Smitty ~ Letter IX
Letter IX “A Day’s Venture” Monday 6/26/44
Dear Mom,
Yesterday, being Sunday, a day of rest, I decided to ride around this place and see something. I made up my mine though that this sightseeing tour of mine, this time, would be done as a civilian completely forgetting I’m in the army. You have to do this in order to see the place in its true light, otherwise if you don’t all you can see is hardship and work. With my mind cleared of Khaki, I set forth in a jeep with a buddy of mine; who I dare say couldn’t see the sense of our venture.
As we drove along in the still quiet, the thought kept coming to me of the enormous job the boys before us had to confront and overcome. Here and there along the way you could see some old emplacement or deserted village. These villages were really something to see with their straw-thatched roofs and open sided houses. We wouldn’t call them shed, but that is just what they looked like.
One can readily understand why the authors of those travelogues really go all out when describing these islands. You forget the heat as cooling breezes blow over you from the coast and the shade of the giant coconut trees gradually engulf you.
We passed one spot close to the coast that suddenly shook us with the horrible realization of our place and mission. It wasn’t large or spread out, but all was peaceful and quiet though men were gaily chatting and swimming nearby. We entered by an archway on which was inscribed, “Japanese Cemetery.” We passed now upon some of the little white markers all neatly lined up and lettered. Although they were once an active enemy, one could not help but see the shame and waste of war.
We looked around the beach for a while, then decided to go in for a swim. The water here is amazingly warm and clear. You could never believe it unless you could see it as I have. How crystal clear and immune of blemish this water here is. Why, to peer down 25 feet and see bottom is really an easy thing to do. The bottom is sand, sand at its finest and whitest literally covered with shells of every shape and color with here and there a grotesque piece of coral. You can really pick out the coral as it shows up a faint green while the shells throw all colors of the rainbow up at you until your eyes are completely dazzled by the many-colored lights.
By this time, the sun was well on its way toward the horizon and dusk rapidly approaching. Here and there a faint star twinkled until suddenly the sky was almost completely covered with thousands. The moon finally appeared in all its bright glory and reflected itself a hundred times over on the waves before us. The end of the day had come and with it also my venture into a world never to be forgotten. This day will long be remembered and stored with the rest of my most treasured memories.
Good night! And may God bless you, Everett
PS. I shall write to Joe Dumb as soon as I send this letter on its way. Be good and take care of yourself.
Click on images to enlarge.
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Military Humor –
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Farewell Salutes –
Alvin Ake – Perkins, OK; US Army, WWII, 324th Infantry Regiment
Raphael Clothier – Canberra, AUS; RA Air Force # 20871, Cpl.
Robert Hoover – Nashville, TN; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO, 52nd Fighter Group, pilot, POW (escaped)
Richard Jacobs – Waikato, NZ; NZ Expeditionary Force # 622312, RNZ Army, WWII
Thomas Kearns – Woburn, MA; US Army Air Corps, WWII, T5 antiaircraft gunner
George Martini – Chicago, IL; US Navy, WWII, USS Essex
John Osika – Port Vue, PA; US Army, WWII
Joyce “Lucky” Parker – Bartow, FL; US Army, WWII
James Smith – Liberty, MS; USMC, WWII, PTO, Pfc, KIA (Tarawa)
Charles Wilkinson – Ormond-By-The-Sea, FL; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, 127th Engineers/11th Airborne Div.
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Posted on November 7, 2016, in Letters home, SMITTY, Uncategorized, WWII and tagged 1940's, Army, family history, History, Military, Military History, Pacific, Pacific War, veterans, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 106 Comments.
A beautiful, magical letter.
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Thank you very much, Hilary.
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A very captivating story. I’m glad we got to see life from a soldier’s ‘civilian’ perspective.
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Glad you liked it. These letters have been priceless to me.
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This part of the letter ” I made up my mine though that this sightseeing tour of mine, this time, would be done as a civilian completely forgetting I’m in the army. You have to do this in order to see the place in its true light, otherwise if you don’t all you can see is hardship and work. ” is really sticking in my mind. Thank you as always for sharing!
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A lot about Smitty still sticks in my mind. He had a way of making even the hardest of problems come out with an easy answer! Thanks for reading.
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A very beautiful description of the beach, a piece of Paradise among the realities of war.
That particular memory would have been ingrained in Smitty’s memory all his life.
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Yes, it was, Ian. If I asked him about that letter, he would always smile. (But Letter X would have him chuckling! I think that gets posted Thursday.)
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Molto interessante questo articolo
Un saluto,silvia
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Thank you.
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Smitty’s ability to find beauty in wartime is impressive xx
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Thank you, Christy. I could go on for days trying to describe my father, but I think his letters do a far better job of it than I can.
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You honor him well with these posts!
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Thank you, Christy, I really appreciate that!!
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Some beautiful writing by your father GP! The imagery is quite good. I feel as if I am right there, seeing everything myself.
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Isn’t that something?!! Without formal training, he just wrote what he felt. Thank you for stopping by and reading this letter; it’s an example of the man I was lucky enough to call Dad.
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For Interest gp
http://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/10/18/army-dentist-killed-98-japanese-soldiers-during-the-battle-of-saipan-before-he-was-killed-after-being-shot-76-times/
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I’ve been tossing around the idea of doing a post on this. What do you think? This truly was quite an amazing feat!!
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Go for it mate, it’s interesting and different.
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Will do then!
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I sense that your dad always looked on the brighter side of life. A great trait.
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He always tried, but at the same time, he was logical, thought through situations. A rock I truly miss leaning on.
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What a beautiful letter, so poetic and appreciative of the beauty. The poignancy of seeing the grave markers struck me too – his overarching compassion for the toll of war.
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Thank you. That was Smitty. He was compassionate as well as logical. A man anyone would be proud to know.
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GP, Smitty has a beautiful way with words. His thoughtfulness, and love of the world around him comes through, even under war’s difficult circumstances. Enjoy his thought-provoking letters. 💛 Christine
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Thank you very much, Christine, he always made me proud to call him my father!
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It is good that he had a chance for such a trip
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Yes, it is. Thank you, Derrick.
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Reblogged this on KCJones.
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Thank you very much, Penny.
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This is such a beautiful tender letter, poetic in its description of the beauty around him, philosophical about the cost of war. Such warmth, love and directness. Thank you for sharing – these are real treasure troves that should be saved.
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And no matter how hard I pushed for him to have them published, he insisted that no one would be interested in them. I wish he could see all these remarks here today!!! Thank you so much for reading it.
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At least you can see and appreciate the comments the letters receive…I hope that is of some comfort and help.
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It most certainly is that, Annika.
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Again I was very touched by your father’s letter IX. He expressed his feelings about the horrors of war very well, after he had driven past a Japanese cemetery. He was also a romantic at heart, especially because he took the time to break free from the army mindset to enjoy the beauty of his tropical surroundings.
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His idea of right and wrong never changed – no matter where he was. This is one of my favorite letters and I thank you for reading it, Peter.
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Thanks for sharing. With Veteran’s Day upon us it is a privilege to learn about the reality of what our veterans endured, the good and bad.
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It is my pleasure to share anything about Smitty! I was proud of him as a kid and that opinion never faltered in later years.
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What a beautiful letter that his mom would be happy to get . He seems to have had the ability and wisdom to put the war away in a drawer for a time . The idea that the sightseeing trip ” would be done as a civilian ” is revealing , isn’t it ?
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Dad knew odds were he’d never get the chance to see New Guinea again, so why not make the best of it while he could. I loved hearing the different ways he thought about situations!!
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Smitty was waxing lyrical in that letter GP, almost wanted to be there with him. 😀
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Isn’t that the truth?!! The first time I read this is when I realized just how good he was!
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The contrast between these letters goes to show what a remarkable person he was. His eye for detail, his sense of humour and his love of beautiful things shining through in each and every one. He was an amazing writer that’s for sure.
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He had a limited education due to the depression and helping to support the family – it was just his ‘way.’
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Well he was a natural.
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Thanks, he sure seemed to be!
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I love Smitty’s letters and this one was priceless. I love the way he describes the venture and the scenery. Wow, to be able to see such beauty in a time of war! He was truly a great man IMHO.
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Thank you very much. I’ve always been proud of my father and it sure makes me smile to have others see what a man he was!!
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White markers, neatly lined up? Okay for some—in many places the Seabees and/or others just bulldozed ’em in.
No problems understanding why …
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No DNA tests back then and no other way to identify them, what else could they do?
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They did well.
My point being that the ‘niceties’ were for the public later.
Expediency was a bulldozer; and PR was a string-line ‘best guess’ placed with white markers. Win/win …
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Also, dead bodies would make the live soldiers very ill. They had to be buried.
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And so they were. But there’s a lot of ‘romanticism’ attached to the idea of warfare that just has no place in reality—the Last Post on a bugle, the silent sentry ‘at rest on his arms, reversed’ must be reserved for consumption by others; later, when all the dust and feathers have settled.
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Romance and war are Hollywood’s view, not here.
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True. But the general public like it … lap it up, in fact. Sadly …
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I love these letters, I send postcards to friends and they enjoy receiving them. I don’t think digital messages are quite the same.
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You are quite right, Charlotte. Handwritten notes are much more personal, they show the recipient that you took the time thinking of them. I’m proud of you.
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Lovely letter. His thoughts on the waste of war was touching.
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Dad always looked at all sides to a situation. Thanks for reading, John.
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🙂
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“..The waste of war…” how very, very true. And worst of all is the loss of potential. The young girls left unmarried. The children never born.
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And yet… we still go at it…..
Thanks for dropping by, John.
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He waxed poetic here. A beautiful letter.
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Thank you, Swabby, dad did have a way with words!
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One of Smitty’s best. Thanks for sharing with us, GP.
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I appreciate you saying so, Don, I really do!! I’ve enjoyed these letters since I was a kid and now that he’s gone, they keep me close to him.
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I enjoyed reading Smitty’s heartfelt Letter IX. A reminder that there were light moments of reflection in wartime.
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I’m glad you did, Adam, I know they have brought me years of enjoyment by reading and re-reading them – they’ve kept me close to dad!!
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What an amazing ability to look for some good in every situation Smitty seemed to have. I remember my father talking about a day they were playing softball. I’m glad these guys had some good memories to carry with them, too.
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Isn’t that the truth, Dan!! In the middle of such chaos, they found a way to maintain their sanity and sense of humor. Thank you for reading here today.
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In reading your Fathers letters, it seems that not only did he have a way with words and a deep appreciation for the uniqueness of his circumstances, I often get the distinct feeling that he wrote with a certain purpose and awareness. I can feel his deep concern for the well being and state of mind he held for his Mother and family back home. He often seems to try to ease her mind about his safety by describing events and details that would not cause her undue worry or fear. His love and concern for her is clearly evident in his letters, your Father was indeed a very thoughtful and considerate man. It will be interesting to see if or how that may change as his tour in the war progresses, I suspect that his last letter will be as full of love and concern as his first.
We all owe you a sincere debt of gratitude for sharing such a personal and intimate glimpse into the life of your family during a time of war. It is far more than history, it is a unique perspective presented in a way that reminds us all that war is fought by real people who make great sacrifices to protect those they love.
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Thank you very much for phrasing all that so eloquently – I just can not seem to find the right words when I really need them. I’ve always been extremely proud of my father and these letters help to show others my reason why. I’m very glad that you find them interesting enough to hold your interest!
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I also enjoy the letters. I could see why he would want to be a tourist for a day. Thanks for sharing, Everett!
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It’s my pleasure! These letters have kept me close to dad!
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I can understand that!
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I guess one of the few benefits to going to war is that sometimes you get to be a tourist on Uncle Sam’s dime. I had similar “tourist” experiences while stationed overseas, though fortunately not during any war.
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He never figured he would get the opportunity to go back, so he took his chance to really see the place. I’m glad you can relate to what he wrote!
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How remarkable to find such beauty in the midst of war, and I love his line about “the shame and waste of war.” How very true.
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He was training and fighting against people he had no argument with – it seemed to be such a waste. Dad taught me to always try to see the good side of something.
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He sounds like a great dad as well as a great writer.
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That he was, I couldn’t have asked for a better one [and my 2 foster brothers agree with that!].
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A poignant read indeed. How your Dad delighted at the natural beauty of a land so ravaged by war. It was nice that he had some time to appreciate the wonders of nature, before returning to the harsh realities of the conflict.
Best wishes, Pete.
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And he continued to remember it too. I thought maybe he made it up for my grandmother’s sake, but he when I asked, he said he never again saw water so clear and beautiful. Thanks for reading, Pete.
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A silver lining in the war. I’m glad he was able to swim in such beautiful water and take a break.
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And he remembered that day the rest of his life too! He talked his buddy into going because he had a feeling he would never again get the chance.
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Stop around if you can. There’s a post I’ve done I think you would like. 🙂
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I’m on my over!!
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He really had a wonderful way of describing a scene and was remarkably interested in the world around him outside of the war he found himself part of…his compassion for those who had died ‘although they were once an active enemy’ speaks volumes about his humanity.
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Thank you for seeing that. Dad always did believe in searching all sides to something to discover the truth and if he was in a war against an enemy he never met – they might be in the same situation.
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Wow! To have a moment during a war to take in the beauty of an ocean swim…
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They were actually behind the lines at this time, in reserve, but that IS just like dad. When he set his mind on something, he would find a way to accomplish it. Thank you for stopping by today!!
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And behind enemy lines too! What a guy!!!
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Amazing letter.
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Thank you, Trudy.
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Smitty was an excellent writer. Thank you again for sharing his letters with us.
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My pleasure!
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I love these letters because more than most stories, they remind us that all those “numbers” in war were made up of individuals. I also identify with Smitty: when I had less than a month in Vietnam, I grabbed a sergeant friend and drove my Jeep from Quang Tri down to Hue, becoming just a tourist visiting the old capital.
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Right. Even in war, Smitty knew he probably would never have the chance to be there again – so he made the best of it – and good for you too!!
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Incredibly moving
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Thanks, Hollie. Dad did have a way with words that I never mastered.
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So amazing. My grandfather fought in The pacific. He has a Purple Heart and spent a number of months in the hospital before being returned to Illinois. He says the Japs were the the most ruthless fighters he encountered during the war.
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Any soldier going up against the Japanese will admit they were quite the formidable enemy! Misconception of them and their culture made this a surprise.
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Whoa! Thanks again. Smitty would never have believe how popular his letters have become!!
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Thank you!!
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