Baguio and Camera Discussion (69)

The 92nd Evacuation Hospital is moved to a place recently vacated by a Japanese military hospital.

May 3, 1945  Moved to the P. Military Institute at Baguio [Philippine Military Academy, which was in Baguio].  It took us 3 1/2 hours, we were such a line of trucks.  Officers have cottages.

Aerial view of the Philippine Military Academy in May 1945

May 4, 1945  I was cold as the dickens, especially my feet, last night even with 3 blankets.  Nice quarters.

May 5, 1945  The rainy season must be early!  We've had at least 4" this afternoon.  The buildings all have holes in the roofs from bombing and leak like a sieve.  I have a dry spot.

May 7, 1945  Rained hard this evening about mess time.  We dry out clothes by the fire.  I have a ward - #9 in the farthest building.

"X" marks the cottage that is Gene's quarters in the Philippine Military Academy

May 8, 1945  VE Day, and it scarcely excites us!  Wonder when VJ day will be - this year? ...

May 9, 1945  Althea Williams won the 150 guilders on the day VE [but she told me while I was interviewing her for the Memorial Day post that they took the award away from her because of an international dateline complication!]

14 May '45
Dear Folks [Mary X, Beth's sister, and John; and their teenage son, Jack],
     In about 2 or 3 months, Jack, you can begin expecting a package.  It is all things I've picked up around here.  I tied it up and took it to our local APO, so it should start on its way within the week.  We have to have G2 permits on all Jap equipment, but I was able to get that here.  The box contains the following: Jap helmet, sun helmet, cartridge box (leather) for belt attachment, leather medicinal corps belt box with an ampoule of medicine (probably atabrine [an anti-malaria drug]), clips of 5 - .25 caliber cartridges (powder removed and caps snapped - the censor might possibly remove them), coconut shell dipper and handle (I had to cut off a few inches of the handle), bamboo candle-lantern, toothbrush, and 2 panes of the "window pane clam shell" - this is not a Jap item.  Typical windows here are made from this shell.  I have a number of Jap family and personal photographs, but they can't be mailed.  Also, I have 2 Jap negatives I'll print sometime.  Oh yes - and a pack of 1000 peso Jap notes.  I forgot to list them on the permit, so they may be removed.  However, I have a bundle of them and can send them by letter.  In fact, I'll enclose a few with this.

Print from Japanese negative Gene found:
former hospital staff members

          Your V mails came a few days ago, Mary X, and your letter, John, at the same time.  I appreciate your data on the cameras, John.  I'll be darned if I know what I want!  The Contax II [a professional-quality, German camera], which will take a telephoto lens, is about $225 and that is more than I want to pay at present.  I know how difficult it is for you to get a line on cameras.  I read the ads.  Today I had a letter from my former tent mate, George Christie from Canon City.  He expects to go home for a month's leave, this month.  He could bring it back and get it to me.  So I have to make a decision, even though it may not be possible for you to act on it at such short notice.  This is it - a [Kodak] Bantam Special (f 2) or anything similar in your judgement.  Probably you won't be able to find one quickly.  If not, just let it go, and in that case maybe you could send me some descriptive literature on the various Eastman [Kodak] cameras (miniature class), and Leica and Contax for I don't know much about them.  I don't care especially about a range finder, for I've tried lately to use the depth-of-focus data and remember it, and focus is usually sharp.  One fellow's wife purchased an Argus [a low-cost American camera] for him at the Gary Camera Company, 619 Washington, Gary, Indiana, without trouble.  Possible they might have something.  (No, I wouldn't want an Argus, or any off-brand.)  It took 6 months to reach him!  Maybe you could get me some DK 20 (1 gallon size or other five grain [photographic] developer).  Beth hasn't been able to get it.  I'll enclose a request, both for a camera, and for mailing any developer you could get me.  Beth will reimburse you.
     Our weather continues cool and rainy.  No doubt it will be that for the next 4 or 5 months if we stay here.  But how I enjoy the coolness.  We don't have to be out in the rain very much, fortunately.  As soon as we have electricity in our cottage, I'm going to make a "dry cabinet" with a light going continuously.  Fortunately things don't seem to mold very much.  I've seen several cameras in which the lens was etched by mold.
     Thanks for the offer about the typing.  Next time we move and I have some new territory to describe, I'll take you up on it.  It would save Beth a lot of trouble.
     About the machete.  I meant that you ought to get one after the war, because they are such a handy item.  It isn't a knife.  It is bigger than that.  It is about 2 feet long and 2 1/2 inches wide at the widest part.  All the fellows here seem to have knives but I'll keep it in mind about your knife.  I'm enclosing some duplicate negatives for you.  Beth has similar ones.  Most of these are of out present area.  2 are of buildings down town.
     We haven't been very busy since we came up here.  There'd be a lot of time for pictures if the weather were right.  As it is, there is rarely more than about 1/2 hour of good conditions, every 5 or 6 days.  And later there will probably be none.  In spite of the cool climate, I've had a bit of trouble with fungus infection of my feet.  We are sitting around the fire, with a gasoline lantern for light and blankets across the windows.  Very cosy!  Now and then a few shells go overhead, just to remind us that the war is still going on.
     Love, Eugene

Enclosures (evidently not used because they were with the letter!):
14 May '45
Subject: Purchase of a camera
To: Camera Dealer
     I am stationed in the SWPA, in an Evacuation Hospital.  I would like to purchase a camera for general use, including that of photographing clinical cases for scientific purposes.
                                                                                    E.F. Pfile, Maj. M.C.
                                                                                    0-45677
                                                                                    92nd Evac. Hosp. (SM)

Postmaster,
     Please allow Mr. Barrett to send me some photo chemicals.
                                                                                   Maj. E.F. Pfile
[This was stamped Freeport Ill. May 28, 1945]