Life on Aitutaki- 1943

 

Friday 1 January 1943

It seems the Lt. is starting the New Year $200.00 over in his cash count. We just can’t find the error. The natives came up to the Headquarters and put on a pageant for us. Dancing and singing. They were dressed in their native costumes. One of the old chieftains led the show. These girls can really shake a wicked pair of hips. Out of about a hundred girls only about 3 or 4 could be called attractive. Played Show Down with Moon and Hatcher – lost $2.30. In the evening several of us played “Rummy Poker” – I lost $2.50. Now I am flat broke. One day after payday. I wonder if I will ever learn. They put the bugler in the guardhouse last night, but it didn’t stop the bugle. He still blows even under guard.

 

Saturday 2 January 1943

Played “Rummy Poker” during lunch hour – won a dime. Bill, the Lt. and I were talking about Banking; he is quite interested in it and thinks he might try working for them after the war.  Bill ran tapes for briefing in the morning. I ran tapes in the afternoon. Bill and I went down to Ben’s place; we brought him a billfold he wanted. Got some more shells – not many good ones though. Stopped in at Henry’s on the way back. Brought the laundry and several coconuts back with us.

 

Sunday 3 January 1943

The rest of the boys went swimming and out in the motorboat. Moon and I sat around the office and talked of old times before the war. Played a little Poker, the boys played ball in the afternoon. I wrote to Gerry and my mother. We had a chicken dinner today. The boys came back and we continued our Poker game, I won back a little of what I had lost in the morning.

 

Monday 4 January 1943

Briefed payrolls today. In the evening Bill Moon and I went down to Ben’s house. He gave us some shells and we sat around and talked until after 9:00 p.m. I took my laundry down to Henry’s place; no one was home, so I just left it there. A boat came in this morning from Honolulu. The only mail on this boat was just that which had been sent to the lost file at Honolulu and reclassified. I got two cards from my mother but no other mail. It only stayed here about three hours then it continued on to Australia. Only 9 sacks of mail. One of the cutest girls of the island tried to get me to go with her as I was walking down to Ben’s place. Perhaps I should have gone.

 

Tuesday 5 January 1943

Finished briefing the payrolls today. In the evening Bill Moon and I went down to Ben’s today. He had invited us to try some new native food. We played a card game with some of the kids (The Old Man is the name of the game). The dish tasted like tapioca pudding. It is made of arrowroot and coconut mixed with sugar and coconut milk added to it. Ben and his brother Tetane told us some of the old legends of the island. At one time this island had several fights between the seven villages. The last fight was just one week before Captain Cook discovered the island.

 

Wednesday 6 January 1943

Stu and I walked down to the village this morning and looked around in all three of the stores. They have practically depleted their stock. The rest of the morning I read an old "Times” magazine.

 

Thursday 7 January 1943

Doing practically nothing except reading all day. I discovered another use of a coconut tree. When a tree first sprouts out of a coconut it causes the milk to dry to a fluffy flakey substance very similar to sherbet when well frozen. Has a very good taste. The use of a coconut tree: 1.Water and food from milk; 2.Food from meat; 3.Fire for mosquitos; 4.Roof from leaves; 5.Desert from sprouted tree; 6.Money from Copra.

 

Friday 8 January 1943

I discovered today that I overpaid a voucher $120.00 on Donald Clarke. I have been running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to get it back. I went out to the hospital but he had already made out a money order for the money. So while I was there I had dinner with 1st Sgt. Spain and S/Sgt. Kaplan. After dinner we sat around in the Company Hdqtrs. building and shot the breeze with Cpl. Popkin. I came back to Hdqtrs. about 3:30. Played Rummy Poker, won $1.10 for all afternoon and an evening’s playing.

 

Saturday 9 January 1943

Moon and Travis paid off the Maoris today, leaving the rest of us in the office with nothing to do. I read most of the day. Wrote a letter to Gerry. We played Knock Knock Rummy Poker all evening. I quit 70¢ losers. The Boom-Boom boys went to Vaipae but didn’t ask us to go along even though they had a jeep.

 

Sunday 10 January 1943

Stu went down to the docks to get a boat. He got one with a 16 horse outboard. Lt. Polis, Moon, Bill and I went down a little later. We took Ben with us over to the island we had visited before [Maina]. Lt. Callaway was at the dock but was too stubborn to go with us because we hadn’t asked him before. Going over we didn’t have a bit of trouble. Coming back we broke 3 shear pins. It took us two hours to get back. We swam and walked out to the reef again. Ben speared several fish. We had some coconuts Ben got for us on the island and then came back. A boat was in when we got back. A small boat pulling a barge load of gasoline tanks. No mail aboard for us.

 

Monday 11 January 1943

Read during the morning, went out to the Airport and saw Clarke again. Bill and I took a jeep, went to the Ordnance Warehouse to find out about the 50-caliber machine gun I am supposed to be in charge of. I arranged for the crewmembers of the Ordnance to put the gun up. I got the money order to set Clarke’s voucher right. Bill and I picked up two of the Ordnance boys and took them to the Airport with us. On the way back we cut over the hill and took the new back road. Moon spent the day in bed, too much sun Sunday.

 

Tuesday 12 January 1943

Went out to the Airport hospital again this morning. Finally got Clarke’s $120. Finished getting all the signatures, now everything is balanced once again. Finished reading an Ellery Queen mystery story. The library opened today in the P.X. By the time I got there all the good books were taken. Played “Knock Knock” with the boys in the evening, won 40¢. Up to the very last I was down $2.00, but won nearly all the last 10 games.

 

Wednesday 13 January 1943

Cleaned my tommy gun this morning. Getting ready for today’s show down inspection. Found my woolen clothing in a horrible condition, all mildewed. We all passed the inspection without anything missing.  Our tent was the first one to be checked. After that several of the boys came in and borrowed enough equipment and clothing to fill out their inspection. This sort of thing in the Army is never very satisfactory. I walked down to Henry’s with Stu but no one was home.

 

Thursday 14 January 1943

All I have been doing the last few days is reading. My work is all caught up. The Lt. and I went out to the Airport and fooled around town all morning. The Lt. bought Anne Anderson some dress goods. Probably intends to do a little prospecting there as soon as she gets over her doctoring.

 

Friday 15 January 1943

The first payroll came in today, now I can start to work, 702nd Signal Corp. was first. Stu and I visited Henry for a while in the evening. I find it very boring to stay there for very long. We have nothing in common with them. They have started 6 skirts for us. They are going to be very nice ones. They fired all the Maori K.Ps. Now the enlisted men are going to have to pull K.Ps. I am on tomorrow.

 

Saturday 16 January 1943

Pulled K.P. today. At breakfast time I helped serve and mopped the floors. Also put away the rations. At dinner I helped serve and washed pots and pans. The humidity is so high that while washing dishes the perspiration runs off one so much that it blinds you. I imagine I sweated out 10 lbs. Finished the pots and pans about 2:00 p.m., didn’t go back until 5:00 p.m. Played “Knock Knock” again. The boat “Lumber Lady” was sighted late in the evening. I hope I get some mail, especially a letter from Gerry.

 

Sunday 17 January 1943

I received a letter from Gerry at last. Everyone was plenty relieved; they say that perhaps we will get a little work done in Enlisted pay now. She mailed it Dec 4/42, over a month old but very welcome. She apparently has changed jobs. Also heard from my mother and one from my Dad with a $5.00 money order. Played Rummy Poker, won $4.35 from Moon and Travis. Wrote an answer to Gerry’s letter, enclosed some snap shots. My mother was still in Florida when she mailed those letters. That letter from Gerry makes me feel a lot more secure toward that case of scotch.

 

Monday 18 January 1943

Worked payrolls all day. Played “Rummy Poker” again tonight, I was the only winner, Davis the only loser. Won $7.75. I started on C.Q. again this week. It rained nearly all day and most of the night.

 

Tuesday 19 January 1943

Worked rolls today and played “Show Down”. Lost $2.00 in the morning but won $2.00 in the afternoon, so broke even. Got our Company picture, it is really a nice one. Bigham took the picture in the area in which the officers’ huts are to be placed.

 

Wednesday 20 January 1943

Worked Payrolls today. Got “The “39 Steps” by John Buchan, Lord Tweedsmuir of Canada is the author. Played “Show Down”. Lost about $12.00 for the day. The Lt., Travis and I played until 12:15. It rained so hard that all the grounds looked like a lake.

 

Thursday 21 January 1943

Worked payrolls again today. Hdqtrs. team beat the Officers today. The first game they have won. This must certainly be the rainy season. Every day we have a heavy shower. Every night it rains. I either have an awfully bad cold or my hay fever is getting the best of me. I can hardly see at times. My nose is giving me a trying time.

 

Friday 22 January 1943

I got “Private Purkey in Love and War” by H I Phillips from the library. Finished it today. I was the only one in the office most of the morning. Everyone else was either playing around or paying off the natives. I stayed up until after 10 p.m. reading an Ellery Queen mystery story.

 

Saturday 23 January 1943

Bill Ellsbury is on K.P. today. I wrote a letter to my Dad and Olive. Stu Sorenson got word through the Red Cross that his father had passed away on the 14th of January. Heart attack. Today was really a nice day except for a heavy shower of an hour or so. The sky was overcast and a slight breeze was blowing. In spite of this one still perspires.

 

Sunday 24 January 1943

Read nearly all day. I have come to the conclusion that I might just as well catch up on my reading while I can because when I get back home I don’t intend to have enough time to do any reading.

One of the colored boys was shot last night by two officers. He was buried today at 2:00 p.m. (L.T. White) shot in the head, charge of stealing from Commissary. (Seirlcher?) believed to be one who shot him. There is a terrible undercurrent of unrest; we might have trouble due to it. A trap was laid for him and I believe it was 50% uncalled for.

 

Monday 25 January 1943

Took C.Q. for another week of sleep better in the office. Worked payrolls all day except from 1:30 to 3:30 attended 50-caliber machine gun school. Bill and I walked down to see Ben. He wasn’t home so we went up to see Henry. Henry has moved down to the same house Temata lives in. He is afraid of the colored boys so he moved - his wife is going to have a baby too. So he moved back to his father’s home. After that we watched them unloading at the dock. I had Bill take a couple of pictures of me to send to my mother. I was in my shorts.

 

Tuesday 26 January 1943

Finished computation of the payrolls. Had hot bread and good coffee at the bakery this morning, really good. Worked up the final statement on L.T. White; the black boy who was shot Saturday night. Bill and I went down to Henry’s again.

 

Wednesday 27 January 1943

Today is the last day for hot bread and coffee, the bakery is moving down to their new quarters in Arutanga today. Worked on payrolls again. Lt. Polis and Settle came in tonight. Settle started in on one of his long-winded talks about life and the war. He says we will still be fighting in 1955 and we won’t get out of the Army until after 30 years service. They will hold us until retirement time. All I know is that I got dam sleepy before he got tired of talking and finally gave up.

 

Thursday 28 January 1943

I had K.P. again today. Worked in the kitchen proper for a couple of hours in the morning. Took the rest of the morning off. Helped serve lunch then took off until 5.00 p.m. then went back and cleaned the mess hall, was through by 7:00 p.m. All in all it was an easy days K.P. Although it was easy I hate K.P. more than any other job in the Army.  After a year in the Finance department I should be above K.P. duty.

 

Friday 29 January 1943

A boat came in today; we believe it to be the “Delphinus”. One thing I do know it has a lot of mail on it. The first truckload came up about 8:00 a.m., the boys started right in on it. “Delphinus” is the name of the boat. One of the boys is going back on it for hospitalization back in the States. I got two letters from my mother, one from Gerry. A letter from my Grandmother in Oakland, a card from my Grandmother in Portland, two cards from my mother.

 

Saturday 30 January 1943

I got a package from my mother. She put everything in it: Shaving equipment (Old Spice), Jigsaw puzzles, Foot balm, anti-perspiration cream, games, 6 books, cards, candy, nuts, popcorn, marbles, and etc. The package completely filled one mailbag. It was greatly oversize for foreign mail, but luckily they shipped it anyway. It cost $4.00 to mail. I started on one of the jigsaw puzzles and worked for 4½ hours before going to bed. I hadn’t finished it yet, will finish it tomorrow. Bill and I went for a walk this afternoon, took some pictures.

 

Sunday 31 January 1943

Worked two hours today on the jigsaw puzzle before finishing it. Moon, Davis and I worked another one in the afternoon, finished it in about 2½ hours. No matter how much I tried to insult Davis he still wouldn’t stay away so I could work the puzzle myself. Davis is an odd sort of fellow. He has some characteristics, which are very likable, but to overshadow those are a great many, which are more than just unbearable. Living along most of his life I believe accounts for most of them.

 

Monday 1 February 1943

Today was payday. It was out $16.00 for the enlisted rolls, the $10.00 error was made in the 890th payroll. The officers pay section was short $2.00. We finished up at the Airport and then came home the back way on the east side of the island. That little jeep just buried itself in the mud, but still pulled itself out every time, they are wonderful. We took a wild ride, coming back the Lt. was driving and he hit the holes as fast as possible. Poor Bill Ellsbury was sitting on the hard side of the back seat, he really took a beating.

 

Tuesday 2 February 1943

We started briefing this morning. Started in on the 890th payroll. I reread Gerry’s letter. Perhaps my stock in that case of liquor is pretty safe. Stayed in the office for Travis so he could go down to see some Maori squaw. More power to him if he can stand them. Argued with Lt. Polis again about the National Guard. Wrote a letter to my Grandmother. The school came with a truck to get their school supplies, so we had to give up two tables and got rid of a cabinet, which has been in our road. Gave us more room but we had an awful time getting settled again. I got a lucky break and got out of that hot corner. Now have a desk in front of the window (much cooler).

 

Wednesday 3 February 1943

Briefed rolls again today. The boys went down and counted money at the Resident Agent’s place. I went down and helped roll it. Drove the jeep back up for some scrappers. The muffler is off and it sounds like a motorboat. This road here between the village and Hdqtrs. is a highway compared to what it was when we came here. The gravel has packed down to a smooth surface; it was nearly knee deep in mud at first. This is a Godsend considering the amount of traffic on it. You would think it was Union Avenue.

 

Thursday 4 February 1943

Briefed two rolls today. Bill Ellsbury was on K.P. Played poker in the Finance office at noon, won 15¢. Played again in the evening with some of the boys from Hdqtrs., Sgt. Pierce lost $18.00. They play every screwy game in the book including Chinese Poker and Red Dog. I won $5.25.

 

Friday 5 February 1943

Went out in a jeep with Lt. Callaway, he was officer of the day. We drove down to Arutanga and then down on the beach. The tide was in, so very little sand was high enough to drive on. Several places we had to take to the trees to get by. In one place we buried the jeep to the frame. It just couldn’t get out. So we walked up to one of the searchlight emplacements where several of the Negro boys were stationed. After an hour or so we got them to go down and lift us out. Then we took a wild ride over the hill slipping and sliding over the mud-covered road. Finally hitting the hard road to Vaipae. From there we drove down to the beach on that side and kidded some Maori gals. Then came back to Hdqtrs.

 

Saturday 6 February 1943

Finished briefing the payrolls today. Had a long chat with Lt. Callaway on Banking. We talked of the possibilities of Banking after the war is over. Lt. Callaway announced that he was going back on the next boat. The doctors say his asthma is so bad it can’t be cured here. They give him a shot every day and it does very little to relieve him.

 

Sunday 7 February 1943

Played dice with Moon in the morning using 5 dice, lost $2.00. Played dice with Bob and later in the afternoon lost 30¢. In the evening played Red Dog with all of them plus Pierce, won back all but 60¢ of which I had lost. So the day only cost me 60¢. Not bad for a day’s entertainment. Wrote a letter to my grandmother. I am finding it harder to write letters every day. We heard today that Ben’s father passed away. He was one of the Maori police officers. A big fat one. Very jovial.

 

Monday 8 February 1943

I presented the payrolls to Stu (Mamma) completely briefed on the typewriter. Now my January work is officially finished. Bill Ellsbury and I went down to the bakery. Fredericks and Closson were the only ones there. We stayed ‘till 8:30 p.m. chatting with them. Then came back to headquarters. Talked to Merv and Komfal a half hour or so. Komfal used to work in a bakery in Spokane. After that we went over to Todhunter’s tent and listened to the radio. A program from “Ciro’s” in Los Angeles was playing. It certainly takes one back home. We heard several new songs we didn’t even know had been published. Fredericks has longevity coming for a previous enlistment. I told him I would see that he got it. He told me on my birthday he would see that I was taken care of.

 

Tuesday 9 February 1943

There is to be an alert tomorrow. I am in charge of a 50-caliber machine gun on the dock. I have a gun crew of three and 6 riflemen. 7 of them out rank me. Callaway went to the hospital today for his asthma. It gets worse every day. I took care of Fredericks’ longevity today. I hope they put it on the payroll.

 

Wednesday 10 February 1943

Started on K.P. today. An alert was called about 8:30 p.m. I acted as driver for a weapons carrier. Took my gun crew to my post. Found I was supposed to go to Sub division Hdqtrs. Drove back to Sub division received our instructions. Took truck unloaded and set up gun. Sent the truck back. Had a continuous stream of runners going back and forth. Got the order to destroy gun and return to the lawn of the London Missionary Society. We were more than glad to do it we had to sit by our gun in the hot sun for over an hour and a half. Upon the lawn we had a nice cool breeze and plenty of shade, and a commanding view of the lagoon. We saw the attacking fleet of seven boats coming back in formation. It was a horribly hot sultry day. I had to come back to K.P.  I was plenty tired, but still was awake enough to lose $5.00 in a Poker game.

 

Thursday 11 February 1943

The plane came in for Callaway. Several of the officers from 8529 on Tongareva came down on it. Lt. Callaway officially turned over the duties of his disbursing office to Lt. Schaid, Engineer officer, who in turn was relieved of his duties as C.O. of 890th Engr. Co. The force had quite a change made, (a regular purge). Lt. Todhunter was relieved of his duty as P.X. officer. Lt Cam became the new P.X. officer. Several other changes were made. Perhaps the prices in the P.X. will be a little more reasonable now.

 

Friday 12 February 1943

Travis and Sorenson took today off. Got a lucky break. The plane, which came in to take Callaway back took about 35 of the fellows over to Rarotonga. It made a circular flight of over 700 miles. They evidently had a wonderful time. Bigham took a lot of pictures. Gave each of them a picture showing them in the plane. I stayed in the office all day. Lt. Schaid spent very little time in the office today. He was out settling up his affairs as 890th C.O. Bill and I helped Callaway pack his equipment. I certainly envy him, his opportunity to go home.

 

Saturday 13 February 1943

Bill and I took the day off today. Walked out to the Airport, we arrived too late to see Callaway off. We talked to the 10th Airways office boys for a while. Walked along the east Runway, about a mile long, took several pictures. Rode back on a gravel truck, had dinner at 10th Airways mess. Talked to Bigham, the force photographer. Took some more pictures. From there we went up to Maungapu to the new radar installation. Took some more pictures (which are taboo for there). Saw the boat lying out from the reef; a plenty welcome sight. They just don’t come often enough. Had mail call this evening. The force got a package from Mrs. Callaway.

 

Sunday 14 February 1943

Sat around the office all day. Played dice with some of the boys, lost $2.00. Made enough back in the evening at Poker to just come out 40¢ loser for the day. Not bad for a days entertainment. We are all wondering just what Lt. Schaid will try to do in regard to the office. Got several letters yesterday, one from my Grandmother, two from my mother and some picture post cards from her showing St. Augustine, Florida. One letter from Gerry. Kharkov and Kursk have fallen back into Russian hands, two seemingly important German supply points.[Walt commenting on the war in Europe]

 

Monday 15 February 1943

Computed “Clearing Platoon” payroll today, the first roll to arrive.  Wrote to Gerry and my mother. The mail went out to the boat today, it is leaving tomorrow morning. I sent some more negatives to Gerry. The weather has been staying exceedingly nice, very little rain but when it does it pours. This is supposed to be the windy season. All we have had is just a gentle breeze and not enough of that! Lt. Schaid took over the office today. He is an engineer officer. Will be alright if he allows us to run the office.

 

Tuesday 16 February 1943

Bill is on K.P. again today. Worked Btry. ‘A’ payroll. Change listed “Clearing Platoon”. I had a bad case of Hay Fever this morning. Can’t breathe through my nose, I don’t seem to get sufficient air that way. Considering officers candidate school again. New regulations covering entry to school is making it harder to apply. Lt. Schaid is beginning to think he knows all about finance, that is bad business to both himself and us. This organisation is by far the most asinine excuse for an Army outfit I have ever seen. Now we have to take basic training over again. I took a set of Officer Candidate School papers. I have very little faith in their satisfactory completion but I’ll try again.

 

Wednesday 17 February 1943

We started on our second basic training period since I joined this force. I am of the opinion this wouldn’t even make a possible Boy Scout organisation. We had riffle cleaning and nomenclature naming period. An interior guard-training program. A manual-of-arms period in which I was exceedingly lucky and was called out to watch the performance and to mark corrections. Not because of my ability but because I possess a tommy gun not suitable to the manual-of-arms. I started filling out my Officers Candidate School papers. “God give me a break”, I’ll need it with this force.

 

Thursday 18 February 1943

Worked payrolls today, “Service Co.” and  “702nd Signal Co.” Finished up my Officers Candidate papers, turned them over to Lt. Schaid. We have finally received a motion picture outfit. The first show was last night on the parade grounds in front of Hdqtrs. The Finance Det. Had good seats as usual, lined up against the wall. Most of the boys were sitting on the ground. The first show was “My Favorite Wife” starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. I saw it a long time ago. Nevertheless it was really very nice. It certainly took me home, that coupled with a full moon certainly carried me back home to Gerry.

 

Friday 19 February 1943

Worked payrolls again today. Change listed and compared Battery ‘A’. We are rather behind schedule this month because of the shortness of the month. It is rumored a hurricane is coming. The skies have clouded up and a medium wind is blowing. The skies remind me of a cloudy Portland day. The show was held in the officers’ mess hall this evening because it had started to rain. Several of the boys were called out to secure various equipment due to the fact a hurricane is brewing.

 

Saturday 20 February 1943

The wind took on practically hurricane velocity last night, driving the wind right through our tent. The rain hit the tent so hard it vibrated the ground. Our tent is slightly lower than the surrounding ground. The rainwater diverted by the path worn to our tent caused a veritable river to come through the tent. By placing my rain coat at the head of my bed, which is in a front corner of the tent, covering three sides of the bed I finally have found a method of keeping dry during violent rainstorms. Worked payrolls today, I have computed all except 890th roll. Have 4 changes listed. Played Poker with the boys again tonight. Went in $7.00 finally came out $5.00 winner.

 

Sunday 21 February 1943

Worked on a jigsaw puzzle all morning, didn’t finish it. Started playing Poker about 1:00 p.m. Went in $12.00 before I started winning. Played until 7:00 p.m. won $10.00 then came back and played for 15 or 20 minutes longer and won $5.00. For the last two days I am $20 winner. The Maoris were invited up to see the show tonight. Kay Kyser in “That’s Right – You’re Wrong”. One of the poorest shows I have seen in years. To make it worse the Maoris smell like a mixture of coconut oil and Negro perspiration, and seem to delight in crowding practically on top of you.

 

Monday 22 February 1943

Finished all except 890th roll. I finally came in today. Nearly finished computing it. I took the afternoon comparatively easy. Bet Sorenson a dollar the Headquarters team would lose. They won the second game since they began playing. Just my luck.

 

Tuesday 23 February 1943

K.P. today. Washed pots and pans in morning. Rinsed them at noon. Took off right after supper was served. Saw the show “Scarlett Pimpernel”. For supper they served 3 kinds of beans. Who said they don’t serve beans in this man’s Army. “Bean Soup”, “Chilly beans”, “String beans”. I’ve seen plenty of beans but this is the first time I have ever seen three kinds at one meal.

 

Wednesday 24 February 1943

Drilled again this morning. I had to drill with the Hdqtrs. Det. because of my tommy gun. Our company was having the manual of arms and bayonet practice. From 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. I was left on guard over the stacks of rifles while the rest of the boys sat in the mess hall. Walking for 45 mins. in the hot sun isn’t very pleasant. The Russians retook Krasnograd and Pavlograd, two towns they haven’t had since the beginning of the first drive. [Walt commenting on the war in Europe]

 

Thursday 25 February 1943

Finished the 890th Engineer payroll. Went to the hospital for my officers’ candidate school examination. I found I weighed 166 lbs. I only weighed 142 lbs. at induction. Stu and I had lunch at the 10th Airways mess hall. Eating off china in a fly free mess hall has become a real treat to me. X-rays showed normal. All in all I guess I am still a healthy critter. Had a Sherlock Holmes picture tonight, couldn’t hear it from where I sat, so left. Will see it tomorrow night.

 

Friday 26 February 1943

We finished the payrolls today. Another month’s computation complete. The war in Russia seems to be slightly bogged down in the south because of thawing weather. Guadalcanal seems to be entirely in our hands. English and American bombers bomb Germany and occupied France nightly. The African front seems to be settling down after a daring counter attack by Rommel’s forces, after practically being driven into the Mediterranean Sea a few days ago. From my viewpoint I think the turning point has finally arrived. We are a long way from the end, but the hope of our victory is greatly increased. Attended the show of “Sherlock Holmes” could hear it tonight.

 

Saturday 27 February 1943

Sat around, had a full session all morning. Afternoon read pamphlets on strategy. Both Japan’s and Germany’s. Restricted pamphlets put out by our intelligence dept. Played cards in evening, lost $4.00, went to the show.

 

Sunday 28 February 1943

Sat around the office all day. Played cards with Moon, lost $6.00. Russia’s drive in the Ukraine seems to have slowed down considerably. The ground is thawing and the bad weather causes the mud to bog down the mechanized drive.

 

Monday 1 March 1943

Today was payday again. The enlisted payrolls came out very nicely. In the officers’ pay a $200.00 shortage came to light. One of the bundles of tens seems to be shy twenty bills. We have our opinion of what has happened, but no way to prove it. So wonder what will happen. Stu and I went before the O.C.S. board today (Lt.Col. Boycott, Capt. Shilling, Capt. Edlestien). We had a written test. I was very fortunate in knowing the answers, which have all appeared in the daily bulletin in the last two weeks except the math section which I got a good grade in anyway. They grilled Stu terrifically; they only asked me 3 or 4 questions. I was the last one in. They liked my IQ of 138. It was the highest.

 

Tuesday 2 March 1943

Bill and I got both adding machines going today and did as much as we normally would do in three days. A plane came in today with some miss-sent mail from Tongareva. I got a letter from Gerry postmarked Nov. 12/42. The first letter she wrote after we sailed. And one from my mother postmarked Dec. 22/42. Both answering a long sought question of why they hadn’t written earlier. I wrote a letter to both of them telling them I had finally received the letters, and sent some pictures to both of them. Lost $16.00 at Poker tonight, owe Stu $10.00. Stu saw our papers for O.C.S., we were both approved.

 

Wednesday 3 March 1943

Today was our drill day again. Stu and I took turns drilling one of the squads, and giving them the manual-of-arms. We had a little skirmish practice in the jungle near the radio shack. Moon and I really liked that. He commanded the squad and I was second in command. We crawled along on our stomachs for several hundred yards and relayed commands to the squad. Played Poker for a while, lost $3.50 again tonight. Saw “Love Affair” in the evening. Took over Stu’s C.Q. in the office because he had to pull C.Q. in the orderly room. I have lost $40.00 in the last few nights at Poker.

 

Thursday 4 March 1943

Bill and I got both adding machines going again today. We finished adding the rolls by noon. Now to brief them. Bill is going to take over the responsibility of the Enlisted pay section. Now that we have discovered that Stu and I have been approved for O.C.S. we will have to teach Bill and Travis the work so they can carry on in case we are called. Moon Davis heard about his appointment to Finance O.C.S. to leave by the first available transportation. I feel that I have already won that case of Scotch. I expect him to get married as soon as he gets there. Played Poker with the boys at night, won $11.50, so I am not quite so far in the hole now. Our Navy won a remarkable battle in the Bismark Sea; claim to have sunk 12 transports, 10 war vessels.

 

Friday 5 March 1943

27 years old today. 27 years ago I kept my dad out of the Army only to live to get in it myself. Did very little except count money nearly all day. In the evening Stu and I went down to the bakery, they had invited us down to a dinner to celebrate my birthday. We had golden brown fried pork chops, mashed potatoes, pickled beets, salad and a swell banana cream pie with whipped cream. Really good coffee too. It was a birthday celebration I won’t forget for a long time. The fleet of Jap. transports in the Bismark Sea seem to have been annihilated.

 

Saturday 6 March 1943

Worked the supplemental for Service Co., so we could get Ellsbury pd. Bill and I got Harrington’s weapons carrier and finally took my 50-caliber machine gun down to it’s emplacement. After setting it up we tore it apart and cleaned it, then poured about a quart and a half of oil all over it. We had a devil of a time putting it back together again. The packing had expanded and wouldn’t allow the barrel to go in place. After working with it an hour or so we finally got it back in place. Picked up a truck load of the boys and brought them up for lunch. The Russians seem to be concentrating on their northern front now, probably waiting for the mud to dry out before driving in the south again.

 

Sunday 7 March 1943

I was supposed to be on K.P. today. Last night I tore the K.P. list off the bulletin board. This morning no one called me so I skipped K.P. Didn’t hear a word against it so it seems to have worked out perfectly. Played Poker nearly all day, at noon I quit for lunch $9.20 winners. Finally quit $4.50 ahead cutting my bill to Sorenson to $5.50. Every little bit helps. Went out to see the show but we were rained out. It rained nearly all day. The Russians seem to be concentrating on their northern front now. The south is still too muddy for much rapid advances. The north is still frozen. Today was Lt. M.G. Schaid’s birthday.

 

Monday 8 March 1943

Sent out voucher numbers to all the Companies, sent a memo of the most common mistakes and the correct remarks for them. This should take care of most of the errors in remarks on the payrolls. It rained so hard today that it flooded our tent.  My bed was standing in two inches of water. The ground floor of our tent is a mud hole. I went down and threw up a dike across the front of the tent and dug a channel to route the water away from the tent. We seem to be doing very well against the Japs. in the Solomons now. Perhaps we have the upper hand now. Just pray we hold it. We also seem to be slowly driving Rommel back again. This time I hope they drive him off the African Continent.

 

Tuesday 9 March 1943

I paid off the supplemental roll for Service Company over in the orderly room this morning. Now with just one or two exceptions we have finally got Service Company straightened out. Rained nearly all day again. Cleared up long enough that we had to stand Retreat, which in my estimation is one of the best examples of wasted time and effort in the Army.

 

Wednesday 10 March 1943

We were to have a practice alert today, but because of stormy weather it was postponed. Read a magazine all morning. We are all caught up with our work now, so every day is turned over to bull sessions. Moon and I finally convinced Bill that we left Tacoma Station going south, when really we went north around Pt. Defiance then turned south past what is left of the old Nanous Bridge. The war in Africa seems to be a series of moves back and forth similar to a chess game. Costing lives and equipment, developing into a position in which he who can afford to lose the most will eventually win.

 

Thursday 11 March 1943

Stu and I went out to the Airport in a rainstorm today. We wanted to talk to one of the fellows out there about transferring into the Finance dept. to make up for the loss of Moon. After talking to him we found we didn’t want him at all.  This morning I had a good solid argument with Hatcher of S.4, my nemesis of this outfit. I can’t stand that fellow. The war seems to be slowing down now. The spring thaw in Russia probably has a lot to do with the slower action on that front.

 

Friday 12 March 1943

Still raining, we are wondering if it will ever stop. The ground is a sea of mud. Our dirt floor in the tent is covered with an inch or two of mud. Everything is mildewed. Our clothing will never be the same again. Rolled the dice with Stu, cut my indebtedness to $5.00 now.  We still don’t know when Moon will be leaving us. Travis put in an application for Officers Candidate School. The front in the Solomons is probably being stalemated to recover from the cost and fatigue of the Guadalcanal fighting.

 

Saturday 13 March 1943

No Reveille this morning again so I could sleep in. This is the 6th continuous morning without Reveille due to rain. Today was another day of nothing to do except read or write letters. Nothing spectacular appeared in the news. The bombing of factories and shipping points in Germany is relentlessly being carried out by the AAF and RAF.

 

Sunday 14 March 1943

The weather finally broke today. The sun shone all day. The humidity was very high. The slightest exertion caused perspiration to run off of one. The show was held again tonight. No gambling today, the first Sunday in a long time that no game was in progress. I read all day long. Russia and Germany seem to be putting on quite a show in Germany’s attempt to retake Karkov. If they take it I hope Russia will be able to outflank it and create another trap.

 

Monday 15 March 1943

Another nice morning, the sun is out and it has promise of being plenty warm. This will probably be our last day of rest prior to receiving the payrolls. We had our pictures taken today by Leslie Bigham. All the Finance department was present except for Bill Ellsbury. He was in the barbershop and when I went over to get him it was 3:20 instead of 4:00 as we thought it would be. He pouted and said he would be ready at 4:00 p.m. as planned. So we had our pictures taken without him. He will never learn that in the Army one does things not as per schedule but when you can do it.

 

Tuesday 16 March 1943

702nd payroll came in first this time. Bill and I got it all completed except for the change list. Davis and I rolled Double or Nothing on the five dollars I owed him, now I owe him $10.00. The shows are all being run over again due to the fact that the new films are all exhausted now and until another boat comes we are out of luck for pictures. Germany retook Karkov and seems to be gathering some momentum in their counter attacking.

 

Wednesday 17 March 1943

Most of the payrolls came in today. Today marked the first day we have had ice cream in the P.X. Now we have a new game of show down for ice cream every day. I was stuck for the first helping. The Allied drive in Africa is supposed to be on its way once again. This time let us hope it drives Rommel’s forces out of Africa. Until that happens a second front in Europe is a hopeless task.

 

Thursday 18 March 1934

Finished up the computation of all the rolls except two which are not in yet. We had a fairly thorough inspection for clothing and equipment today. We are expecting a marine amphibian plane in soon with a Marine Major General on it. Davis might possibly go back on that. We have a $10.00 bet that he will leave before the first of the month. If I lose that I will owe him $20.00 all starting from a $1.00 debt.

 

Friday 19 March 1943

The last of the payrolls came in today. Davis and I had another fight. He claimed I heard him call me and refused to answer. We went at it hot and heavy for 5 or 10 minutes. I don’t enjoy being called a liar by anyone. Before evening we cooled off considerably but I had my doubts all day.

 

Saturday 20 March 1943

I finished computation and taping all the rolls today. Ellsbury is quite a ways behind me. Started reading “See Here, Private Hargrove”. It is quite a true narrative on Army life, especially the opening paragraph. The Russians seem to be falling back from a vast German attack on Karkov and the surrounding country. In the north on the road to Smolensk they seem to be slowly and steadily advancing. God be with us and see the German Army break on the Russian front. If we could only crowd Germany back into her own nest and hammer her at close range from both sides, it would see an early end to this useless war. God only knows that this war is costing both sides centuries of taxes.

 

Sunday 21 March 1943

Sat around the office all day. Read Private Hargroves book. Passed the day without once gambling. The marine plane came in today, only stayed about one hour. It brought no mail and took none back with it. Davis and the boys did not get to go with it. Davis is beginning to get pretty worried about getting back to school.

 

Monday 22 March 1943

Finished the taping and change listing of all the rolls today. Mamma Sorenson and Moon paid off the natives today. The latest rumor in regard to Davis leaving came from H.H. Hickling the Resident Agent. He invited Moon down for what he called the last chance to beat him at chess because he heard Moon was leaving tomorrow. I haven’t heard the slightest rumor to substantiate that. I stayed up ‘till quite late to read “The Man Who Murdered Himself” by Geoffrey Homes. Quite an interesting detective novel.

 

Tuesday 23 March 1943

The payrolls are all finished for this month.

 

Wednesday 24 March 1943

K.P. again today. I hope to God this is the last time. I didn’t do very much today, I tried to make the day work as light as possible. The latest rumor has it that the boat will be in the later part of this week. Perhaps I shall win that bet from Moon yet.

 

Thursday 25 March 1943

Read a book all morning. Bill and I volunteered to help build the P.X. We hauled a load of cement and several loads of prefabricated parts for the buildings. I was plenty tired so to bed about 8:00 p.m. Now all that is left to do is to pour the cement and construct the building.

 

Friday 26 March 1943

Davis and I have had several discussions on our bet, he has to leave before next Wednesday night in order for me to win. The rumor has it that the “Cygnus” naval supply boat for this district should be in here in the next couple of days. If so I shall win the bet.

 

Saturday 27 March 1943

The “Cygnus” came in today. I got a letter from Gerry, 3 from my mother and 1 from my dad. Gerry was telling me about a snowstorm back home. I got several pictures from my mother. She has moved from Daytona Beach to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Still isn’t able to go overseas. She wants me to help put a stone on Maryann’s grave, which I whole-heartedly intend to do.

 

Sunday 28 March 1943

We finally got rid of Davis today. We went down to the dock with him. Capt. Benson let us ride out on the M.T. boat to the “Cygnus”. So we got to go clear to the ship with him. When he boarded that boat I won back my $10.00. So when he left we were even. As soon as we cast off the “Cygnus” started off in a southeasterly direction for New Zealand. He will go to New Zealand, then to New Caledonia and then home. Some parts of his trip will probably be by plane.

 

Monday 29 March 1943

We moved our tents today. We placed them where the 702nd Signal Company was. We have the first tent in the row. A much better location than previously. I got in a spot this time in which I shall be able to leave the tent side up when it rains. The only bad feature is the fact that we are next door to the 1st Sgt. and the Mess Sgt., our two worst enemies.

 

Tuesday 30 March 1943

A plane came in today. I got a letter off to Gerry, mother, grandmother and to the Bank. It left after a couple of hours here. I received a letter from my mother and one from my dad. One letter was postmarked March 16/43. If all our mail was delivered as rapidly as that we would have no kick coming.

 

Wednesday 31 March 1943

We had a secondary stage alert practice this morning. The Service Company has the south rim off of Rakiraki [Piraki] to protect. I have my 50-caliber machine gun at the head of the main ridge. The day was comparatively cool, even at that we perspired considerably. The mosquitos were terrific. We marched up and back. I was plenty tired. I evidently have grown plenty soft over here. This afternoon Stu and I went down to the R.A’s office and picked up $1150.00 cash. Got the reports ready for the cash count tonight and after dinner counted the cash and had the “Account Current” signed. Thunder and lightening today. One bolt struck right on the end of our headquarters building, sounded like an 18-inch battery was firing at us. We could see the flash and hear the sparks.

​​