. I can't get lost now, can I? I could even wear that when I'm around you. Wouldn't be in the way like dog tags are. You're sweet, honey. I love you so much. Love, Babe. I like that, honey.
The little package was all I got today. No letters. Must be some congestion in the mail both ways. You weren't getting yours very regularly and I'm not either. Can't kick yet though. The last letter I got is only thirteen days old. I'll be getting a bunch of them again one of these days.
As I've said before, don't ever doubt for a minute that I'm not taking care of myself 'cause I am. I'm making as sure as I can that I'm going to come back as good as I left if not better. Anyhow I think my beautiful wife will have her hands full with her old bald headed man. He'll be ornery as hell and hard to get along with.
I will avail myself of the permission to take a ride in a transport if I ever get the opportunity. I do think it would be fun to go someplace that way and then I'd like to see what the country looks like from above. Beside that, it's free if I can manage it. That may be just another way that you will change. The day may come when we'll go on our weekend trips in our own car of the air. It's very probable a few years after the war.
Yes, you probably could do something about it or at least as much as you could if you were right here. Even though you wouldn't ever know if I did things you didn't want me to, I still respect your wishes as much as I can. I love you and I like to do what you want me to in most cases. I sure proved that by going to Jungle School didn't I? Right after you had told me you didn't want me to go back into the interior. It wasn't altogether my adventurous spirit although that had a lot to do with it. What I learned may someday mean the difference that counts. Anyhow it didn't hurt me a bit and it will make a good story for you to hear someday.
Sweetheart, I don't think you need to worry a bit about my Mom not liking you. I'm sure she does. Remember she has some of my traits and one is not to show what our feelings really are. She has never said much to me on the subject but I've always been of the opinion that she approves of you very much. Why shouldn't she? You're the best a man could ever have and I love you.
Yes, honey, the score of seven is very correct. We made that mark on Aug 7, 1943 and I'll never forget it. Will you? We were both hurtin as a result but by Tuesday we were good as new. I don't mind a bit hurtin that way. Like it much better than hurtin the way I am now, that's for sure. I'm not going to promise to break that record either but I sure intend to try and with a lot of help and encouragement of the right kind it could easily happen. Guess I'd better make a note to cut the phones wires though. No interruptions needed or wanted. Your exclamation to Art when he called at an inopportune moment about covers the situation. Another of your involuntary exclamations that I'll never forget.
I sure do remember the time at Bub & Betty's when I got mad at you and I'm not a bit repentant for being mad even yet. That was about the first time a girl had ever done that to me to that extent and I was hurtin plenty. I couldn't believe that you could be innocent of the turmoil you were causing and I guess I did everything but use force when we walked down the lane. I was even tempted to use force. I still can't understand how you were so innocent when you had a brother like Ed around and had gone about with Len Rotman and Bill Hartman but I have since come to believe it and you're forgiven. You were forgiven very soon after that anyhow, and I got rather used to it so I wasn't hurtin too bad the rest of our courtin days. I just couldn't help but love you. You're what I want. Gee, I'm glad I gotcha.
You seem to think some of the things I do now are recent developments but not all of them are, as Mom can tell you. I used to spend a lot of time drawing maps and things and they tell me I used to sew when I was a kid. Started out like a priss didn't I? I'll admit I've learned a lot about telling and even showing my feelings but that can all be credited to your influence. This separation has made it necessary for me to talk a lot more than I had to at home.
There, beautiful, I guess that finishes your letters up to date. If I don't get any to answer tomorrow I will have a chance to give you another "Traveltalk" letter. I hope you like those kind and can get an idea of what I've seen from them. I was intending to put a little of it in this one but I guess I'm about unwound for tonight. I'll start on that when I feel in the mood and can do justice to the subject material.
Thanks an awful lot for the "token" bracelet, honey. It's a dandy. I'll love it and think of you every time I look at it. I wish the "Love, Babe" were on top but I know it's there and that is what counts.
Night my sweetheart. I'm loving you so much. I'm thanking you with a lot of hugs and kisses, the kind you like. Of course they are long distance, imaginary ones darn it.
Your hubby.
Norm.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Letter # 479 September 25, 1944
New Guinea
Monday eve.
Sept 25, 1944
My Sweetheart;
Nothing of interest in my day so I won't dwell on it, just back at the old work like at Polk. I'll go right to answering your letters. Didn't get any today but I have three here to work on and then I'll be caught up again. Took me quite a while to get over that stack I had. Now for your Sept 11th.
I hope by this time you have been able to find Steve's first stopping place. Probably have to be a very recent map. Quite close to a place famous in the news of '42 - '43. I sure know where it is.
I didn't have as many letters when I got here as Steve did though. He had fifty four. That's a lot of them. Just the same, I bet they weren't as long or as sweet as the ones I get. I'd like to see a letter of his to his wife. Wonder if it would be like all the others he writes?
I don't quite get why Jean couldn't go to see Gus even if he does work seven days a week. He could be with her at night couldn't he? It does look a lot like he would get to stay in the states. Good for him. I'd like to be able to see my Mummy once in a while too. Once in a while, hell! I want to see her all the time. I love her so much.
You can bet I manage to keep busy at something most of the time. If the army slips and doesn't do it, I can always find a lot of things I want to do. Never get half of them done either. That's the way I want it anyhow. You know me. I can't sit still too long at one time and I sure don't need to spend any more time sleeping. Now with the W.A.C. in I can surely keep busy. Of course I won't resort to that unless I have nothing else to do. Just something to keep on tap.
I think you are worrying too much about the heat down here. I'm not kidding when I say it isn't a bit worse than La. Anyhow I don't mind it as much as I did there. I'm getting used to it I guess. The only bad part is the being wet constantly. The nights are still cool and I use a blanket every night, sometimes two. That's one feature we didn't have in La. Sleep like a log here and rest very well except on the nights when I find something similar to a very small log in bed with me. Don't let me kid you. I even sleep plenty well then. Wouldn't though if there was anything better to do. Gosh, honey, we're missing you plenty in lots of ways.
We must be getting into our rainy season. It's raining again tonight. It did that when we were first here. The change of the seasons must bring it on. I have recently learned that this particular section is one of the driest on the island and was chosen for that particular reason. Let her rain. I don't care. With my modifications on the tent, I'm nice and dry. When the thermometer gets here I can tell you what it really is. It'll register plenty high. I'm certain it has never been near 120 degrees yet.
So you're having fun teasing me about the surprises are you? That reminds me. I worked a little more on my surprise for you. I think it's going to be cute. It'll probably take me some time yet to finish it so don't get ants in your pants. If you wonder and are as much surprised as I was, everything will be ok. This won't be as nice as my surprise was but I think you'll like it.
Have you ever heard any more about Tony?
Gosh, honey, you don't know how glad I am that we all get along so well as a family. I hear so much swearing and cussing out of mothers-in-law all the time, it makes me sick. In some cases it may be true. They can't all have as nice in-laws as I have, but I think a lot of it must be their fault also. I've surely never had any reason to do the least bit of swearing at my new Mom & Pop. Much the contrary. I owe them a lot of thanks. It also makes me very happy to be told that they think about the same of me. I want them to, 'cause I like 'em. Gosh, honey, they sure raised a swell daughter. I'm very much in love with her. Did you know it? I am. She's still the best I've ever seen or will see I think
It does sound nice for Grafton in Hawaii, but some fellows that have been there since the war say it is little better in most ways than here and in some ways worse. Terribly crowded and almost impossible to do anything unless you stand in line for hours and hours. That's one of the reasons I seldom go anyplace since I've been in the army. I never did like crowds and that is what there always is. I'm satisfied with this as long as it has to be anything.
I was glad to hear about Gleason. I supposed he was still in college and here he has been over for some time already. They are nearly all getting in some traveling aren't they? If his mother is right and he is on an S.S.T. it seems funny if they are hauling wounded or prisoners. That is the type of boat that usually carries our kind of outfit to the scene of the operations. He went in as an Ensign, didn't he? Didn't you once say they were expecting?
You are right in thinking the "back to work" phrase meant we were getting equipment. I never realized that it wasn't a very definite statement.
Your guess as to what our job will be may be very correct. Until recently I would have bet on it but now I'm not so sure. I am almost of the opinion that there will be very little fighting for the Philippines. Probably cut them off and render them useless to Japan. This is merely my guess and isn't a bit better than yours.
This tent house of ours may look very primitive to you but, strange as it may seem, I like it a lot better than any barracks I was ever in. Very comfortable in this climate and beside all that, there is no scrubbing the floor every morning and no set time for lights, such as they are, to be out and also no standard way for equipment and things to be kept. In other words it's more like being in a home of my own making. Get the idea? A retreat from all the regular army shit. My things don't have to exactly match the other fellows.
Can you forget the surprise I'm cooking up for you? You're a softee too, I bet. This is kinda fun isn't it? I hope I don't build you up too much and then let you down when you get it. Don't expect too much. Things to work with are plenty limited down here.
If your library job is for the duration you won't need to worry about being out of a job, not if you accept the one I have for you. Of course, I am very much afraid the six months plus will be close to up by the time I get back, but you can be very sure I'll be there the first day possible. This having a perfect wife way over there, and me way over here isn't a bit to my liking. I want my wife. That's why I've got her.
Yes, honey, I'll vote seeing you are so set on it. I'll be glad to get any dope Pop may care to send only I'm afraid you're giving him a job he won't like very much. He will probably feel like he is influencing or telling me what to do. I won't take it at all that way but it is a delicate subject for most people.
Night, sweetheart. I'm loving you so much.
Your Hubby.
Norm.
Monday eve.
Sept 25, 1944
My Sweetheart;
Nothing of interest in my day so I won't dwell on it, just back at the old work like at Polk. I'll go right to answering your letters. Didn't get any today but I have three here to work on and then I'll be caught up again. Took me quite a while to get over that stack I had. Now for your Sept 11th.
I hope by this time you have been able to find Steve's first stopping place. Probably have to be a very recent map. Quite close to a place famous in the news of '42 - '43. I sure know where it is.
I didn't have as many letters when I got here as Steve did though. He had fifty four. That's a lot of them. Just the same, I bet they weren't as long or as sweet as the ones I get. I'd like to see a letter of his to his wife. Wonder if it would be like all the others he writes?
I don't quite get why Jean couldn't go to see Gus even if he does work seven days a week. He could be with her at night couldn't he? It does look a lot like he would get to stay in the states. Good for him. I'd like to be able to see my Mummy once in a while too. Once in a while, hell! I want to see her all the time. I love her so much.
You can bet I manage to keep busy at something most of the time. If the army slips and doesn't do it, I can always find a lot of things I want to do. Never get half of them done either. That's the way I want it anyhow. You know me. I can't sit still too long at one time and I sure don't need to spend any more time sleeping. Now with the W.A.C. in I can surely keep busy. Of course I won't resort to that unless I have nothing else to do. Just something to keep on tap.
I think you are worrying too much about the heat down here. I'm not kidding when I say it isn't a bit worse than La. Anyhow I don't mind it as much as I did there. I'm getting used to it I guess. The only bad part is the being wet constantly. The nights are still cool and I use a blanket every night, sometimes two. That's one feature we didn't have in La. Sleep like a log here and rest very well except on the nights when I find something similar to a very small log in bed with me. Don't let me kid you. I even sleep plenty well then. Wouldn't though if there was anything better to do. Gosh, honey, we're missing you plenty in lots of ways.
We must be getting into our rainy season. It's raining again tonight. It did that when we were first here. The change of the seasons must bring it on. I have recently learned that this particular section is one of the driest on the island and was chosen for that particular reason. Let her rain. I don't care. With my modifications on the tent, I'm nice and dry. When the thermometer gets here I can tell you what it really is. It'll register plenty high. I'm certain it has never been near 120 degrees yet.
So you're having fun teasing me about the surprises are you? That reminds me. I worked a little more on my surprise for you. I think it's going to be cute. It'll probably take me some time yet to finish it so don't get ants in your pants. If you wonder and are as much surprised as I was, everything will be ok. This won't be as nice as my surprise was but I think you'll like it.
Have you ever heard any more about Tony?
Gosh, honey, you don't know how glad I am that we all get along so well as a family. I hear so much swearing and cussing out of mothers-in-law all the time, it makes me sick. In some cases it may be true. They can't all have as nice in-laws as I have, but I think a lot of it must be their fault also. I've surely never had any reason to do the least bit of swearing at my new Mom & Pop. Much the contrary. I owe them a lot of thanks. It also makes me very happy to be told that they think about the same of me. I want them to, 'cause I like 'em. Gosh, honey, they sure raised a swell daughter. I'm very much in love with her. Did you know it? I am. She's still the best I've ever seen or will see I think
It does sound nice for Grafton in Hawaii, but some fellows that have been there since the war say it is little better in most ways than here and in some ways worse. Terribly crowded and almost impossible to do anything unless you stand in line for hours and hours. That's one of the reasons I seldom go anyplace since I've been in the army. I never did like crowds and that is what there always is. I'm satisfied with this as long as it has to be anything.
I was glad to hear about Gleason. I supposed he was still in college and here he has been over for some time already. They are nearly all getting in some traveling aren't they? If his mother is right and he is on an S.S.T. it seems funny if they are hauling wounded or prisoners. That is the type of boat that usually carries our kind of outfit to the scene of the operations. He went in as an Ensign, didn't he? Didn't you once say they were expecting?
You are right in thinking the "back to work" phrase meant we were getting equipment. I never realized that it wasn't a very definite statement.
Your guess as to what our job will be may be very correct. Until recently I would have bet on it but now I'm not so sure. I am almost of the opinion that there will be very little fighting for the Philippines. Probably cut them off and render them useless to Japan. This is merely my guess and isn't a bit better than yours.
This tent house of ours may look very primitive to you but, strange as it may seem, I like it a lot better than any barracks I was ever in. Very comfortable in this climate and beside all that, there is no scrubbing the floor every morning and no set time for lights, such as they are, to be out and also no standard way for equipment and things to be kept. In other words it's more like being in a home of my own making. Get the idea? A retreat from all the regular army shit. My things don't have to exactly match the other fellows.
Can you forget the surprise I'm cooking up for you? You're a softee too, I bet. This is kinda fun isn't it? I hope I don't build you up too much and then let you down when you get it. Don't expect too much. Things to work with are plenty limited down here.
If your library job is for the duration you won't need to worry about being out of a job, not if you accept the one I have for you. Of course, I am very much afraid the six months plus will be close to up by the time I get back, but you can be very sure I'll be there the first day possible. This having a perfect wife way over there, and me way over here isn't a bit to my liking. I want my wife. That's why I've got her.
Yes, honey, I'll vote seeing you are so set on it. I'll be glad to get any dope Pop may care to send only I'm afraid you're giving him a job he won't like very much. He will probably feel like he is influencing or telling me what to do. I won't take it at all that way but it is a delicate subject for most people.
Night, sweetheart. I'm loving you so much.
Your Hubby.
Norm.
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