New Guinea
Wed. eve.
Oct. 11, 44
Hello Sweetheart;
How's my beautiful tonight? Ornery I hope. If you're ornery, nice ornery I mean. I know you're all right. You're cute when you're nice ornery. Like you that way. Better stay that way too 'cause when I come home - well, the first person that interrupts is doing so at their own risk. I'll cut the telephone wires on the way in and barricade the drive. Gonna have you all by yourself for a while and get reacquainted with you fast. I love you, darling.
I'm afraid this will turn out to be rather short again tonight. I had good intentions and was already to start in when I had callers. Brownie and Leckner. We sat and shot the breeze for over two hours. I'm not like you. I won't stay up until 2 or 3 in the morning to write a letter. Lazy ain't I? Anyhow you will fare as good as Leckner's wife. He had her letter all written and came up to verify the spelling of a word. Imagine me telling anyone how to spell. One of my worst subjects.
Well he got into the bull session and when he went back to his tent the candle had burned up and burned his letter to boot. Kinda made him mad so he's going to write a note and tell her his letter burned up and he'll write another tomorrow. I won't do that bad but it will be short. Hope you don't cuss me too much. I know you won't 'cause you're a very sweet girl.
Wednesday and half day off. It rained on and off all afternoon so I had a good chance to get in a little more sewing and also work a couple of hours on one of your surprises. They're coming along, sweetheart. If you can hold your water a while longer, I'll get them on their way. There. I'm teasing a little again but I haven't done so bad. Bet I haven't mentioned them for a week or more. Don't you wish you knew what they are?
Can you guess? I don't think you can even come close, especially to one of them. Idea all my own. I think you'll like them too. Am I getting back at you for all your teasing? If I'm not I will when I come home. I'll tease you all the time, be a different kind of teasing but still teasing. Will you get mad and say, "get it over with." or will you play nice and say, "Lets." You better be nice.
I got a letter today. They mixed them up for the first time in a long time. This was the 29th. The 28th is missing for the time being. This mail business is funny. You say you got a letter from Jim and he was writing me at the same time. I haven't yet gotten it if he did. I suspicioned he was on the move and had even guessed where he was headed for. I don't know exactly any more than you do. His letters sure do seem to get there pretty fast. Seven days is darn good. He must personally put them on the plane himself.
There surely are a lot of fellows down here now that I know and more coming all the time. Never yet one of them, but that isn't so queer. It's like looking for someone on Coney island on a record day in the summer. Busy place.
That Rittman football game sounds like the real thing. The kind I like.You must have forgotten about the touch back. Remember the Wadsworth game two years ago in the snow? Our first score was a touch back there too. It's a touch back when the opposing team is downed with the ball behind our goal line. It can't be a touchdown 'cause we don't have the ball but the rules give us two points for it. You were probably so cold that night two years ago the explanation didn't stick. Remember now? I see I still have a little teaching to do myself when I get home. I'm glad 'cause I don't want it to be all one sided. You'll have plenty to teach me, that I know. Will you be my teacher, honey? I want you to be, so bad. I love you, you know.
There are lots of things I won't need too much teaching to catch on to again. Only some review and practice. Of course you say you have some new steps all figured out and those may take a bit of teaching. I'll promise to be a very attentive and apt pupil. Do you want the job now? The only string attached is that I expect to be teacher's pet and don't want her teaching any special stuff to anyone but me. I'll be jealous if you do.
I'm going to stop now, honey and go to bed. Maybe I can dream up some tricks to play on "teacher". Night, honey, I'm loving you so much.
Your hubby.
Norm.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Letter # 493 October 10, 1944
New Guinea
Tues. Oct 10, 44
My Darling;
I don't know how much of a letter this is going to be. I don't have much to talk about and I didn't get any letters so I'll just have to ramble. Bet I get a pile of them all at once again one of these days.
I haven't said anything about the temperature the last few days 'cause it has been about the same all along. No rain now for over a week and the dust is terrific again. It seems to rain here only in spells. I'm told that this area is one of the few dry spots on the island. A few miles on either side of us it rains every day almost. It's the same back in the interior. Rain and more rain.
I had told you about the garden and how fast things grew. Well I'm beginning to see a fault now. The soil is all humus and grows big healthy looking bushes, vines, and etc. but seems to lack the minerals to produce very well. This soil looks perfect but it would need fertilizer to finish a crop. Since it's getting warmer the lack of rain can be noticed too. Tomato plants were wilted quite a bit at noon today. Still lots of dampness at night but this sun seems to draw that away in no time. November and December are supposed to be the wet months here. I don't know if it will affect this area or not.
I just took a break and heard the final game of the World Series. The Cardinals win the Series. I've heard all the games. Some darn good ones too. I expect you're surprised to hear me taking much interest in baseball. It just seems good to hear about things that I was accustomed to hear as everyday subjects when I was home. Then I got a bit interested in hardball when I was playing down here. Our ball playing has kinda fizzled out now that we're back to work. I haven't played since I went to Jungle School. Little bit hot to get out in the sun and play ball anyhow.
Tonight Johnny got his first pictures back. He had his camera with him you know and he sent these away the 15th of August. Almost two months so you can make a rough guess at when you will be getting some. I sent my first ones the 25th of Sept. That will make it the first part of Dec. before I can get any to you. Long time to wait isn't it honey? While I'm thinking about it. Several of the boys will want duplicates of some of these pictures and they only want to print one over here. If I tell you how many of each I want, will you have them printed and send them back? I won't ask you to do like Bonnie did. That would be a lot of work. Let them send them back home themselves. Then I can collect and send the money back to you.
The pictures Johnny got back were really pretty good. Only slightly dull. It's the paper they have to use over here. The negatives are good and should make good reprints. Haven't taken any more pictures lately. I had the camera along Sunday but it was a bit hazy and I don't want to waste any film. May someday go someplace where I want it bad. I will try to keep some coming though. I know how nice it is to get pictures. They seem to tell so much more than a host of words. I know I can't send as nice pictures as you've sent me but maybe they'll do. Anyhow, I'll be in some of them. I haven't tried the color film yet. Saving it for the opportune time. I did want to use it up the trail but it seemed when I had a worthy subject, the light was poor. Someday on the beach maybe. After I get it taken the next thing will be to get it to you. Maybe I can manage somehow.
Honey, do you remember what was happening a year ago tonight? It was Sunday, and far from being a day of rest, it was one of the most anxious and nerve trying days I ever put in. In case you don't remember, I had finished school at Knox and they were holding us there for further orders. I wanted so badly to get home to my honey and I was very much afraid they were going to cancel my furlough or something like that. I'd go through hundreds of "Michigan" nights rather than another two days like that. I guess you were sweating it out plenty too, weren't you? Didn't it all turn out swell though?
More like that coming, too, only this time it won't be only fifteen days. It'll be months, years, and decades. Nice to think about, huh?
I'm going to cheat you tonight. Can't seem to get on the beam. I'm on your beam though and with the help of your picture I can almost feel you loving me. I'm loving you too, sweetheart.
Your Norm.
Tues. Oct 10, 44
My Darling;
I don't know how much of a letter this is going to be. I don't have much to talk about and I didn't get any letters so I'll just have to ramble. Bet I get a pile of them all at once again one of these days.
I haven't said anything about the temperature the last few days 'cause it has been about the same all along. No rain now for over a week and the dust is terrific again. It seems to rain here only in spells. I'm told that this area is one of the few dry spots on the island. A few miles on either side of us it rains every day almost. It's the same back in the interior. Rain and more rain.
I had told you about the garden and how fast things grew. Well I'm beginning to see a fault now. The soil is all humus and grows big healthy looking bushes, vines, and etc. but seems to lack the minerals to produce very well. This soil looks perfect but it would need fertilizer to finish a crop. Since it's getting warmer the lack of rain can be noticed too. Tomato plants were wilted quite a bit at noon today. Still lots of dampness at night but this sun seems to draw that away in no time. November and December are supposed to be the wet months here. I don't know if it will affect this area or not.
I just took a break and heard the final game of the World Series. The Cardinals win the Series. I've heard all the games. Some darn good ones too. I expect you're surprised to hear me taking much interest in baseball. It just seems good to hear about things that I was accustomed to hear as everyday subjects when I was home. Then I got a bit interested in hardball when I was playing down here. Our ball playing has kinda fizzled out now that we're back to work. I haven't played since I went to Jungle School. Little bit hot to get out in the sun and play ball anyhow.
Tonight Johnny got his first pictures back. He had his camera with him you know and he sent these away the 15th of August. Almost two months so you can make a rough guess at when you will be getting some. I sent my first ones the 25th of Sept. That will make it the first part of Dec. before I can get any to you. Long time to wait isn't it honey? While I'm thinking about it. Several of the boys will want duplicates of some of these pictures and they only want to print one over here. If I tell you how many of each I want, will you have them printed and send them back? I won't ask you to do like Bonnie did. That would be a lot of work. Let them send them back home themselves. Then I can collect and send the money back to you.
The pictures Johnny got back were really pretty good. Only slightly dull. It's the paper they have to use over here. The negatives are good and should make good reprints. Haven't taken any more pictures lately. I had the camera along Sunday but it was a bit hazy and I don't want to waste any film. May someday go someplace where I want it bad. I will try to keep some coming though. I know how nice it is to get pictures. They seem to tell so much more than a host of words. I know I can't send as nice pictures as you've sent me but maybe they'll do. Anyhow, I'll be in some of them. I haven't tried the color film yet. Saving it for the opportune time. I did want to use it up the trail but it seemed when I had a worthy subject, the light was poor. Someday on the beach maybe. After I get it taken the next thing will be to get it to you. Maybe I can manage somehow.
Honey, do you remember what was happening a year ago tonight? It was Sunday, and far from being a day of rest, it was one of the most anxious and nerve trying days I ever put in. In case you don't remember, I had finished school at Knox and they were holding us there for further orders. I wanted so badly to get home to my honey and I was very much afraid they were going to cancel my furlough or something like that. I'd go through hundreds of "Michigan" nights rather than another two days like that. I guess you were sweating it out plenty too, weren't you? Didn't it all turn out swell though?
More like that coming, too, only this time it won't be only fifteen days. It'll be months, years, and decades. Nice to think about, huh?
I'm going to cheat you tonight. Can't seem to get on the beam. I'm on your beam though and with the help of your picture I can almost feel you loving me. I'm loving you too, sweetheart.
Your Norm.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Letter # 492 October 9, 1944
New Guinea
Monday eve
Oct, 9, 1944
Hello Luscious and lovely;
I didn't get any mail from you today so I now have a chance to continue telling you of the trip to the west coast. Don't have anything to report from here either so nothing stopping me.
If my memory isn't fooling me I've covered it as far as L.A. and left it there. The pictures that Bonnie sent have probably given you the general route of the trip. I don't know but it seems I have written about this, did I? I'm slipping too, I guess.
L.A. is a pretty city, anyhow, what little we saw of it was. All the west coast cities are different from ours in that there are very few real tall buildings. The cities are scattered out over a large area and those on the coast, like L.A. and Frisco are built on hills. We think Akron has some hills. Not even mole hills in comparison. Sure is lucky they never have any ice or snow or the undertakers and junk yards would be plenty busy.
From L.A. we went east again back over the coast range and to Bakersfield, Fresno, Merced, and into camp. The trip over the mountains was scenic and interesting. Didn't get very high up, about 4000 feet I guess but it sure was a long slow climb and we had two big mountain engines too. The engineer's cab on these trains is on the front of the engine, so the engineer has a better and quicker view of the tracks on those winding, curving roads. Funny looking things. Seem to be going backward all the time. That must be one of the new things in railroading. Never saw any like them before. I can't get too enthused over what I saw of California's mountains. Didn't even catch more than a couple glimpses of the peaks in the eastern range so I can't say much of them. They say they are the really pretty ones. The coast range is rugged and the roads as steep as any mountain roads I've ever been on but not pretty. Very little timber. What there is is mostly scrub. It's either bare rock or covered with a brown looking grass. Evidently good grazing. Lots of cattle feeding all over the hills, small farms here and there too.
I think I'm right about this figure. 27 tunnels we went through in crossing that range of mountains. Only one was very long. I'd guess it to be a mile. On the way down the east side and into the San Joaquin Valley we had some fun betting if the railroad we could see way below us was the one we were on. It usually was but at the time it seemed impossible. The old story about the engineer and the men in the caboose shaking hands when they go around a sharp curve could almost be true on that trip.
The trip up the valley was a repetition of some of the irrigated lands in Arizona. Lots of fruit, oranges, grapefruit, olives, dates, and lots of garden farms. I remember going past large areas of grapes too. Grains, hay, and such are also grown there, practically all by irrigation from the eastern mountains. It seems that the coast catches all the rain clouds and very little falls in the valleys. The roads, cities, and homes up the valley are typical of any prosperous farming section in Ohio. As we got closer to Frisco we saw snow on quite a few of the mountain tops. Of course that was early in May. 9-10-11-12 to be exact. The days were warm, the sun hot, but the nights cool or almost cold.
Got into camp at midnight and of course, true to Army customs, we must have a short arm and get a couple shots in the arm, before we could go to bed. I had my overcoat on. Remember how heavy it was, and was cold even then. We stripped out in the cold and filed through the examination. You can bet we were cussing at everything and everyone too. Just like the first experience in Army life.
Got settled in time to get up again next morning and do very little but wait and play ball and such for the next two weeks. Had a few little road marches just to keep us in shape you know. One was about a 15 miler back into the hills. That was one march I really enjoyed. You know me and the hills. Just can't stay out of them if there is any way to get into them. Crazy enough to even like going on foot.
I went into Pittsburgh one night out of curiosity mostly. I did go to try to find a crystal for my watch and to see what the possible accommodations for a wife might be. I was sure there would be no chance of you coming but, hell, a man can hope, can't he? I was still hoping until I walked up the gangplank too. Hope, and the things a fellow has to go back to are the biggest factors that keep us going on. I for one, have so much to go back to that I should be able to keep going a long time. I will too, but I don't like it. I want my Mummy with me. I love her and miss her like the devil.
The town was only five minutes from camp and was rather nice for a small place. Not quite as big as Medina, I'd say. Several hotels though and a lot of new "housing project" homes. wouldn't that have been a set up for us?
Nice camp too. More theaters and more and better P.X.'s. Ice cream and milk shakes and cold drinks. Gosh it sure was good by comparison to Polk. The food was swell too. I had nearly regained my pre-war weight while we were there, 190 lbs. That's why you think my picture looked better than I had before. I was me again, then.
You know about my visit to Frisco so I needn't go into that again. Of any big cities I've ever seen, I like Frisco best. Steve really showed me the town too.
Then Saturday the 27th we took off for Frisco by boat and transferred there to our transport. Sunday we sailed out the bay, past Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate Bridge and out across the limitless, blue Pacific. It sure seemed limitless too. Except for a few hazy outlines we never saw land again until the 17th. That was New Guinea. On the 20th we got here and still are here.
The 6th of June we crossed the Equator and had the usual celebration on board. You've read of the initiations and etc. pulled on all landlubbers. I was only a spectator but I am sending in another letter the diploma I received to prove I've been over the Equator. On Friday the 9th we crossed the date line and so missed Saturday entirely. Two of our boys missed having a birthday because of that. Crazy but it's true. Went to bed Friday night and got up Sunday morning.
Well, honey, I guess that brings us up to date on the travels of Sgt. Effinger. For any more you'll have to wait until they happen. Who knows. It may be the Philippines or India or China next. I hope it's the U.S.A. but I doubt it very much.
Night, my lovely. Gosh that look sure gets me, honey. If it was only the real flesh and blood you, I'd be in heaven on earth. I loves you so much. Miss you too.
Your hubby.
Norm.
Monday eve
Oct, 9, 1944
Hello Luscious and lovely;
I didn't get any mail from you today so I now have a chance to continue telling you of the trip to the west coast. Don't have anything to report from here either so nothing stopping me.
If my memory isn't fooling me I've covered it as far as L.A. and left it there. The pictures that Bonnie sent have probably given you the general route of the trip. I don't know but it seems I have written about this, did I? I'm slipping too, I guess.
L.A. is a pretty city, anyhow, what little we saw of it was. All the west coast cities are different from ours in that there are very few real tall buildings. The cities are scattered out over a large area and those on the coast, like L.A. and Frisco are built on hills. We think Akron has some hills. Not even mole hills in comparison. Sure is lucky they never have any ice or snow or the undertakers and junk yards would be plenty busy.
From L.A. we went east again back over the coast range and to Bakersfield, Fresno, Merced, and into camp. The trip over the mountains was scenic and interesting. Didn't get very high up, about 4000 feet I guess but it sure was a long slow climb and we had two big mountain engines too. The engineer's cab on these trains is on the front of the engine, so the engineer has a better and quicker view of the tracks on those winding, curving roads. Funny looking things. Seem to be going backward all the time. That must be one of the new things in railroading. Never saw any like them before. I can't get too enthused over what I saw of California's mountains. Didn't even catch more than a couple glimpses of the peaks in the eastern range so I can't say much of them. They say they are the really pretty ones. The coast range is rugged and the roads as steep as any mountain roads I've ever been on but not pretty. Very little timber. What there is is mostly scrub. It's either bare rock or covered with a brown looking grass. Evidently good grazing. Lots of cattle feeding all over the hills, small farms here and there too.
I think I'm right about this figure. 27 tunnels we went through in crossing that range of mountains. Only one was very long. I'd guess it to be a mile. On the way down the east side and into the San Joaquin Valley we had some fun betting if the railroad we could see way below us was the one we were on. It usually was but at the time it seemed impossible. The old story about the engineer and the men in the caboose shaking hands when they go around a sharp curve could almost be true on that trip.
The trip up the valley was a repetition of some of the irrigated lands in Arizona. Lots of fruit, oranges, grapefruit, olives, dates, and lots of garden farms. I remember going past large areas of grapes too. Grains, hay, and such are also grown there, practically all by irrigation from the eastern mountains. It seems that the coast catches all the rain clouds and very little falls in the valleys. The roads, cities, and homes up the valley are typical of any prosperous farming section in Ohio. As we got closer to Frisco we saw snow on quite a few of the mountain tops. Of course that was early in May. 9-10-11-12 to be exact. The days were warm, the sun hot, but the nights cool or almost cold.
Got into camp at midnight and of course, true to Army customs, we must have a short arm and get a couple shots in the arm, before we could go to bed. I had my overcoat on. Remember how heavy it was, and was cold even then. We stripped out in the cold and filed through the examination. You can bet we were cussing at everything and everyone too. Just like the first experience in Army life.
Got settled in time to get up again next morning and do very little but wait and play ball and such for the next two weeks. Had a few little road marches just to keep us in shape you know. One was about a 15 miler back into the hills. That was one march I really enjoyed. You know me and the hills. Just can't stay out of them if there is any way to get into them. Crazy enough to even like going on foot.
I went into Pittsburgh one night out of curiosity mostly. I did go to try to find a crystal for my watch and to see what the possible accommodations for a wife might be. I was sure there would be no chance of you coming but, hell, a man can hope, can't he? I was still hoping until I walked up the gangplank too. Hope, and the things a fellow has to go back to are the biggest factors that keep us going on. I for one, have so much to go back to that I should be able to keep going a long time. I will too, but I don't like it. I want my Mummy with me. I love her and miss her like the devil.
The town was only five minutes from camp and was rather nice for a small place. Not quite as big as Medina, I'd say. Several hotels though and a lot of new "housing project" homes. wouldn't that have been a set up for us?
Nice camp too. More theaters and more and better P.X.'s. Ice cream and milk shakes and cold drinks. Gosh it sure was good by comparison to Polk. The food was swell too. I had nearly regained my pre-war weight while we were there, 190 lbs. That's why you think my picture looked better than I had before. I was me again, then.
You know about my visit to Frisco so I needn't go into that again. Of any big cities I've ever seen, I like Frisco best. Steve really showed me the town too.
Then Saturday the 27th we took off for Frisco by boat and transferred there to our transport. Sunday we sailed out the bay, past Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate Bridge and out across the limitless, blue Pacific. It sure seemed limitless too. Except for a few hazy outlines we never saw land again until the 17th. That was New Guinea. On the 20th we got here and still are here.
The 6th of June we crossed the Equator and had the usual celebration on board. You've read of the initiations and etc. pulled on all landlubbers. I was only a spectator but I am sending in another letter the diploma I received to prove I've been over the Equator. On Friday the 9th we crossed the date line and so missed Saturday entirely. Two of our boys missed having a birthday because of that. Crazy but it's true. Went to bed Friday night and got up Sunday morning.
Well, honey, I guess that brings us up to date on the travels of Sgt. Effinger. For any more you'll have to wait until they happen. Who knows. It may be the Philippines or India or China next. I hope it's the U.S.A. but I doubt it very much.
Night, my lovely. Gosh that look sure gets me, honey. If it was only the real flesh and blood you, I'd be in heaven on earth. I loves you so much. Miss you too.
Your hubby.
Norm.
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