Smyrna times., 1943-07-15
D RIB BLES
FROM
Our Boys and Girls
in the Service
David c. Harrison Post, No. IA.
American Legion, and Unit of the
American Legion Auxiliary.
by
Palm Springs, California

American Legion Auxiliary.
Palm Springs, California
Dear Mother:
Well, I finally found chance to
get a letter out to you about my
trip to Hollywood. All of us that
went surely had a very good time.
There were only two fellows who
Were sent out of the Finance boys
to this party. Leach and / were
the lucky ones. 1t sure seemed
swell to get up to Hollywood again
after being in this dry sandy area
for a full three weeks. Mother, it
appears that my Army life has
gone from one extreme to another.
First I go to Miami, then to Holly
wood, and next to a desert base
where most fellows do not care to
go.
The party which I am going to
tell you about was given by Joe E.
Brown. Perhaps you knew that
Joe E. Brown had a son who was
a Captain and Pilot. He was
stationed at this field here on the
desert. Not so many months ago
he was unfortunately killed in a
plane crash. Joe E. Brown well
realizing that there was little for
us to do at this field, except going
to movie, or perhaps getting high
occasionally, decided that he would
give number of the boys a party
Since he is member of the Mas
quers Club, who always give a
number of service men a party
each week, he asked to give us q
good time at his expense. The
Commanding officer here picked 9
number of men from each outfit
We left the base Saturday, june
18th, at 1900 PVT, in a convoy
of twelve trucks, two command
cars, and one jeep. We Travelled al
about so to 60 miles per hour mos
of the way. Just before entering
the outskirts of Los Angeles, po
lice escort picked us up so that we
wouldn't have any trouble getting
through town. Of course, the boy!
in the convoy got kick out o.
that. Going through town will
sirens bolwing at about so miles al
hour was something unusual. Every
time we saw guy in a "zoot Suit
they called out at him-"Yes! yot
may be able to rough up a sailor
but now we've come to beat the
h out of you" The officers il
charge would caution them to keel
quiet, but as soon as they rode OF
by in the jeep, the boys would star
shouting again. 1t sure was a goot
thing we went through Hollywood
instead of stopping there. When
bunch of boys, like our crowd, whit
feel like we do about the Zoot Suit
ers land in town there surely woulC
be a riot.
When we entered Hollywood, tn,
convoy headed right down the mail
street. The Masquers Club is jus
off Hollywood Boulevard, about si1
blocks down from Vine. We ar
rived there about five minutes af
ter six. On going inside it was
strange experience because ever.
time we turned around to sa,
something to a waiter, we recog
nized him to be one of the movi,
actors. In fact all of the peopl,
there, except ourselves were actors
even the cooks and dishwashers
My table Twas next to the one re
served for honored guests. Seated
at that label were Joe E. Brown
and his wife, Ann Sheridan, Louell;
Parsons, (the writer and column
ist), Olsen and johnson, (the fel
lows who were famous for bringing
amusement to the soldiers durin,
the last war-this one too), Fres
Niblo, Mona Maris, Charles Co
burt, Ned Sparks (the guy tha
never smiles), Moroni Olzen, an'
many more.
First of all, we ate our dinner
and listened to a few speeches iron
the guests (all of whom were clu
members and very popular stars)
This was real treat to all of u
to be with these people and hea
them talk. Joe E. Brown told u
about his trip to the front wher
he tried to amuse the boys. HI
also told us about what it was lik
on Guadalcanal and of his trip ol
a bombing raid at Port Morley
During this trip he saw a numbe
of planes shot down, etc. Joe E