Air Mail From Dip

Gifu, Nippon

Nov. 28, 1945

Dear Marion –

I’m on the way – save a date.

Love, Dip

To all the readers and followers of this project, I want to thank you for coming along with me and Dorance Alquist on this journey. It started back in 2017 for me and 1941 for him.

He was drafted in June of 1941, before the United States had even entered the war; one of the first of his friends to report to Fort Snelling. He was 23 when he left behind his family, his girlfriend and a job at Title Insurance Co. After mustering at Fort Snelling, Dorance was sent to basic training at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. He must have shown natural competency and leadership because they held on to him after training instead of shipping him out.

By the time his 24th birthday rolled around on February 27th, 1942 Pearl Harbor had been invaded and the U.S. had officially entered the war on two fronts. Dip seemed content to remain stationed at Fort Bragg instead of heading overseas.

March 1, 1942

Dear Mom & Dad:

What a birthday! The most exciting & eventful one I’ve ever experienced. Everything happens to me – t’was, on one hand, a very happy day, & on the other hand, a very sad one. In one short & concise sentence this is what happened. I had corporal stripes pinned on me, & I lost my gal – all on the 27th.

Yes, Dorance’s girlfriend (Marian with an “a”) dumped him on his birthday. However, he was not too shook up about it, he maybe even anticipated it with his long absence. He did however, also begin his rise in the ranks at Fort Bragg.

He spent the majority of 1942 at Fort Bragg, eventually achieving the rank of Sergeant and leading basic training himself. But by the end of that year he wanted to achieve something more and prove himself to the Army. He and a few of his friends from Bragg took entrance exams for the Officer Candidate School and were admitted to the school at Fort Sill in Oklahoma by the end of the year.

By his 25th birthday in 1943 he was knee-deep in his accelerated schooling, working to become an Officer in the United States Army.

Sat. Feb. 27, 1943

Dear Mom & Dad –

Hey – that date up there sure looks familiar – if I’m not mistaken I was born on that same day about 25 years ago – am I right? I thought so.

Now for a little surprise for you – it so happens that Dorance is spending this birthday in the hospital. Don’t be alarmed – I’m as healthy as can be now and am getting out Monday. Remember that cold I wrote you about – well I just couldn’t seem to shake it & last Tuesday it just kicked back at me & this is where I landed with fever & Bronchitis. I recovered overnight tho, so I guess all I needed was a chance to rest & let the old health catch up to me. The pace in school is terrific & I was going along from day to day trying to shake this cold – just couldn’t be done – I guess in the end the cold would have shook me. Oh well – this is a nice little vacation from the rat race.

He recovered after missing a week of school and was able to graduate from Sill as a newly minted Lieutenant on April 29 of 1943. One person that had been writing him encouraging letters during the last year was an acquaintance from Minneapolis named Marion Sneen (that’s Marion with an “o”). She recently moved to Los Angeles, California with a friend seeking more adventure and found a faithful pen pal in Dorance Alquist.

Imagine both of their surprise when Dip was sent from Oklahoma to Camp Roberts, just south of L.A.! Well, plans were made and telegrams were sent and Dorance planned a weekend leave to travel to Los Angeles and meet up with Marion unfortunately, at the last minute he was sent instead to a San Francisco Replacement Depot.

He ended up spending over three months with almost no duties but unable to leave long enough to drive to L.A. He did however, have plenty of time for day trips to San Francisco where he started dating a girl named Nancy Fenwick. Frequent double-dates with his buddy Roger Loper solidified the relationship and by the time he shipped across the Pacific in September they were writing letters regularly.

At this point in the war, the U.S. had just begun to turn the tide against the Japanese. They had been slow to catch up after Pearl Harbor but the industrial capabilities of the U.S. far out-paced those of Japan and soon the sheer number of ships and planes and people was beginning to overwhelm the Pacific. After 16 days at sea Dip landed on Guadalcanal, which had recently been overtaken by the Navy and Marines.

Dorance was attached to the 8th Field Artillery Battalion in the 25th Division of the Army under the command of Gen. MacArthur. After spending two months of rest in New Zealand with his new battalion, they reported to the island of New Caledonia. It was here that the training for jungle and island warfare began in earnest.

This is where he found himself on his 26th birthday.

March 4, 1944

S.W. Pacific

Dear Mom & Dad: -

It’s Saturday afternoon – guess if I was back there now I’d be strappin’ my skiis to the car & be takin’ off for “Moon Valley”. As it is, I’m sitting in my little tent clad in a pr. of shorts writing this letter with sweat rolling off my brow. This ol’ sun down here, especially at this time of the year is terrific…

By the way – what a birthday I had! Got soaked in a rainstorm, got that “can’t we be friends anyway” letter from Nancy, & had a headache all day. Oh yes – and lost my raincoat – everything happens to me!

Dorance spent 9 months training on that isolated island just waiting to join in on the island-hopping approach to Japan. He rekindled his correspondence with Marion Sneen during this time and performed a number of different roles in the battalion including acting as Battery Commander a few times.  Eventually, his number was called and the battalion shipped out at the end of 1944 on their mission to recapture the Philippines. 

News was scarce as they fought their way through the jungles of Luzon.

Philippines

March 3, 1945

Dear Mom & Dad –

Gosh – I spose you’ve worried your heads off! I see by my little book that my last letter to anyone was written to you on Feb. 11. No, I’ll take that back it was Feb. 14th and to Esther.

That was the day I was ordered “up front” with the dough-boys – I was with them until yesterday when I was relieved. Guess you’ve heard of the much talked of Forward Observer – that was me.

I could write a book right now on what happened to me and what I saw but some of it wouldn’t be good reading…

Oh yeah – I must tell you a good one that happened to me. One day last week during a quiet moment I asked one of the boys what the date was. (we never knew) He said it was the 28th, and I almost fell out of my foxhole when I realized my birthday was the day before and I hadn’t even given it a thought. Guess I’m not officially 27 then – isn’t that right?

Dip remained on active duty through the beginning of July. This included front line duty as Forward Observer and Aerial Observer and led to his position as Battery Executive where he commanded the Artillery operations of his Battery.

In July his battalion was brought back from the front lines to rest and train for the anticipated invasion of Japan. He would have landed right after the Marines had it not been for the dropping of the atomic bombs and subsequent surrender of Japan. What was to be an invasion now turned into an occupation.

Instead of dreading an attack on the homeland of the Japanese he had been fighting, Dorance now looked forward to landing in Japan as a completion of his tour around the Pacific. He had been overseas for 2 full years now and was fairly confident he would return home in one piece.

Despite hitting a typhoon in the South China Sea and then being anchored outside Japan for a month while the bay was cleared of mines, Dorance did eventually set up camp in Japan. Once there, he was put in charge of the destruction of airplanes, tanks and other military equipment. He found the place interesting enough but all he wanted to do was return home.

After seeing almost all his fellow officers be replaced, Dip finally got his sailing papers today, November 28th, 1945. He was going to make it home for Christmas after all! I can’t imagine the emotions of sending this last letter to Marion back in Minneapolis or even the emotions as she received it.

Dorance Alquist was drafted before the U.S. was at war and served the entire war until after victory had been declared. He told me many years later how important his army training in leadership skills had been to his life. He was certainly a natural communicator and had the ability to make fast friends wherever he went. He returned a changed man.

Instead of returning to his entry-level job at Title Insurance, he went to the University of Minnesota on the G.I. bill and got his degree in Mechanical Engineering. He spent most of his working life as a Project Manager for a mechanical contractor. He also stayed in the Army Reserves and did weekend training for years.

Instead of returning to his girlfriend (Marian with an “a”), he returned to his correspondence girlfriend (Marion with an “o”). They got along famously in person and eventually he married her in June 1948. Together they purchased a newly built home in Richfield, MN for $11,000. They had three daughters (Jan, Jill and Jody) and six grandchildren and lived happily in that house for the rest of their lives.

It was in the attic of that house that we found these letters and photographs after Lt. Dorance Alquist died at the age of 96. It’s been fascinating to go through the whole story and learn what it was like for him during the war. I hope you have enjoyed following along and maybe it even shed some light on the experiences of your relatives during World War II. It’s been rewarding to find some of the descendants of people mentioned in the letters and provide them with a glimpse of their parents or grandparents through someone else’s eyes.

I am working on scanning the hundreds of negatives that Dip shot during his service. There are some amazing photographs and I intend to organize them into a book in addition to some of the letters to tell a more visual story. If you are on the mailing list I will give updates periodically to let you know how this project progresses and you’ll be the first to know when it’s available.

Thank you so much for the support, both moral and financial, of this project. I hope that your reunions with your families this holiday season are as joyous as Dip’s after being overseas for over two years. I will always miss Grandpa Dip’s harmonica playing during our family gatherings but I know he’s smiling down on us as we celebrate his life.

God bless and take care of one another,

Christian Olsen

Dorance, Marion, and their three daughters say “Merry Christmas!”

P.S. Here’s a little treat straight from the man himself: messages from the occasions of my wedding anniversary, my wife, Natalie’s, birthday and my 30th birthday. I hope you enjoy it as much as I treasure these recordings!

Nov. 26, 1945

Dear Mom & Dad –

Oh how I hate to admit that I’m still here in Gifu waiting! The whole redeployment program here went suddenly sour at 90 pts. - & me with 89 – isn’t that just about my luck?

I guess back home you folks read about all the troops they’re getting back from the Pacific every day. Well maybe they’re going out from Tokio & other areas, but they’re certainly not moving here. It’s this 25th Division – they hate to part with man or officer.

I still think I’ll be home by Xmas altho I don’t see how I can be so optimistic in the face of this long delay. But I gave you my word & am going to do all in my power to keep it.

I see by your letters that all the rest of the boys have beat Lee & I home. Well isn’t that great – we now have the (dubious) distinction of being “first in & last out”. And I’ll bet even Lee beats me back.

Have been taking a few jeep trips around the country – just sorta sightseeing. There’s of course lots to see. I’ll tell you all about it when I get home. The Nips are certainly friendly – it may be “put-on” but certainly looks sincere.

Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving at the Jordan’s. We spent ours at the Kagamagahara Hotel where we have our Combat Team Off. Club. The menu was fair but not like other years. Steak was the main dish with canned turkey on the side – no dressing. No pumpkin pie either – we had apple instead. They tell us we will have fresh turkey in by next Thur. (the 29th) so I guess that will be our real holiday.

Sure, Harry (Hadda) Swanson was a chum of mine all through grade & Jr. high school. I’m sure you’ve met him years ago but probably forgot him.

I’m sure glad you’re going to keep that tree up ‘till I get home – I’ll try not to let it shrivel up on you. Just keep on hoping & crossing your fingers ‘n I’ll be there before you know it. Once they let go of me here in the Div. it shouldn’t take long.

G’by for now.

Love, Dorance

P.S. Hello to the gang.

Gifu, Japan

Nov. 11, 1945

Dear Marion –

Though I hate to say it – I’m still “sweating” those walking (or sailing) papers. I’ve waited for the day for three & a half years now, & these last two weeks seem like half of that time. It’s awful – can’t read, can’t write, can’t sit – they better give me the “go” signal or I’ll surely be Section 8 material soon.

The latest dope we have is that 91 pt. officers go next Wednesday. If they drop a pt. a day as they have this last week, I’m due to see my name on orders come next Friday (89). However in this 25th anything can happen. When I see the order with Dorance P. on it I’ll write & say “I’m coming” – not until.

Today Tony went home on an emergency leave – his Father died. He will get air transportation which will put him home in 3 or 4 days. He only had 75 pts., so this means he’s getting home about two months sooner than he would have. Of course it’s awful tough to go home for a reason like that. I’ll miss ol’ Tony – he & I were good buddies.

So Rolly & Swany are home. If you see them, tell ‘em not to do anything “big” ‘till I get there.

And you be good – hear?

And with that  - good night.

‘N love, Dip

P.S. How’s your doorbell?

Sun. Nov. 11, ‘45

Gifu, Japan

Dear Mom & Dad –

Just a short note to let you know that I’m still in the 8th & awaiting orders. Have been excused from all duties, so I’m now just packing & making preparations to take off for home. The suspense is awful – can’t get interested in anything but day-dreaming about the states.

Tony Serreanna, who thought he had another month to sweat out over here, just went home today by air on an emergency leave. His father just died. Tony has 75 pts. so he won’t have to return again, but will be discharged after his leave. He was pretty sad of course about his father, but realized he was getting a nice deal to get home so fast. It seems rather lonely here now cuz he and I were the best of friends.

Right now the Div. policy on officers & E.M. seems to be to lower the point requirement one each day. Off. with 91 pts. are due to leave next Wed., so if they continue that way I’ll be on orders by Friday. However in this screwed-up Div. anything can happen, so I won’t write & tell you “I’m comin’ home” ‘till I see my name on the orders. When you get that letter don’t write anymore.

Say hello to all the boys who are back & tell ‘em not to do anything “big” ‘till I get there. G’bye for now.

Love, Dorance

Gifu, Japan

Nov. 6, 1945

Dear Marion –

Guess I shouldn’t be writing you at this moment cuz I’m really in a dark purple mood. Twelve of our high point officers went home this morning & here I still am – very lonely. The worst part about it is that I was supposed to be with them. When the order first came out it incl. all officers over 85 pts. – that was a week ago. Three days ago a phone call revoked that order & changed it to read, “those with 96 or over.” I have 89, so was left out. However I’m supposed to go anytime between now & the 15th of Nov. – all things being equal & all orders being unchanged. That ought to cheer me up I guess, but after coming so close & not making the “list” it’s kind of disheartening. Every day now seems like a month – even go to bed early nights to make ‘em fly by a little faster.

We landed at the docks of Nagoya about 8 days ago & went by truck to this spot. We are now quartered in huge hangars at the Kagamagara air field at Gifu. We officers are staying in buildings that were probably the Jap pilots quarters – they’re pretty nice. We have electricity, water, & heat. By the way that last item is a very important commodity around here. Gets so cold at night we sleep with wool sox on, under 5 or 6 GI blankets. (not to mention “long-johns.”)

I don’t feel like going into too many details about Japan, Marion, cuz it’ll be so much easier to tell you all about it when I get home. The place is badly burned and bombed wherever there are (or were) buildings. Nagoya & Gifu are both practically flattened. I predict there’ll be lots of cold & starving Japs this winter.

It’s amazing to see how cheerful & polite they act towards us in spite of all the hell they’ve been thru. They’re very cooperative & subservient – not one case of an uprising since we’ve been here. We have Nip houseboys that shine our shoes & do all the cleaning – also lots of Nips to do all the odd hobs around the battery.

We’ve taken over a beautiful resort hotel about 7 miles from here for an officers club. Have been going there about every couple days for a meal & some Jap beer (very good considering).

Your mail all caught me at once a few days after we’d landed – it was really swell to bask in all those letters. Was glad to hear that you’re out of the straight jacket & active again.

Yes, I’ve thought lots about my going back to school when I get home – right now, that is my plan. I probably won’t be there in time to start the winter quarter tho so will have to wait till next fall. Perhaps I’ll go to summer school in order not to waste too much valuable time.

Don’t let that new job get the better of you, Marion; it sounds like you’re having your troubles, but that’s what makes it fun. If it were too easy you’d be bored by now.

I see it’s about time for me to get shaved to go on O.D., so gotta say g’bye. Keep your doorbell in good workin’ order.

Love, Dip

At Anchor

Oct. 13, 1945

Dear Mom & Dad –

Expected to be on shore long ago but here we still are out on the water. We’re in Wakayama Bay at the moment (can you locate it in the almanac?) – it’s about 200 mi. south along the shore of Honshu from Nagoya. We are waiting ‘till the mine fields are completely cleared at Nagoya before we pull out of here & land there. Don’t know just how much longer it will take.

In the meantime life is getting a little boring aboard this little vessel. The food still hold out & is pretty good, but it’s the lack of diversion & activity that we miss. The Navy men get shore leave, but the Army men don’t. It makes sense of course, because our whole Div. is here & we’d overrun the place & no doubt get into trouble.

The Navy officers that have been ashore tell us big stories after each trip. In short – the Japs are very friendly – the kids are fast learning “hello” “cigarette?” & “thank you” – the girls are very cute & exotic – some speak perfect English. In this little town there isn’t too much damage done so there are some automobiles running around & a streetcar. Buildings & factories (not war indust.) are in pretty fair condition.

Nip fisherman have paddled out to us in their little put-puts & offered flags for sale or for cigarettes or clothes. I still can’t get used to their looks & find myself wanting to yell – “Fire Mission.” Guess I’d better get over that impulse – it always leads to bloodshed.

We’ve listened to the World Series each day – we get a rebroadcast one day late. I see that the food old Golden Gophers are on the way to the top again, 61-7 pretty swell. I surely would like to get home in time to see a game.

Isn’t it disgusting – I’ve got points galore & here I am out in the middle of the sea where they can’t possibly catch up with me. We’d better land & get set up soon or I’ll never get home. Yesterday morn the temperature went down to 53° - ain’t that somethin’! This cooler weather feels just wonderful to me after so many years in the tropics. Feel great now & ought to gain some weight if the cool weather keeps up. At least maybe I’ll get acclimatized afor I get home.

Hope you’re all OK – I’ll see you soon.

Love, Dorance

At sea and how!

Sept. 31, 1945

Dear Marion –

The rocking of this ship is not exactly conducive to neat penmanship so try to bear with me while I scribble this note.

I’m finally over the hump now, I hope, and don’t expect to get seasick from here to Japan. I’m really proud of myself, cuz I haven’t missed a meal thuuu (whoops that was a bad roll) thus far, while all around me they’re sick as dogs. I admit I have been lying on my sack fighting it most the time, but I’m up & feeling good now. ‘Tis a funny feeling, Marion. I guess you haven’t experienced it – very much like the dizzy feeling you get after “one too many” – your head starts to revolve and – “that’s all brother!”

But to get to the point of this thing called a letter – I have now at last been officially initiated into the Navy – I’m one of Father Neptune’s “boys”. And I mean it. For the last 3 days we’ve been blown all over this Pacific right in the center of one of those gadgets called a typhoon, We started from Luzon; got way up past Okanawa when we received a storm warning. The skipper turned around to try to avoid it, but the typhoon also did an “about face” & caught us. We tore along completely at it’s mercy for three days – it was closed in so much we couldn’t even see our own bow from the con tower. Navigation was solely by radar (the whole convoy stuck together & had a job avoiding collision) Finally when the storm overran us we found ourselves on the East side of Luzon further south than our starting pt. – Lingayen Gulf.

I could never explain the way the ocean looked during the storm. The water lashing across the deck reminded me of an old fashioned Minn. blizzard at it’s worst. All the canvas on our trucks blew off.

Eating was a problem – the colored boy really got a workout. First he’d walk uphill to serve us, & then walk back uphill to the kitchen. We had to hold on to the table to keep from sliding out into the middle of the room Some dope would drop a pea on the tablecloth & the damn thing would roll from one end of the table to the other & back. About that time about three or four jokers would hurry out with their hands over their mouths. Then when the salt & pepper shakers started to waltz with each other the rest of the boys would excuse themselves. I held out ‘till one of the empty chairs fell over then I decided I was no longer hungry – I hit the sack. We have our Bn. medic aboard – he hasn’t been out of bed since the storm was your – we feed him in bed.

Gosh – this is much longer than I expected it to be, Marion, hope you don’t mind all this chatter.

We’re again on our course heading for Japan – we’ll be a little late naturally. This tub is still rocking considerably – they say we’ll have it rough for several days as a result of the blow. I hear our landing area has been changed because of mines in the Nagoya harbor – hope they’re cleared out where we go in. If you get this letter you’ll know they have been. Good logic?

We still are in the dark as to exactly what our job will be when we get there – but I’ll let you know as things develop. Hope I won’t have to sweat out the orient for very long. Maybe a couple of months will see me back on the ocean again – homeward bound. Let’s hope! More later

Love, Dip

P.S. How’s your incubus?

Lingayen Gulf, Luzon

Sept. 24, 1945

Dear Marion –

Yup – I’m on the water again – this time bound for friendly shores – I hope. At least the radio & newspapers say they’re friendly now. You can check the map of Japan & pick out the little “burgh” of Nagoya – that’s where we’re going. They tell us it has been about 30% destroyed, so don’t know what to expect there – a city or a pile of rubbish. It’ll no doubt be the latter.

I’ve been on the beach for about a week trying to get this craft loaded – finally yesterday we finished up & loaded the men aboard. Now we’re anchored off-shore just waiting. It was a headache trying to put together this big jigsaw puzzle of ammo, howitzers, trucks, tractors, bull-dozers, etc. etc. etc. We finally squeeze in the last one – it fit much to my amazement. I kept glancing on shore at various stages of the loading & each time I did the boat got smaller & the dunnage got bigger. Never thought we’d get it all in.

Lee is in Manila now – did you know? He called me one day from there, and of course we made big plans to meet the next weekend. In the meantime I was sent in a big rush with bag & baggage to the beach to help load the boat, so we didn’t even get to see each other. I’m writing Lee today to explain. Guess we’ll have to meet in the Viking Room or some other congenial spot back home.

When the BC came aboard yesterday he gave me two letters from you – they were really in the nick of time – I had been up all night & needed that little stimulus.

I see you got the package I sent & seems to me it made excellent time. Thanks for the X – Silly girl – I could tell it wasn’t a R.R. crossing. They taste & feel lots different!

Say you certainly are playing lots of bridge lately. I take it the corset is sorta curtailing your activities. Hope you get rid of that incubus (hmm) soon.

They have a nice record player aboard ship – I’m now writing to Intermezzo – very nice. By the way I’m on an LST. In case you’re not up on the Navy (I wonder) an LST means landing ship tank. It’s the kind with a bow that opens up like a huge jaw to discharge it’s cargo (that’s us). They told me it rolls heavily in a choppy sea, & we’re due to sail through the roughest there is – the China Sea. S’pose I’ll be sick before long. Oh me.

Well, Marion, don’t be impatient if you don’t hear from me for a little while – you’ll know why. In the meantime here’s my

Love, Dip

P.S. Now you shouldn’t feel so naked.

Tarlac, P.I.

Sept. 20, 1945

Dear Mom & Dad –

This is just a hurry up note to let you know I’m still OK. The lights are going off in a couple of minutes & I must get this off tonight. You see I’m packed, crated, & ready to shove off in the A.M. No – not for home – you know where.

I might get another chance to write before I shove off, but if I don’t & you don’t hear from me for about two weeks or longer don’t worry.

I ought to have lots of interesting things to tell about in my next letter.

I’ll say so long now. Don’t worry about my health or welfare just hope I don’t get too sea-sick.

Love, Dorance

Luzon, P.I.

Sept. 15, 1945

Dear Mom & Dad –

No I’m not on my way home – thought maybe you’d think so, seeing as I haven’t written for about 10 days. Don’t worry – when I’m coming you’ll know about it. I won’t just come ‘round the corner whistling the way I did the one time.

It certainly seems like ages ago since I took those miners up to Cp. McCoy & stole home for a couple of days. And I thought I was an Army veteran then. Now it seems like I was born an army brat & just never got off the post.

I guess you read about the new point system for officers. Company grade officers (that includes me) need a total of 85 pts. for discharge – I now have 89. That’s 4 points more than I need. Looks nice in print doesn’t it – but I can’t get home on paper. Some of us still have to occupy Japan & we’re the ones that are stuck. None of we Div. officers are getting out now, but we’re all hoping for some replacements when we get where we’re going. If I’m real lucky we’ll all get together & celebrate my next birthday – that’s about as soon as I can make it.

Did I tell you we got our monthly beer ration again. This time it amounted to two cases per man & Budweiser at that. Mighty good on these sweaty tropical nights.

The rainy season still prevails. It rains without fail every day for an hour or two – usually right after supper.

We’re not training at all right now – instead we’re busy packing & crating. We do still have a little close order drill each day to keep the boys looking sharp for the Nips.

I read that the boys are being treated very well in Japan, so I don’t exactly dislike the trip. Guess it’ll be nice to see the conquered land now while we’re so close.

We still play volleyball each afternoon to keep in shape. Ah yes I’m learning a new sport too – you’d never guess it so I’ll tell you – horseshoes. Don’t laugh – it’s really lots of fun.

I keep wondering about the Gophers this year & what kind of a team they’ll have. I read once that Bernie B. was coming back to coach them, but since then have heard of his coaching some All Star team. What’s the latest football dope?

Dad – I’m glad you suggested that I wait ‘till I got home to buy a V-8, cuz I was just on my way to Manila to get one. I was going to get one complete with pontoons, so I could drag it along behind the ship. In the meantime be looking around for my little “31” roadster – maybe I’ll but it back for $70. I bought it for $60 & sold it for $50, so that price ought to be right considering inflation. No – I’ll naturally want a better car when I get back, but I know I’ll never get one I’ll enjoy any more. I sold lots of fond memories along with that little jalopy.

I see by the clipping you’re still burning up the links & upholding County Club’s honors in the Senior League. Your game really seems to be improving with age – gosh, by the time you’re 45 you’ll be giving Snead & Nelson some competition.

I’m going to catch h--- from the Jordans one of these days soon. I haven’t written for a month. It’s funny how the days slip by before you realize it. Anyway I must get busy right now & write them.

Hope you’re all OK at home – your letters are coming thru regularly & fairly fast. One of these days soon our mail will be cut off ‘till after the move – don’t worry about the little lapse of time. G’by for now.

Love, Dorance

Manila, P.I.

Sept. 15, 1945

Dear Marion –

I’m in town again for the weekend – this time on a detail. I’m in charge of 165 boys from the Artillery who are here on a 2 day pass. I have to get them here, see that they have a place to eat & sleep, and then get them back to camp tomorrow. It’s like trying to pick up quick-silver keeping tab on all of them. All the details are taken care of now, & all the boys are in town probably getting pleasantly ossified. Hope they keep out of trouble. Oh me, what a headache.

I plan to take in the boxing matches tonight at Rizal Colosseum. The 38th Div. is pitted against some Service Command outfit – naturally I’ll pull for the fightin’ soldiers. I’d like to stay for the football game tomorrow afternoon, but our trucks leave right at kickoff time.

Say young lady when are you going to get rid of that pesky undergarment? Anything wrong or did the doctors just guess wrong on the expected date of removal? Certainly hope it’s the latter. You better take care of yourself from now on – that’s a direct order.

Yes, I think I’d know Dick Ramstack if I saw him, but as yet I haven’t. He probably had his 3 day pass during the week, & I usually only get in on Sat. & Sun. Would like to see him.

I was surprised to hear that the Spring Park Casino burned down. Too bad – would liked to have gone back just to recapture a few old memories.

(Just ran into that word “incubus” again – gee, that’s a dilly! Where the devil d’ja pick that one up – had to consult Webster before I knew what you were talking about.)

You say “Oh, my aching back!” Over here it’s, “My bleedin’ back!”

Although my 89 points are 4 more than the critical score for officers I’m afraid I’m not going to get the nod from Uncle Sam for a few months yet. None of the Div. officers are getting out ‘till sometime after the move to Japan. When we get there & if things go smoothly, we may get some consideration. We can only sweat it out & hope.

In a way I’m sort of looking forward to seeing Japan, because it’ll probably be my only chance to ever see the orient. It’s much better than sitting here in the Philippines bored to tears. It’s hard to keep up the morale now that the war is over & everyone is thinking of home. The move will do us all good. (And anyway I hear the GIs in Tokio are being served breakfast in bed.)

Rumors are the vogue these quiet nights around camp. Everyone assembles in our little tent (cuz it’s the nicest in the Bn. as I’ve bragged before) & discusses the latest ones over a cold bottle of Budweiser (we just got our ration). One rumor has the 25th parading in Wash, D.C. on Dec. 7th, the Pearl H. Anniversary. Of course no one believes these tales, but it’s fun to talk about them & dream. everyone is grasping for straws these days. Have you any good ones to contribute?

Marion – have any of the boys returned from E.T.O. or other theaters lately? I haven’t heard from any of them for so long that I thought they might be on the way home. I imagine Lee will be stuck out here for awhile like me.

Funny thing happened this afternoon – a big bloated (& stinkin’) Jap came floating down the Pasig River right thru Manila. I was standing on the shore as it came by – the odor was terrific. Can’t figure out where it came from unless one of the strays committed sideways when he heard about the surrender.

I’m learning a new sport now – don’t laugh – it’s horseshoes. It’s really surprising how much fun it is. Takes a lot of skill to get them to open up just at the right time to hit the stake. Ever try it? Our favorite pastime is still volleyball – we have 3 or 4 games every P.M.

Well Marion, gotta go – no, silly, not that – to eat! Remember take care of yourself & be careful of vinegar & other jugs. So long now. Write soon.

Love, Dip

P.S. Who’s this guy who’s been writing you those “Do not open until” letters? I know nothing about it. Hmmm.

Manila Leave Center

Luzon, P.I.

Sept. 9, 1945

Hi Marion –

Yup I’m in that shot-up town of Manila again. It’s Sunday afternoon – just thot I’d pause here in the R.C. and say hello to ya. I have about an hour before chow time.

Sure wish you were here we’d go out dancing tonight at Cielito Lindo’s or Ciro’s – They’re the two nicest. Of course if you want lots of room to dance & a good band we could go out to Santa Anna – it’s very much like Excelsior only twice or thrice as large. But seeing as I don’t guess you can make it I’m going back to my lonely camp right after chow. It’s a three hour ride from here to Tarlac where I’m stationed.

(There’s a boy at the piano playing some beautiful classical numbers. He’s really good. Amazing the talent you find in these Red Cross Canteens.)

I just came back from the football game at Rizal Stadium. It was the same type of game as last week – there wasn’t one good run all afternoon because the field again was a sea of mud. Score: 0 to 0 – very boring.

Marion – have you seen anyone wearing our Div. shoulder patch around town yet? It’s really a beauty – a deep red Tarro leaf (Hawaiian) with a gold border & a gold streak of lightning though the middle. Like so:

It denotes Tropical Lightning Division. We’ve never had a patch up ‘till now, so we’re much impressed. We’re supposed to wear them on the left shoulder of all our shirts & jackets, but they’ve only issued 3 so far – expect we’ll get more. After all we have to look our best for the Nips.

Our training is over now, except for close order drill and spit & polish – they want a military & snappy occupational army. In our spare time we’re packing & crating.

Did you see the announcement about a point system for officers? According to the papers & radio a 1st Lt. needs 85 pts. to be eligible – your’s truly has 89. Looks nice on paper doesn’t it? But don’t let that figure fool ya. I’m still in the Pacific and on the way to Japan so I know it’ll be a while yet before they catch me. The lucky ones are those in the States & those coming back from E.T.O.

Well Marion, I don’t have one of your letters to answer, so I’ll have to wait ‘till I get back to camp & look in the mailbox. I’m sorta out of news right now. Maybe in a month I’ll have much more to talk about. And when I get home – well, that’s another story. Gee, Marion, we’ve got a lot of catching-up to do when I get back – just think of all the “Sat. nites” we’re behind.

Keep you fingers crossed for me & maybe I’ll get a lucky break or something. And be good. G’bye.

Love, Dip