Dearest Betty

Letter # 10
Sept 24,1950

Hello, Darling,

Four sweet newsy letters late yesterday. Can’t re-read them for they were torn up last night. We had quite a spell here about 9:30. Every one is O.K. now. We are on the outskirts of Seoul – should be cleaned up in a week. We have lots of planes and tanks and artillery and crack Negro reserves from Ft. Sill Okla. I have some news for you. Hemky’s ship the MO is with us now. She lets fly a Salvo every so often from Inch’on. I wonder if he is aboard yet. If he was I would try and see him. Jim’s friend McKinstry “cracked up” the second day here was relieved of his command and word was flew back to the States. The rest of our airlift from LeJeune got in yesterday. Haven’t seen them yet but sure as Hell have seen every one else I ever knew in the Corps. Lt. Col. Arman called to me the other day out on the road I had replacement gear going forward. I was with him on The Ranger a 1st Lt. And I don’t know who all else I’ve seen.
Thanks for your silver dollar. I never did find mine. I shall keep it with me. Say, a few snaps on & off would help. We all got quite a kick out of Joe and his paw. I read it to our group. Had quite a laugh. Not much to talk about till I get home. This is the darndest war I ever saw. You can shout at and chase a “gook”, he will run in the house, put on a “white suit”. Light his pipe, hide his rifle and who are you to say if he is North or South. Our amo sgt just got in, had to run a road blockade in a town we cleared three days ago. Lots of sniping & some heavy stuff. Tate & I was out patrolling the other night, found our rifles in the rice. When we picked them up the rice rose right back up no sign we had dropped them just before we got there.
Weather from eight in the morning till seven at night it is hot as Hell. From seven till eight at night you freeze. Just can’t get enough clothes on. Sleep in a sleeping bag, all my clothes and amo tarp & still get cold. Thanks for the stamps but I don’t need them while here.

Well I have work to do fixing our 67 A guzes so they will be O- 4---don’t know what that means do you? Will tell you some day.

(below is the actual handwriting for that coded message)



Your Bill