Book No. 7

In uniform for first time. Apr. 2, 1944

The Mili party; "Much hat wearing, etc".
Jan 8, 1944

Selective Service board classifies me "2 A"
Jan 10, 1944

Family
Rosemary throws out our Chinese Village
research. Jan 13, 1944

Emily Hahn Jan 14, 1944 And Willie.

Shelley's salary: $5300.00 and mine,
$9,000.00. Jan 17, 1944 (after return
from prison.

It Rogers Peet buying new uniform,
French flyer comes in with burned face.
Jan 24, 1944

McCoy Mellnick story at LIFE excites
editors. Jan 25, 1944

Shelley's eye. At the Longwells, on walk
Shelley injured right eye with switch.
Jan 30, 1944 Jan 31.

Romulo: on the Philippines under the
Japanese Jan 31, 1944

Japanese propaganda on the Philippines,
Netherlands East Indies; Feb 2, 1944

Margaret Bourke White Feb 4, 1944

P

S.A.
9-06

Tuesday March 7, 1944

New York

Office all day, finishing Research with
Shelley. Negs sent to lab to be printed.
Rolleiflex which went bad on me sent
to repair shop for over-haul.

Wednesday, March 8, 1944

New York

Office all day. Lake in day WH told me my
Tule Lake story sold to Billings for 9
page lead. WH had not seen the pigt yet.
None of them yet printed. I warned t
that the lab had better get going of the
story to be finished in theme for this we
week.

Drinks with Shelley at Cal Wipples.

Thursday, March 9, 1944

New York

Today John Billings laid out my Tule Lake
The prints came over after 11 A.M.. they
had been promised by 9 A.M. WH rushed me
d because JB was rushing him and I brought
in the set incomplete ( the lab was
still printing part of it) and not fully
edited. But JB was patient with the story
watched the entire set as it was laid down,
and then said: "Wilson- that's some
set. I think we can go 11 pages- don't
you"? And that was that. It was then 1:30
and we knocked off for lunch, picked up
again at 2:45.

Billings has astonishing ability
judge and remember pictures. He saw my
large set ( all 11 x 14) in a quick
once-over, came back to it more than

an hour later with the story form-
ulate in his mind and a picyure -by-
picture memory of the entire set. he
even remembered sufficiently to say:
"No, not that one. we have a similar
shot with someone near the camera laugh-
ing" etc.

This afternoon, I went in, and later
Shelley joined me and talked with WH.
Told him I felt the honey-moon was over
and that I wanted to get to work. he
said: "Good. I have been feeling that
way. But I wanted you to tell me so".
Told him that Russian still held in
our plans, but that meanwhile I wanted to
get in some combat photography. we
agreed that I should get off at once.
That Shelley would remain behind, take
the six-month's leave some had been
talking about, write her book. But
as Hicks put it: All plans are off if
Russian jells, and you both stop what yo
you are doing and take off for there.
Right?". "Right" we agreed. Tomorrow
WH calls Ray Mackland to start me off
for Algiers and Italy. That spot,
thought a little complicated now for Tim
Life. John Phillips and George Silk
enroute there now. | Phillips started
off before signals were called to get
through there and into Yugoslavia. And
George Rogers there, refuses to come
out. Says he there for Rome's entry.
Has seen the show there so far, insists
in staying. Besides, he says, there's
and eye doctore there he wants to see.
Says he will quit and go to England
and see his wife he must come out.

H.P. LEE
A.S.A.
29-06

can get with the Company. He's going to
want a job after the war.

And none of us can say too much for what
Will Lang has done and is doing. He has
broadened and grown since you knew him.
He is one of the best reporters out
of this theatre, greatly respected, and
has been extremely helpful to George and
John and Me.

As a matter of fact this unit of Time Inc-
 Phillips, Silk, Reg Ingraham,
Ed Lanning ( now ex hospital fully re-
covered) Tom Craig and myself, have been
working smoothly, full cooperation, and
none of the old London stuff whatsoever.
Its really been a pleasant Theatre with
a lot of excellent guys.

I have been enervated myself since my
Monoxide experience. Apparently it raises
hell with the hemoglobins and I feel now I
like I've got Dengue. Yesterday I kno-
knocked off for a day or two. I just
couldnt climb in and out of the Jeep
any longer.

Shot "FIFTH ARMY IN ROME" story with
George- but we neither of us did a good
job. Much to worn out. I discovered
yesterday that George was abed ill all one
day when I thought he was shooting. And
we shipped yesterday-- he with much less
stuff than I thought he had made. New York
may well think was unshot the job. But
it is so big-- Fifth Army in Rome-- that
you can only make a stab at it; and that's
what we did, I guess.

And now we've got Hotel troubles. Tim
Time Inc has a very good, small hotel
We got it first day in here. Kept away
from the madhouse of the PRO hotel. But
today notice up that a Military unit was

Page 2 Letter 18

taking over and we all had to be out by
morning. That's a tough order now. Every-
thing is filled up by now, as you can
well imagine. And I have brought
all my stuff up from Naples and unpacked
my bag for the first time since
leaving the States. But Will Lang is
taking on the job of trying to save
our homes, so we may yet be permitted
to stay on.

Apparently I shall not get any of the
letters you addressed to "Advance Pro
Naples". All the letter I have received
todate are to the 464 APO.

The "POMES" are wonderful. And where's
my drawings! Remember the one you sent
me in Finland- action shot of me on
Eskimos skiss? That was the best you
have done. Think I still have it
among our papers.

You are writing very rapidly, I must
say. Chapter V and perhaps VI are done
by now. How many chapters do you
plan? I can only guess at it from your
planned wordage.

Yes, your APO 464 % PRO is the correct
address. Use it until advised otherwise by
cable.

I was with William last night and the nig-
ht before. He came up here on some
work and we had two nights together
with some drinks and talk and met
more of his friends he is working with.
All swell fellows. And William is very
happy in his work. I wrote Judith
and Mother and Dad today. Had two V-mails
from Judith today.

Discussed with William the point you ma-

EIP LEAF
U.S.A.

329-06