The Last CBI Roundup
Most of you have been around long enough to have seen excerpts from the CBI Roundup newletter. We can not end this war without some more articles they used to say farewell.
To insure that men remaining until the end of the I-BT will get the news, The Roundup, a smaller-sized edition of Roundup will commence weekly publication in Calcutta a week from today, April 18. It will be smaller, but its “chota” staff will see to it that it carries a good coverage of local and world news, and some of the entertainment features you have enjoyed in Roundup. This was published in April 1946.
When the last ship pulls out of King George Docks sometime in May, it will still not be a complete farewell to India for American military personnel, because a small number of officers and men will remain behind after Theater inactivation to finish several jobs, some of which may take several months to complete.
It is estimated that the settlement of all claims within the area, including Southeast Asia, will take some months to finish. The establishment and operation of military cemeteries and the continued search for isolated bodies will keep a handful of men busy for three years, according to present estimates.
The prosecution of War Crimes cases will probably require three more months to finish up. The complex problems of financial settlements, payments of bills and claims, termination of contracts, and adjustment of reciprocal aid charges incurred after V-J Day, will probably take a considerable time to wind up.
Some installations and property will have to be kept until the Theater is officially inactivated. These will have to be turned over after the last boat leaves, but it is planned that the turnover will take only about a month.
It is expected that all personnel to remain in India after the Theater closes can be obtained from Regular Army or volunteer ranks.
BEER RATION UPPED
With the coming heat and the resultant increase of parched throats, the ration of beer in the I-B has been raised from two to three (3) cases per man, beginning with the April ration. Theater Army Exchange Service announced this week. Hubba Hubba!
You’ve been gone two years this spring,
Didn’t you see a single thing?
Never saw much but the moon shine on
A Burmese temple around Maingkwan,
And silver transports high in the sky,
Thursday River and the swift Tanai,
And Hukawng Valley coming all green,
Those are the only sights I’ve seeen.
Did our job, though, like God willed:
We had the Ledo Road to build.
written by: Sgt. Smith Dawless, Los Angeles, CA
###############################################################################################################
CBI Roundup sketches –
WILBUR
################################################################################################################
Quarantine Humor –
################################################################################################################
Farewell Salutes –
Robin Armstrong – Toronto, CAN; RC Navy, WWII, HMCS Uganda, radar
Freeman Brown – Atlantic, IA; USMC, WWII, PTO
Francis Cook – Livingston, NY; US Army, WWII, Middle East
Fred Deghi – Willits, CA; US Navy, WWII, PTO, USS Calhoun
John Eastwood – Milwaukee, WI; US Army, Vietnam
George Hyrne – Savannah, GA; US Army Air Corps, WWII, Africa
Andrew Karlak – Seymour, CT; US Navy, WWII, PTO, Seaman 1st Class, USS George
Frank Anthony Petrone Jr. – Archer, FL; US Air Force
Ward Rosen – Fayetville, AR; US Navy, WWII, pilot
Robert Williams – Cleveland, OH; USMC, WWII
################################################################################################################################################################################################################################
Posted on April 16, 2020, in Post WWII, WWII and tagged 1940's, Army, CBI, History, Military, Military History, Navy, nostalgia, Pacific, Pacific War, veterans, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 86 Comments.
Only if you’ve been to Calcutta in the summer months can you realise how valuable that ration increase would have been 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve heard of the extreme heat, but never experienced it. I think the troops earned it anyway.
Have a great day and stay safe, Ankur!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They deserved more beer!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for another interesting piece, it was a pleasure to read. By the way, please join my blog too if you find it interesting – let’s grow together!😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll check your site out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Chaplin: “Our Dada says you can’t go wrong with more beer!”
Charlee: “Apparently he failed to stock up before California went on lockdown, and now he is rationing himself!”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cute guys!!
LikeLike
Enjoyed that read gp, most of your jokes are actually not only funny, but I think give a great soldiers view of things at the time, cheers.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Ian! You’re the only person to say that – thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on depolreablesunite.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Rick.
LikeLike
More history they never teach in school. So Sad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Schools seem to thrive on the kids learning names and dates – how to bore a child in one easy step, eh?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gotta pass that multiple guess test!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁 👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Three cases of beer! Now we are talking, G.
I remember my father-in-law telling me that after the war he couldn’t get a flight out of Burma so he hitched a ride across India and took the boat.
Also, I don’t know why your post brought up this memory, but suddenly I thought of Francis the Talking Mule. Might make a fun post. –Curt
LikeLiked by 2 people
It might at that, Curt. Thanks for the suggestion. I forgot about that – and I am trying to keep the posts light due to the world situation.
LikeLike
You have to do Frances, G! 🙂 I have a copy of the first one that I watch on occasion for humor and I think it tickles me as much now as it did when I was a kid in the post WWII era. –Curt
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the reminder, Curt. Most people are remembering Francis and the remainder seem very pleased to be introduced. It was good-natured fun and still can be!
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=francis+the+talking+mule
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, my dad used to tell us about Francis the Talking Mule! Yes, it would make a fun post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Laughing, I may be his age, Liz. It is one of the very first movies I remember. For nostalgia sake, I even bought the first one and watch it on occasion. It still makes me laugh! –Curt
LikeLiked by 2 people
I am even more eager to see it now!
LikeLike
Do it, Liz. 🙂 And let me know how you liked it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
My husband and I just finished watching it. We liked it very much! I found the basket-weaving bit particularly funny.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
These little bits and pieces that followed the war are of interest. They help flesh out those years, make them real. I was 6 when the war ended and don’t remember a heck of a lot. I do remember blackouts, and my father’s warden outfit–helmet, gas mask, first aid book and kit–which hung in our den closet until they fell apart. I remember keeping silent during a radio broadcast of Roosevelt’s funeral. And the gas ration stickers on my dad’s car. Planes going so low overhead, I could see the bomb bay doors.
A movie I’ll never forget: Harp of Burma, the story of a Japanese soldier who chooses to stay in Burma to bury the countless dead. Here’s the most memorable scene, starting at 6:00 on the video. So sorry; no English subtitles, but you can figure out what’s going on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for relating your story and that of a Japanese soldier – it helps to enhance the data and understanding of this post!
LikeLike
In a similar vein, I had vague memories of reading about the use of Japanese troops after the end of WW2 by the British in Indonesia and by the Americans in the Philippines, That was only scratching the surface, and the full story is at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Surrendered_Personnel
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, very true, John. They were used in China to help keep the Communist and Nationalist apart and to help get the remainder of Japanese back home. Once the Emperor gave his speech, it marked the beginning of a long alliance between Japan and the U.S.
Thank you as always for contributing information!
LikeLike
I recall reading of a POW camp in Europe where the Allies didn’t have enough guards to secure that many prisoners. As I remember it, they created a buffer zone inside the overall perimeter and manned the former with newly “retired” SS men, carefully selected, and carrying their own sidearms. I don’t believe there were any escape attempts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a good reminder that it’s not over until it’s all over. Then, of course, as one of your commenters has already noted, it was only at the beginning of another conflict.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And that is sad, isn’t it? It goes to show just how much WWII did change the world forever.
LikeLike
Once the fallibility of the British Empire was exposed, the rest was forgone. But it would have happened anyway. Look at Indo-Chino and the fall of the French. Then all those places in Africa that no longer bear colonial names.
But when I was in school, and the world atlas hung on the wall, it was always covered in the pink bits that Britain called “theirs”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
To be honest, with all the chaos and fighting that has gone on in South America during the last century, I’m shocked none of them have changed names.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Political upheaval in South America is measured in rpms.
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha, you got me there!!
LikeLike
It seems to me that the clean-up would take about long enough for another war to begin. No wonder they had to up the beer ration! Your quarantine humor made me smile yet sad at the same time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That picture was at a Taiwan stadium. It just may be the situation this year. Keep a stiff upper lip, Bev.
LikeLike
From two cases to three cases of beer. . . Do I really want to leave? That’s a hard decision to make. It put a smile on my face. I need it today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hang in there, Rose. Is your son with you?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. I don’t know how I can cope without him around. Yesterday was the worst.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish I knew what could make things easier for you, but from experience, I know words are useless.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the Meme!
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha, thanks, Cindy!
LikeLike
Good one, GP. I wonder if it really took three years to finish up everything. 33% increase in beer is good news indeed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beetley Pete’s father was at the Calcutta riots and I know India was eager to get their independence from England, so I tend to believe it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What is green and got the British out of India?
LikeLike
I give up…..
LikeLike
Mahatma Gumby
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup, you got me.
LikeLike
Great information, GP! They were in need preparing themselves for the after-war-community. Very interesting! Thank you! Michael
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m very glad you came by. Thank you, Michael.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The clean up and wrap up after war. With lots of still not so pretty parts. Thanks GP.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This issue of “Roundup” actually had plenty of pin-up girl photos ( entitled: “Here’s your last look fellas!”), perhaps I should have used those?! LOL
LikeLiked by 3 people
As always, thank you for the continuing education, GP, all these things we never learned in school!
The deer netting has come off of your Michael’s tree, as well as the others (including Michael Knight’s tree) up front. Some grass trimming and mulching left to do, and then I’ll take some photos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish I could express how much I appreciate all you do and have done to honor our loved ones. My Michael never approved of cut flowers, he said all they do it die quicker. A growing, living tree (I know) would make him very happy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good article and great humor. I needed it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad to hear it Jacqui. We all need to keep things lighter than usual I think if we expect to get through this.
LikeLike
This reminded me that my Dad was still in India until partition was completed. That was the most ‘action’ he saw during the whole war.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha How exactly did you mean “action” there, Pete?
LikeLiked by 1 person
He saw some ‘fighting’ during the riots. They were trying to stop the killings between Hindu and Muslims groups, and he was sent in with Sikh troops . He described it as ‘nasty’, but never elaborated.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup, he saw action then!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Dave Loves History.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Dave!
LikeLike
3 cases of beer a month? I need to forward this to my wife.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eeeeee-haaaa!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your stories of the aftermath clearing up are good reminders
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Derrick. I think the men that put the CBI Roundup together each week for the troops did a great job of it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cute article GP. I like the cartoons, particularly the Quarantine humor. I may need to add it as part of my Coronavirus light series. When they upped the limit from 2 to 3 cases per man how long was the limit period–a day (watch out !) a week (perhaps), a month (easy squeezy lemon peasy)?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I made that Quarantine meme, so you are welcome to it, Pat, with my blessing. You feel as I do that we have to keep things light if we’re all going to pull through.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Better to light (or write) one meme than to curse the virus. I”m impressed with you creativity.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The people who create the programs that enable me to make a meme are the impressive ones!!, but thank you very much for the compliment!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s often a sense of nostalgia when leaving a place. Sometimes it’s because it was such a good experience, and sometimes it’s because it was so bad. Usually, it’s a mix. But the poem you posted here seems full of nostalgia –and pride!
LikeLiked by 2 people
There were other parts to it as well, but this ending stanza sort of wrapped it up and you caught the same gist I did. I believe you are quite right, Linda.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lil more beer, for a lil more cheer. A salute to those in charge of such decisions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I believe most everyone else saluted too!! lol
LikeLike
Chuckle!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for another very interesting piece. it is this sort of detail that before the Internet was available only to full-time scholars.
LikeLiked by 4 people
So true!! I’m glad I found something of interest for you!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Pat!
LikeLike
Pingback: Corona Virus Light 4 – e-Quips