Fly It Home! Notice the stamp on upside down. Ken explains to Rosalie that means he loves her!
Miss Rosalie Nash
R.F.D. No. 3
Howell, Michigan
4 August (September) 1951
Camp Strong
1600 Hours
My Dearest Rosalie
We’ve got a couple of hours off for a change and I believe I’m a couple of letters behind in my writing you. (Just had mail call and I got another letter from you. I’ve been getting about one a day and its wonderful I just wish
I had time to write every day. )
Got those pictures that you mailed and they really are sharp. The reason for my looking so love sick on that one picture
is because I am. Also received that package which had the freetos and candy and was it ever good. Thank you very much for sending it sweetheart.
We
had rifle inspection this morning. Had to tear the M-1 completely apart and lay it out on our beds, then stand at attention as the inspecting officer walks by. After spending three hours getting my rifle and other junk in order, he walked
right by them. For some reason he overlooked my bunk completely. In a way I was kinda glad he missed by bunk ‘cuz then he couldn’t gig me on anything.
Over at Gus’ now, he just came over to my tent to see if I was in, and I was, so I walked over here with him to finish writing.
Our last bivouac was a farce
as bivouacs go, because all we did was walk out about ½ mile, dig fox holes and sit around for two days and do nothing. They wouldn’t let us go back to camp for stationery or anything, we just sat around and shot the breeze. They don’t
know what to do with us now, but they hate to see us around camp with nothing to do so we go out to the field and do nothing.
From what I hear our bivouacs are
a thing of the past. From now on we’re going to be garrison soldiers. That means shinning our shoes, polishing our brass and saving every day. Whatta blow, I’ve been shaving about every fifth day or so. I came over here
¾ of a package of Schick blades and I still got some left and I can only shave twice with them so I haven’t been over shaving.
It’s turning
cold here now. It goes down to almost freezing every night and the days are kinda cool, so it ain’t bad. Also it rains at least once a day now.
It’s getting almost time for State to trounce Michigan in football. I’ve been getting into a lot of arguments over the forthwith coming game at A2. If State doesn’t win, my name will be mud around Chitose, so State had better
win that game or else “I’ve had it.” (MSU won!)
Gus wants to say hello to you so I’ll let him
“Hi darlinks (sp). All my love Gus (Translate =darling – Ken permits it once and a while)”
Well honey it’s about time for me to close so I’ll close. I can’t think of anything to say, except that I still love you a little more than
I did yesterday. I’m thinking of you always honey.
Bye for now
All my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
4 August (September) 1951
Camp Strong
Hokkaido
Dear Mom and Dad
We got the afternoon off so I can catch up on my letter writing. Our last bivouac was a farce as bivouacs go. We left camp here at 700 Saturday morning and walked about a half mile out. Then we dug fox holes and sat around and did nothing
until Monday morning. Then we walked back to camp and had inspection, also had it again this morning. We got the new 45th news I’m mailing that home to you in this letter.
It’s turning colder all the time, the nights are really getting cold here now and the days are cool.
Got a postcard yesterday from the church announcing
the shower for the new vicar and his wife. It came over by slow boat so it took quite a while.
It rains hard out now. It rains every day here now.
Sept is supposed to be the wettest month of the year.
I can’t think of anything else except that I mailed Dad’s package today, so he should get it
about the same time as this letter.
Love
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson Rd
East Lansing, Michigan
Hi Sweetheart
How do you like my new
stationery? Got it in Chitose this afternoon. Over at Gus’ again tonight, visiting and writing letters. We’re going to go to the show soon as we finish these letters. We’re going to go see “Last Outpost.”
We didn’t have mail call tonight so I didn’t get any mail.
I slept in until 10 o’clock this morning as I didn’t feel like getting up. It’s the first time in about 3 weeks we got to sleep in past 530 and it was real nice for a change. Also tomorrow morning we can sleep late, but I’m
going to get up early, about 800 or so and do some washing.
Gus and I were planning on going to Sapporo this weekend but the 1st Battalion would kinda like to
have him around Sunday so he consented to stay (not because he wanted to tho).
Gus has finally seen the light, he has decided to attend MSC when he gets out.
He’s got more brains then I thought he had.
Well, honey that’s all that I have for now as we didn’t do much today, cards most of the time.
Bye for now, be good and remember there’s a guy in Japan who loves you very dearly and who is going to change that Miss on your name to Mrs. when he gets out of the army.
Goodnight
Sweetheart
Love
Ken
PS Gus says that you owe him a letter and he ain’t going to write again til he hears from you.
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
5 August (September) ‘51
Camp Strong
Dear Mom and Dad
Just got back from Chitose with Hook. Had to get some stationery so I brought some of this. Its real thin sheets of wood.
We got the day off today
so I’m going to try to catch up on my letter writing.
It’s warmed up quite a bit today, but it’s really cold at night.
From what I hear we are all thru with our bivouacs til spring. I hope so, I think we had enough for awhile. I guess we’re going to be garrison soldiers now for awhile, that means polishing our boots, cleaning our rifles and shaving every
day. Now if we shave once a week we’re doing good and whenever polish our boots any more than that.
Later:
Just got thru with chow, and
it was not too hot. The food over here isn’t anything to brag about.
I’ll probably need some money for X-mas presents as I’m not drawing
too much since my allotment is going home. I’m only getting around $80 a month and that doesn’t give me too much spending money. I’ll probably need around $40. That’s allowing an average of 1000 yen per person or $2.00.
If you mail, mail it so I get it before the first of the month, as everything goes up on payday. Did you see the dishes Hook sent home? If you want some like those – let me know, or anything else you want.
Love
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
6 Sept 1951
Dear Mom and Dad
It’s
about 1030 now and I just got up. I was planning on getting up at 8 and do some washing but it was raining so I slept a little longer.
Went to a show with
Gus last night. We saw “Last Outpost” it was only par as movies go. Outside of the movies there is absolutely nothing to do here.
This afternoon we have classes again, probably the same classes we’ve had 4 or 5 time before. They just give us the same classes over and over, it gets so you don’t even pay any attention to them at all, you just endure them.
If we get this weekend off, Gus and I are going to Sapporo to look up the minister there. I was there a couple of weeks ago but couldn’t find out where he lived.
That’s about all I could think of for now.
Love
Ken
PS Am enclosing a can opener like the one we wear on our dog tags. We use them to open c-rations
Miss Rosalie Nash
RFD #3 Howell
Michigan
Camp Strong Club
6 Sept 1951
Camp Strong
My Dearest Rosalie
Got another letter from you today, it was the one with the real cute joke in it. Gus and I are at Camp Strong Club writing tonight. His battalion has this afternoon and tomorrow off, while we had yesterday and this morning off. He’s
going to go to Sapporo tomorrow to spend the day up there.
Slept in this morning til 930 as it was raining so that I couldn’t wash today, then this afternoon
we had a couple of dull classes, so I couldn’t wash then. I was kinda glad it was raining cuz I didn’t have any ambition to wash. Not that I’m lazy but I didn’t have any ambition at all. So far it has rained every
day.
Golly I can’t think of anything to write about, as I didn’t do anything today. We had a class today on “Bunk Fatigue.”
We had one more class on the schedule and the First Sergeant got up and said that the next class would be “bunk fatigue” and that in the army talk is sleeping, so our classes were cut just a little short. Funny no one seemed too disappointed
about it tho.
We got a brief lecture on what kind of weather we can expect this winter. Last year there was 14 feet of snow and the average temperature
was -30 degrees. Looks like we’re in for a lot of fun.
I’m not too much worried about forgetting how to neck when I get home. I think
it will all come back naturally. Anyway if it doesn’t we can start learning it over together. It would be a lot of fun and also we’ll have the rest of our lives together to get into the
swing of it again. As long as we have each other that is all that counts. I love you so much, that I just want you and nothing else matters. Being in love with you is about the only thing that makes the army bearable, as you’re about
the sweetest girl this side of heaven.
Bye for now sweetheart
I love you with all my
Heart
Miss Rosalie Nash
Box 248
RFD #3 Howell
Michigan
7 Sept 1951
Camp Strong
My Dearest Rosalie
No mail today, as the mail plane didn’t land here today. There’s not too much new here as we just had classes all day long. In the morning we had scouting and patrolling and this afternoon we had a class on compass read. We’ve
had so many classes on those two subjects its pitiful.
I just got the new 45th news so I’ll mail it on to you. There’s not too much
in this edition as far as I can see. The jokes are the best part of the paper, everyone reads those first then the articles. There isn’t too much news tonight so I’ll write you a long one tomorrow as I’m on guard duty so I’ll
stay awake most of the night.
Bye for now
I love you
Always
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
7 Sept 1951
Dear Mom and Dad
Got your package of film and stationery today. Thank you very much for sending it. I was all out of stamps when that arrived.
Had some real boring
classes today on reading the compass. Everyone already knows how to read it, but still we spent all day on it.
I got guard duty tomorrow night, so I may
not get a chance to write then, but I will see if I can. The newspaper still has the wrong address on it. The regimental post office is starting to holler about it, as I found out from the mail clerk today.
The new 45th news came out today, so I’ll enclose a copy of it for you to see.
Love.
Miss Rosalie Nash
Box 248 RFD #3
Howell, Michigan
8 Sept 1951
Cap Strong
9:15 pm
Hi Honey
Just got off the first relief of guard duty and now I’ve got to wait under 1200 to go back on for a two hour shift. Then I’m thru til next time. I’ve got a real nice post. I walk around in the motor pool. It’s
real dark there as it is in the middle of a woods. The moon came out about half an hour before I got thru with my first relief. We’re supposed to have live ammo, but our company is out and we walk it with fixed bayonets.
We’re not supposed to smoke while we’re walking our posts, but everyone does when they get into a dark corner and I’m no exception. Also you’re supposed to keep walking but I had my self taking breaks all the time.
I watched the moon come out tonight. It was real beautiful tonight, about half a moon, I guess. I guess I just stood there the last half an hour watching it. I was wondering as it came out if you could see it too, but then I remembered the
time element. Back in Pinckney it was only 400am today, so you were probably in bed by then. Watching it come out made me remember all the wonderful times we’ve had together. Especially when we used to park behind your barn and next to your
house and sit and talk. Those are wonderful memories and I wouldn’t trade them for a million dollars. Every time I stop to think about all the good times we had, it makes kinda a hollow feeling in
your stomach and you get awful homesick. Every time I get that way, I just tell myself its only for awhile, then we get to go home and then we’ll never have to leave again.
Its kinda funny tho if I were offered a discharge right now I’m afraid I’d turn it down. As long as I’ve got eight months in I’d just as soon finish out 12. Because if you’ve had less than 12 you are subject to the
draft. We’ve got a whole flock of guys who were in from 8-10 months and they got drafted again. When I get out of this army, they’re never going to get me back in.
I like that idea of signing up for that institution you mentioned. A life time hitch is perfect. I’ll sign up for that as soon as I get home.
Well, sweetheart that’s about all of the news for now, so I’ll close and get a couple hours of sleep.
Bye for now honey
Remember I’m thinking of you always and remember you in my prayers
All my
love
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
9 Sept 1951
Camp Strong
Dear Mom and Dad
Just got thru cleaning my rifle and bayonet. We didn’t do too much today, just sat around and worked on our equipment. It’s raining again as it has every day this morning.
The paper is starting to come thru with the right address. The only trouble is that it comes thru in bunches. I always get four or five papers at once.
Also enclosing a five yen piece and a five cent slug that we use in the juke boxes there at the N.C. O. mess. Also a chart which tells the value of the yen.
There isn’t too much news so I’ll close til tomorrow.
Love
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson
East Lansing, Michigan
10 Sept 1951
Camp Strong
1900 Hours
My Very Dearest Rosalie
Just got thru playing rummy with our platoon sergeant. Beat him two games straight so he gave it up as a bad deal.
Stayed in this afternoon from going to
our classes as our squad is going to demonstrate a situation. The troops went out at one and we didn’t start til 300 so we got put on KP for 2 hours.
There was only a couple of cooks there, so we swiped a couple of dozen of oranges and quart of choc milk and came up to our tents and ate oranges and drank choc milk. It was pretty good too.
The mail plane didn’t land today so we didn’t get any mail. Lately it’s only been landing about half of the time.
It’s raining again
tonight. It hasn’t rained since yesterday. It’s rained ten days in a row now.
There isn’t too much news tonight as we didn’t
do too much. About all we do is the same old routine. When we’re not in the field we got either classes or gotta clean our guns.
That’s
about all I can think of as I’m kinda tired tonight. Didn’t do anything but I’m still tired so I’ll close til tomorrow.
Bye for
now sweetheart
Be good and remember
I still love you
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson
East Lansing, Michigan
11 Sept 1951
Camp Strong, Japan
My own Rosalie
The mail plane finally landed today and sure enough I got a letter from the girl who I’m in love with, namely Rosalie Nash.
My hair’s grown out again.
It’s almost long enough to comb now. I wish I could take a picture of it but my camera is on the blink, so I can’t. When Richard’s camera gets here I’ll be able to take some to send you. I’m going to let it grown
long now for winter and have it cut off next spring.
It rained all day today, not like it usually does, but it just poured all day. Instead of getting the
day off we had classes in the mess hall. (Pen just ran out of ink) It’s really cold here now at nights, it won’t be long before it snows over here.
While I’m thinking of it, will you let me know how the M.S.C. – U of M game comes out? We can’t get any Michigan stations on
our radio. I’m awful interested in how that game is going to come out. But of course State will win so all you’ll have to write is by how much.
I’m kinda tired tonight although didn’t do any real work. I get more tired from listening to classes all day than from taking a 15 mile hike. It seems like the less work I do the more tired I am at night. It’s about time
to retire so I’m going to have to close for now. I promise I’ll write a longer one tomorrow.
All my love
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson Rd.
East Lansing, Michigan
12 Sept 1951
Camp Strong
My dearest Rosalie
Got your picture back today and it really came out beautiful except for the hair. It’s just a little too blonde, otherwise it’s almost perfect. I was going to mail it home as soon as I got it, but I had my mind changed for me.
The XVI Corps has decided that we should be out in the field for about the next 10 days. They kinda expect if this island is attacked it will be in the next week or so. (They tell us that all the time as an excuse to get us out in the field). So
we’re going to live about 12 miles from camp for a few days. It seems silly as heck, but that’s what the army wants us to do.
It didn’t
rain today for a change. It has rained every other day this month and will probably continue to do so when we get out in the field.
In a week or so we’re
going down to Muroran and make an amphibian landing. That should be a lot of fun as there won’t be any one shooting back at us. I always kinda wanted to make an invasion sometime and now we get our chance. There is a couple of ships
down in Muroran which we use. Everything is supposed to be realistic.
We gotta go over the side of the boats, down rope ladders, into L.S. I’s and
then go ashore. I guess the ship guns are supposed to cover us as we go ashore, so it will be just like in the movies.
I’ve seen it done a hundred
times in the movies and I never dreamed that someday I’d ever be coming over the side of a troop ship. Even seeing Japan was about the farthest thing from my mind, but here it is. This whole army just seems like a dream. I feel that I’m
going to wake up at any time and find myself home, but the only trouble is that I don’t wake up.
Just another 3 ½ months and my time in the army
will be half gone. Times is really going fast, but I guess that it always does when you’re really in love and I am. I don’t know how I’d endure this army if it wasn’t for you. Your letters really help pick me up all
the time. I think you’re the most wonderful person in the world and I love you and just being in love with you and you being in love with me makes me happy.
Saw Gus tonight for the first time in 3 days. He came over and looked at your picture and he really liked it. By the way I’m going to enclose a scarf in the box with it.
I’m going to mail this to East Lansing because you should be in school by about the time this letter gets there.
By the way, if you got a few loose yen,
do you think you could mail me the Spartan? I’ll mail you a dollar, it’s all the US money I got and it is absolutely worthless here as it is a court martial offense to be caught with it on you. The only money we have is military script
and yen and that is all. That’s a nice magazine and I like to read it.
Well honey that’s about all I can think of so I’ll close just as
soon as I tell you how much I miss you and love you.
You know that I miss you awfully and love you with all my heart and soul and can’t wait til I get home
again with you.
Bye for now
All my Love
Your Guy
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
12 Sept 1951
Camp Strong
Dear Mom and Dad
It hasn’t rained today as yet but it may. It has rained every other day this month so far.
I got two boxes from you yesterday. Thanks a lot
for sending them. The Christmas cookies are real good.
Can you mail me some stationery sometime soon? I’ve got about 2 dozen sheets left and we can’t
buy any around here. The only kind we can get is the Japanese paper and that cost about 10 cents a sheet and that’s too expensive for everyday writing. About 2 weeks ago all the PXs ran out and they haven’t any idea when they will get
more in.
Saturday we start on amphibious landings. We’re supposed to make an actual landing somewhere here on Hokkaido in about 10 or 12 days from
now. It should be kinda interesting as there won’t be anyone on shore shooting back. The ship we are going to use is docked down in Mororan now along with all the landing barges.
We got Marines and sailors all over the place now. They are going to instruct the division on how to make the landing. All today there is about a battalion of the (800) or so. It seems funny to have sailors running around on an army
base but they’ll all be gone in about a few weeks.
I can’t think of anymore so I’ll close for awhile.
Love
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson
East Lansing, Michigan
15 Sept 1951
Camp Strong
My dearest Rosalie
We’re out in the field now, we dug our fox holes this morning and start on our amphibious training. The lieutenant who was in charge of the truck I was in was a little under the weather (he killed 3 fifths of whisky since 12 last night. The
Japs call it “dingy dingy”) So our truck went to his tent as he had forgotten something, then when he came back he forgot all about what we were supposed to do this afternoon and brought us back out here to our bivouac area, so we’ve got
the early afternoon off til he sobers up.
We’ve got a beautiful area out here this time, the brush is only about 8 feet high. You can’t see
in any direction more than about 6 feet. It didn’t rain yesterday and hasn’t today as yet but it will.
I got promoted today. It is effective
tomorrow. Now I get about $15 more a month. I’m a P.F.C. now, that the same as a corporal in the air corps, as they are automatic PFCs when they get thru with boot camp.
This is some Japanese stationery I’m writing on and it isn’t much good. It’s the only kind we can buy here. It only cost 40 yen a package but it’s all we have so we have to use it.
That’s about all I can think of now, but I’ll write again tonight if I don’t have to go a patrol or something like that, it’s about my turn to go as I didn’t go last night. We slept in this morning til 500, had a late breakfast
at 630 then took all morning to dig fox holes. If I had a nickel for every fox hole I’ve dug I’d be a millionaire now.
I’ll close this
by telling you how glad I am cuz you’re my girl as I always want you to be just my girl and later on my wife. Til that time I’ll just be content loving you and praying for you
All my Love
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
15 Sept
Dear Mom and Dad
Got
a raise today. About $15 a month, starting tomorrow I’m a PFC but I won’t get paid for it for about 2 months as it takes about that long to get the records straightened up. After this put PFC on all my letters.
Got another box today, the one with the candy, asparagus and cake squares in it. Those cake squares were really good. When I opened the box up I thought it was cookies that had all been smashed but they hadn’t. Thanks for sending it, I sure
appreciate it.
We’ve had two days this month now that is hasn’t rained, the 10th and yesterday. It really gets cold here at nights now.
We always slept under about 3 blankets when we’re in camp. Out here in the field we use our sleeping bags and one blanket to get warm.
The 45th
news came out today so I’ll relay a copy on home to you.
We spent all morning digging foxholes out here, then we laid logs across the top of them and piled
dirt on top of that. It took most of the morning to make them. Right now we’re about 2 miles from camp and I supposed that we’ll stay here for a couple of weeks.
I got some Jap paper here but I don’t care much for it. Only about half of it is good paper and the rest is lousy. I’d better close as we may be called out at any time.
Love
Ken
P.S. I enclose some real big money this
time 100 yen.
17 Sept 1951
Hokkaido, Japan
Monday 1600
Dear Mom and Dad
We got
the afternoon off to go to showers. It’s about the first shower we’ve had in over a week. We had one yesterday, but the only reason for that was we were out in the rain.
We were running an attack yesterday where we were supported by tanks. We rode on them most of the way, then ran along next to them for awhile.
The tanks
sure don’t ride very smoothly. We were talking to the driver and he said those tanks went one mile for every 8 gallons of gas. I’d sure hate to take a trip in one of those and have to pay for the gas. It hasn’t rained yet
today and it doesn’t look like it will, it’s just about a perfect day.
Wednesday we are supposed to go to Muroran and go on some ship for a while.
I don’t believe this is going to be our mock invasion as yet, because that is changed to the first of Oct. But that can be changed at any time and probably will be.
Haven’t seen Gus since Thursday and probably won’t til this problem is over. Right now we’re living in pup tents. They’re kinda cold at night but it’s the only thing we’ve got to live in.
We didn’t have any chapel Sunday as the Chaplin didn’t get over to our company’s area. It was raining all day Sunday so I don’t even know if he went to any of the companies.
That about all I can think of now so I close now.
Love
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson
East Lansing, Michigan
17 Sept 1951
Hokkaido Japan
My Dearest Rosalie
Got your letter with the pictures in it yesterday. They really came out swell. Thanks a million for sending them. I didn’t get to write yesterday as we was busy. We had a problem yesterday we had to run. “The tank
and infantry in the attack.” We got to ride on tanks for about 3 miles. Those things sure aren’t built for comfort. It rained all day yesterday and the night before, so it was a trifle damp out yesterday.
This morning we practiced loading on L.C. P.s and practiced assaulting the beach. It was kinda interesting for a change, so I didn’t get too much sleep. Either Wednesday or Thursday we go to Muroran and practice with real boats. I don’t
know how long it’s going to last, probably not more than 2 or three days at the most.
It’s real nice out here today, just about perfect fall weather.
We just got thru with chow. Ham and mashed potatoes and are waiting to be called out if we’re going to be this afternoon. We may sit here til 4:00 pm before we’re called out. We never know how much time we’re getting off.
I’ll close this for now and try and write again tonight.
Be good sweetheart, I’m sending all my love to you with this letter
Bye for now
All my love
610 Ardson
East Lansing, Michigan
18 Sept 1951
Hokkaido, Japan
My Dearest Rosalie
We got up at 430 this morning so we could eat dinner at 1000. What blow, get up early so we can eat dinner early. Its about 715 now and we may be moving out at any time. We’re headed for Muroran today some time, probably right after
chow but we don’t know for sure. They tell us a lot in the army.
If you’ve noticed my stamps haven’t been on upside down it isn’t
cuz I don’t love you anymore as I do more than ever, but because I got some stationery from home with all the stamps on them already.
I got thru cleaning
my gun a few minutes ago and I’m just waiting to shave. We got ice water to shave in and no mirror. Nobody thought of bringing one with them.
I got a box from back at camp. The mail clerk doesn’t bring them out here to the field Thanks a million for sending it although I don’t know what it is, but it’ll be good. Gotta close now as the company next to us is moving out
now so we’ll be going soon. Remember always that I’m your guy who is just waiting and loving you.
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
18 Sept 1951
Hokkaido
Dear Mom and Dad
We got the morning off to clean our guns so everyone is trying to catch up on their letter writing.
We were down at Azuma yesterday making our first amphibious landing. It only took two hours but those were two rough ones. We got into the landing barges on shore then we went out to the ship. We had to climb up the embarkation ropes
and up on the ships. Then we walked across the deck and down the other side and back into the L.C.N.P. and then we assaulted the beach. Those little boats really bounce around in the water when you’re trying to get into them or out of them.
We were out on the water about 2 hours in them and some of the guys really got sea sick about another 15 minutes in those boats and everyone would have been sick.
It rained again last night for the first time since yesterday. That’s about all it does over here is rain it seems like.
We haven’t heard when
we’re going to go back to camp as yet, we’re still living in pup tents.
I’m going to have to close as I’m just about out of paper and
envelopes and we don’t know when we can get any more.
Love
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson Rd.
East Lansing, Michigan
19 Sept ‘51
Hokkaido Japan
My Dearest Rosalie
Got three letters today from the most wonderful girl in the world. It was the first time in three days we had mail so they were triply welcome.
It rained
today for a change, hadn’t rained since night. Didn’t do too much today, cleaned our guns this morning, and had classes this afternoon. These classes this afternoon weren’t too bad as they were mostly time killers, all we did
was sit out in the woods and have bull sessions. If we did that every day this ole army would not b too bad.
I’m writing this letter by candle light!
We got one for each tent now so we can write. It’s real romantic. I’ve even got a blonde here with me only she’s a corporal but I’d like to swap him for a certain MSC coed. I’d do almost anything to be with her
now but that isn’t possible, so I’ll just have to dream about her. It isn’t anywhere as good as the real thing but it is a fair substitute for the time being. When I get home tho, it won’t be substituting. It’ll
all be the real thing for a long time.
Gotta close now as I’m on a paper ration, got just 2 sheets of paper a day until we go back to camp. So I’ll
close now by sending a kiss over the waves to E.L.
Goodbye for now
Lots of love
610 Ardson
East Lansing, Michigan
19 Sept 1951
Wednesday Night
7:55 pm
Hokkaido, Japan
Dear Rosalie:
I am sitting here in a two man tent somewhere near nowhere. Well it really isn’t quite that bad, but lying down on this hard ground and writing by candlelight
isn’t my hobby. Our company like the entire division is out on an alert for one week that’s what they said at first, but it may be longer than that before we return to camp.
Received your sweet letter today. Written Sept. 11, at 8:35 pm, and wanted to send you an acknowledgement. Until I have enough time (back at camp) to fully answer it. I was very happy over it, and want you to know your concern is very much
appreciated.
Ken’s company is about a mile from here. We both plan to go to into Sapporo after we finish this alert. All we’re doing out
here is sleeping, reading, and going back and forth to the coast, for ROUGH amphibious training. I am still wet from the Pacific blues.
Until later
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson Rd
East Lansing, Michigan
21 Sept 1951
Hokkaido Japan
My
Dearest Rosalie
On KP today and we got thru early so we got some time off to write letters. I got your package last night, the one with the film and candy
and cheese crackers. Thank you very much for the crackers and the candy. We ate last night, so as I get my camera I can use the film.
The weather
here is real nice today, but it was colder than heck last night. We almost froze out here last night, it was about that cold, but we should be going back to camp pretty soon, I hope! No one has got any idea when we’re going back. Maybe
this time we’ll get a day off, it’s been a little over two weeks since we had one, so everyone is kinda hoping that we get a day off pretty soon. Also I gotta do my Xmas shopping in Chitose pretty soon or you ain’t going to get any
Xmas present. So we’d better get into town pretty soon.
Yesterday we went on a hour hike, half walking and half running and were we ever beat when
we got thru. About a third of the guys had to drop out cuz they couldn’t take it as it was a trifle rough.
Got a letter from my future mother-in-law
yesterday. I was really kinda surprised to get a letter from her. She just mostly talked and also that we’d be happy together. It was a real nice letter and I’m going to answer it in a day or two.
We’re supposed to have a USO show here this PM. It’s the first one that ever came up here since the 45th arrived. I hope us KPs get to go but we don’t know yet.
I just had to sandpaper some parts of the stove so it’s about an hour later than it was an hour ago so I gotta close and return to the salt mine so I’d better close now as I’ve got to write mom now.
Well honey I’ve got to close now so I’ll say goodbye sweet heart til tomorrow but until then I’ll go right on loving you and missing you until we are reunited.
Until then
I’m sending you
All my love
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson Rd
East Lansing, Michigan
23 Sept. 1951
Hokkaido Japan
To The Most Wonderful Girl There Is
I love you, I’m mad for you, honey you’re wonderful. You’re thoughtful as you are wonderful and beautiful, you’re all I want in life. In fact you’re an angel in human disguise.
I got my Christmas present last night and honey its beautiful. I don’t know how I can thank you enough. It’s really a beautiful camera and honey I love you for it. I’ll save a real big kiss for you til I get home.
So far I’ve taken one roll of film and I’m going to send it in tomorrow to have it developed. I’ll mail them home as soon as I get them to you.
We’re supposed to come in tomorrow, stay here til Fri or Saturday then go out for another ten day bivouac. Whatta blow, just come in and then we go right back out. This 45th division really likes to train, in fact I’d say
that they are train happy.
Haven’t seen Gus in 11 days now but will probably get to see him tomorrow. I’m getting kinda anxious to see him again
and see if he’s heard from Jo or not. He’s really pretty much broken up about it., poor kid.
We got the word that we get up at 3 tomorrow and
be ready to move at 5. So I guess that we’ll get into camp Strong sometime in the morning. If we’re to be ready by 5, it means we’ll leave at about 730. Int the army it’s always hurry up and wait.
I’ll bring this to a halt as sleepy tonight and I’m about ready to hit the hay. Bye for now sweetheart. Thanks again for the camera and I love it, not as much as I do you, because I love you more than anything else in the world and
have all the confidence in the world in you.
All my love
Ken
PS You’re wonderful and I love you.
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
23 Sept 1951
Hokkaido, Japan
Dear Mom and Dad
We got all day off today for a change. This is the first day off we’ve had in quite awhile. We’re supposed to return to Camp Strong wither tomorrow or Tuesday and then go back out either Fri. or Saturday. It seems as if we’re
not going to get any time off to do anything. Over here they’re training happy. That’s about all they think of doing it seems.
Got the
new 45th News which I’m going to enclose for you. It tells about some of our amphibious training. It doesn’t tell about when we actually landed off those landing barges. The mockup and the actual thing are really two
different things.
Me and Hook came into camp tonight to write letters, but we got to go back out again later tonight.
I got the $40 you sent me, thank you very much for sending it, it’ll sure come in handy.
There’s not too much news today as we haven’t done
too much lately.
We got a good meal this noon. We got all the turkey and ice cream and things (trimmings) we want. About ½ the company was in town
and the cooks made enough for the whole company, so we got to eat pretty good for a change.
That’s about all I can think of so I’ll close.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson
East Lansing, Michigan
24 Sept 1951
Hokkaido Japan
My Dearest Rosalie
No mail today or none yesterday, so your lover boy is down in the dumps. We didn’t have mail call last night and tonight all I got was newspapers. But then there’s always tomorrow. Got a 45th Div News for you and that
dollar I was going to send you quite some time ago. I forget to mail it with the letter so I’ll stick it in tonight.
Not much news except we’re
back in camp til Friday. We got up at 400 this morning so we could be ready to go at 6 and then sat around til 1030. Friday we go out again for 15 days. These bivouacs are getting to be a real pain.
I took the first film in to have it developed as I took a whole roll the first day. I can never thank you enough for sending it.
Got your letter that you
were planning on joining the Lutheran Church. You don’t know how glad I am you’re going to join the church. When we’re married we’ll have no grounds for arguments as religion is a very easy subject to argue about.
And loving you as much as I do, I don’t ever want an agrument or fight with you or do anything at all which might hurt you cuz you mean the world to mean and I love you very dearly. So we ought to be very happy together.
You said something about me doubting you when you mentioned Lois, well honey don’t you every worry about me doubting you as I have all the faith in the world in you and I always will.
Over at Gus’s tonight and he said that you told him to keep an eye on me, well he is. He still hasn’t heard from Jo so he probably won’t anymore.
Going to hit the sack as we got reveille in the morning.
Bye for now
All my love
610 Ardson
East Lansing, Michigan
26 Sept 1951
Camp Strong, Hokkaido
Hi Sweetheart
Got a letter today for the first time in 4 days. It was wonderful to get a letter from you. It always is, but it was especially welcome today.
Didn’t
do anything at all today except to have a few classes. Six and a half hours to be exact.
None of them was worth listening to. We just endured them. They were about crew serve weapons, machine guns, mortars etc. We’ve had so many classes
on those already its pitiful. It seems as tho we’re just killing time.
It’s really turning cold here now. It’s still real chilly
here during the day. It was warming up during the day but now it’s not. And at night we freeze. That takes care of the weather for another month.
Was going to go into town tonight but the 2nd Battalion is on the alert so we are restricted for a week. We were on the alert just before we went on the last bivouac. We came off that night and went to the field the next day. We
had last night to go to town, but we were put on the alert again so we can’t go to town for at least the 3rd or 4th of Oct. So I’m’ going to have to wait awhile to buy Christmas presents. I’ve got your present
all picked out it’s a , well don’t know what the name of it is, but you’ll find out at Christmas.
Well honey I’m running out of things
to write so I’m afraid I’m going to have to close for now. Didn’t see Gus today as his company is having a party in town. He’s in the first battalion so he isn’t on the alert.
Bye for now sweetheart
Enclosing all my love in this letter
Love and Kisses
Ken
PS Haven’t figured out what AAAAAAAA is yet but am still working on it.
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson
East Lansing, Michigan
27 Sept 1951
Camp Strong Hokkaido
My Dearest Rosalie
Guess what? I got two wonderful letters tonight. Sure was glad to get them as I haven’t heard from the girl I love since yesterday.
We’re
having “company day” tomorrow. That’s when the Pvts, Pfc and Cpls take over the company. Tomorrow our C.O. is a pvt. And all our officers are pfcs and cpls. Our regular officers are on KP and company detail. All our
sergeants are on detail too. It’s going to be a lot of fun and us lowly cusses have control over the whole company. I’m going to be platoon sergeant, so I’m going to have a lot of fun. I can tell anyone in the platoon what
to do, including the platoon leader (a second john). The only trouble it is only for one day.
Had classes all day again. This afternoon we walked out about
5 miles, had a class then walked back into camp. I’d think I’d almost rather walk than sit thru some of those classes. This one we had this afternoon was exceptionally boring. It is about the worst one I’ve ever sat thru
and I’ve sat thru some bad ones.
There isn’t too much news as we’re still restricted so we can’t get into any trouble. Please note
the stamp. I’m in love with you again. (only fooling, I’ve got some more stationery so I could put the stamps on upside down) I’ve been in love all the time only now a little more so than before.
You can have a blue wedding dress if you want, I like blue, I like what’s in it best of all tho and that’s all that counts. I ain’t hard to please when it comes to colors, just so if isn’t khaki, that one color I’ve got
no love for.
That’s’ all I can think of now so I’ll close now by sending you all my love
Love and hugs and kisses
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
28 Sept 1951
Hokkaido, Japan
Dear Mom and Dad
Got your stationery last night. Thanks a lot for sending it. I’ve got this Jap paper to finish before I use it tho, although I needed the envelopes pretty bad.
Didn’t get any mail from you today all I had was one from Vicki and one from Rosalie. I got four from you the day before so I really wasn’t expecting one.
We had “E.M” day today. That’s where all the enlisted men from corporal on down take charge of the company. We elected the officers, platoon sergeants and everything. The officers and sergeant we put on KP and gave them
all the duty detail we could find. I was platoon sergeant for today and it was kinda fun. I had 45 guys under me for all day. The “EM” day comes every once in a while, about twice a year.
We got inspection tomorrow and I just got thru cleaning my rifle and stuff. It is supposed to be pretty rough but we’ll just have to wait and see.
Also we get paid tomorrow I don’t know how much I’ll get, we never do. They pay us anything they feel like. May get anything from $10 to $100.
Gotta go to bed now as I’m tired for a change.
Love
Ken
PS Got the new 45th News so I’ll send it on to you.
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson
East Lansing, Michigan
29 Sept 1951
Camp Strong Hokkaido
My Dearest Rosalie
No mail call tonight so I didn’t get a letter. Got one last night tho, also got a letter from Vicki. Was kinda surprised to hear from her, but it was a pleasant surprise always glad to get mail from anyone but especially those marked “610
Ardson Rd E.L.)
Got paid today, really got a wad of money all of $35. Used to make that much in about 3 days, but times have changed somewhat. I ain’t
working for ole Ash anymore.
Went over to see Gus this afternoon but he had gone to Sapporo. He was supposed to pick up my pictures in town as he can go
and I can’t so I don’t get them until tomorrow. I’m awful anxious to see how they came out.
Had a real soft inspection this morning.
The inspecting officer didn’t even look at our guns, just walked thru the tents and didn’t say anything.
Got the new 45th Div News so I’ll
mail it on to ya. It tells all about our amphibious landing. We’re going to do it again sometime this week. We didn’t go on bivouac this Fri, it’s been changed to Monday and we’re supposed to come in Saturday. Tomorrow
we get to sleep in for a change. Last Sunday we got to sleep in, but that was out in the field and that ground gets awful hard after awhile.
Washed this
afternoon so I’m going to take tomorrow and not do anything but go to chapel and write a few letters.
Going to close now and grab a little shut eye as I’m
sleepy, had a hard day goofin off. Bye for now dearest, I love you with all my heart and always include you in all my prayers and you are always in my thoughts.
Love you Always
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
30 Sept 1951
Camp Strong, Hokkaido
Dear Mom and Dad
Had the day off for a change today, went to church this morning and washed and slept this afternoon. Outside of that I didn’t do anything.
Got my
pictures back from my first roll. Will mail them home tomorrow. Got the church bulletin from this morning’s service which I’ll enclose.
Did you read in the 45th news about the church the Protestants in the 180th PCT are building in Chitose? From what I hear that is about half done. They took up a collection again this morning. It is built entirely from money
given by the men.
It rained again this morning. It hasn’t rained for a bout two days before today so it was kinda dry. If it doesn’t rain
for a couple of days everything is dust over here.
There isn’t too much news today as we didn’t do too much today so I’ll close for now.
Love
Ken