The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-05-12

1-s0SG. GLSC hiluNSCll, llOIlle d1tc1 eight months with a WAC contin- gent in New Guinea looked incred- ibly upon the soft lights and tables laden with Holsters, meat, and fresh vegetables in local restaurs'?t, and said slowly, as if to herself, Its all out of a different world"
 The poignant contrast of civilized living to existence in the jungles was foremost in the mind of the Danish-born WAC, who only a few days before had dined on K and c rations, dehydrated carrots, po- tatoes and peas, as she had snce last September.
 Experiences Thrill
 Flying 5000 miles from her island post to San Francisco, the vivacious, blue-eyed servicewoman said she was as thrilled as Cinderella at the ball when she donned her dress uniform upon her arrival at San Francisco She had worn a shirt and trousers since leaving the cor'l- try. Twirling around and around before the full-length mirror, she said to herself, I'll be Sad Sack, if I don't look pretty good!'
 The WAC is spending a 3O-day furlough with her husband, knut Knudsen, an engLeer at the LeWls Engineering Co.,, Naugatuck, while awaiting a medical discharge. III January she suffered an attack of malaria, and had been hospitallzed in New Guinea until a few weeks ago.
 Life is far from easy for the WACS who volunteered for service in New Guinea to assist the Army with clerical work, Sgt. Knudsen declared. They certainly are a brave lot of girls" she said. And they've done their job we'll"
 Though work has not been as heavy during the past few months; for some time after their arrival overseas their day began at 5:15 ana extended through to g or 10 o'clock in the evening seven days a week, with only a few hours respite.
 There was little recreation except reading and a ping-pong table. ine women were allowed outside the WAC area, which was bounded on one side by the sea and the other by the jungle, only under guard.
 But after finishing our day work we were far too tired TOT fun,' she said.
 Uncle Sam's daughters, accuS- toned to the So-called luxurles found adjustment to the primitive life rather exacting. They slept on Army cots without pillow Or sheets took showers under inverted ol drums, ate from tin plates, and did without cosmetics.
 Constantly, too, there was lht struggle against homesickness anc the inertia created by the troplca heat. The mercury remained al 14O degrees for days without end Even a refreshing swim in the see was fraught with danger. SharKs appeared frequently within six fee' of the beach.
 : Tropical Illness
 Despite all precautionary meas ures. the WACS occasionally fel . victims cf tropical illness. Whl' confined to the hospital, Sgt. Knud sens best friend in the ward wa , a fiye-year-old native child wh' , was critically i'll of cancer.
 Lauding the meritorious Work o
 both Army doctors and nurses II the Pacific, the sergeant salo LII
 entire personnel of the hosplta spent 48 hours at the bedside o a WAC who was near ceatn.
 The natives of New Guinea, sn said, are a kindly people. who d. their utmost to assist the Army but in many instances their limlte' intellect proves to be a hindranc raher than help. - One ambitious native had beel ass igned to. cut the high grass Il ; the WAC area on laundry day Swinging his scythe wildly and III ? discriminatory he not only move, down the grass but also the WAC
 trousers and lingerie.
 However difficult it is proving 10
 the New Guinea native to assiml late the white mans way, he ] learning like most of the untutore
 in far-off lands how to acquire |, substantial sum of money for nttl f effort.
 Q once great fun to face the cam ; era, he now demands five pounds and if the fee is not forthcoming an avalance of abuse descends upo
 the head of the picture-seeker.
 But fer more precious than a
 his worldly goods is bottle ( , peroxide. For which this magic' ) liquid he can dye his hair the colo
 of the white mans. What may hay e pen when he discovers the trans '- formation is merely temporary, tf 7. WAC would not predict.
 d Sergeant Knudsen looks upon h' r. eight months service in New Guint ,- as most interesting experience. b' .- she's happy to be back, and is lool