Smyrna times., 1944-08-17
DRIBBLES
FROM
Our Boys and Girls
in the Service
David c. Harrison Post, No. ID,
American Legion, and Unit of the
American Legion Auxiliary.
South West Pacific

South West Pacific
Dear Dribbles:
Hello again! Well I guess you
think I have forgotten you all, but
that is not so. My intentions are
good as have started several let
tiers, only to tear them up because
of so little that could say.
Sometime back 1 thought
would be home before the Summer
was over but it doesn't look that
way now. 1 am hoping to make it
in time for Christmas, 1914.
We have a nice basket ball team
in the Company. So far we are
undefeated for Divisional honors.
However, right now we're not hav-
ing much time to devote to any
sports or reereational activities.
I was glad to hear that Hutch"
arrived back home safely. 1 hope
that he will not have to go over
again during this war. Since 1 left
the States have seen quite lot
of places out this way. They in
clude Australia, New Zealand, Fiji
Islands, Guadalcanal, New Guinea
and New Britain. 1 cannot tell
you the name of the island 1 am
now stationed on-just another
tropical bit of land surrounded on
all sides by water. Out of the
tWenty-six months 1 have been
over here I have only spent nine
months of it in civilization, the
rest of the time we have been
pushing Japs around so that we
Marines can have a tropical par
adise where we can spent our Sum-
mer vacations. 1t is beginning to
look as if the Nips don't like our
calm South West Pacific-did ]
say calm?
I receive The Smyrna Times reg
mlarly from mother, and I couldn' t
begin to tell you how much I look
forward to reading Dribbles. Hats
off to you fellows of the American
Legion in helping all of us to keep
i'm touch with one another. At this
time want to thank you Dribbles
for your wonderful Christmas card
and to also thank all of my friends
for their cards and packages which
helped me to have such a nice
Christmas 1943 overseas. I am
sorry I cannot thank each ano
everyone of myfriends personally
but maybe 1 can some time in the
near future. We were in the lines
on Cape Gloucester when oul
Christmas mail arrived, and il
helped the morale of all of us more
than 1 can say.
I must shove off now, and will
try to write a little sooner the next
time.
Good luck to all you fellows anc
girls in the Service. I hope that
we can all meet again soon.
Ray"
Pfc. Ray F. Smith
u. S. Marine Corps
C o Fleet Post Office
San Francisco, California
I(Balance of address on application
Sure glad to hear from you Ray
1t has been quite a long time-nC
see-no hear. Course our first re
action to your letter is the person
al pleasure and satisfaction o.
knowing that you are o. K. Fol
lowing this is the good news tina
you may be expected to return t.
the States in time to celebrat,
Christmas 1914 on good old United
States soil. We know that you will
he one happy Marine when tn,
gang plank is lowered and yol
march off the ship that has car
rIed you back to the land Of you
birth. And so you should be son
after twenty-six months oversee
in the Pacific area.
About two months back, w,
heard that quite a number of mel
from your Division had landed OF
the West Coast. We scanned tn,
newspapers high and low to see i
your name was listed in this group
Finally, we concluded that sine,
you were not making your appear
Rilce you were among those liste.
to remain away bit longer. Well
perhaps it will work out nicely TO
vou after all. When you do re
turn it is quite likely that you viii
NOT be called on any further for