Imperial Valley press., 1943-09-26
1Mq Da,I
BY
FL EANOR
ROOSEVELT

Reproduction in whole or part for
bidden.)
A South Pacific
A SOUTH PACIFIC BASE, Sept
Is. Delayed)-On our arrival yes
terday afternoon, we saw little
Red Cross canteen which serves
the men at the airport. 1t is sup
posed to open at 600 am, but !
know from many filters this hour is
flexible and often the girls of tic
staff get up to give the men coffee
and to see them off on a mission
at $3.50 or 400 o'clock in the morn
ing.
We drove over the whole field
and l was interested in the way
the boys decorate and name their
planes and mark them for each
achievement. Some planes have
wonderful records and when they
are retired their crews have very
personal sense of loss.
At $3.50 O'Clock this morning, we
went off to drive to a big conval-
eScent camp. The island scenery is
beautiful with mountains and fer
tile aalleys. but it is already begin
ming to be hot. Everyone speaks of
the mud. which appears with the
rainy seasons, as though it were
something rather astonishing and
disagreeable. We have already con-
tributed something towards the con-
troll of the mosquito by draining
several swamps, but there is still
much to be done. Fortunately, the
malarial mosquito is as yet un-
known here.
VISITS HOSPITALS
We visited two hospitals during
the day and a receiving camp. Here
the navy assemblies boys just ar
rived from home, prior to their be-
ing allocated, as well as transfers
them from one ship or station to
another. They showed me the sys-
tenn by which they try to keep mail
flowing steadily to the boys. 1t is
easy to appreciate their difficulties,
when l tell you one boy helping in
the office found his own name with
the terse information. Missing"
He merely asked, What shall l
do? I'm here now" Mail is one
thing that every man wants. They
even have song about it, so don't
forget to write.
l was also interested in a big
salvage depot. Most important, 1
suppose, are the tires which are
completely made over in shop
here. They work so fast in this shop
that they are always clamoring for
more work. We saw shoes repaired
here and one special man filling
orders which had to be done by
hand. One colored man from the
South had the biggest foot I have
ever seen and held a record for
the army. l think the actual size
was nineteen-and-a-ha half.
In another tent, machines were
whirring and tailors in uniform
were salvaging discarded clothes.
Others were struggling with a tent
that needed repairs. Reciprocity
between all the branches of the
service is well carried out, but I
thought sailors might have found
mendlng canvas easier than did
the men l saw working on it. All
this salvage is work done on the
spot and saves valuable shipping
space, and is very important job.
PLEASANT EVENING
By 500 pm. we were at Admiral
i Halsey's quarters, and three people
| came in to see me. Later the Ad-
miral had the new French governor
and several other officers in to
dine. 1t was very pleasant eve
ming. One more caller, a young
| lieutenant who came for a few min
utes in the evening, rounded out
the day.
l must tell you again how charm
| ingly the Filipino boys arrange
flowers. They had some in a saucer
for me this morning, which I have
beside me now and which fill the
room with fragrance.
I visited the cemetery here to-
, day. The little white crosses climb
up the hill, on the summit of which
stands a high flagpole from which
floats our flag. Some trees and
shrubs soon will be planted, but
just as it now stands, it is a digni-
fled resting place for any soldier
who gladly gave his life in the SER
vice of his country. 1 thought of
the women at home whose hearts
are partly buried here. too, with
the men they loved. I think they
would feel not only peace on tbs
spot, but pride in the cause Tor
which SO many made the greatest
possible sacrifice.
T.. r.
Copyright, 1913, by United Feat