The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1946-02-22
LETTER FROM JAPAN


Jan. Is, 1916
Dear Uncle Bennett:
l was much pleased to have your
letter, along with the Maryland news
hear there is much snow, and won
der if You have had tkat trouble, too
1t seems that have been able to
dodge Inc winter and the snow ever
since | came into the army. | spent
the winter in Florida and the late
summer in the Philippines--but tibet
was pit too hot for comfort.
Here in Japan, the climate is ex-
cellent There is snow up in the
mountains, but we are right by the
sea where it has been below freezing
only about two OF three times and the
ripe tangeriens hang on the green
trees ard the onions and radisLes
Keep right on growing.
Another blessing is that there is
little rain (the rain comes in Sep
;ember with the typhoons), and so
we do not have to deal with mud
the greatest setback to soldering.
1t is bit too chilly for swimming
but we have no lack of places to swim
and, unfortunately, l guess I'll still
be here when the spring and summer
roll around.
We are quartered in Jap Army Air
Force Barracks about 200 yards from
tie Pacific Ocean. The water is not
near as rough as our old Atlantic
and would be an excelletn place to
vim The Japs. are great fishermen
and most of their boats (even the
little ones) have engines. OF course,
hey have no gas so they propel the
boats with one big oar in the stern
which they cradle back and forth like
The tail of big fish. They go quite
last this way.
Most of the trees around here are
pine and cedar. They have pine trees
n their gardens and clip the needles
with scissors like they were giving
he tree a haircut. When they get
through trimming the tree the clus-
,ers of needles are fan shaped and
he tree looks like woman with
many arms holding many fans.
l read in the papers that $4,000
Australian soldiers are coming to thi
sland (Shikoku) within the next two
5eeks. This is the best news l have
leard in long time for all OF tie
.merican Units over here are at
bout half strength and | don't know
low they would operate if anything
-appened.
The Japs remain very orderly and
l-disciplined (their police system
without doubt the best in the
world, and they have practically no
rime).
Nevertheless, l know that their
hospitality is insincere so l have little
do with them.
There is big rumor that the Rus
ians are coming soon. We shall see
What happens then.
Frankly, l do not know when I'm
getting out. | wish they had a def
lite system. Then there would not
e any uncertainty as to when we
we're getting out. If each man knew
when he would discharged he would
not have so many hopes and fears,
,oys and disbursements over the
matter. In short, | think the morale
would be hundred percent better if
Congress would quit dilly-dallying
md arrive at definite length of time
hat man must slap in the Army.
liese meetings and petitionings of
many soldiers in Manila, Toxic,
Paris, etc, give bad impression of
our Army to the enemy, our Allies,
and the folks back home. And it's not
all our fault.
Right now, am going to oath Di-
vision school, learning to become
clerk. But here, the same as anyplace
else, there is not enough for us to do.
Nobody takes any initiative with
athletics. Everybody loafs as much as
they can. We have boxing gloves but
tley are used only to settle an argu-
ment. What we need is an officer WHO
is nuts about sports.
The food is good-better than we
lad in the Philippines. We have
fresh meat and potatoes nova lot
different from SPAN and dehydrated
-puds! Most of our food still comes
from Australia.
You know how l love to fish. Well,
since it has been over seven months
since l have eaten fish, risked some
fried fish in a Jap Hotel. 1t really
was good. They flavor it with soya
sauce which is a lot like our own
Worcester sauce. Even rice tastes
good when you pour this soya sauce
on it. All their food is eaten with
chopsticks which are really quite
handy when you get the knack. They
eat from tables about two feet high.
While they are eating they sit on
their heels, their toes pointed to the
rear. They can sit this way for hours.
Give my love to all and l hope you
are all fine and happy. will write to
Grandpa soon.
Love,
Paul