Entertainment and the Dance of the Doctors (41)

It is interesting that Gene didn't dwell on the famous entertainers who visited.  He seemed more taken up with the number of doctors that were leaving the unit.

Bob Hope signing a dollar bill (?) on Owi

Francis Langford signing her autograph with Jerry
Colonna behind her and to our left

August24, 1944
     Bob Hope, Francis Langford [one of the few stars of the era who didn't change her name, Francis was a popular singer and actress; in his memoir, Don't Shoot!  It's Only Me!, Bob Hope recounts the story that at a U.S.O. performance in the South Pacific, when she sang, "I'm in the Mood for Love", a soldier stood up and shouted, "You've come to the right place, honey!" brought down the house], Jerry Colonna [for a typical exchange in a skit, Hope would ask,"Professor, did you plant the bomb in the embassy like I told you?"  Colonna, in his booming voice, would answer, "Embassy?  Great Scott, I thought you said NBC!"] and others put on a dandy show this evening.
     The 9th General Hosp. personnel came to Biak a few days ago on the hospital ship and will set up by Sorido strip.  I guess we'll be moving one of these days.  I'll hate to move, in a way, for we now have electric lights in our tents, and I put a floor in my part.
     My prickly heat and itching scrotum about drive me nuts at times.
     I weighed #`144 on a U.S. scales, so I guess our Jap scales is accurate.
     They are still killing Japs on Biak.  The last total announced was 5,100.  They are sick and starving but won't surrender.

September 1, 1944  Many B-24's going on missions almost daily from Owi and Biak.

All three photos are of nose artwork on the
B-24's that landed on Owi

Bale's Baby was reported "an operational
loss" in October 1944

September 10, 1944
     We had an 8 plane raid last night - quite a few bombs but only 1 wounded (finger only!) and little damage.  They claim our night fighters got 2.
     The heavies [bombers] go out of here 50 or 60 every morning and lots of P-38's [heavy fighters] - they pound the Celebes, Halmahera and the Phillipines [sic].  Every morning from about 5:30 to 7 or later, they roar off over our heads.  At night about 4 to 6, they return, but not always all of them.

September 17, 1944
     [Maj. Dick] MacIlroy is being transferred to the 135 Med Bn in trade for an EENT [eye, ear, nose and throat, also called "ENT"] man.  Why he was sent instead of Burroughs, I haven't the least idea.  Maybe it is something personal with Sterling.
     [Capt. Edward] Hagman went psycho, following a hemorrhoidectomy about 2 or 3 weeks ago and was shipped out.  Too darn bad.
     [Maj. Merrick] Michels [who was suffering in May from the "ids" or trichophytids, see post #21, "Physician Heal Thyself" and #33, "Purple Hearts but No Mail"] left over a month ago because of his severe allergy to fungus.
     Adams, Armstrong and Niemeyer were made majors.  All deserving it.
     Sterling about knocked me over today when he told me he was putting me in for a majority.  He said, of course, that it might not go thru.  Really, I wish he hadn't, for I don't consider that I have the professional qualifications a major's commission should carry.  Of course when I look at some majors, I think I deserve it!  But, chances are it won't go thru, so I'll tell no one.  Especially in light of the fact that Sterling may be relieved.  Time will tell.  Like [Lt. Roy] Swanson said - expect nothing and you'll probably get it.

September 20, 1944  [Lt. John] Dykstra left - transferred Grice to 6th Army.

September 21, 1944  [Lt. Col. Robert] Sterling relieved and transferred.  Lt. Col. Free the new C.O.

September 25, 1944  [Lt. when the 92nd formed Ed] Powers a major.

September 26, 1944  Neeb - the new ENT man traded for McIlroy arrives.

September 28, 1944  Powers and [Nurse] Justice go to the Gen. Hosp. for diag. and treatment.

September 30, 1944  Under the 8th Army.

October 1, 1944
     Christie left today for Hollandia.  Out of a clear sky, he was ordered to HQ USASOS [United States Army Services of Supply Southwest Pacific] because of his command and Gen. Staff School course.  I hate to see him go.
     Sterling left a few days ago for the 58th Evac. Hosp.  He was replaced by Lt. Col. Free, who seems O.K. though a bit military.
     Dice left for the 6th Army Surgeon's office.
     Dykstra was sent to an Evac Hosp at Savapor.
     Powers is now a major.
     We are short about 10 medical officers [doctors]!
     Capt. Neeb, an opthamologist and ENT, from the 135th Med Bn replaced McIlroy.
     In our four months of operation here we've admitted 11000 patients!
     We are to be under 8th Army until December, then go back to the 6th A [Army] & go in to Luzon.  Sounds O.K. but I hate this sitting around and doing little.

1 Oct. '44  Netherlands East Indies
Dear Folks [Mary X and John],
     The censorship regulations now permit me to let you in on the above secret!  We even use coin of the realm, though the limited stock of our PX doesn't encourage spending largely!
     John, your letter of Aug. 10th, written at the Y [YMCA] camp, came yesterday.  That must be a nice place.  Our tide is at its highest right now.  I could drop in a line right from the tent!  Not that I'd catch anything.
     We have a radio station on our island - they announce it as "Station - of the Jungle Network".  The re-broadcasts are fine, for they have no commercials!  Like the porny [pornographic] editions of magazines - no advertising.  Some of them are pretty thin!  Bob Hope gave a show here, some time ago.  It was good!
     Week before last I had a "touch" of dengue fever  [caused by a mosquito-borne virus: fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and skin rash, occasionally leading to life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome].  Not as bad as it sounds!  But I'm glad it wasn't scrub typhus.  This is the tropics all right!  How are you all?
     Love, Eugene

Sickness, Death and Skulls (40)

August 3, 1944
     [Sparky] Adams, [Hiram] Armstrong and [Arnold] Niemeyer made major.
     The nurses arrived about 10 days ago.  That is, five of them.  The first night there was a raid with the 90's [heavy artillery] driving the planes off but not until there were a few casualties near the strip.  The nurses certainly brought us luck!

Gene in front of his tent on Owi

     Sunday night, July 30 I was O.D. [officer of the day: oversees matters for the hospital].  All was quiet until about 9 P.M. when the old 3 red balls went shooting up [signal flares?].  We heard the planes, and saw one go in for a run over the field with his lights on to confuse our gunners.  But they fired anyway.  We had 1 dead and 1 wounded from a tree burst [an artillery shell hits a tree and it explodes] from a 90 [mm shell] down the beach.  By the strip they caught it.  A bomb hit a tent and rolled into a foxhole with 6 men in it.  The fellow who claimed to be on top said he didn't know why he wasn't killed, for most of those under him were.  Was I busy getting beds.  When it was all over, we had 11 dead (3 died after coming in) and 5 wounded including a Capt. MC [medical corpsman or medic] with a brain wound.  It looks now as though he might make it.
     The 20's, 40's as well as 90's were all shooting.  The first time for a while that a plane has been that low.
     The B-24 Liberators are certainly swarming in and out [of] here all the time.  The strip is very busy and crowded.  ...
     My footlocker came about 2 weeks ago, everything in fair shape.  A week ago my bed roll which had part of the heavy canvas cover rotted as well as some things inside.  My air mattress is O.K.!
     We've been having a big run on scrub typhus in the last month, with over 600 cases to date.  There has been only 1 death but some are awful darn sick [see the description of scrub typhus in post # 37:"I Can't Fully Tell Beth"].  I have 2 like that.  This is borne (according to Lt. Col. Phillips of the Public Health lab for Rcky. Mtn. Spotted Fever in Montana - he's a darn good chess player!  He's been to N. Africa, Italy, India and the SWPA [South West Pacific Area] on the typhus problem) this brand is borne by a small wood mite found in damp and uncleared areas.  A few of our personnel have it - 8 or 10.  Me, I no longer walk in the woods!  Our census is crowding 900, even though we evacuate 60 or more daily.  For 4 weeks straight we average 113 admissions daily.  We have to keep the typhus patients until fever free.
     I've done 2 hernias, 3 appendectomies and a pilonidal cyst [in WWII it was often called "jeep seat" because men exposed to prolonged rides over bumpy roads often developed it due to pressure on the tail bone which could cause ingrown hairs which would then get infected in susceptible individuals], as well as more wounds and fractures.  I have 3 wards and average about 80 patients besides being on surgery.
     [Capt. Ward] Fenton left us while we were at Hollandia, and [Capt. Alton] Hansen left from here (health!).  We are 6 M.C. short.  Major Schwatel of the 33rd Division - home in Chicago - was helping us for a while and observing but he was called back.  ...

August 6, 1944
     [Max] Vinicor and I went to the Mokmer drome of Biak.  A Piper Cub took each of us over.  My pilot obligingly flew along the cliff on Biak, over the ridge that had been so heavily shelled, over the next valley, back over the west cave, for me to take pictures. 

Destroyed Japanese pill box on Biak

     Then Max and I walked across the drome to the first low ridge - low (50 or 60 feet) but a steep coral ridge.  On top were 2 pill boxes with roofs 4 feet thick, for machine guns.  In the back of one lay a heap of mixed bones and clothes, including 2 skulls.  Inside the pill box were 2 more clothed skeletons and various rubbish.  At the next, there was more of the same.  I took pictures, using Super XX [black and white film from Kodak] for the day was cloudy.  There were parts of a mountain gun scattered around, shell cases and shells.  I took 3 cases.  Then we went west of the drome and had lunch (such as it was) with Lt. Wenz of the 242 Boat Co. [part of an Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment in the Navy].  Then I rode down along the coast past the cliffs to the 41st Div. Hq. and back to Stone Jetty.  The cliffs are several hundred feet high, overhanging in places with stalactites and stalagmites.  From the base a large creek runs out of the cliff.  I saw a group of native women, children and men.  The women wore sarongs.  When we first got here they wore only skimpy gee-strings.

Natives of Biak carrying loads along the road

August 8, 1944
     [Maj. Merril] Michels left - trichophytus [a fungal infection that can cause red, scaly patches and hair to break off].  [Maj. Arnie] Niemeyer (or Grice) chief of surgery.

August 11, 1944
     Up to May '44 in all theaters of war, the army had had 1350 cases of [scrub] typhus.  In the past 6 weeks we've had 850!
     Air raid this evening.  They bombed the strip, destroyed a P-38 and wounded 1 or 2 men.  Supposedly the P-61 night fighters shot down one Jap bomber.  The Japs made about 4 or 5 passes.  The AA [anti-aircraft] fire did no good.  Air temperatures run about 80 or 82 on cloudy days, up to 90 or a bit above on hot days.  If the wind blows, it is pleasant.  Otherwise it is very sultry.  Some evenings when the breeze stops it is very uncomfortable.  Mornings it is 79 or 80, but a person feels as though he needs a blanket at night.  I do.  Sunrise is about 7 and sunset about 7 (really is 6 + 6 sun time).  They keep us on the same time as Finsch. even though we are in the next zone.  The time of sunrise and sunset varies but little year round.

17 Aug. '44
Dear Folks [Mary X and John],
     Today I received your V mail, Jack, and your card, John, from the Y camp a few days ago.  Jack, you certainly can compress volumes of events into a few sentences.  I hope you've enjoyed Colorado.
     Beth is keeping me supplied with film!  In fact, I think I have enough to last until the end of the war!  She packs it so very well, that I've had no trouble with moisture as have had some men.  I've taken quite a lot, so that now I'm running out of subjects.
     My tent mate George brought back a Springer spaniel puppy he found wandering around the area!  Dogs are quite scarce here - not like the packs in Australia.  You'd have laughed at 3 of us tonight poking around an airplane dump and picking up things that "might come in handy".
     They are still cleaning out Japs in the caves across on the other island [Biak].  In fact, they were shelling a place yesterday where about a week before I'd taken pictures of a cliff.  Thank goodness the European affair is nearing its end.  We hear lots of things from air men here, about what is going on.  I'm very busy, but getting along O.K.
     Love, Eugene

August 21, 1944 [Gene and Beth's 7th wedding anniversary, and the third he has spent in the army]  Prickly heat on my body and arms.  Crud on the scrotum!

Hot Zone (39)

June 13, 1944  Setting up in nice area. [They don't realize they are in a scrub typhus hot zone!]

June 14, 1944  Receiving patients.

June 15, 1944  Not too busy, but lots of patients - 200 today.

June 16, 1944
     ...  Owi [is] about 2x3 miles large.  It is much quieter here and the area will be O.K.  But golly the patients!  This morning we had over 500 having received 200 yesterday and some today.  Most are medical [fevers and such, not surgical] but there are still a lot of casualties.  The Portables, and 116th Med. Reg. [the Medical Regiment with the 41st Infantry Division] are fixing up a lot before sending them to us.  The Mokmer Strip is capable of receiving planes but the Japs can still shell it so it is no good.  Our troops are meeting stiff resistance and taking heavy losses, even after 3 weeks of steady fighting.  They are at the edge of the 2nd airfield.  A small fighter strip is being built behind us [on Owi].  We heard the glorious news that B 29's bombed Japan in a real raid.  Maybe we won't have such a tough time now.  Jap reinforcements have been intercepted and driven off, 3 times.  If they landed in real force, we'd be in real danger.
     One of my patients told me that in taking some Jap pill boxes they had to use the "Eichleberger [sic] Method"  [referring Gen. Robert Eichelberger, hard-hitting head of I Corps] - bayonets and grenades.  The men are becoming terribly tired.  Gen'l Fuller of the 41st asked to be relieved and I Corps and Eickleberger [sic] took over. [Actually, according to Robert Ross Smith in U.S. Army in World War II: War in the Pacific: The Approach to the Philippines, (which has a play-by-play description of the whole Biak situation) Gens. MacArthur and Krueger were not happy with the way Gen. Fuller was handling the Biak attack, and sent Gen. Eichelberger to replace him, a difficult situation for Eichelberger since he was friends with Fuller from West Point; Gen. Fuller sent a letter to his men saying it was his failure, not theirs, and left.]
     In the first 3 weeks we admitted 2000 patients!

Japanese bunkers in the cliffs over the
beach road on Biak

     We no longer have black out except during alerts, and we are only 4 miles [across the water] from a pocket of Japs in cliffs along the beach road where they still fire at vehicles using it.  We even had a movie this evening.  We have alerts every night but no bombings.
     I had 2nd class mail from February with magazines and a box of cigars from the Rowlands [Gene's aunt and uncle].  Fine!

The terror of constant bombardment has receded, so Gene doesn't need to calm his nerves by writing.  The drudgery of heavy work operating and caring for patients in the wards continues.  Gene was presumably too tired to make more than brief entries for two weeks.

June 18, 1944  No more blackout here.

June 26, 1944  Japs bombed the strip [on Owi].

June 27, 1944  Steak, to celebrate anniversary [of leaving the U.S.].

June 28, 1944  Biak and Owi - over 2500 patients in a month.

June 29, 1944  1 bottle of Jap beer to celebrate 1 yr Overseas [technically a year earlier he was on the high seas].

July 1, 1944
     Here it is D+32, and the fight goes on!  2 days ago the 34th ran into a trap and were plastered with mortar fire, giving about 30 casualties for us.  A graves registration fellow [bodies of many American soldiers were registered and buried, then after the war, dug up and taken home] said there were 753 already buried (reports conflict - another said between 4 and 500) and more missing.  The airstrips are in use but patrols are constantly running into trouble.  They sent in to us 5 wounded Japs found in a cave, half starved.  It cost 4 of our boys to get them out - t'ain't worth it.  Of course it was the 34th Regiment that did it.  They'll learn in time not to take prisoners. [To the Japanese, becoming a prisoner was very shameful.]
     Our place is nicely set up.  Sparky [Adams], George [Christie], Hiram [Armstrong] and I are in the so-called nurses area [the nurses hadn't arrived because it wasn't yet, and maybe would never be, deemed safe].  Some night we're apt to look under our beds and find a nurse!  Previously on Owi I lived in a tent on the beach, then back of surgery - a foxhole had to be dug at each place!
     We celebrated our anniversary of 1 yr from the States with steak, and 1 bottle each of Jap beer a few days later, ice cold, it was, and tasted fine.  Yesterday I received a package mailed Mar. 22.  Mail is better, but still slow.


Lt. Joe Davis watching Sgt. Ahern sort the Owi mail

     Rumor has it that another evac Hosp. is coming and that we'll be on our way again.  I hope the footlockers arrive first!  I've no film at all.
     The airports are certainly busy.  3 or 4 nights ago Japs dropped some bombs across the island from us but did not damage.  The Mokmer strip got it about a week ago, with some casualties.  We still have alerts, since the moon is waxing, but seldom hear a plane.  They are probably dropping supplies to their men.  On June 10, 200 Jap reinforcements were landed from barges on the NW corner of the island.
     3000 patients in 5 weeks.



2July '44
Dear Folks [Mary X and John],
     The Nat'l Geographic is catching up with me.  A lot of us enjoy it.
     Several natives (men) are just going down the road, and what an assortment of clothes.  One has a gee-string [a narrow strip of cloth held up by a waistband] and army garrison cap.  The other a pair of white GI shorts and undershirt.  They've been trading - small gnarled root bracelets and shells.  I want to trade for a comb.  At Finschhafen there were some nice ones of bamboo with long teeth.  I drew a crude picture.  "No got" was the answer.  [Gene ended up getting a root bracelet].  These natives are so much more primitive and poor than those I've seen elsewhere.  Their canoes lack the elaborate and artistic carvings that I saw in Hollandia.  Contrary to the usual idea of the abundance of food on a tropical isle, these natives are hard-put to get enough to eat, and reflect it physically.  They all (anywhere) prefer to receive "kai-kai" [K rations] such as crackers and canned goods, in trade.  We've had several in the hospital that were wounded in booby traps or investigating grenades.
     The message on the picture postcard was purely facetious - it's what all travelers or vacationers write! [Perhaps it said "Wish you were here!"]  I enjoyed the booklet of jokes (which I received a few days ago) of World War I.  Humor scarcely varies.
     I'm doing fine.  Things are quieter, but some fighting still continues.  No more bombs have landed near us!
     Love, Eugene

July 3, 1944  2 years [since Gene registered at Fitzsimmons] [I'm now] on Owi, Schouten Islands, NEI [Netherland East Indies].

July 5, 1944
     A Lt. from the 205 FA Bn [field artillery battalion] told us what a bad time they had of it about May 30th when it looked as though the Japs were going to break thru the 162.

July 6, 1944  Mokmer strip bombed.

July 7, 1944
     2 Jap planes bombed the airstrip near us [on Owi], with 10 casualties.  Night before they bombed Mokmer.

July 14, 1944  My footlocker arrived (after 3 months).  Now I have film!

July 21, 1944  Bed roll arrived - canvas partly rotted.

July 24, 1944 Scrub typhus cases pouring in [a month and a half after "setting up in a nice area"]

July 25, 1944  5 nurses arrive.  We moved to beach area.  More foxholes to dig!  Air raid.  No damage.

Now the nurses' area will actually be for the nurses!  The following article in the Denver Post reported on the the arrival of the Colorado nurses.
    

Colorado Nurses on Owi Island

     Owi Islands, July 25 (delayed) - (A.P.)  Five khaki garbed young nurses bundled up their knitting and stepped off a transport plane at this advanced base today.

     They were the first feminine contingent to be based in the Schouten Islands, 800 miles from the Philippines and are closest of all the nursing corps to the islands where a number of their corps fell in the defense of Bataan.

     Three hours after they arrived Japanese airmen staged a raid but their bombs dropped harmlessly in the sea.

     In the group were First Lt. Leona Cote, Chicopee, Mass., and Second Lts. Louise Huston, Denver, Colo., Judith Ann Hughs, Grand Junction, Colo., Verna Loomis, Colorado Springs, Colo., and Francis Brown, Cambridge, Mass.

     "We've been overseas 13 months," Lt. Huston said, "and we're not the least bit nervous in the service."

Since the fighting was still going on, surgeon's were still needed, even though they were swamped with scrub typhus cases.  And nursing care was definitely needed!

July 29, 1944  I have 2 wards and am on surgery.

August 1, 1944  for 4 weeks straight we've averaged 113 admissions daily.

"I Can't Fully Tell Beth" (37)

The situation was bad.  War is, indeed, hell.

June 3, 1944
     I worked from 12 [noon] yesterday right thru until 1:30 A.M. today, awoke at 6:30 and worked until 1 P.M.  Yesterday afternoon we had quite a raid.  They claim 10 out of 14 were shot down.  Some fellows saw 6 go down.  2 pilots bailed out, one landing on the ridge right back of us (at the place where a Jap patrol tangled with some of our Infantry).  The pilot was trying to destroy his maps when they killed him.  I was working at the time and missed it, as usual.  They dropped a small bomb near the searchlight (200 yards from us) and knocked it out.  Another  landed about 400 yards on the other side of us.  They did some straffing [sic].  We had quite a few casualties and we all worked on them.  Even MacDaniels the dentist worked on some.  It was quiet except for a few alerts, the rest of the night.  When all the concentrated AA is cracking past over your head, it really makes you cringe.

A ward tent on Biak

     This noon was the worst!  these things I just can't tell fully to Beth, for it is bad and apt to get worse.  Several planes straffed [sic] and bombed.  One good sized one hit a few feet from our latrine, and about 150 yards from me - 3 tents were in between, and the kitchen.  I was working on a head wound.  When it began to sound really hot, I got down behind the wall of sand bags, keeping my hands sterile.  Even at that distance the wall bulged inward about 6 inches and rocks hit the tent.  The smell of powder, smoke and dust was strong.  I thought it hit one of the tents, but I went tight back to work on the patient though my hands weren't quite steady.  Fortunately the patient was not quite conscious!  The bomb made a hole in the soft sand about 10 feet deep and 15 across.  Luckily everyone near was in a hole and no one was hurt.  One fellow asleep in a hole about 15 feet from it was partly buried by sand.  He said he dreamt Zeros were bombing him and here they were!  [He] picked up a fragment 2 feet long and 3 to 4 inches wide, laying on the tarp of his foxhole.  It didn't even go thru.  It happened just before dinner and a lot of men were around the mess.  I saw [Col.] Sterling afterwards and I swear he had the wind up [became nervous] more than a little.  He wanted action and he's getting it!
     In the PM I had to go over the 21 patients (chiefly wounded) that had come into my ward.  Then I washed clothes and bathed in the spring on the beach.  But like an old gander, I kept my eye peeled for planes and artillery.  What casualties the Japs must be receiving!  They say some of the fighting is worse than Guadal Canal [sic] or Buna.  The 41st is really catching it.

I'm sure Gene took a deep breath and composed his thoughts before writing Beth.

3 June '44
Beloved,
     I didn't get to write yesterday for I was on from noon yesterday till noon today.  I have a ward in addition now, practically filled with FUO [fever of unknown origin] and malaria [hmm - he said "chiefly wounded" in his diary]!  So I was kept busy.  Yesterday afternoon we had some show.  They claim 10 out of 14 were shot down.  As usual I was busy and didn't get to see any come down, dang nab it!  One parachuted down landing on a ridge back of us.  Baker and some others grabbed their carbines and tore up to get him, but soldiers on the ridge had already finished him just as he was trying to destroy his maps.
     This afternoon I did some laundry [does he do his laundry just so he can talk about it in his letters?] and washed out on the beach.  You know how they picture an old gander, leader of a wild flock, standing on one leg and keeping one eye cocked on the sky!  But a fellow really feels naked, out there naked anyway.  Of course there are foxholes within jumping distance.
     We have something over here they don't have in any other theater, and that is sword wounds!  I worked on one fellow who was cut across the head and into but not thru the skull and across the scapula.  They killed the officer, of course, but it is hard to realize that the Jap Officers really use the sabers they carry.  They carry them on patrol, even, when they wrap their feet in rags.  One was killed like that the other night, and I saw the sword.  They are really curved sabers.  In the handle the history of the sword itself is kept, and how it is passed down thru the family.  Interesting, isn't it?  Certainly they are war minded!
     There is a darn gun right close to us that makes me jump even though I know it is coming!  It is a big one and fires at 15 minute intervals.  The shell does sound sort of like a train rushing along in the distance.  Boy, I'd hate to be on the other end.  Today they've been bombing the devil out of the Jap positions.  It sounds nice to hear those sticks of bombs going "womp, womp, womp!"
     We had the darnedest rain about noon.  It came down in buckets.  Our 8 inches for the month will soon be used up if this keeps on.  Again I'm so glad for the change of shoes!
     I didn't see them but I heard that some P-38's and Liberators knocked off 6 Jap planes somewhere around here today.  That's another thing I'd like to see, a dog fight between planes.  That really must be something.  Of all the flak that goes up, none of it falls around us.  That is a help.
     Next morning - during the night I heard a plane buzzing around way up.  I believe he dropped some bombs into the ocean, probably afraid to come over the guns and afraid to go home with them!  I think the Nips have a great deal of respect for our gunners.  I heard a good one about one of the fellows close [to] here who is exceptional.  A fellow talking to him said he was chewing tobacco unconcernedly and spitting.  When asked who got such and such a plane, he said (spit) "Me and another guy."  Just then a plane came along and he just sat there working his gun and chewing calmly and drawing a careful bead and not wasting his ammunition!
     It certainly is delightful how few skeeters there are here,  I haven't used a net since a week ago and I don't think I've had a bite.  The flies aren't quite as bad here either.  They claim there are lots of alligators around in large streams.  Dick [McIlroy] and I plan to go hunting sometime.
     All my love, Eugene

The newspapers reported on June 4th that most of the fighting was over and the U.S. forces were just mopping up.  Unfortunately, the Japanese were more desperate and dug in than anyone realized.

June 4, 1944 Sunday - Jap naval task force said to be coming to shell us!

June 5, 1944 Monday
     Yesterday morning all looked quiet. I was just catching up on my ward. At 10:30 they called in all the officers. They said part of the Jap fleet - a naval task force - was expected in about 6 hours to shell the beach, and that we had to send all patients possible to duty and take the rest up over the ridge with as much of the hospital we could, to set up another. We were to take a light pack, carbine, water and rations. I dismissed as soon as I could complete their jackets [the patient's records], all my medical patients [the ones admitted for fevers, etc.] They [the ward men?] packed a few sets of instruments, plasma and dressings and put the rest in foxholes, including x-ray, to protect it as much as possible from shelling. All but 2 ward tents were taken down and litter cases moved into 2 wards. All walking patients were sent up on the first slope, and then up the ridge. It was extremely steep, and hard on the patients. Carbines, rifles and pistols and ammunition were given out. I was sent up, with some others, to look after the patients. We were to stay put until we had definite word. Getting up the litter patients would have been a terrible job. We heard that our Navy was on the way, but couldn't arrive in force soon enough. A whole bunch of fighters and Liberators went after them [the Japanese force]. By afternoon nothing showed up, so we all breathed more easily. They brought up litters for the night, blankets, water, food and medicine. We bedded down behind an infantry perimeter. The things I didn't carry, I [had] put in a waterproof bag and put it in Hiram's foxhole. I found on the floor

Hiram's foxhole on Biak

of our tent [in the dirt on the ridge], a small waterproof bag containing an excellent Jap plane clock. The night brought more alerts.  We'd give most of the men amytal [a barbiturate that causes sedation]!  Several planes were fired at, but there was reported there were several destroyers, transports of troops and a cruiser - about 18 in all.  We are opening up again and may more to a quiet island about 3 or 4 miles south.  Today they've been shelling and bombing the very devil out of the Japs.  We had some mail when our refrigerator arrived on an LST.

June 6, 1944  More air attacks and more work.

In a letter to his 14-year-old nephew, Gene sounds quite nonchalant.

6 June '44
Dear Jack,
     Here is a Jap cigarette (from which I took part of the tobacco) and the wrapper.  Also two pieces of paper invasion money and some aluminum invasion money [this was money the Japanese used in the countries they had invaded] (3 coins).
     No, I've not been collecting my souvenirs, but I do have a good clock from a Jap plane.  It is just too much to carry things around.  I'll be glad when we don't have to live out of a pack.  It seems we've been on the move for such a long time.
     I've seen quite a few natives.  They are quite primitive, and a sorry-looking lot.  Most of the children are pot-bellied from enlarged spleens from chronic malaria.
     Things are O.K. here - a bit warm at times but none of us have been injured, unless it was by someone jumping on someone else in a foxhole.
     Love, Eugene

June 7, 1944  We are to move to [the island of] Owi.  I go over to supervise the setting up of surgery.

Map of Biak with Owi circled

Owi is about 4 miles across the water from the location of the 92nd Evac.  It is about 3 miles long and 1 1/2 miles wide.  Most of the island is covered with scrub brush that is inhabited by a particularly nasty type of chigger, the larval stage of a mite.  It attaches itself to a host, bores a hole using enzymes, then eats the skin This causes the host intense itching.  This minor irritation turns major when the chigger transmits bacteria, Rickettsia tsutsugamushi, (tsutsuga means something small and dangerous in Japanese, and mushi means creature). These bacteria cause scrub typhus.  The initial "bite", which first is like a pimple, ruptures and becomes covered by a black scab. The symptoms begin about 10 days after the bacteria get into the person's body: rather sudden chills, fever, and a severe headache.  The lymph nodes swell and the mucous membranes of the eyes get red.  The patient starts coughing, and his fever rises for the first week to about 105°.  After the fifth day the patient develops a rash, which may fade away or become brightly colored.  Pneumonia may develop.  The patient may become delirious, lose consciousness and start twitching.  The heart muscle may become inflamed.  Today it is treated successfully with antibiotics.  In the 1940's it was treated by nursing care, and was often fatal.

Purple Hearts but No Mail (33)

Gene tells about how Purple Hearts are awarded, and about his time as a patient..

The ward tents at Hollandia (note the muddy roads and sand bags!)

3 May '44
Beloved,
     One of the fellows gave me some envelopes so now maybe I can write you more often.  I'll still depend on you to tell the folks though I will try to write them, too.  My boil is coming along lots better and I hope I'll be back in circulation tomorrow.  I hope so for things were very busy last night following a visit by our "Hon. Foe".  It is the first he has been around for some time.  No, he didn't touch us, fortunately.
     No mail!  It will just have to come thru before long.  They can't hold it forever.  At least it never has been done!
     It seems that an outfit like ours has the distinction or duty to hand out the purple hearts [after the beginning of WWII, Purple Hearts were awarded for wounds received in action].  Those eligible usually have the citation and the medal by the 2nd or 3rd day, which is speed the way things usually go.  There really have not been so many after all.  It is funny to hear some of the needling the recipients get from the other fellows in the ward, just on general principles.  But it probably is a good thing for it keeps them from feeling sorry for themselves.
     Unless the wind keeps up today will be a scorcher.  It is said the average temperature for this place varies but little all year thru.  I think the rain fall is slated at 100 inches a year which isn't as high as one might expect.  Personally I think the "romantic and beautiful tropical isles" are considerably overdrawn.
     Gosh but I'll be glad when our waterproof bags come with our extra clothing.  For too long a time we have had just 2 suits to alternate wearing and the last few days I haven't been able to wash any clothes.  I just know I attract flies!!  Will it ever be nice to wear a fresh shirt every day again.  But speaking of luxuries, the other evening we had Jello that was cold!  That was done without portable refrigerator.  Sugar, that reminds me - do have plenty of lemons on hand when I get home!
     I've had a taste of Jap beer and Saki [sic].  The former is about like ours and the latter tastes something like brandy.  Certainly it doesn't taste like that gosh awful stuff Sam Wong gave us.  Bill Varley doesn't seem to miss his alcohol, not any of the fellows, for that matter.  I don't see much of George these days.  The receiving tent is quite a way from the wards and he sleeps there.  Besides we've no chess set!  Oh I tell you, this is one time I've really traveled light!
     From where I am I can look up the hill side.  After last night's visitor a few of the boys are doing a bit of development on their foxholes.  Ray N. was in and said he'd like to get the son of a gun who pushed him over a small bank and then jumped on his chest last night!!
     All my love, Eugene

4 May '44
Beloved,
     I suppose we should dance around the maypole, since it rained last night.  But somehow the air lacks "that breath of Spring" smell.  A very quiet night was spent by all except some of the patients being a bit restless.  Poor boys.  It is the great exception for one to complain.  they bear up mighty well.  I'm still parked on my fanny nursing this blame infection.  Arnie [Niemeyer] opened it yesterday and got some pus out so it should come along faster now.  We are still expecting mail.  Maybe today it will come.  I will continue to write daily unless events do not permit.  By this time you should be accustomed to gaps in the mail.  Me too, only I don't like them.  This morning I censored mail.  It is funny to read the different reactions to a given situation.
     All my love, Eugene

Marjorie Christie shared the following excerpt from George's letter with Beth:  It's funny how one gets used to anything - almost.  We certainly appreciate small favors - last night someone opened a bundle of new pants and we each got a pair.  It was just like Christmas.  We still haven't had any mail since coming here but it will all catch up eventually.  I went down for a sea water bath yesterday, but haven't had time to go fishing as yet.  In fact, I've stayed mighty close to the job.  There really isn't anything to do anyway.  We are still short of paper so pass the word that I am well and safe.

5 May '44
Beloved,
     What a night!  3 or 4 air raid alerts from which not a darn thing materialized and a rain which came thru the tent and fairly well soaked all of us.  But I slept in spite of it for there was no use trying to move.  My infection is better this morning.  The swelling is going out of the rest of the foot, but I can see it will keep me off my feet for a few days longer.  It is inconvenient but not painful.  I had no clean shorts since my other pair got wet last night so this morning I put on a lap-lap (pronounced lop-lop) which is the native term for the Jap underwear.  Still no mail yesterday.  Poor Mike [Maj. Michels] and 2nd Lt. Medical Administration Corp Ed] Gray with their "ids" [trichophytids, a fungal infection].  Gray has the same thing on his feet that I had for so long and Mike has it not quite so bad but also on his hands.  I don't know but that I prefer my boil!!  Dick [McIlroy] sent a silk parachute to Mercy yesterday and included a few items from me to you: a thermometer in a case, some small items I judge to be akin to sen-sen [breath freshener], some paper and metallic invasion money, a sulphanilimide powder shaker, a small flat piece of wood with characters on it.  Just between you and me, I didn't send you a parachute because I didn't consider the silk good enough and the one I had had been wet and was rotten.  There was also a peculiar bean or nut.
     The boys got ahold of a few murder stories for me.  Mike and Gray are keeping me company.  Fenton will be leaving us.  I certainly hate to see him go but this life is just too rugged for him.  I'm glad for his sake that he isn't going to try to stick it out.  I hear Tipple [a major like Mike] will also be leaving.  But since Mike took over Surgery, he just hasn't cooperated or done anything.  He's much too infantile in his reactions!  I hear we have a new Padre, though I haven't seen him.  Everyone else is doing fine.
     All my love, Eugene

6 May '44
Beloved,
     Oh boy!  Oh joy!  The mail came yesterday afternoon.  I had 9 V mails from you and two air mails, 2 other air mails and 5 V mails and a roll of film.  Did I ever have a good time.  I was feeling a bit low anyway for my foot seemed so slow in clearing up and right away I felt better and the foot did too.  My foot really is better but it is sort of slow.  Of course I haven't had it for quite a week yet so I shouldn't expect too much --[Beth typed a series of dashes here, which I think meant she was omitting some personal items] --I am so glad you had a nice time in Pueblo and Canon City. ----- I've already mentioned it to George and I will to Dick and Bill.  I know you must have enjoyed the kids [Mercy and Dick McIlroy's two sons]
     I had a nice air mail from Mother and a nice V mail from your Mother and V mails from Mary X, Mr. Beck and Oliver.  ----  ...  Wish I had brought more film with me for it looks like it will be quite a while before we see our footlockers again.
     Well, Terstegge is gone to another outfit - good riddance, no doubt.  All the flattery to Ireland got him no where, after all, and he and [Maj. Robert] Sterling locked horns several times.  Tipple will also leave shortly for another outfit, on a trade.  I can imagine what we will get, knowing what they are getting in return!!  That does leave us 6-8 short.  Sterling certainly couldn't leave me behind or ship me out even if he wanted to, which he doesn't.  Mike is doing a darn good job as chief of Surgery.
     All my love, Eugene

Excerpts from George Christie's letter to his wife, Marjorie:  Yesterday was red-letter day because we got our first mail in 18 days.  It was certainly welcome and good to hear of all your doings.  Arch was lucky and smart to get a navy commission.  We envy them for their dry beds, clean quarters and uniforms, and plenty of fresh water for shower baths.  I think the greatest single drawback to life in the field is lack of facilities for personal hygiene.  But we'll make the best of it - we've had plenty of practice.
     I have already had a dip in the ocean this morning because I slept on the beach 10 yards from the water and I just got up and rushed into the warm water just as the sun came up.  Last evening some fellows came by on the beach with a lot of native curios.  They had two long bows, one with a bamboo string.  They also had an elaborately carved and colored prow of a boat.  We have seen several native dugout canoes which are quite ingenious.  Also there were various paddles and carved sticks, probably used in ceremonies.  I haven't seen any native villages.

May 7. 1944
     100% better!

8 May '44
Dear Folks [Mary X and John],
     Stationery has been so scarce, I couldn't write sooner.  Your nice V mail of April 2nd came 3 days ago, in out first mail of almost 3 weeks.
     As you no doubt know, I've been in on a bit of a show.  Really, the Nips took to the hills so fast it hasn't amounted to much.  We have had a few visits from "Washing Machine Charley", as the men call one aviator who has a darn accurate eye, but no damage to us.  I did a fair amount of things, until a week ago I came down with another infected foot, which is now doing fine.
     We certainly get plenty of Jap stores - medical supplies and instruments, pants, jackets, shirts, shoes, boots, towels, soap, tooth brushes, food, beer, saki [sic] - in fact just about everything.  I haven't collected many souvenirs, for they are just too much to carry.  Oh yes - one complete set of lenses for fitting glasses, John [he is an optometrist!].  They were well supplied.  Oh, I'll have lots of yarns to tell!
     Love, Eugene

May 9, 1944
     Out of the hospital.  We're living on the beach - again Sterling gets us no accommodations at all.  George and I have quite a hogan.  Found some [fishing?] lines.

Excerpts from George Christie's letter: Gene got out of the hospital yesterday morning and we went up to supply and availed ourselves of the free clothes.  In the combat zone they are furnished by Uncle Sam.  Then we put all our plunder on a litter and carried it to the spot on the beach where I had been living.  It's about 1/2 mile from where the hospital was located.
     We immediately fell to and constructed a very neat and cozy hut using poles from the jungle tied together with native vine that tie just like rope!  We used Japanese shelter halves for a roof.  We put palm fronds for protections from the rain and got all our equipment inside, and none too soon because for the next half hour we had to hold the whole thing down to keep it from taking off in the wind.  And then it rained - and I mean rained!  Everything cleared up after supper, however, and the full moon rising over the ocean with incoming tide was something out of the movies.  We are seeing some unmatchable sunsets these nights too.

George and Gene in front of their hut
on the beach

11 May '44
Beloved,
     This is a cloudy morning and the rain is gently pattering on the roof.  It makes lots of little circles on the waves.  I'm glad our roof is of fairly good construction!  There is a cloud across part of my ersatz Fisher's Peak [the most prominent mountain viewed from Gene's home town of Trinidad, Colorado; probably part of an earlier letter for which Beth substituted dashes waxed nostalgic about Fisher's Peak and how one mountain he could see looked a bit like it].
     My foot is doing fine.  Since we had the hut built, there was nothing for me to do but lay around most of the time.  I went over to supply and got some shoes - 7 1/2 D - they fit me better than my 8 B's did.  For free, too!!  The kind the army puts out now has the smooth side inside and the rough side outside and have a plain toe.  I did need this pair to give the others a rest!
     Still no mail!  But maybe tomorrow!
     Last evening George caught a shark about one and a half feet long.  It has the biggest mouth for its size.  I saw some beautiful pieces of coral that one of the fellows found on the reef.  It was all a sort of gray but on some of the tips was a deep rose and on others a deep violet.  Oh it would make beautiful things for a goldfish bowl!
     I tried my hand at making thatch the way the fuzzies do, but soon gave up.  The variety of palm used has the most immense fronds, 20 feet or more long with "leaves" 4 inches wide and 4-5 feet long.  I found to my dismay that the darn things have a row of fine thorns along the edges like the prickly pear cactus.  Powers made a nice piece of thatch by interlacing the ordinary fronds.
     Some Seabees landed yesterday and do they ever get things done!!  they cleared off a section of the beach to live on, and started a road in just no time.  They have the things to work with and know their jobs.
     It looks as though the tide came to within 5 feet of our hut!  I slept very well.  The sound of the waves is a lullaby.  The moon was behind the clouds most of the night.
     George is going to try to make a sheath for his hunting knife from the shark.  He is skinning it now.
     The natives go back and forth here several times a day, sometimes with a sail on their prow and sometimes with 4-5 rowing.  Their canoes usually have a single seater that had been made from a hollowed out log.
     I'm catching some rain water in which to shave and wash.  There is a sort of self-service laundry the fellows have set up with gasoline drum tubs to heat water and a well made by sinking the drum down into the ground about 10 yards back from the beach.  The water is fairly soft since it is mainly seepage from the jungle and swamp behind.  I'm due for a go at it soon by the looks of my clothes.  The fellows are going for breakfast.  About half are wearing rain coats and half aren't.  It is remarkable how little you mind getting wet.
     The few destroyers or corvettes [a small, lightly armed warship] are a familiar sight on our horizon for they are on guard day or might.  It is remarkable how little bombing we have had.  I guess the Japs just don't have the planes to do it even though there are numerous good targets.
     We hear reports of the news at times and can't understand why the European front doesn't come off.  There aren't many coconuts here.  I guess most of them were blasted off.  And the trees growing naturally don't grow anywhere as large as those on the plantations.
     All my love, Eugene

11-12 May '44
Beloved,
     This business of them not getting our mail to us is getting very irksome to say the least. 
     The rain didn't amount to much.  It has been cloudy and sprinkling all day.  I've written a few letters and read a bit.  This morning I did a bit of laundry.  I find that a good stiff scrub brush and soap does mighty well.  And of course the ironing doesn't bother!!  For a while we had no restrictions of clothes - could go naked as much as we liked, but today it comes out that we have to wear pants and a shirt or jacket unless in swimming!  It's because of mosquitoes and malaria.  I know, but it seems a shame for there are so few skeeters.  Here on the beach the flies aren't even bad.

Front of the board from the wrecked native canoe

Back of the board showing that it was mailed
"as is" to Beth

     Gosh but I had to laugh at George.  I saw him digging around in the sand.  He'd buried that shark for it was drawing flies and then had forgotten where.  Just like a dog and a bone he said!!  He has had no luck fishing today.  This afternoon we walked along the shore for a distance and found part of a native canoe, with sets of carving on the sides.  I plan to try sawing off a small section as a souvenir!
     These Jap socks without heels certainly do tend to creep down on your feet.  I don't have to wear them but it saves my others!  My foot is doing just fine for which I'm thankful.  Gray's feet are better but Mike's are bothering him a lot.
     ... Your V mails from April 22 to May 2 were very welcome and full of news.  I read and re-read them avidly and most of them out loud to George who misaddressed an envelope the while.
     He calls me "Prairie".  I'm glad this is the dry season.  I hope that when the wet comes we will be under regular tents.  At that, the sand is so much better than the red mud.  My new shoes are most comfortable.  Whenever the boys wade out toward the reef, they wear shoes, for cuts from the rough coral heal slowly.  There are even bright red and blue star fish!!
     Our fellows are baking bread for us.  Is it ever good besides these dry crackers.  Thru some sort of fancy trade with a boat, we have fresh meat and fresh butter for a while  The boys will find a way!!  It would be nice to have some of the fresh vegetables you are raising!
     All my love, Eugene

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