Some photos from DTC to Biak (82)

     I'm going to be on vacation for a couple of weeks, so here are some photos that didn't fit in elsewhere.  I hope you enjoy them!


From the Desert Training Center:

Near Freda looking toward the Chuckwalla Mountains

Members of the 92nd Evacuation Hospital lining up for innoculations

In Australia:

Australian soldiers riding bicycles near Rockhampton

Rockhampton train

Australian men working in the train yard in Rockhampton

In Hollandia:

Piece of a  wrecked canoe near Hollandia Gene sent through the
 mail to Beth

Carvings on the other side of the piece of wrecked canoe

Some of the enlisted men of the 92nd Evac (they look like characters in the musical,
South Pacific, don't they?)

Japanese supplies

On Biak:

Looking from the beach road on Biak up to the the Japanese
bunkers dug into the cliff

Japanese bunker on Biak

Major surgery tents on Biak

Minor surgery tents on Biak

Ward tents on Biak

Capt. Hiram Armstrong's fox hole on Biak

Return to Brisbane (23)

Have you ever wondered how psychiatric patients were transferred in the WWII?  What happens to their clothing, restraints and bedding?  Capt. Pfile receives orders to escort some patients to the General Hospital in Brisbane. 

A member of the 92nd Evac modelling
a straight jacket: to understand it,
try it on

November 28, 1943 Sunday

      Thursday afternoon I took 4 psychos to the 42nd General Hosp. at Brisbane, by plane. 2 of the patients had to be in restraints. We left at 4 P.M. on a C-47. There were 8 litter cases and 20 other people on the plane besides the crew. The 354 air miles took 2 hours against a slight headwind. We bounced a bit at times, flying just under the broken clouds. The patients raved all the way, but the noise of the plane was greater. We sat on bare aluminum seats (room for 40!) which I noticed as we neared Brisbane, made the trouser seats black! Next evening I washed the seat of my trousers for that and no other reason!             Aussie ambulances and women drivers met us and we took the patients right out to the hospital from Archer Field (5 miles?). There was a lot of delay at the hospital. The 40 odd patients who arrived on planes (from Townsville too) just seemed to daze them. They had no system! As a result it was 7:30 before we got rid of the patients and went to the dining hall to eat. Then it rained a terrific downpour, and hailed a lot, for a short time.  We (Capt. Casey and Capt. Koenig from the 1st Evac Hosp at Orro Bay, on the way for leave had to accompany patients from Townsville and Capt. Lacey from the 12th Station Hosp.) went to check our equipment - it hadn't been brought back! 
     I called the billeting office - no room, so we all stayed at the hospital overnight. Had a nice inner springs mattress, on the officers' ward! After breakfast, I hunted down where my 4 patients had gone and got 4 suits of pajamas and 4 pillow cases in exchange, and got credit for them. Then we (Casey and Koenig and I) went down to the 3rd Med. Supply Depot (we had to catch a ride in an ambulance) to try to straighten out the property, for it had all been turned in there and a tally out given in the name of the [Brisbane 42nd Gerneral] hospital! But a driver had the tally, so the hospital knew nothing of it! 
     After planning to meet there at 1:30, we went to the billeting office and I was assigned to the CTA - Commercial Tourist Assn on Elizabeth Street.  It was on the club style, but quite ancient [it was built in 1907].  I was assigned a room on the 4th floor - a [w]hole bedroom affair. No key for the lock, hard mattress, ancient plumbing. But at 3/6 a night I couldn't say much! Then I went by street car out to the Hq at Sommerville House and got my orders and signed the book. 
     Going back to town I met Jackson, a fellow who had worked in x-ray and transferred 2 months ago.  So I took him to lunch and we talked.  Then back to the Supply depot, who gave us a car and we went back to the hospital and finally got our receipts.  Back to town [the top of the diary (a "Queensland Exercise Book") was cut off, probably to make it fit the space available for packing, and a comment added there later can't be read].  I looked thru the stores a bit, ate at the Officers' Club, met up with a 1st Lt who was going to a show so I went along.  Then back to bed at 9:30, quite tired.

Brisbane Botanical Gardens

     Saturday morning I was up early (well 7 A.M.) and could find no place open for breakfast so back to the Officers' Club where for 9d I had 2 pancakes, honey, coffee and toast!  Food there is good and cheap.  Then I shopped around and got nothing for myself except some leather.  Then took pictures in botanical Park [see also post #17], walked on the hill above town, and finally took the train out to Ascot.  I went in to the Px and had a coke, took a picture of the green back of the grandstand [see post #13], walked around the residential [area] and took 2 more pictures.  Then back to town and had 2 malted milks (at 5d and 6d each) for lunch and went to a show.  Out in time to go to the air transport window and was very much surprised to get a ticket!  Back to the Officers' Club to eat and sat around.  I was astonished at how well my feet held out.  I used calamine lotion and it seems to dry up the areas.  Back to the room and sat around talking.

Sunrise above the clouds, winging their way
 back to Rockhampton

      I had the porter call me at 3:15 [A.M.]. I was to be picked up at 3:45 but the Aussie woman driver picked up 3 others first, and got me at 4:10. Out to the field. Weighed in on the U.S. scales at 147 and on the Aussie ones at 150, 11 pounds luggage. Coffee and donuts at the Red Cross! The Ansett (commercial line) plane was a dandy - 10 place Lockheed, 2 pilots. We had only 5 and the pilots. It was 5:10 when we took off, still quite dark. We climbed gradually thru 2 layers of clouds to (I guess) about 7500 feet. It was beautiful to watch the sun come up, just like fairlyland. The clouds were scattered and not solid so we had glimses of the ground. 
     2 Col.'s of the Dental Corps were on the plane - Shuttleworth (who knew 92nd from the desert) and Snyder! The Fitzroy River certainly breaks up into a maze of passages on reaching the river [ocean?], and the tide water has innumerable criss crossing channels for miles along there. We landed at 7:40 - 2 hours 25 minutes. Nice soft seats, less engine noise - lots of fun! An Aussie female driver met us and took the Col.'s to the Criterion and dumped me out since her duty period was over! I could have called for a ride, but I thumbed one. When I returned Iwa [?] had a fit because I didn't bring back the restraining sheets. I was lucky to get even a receipt! So ended my air trip - lots of fun. If Beth could have been in Brisbane with me, I'd have been happy!

Wildlife in Australia (22)

Gene reports on wallabys, jumper ants, kangaroos, and tree toads.  A nice selection of Australian wildlife!

Capt. Pfile with the captured wallaby

15 Nov. '43
Dear Folks [Mary X and John],
     This is to all of you, but especially to Jack [their 14-year-old son] and Marianne [their 5-year-old neice] for they both wrote me such nice letters!
     One of the men caught a young wallaby (small species of kangaroo). I wish I could send you one of them, for they are so cute. They make nice pets, it is said. They also had a young kangaroo, but it got out one night.
     How is the boomerang, Jack? [In October Jack had written to Beth: "Our neighbor Mr. Grattelo is teaching me to throw the boomerang. I can make it go like this only (and he drew a figure sort of like ℓ)"] Have you learned to make it come back to you? I'm so glad you liked it.
     Marianne, I saw some "abo" children the other day, but they are civilized and didn't look a thing like the cute ones in the book! They looked just like white children who had been scorched a bit in the making.
     It is peculiar about these Aborigines. Their features are not at all Negroid, but they are very dark. There is a colony of them somewhere near here. I hope I get a chance to see it some time. Of course, some live and work in town, but these are more "native".
     The news has been a lot better lately, hasn't it? Maybe it won't be so long as some think. I most fervently hope not!
     Love, Eugene



Dear Folks,
     ... Yesterday I received a box of candy from the Gaines in Trinidad [Colorado]. Oh, I wouldn't let it sit around - the ants might get in! This morning I saw something new in ants - ones with a blue head and forepart of the body, and they jump! 2 or 3 inches, and for no good reason that I can see!  [Probably a type of Myrmecia jumping ant that is only found in Australia, and one which holds its victim with its jaws and then hits it with a powerful sting].  They do have the darnedest things over here.
     My feet are doing O.K. I haven't gone on any long walks. It is getting too hot in the day time, anyway.
     ... This morning I went down town, and saw some ducks on the river. They looked to be pretty large, too. But it is the wrong time of the year, here, for hunting! Our days are getting rather warm.
     One of the men caught a small wallaby (small species of kangaroo) and had it in a box. They make nice pets, I've heard. The 'roos are too large to be pets when grown, and the males can be downright dangerous. Their coats are soft and fuzzy.
     We've had 1 small shower. Otherwise things are quite dry. That helps the mosquito situation!
     Love, Eugene

December 25, 1943  Christmas Day!
     It hasn't been as bad as I expected.  I was a bit low last evening, but after the gang went to the dance and things quieted down, I opened my gifts and it helped a lot.  I could just feel the love wrapped up with each gift!  And to think when the packages were sent, Beth's Dad was still with us.
     [And now a bit of wild life!]  This morning I was up before 5 to go caroling around the area.  The officers didn't appreciate being awakened, but Hiram and Gus cut up like monkeys and had everyone awake and laughing by 6:30 - first time I've ever known them all to be awake so early.
     George had 1 tooth knocked out and 2 busted and his lip cut 3 days ago, playing ball.
    



Cunningham's "Station", or ranch about 15 miles outside 
Rockhampton

January 2, 1944
     Kangaroo hunting at the Cunningham's - about 15 miles west of town.  They have paddocks totaling 600 acres and run about 1200 head of cattle. ...  I saw several calves that dingoes had injured.  Dingoes cause a lot of losses.  The true dingo has long since crossed with dogs to give a larger, fiercer, bolder animal.
     They raise some feed, though the bottom land is not apparently so rich.  "Lucern" is what they call our alfalfa.  The dry grass does not seem to be eaten by cattle or sheep, hence they burn it off so the new grass grows up.
     They gave us tea.  Then we drove out to a paddock and started.  I got the first shot at one soon after we left the car but missed.  I don't like the carbine very well - the stock seems too short, and I tend to look over the sights instead of thru, when I raise it in a hurry.  (Have to have some excuse!)  We walked on thru sparce timber open country with sharp small hills, and very little brush.  The kangaroos are not hard to see when they start moving, but are not easy to hit from 2 or 300 yards when they are moving.  If not shot at a lot, they can easily be sneaked up on, being stupid animals!  I took long shots and more than I should.  Finally I got up to about 150 yards of one.  He jumped straight up so I knew he was hit.  He went over the edge of a hill and I ran up and saw him down in the tall grass, shot again and missed and he went over another edge.

Mr. Cunningham (?) and Gene with the kangaroo he killed

  Then I shot again and put him down.  Our friend skinned him, stripping most of the hide.  Joe, Hiram and Gray and the driver had been shooting all this time, too!  Joe used a tommy gun, Hiram a converted .303 English gun, Gray a carbine and the driver a Springfield!  We went on, and saw more and I shot about 10 times more, hitting nothing.  In all I shot 26 times!  When we got back, they had tea (really supper) for us!

January 3, 1944
     I tried tanning the hide.  Terrible smell.  I gave up trying to flesh it and dropped it into dilute H2SO4 (1 lb. conc to 3 gal. water - I used 1/3) for 3 1/2 hours.


3 Jan. '44

Dear Folks [Mary X and John],

     ...  I enjoyed your letter, Jack.  That tree toad is still about.  Right now he's living in my tent mate's cadet bag!  ...

     Thanks too for the letter, Mary X!  I enjoy knowing what the family is doing.

     Love, Eugene

Resident tree frog or toad

Physician, Heal Thyself (21) (not for the queasy!)

     Rockhampton lies on the Tropic of Capricorn and has humid, subtropical weather.  Daytime highs are usually around 85º F in the summer, dropping to 75º in the winter.  Nighttime lows are around 70º F in the summer and 50º F in the winter, although on rare occasions it drops below freezing.  Conditions are usually quite pleasant for people (except during cyclones or floods), but unfortunately are also enjoyed by various fungi and other obnoxious plant and animal life that like to grow in and on humans.  The doctors from the 92nd Evac came from Colorado, so they had not been exposed to many of the tropical afflictions, and occasionally fell victim to them as well. 
     Throughout his life Gene suffered periodically from what was probably dyshidrotic eczema, a condition that caused small, itchy blisters on his hands and feet.  Although the precise cause of this condition is not known, it usually appears when a person is under stress, either physical, such as allergies or constantly damp conditions, or mental, such as pressure from work.  In the tropics, the moist environment allowed the opportunistic bacteria and fungi to establish themselves in any little break in the skin and wreak havoc.


October 20, 1943
     Trichophytids!  How they are bothering me!  My feet just about itched me to death today, and then broke open.  My hands will start soon, I fear.

92nd Evacuation Hospital in Rockhampton, Australia

1 Nov. '43
Dear Folks,
     ...  The medicine from Lilly Co. came Sunday, and I( took a shot right away.  Mind you, it was sent air mail first class (cost 72¢, which they paid) and was mailed Sept. 22nd, so it took 5 1/2 weeks!  My hands and feet really have improved a lot in the last 2 weeks from what they were for a few days.  These water blisters came up all over my feet and hands, with those on the feet opening and oozing clear serum.  The ones on my hands did not open except in a few places.  It was similar to what I had before, only then it affected my fingers much worse.  I had it once while I was interning and once 3 or 4 years ago.  I just didn't want it to be that bad this time!  ...
     Love, Eugene

November 3, 1943
     Foot began to swell.  Entered hospital.  Infection.

November 4, 1943
     Cellulitis dorsum Rt. foot [redness and heat due to inflamation, and swelling and sensitivity to the touch of the upper part of the right foot].

November 6, 1943
     Boil began on my Lt. leg [starts as a hard, painful red lump which becomes larger, softer and more painful as pus collects].

6 Nov. '43
Dear Folks,
     ...  I am temporarily in the hospital!  I have a cellulitis in my right foot, over the top of the foot.  But it is clearing up quite well.  I turned in with that Wednesday noon, and have been soaking it, off and on [remember penicillin isn't widely available yet], and staying in bed, since.  Yesterday a small boil started in my left leg just behind and above the ankle.  But that also is quieting down.  I had expected to be dismissed to quarters today, but no go.  It is still a bit sensitive when it [his foot] is down.  But I realized in time that it was not to be stalled off, and was sensible enough to go to bed.  Probably tomorrow I can go to my tent and spend a few days there before I go back to duty.
     It does seem queer - you are all preparing for winter, and we for summer.  I hope you have a mild one.
     ...  It is more interesting than ever to hear the discussions that go on about the war and engagements, here on the ward.  The fellows are not supposed to talk about it, but of course they do.  What experiences.
     ...  I was out at the beach Tuesday afternoon but I don't think that had anything to do with this infection!  I took some color pictures that should be good.  The breeze was very refreshing and the water quite warm.  Nope, I didn't see a single shark!
     Don't worry about me - I'm doing O.K.!
     Love, Eugene

November 7, 1943
     Considerable pain and swelling in the darn foot.

November 8, 1943
     Mihalick incised my infection - lot of pus, deep.

November 10, 1943
     Out of the hospital today and on "Quarters".  I entered Nov. 3, a week ago at noon when my R foot began to swell.  I couldn't figure what it was and finally admitted it was a cellulitis, probably from my athlete's foot.  I thought I'd soak it a day or 2 and it would be O.K.  It did seem to get better.  Then a boil developed on the left leg below the calf and it had to be soaked and opened.  They certainly throbbed when I'd try to walk!  Then the R foot stayed so dark red over the medial part of the R dorsum [center part of the top of the right foot] and finally got so darn hypersensitive and showed an area of softening.  It was opened and several drams [four drams is about a tablespoon] of pus and chunks came out and it began to feel better at once.  That was the 8th.  This morning it felt pretty good so I talked John (Mihalick) into letting me out.  I'll have to send Beth a wire for I know she'll be worrying in spite of the fact I told her not to do so.  Gosh but I miss her.  Evenings after the lights were out [and] we were under out nets (9 P.M.) I'd think of her until I dropped to sleep.

10 Nov. '43
Dear Folks,
     Here I am in my tent!  I'll be on quarters a few days and then go back to work.

Gene in his tent, taking it easy

     Sunday evening they opened the place on the R foot.  It had turned a deep purplish red - a spot about the size of a dollar, began to soften in the middle, and was very sensitive and pained when the foot was down.  I was surprised at what came out - about a tablespoonful of pus and stuff.  The foot began to feel better at once and my fever went down [the] next day.  It hasn't drained much since.  This morning I walked around a bit and it felt pretty good, so I talked them into releasing me.  I'll just sit around and keep my foot up and take care of it for a few days.  But it is more to my liking here in the tent.  I can read in the evening and things are handier.
     ...  What wild life we have around here!  As I sit here I can see 2 birds in the tent across from me.  They just seem to be looking around.  In another tent I just saw a mouse go scampering along.  Little lizards wander in at intervals.  Ants come and go all the time - chiefly a large red variety like the black woods ants back home.  But it is nice to hear the birds even though their voices are anything but melodious.  On the desert there were so few birds.
     I enjoyed 2 hunting and fishing magazines one of the fellows brought me.  My subscription to the Field and Stream ought to arrive soon.  I also enjoyed Wells Pocket History of the World.  It says in there that up to 100 years ago there was a race of natives in Tasmania (just off the southern coast of Australia) that were more primitive than the Cro-Magnon man [we now know this not to be true], which is usually considered the earliest true man (he doesn't consider the Neanderthal man as being an ancestor of true man, but an earlier offshoot [it is interesting to note that with present-day DNA analysis, some Neanderthal genes can be found in modern humans]).  Birds and animals still exist here which are much older in type than any elsewhere.  The soldiers who have been up north have lots of regard for the natives.  They say the natives hate the Japs - really hate them.  They'll carry one of our wounded or an Aussie 8 hours at a stretch and never set him down, and carry him gently!  But if they are forced to carry a wounded Jap, they'll have to rest every little while, and when they set him down they just drop him, and if not watched, they'll even finish him off themselves!  Interesting!
     I ought to do O.K. now.  Hope you both are too!
     Love, Eugene

November 12, 1943
     Another G-I upset.  Maybe I got a bug in the orange drink at Yeppoon.  Christie had some melena [darkening of the feces by blood pigment] today.  He said, "Should you and I plan to get into the same Veteran's Home?"  That is good!

14 Nov. '43
Dear Folks,

Beach at Yeppoon, Australia

     Here I am, back on the job again!  I was ready to start in Friday but something else came up.  Thursday afternoon some of the officers were going to the beach, so I went along.  I just sat around and took the sun and fresh air.  On the way back we stopped for an orange drink and I think that proved my undoing.  It was served by the glass.  I must have picked up some kind of a bug, for I was awakened at 12:30 by the belly ache and was I ever sick.  I thought for a while I was getting appendicitis.  I stayed in bed all Friday, having fever and diarrhea.  In the morning I was so shaky and nauseated and that sickly yellow color!  But I felt better by evening and now I'm O.K. again except for small boils - one on each calf around a hair follicle.  My feet are doing quite well.  The right foot still swells some, but that is to be expected.
     ...  Yesterday I saw a mail carrier for the first time.  [Gene's stepfather, Vernon, was a mail carrier.]  It was at the outer edge of town.  He was riding a bicycle and was dressed in shorts (low shoes and long socks), short sleeved shirt open at the throat, and slouch hat.  His mail bag was about half the size of our postmen's bags.  I imagine that their letter mail is light, and that they have little or no advertising matter and few magazines.  The uniform of the policemen is a light tan with tight military style collar, and the same type of Rough Rider hat that their soldiers wear.  They all seem to be young fellows.  They ride bicycles, too.
     The weather has not been so warm lately - very comfortable in fact.  ...
     Our Padre [Griffiths] is leaving us - being transferred.  We all hate to see him go, for he is an exceptional man.  He has the respect and esteem of the whole outfit.
     Hope you both continue to feel well.
     Love, Eugene

Photos from Australia (17)

Capt. Pfile knew Beth loved flowers, so he took lots of photos of nature.  Here are a few:

White frangipani bush in Brisbane

Sausage tree in the Rockhampton Botanic Gardens

Rockhampton Botanic Gardens (I think)

Pink frangipani in Rockhampton

Coral trees in Rockhampton

Gene also took lots of photos of everyday things:

Grosvenor Hotel in Rockhampton (C.C. Adair, proprietor); note car and Dewar's Whisky advertisement.

American soldiers walking down the street in down town Rockhampton;
note the open-sided bus, and Stewarts, where Gene bought three lace handkerchiefs, (made in England) for 2/6 each and 2 ration coupons for the lot.

An Australian soldier in front of the Public Curator's Office in Rockhampton;
note the old car in the background

Residential area in rockhampton; "Tidewater" is written over the door of the white building.

Since the Fitzroy River was prone to flooding, and cyclones were not uncommon in Rockhampton, many of the houses, like this one, were built on stilts.

Note the old tramway tracks in front of this lovely home in residential Rockhampton; the tramway had been closed down a few years earlier.

Looking for beauty in the ordinary was a way for Gene to find a brief refuge from the ugliness of war that confronted him every day in the wards..