Diary vs Letter Home (36)

Time is a precious commodity on the front, but writing helps Gene deal with the horrors of war.  The men on the front don't want their ones back home to worry, which poses a dilemma.  If they write too much, they will worry because they know how bad it is, but if they write too little, they will worry because they know they aren't getting the whole story.   Compare Gene's diary entries with his letters to his beloved (and prone to worry!) wife:

First, the diary:

May 31, 1944
     We landed on a Sunday again - May 28, D+1.  Fairly quiet landing.  On the way in our boats shot at a Zero [most numerous and very capable Japanese fighter plane].  And we could see bombs or shells dropping around one of our LCT [landing craft, tank] or a destroyer.  We landed and were in our area about 1 1/2 miles west of Bosnek, by 10 A.M.  We set up some tents and were receiving patients by 2 P.M.  by 7 P.M. we had 110 wounded and 140 by morning.  The clearing station next to us had over 100 and all portables were swamped, as were we! 

Map of Biak showing southern coast where all the fighting is.
(map from http://www.3rdattackgroup.org/maps.php)

     A Zero was shot down just out from the beach in front of us that evening, but I was operating and couldn't see the show.  He came along strafing.  Likewise on the morning of the 28th (before we got in) they got 2 [Zeros] out of 5.
     Surgery is a mad house.  We couldn't keep up with the work.  Last night I slept 10 hours.  2 nights before (first after landing) I slept from 5 to 6 A.M. on the ground outside surgery, the next night from 1 to 7 [A.M.].  So I had 1 hour sleep in 44, then 6 hours.
     At the end of 48 hours we evacuated 215 patients not all the lightly wounded having been taken care of.  The wounds are horrible and we've had 10 deaths.  I've no idea how many have been killed.  I've done so much surgery that I get dizzy thinking of it and stuff I'd never thought I could attempt.
     Artillery shells (75, 105 and 155 mm [the diameter of the projectile: about 3", 4" and 6"] ) pass overhead all the time, sometimes at intervals of a few minutes.  It's been raining for 2 days.
     If we are operating, we wait to duck until the nearest guns open up.  The trouble with that, the planes may be over us before we know it, not being able to see out.  The Navy is pounding the Japs.  Some of our men got right to the Mokmer air strip and were driven back by the murderous Jap mortar and dual purpose ack ack [anti-aircraft guns;  A was "ack" in WWI phonetics] and big guns.  They landed from buffaloes and advanced without opposition right into a trap, when the Jap marines shelled the devil out of them.
     On the night of D day they say about 20 men sleeping in hammocks back of the perimeter [inside the area that is guarded] were bayoneted, stabbed and grenaded.  Moral - Don't use hammocks.
     For a while on the 30th we were afraid the Japs would be able to break thru and clean us out.  But they were stopped about a mile away.  Parts of the 162 were cut off, but got out with the help of our tanks covering fire.  For a while the 205 FA Bn [field artillery battalion] were the front line, with the guns depressed and laid on trees [aiming low instead of high], with fuses cut to 2 seconds for point blank range.  Some outfits used canister shot from 37 mm guns with deadly effect on the Japs.  Up to this time the 162 and 186 have been the only combat troops.  Some of the 163 came from Wakde (where it was bad enough) as reinforcements.  They will shell for a day or so and try again.  The 186 is attempting to work up behind the air strip, several ridges behind it.

Gene didn't want to dump the fear and horror that he felt onto Beth, but he needed to write to her, and wanted things to seem normal.

31 May '44
Beloved,
     Today is Decoration Day for you.  I suppose I'll remember it in future years.  Right now our bombers are zooming over us and just beyond we can hear them bombing and strafing the Japs.  Last night big Naval guns were pounding them.  Various artillery shells keep whining over our heads.  Compared to this our last affair was a Sunday School picnic.
     Coming in our outfit fired at a Nip plane.  Then I saw some white plumes around a ship several miles off and thought it was bombs, but it turned out to be the Jap artillery.  Otherwise all was quiet for our landing.  Things had really been blasted along the shore.  Within 4 hours of landing we were set up and ready for business - and got it.  I was up at 5 that morning and worked till 5 the next morning when I lay down outside the tent for an hour's sleep.  That night I went to bed at midnight.  Last night I got 10 hours of sleep so today I'm fresh as a daisy.
     I haven't seen a plane shot down yet.  Every time one comes down I'm busy and can't watch.  Our gunners are pretty good.  They've knocked down 4 or 5 within our area.  Last evening one came by that I watched and what a hail of steel met him.  Just as he got out of sight he began to smoke and was later reported down.  When we hear the guns down the line open up we all duck.  There is a radar station right by us and they let out a yell when they spot one [notice he doesn't mention that radar station is something the enemy would like to get rid of!].  Right handy!  Our tents are either well sand bagged or set down 5 feet in the ground.  This is beautiful sub-soil - a sort of finely crushed coral and the bulldozers can scoop it out for the tents in a hurry.  Then when it rains (as it has been doing) the water running down the sides of the tent soaks right in.  We are close to the beach and to a nice spring that runs into the ocean.  Nice for baths!  Our mess was set up in a hurry so we didn't have to eat box rations.  My appetite holds up well.  All in all I'm feeling fine.   None of our boys has been hurt, except a few skinned places from diving into a fox hole or having someone else dive in on top.  Last night we had the ack ack passing right over our heads and oh boy does that make you flatten out, even though you know what it is.  I've certainly done a lot of war surgery and don't feel hesitant about saying I've been in the real thing!  When things quiet down we'll have a nice place here.  At present we are just having a lull for things are due to flare up before long.  The fellows say the Jap dead are in big piles.  We really have the advantage of air and artillery support, although the Jap mortar fire has been bad.
     I'm getting a bunch of wet dirty clothes piled up.  I'm darn glad I have a change of shoes this time.  Our waterproof bags came right with us.  My mustache is getting quite luxuriant.  I trimmed it this morning and I've taken time to shave and wash my face each morning.  I've found it most refreshing.  And I had a bath yesterday.
     I'm on straight surgery.  Mac, Baker and a few others have wards and put in spare time on surgery.  So I consider myself lucky.  I've been working on my own hook and assisting too.  Everyone is doing a fine job.
     There isn't the large amount of Jap supplies here that there was at the other place [Hollandia].  When we capture the airstrips there may be more.  There are some Japs trapped on a small island a few miles off shore [Owi, on which MacArthur wanted to build a strategic airfield] without much to fight with and are they ever getting bombed and strafed!  One thing, this division isn't cluttering up the place with wounded Jap prisoners!  And I think they are doing right.  Certainly our men taken prisoner haven't been spared in other campaigns.  These Jap marines, the fellows tell us, are big fellows and deeply imbued with Emperor love or something and fight like demons but make futile mass rushes.
     I'm curious as to where you think we are this time.  You certainly hit it the last time.
     My watch is running O.K. and my pipe is too!!
     All my love, Eugene

Everything was true, but Gene just focused on mundane things, trying to make it sound every day.  His next entry is short.

June 1, 1944
     163 Reg. came to help.  We need them!

But he waxed more poetic for Beth.

31 May - 1 June 1944
Beloved,
     We just listened to the news by short wave from Australia, called the Philippine Hour.  It certainly sounded funny to hear them talking about our campaign.  They told it straight too.  Things have been quiet all day.  This afternoon I went to our spring and washed some clothes and took the nicest bath!  The water is so nice and cool.  Things - time out for an alert, and nothing happened - Well as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, things don't get nearly so dirty here.  It is a much nicer spot.  The humidity is about the same.  Gum becomes sticky and wet inside the wrapper and a sugar cube gets very mushy.  I haven't noticed any tobacco molding.  Some of my stuff was out in the rain the other day and I didn't get it dried until I hung it over the sterilizer today.  My nice shiny hunting knife rusted but I was able to polish it with sand.  I've been wearing my cushion sole wool socks for the first time and they are really comfortable when it isn't too hot.  On the inside of the foot it is woven something like a Turkish towel.  Yesterday and today have been nice and cool.  I haven't taken any pictures yet.  I have only one roll here.  Our food has been O.K.  We haven't had any Jap stuff yet!  Just now (I'm on call tonight and am writing in the blacked out tent where we can have lights) the boys have fried up some bacon.  Quite good!  I do miss the good coffee.
     They certainly do burn a lot of ammo when they shoot at even one plane.  It is a case of "Shoot James, and don't spare the ammo!"  No doubt the air transport will begin to function in a few days.  There is a Piper cub plane down the beach a few hundred yards.  The first time I saw him land I didn't know there was a runway there and I though for sure he had crash landed.  They can darn near land on a handkerchief!
     Our Chaplain is certainly on the ball and everyone likes him.  And our trade on Tipple was to the good.
     This island seems fairly flat except for a few ridges.  It is no small coral atoll, however.  Or should I say "Atoll, at all?"!
     Last night after I wrote there were a few more alerts and once 4 flares were dropped almost over us and certainly did light things up.  The gunners shot them down.  Then I heard a yelling down the other way.  The ack ack had nailed a 2-motored bomber coming in.  Some of the fellows saw him fall but I only saw him burning.  I tell you our gunners are good!  And it discourages the Nips no end.

Now some more reality.

June 2, 1944
     Early this morning I heard a carbine and rifle fire and grenades on the ridge about 3 or 400 yards behind us.  2 Japs were killed - one officer.  A small patrol, with feet bound in sacks, carrying dynamite bundles, they cut thru the booby traps and were closing in on the perimeter guarding the beach.  Apparently they were heading for the radar next to us.  The man on guard saw one only a few feet away.  6 carbine bullets in the chest were required to drop him, and he was still alive at daylight several hours later - but not for long.  Both Japs were 6 footers.  The officer carried his sword, even on a patrol like that.  Officers always lead a patrol - they're no cowards!  They threw grenades but none of our men were hurt.  About 200 Japs broke thru the 162, further west along the ridge and there was quite a fight.
     More LST's are in this morning.  Our war is going none too well.  I heard one officer say that we'd had about 10% casualties already in the 186 and 162.  2 battalions of the 163 came in yesterday, leaving 1 at Wakde.  The whole division was under strength to start this, and there are a lot of un-baptized [first battle] replacements.
     The Japs are the 36th Imperial (Tiger) Division (some marines?) who were responsible for the capture and looting of Singapore and a crack outfit.  The 41st faced them in Burma.  They are fanatics, charging a tank with bayonets to give others a chance to set up a gun to hit the tank.  In some places along the beach road where tanks and 50's [heavy machine guns] cut them down as they charged, their dead are piled up several deep.  this is the first real tank battle in the SWPA [South West Pacific Area].  Their tanks are flimsy, compared to our M4's [also known as the Sherman tank].
     The 12th Portable Hosp. had a rough time along with the 162.  Jap mortar shells were falling so thick on them that when the 162 withdrew they had to leave their tents, litters, blankets, stoves and other heavy equipment.  That was the day that if the Japs had followed up their gains, we'd been in for it.
     Casualties continue to pour in - mostly mortar wounds.  The Japs have a tremendous concentration of mortar fire.  Last night some of our troops were about 6 miles up the beach beyond a Jap gas dump, and in shelling them the Japs set the dump on fire.  We could see the glare.  The 3 Jap strips here are not serviceable so their planes are coming from other places.  Javenese [sic] money has been found on some of the aviators.

Inside the major surgery tent with three operating tables.

     Two nights ago our AA [anti-aircraft guns] knocked down a Jap bomber about 2 miles from us.  We saw it burning.  One afternoon about 5 a Zero came along the beach, quite low, with everything blasting at him.  It seemed impossible for him not to be hit.  That was one I saw.  I thought they'd get him right in front of us, but they didn't until farther along the beach.  The 2nd evening one of our A-20's [bombers]came in low to drop photographs, depending on the radio warning,.  But some batteries hadn't the word and shot it down.  The next afternoon 5 Zeros came by and they got 2.  But again I was busy and didn't see the show.  The surgeries are sand bagged and blacked out, but don't offer much protection.  They have electric lights.  Most ward tents are set down in the sand about 4 or  feet, bulldozers having scraped it out.  The rain soaks right into the sand, fortunately.  I have no fixed abode.  My pack I keep in minor surgery.  Some nights I find a vacant bed in a ward and some nights I put a litter on the floor in surgery.  We evacuated another 50 today.  We had a census of 189 today - mostly medical.
     Sparky says a lot of his psychos have been precipitated by being fired on by our own guns or planes.  This is harder on them than enemy fire.
     This is a much better spot than the red mud on Pancake hill at Hollandia, and we are better set up.
     Last night there were 2 alerts.  We could hear the planes but couldn't see them.  They dropped several flares on two occasions - some right over us.  The AA shot down the flares.  The moonlight helps the Japs.  One night they dropped 3 bombs about 1/2 mile from us, and the plane got away.
     I can't understand why they didn't fire on our LST's when we came in, for we came past in front of their position [he stated earlier that the Japanese were planning an ambush].  Shells often go over us from our guns - some a light whistle and some with a terrific blast and then sound like a train rushing into the distance.  All in all it is some war and really fierce fighting.

And the letter.

1-2 June '44
Beloved,
     My day has been quite easy.  I did a little work this morning and then sunned most of my clothes.  They were a bit damp.  I even aired the Kodak!  It has been a beautiful day.  I've arranged to watch the nightly show from Hiram's foxhole [notice that he doesn't mention that he doesn't have a foxhole!], which is a mere 7 or 8 feet deep.  I sort of enjoy watching the tracers and then, too, I still want to see a plane go down.  Inside a tent, even though safe enough behind the sand bags, I can't see what is going on.  I took my daily bath and washed some socks today.  Funny how nonchalant we get.  From where we wash I could hear occasional bursts of small arms fire.  Of course if the Japs had any artillery to spare we'd be more cautions.  Apparently our tanks are superior to the Japs.  Today I saw some deep dents in one of ours but it had not penetrated.  They say some Japs will take a bunch of grenades and jump on the tanks for a suicide attack but it doesn't phase [sic] them [the tanks, not the Japanese soldiers, I presume].  But the 36th Jap Imperial Division or whatever it is, are fighters.  I saw some of their big coastal defense rifles that had been knocked out.  Apparently they were never able to use them.  Arnie [Niemeyer] and I started out to see the Jap bomber they got last night but found it too far away to be worthwhile [or safe!].  I spotted some nice Jap rubber impregnated silk which would make an excellent tobacco pouch so I will procure some.  Our supply, somehow, was able to get some huge rolls of it.
     Rainfall isn't so bad apparently.  It is supposed to be 5-8 inches a month.  This is the beginning of the SE monsoon season.  The NW starts in November.  Apparently a monsoon is a prevailing wind and doesn't become "excessive" here.  In fact in our Cook's Tours, Army Style, this is pictured as quite a pleasant spot!
     I saw a native today that was plenty crummy.  He had what appeared to be a scaly fungus infection from head to toe.  There are supposed to be a lot of natives on this island but I judge they consider the war none of their responsibility and cleared out until the shooting stops.  They are no dummies!
     Good fresh bread for supper!  There are two washing machines going but not for our personal use [they are probably for the operating room supplies].  We have our generators going with lights in a number of blacked out tents.  I expect to listen to the radio tonight.  I watched some of our big guns firing today.  What a terrific whallop!  Certainly it is more blessed to give than to receive!  Apparently these air fields are not serviceable for the Japs, so visiting laymen from the next closest airdromes are called to fill the pulpit each night [in other words, the Japanese planes have to come from elsewhere].
     My feet continue to be fine and I'm O.K.
     Everything was quiet last night except for some firing at a Jap patrol on the hill back of us.  These Japs are the greatest night owls.  Our guns hit a Jap ammo dump or gas dump last night.  Great stuff!

Probably writing letters looking at the bright side of things as much as possible helped Gene actually remain more optimistic.  Prayer probably helped, too.

Bombs Over Biak (35)

Map of New Guinea with Biak circled (map from

http://olive-drab.com/od_history_ww2_ops_battles_1943newguinea.php)

     Biak is the largest of the three main islands of the Schouten Island Group that was part of Dutch New Guinea.  Biak is technically two islands, Biak and Soepiori, which are separated by a very narrow strait that is the size of a stream, so they are often lumped together.  It covers about 950 square miles, or about 60% the size of Rhode Island.  In the 1940's the population of all of the Schouten Island Group was probably no more than 35,000.  There were about 80 Asiatic foreigners, mostly Chinese, and a few Indonesian government officials. 

Map showing the area of interest on Biak (map from
http://www.3rdattackgroup.org/maps.php)

     Biak, like much of the rest of New Guinea, is inhabited mainly along the coast, with the interior being dense rain forest.  It is shaped somewhat like a boot with the flat sole on the southern coast and the toe facing east.  The coast is fringed by a 200- to 600-foot wide coral reef.  Biak has no good harbors, but about 2/3 of the island on the southern coast is flat.  The Japanese had built three airfields on that coastal plain: Mokmer (the largest), Sorido 1 (the smallest) and Sorido 2, which was uncompleted and called Borokoe by the Allies.  Overlooking the coastal plains was a coral ridge that was honeycombed with caves and steep enough in places to be considered a cliff.  Atop this cliff the Japanese had cleared a site for another airfield. 
     Bosnek village, where the American landing was planned, lies east of the air fields on the southern coast, about halfway to the "toe".  It served as the main Japanese supply and personnel center.  The Dutch had built a pier 425 feet long which the Japanese had extended.  Its beach, stretching east and west, was clear and sandy.  Until the Japanese occupation travel was entirely by foot and boat, and the only major paths were along the coast.  The Dutch improved the coastal path, but other roads were limited.  There was very little of commercial value produced on Biak.  The total population of the Schoutens in the 1940's was no more than 35,000.  The foreign settlement consisted of about 80 Asiatic people, mostly Chinese, and a few Indonesian government officials.
     According to information from the U.S. government in a publication called Map Talk, a  weekly magazine with restricted distribution to the American armed forces in the Pacific theater, although the natives lived under the influence of the Dutch Reformed Protestant missionaries for many years, most natives still had little respect for the Christian virtue of honesty.  This was attributed to the fact that they were first ruled by Indonesian pirates.  The coastal natives were considered good sailors, and would often travel in their large outriggers as far as Hollandia, 330 miles to the southeast, and Sorong, 320 miles to the northwest.  They spent most of their time fishing.  The  Map Talk author opined that the women on Biak were definitely the stronger sex, and made the best carriers.
     The basis of the Biak social culture was similar to the old Scottish clans, which were called "kerets" on Biak.   Each keret was made up of members of an extended family, all of whom lived together in one large house, usually built on stilts.  Unmarried men lived together in separate houses called "Roem Seram", provided by the village.  Malay is spoken by some of the coastal groups, but Noemfoor, first encountered by Europeans on the nearby island of the same name, was the more common language.

Map Talk Vol. 1, No. 15 (published by Information and Education Section USAFFEO
ASSAULT TROOPS HIT BIAK: New Ending Marks Practical End of New Guinea Campaign
     "For strategic purposes, this marks the practical end of the New Guinea campaign."
     Thus did General MacArthur's communiqué announce that on Saturday morning, 27 May, U.S. ground forces had landed on Biak Island, principal [sic] island in the Schouten group, 210 miles west of Wakde, which dominates the northern approaches to Geelvink Bay.
     Biak's capture, however, was not yet something to be recorded in the past tense.  By Sunday it was clear that the advance to the three airfields was to be no repetition of the Hollandia episode.  Last reported to have fought their way to a point within two miles of the first airdrome at Mokmer, Infantrymen were meeting with stiff opposition and were expecting more.
     The initial landing was in the familiar SWPA [South West Pacific Area] assault pattern.  In the haze of early morning, Australian and U.S. cruisers and destroyers stood offshore and pounded installations on the southeast coast near Bosnek Village without let up for 20 minutes.  At 0600, when the barrage lifted, a strong force of Mitchells [medium bomber] and A-20's[light bomber], accompanied by Lightnings[long range fighter], took over the bombardment with a 288-ton attack on enemy gun positions.
     Backed by rocket projectors from LCI [landing craft, infantry] and guns from destroyers and cruisers, the first wave moved in at 0615.  A coral reef which almost completely encircles Biak forced troops to wade some distance in water up to their necks.  For a while they were under intense, but wild, mortar and automatic weapons fure from Japs situated on rocky points in the rear of the beach.
     With the beachhead secure, LCI's, LST's [landing craft, tanks], and troop-laden four-stacker destroyers proceeded to discharge men, tanks, and equipment at jetties along the invasion point.  The landing was unopposed from the air and only minor damage to a few ships was caused by Jap shore batteries.
     By 0935 the ground troops had gained a ridge overlooking Bosnek.  The perimeter then was quickly extended one mile east and one mile west of the village.  In the township 200 Javanese forced laborers were found and freed.  Among the quantities of enemy material captured were two six-inch, four four-inch and two three-inch guns, nine more unassembled guns, and large stores of food, wine, and chemical warfare equipment.
     In mid-afternoon, ten hours after the first troops had hit the beaches, came the Japanese air support.  Of the four tardy raiders, Allied defenders shot down one, probably more.  When six more Jap aircraft tried to strafe the Bosnek position about half an hour later, antiaircraft guns from the naval vessels opened fire, shot down four.  Yet to be confirmed is an early report that one Thunderbolt [large, heavy fighter plane] pilot had knocked out four Jap fighters and one bomber in air combat.
     Unopposed except for snipers, the east flank proceeded one and a half miles northeast of Bosnek to Soriari Kampong.  But stern, organized resistance faced the west flank, which began to advance along a coastal track leading eight miles to the cluster of airstrips, at Mokmer, Borokoe, and Sorido.  Snipers planted in the coastal ridges killed eight U.S. soldiers Saturday night, the only fatalities so far reported.

So the 92nd Evac is home free?  Not by a long shot!  Col. Kuzume Naoyuki planned to lure the Americans into an ambush and carry out guerrilla warfare from the many caves in the area.  Tune in tomorrow to see how the May 28th landing and setting up with the 92nd Evac played out.

George's Story (34)

Capt. George Christie, Gene's good friend and often tentmate, has a slightly different take on the situations encountered, and his letters to his wife, Marjorie, got passed around (edited) just like Gene's did.

Japanese plane destroyed on the ground at the Cyclops
Airdrome with U.S. ammunition on the wing

Excerpts from George's letters home: May 14: Now that it's all behind us and no danger of giving away military secrets I'll try to give you more details about our life.  I though surely when I wrote so much about having all that free time to go fishing any time I wanted to that you would realize we had shut down preparatory to leaving Australia [I think this is a hint that they again have lots of free time so ...].  There was almost three weeks when we were in the transit state and it's mighty hard to write interesting letters when you know things and can't write about them.  Anyway we were all packed up and living in the mess hall in our jungle hammocks which Gene has described, and not knowing when we would leave so I got permission to go on a day's fishing, telling when I'd be back, of course.  At the appointed time I am back to shore from up the river and none other than the colonel was waiting with his car.  I thought that was a little unusual so I asked what had been going on that day, and he said casually that everything was about as usual but when we got back I found out that they had packed up about noon and Gene had rolled up my bed roll and packed my stuff which had all gone before I got back.  Consequently I didn't have quite what I'd counted on in my hand luggage on the trip up.  There was really no hurry because it was some hours before we took our last train ride in Australia - and you really can't imagine how primitive their trains are, even from my descriptions.  When we got to our P.O.E. [point of embarkation] I still had plenty of time to do some more fishing while they loaded the boat and I caught a couple of nice ones one night and had a very delicious fish dinner.  We were on canned and boxed rations at the time and the fresh fish were really tasty.
     I guess I told you that we came up on a liberty ship.  After our trip from the states on a luxury liner it was quite a come-down.  At that, I think I got the best sleeping accommodation o the boat.  There were 12 of us in a little "dog house" on deck.  We ate in the mess line with the men and washed our mess kits in the usual GI cans.  Very few were seasick and all in all we had a very pleasant trip without excitement, although we traveled through historic waters.  We saw one of  the seven [natural] wonders of the world when we passed through the Great Barrier Reef.  I didn't think it looked so wonderful.  To be continued.
     Next morning.  It was a perfectly uneventful night.  This morning it is cloudy and is sprinkling a little.  The tide washed up a few planks last night.  I'm certain that some of the big logs along the shore are mahogany.  Too bad I can't make up a little furniture!  I'm sure there are rubber trees around here but I can't distinguish them.
     Across the bay a long white streamer of mist is lying among the hills.  There seems to be quite a lot of that when it is cloudy - about what you'd expect at timberline in our country.
     Last night I awoke about 1 or 2 A.M. and darn if some confounded crows weren't squawking.  It was bright moonlight.  They start in again before daylight.  There are the neatest, smallest swallows that flit around.  In all, I'm astonished at how little bird life there is.  I expected myriads of birds.  Strictly speaking this is the "rain forest" and not the thick jungle like you read about in Africa, etc.  It is plenty thick at that.  The number of vines trailing from all the trees and bushes impresses me most.  If there isn't a path, you have to cut your way.
     I hear the Seabees brought a movie outfit and pictures.  Maybe we will get in on a show.
     Now I wouldn't be certain but I'll bet there are pancakes for breakfast.  Perhaps I'd better go see!!

Gene's diary: May 16, 1944
     No change.  A few alerts but no bombs.  Foot is healing.  Natives brought fish, killed with Jap grenades

Former Imperial Japanese Headquarters near Lake Sentari

May 17, 1944
     Went to Cyclops air strip, Lake Sentari (rode across it in a fast out-board motor boat to I Corps at the former Imperial Jap Hq for this whole area.  Nice place!  According to plans discovered, the Japs had a marvelous defense worked out - if it had been carried out we might not have been able to take this place).  Saw some Jap planes that had been destroyed on the ground.  Beautiful lake, bordered by steep hills, some of them partly covered with grass!  Terrible dusty road and long delays.  Went to Pim (where the road starts to dromes [airdromes or airfields]) in a motor boat, going close to and in around a native village over the water.  Saw a big plantation, including Kapok trees [huge trees that might have been the source for the dugout canoes].  At the village we saw naked children.  I took pictures.  Home by 1 P.M.  coming the back road from Pim was plenty spooky [thinking about snipers, I'm sure].  The road is a regular mountain one, and newly constructed.

Excerpt from George Christie's letter to his wife Marjorie and sent to Beth:  ...  There was an interesting group coming toward us on the lake about 4-5 canoes lashed together and carrying almost 30 natives of all ages and both sexes.  They had cut enormous palm fronds and were holding them up as improvised sails to hasten their progress.  Gene got some pictures of them.

Canoes in Lake Sentari using palm fronds for sails

     Well, we had a nice bath in the lake, which had green algae in the water.  And I may say I never needed a bath more in my life - not even the time I went through the desert to that tank-train wreck.  I didn't realize there was as much open country and hills where there is no jungle or swamp, and the dust lies inches deep all along the road.
     Here were made the biggest mistakes of the day, instead of continuing back on our own, we met and joined our C.O. and Farquahar who had a jeep and rations - both of which seemed desirable.  The only catch was we had to recross the lake by boat to get to where they'd left the car and make the entire trip again by dusty road.  Suffice it to say that we were 1 1/2 hour line one place, and 3 hours in another, stopped dead by traffic and got back at 11 p.m., four very dirty and weary travelers.  Never again, we say.  But we did see some country and I'll tell you about it next time.

Gene: May 18, 1944
     More explosions from the Jap bombs and shells due to a careless fire on the beach.  A huge batch of our own stuff went up.  Immoral negligence that all the Jap bombs and shells had been left scattered around for 3 weeks, under the trucks and vehicles - everywhere.
     The coral reef is something.  Bech de mer [sea cucumbers], blue and red starfish, shells, etc.

Further excerpts from George's letters: I spent the entire afternoon out in the ocean just lounging and fooling around with an outrigger we have.  Oh yes, we spent about an hour catching minnows for fishing bait and Gene might actually get out with me this evening to try [his] luck.  He hasn't been out in the water even as yet on account of his feet, but they seem to be clearing up.  It has been very pleasant here today - about like up in Wisconsin on a hot day - but just back 100 yards from the beach where our kitchen is located on a small hill, it is hotter than hell's half acre.  The hot weather here  now is about like 98 in Chicago.  Nobody has a thermometer here but you don't need one.  Our big refrigerator is a godsend because we can have chilled water or synthetic lemonade.  Now if we just had a movie and electric lights we'd have all the comforts of home - almost.
     We have blackout from sunset to sunrise and there is usually a red alert to rock us to sleep and get [us] up in the morning.  So far there haven't been any evening planes overhead or any bombs dropped since the first week we were here.  Fortunately, nobody in our unit was hurt.  We don't know how long we will continue to have our freedom on the beach but we are enjoying it to the full at present.
     I usually get up between 7:30 and 8 a.m., make a leisurely and abbreviated toilet and wander up half a mile to breakfast.  No use burning up energy needlessly as I tell Gene.  He's an eager beaver still and even here in the tropics he is hurrying like he did in Trinidad.  This morning he came back without breakfast because the line was miles long and he forgot his letters.
     ...  Well, I really did "all dog George" because every time there is an alert at night I scurry into my hole like a Colorado prairie dog, while blasé Gene gets up and looks at the sky and goes back to bed.
     We don't even know what day it is but when we found out it was Sunday Gene and I went to church at the hospital.  Good sermon for the foot soldier and a nice communion service.  They [the chaplains] are beginning to get a better reception the closer we are to the front.

Gene:  May 24, 1944
     Rumor says Biak.

May 25, 1944
     Getting ready to go.  Probably it will be Biak.

May 26, 1944
     We leave tonight or tomorrow for Biak.  We're now on board.  This LST has a few sniper and machine gun bullet holes in it.  One gunner was wounded from the D+1 at Wakde [the Wakde Airfield was seized by the Americans on May 15, 1944]!  Hope our D+1 isn't so hit.

May 27, 1944
     We left today.



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

No Mail.No Luggage.No Waterproof Bags (32)

27 April '44 [Beth wrote on top of the letter: I'm sure this is at Hollandia]
Beloved,
     There is no telling when this will go in the mail.  We have only the boats evacuating patients to depend on.  But here's hoping.
     Well, I guess I'm a real "sojer" now!  I landed 24 hours after the assault, and everything was going smoothly.  A battery of 75's [75 mm antitank guns] was slamming out shells just about 50 feet from where we landed, so it really gave the appearance of a war.  The first night we had quite a little show, including bombs, but nothing near us.  It is quite a sensation to hug the bottom of a foxhole and wish it was deeper.
     We started doing business the next day.  We haven't had many casualties from Jap action.  You probably know more about what is going on than we do.  I am on Surgery and have done a fair amount of things.

Capt. Arnold Niemeyer on the left in a Japanese lop-lop and
Capt. Gene Pfile on the right in Japanese pants

     There is lots of Jap equipment around.  We have a lot of their medical supplies and our mess is using their rice and canned stuff.  Our own clothes are filthy, so we got a lot of their pants.  I even had on some g-string style underwear.  Also I'm using Jap towels, soap and tooth brushes.  The first night I had a silk bed sheet - parachute - in my foxhole.  They certainly pulled out in a hurry and left everything.  There hasn't been much resistance at all.  In fact, I haven't seen one at all except some wounded prisoners.  We have quite a few German Catholic missionaries that have been wounded or sick.  they are so thankful to be in US hands.
     There are still snipers around but none have taken pot shots at me!  A couple of artillery batteries on the hill about 200 yards from us lay down a barrage every now and then.  It makes it interesting!!
     None of our bunch has been hurt, even accidentally.  I'm doing fine - not even trouble with my feet.  When it rains it certainly gets messy.  I sleep in my clothes (on the floor, a litter, a cot of anything handy) from choice.
     This is my last air mail envelope.  We are still living out of our packs.  No telling when our other stuff will come in.  We are getting things in a much more livable condition.  We haven't heard any news so are wondering about the German front.
     We all had carbines and were considered combat troops since it is the Japs we're up against [the Germans respected the provisions of the Geneva Conventions concerning the treatment of the wounded, sick, and medical personnel, but the Japanese  didn't].  But we haven't had any excuses to shoot.
     Water is scarce so we bathe (when at all) in the sea and wash clothes likewise.  I certainly drink like a fish and just drip all the time.  The nights are cool enough for a blanket and the dew is quite heavy.  It isn't bad when it is dry and it rains only every 2 or 3 days, but it certainly makes a mess of the red and chocolate colored earth.
     I've taken several rolls of black and white pictures but there is no telling when I can send them in.  It is marvelous what the engineers do.  They built more roads in 2 days than the Japs did in 2 years.  The missionaries say the Jap are just animals.  They are profuse in their thanks to the Yanks for deliverance.  A lot of them are old men in their 70's.  On the whole they are in fair physical shape.  Most of them speak English.  They were astonished at the news.  The Japs had told them the usual victory line.
     Of course I have had no mail but there may be some soon.  Darn, I still jump when the big babies go off!  I'm darn glad we're not on the receiving end.
     I suppose that in a short time we won't even have to black out, the way things are going.  We have electric lights in a blacked out tent for night surgery.
     Write the folks, please, for I'll have to beg envelopes until my trunk comes.  Don't worry about me.  All the fellows are fine and morale is high.  We certainly have a bunch of soldiers that have what it takes.  Me?  Naw, I haven't been scared at any time!!  You can tell the folks about this.
     All my love, Eugene

29 Apr. '44
Beloved,
     Think nothing of the torn envelope.  They all stick together.  This is Jap paper.  Yesterday morning Dick and I cut each other's hair.  Our barber isn't working as yet and we both needed a haircut badly.  Really the result isn't bad.

Capt. Dick McIlroy cuts his hair while Gene sits on a Japanese water purifier

     You may see a picture of me in the paper before you get this.  A Signal Corps Photographer was taking pictures of these missionaries and the nuns didn't want to pose so Niemeyer and I went over and engaged three of them in conversation while he stole a few pictures.  They chattered away in German so fast that all I could get was the general trend of the conversation.
     Things are quiet as can be.  I guess the fighting has been over for a few days except for an occasional sniper or patrolling.  All we are getting in of a surgical nature are the usual run of accidents.  We haven't had any air raids.  Haven't even had any rain for about 4 days.  But my shoes smell moldy inside.  We don't have a change, unless I find a pair of Jap ones to fit me.  A day's sunning would fix these up.
     Our salvage group (it isn't polite to call them scavengers!) is still bringing in Jap medical supplies, instruments and fixtures.  Some are quite good.  Some of the fellows are wearing the split type of Jap shoes, that is the great toe separate.  They certainly have all the rubber goods they want.  I have my carbine in a long narrow rubber case.
     I lost the good scout knife.  It fell out of the shallow pocket of the Jap pants I was wearing.  No, don't sent me another - I'd probably lose it too.
     Yesterday down at the beach I was poking around and found a couple of mortar shells still in their container, that our fellows had left.  When we first arrived I found 2 hand grenades the same.  Also there was a large shell of ours from the bombardment which had failed to explode and the nose had broken so the powder spilled out.  Oh, I've gotten over my usual habit of kicking all queer looking items!
     Our food is quite monotonous, but sufficient.  We have practically no vegetables, canned or otherwise, so the diet is a bit constipating.  There are hard tack crackers instead of bread.  This ersatz butter for tropical use doesn't even melt in hot coffee!  It tastes like butter, too.  This line about the boys at the fighting fronts getting all the best of everything is so much hooey.  In fact, the problem of transport is such that it is impossible to bring up all the frills.  But we just complain about everyone being told that for we don't expect the luxury items.

Village near Hollandia

     I took a little jaunt this morning.  4 of us went to a village about 3 miles away.  We caught a ride about half way and the rest was along a jungle trail.  There are still snipers around but we had some armed soldiers along.  We passed several dead Japs and smelled a few more.  The town has, of course, been carefully picked over, but we managed to garner a few items.  I took a roll of Kodachrome.  I found a new pair of "cloven hoof" shoes.  They are not comfortable but will do.  We bathed in a beautiful clear, fresh water stream.  That alone was worth the trip.  I looked and looked for a small vase for you but could find nothing except the usual run of Chinese café bowls and cups, and I know they wouldn't pack.  We came back by boat past the most interesting native village built on stilts over the water.  It was deserted and falling in.  Of course I had taken the last picture on my roll.  but when my things come (maybe 2 weeks, maybe longer) I'll try again.
     The mosquitoes aren't bad at all but the flies are terrible.  In all the places where the Japs lived there are bags of rice and other food in kegs and cans, all cut open and spoiling, so the flies have a time.  There were bags of what I took to be poppy seed and loads of Jap invasion money.  Apparently there were Geisha houses from the amounts of cosmetics and things.  Everything had been pretty thoroughly blown to pieces by bombs and shells.  Practically all the houses were merely thatched huts.  All along the trail there were small clearings and native huts with corn, sweet potatoes and squash growing.  The jungle is a bit disappointing, photographically speaking.  It is just a mass of tall trees tangled with vines from top to bottom and practically no color but green all set on steep hills and narrow valleys.  There are but few birds to be seen and they are not bright in color.
     All my love, Eugene

April 30, 1944
     I've another bad boil starting on my rt foot!
     Today I fixed a traumatic amputation of a finger.

From George Christie's wife, Marjorie, to Beth (undated):
Dear Beth,
     Here is the family excerpt - expunged somewhat for Mother Christie's delicate ears.  What Gregg [George] actually said about Gene was that when the alert sounded he'd get up, take a leak in the ocean, ogle the sky and then go back to bed.  "At least he'll never wet the bed."  And it does sound typical of your Gene that he'd keep on the run, even though there is no particular hurry.  Their hut 1/2 mile from where the hospital was but in the most recent letters he speaks of going to church at the hospital so it was probably still somewhat existent then. ... Our rodeo is next weekend [the Royal Gorge Rodeo ?] and I have a fairly busy week planned.  Well, I'd rather be busy. ... I suppose Mercy [McIlroy] told you about our hurry-up visit to Pueblo Monday and Tuesday.  More fun!
     All good wishes, Marjorie

[Excerpts from George Christie's letter to his wife, Marjorie]
     May 1, 1944.  More Jap ink for this letter.  We are seeing some interesting sights here.  the other day a group of about 100 missionaries came along and yesterday we packed them off.  They were certainly glad to go.  One of the priests held mass and had a congregation of about half soldiers and half natives - it was a motley crew.  I have picked up some interesting items of Jap equipment which I will try to send home.
     We are seeing quite  few British Indians (soldiers) who hae been on duty over here, but were until recently held by the Japs.
     We don't have any clean clothes yet - just what we wore up here and most of us are wearing part Jap part U.S. clothes.  You can imagine the effect.  We don't have a chaplain, so there were no services yesterday.  We do get radio news from Australia, however.  The mail goes out irregularly but I hope this comes thru soon.  I'm well and "happy" - wish to heck I was home.

May 1, 1944 Monday - thru 5th
     Hot packs to foot.
     Wednesday Niemeyer opened it and put in drains, under pentothal anesthesia.  Some stuff that!
     Air raid Monday night.  3 killed and 34 wounded on Pancake Hill [behind the hospital - see photos in posts 29 and 30].  The plane came in low and dropped 3 bombs about 400 yards away, and up the hill.  A chunk of metal dropped 2 feet from George where he was sleeping in the admitting office.  Our guns didn't even fire, for some unknown reason, even though they saw him (8PM).
     We are closing up and the 36th Evac is taking over.
     We are to go on with the 41st Division, somewhere.  No mail.  No luggage.  Not even our waterproof bags.