Ken mentions this picture in the letter dated Sept. 31 (to the left). Ken's grandson, Ken, has these dog tags and wears them in honor of his grandpa.
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson Rd.
East Lansing, Michigan
31 Sept 1951 (1 Oct)
Camp Strong, Hokkaido
Hi Honey
Got two more letters from 610 Ardson Rd today. In one of them you had the clippings about the MSC and OSC game. State sure must of not been too hot that game. We haven’t heard the score of the MSC – U of Michigan game yet, but State
probably trounced them.
Tomorrow I start school again. The JLC is having a bunch of schools and I enrolled in one, Basic Japanese. It’s from
1800 to 2000 Monday and Thursday nights. I suppose it will be rather tough but I want to learn some more Japanese. I know about enough so I can talk a little to them, just about enough to know what I’m talking about. If I learn
enough, I can tell to you in Jap so time (sic).
Got my first roll of pictures back today and they came out pretty good. Will mail them on to you tomorrow,
except for one which I’ll enclose now. It’s a close up of someone who is in love with you. He’s standing in line waiting for chow when this was taken by his squad leader. That little badge I’ve got on my ID tag is
one I got at Camp Stoneman Calif. It’s got my name on it then a girl’s name, Rosalie Nash’s to be exact. It always reminds me I got a wonderful girl waiting for me back in Michigan. Not that I’d ever forget her, but it’s
nice to have something to always remind me of her. She’s a wonderful girl and she means the world to me and some day we’re going to get married and raise about 6 girls just like her. All with red hair and blue eyes. No boys as
she doesn’t want any. Any how I love her and miss her so I’ll have to close this now by sending you all my love.
Love and Kisses
Ken
Note: The envelope is sealed with “SWAKIYLMPAT”
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson Rd.
East Lansing, Michigan
2 Oct 1951
Hokkaido, Japan
My Dearest Rosalie
Just got back from the show, seen Ava Gardner in “My Forbidden Past.” It was crappy, if you excuse the expression, it was stupid. It kinda made me think of being
home with you tho. Just the part where they were together by the boat house. It reminded me a lot of being out in your pasture when we used to go out there. Then we’d kiss about every minute take a breath and then kiss again.
You know we’re going to have to spend the rest of our lives making up for lost time. I really miss messing up your hair by running my fingers thru it. That and you saying “no” every once in awhile when I tried to kiss you.
It’s kinda small, but those memories mean the world to me. I don’t think I’ll ever forget those things.
I’ve decided the first thing I’m going to do when I get home is to head for the nearest jewelry store and buy the biggest diamond they’ve got and then place it on the third finger left hand of a certain Rosalie Nash. That’s so
she’ll be sure never to forget whose girl she is and there’s a certain guy who loves her and always will.
I got some pictures to mail to you. (Note
to reader: you can see these pictures under the heading of Photos Sept. 1951). It’s just scenery. Got another roll being developed in town and will get them at the end of the week.
It started to rain now and the rain really sounds nice hitting on our canvas roof. It’s about 2330 now, so it almost didn’t rain today, but it got in under the wire.
Rode around all day yesterday on our tanks. It was a lot of fun riding but every once in awhile we had to get off and run along next to the tanks. It was really a job keeping up with them as they move right along.
Well sweetest, I’m tired tonight so I’m going to retire for now, so I’ll close by telling you you’re wonderful
Bye for now
All my love
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
2 Oct 1951
Camp Strong, Hokkaido
Dear Mom and Dad
Got one letter from you today and 6 newspapers. Didn’t do anything today, just had some classes on the mortar and then some on first aid. Didn’t learn anything, as we’ve had all that four or five times before.
Enclosing some pictures I took with my new camera. They didn’t come out too bad as I didn’t know anything about the camera. I’ve got another roll in being developed now. I’ll get those about the end of the week.
We just heard about the winter over here. The sun comes up at 0800 and sets at 1630. That leaves about 8 ½ hours of sunlight. So we’ll be getting up and going to bed in the dark.
The days are getting cold here now and the leaves are beginning to fall. They don’t seem to color over here at all like they do at home.
You asked
what I wanted for Christmas. About all I can think of is a pair of jump boots. You can’t get them over here it takes a couple of months to get them from supply. You
can buy them at Sams. I wear about 11E. Boots and cookies is about all I can think of that I would want for Christmas. Haven’t got room for anything here, so I won’t want anything big.
That’s
all I can think of now so I’ll close
Love
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson Rd
East Lansing, Michigan
4 Oct 1951
Camp Strong Hokkaido
My Dearest Rosalie
I’m sorry you got lame sleeping in the tent the other night, but it’s awful easy to do. Those pup tents aren’t the warmest in the world.
Today we got offered a chance to get out of the 45th Div. None of the draftees have any love for this division. Everyone would rather be in a regular army division. The only catch is that you have to volunteer for Korea. If I was
still a bachelor I think I’d sign up and go. There is only going to be 25 taken from the 180th Regiment and every company has between 10-20 volunteers, so everyone won’t get to go.
Ran off another invasion today down by Muroran. This time the sea was pretty calm so no one got sick. We’re going to have a regimental problem soon. Those are always a terrific pain in the arm. Especially those amphibious problems,
you run so much you think you’re going to drop dead, but you gotta keep going. It’s all sand you run in, so that makes it doubly hard. I hope we never make an amphibious landing, it’s too dangerous from what I can see. About
the first 3 or 4 waves, I don’t see how they can get thru. Today our boat was the second one to hit the beach in the first wave, but it gives you a funny feeling anyhow.
Went to town last night to do my Xmas shopping. I’m going
to mail yours to you by boat. It ought to get there a couple of weeks before Xmas. I hope you like it.
That’s about all I can think of now so
I’ll close for now. I’m kinda tired as we got up at three this morning and got back about 8 this evening, so I’m going to hit the hay early. So I’ll say goodnite sweetheart, sweet dreams
All my love
610 Ardson Rd
East Lansing, Michigan
6 Oct 1951
Camp Strong, Hokkaido
My Dearest Rosalie
Got two wonderful letters today from the girl I adore, so I’m in a gay mood tonight. I wish that you were here with me tonight for I feel like taking you in my arms and telling you how much I love you, then kiss you til you run out of breath and
have to stop. But it won’t be long and I won’t have to dream any more, it will be the real thing and it’ll never end.
It rained all day
til about 2:00 pm. It wasn’t raining very hard, just drizzled enough so we had inspection indoors. There was nothing else doing today, played cards most of the day.
The 45th News came out last night. There isn’t too much news in it, except for the 45th Dev. Football team. They ain’t as good as State, but they’re pretty good.
Those pictures of you in the MSC sweater are really cute. Thanks a lot for sending them. I really like them. They’re sharp!
MSC really took Michigan
for a ride last Saturday. Let’s hope they can do the same for OSU early today. There is 15 hours difference between us and you, so if it was over here, the game would be over for about 5 hours.
Gus was just over here for a visit. He wrote Jo a letter tonight but he didn’t say what he wrote, was probably personal. He still hasn’t heard from her as yet.
Well sweetheart that’s about all I can think of so I’ll close now by sending all my love
Love and Kisses
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
6 Oct 1951
Camp Strong Hokkaido
Dear Mom and Dad
Got the clippings you sent about the M.S.C. and Michigan game. State really took Michigan for a ride according to the statistics. Either States is terrific or Michigan is terrible. Also got the box you mailed with the pot stix (sic) and
underwear. Thank you very much for sending it, I can always use underwear or socks.
Got the new 45th News to mail on to you, will enclose it
in this letter. It’s mostly about the Div. football team. Otherwise there isn’t too much in it. Also got a picture of Rosalie painted which I’m going to mail home to you. It came out pretty good considering it was
made from a photograph. I’ll mail that home with the Christmas presents.
We got a chance to leave Japan yesterday if we would have wanted to.
All we had to do was volunteer for Korea. You’d be surprised at how many guys volunteered to go, but they will only take 2 out of every company. In E Company we had 17 volunteers and some of the other companies had up to 50. So they won’t
have any trouble getting enough men to go. If it would have been spring instead of fall, there would have been more than twice as many volunteers. I couldn’t quite see volunteering so I didn’t.
There isn’t too much else to write about so Ill close for now.
Love
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson Rd
East Lansing, Michigan
8 Oct 1951
Camp Strong, Hokkaido
My Dearest Rosalie
On K.P. today for a change, and we’re on a couple of hours break. Got all thru with the work so we’re taking it easy now.
It’s a beautiful
fall day now. It’s just about perfect for a football game, but I’m on KP.
Tomorrow we go on the mock ups again. We’re already been
on them 4 times, so I guess another time won’t hurt anything, only it’s getting to be a pain in the neck. After so many times anything becomes boring.
Gus and I will probably wander over to the show time as we haven’t gone in a week or so. He’s still expecting a letter from Jo one of these days, but I don’t think he will.
Got a hankie in Chitose which expresses my sentiments exactly. It’s a rather sloppy job of printing but it’s cute. I can’t think of anything to write about today as we haven’t done much so I’ll make this a real short
one.
So I’ll say good bye for now sweetheart. Always remember I’m very deeply in love with you, in fact toxsan (sic) in love with you.
All my love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson Rd
East Lansing, Michigan
8 Oct 1951
Camp Strong Hokkaido
My Dearest Rosalie
I hope you didn’t mind me writing you twice in one day, but I’m going to do it anyhow.
Got some pictures to mail on to ya so I’m going to mail
them tonight before I lose them. They’re mostly about our amphib training. In that one picture of the guys waiting for the L.S.V. P.s, you’ll notice the white triangles, those are called boat signs. They’ve got the wave
number and the boat number on them. Each boat carries one of them ashore with it and leaves it somewhere above he high watermark so the big wheels can tell if that boat go to shore or not later on. When we make the assault we carry between
70 and 60 lbs of equipment.
It’s almost bedtime now, just got back from the movies. They were all about Korea and fighting the Jerries (sic) in the
last war. It was kinda bloody and slightly interesting.
The tent is starting to get noisy as heck as the guys are beginning to comeback from town, so I’ll
have to close now.
So long honey, I send you all my love as I close and enclose you in all my prayers as usual.
Good bye Sweetheart
Love
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
8 Oct 1951
Camp Strong Hokkaido
Dear Mom and Dad
On KP today and there’s nothing going on, so we’re taking a couple of hours.
From what I hear Michigan isn’t doing so hot this year. We
got the scores last night of all the major games on the radio. A2 must be an awful quiet place after losing two in a row.
It’s warming up a little
bit now, and the nights aren’t too bad right now. We’re supposed to move in about 2 weeks to our winter quarters. Got a couple rolls of prints to mail home, will mail them on tomorrow, as soon as everyon has seen them.
Got your box with the butterhorns in it. It was really good and everyone liked them. Thanks a lot for sending them.
Tomorrow we’re supposed
to go over the mock ups again. We’ve been over them about 4 times already so I guess once more won’t hurt any. Wednesday or Thursday we’re going to Otaru for another mock landing. That’s where we first landed when we arrived
in Japan. That landing will take anywhere from 2 days to 7 days. We haven’t been told. Then when we do get told it will probably be changed, so it doesn’t make much difference if we know or not.
That’s about all I can think of so I’ll close for now.
Love
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson Rd.
East Lansing, Michigan
10 Oct 1951
Camp Strong, Hokkaido
My Dearest Rosalie
No mail today. In fact no mail in two days. Tomorrow we go out on the boat for about 5 days, so I won’t be able to write for awhile. We won’t get a chance to mail them. I’m going to start one and work on it every day
and mail it when I get back to camp.
Got your package today with the chicken and it was really good. Thanks a lot for sending it, I really like it.
It tasted a whole lot better than what these army cooks can whip up.
It was really beautiful out today again. I hope that this lasts awhile but it probably
won’t
There isn’t too much to write about as we didn’t do too much. Goofed off out in the field all day. Had a bunch of demonstrations
which we slept thru. I’m getting so I can sleep through about any class.
You’ll have to read this three times so you can say you’ve read
a long letter. It’s going to be in the three parts. Part II and Part III same as Part one
Well sweetheart gotta hit the hay soon so I’ll
have to close now. Maybe tonight I’ll be lucky and dream about you, I hope so. Dreaming about you is the next best thing to being with you and being with you is what I want most in the world.
Bye for now
See you in my dreams
Love and kisses
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
10 Oct 1951
Camp Strong, Hokk.
Dear Mom and Dad
Got some pictures to mail to you. This will be the last letter I’ll be able to write for awhile as tomorrow we go out to sea for awhile. It will last from three to five days. We haven’t been told as yet.
Had most of the day off today to get all our stuff ready. We’re really going to be loaded down with stuff. We gotta take all or field equipment along. That’s about an extra 75 lbs or so.
It was really warm today, just about right in fact. I hope this nice weather lasts awhile, but it probably won’t.
Haven’t got any mail now in
three days and we won’t get any more ‘til we get off the boat.
That’s about all I can think of for now so I’ll close and get some sleep.
Bye for now
Love
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson
East Lansing, Michigan
17 Oct 1951
Camp Strong
Hi Honey
Got a big disappointment tonight. I was expecting to get about 20 letters when we returned from our amphibious training, but I only got seventeen. Whatta blow! Wasn’t really a bad blow just a mild shock! (Seriously tho, I was real happy to
get as many as I did.)
Got seven from Mom and Dad (ours) 1 from Ed, one from Rich and one from John. And the rest from a wonderful MSC coed who I’m
going to call Mrs. Zill someday, in the not too far future.
We’re all thru with our amphib training now and this last one was a waste of time as far as
I’m concerned. We spent 6 days on the ship, just doing nothing. I tried to write a couple of times, but the boat rocked just enough to make you dizzy if you tried to concentrate on anything like reading or writing, so we played cards all
day long.
This morning we got up at three, loaded on the boats at six and crossed the LP at 800. Our boat was the first in the regiment to hit shore, but
our ramp wouldn’t come open, so we had to jump over the sides. You’ve probably seen pictures of assault barrages, where the front end drops down and the soldiers walk down it like a gang plank. Anyhow, ours was stuck so over the sides
we went, right into a couple of feet of water. And to make matters worse, I got my feet stuck in the sand and couldn’t get them out before the next wave came in. so I got knocked over by it, and really got wet. Soon as I staggered up
on dry land, an umpire walks up to me and hands me a slip of paper saying that I was a casualty and I was wounded in the left leg and to wait for a stretcher. So I sat down and waited for it to come and in the meantime watched the rest of the landing.
It was really quite a show. There was 3 other waves of Infantry right behind us, then came tanks, trucks, jeeps, bull dozers and about everything else you could of.
Within about half an hour the beach head was secured so the officers came in. All told, there was about 25 ships taking part in the landing, not counting the L.S.V. P s.
There was a flock of generals, colonels and other officers running around, taking notes. Some were from the Marines, XVI corps and some were from the Eighth Army. It was really a good show and I enjoyed watching it.
Never did get the stretcher tho, got up and rejoined E Company first, got tired of waiting. Got back here to camp at about 11 this morning and immediately took a nap. Then had c-rations for chow.
We loaded on the boats at Muroran, after a four hour ride in trucks. Every time we went thru a little town all the kids would line up on the streets and cheer and wave their hats. They were kids there from 1 to 50 years old. When we went
thru Muroran, I saw more kids than I thought there was in the world. Millions and million of little Japs. Anyway thousands of them. Every time we pass a small town or anything, the kids will all ways come out and wave at us. I
guess the main reason they’re glad to see us is that, they hope we’ll throw them some candy or cigarettes. Or maybe they always hope we’re going home and they’re waving goodbye to us. Any how we see millions of little kids
waving at us.
Well sweetheart I gotta close now and go and visit Gus for awhile. So I’ll close now, after I tell you, I’m still your guy and
you’re my gal and I’m more than ever in love with you. I really miss you something awful honey, but not for too long, because before too awful long I’m going to be home with you and then I won’t miss you, cuz I'll be with you
for good.
Bye for now
All my love
Ken
Sweet dreams, sweet heart, remember I always love you.
Note: The back of the envelope had I.L.Y.A.
610 Ardson
East Lansing, Michigan
19 Oct 1951
Camp Strong
My Dearest Rosalie
Got another letter from you today. Needless to say I was very glad to get it. You said you got that picture of you I had painted, you can give that your mom for a Christmas present from us or do anything you want with it. I want you to have
it. I got another one made I’m going to give it to “our” other mom.
Didn’t do anything today. Spent most of the morning marking
my clothes and this afternoon washing. That’s one job I thoroughly dislike – washing. I got just about enough socks and stuff to last me about three weeks, so I gotta wash about once every three weeks.
We’re on restriction again for a week. It seems like every time we come in from the field or off from a problem we go on the alert and get restricted at noon.
We had a real mild earthquake here last night. In fact I didn’t even know what I was until about 10 minutes after it was over. I don’t think it did any damage, at least I don’t know of any.
There isn’t any hot news tonight except we got the last weeks news last night, so I’ll mail it on to you.
You asked about the WACs, Nurses etc at
the ball game. So far I’ve seen exactly two (2) white women (Note to reader: He drew two stick figures with skirts) since I’ve gotten over here. There’s two old gals who work at the library who belong to the U.S.O.
outside of that isn’t any what I’ve seen. I guess women just don’t care for this place.
I won’t care if there was a million girls
here, I’d still love you and only you. It seems funny when we get home, we’ll probably expect all the people to have slant eyes, and be sorta yellowish in color. Also most of the Japs are bowlegged to, so it will be different, seeing
people with straight legs again.
No, I don’t we’ll have any trouble getting back into the swing of necking Miss Nash. (You’d better use
that name, Miss Nash all you can, ‘cuz when I get home it ain’t going to be Miss Nash any longer). But it will be a lot of fun. But it won’t come back right off the bat, it’s going to take the rest of our lives. But I don’t
care, as long as I’m with you it’s OK. Well sweetheart that’s about all I can think of so I close now. Bye for now darling remember I always love you and think of you always. . You mean more to me than anything else in the
world
Bye, sweet dreams honey
All my Love
Note to Reader: He did not sign this letter. On the back of the envelope (not sure whose handwriting) is a list of songs:
1 Because of
You
2 Cold Cold Heart
3 I Get Ideas
4 It’s a Sin
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
19 Oct 1951
Camp Strong
Dear Mom and Dad
We finished our amphibious training today and it was really quite a show. 25 ships took part in it. The only warship was a destroyer, the rest were transports or L.S.T. There was about 100 L.S.V.Ps in it. We stayed on the ship six days
in which we didn’t do anything at all. We were supposed to land on Monday but the weather was too rough so it was put off until today. We got up at about 3 this morning and got in to the assault boats at 600 and crossed the LP at 800.
At one minute after eight I was declared a stretcher case, so I sat the whole thing out. Supposedly I got a wound in the leg, so I couldn’t walk. Two other guys in my squad were “hit” also, so we just sat there and watched the
whole landing. Our boat was the first to hit the beach, but our ramp wouldn’t come down, so we had to go over the side, in a couple of feet of water. I jumped just as the tide went out, got my feet stuck in the mud and got knocked over by
the next wave. So I got good and wet. Just when I got out of the water, I was informed that I was a casualty; so I may as well sit down.
We had “frog
men” out there too, it was the first I’d ever seen of them. The engineers built bridges, built roads and everything. About 15 minutes after the first wave was ashore the LSTs brought in tanks, trucks and about everything else you would think
of. It was really quite a show.
There was 3 or 4 Generals running around watching the landing, our div. commander, one from the Eighth Army and one from the XVI
Corps. There was supposed to be another one but I didn’t see him. Also we had about 10 jets flying around making a lot of noise, but that’s about all that they did.
I was expecting to get about 20 letters when we got back tonight but I was disappointed only got seventeen. I didn’t feel too bad about not getting twenty tho.
We got real good food while we were on board ship, a lot better than what we get back at camp. Also we got a lot more of it then we do here. Then some of the sailors were even complaining about it, I wish they could eat c-rations for a week or so, then
they would appreciate the food they get.
Also got the 45th News, we just got it today. I don’t think that is too much in this time, but
I will mail it on to you anyhow. Also I’m sending home my casualty report. It was handed to me by an umpire, a couple of minutes later a medic came along and filled it out for me.
That’s about all I can think of, so I’ll close for now.
Love
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
19 Oct 1951
Camp Strong
Dear Mom and Dad
Didn’t do much today, just marked all of our clothes. We’ve got til Wednes. to do it, but it only takes a couple of hours, so we may as well have the time off.
Tomorrow the Div. football team plays at Camp Chitose so we’re all going down and watch them play. I guess they’ve got a pretty hot team, but no one pays too much attention to them, as they are all players from Oklahoma, and none of the draftees
have any great love for Oklahoma.
Got the new 45th Dev News today so I’ll send it on to you. There’s an article on the back page
you ought to be sure and read, it’s right in the middle. It’s about the 45th Div making a landing in Korea. (Note to reader: Article below in pictures)
They asked for more volunteers for Korea today. This time only about a dozen volunteers. Last time there was 17 and out of that, only 2 got to go to Korea. They left today for Camp Drake near Tokyo, then they go to Korea. No one knows
how many are going this time, probably the same as last.
Our new Quonset huts are almost ready for us to move into. They are right next to Camp Chitose.
Just to show you where we live I’ll draw you a map.
Camp Chitose has the main Px and the big theaters there. Here we’ve just got the small Px
and tent theaters. Also we’ll be a lot closer to town.
Last night we had a slight earthquake. It didn’t cause any damage what I know of.
That’s about all I can think of so I’ll close for now.
Love
Miss Rosalie Nash
1610 Ardson
East Lansing, Michigan
21 Oct 1951
Camp Strong, Hokkaido
My Dearest Rosalie
Got the Spartan today and its pretty good. Thanks a lot for sending it. I really got a big bang out of it. Thanks again for sending it.
Didn’t
do anything all day except play volleyball. One of the other tents challenged us to a couple of games so we played them. Won 9 straight games then quit. We were supposed to have all of our gear inspected today. We had everything we
had issued to us laid out on the beds, then the officers never came around to inspect them. So tomorrow we gotta lay everything out again. Ate the second can of chicken for supply last night. The mess hall had cold cuts so I ate the chicken.
Heated it up on the stove and was very good. It was even better than what the army cooks fix.
Haven’t see Gus since this morning. We went to
church this morning. We got dressed up this morning for a change, put on our class “B: uniform on and went. It’s the first time since before we went on the boat that we’ve taken our fatigues off. It seemed real good to get
dressed up for a change.
There isn’t too much news tonight as right now we’re not doing too much. Just mostly sitting around doing nothing
By now you should be almost ready for your midterms or is it too early? Any how good luck on them honey and I hope you get all A’s.
Got another wonderful letter from you today. I’m glad you enjoy your instruction. It makes it a lot easier if you like it. When I took it, we went down to church three times a week after school. We spent about six hours a week
there. There was about 15 of us in my class. Three of them came into the army with me and one of them lives in the same tent. Gus and I also got confirmed together, but he’s over in A company.
Well sweetheart that’s about all I can think of except that I still love, only more so today than yesterday. It’s really a nice feeling to have a girl at home who loves you and you her in return. It really makes everything a lot easier.
Your guy as to sign off for now
All my love
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
21 Oct 1951
Dear Mom and Dad
Went to chapel with Gus this morning. Otherwise we haven’t done anything for a couple of days. The sun is rather bright today, but is rather chilly, just about ideal for football.
Speaking of football, we just the got the scores on the radio this afternoon. I hear Michigan was kinda lucky and won again for a change. I guess MSC did OK again.
Got the bulletin from today’s service to mail to you. I also mailed one to Marc. Also I wrote Ed, so I’m pretty well caught up on my letter writing.
That’s about all I can think of for now so I’ll close now.
Love
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
22 Oct 1951
Dear Mom and Dad
Not too much news right now, we’re just mostly getting ready for a big division inspection coming off this Saturday. We’re getting a new Bn Commanding Officer, so the first thing he does in to have a big inspection. It is supposed to
be about the roughest one we’ve had so far.
It’s been raining all day today. Now it’s raining pretty hard but it’s just been misting
up until now. It’s almost cold enough to snow, but I hope it doesn’t.
Haven’t heard anymore about moving to our new Quonsets yet.
I hope that we move pretty soon as these tents are starting to get a little bit chilly.
Haven’t seen Gus since Sunday, and probably won’t til after
this big inspection. We’re going to try and go to Sapporo one of these weekends when we both can get off. The only trouble is we can’t seem to get the same weekend off.
That’s about all I can think of for now so I’ll close.
Love
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson
East Lansing, Michigan
23 October 1951
My Dearest Rosalie
No news tonight. All we did was have an all day class on how to disassemble and reassemble our guns. We’ve been doing it for 9 months now, but the army figured we didn’t know how to do it.
We’re going to have a big inspection Saturday. It’s for the whole division. We got to pitch our tent out in the field and lay everything we got out in front of them. It’s going to be a pain in the arm, but that’s the way
it goes.
Got a letter from Marc and Marilyn today. They both said that I had a very sweet and wonderful girl who I was going to marry. Of course I
agreed with them, but I knew it all of the time, they weren’t telling me anything new. I’ve known all along I’ve had the most wonderful girl in the world.
We’re going to have a big storm tonight. We’ve been warned to be sure our tents are tied down tight. The wind is starting to blow already and it’s raining pretty hard right now. I hope it doesn’t blow too hard because this
tent isn’t too strong, but we’ll just have to wait and find out.
We had a real nice fall morning this morning, kinda made me homesick. This
place seems a lot like Michigan. We’re right here in a valley and its kinds nice. The leaves don’t have the color that they do back home.
We’ve been hearing a lot of rumors about twenty one month’s again. The Army Times said the 24 months only applies to those who were inducted after Jan 18. And I came in on Jan 16. So we may get out about the time school starts
after all.
Well sweetheart that’s about all I can think f so I’ll close for now.
Bye for now sweetheart, sweet dreams
All my Love
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson
East Lansing, Michigan
25 Oct 1951
Camp Strong Hokkaido
My Dearest Rosalie
Got two wonderful letters from the girl I love today. First ones in three days, I was real glad to get them.
It’s getting colder than heck here now.
Our stove in the tent ain’t working tonight so it’s cold in here. We can see our breath when we’re sitting right next to the stove. This letter will be a trifle short as its too cold to write. My hands are getting cold and
is kinda hard to write.
We’re getting up at 4:30 tomorrow so we can get cleaned up for inspection. I never figured I’d be getting up at 4:30
to get ready for inspection, but tomorrow I will.
Got the new 45th News so I mailed it to you. It tells about our amphibious landing a week or
so ago. It’s pretty good this week for a change. It shows a picture of our troop transport with all the LSVPs circling around it. (Note to Reader: this paper is included in the pictures below)
We went around in those little boats for a couple of hours before we went ashore.
Well sweetheart I’m going to close now cuz I’m cold, it’s
not that I don’t love you anymore, because I love you more and more every day.
Bye for now honey I’m still thinking of you all of the time and I still
miss you, only now more than ever.
Be good sweetheart
All my love
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
25 Oct 1951
Camp Strong, Hokkaido
Dear Mom and Dad
Just finished getting ready for our inspections tomorrow. We got some big wheel from some department of the Gov’t over here to inspect us. I forget who it is tho.
Got the new 45th News to mail on to you. It tells about our amphibious landing a week or so ago.
It’s really pretty chilly here now.
Our stove in the tent isn’t working too good and it’s kinda cold here. You can sit right next to the stove and still see your breath.
Me and
Gus are going down to camp Chitose tomorrow and see the football game if it’s played. The Div team has been having trouble getting games. I guess that they’re too good for their own good.
Got a letter today from Mrs. Brieholz. Was kinda surprised to hear from her. She told me all about the M-MSC game. She mailed it by slow boat, because it was mailed the 3rd of Oct. I’ll have to write her back over the
weekend.
There isn’t too much news tonight so I’ll close.
Love
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson
East Lansing, Michigan
28th Oct 1951
Camp Strong Hokkaido
My Dearest Rosalie
Passed inspection yesterday, for a change. It was pretty soft except for the weather, it was colder than heck. We stood outside for about 4 hours and I’d liked to froze. We couldn’t wear a jacket, just shirts. About 90%
of Easy Company has colds tonight. We got snow here now only it’s just in the mountains. We can see it on all sides of us but it ain’t down here in the valley yet. We’ll probably have it in a week or so.
Went into Chitose this afternoon and looked the town over. The last time I was in town was before we went on the boat. The town looks a little different, before it looked like a typical Jap village looks like, well now it’s somewhat cleaned
up. But it still smells like a Jap town. Once you’ve been in a Jap town you’ll never forget the smell.
Went to church today with Gus this
morning. Haven’t seen him since. He still ain’t heard from Jo. He’s written her a few times this month so far. He’s still pretty much broken up about it.
You said you wanted to wait a while to get married when I get home, I agree with you, we ought to wait at least two or three minutes. Seriously tho, I think it would be a good idea to wait a short while, a month or two, long enough to get everything
straightened out.
The latest rumor is that we move tomorrow, it ain’t for sure yet, but I hope it’s true. I’m beginning to get tired of
living in these tents.
You also mentioned your aunt wanting to take you down to Florida, it sounds like fun. It would be real swell to see Florida, it’s
a beautiful place. I was down there once but was only six so I don’t remember too much about it. What I do remember was nice. I think that you would really enjoy going to Florida, even if it is with your aunt.
Went to the football game yesterday and saw the 45th maul Camp Mower 92-0. The game was pitiful if you want to call it a game. The 45th really has a hot team. The first teams played about 5 minutes yesterday and then
the 3 and 4th teams took over. It was 40 to 0 at the end of the first 20 minutes. This will probably be their last game as no one in FEC will play them. It’s just a case of being too good. (Note to Reader: the game program is in the
pictures below.)
Well sweetheart there isn’t anything new, nothing exciting except I’m in love with a wonderful girl. She means more than anything
else in the world to me and I miss her something awful since she’s not with me. But soon we’ll be together again – for always.
Bye for now
All my love
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michgian
28 Oct
Dear Mom and Dad
Not much going on right now. Passed the big inspection OK. Gus and I went to church this morning, outside of that, haven’t done anything all day.
Went to the football game yesterday and watched the 45th maul Camp Mower (sic) 92-0. The game was pitiful. Our first team played just 5 minutes and sat the rest of the game. That will probably be our last game as no one in Tecon
(sic) wants to play the 45th. They’re just too good, I guess.
The latest rumor is that we move tomorrow. I sure hope so, I’m
getting tired of living in tents. Those new Quonset’s won’t be as cold as these tents.
I didn’t see Gus when we were out on those boats,
the first battalion was on a different ship for what we was on. He’s in the first battalion and we’re in the second. We don’t get to see each other too awful much during the week.
That’s about all I can think of for now.
Love
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson
East Lansing, Michigan
29 Oct 51
Camp Strong Japan
Hi Sweetheart
How’s the sweetest gal in the world today? I still love you even if I haven’t heard from you in two days now. The mail is all goofed up over here now. Our whole company got 10 letters tonight. That’s toxsann no joto (Japanese)
Got a letter from Marilyn yesterday by slow boat. She wrote it just after they got back to Kinnear. She said you’d make a swell sister. But
somehow I don’t think of you as a sister, you mean lot more than that to me. She also subtly hinted that we might get married. “Might” ain’t the word for it, are is, isn’t it.
Not too much news tonight all we did was to go to Camp Chitose #2 and have eight hours on knot tying. What a pain, so far we’ve spent 12 hours learning how to tie three knots. We got four more hours of the same in the morning then we get
paid tomorrow afternoon.
Payday is always welcome around here.
That’s about all the news I can think of sweetheart so I’d better call a halt to this letter by telling you that you are the most precious thing in the word to me. (Not implying that you’re a “thing” just lack of a better word)
and that I truly love you from the bottom of my heart and sorely miss you.
All my love
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
30 Oct 51
Camp Strong Japan
Dear Mom and Dad,
Have classes all day on tying knots. We spent all yesterday afternoon and all day today practicing on three knots. We’re learning how to lock things in a plane. Jeeps, trucks, cannons etc, just about everything there is this is mostly
to kill time as we’ll never use it for anything at all.
It’s turning toxsann cold here now, we gotta wear our jackets all day now. It frosts every
morning now too, but it hasn’t snowed down here in our valley yet.
Got a letter from Marilyn yesterday. Haven’t got a letter you for a couple
of days now. The mail isn’t coming in too good right now. Tonight our whole tent got one letter.
That’s about all the news
Love
Miss Rosalie Nash
610 Ardson
East Lansing, Michigan
31 Oct 1951
Camp Strong Japan
2200 Hours
My Dearest
Not too much news tonight. All we did was have classes this morning and got paid this afternoon. That means another allotment going home, so that makes about $300 we’ve saved since I left A2, so we won’t be broke when I get home.
Got some big folding money for you so you can go on a spree. The sen is real big money. One hundred sen equal 1 yen and 10 yen equal $.036. This
time you really got something. The sen isn’t really used anymore as it’s too small. I found this one while we were out in the field. There isn’t any more news so I’ll close til tomorrow
Love
Ken
Note to Reader: On the back of this letter:
1 Nov 1951
Hi Honey
Got all moved today and everything
is really a mess. We got everything scattered all over the place, it’s really terrible. But it will all be cleaned up by Sat as we have inspection then and it has to be clean.
Golly sweetheart, there ain’t too much to write about as we didn’t do anything thrilling today. Got some pictures back today so I’ll mail them on to you. I’ll write a little more tomorrow as I’m too tired tonight.
Bye for now
All my love
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
31 Oct 1951
Camp Strong
Dear Mom and Dad
We are living in the Quonset huts tonight for the first time. Hook and I are the only ones down here tonight, the rest of the company comes tomorrow. We’re more or less of the advance party. We’ve got the whole supply room done
so we’ve got to sleep here so no one takes anything.
Got the package today with the stationery and brownies. Thanks a lot for sending it. They
sure are good.
Didn’t do much today, had classes this morning and got paid this afternoon.
These new huts are pretty sharp, except that everything is painted white and that means a lot of work to keep clean. We’re going to have a lot more rooms in these then what we had in our tents tho. I think we’ll like them better than
we did the tents tho.
That’s about all I can think of for now.
Love,
Ken