The Omaha guide., 1945-06-16
|S-Sgt L. P.Lewis
Writes FrOm...
the PACIFIC
Cby S/Sgt. Lawrence p. Lewis
OVER SEAS NEWS
Special to The Omaha Guide
from
S-Sgt. Lawrence p. Lewis
Welcome to India American

from
S-Sgt. Lawrence p. Lewis
Welcome to India American
The first week here in this part
of India was spent trying to get
a raincoat to keep the rain out,
and finding clothing thin enough
to keep US cool. That, so far, in
the months | have spent in India,
is an im~possibility. Remember the
salt slogan (when it rains it pours)
that would fit this area complete
ly. 1t rains for days. Sometimes
a downpour, but most Of the rain
is slow, steady, and soaking.
truthfully don't know whether
prefer the sun or the rain.
When the sun stays out for a
day or so, the roads are dusty and
the heat intense. You are never
comfortable, working or otherwise.
Salty sweat, running all over your
body; getting in your eyes and
mouth. You can taste the dirt and
dust, which continually clings to
your face. A shower at night may
relieve you of the dirt and dust
you have accumulated during the
day, but showers we did not have.
Helmets and shortening cans were
the best substitute. You get used
to being dirty, and you feel a little
strange when you are completely
clean.
My greatest problem was comb
ing my hair. l had it completely
cut off so 1 wouldn't have to bother
with it. 1 was afraid to look at
myself in the mirror for days, but
it was so comfortable being with
out hair and not worrying about
brushing or combing it. / tried to
wash at least once a day; | i'm
agine | missed a few days. Those
days | left to the rain to clean me
off.
There is not a village in this
area which is not out of bounds
to American Troops, and when they
say out of bounds, they mean Just
that. There are some small towns
where we may go to buy gifts to
send back to the states, but if you
see a woman there at nights you
will have eyes like Superman, be-
cause you'll have to look through
the walls of the huts. On market
day, which is on Sunday, you hard
ly ever see a woman unless it is
at the market place. l get a big
kick watching them; they looked
half scared to death most Of the
time.
With time on my hands, l be-
gan writing to everybody. At least
it kept me going to mail call, and
when there wasn't any mail for
me; the day ended in sadness. |
couldn't understand why the people
in the states didn't have time to
write. J was up before six, worked
most of the day in weather con-
ditions that are beyond most CT
imagination, helped build
and construct our area; yet / found
time to write my family and my
few friends. Why couldn't they
write as l did? l don't know the
answers, but l am sure that they
do. | do know that mail call, when
[ was fortunate enough to receive
a letter, was the happiest moment
that day.
Most men are proud Of their
work and accomplishments. | got
4 thrill every time l came back to
camp. The area was being clear
ed, showers were being installed,
roads were made ~serviceable, con-
'tructing a day room, baseball
fields almost completed, and most
IF all they we're going to give the
in our area a movie. The
American Army does 50 much to
see that the soldiers have a chance
for a few hours of relaxation and
pleasure. They would show the
movies rain or shine, and many a
soaking l received from standing
in the rain watching a picture
show.
Ny hat goes off to the men who
are fighting in the Southwest Pa
IT. ox~1-41- g