Maj. E. F. Pfile, C.O. (95)

     This is Gene's last letter home that was saved, although he has two more months of diary entries.

2 Nov. '45
Beloved,
     Well what do you know - I'm writing by the light of a gasoline lantern!  It seems that a pole fell across our light line this evening.  Things are starting to level off.  The 229th General Hospital is moving in.  They are setting up their iron beds with mattresses.  The nurses arrived about noon so the halls echo and re-echo to the sound of female laughter (also yap-yap).  This morning some of their officers went to work on the wards and took over the OR [operating room].  I haven't touched a patient since I arrived and probably won't.  As the general hospital sets up, we pack up.  It will end by us moving bag and baggage to the barracks area, setting up our mess and all there.  Of course that probably won't happen for another 2 weeks and by then they may have other plans for us.  Otherwise there is no telling how long we may sit there.  Oh me, why don't they just let us go home!
     I've seen some Jap lanterns in use.  Jap cops use them at night, even riding along on a bicycle!  Can you imagine that?
     All my love, Eugene

November 3, 1945  [Maj. ? Herb] Nigg went to Kyoto [to return home].  I tried to carry on.  Maj. Gen. Mellins (25th Div.) came to see our place.

November 4, 1945  Nigg will be stuck for a while.  The score has gone into reverse for lack of boats - 96 [points] for 0[fficers] and 80 for EM [enlisted men].

November 5, 1945  Gen. Krueger was around at mess time yesterday.  Things were quite a mess!  It's a wonder we weren't really laid out cold!

November 6, 1945  Exam. [examination]  Team for Reg. A [Regular Army?] officers [career officers?] here from Kyoto.

November 7, 1945 More O and EM will get to leave soon.  The 229th Gen. Hosp. will take over the books at 2400.

November 8, 1945  Blue vase ¥450 [$30], green ¥200 [$13], red ¥100 [$7.50], small ones ¥20 [$1.50] each, clips ¥10 [$.75] each

November 9, 1945  Down to 46° F in my room last night!

November 10, 1945  Wool underwear issued today.  Nigg to leave the 13th.

November 11, 1945  Armistice Day - imagine!  Really came a free one [soon to be changed to "Veterans' Day", this was the first time it could be celebrated in a world free of major conflict in six years].

November 12, 1945  I took command officially this morning.  A skeleton crew.  We have a Jap wood stove.

Probably from the Trinidad Chronicle-News:

MAJOR E.F. PFILE NOW AT NAGOYA, JAPAN, IN COMMAND OF HOSPITAL

     Now stationed at Nagoya, Japan, as commanding officer of the 92nd evacuation hospital is Major E. F. Pfile of Trinidad whose wife, Beth, resides at 800 Park street.

     Major Pfile, who was a practicing physician and surgeon in Trinidad for some time prior to his entry into the army medical corps 41 months ago, has been overseas 29 months.

     He has seen service in the campaigns of Hollandia, Dutch East Indies, New Guinea and the Philippines prior to his landing in Japan more than a month ago.

November 13, 1945  Nigg went to the depot today.  Jensen says I should get the five points for they said it was going thru.

November 14, 1945  Enlarged and printed pictures last night.  We have coal for out stove this evening.  The room temp. is 70° - the warmest it's been so far.

November 15, 1945  Rumor that we may open up.  We received woolens - 2 shirts, 2 pants and Eisenhower jacket.

November 16, 1945  More major crimes by soldiers exists here than I had any idea - armed robbery and burglary, etc.

November 17, 1945  They claim a new drop in critical score will come out Dec. 1st [i.e. fewer points will be needed to go home].

November 18, 1945  Dinner with Maj. Cooney at the Kanka Hotel, very good.  Walked home.  Gorgeous moon.
...

November 22, 1945  Thanksgiving - Base had turkey.  We had good steak.  Turkey later.  I'm catching flu or something.
...

November 26, 1945  Feel better today.  Opened the hospital - no patients admitted all day.  264th Med. Bn. Co. A may be taken away from us.
...

November 28, 1945  Cold much better except for cough.  Took a few color pictures.  10 patients.

Woman carrying a bundle up a hill in Nagoya

School children in front of the corner tower in the wall of the castle in Nagoya

Garden behind a shrine in Nagoya

November 29, 1945  [Second] Thanksgiving.  Turkey today.  Officers serve the men.

November 30, 1945  Rain again.  Chilly.  5 yards of brown silk jersey cloth at 30 yen ($2.00) a yard.  I saw the factory.  Real silk, too!



December 1, 1945  Heard this eve that I'm eligible!  Points drop to 79 for MC's [medical corps] immediately!  Mailed clothes and silk.  $1.09