What Can't Be Changed ... (72)

     Life settles into a routine in Caba.  Incoming patients are sporadic.  The census is 150.  Gene has time to play volleyball and develop black and white photographs.  Perhaps the following, one of my favorites, was one he developed.

Filipinos drawing in their fishing nets on the beach at Caba with U.S. transports overhead (I originally wrote "bombers", but my sister, a pilot, corrected me!)

July 19, 1945  There is a possibility I may get to take a 6 weeks refresher course in gen. surgery starting Aug. 1 at some Gen. Hosp.  ...

July 21, 1945  I tried trolling [for fish] from the homemade sail boat.  No luck.  Rice planting is in full swing.  When a carabao gets too hot, he just lies down in the mud and water!

The chapel at Caba was located in a temporary building instead of a tent

July 22, 1945  Sunday services.  Played volleyball and wrote some letters.  Things are quiet.  [Maj.] Sparky [Adams] has amoebiosis.  ...  We have 300 patients.  Weather hot and sultry, with occasional storms.

July 27, 1945  The more we hear of the point system [one point was awarded for each month in the service away from the 48 states, five points for each combat award, and 12 points for each dependent child under the age of 18 (for a maximum of three children)] and T.D. [temporary duty] the madder we get!  Snafu [situation normal, all fouled (or f***ed) up], completely.  Japan says they refuse our Potsdam ultimatum for unconditional surrender [the ultimatum on July 26, 1945, stated that if Japan didn't surrender immediately, it would face prompt and utter destruction].

July 28, 1945 ... They say the Jap landing is moved up but no rumors when.

 Sailboat probably made by army personnel from which Gene trolled for fish several times without catching any

July 29, 1945  Continued hot and dry.  I tried trolling from the sail boat for an hour - no luck.  I signed up ($2.00) for a Self-Study course in "Outline of Hist. Geology".

July 31, 1945  High surf along the beach, without much wind.  Full scale amphibious training starting for the 33rd Div.  Lots of LST's [landing ship, transport], APA's [assault personnel attack ship?], LCVP [landing craft, vehicle personnel], LCM [landing craft, mechanized], etc. etc.

Amphibious tanks (alligators) at Caba

August 1, 1945  Donovan finally left today on T.D.  ...  Beth finally heard my sad story and she is so grand about it.  She is the most wonderful there is!

August 2, 1945 Still another time away from Beth on her birthday [her third birthday for which Gene has been overseas].  How long does it have to last, this separation?

August 4, 1945  Orders came in last night for me to go on TD to the 120th Gen. Hosp. APO #1011.  I hear that it is in Santo Thomas, Manila.