Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W. Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
Jan 1 1951
1205 am
My Dearest Rosalie
Happy New Year!
We just had a few fireworks over here to celebrate the New Year. We shot some mortar flares and then the artillery really cut loose.
They really raised cane for a few minutes. Everything is back to normal now tho, just the artillery is firing a couple of rounds every 10 sec or so.
We were supposed to fire every gun we had at midnight, but at 1130 the order came down we couldn’t do it. Whatta blow that was, everyone was all set to have a real good time, then at the last minute we couldn’t do shots.
I’m writing this by a homemade lamp. Got a little oil can with rope in it for a wick and am burning some gun oil. It burns real good only it doesn’t throw off too much light.
Next Shift
400 AM
Hi
It’s almost
time to get up now, a little after four. We just got the hot news, we’re going back into reserve tomorrow morning. We’re going about four miles back. I guess we’re going to walk and carry all our junk. The only bad
thing about moving back is we gotta dig new bunkers back there.
We got paid yesterday morning so now I’m loaded. Only we got no place to spend it
so I guess that I’m going to have to save it, so we got two months pay saved up for a rainy day.
There was an airstrike right out in front of us this morning.
Some jets dropped napalm and shot some rockets then left. The whole hill was on fire when they left. It was really a sight to watch.
That’s
about all I can think of now sweetheart so I’ll close now.
Bye for now sweetheart. I’ll see you in my dreams, I hope.
All my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
1 Jan 1951
Dear Mom and Dad
Got your
box today, with the socks and knife. Thanks a lot for sending it. I sure needed it.
We’re getting ready to move now as we’re going into
the rear area tomorrow morning.
It’s turning a little colder now, it doesn’t warm up quite so much during the daytime as it used to. In fact it’s
too cold to write so I’m going to close now.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W. Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
4 Jan 1951
Somewhere in Korea
My Dearest Rosalie
Guess what? Five letters today. Was I ever glad to get them too.
We moved back about two miles the 2 of Jan. Soon as we got back here we started
in making new bunkers we’ve really been working hard on them too. We gotta sleep out in the cold every night til we get them built, so we spend about all our time working on them. We should get ours just about done tomorrow, enough so we
can have a fire in there anyhow.
Got a nice letter from ole Gus today. I’ll mail it on to you, I don’t know if I should or not, but I’m
going to anyhow. Tomorrow we take our first showers since we got here. Also we got clean clothes today, so tomorrow we can change. Maybe even shave, who knows. By the way, I’m getting a pretty good mustache now. That and
a beard. Ain’t washed now in four days, it’ll be good to take a shower again.
Going to walk over to see Gus Sunday or Monday whenever we get
our bunker finished. I’m going to take time out to write you tomorrow, cuz it’s a little warmer during the day. Bye for now sweetheart (I’m cold but I still love you)
Goodnight Sweetheart
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
4 Jan 1952
Somewhere in Korea
Dear Mom and Dad
We’re about two miles behind the lines now. We came back here the 2nd of Jan and we’re going to stay here til the 15th then back about another 6 miles for a couple of weeks, then we don’t know what.
We’ve been real busy here the last couple of days. We’ve been digging new bunkers back here. It’s pretty nice here in the day but it gets real cold at night. So we’ve been working pretty hard on them, so we don’t’
have to spend too many nights sleeping out in the open.
We’ve got sleeping bags which are really warm. It’s got a feather lining in it.
It’s real cold when you crawl into it, but after about 10 minutes it’s really warm.
We’ve been having snow flurries over here all the time,
but it doesn’t last too long. We’ve still got most of our Christmas Day snow with us tho.
Went to see a movie today. We get to see one
every five days as long as we’re in the back area. We had church right up on the line last Sunday, but we didn’t have any service for Christmas or New Years.
Got your box with the sox’s and film in it. Thanks a lot for can sure use the sox over here.
We’re supposed to be about to take our first showers
tomorrow since we got off the ship. Also today we got to change clothes, first time since Nov. 28. So these are getting pretty dirty.
Had a money
order made out yesterday for $80. The mailman is supposed to bring the stubs back tomorrow so I’ll mail it home to you them. Money isn’t any good over here, as there’s nothing to buy. Our company sent home over $15,000 this
month. Then only thing we can spend money for is candles, the Koreans have them and sell them to us.
Yesterday one of the guys paid $10 for three pancakes.
I guess he was pretty hungry to pay that much for them. Some photographer took his picture to mail back to the newspapers in the states.
That’s about
all the news I can think of now so I’ll close.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W. Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
5 Jan 1952
My Dearest Rosalie
Got
two more letters from 218 W. Grand River yesterday.
I sure do remember last Dec 27th. That a day I’ll never forget as long as I live.
That was the beginning of the end for me, but I love it.
It wasn’t too cold out today, in fact it was rather nice. We don’t have to worry about
sunburn over here like you did last week. All we got to worry about here is frost bite. I haven’t heard of anyone getting it yet. We only had one case of trench foot (similar to frost bite) and it was the guys own fault.
I forgot to enclose Gus’s letter yesterday but I will try to remember it tonight. Also got a copy of the 45th News. It isn’t quite as big as it used to be, as the sports section is cut out of it, due to the fact there isn’t
anymore in the division.
Haven’t gotten a chance to take our showers yet, but we should be able to tomorrow.
Went to church this morning. Had it out in the open again, mainly because that‘s the only place we can have it here. Haven’t seen a building in about a month now, except a few Gook houses that are pretty well shot up.
Got our bunker almost done now so it’s pretty warm in here now. We stole a five gallon oil can from the kitchen, so we got enough oil to last us for a couple of days. We can usually get oil, it’s just the containers that are hard to
get a hold of.
Well sweetheart, that’s about all the news I can think of so I’ll close for now. When I get home we can celebrate our anniversary
and then about the next 80 or 90 in a row. Til then sweetheart, I just go on loving you and missing you.
Bye for now
All my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
5 Jan 1952
Somewhere in Korean
Dear Mom and Dad
Slept in our bunker for the first time. Was pretty warm too. Tomorrow we should finish it. I hope we finish it by noon then I’ll go over and see Gus sometime in the afternoon.
We haven’t gotten to take our showers as yet,
but we will get a chance to either tomorrow or the day after.
It was pretty warm out today, about 30, not quite warm enough to melt.
Haven’t gotten any mail now for a couple of days, so should be getting a lot tomorrow. Got a package from Waldemar the other day, he sent a can of mixed nuts, which was pretty good. I’m going to have to write him a thank you note soon.
Got a Div news today, I didn’t think that it was published anymore. It’s only one sheet now, not quite as long as it used to be.
That’s about all the news there is so I’ll close.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W. Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
7 Jan 1952
Somewhere in Korea
My Dearest Rosalie
Got our showers yesterday finally. Really felt good to get cleaned up for a change. We’re supposed to get haircuts this afternoon. We’re really going to look sharp with haircuts, fresh shaves and clean faces.
It’s turning a little bit colder over here now. Enough for the weather.
Got our beer rations again last night. Got 10 cans per man, only we
only get 2 cans a day for 5 days. They’re afraid we might get drunk if we get 10 cans all at once.
We got our bunker done now, so we haven’t
got much to do, so we don’t do too much. We spend most of our time sitting around the fire trying to keep warm.
Wrote Ed a letter this afternoon for
a change. I hadn’t wrote him for a couple of weeks so I figured it was about time.
Haven’t gotten no mail now in a couple
of days and I guess we won’t get anymore today. Maybe we’ll get a lot of it tomorrow.
That’s about all the news sweetheart so I’m
going to have to close. Bye for now honey, remember I always love you and think about you all the time.
All my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
8 Jan 1952
Dear Mom and Dad
Got my
money order today, so I’ll mail it on to you and you can put it in the bank sometime.
We haven’t gotten any mail now in about three days, so maybe
we’ll get some tonight.
Hook had a clipping yesterday telling about Hawkshow being home on leave. His outfit is the one we replaced over here.
Tell Ed that the 5th Cav (one of the regiments in the 1st Cav) tore up Chitose so much the first week they were there that they got put on 90 day restriction. They’re living in the new Quonset huts that was built for us.
Got our showers yesterday. Those were the first ones in over a month and sure felt good. We’re supposed to get haircuts today sometime, all we got
is two pairs of clippers for 300 men, so everyone won’t get them today.
That’s about all I can think of now so I’ll close for awhile.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W. Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
10 Jan 1952
Somewhere in Korea
My Dearest Rosalie
Got your box of doughnuts yesterday, and they were really good. They were just a little hard, but good. Thanks a lot for sending them, I really liked them.
It’s real nice here today, not too cold, sun shining. I hope that this nice weather lasts awhile now. It was just about like this before Christmas, then we got a lot of snow and rain and cold.
We haven’t heard anything on the peace talks now for over a week. We never hear any news over here, just what happened a week or so ago.
Slept in
til 8:30 this morning as there was nothing else to do. We’re just waiting to go back into reserve in a couple of days. We may be in reserve anywhere from a week to 2 months.
Got another letter from Gus the other day. He doesn’t seem to care for this kind of life, not that I blame him any.
Seen a movie this afternoon.
Jane Russell and Robert Mitchem in “His Kind of Woman.” My opinion is it was lousy. As an actress Jane Russell ain’t no good.
Got a big day tomorrow, as we’re going on patrol. We leave at midnight tonight and get back around six in the evening. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.
Gotta get a little sleep tonight as we get up early. Bye for now sweetheart. Love you and miss you, till tomorrow, I’m sending you all my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
10 Jan 1952
Dear Mom and Dad
Got your
letter today with Herb’s address in it. Got the one yesterday with Mrs. Meranda’s in it. Also got Mrs. Meranda’s package. I wrote both of them today too.
I just mailed home the flash attachment to the camera, I still got the camera over here.
We’re going back about 10 miles in a couple of days. We may
stay back there up to a month or more.
It’s real warm out today, must be around 35 or 40. It’s getting a little cooler now, it’s a little
below freezing. It’s almost 5:00 now, and almost chow time.
It stays light a little longer out now, doesn’t get dark til almost 6 now.
Slept in til 9 this morning, didn’t feel like getting up for breakfast, so I just slept. Right now we average over 11 hours sleep a night. There’s nothing else to do, so we may as well sleep.
Hook said he got your package of cookies yesterday. That’s about all the news.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W. Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
12 Jan 1952
Somewhere in Korea
My Dearest Rosalie
Got back from our patrol O.K. outside of being colder than heck it was not too bad. It was about 10 degrees below zero and we stood around for a couple. (sic)
We moved back a couple of miles today. We’re back about as far as the artillery now.
It’s still cold over here but no snow. Haven’t had
any since Christmas. The days so far are warm. Got a letter from our mother in Howell. She said she’s going to lock the lane gate til she gets to know me real well. After that she said we could go down there all we wanted.
You said your room would be kind of crowded if we both lived there. Right now we got 5 men in a bunker 6x10, so a room would be like a castle.
Well sweetheart it’s a little chilly out now, so I’ll have to close. We’ve got a new bunker here and it isn’t down yet, so it ain’t too warm.
Bye for now sweetheart remember always that I’m your guy and miss you awful
All my Love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
12 Jan 1952
Dear Mom and Dad
We moved
back a couple of miles today. We may even go back farther, but we don’t know for sure.
I found out just about where we was. We were just west
of Chowan. We had a map which showed it. It’s also just west of the so called “Iron Triangle.”
Not too much news right now, as we’ve
haven’t been doing too much. Have been sleeping until about 9 or 10 every morning as there is nothing to do when we are up.
Mail is starting to come
thru pretty bad right now. We only get mail about once every three days.
It’s about seven PM now and we’re almost ready to go to bed.
We usually get at least 12 hours sleep every night.
None of the guys who were in the same bunker that I was with, was from Ann Arbor, one was from Ohio, one from
Northern Michigan and one was from Maryland.
That’s about all I can think of now.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W. Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
14 Jan 1952
Somewhere in Korea
My Dearest Darling
It’s a real nice night out tonight, cold and dark, just right to have the car and your girl and go somewhere. Just cold enough where you gotta snuggle up close to keep warm. Tonight I really wish I was back at good ole MSC, so I could go
over to 218 on Grand River and meet you at the door. Then we could go off somewhere and catch up on lost necking. But the time is soon coming, when it will be a reality instead of just a dream.
Not too much news right now. All we did today, was to have a rifle inspection. We were supposed to shave today but I couldn’t bring myself to.
It’s getting just so we exist over here and that’s about all. One day is the same as the next, no difference in any of them, except Sunday about every other Sunday the chaplain comes around.
Bill Stelptoe had a copy of the Pinckney Daily and in the society notes it had your name and said that you spent the night. You’re getting to be quite a wheel there.
Well sweet heart that’s about all I can think of now. Bye for now honey, I’m thinking of you always and just yearning for the day I can return to you and make you mine for always.
Til then this is your soldier boy signing off
All my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
14 Jan 1952
Dear Mom and Dad
Celebrated
our first anniversary today. From now on we’re on the down grade.
Walked over to see Gus yesterday. He’s about 6 miles from where we are.
He was on line until the day before yesterday and they were kinda glad to come back into reserve.
Got our PX rations today. A box of cookies for every three
guys. We get about that much every other week or so.
Next time you send a box, could you enclose half a dozen cans of lighter fluid. I got a little
pocket warmer and it burns lighter fluid and it’s almost impossible to get it over here.
The only part of my camera I mailed home was the flash attachment.
I mailed it home with the Pfumer boy’s box, outside of that, I didn’t mail anything home. I still got my camera.
Didn’t get up til 1130
this morning. Breakfast isn’t hardly ever worth getting up for, so hardly anyone does. We’re not doing anything at all right now, so there’s nothing new.
Love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
15 Jan 1952
Somewhere in Korea
Dear Mom and Dad
Got your letter today with the picture of the cars at Willow Run. You sure have got a lot of snow there now. Right now we don’t have any to speak of.
It was down to 22 below the other night, but it still gets pretty warm during the day. It gets up to around 30 or 35 degrees during the daytime.
We’ve
got a real nice bunker here now and it’s really nice and warm. We usually take our boots off while we’re indoors.
Not too much going on over
here right now. We actually haven’t done anything since we arrived here, except to dig our bunkers, and that wasn’t too hard.
I’m still
with Hook, so I see him every day. Our meals over here are pretty good now. Next time you send a box don’t enclose any cigarettes. We got all we want over here free. We get them every noon for dinner. I got Adolf and Betsy’s
box but I forgot their address. Could you send it to me sometime and I’ll thank for it.
I didn’t get too many homemade cookies for Christmas,
mostly store bought goods, and cookies are what I miss the most.
You mentioned Richard was about old enough to be drafted. If he ever gets the idea to enlist,
tell him to forget it. All the enlisted guys got another year tacked on their enlistment, so they’re all in for four years instead of three.
That’s
about all the news I can think of now
Love
Ken
Please send money-
January 15, 1952
Tuesday P.M.
Dear Mom and Dad,
I’ll begin this
letter by asking for some money. I got payed at the church but it all had to go for books and food. However when things get squared around I’ll be able to manage – you see they pay at the Union on 2 week basis which means I don’t
get payed until a week from Friday or Saturday but when I do I’ll be in the dough – I just want to borrow it – about $15.00 maybe huh?
Saturday
I worked from 8:30 until 1:00 with a half hour for lunch and at night from 5:00-7:40. Then I took on a babysitting job from 8 until 12:30- it was those boys I sat with last week. They were regular little hellions. Last Sat. was the last time
I’m taking them on. I was just worn out. I went down to 8:30 service at church went to work at 12:00 and worked until 2:30. It wasn’t until my work was half over at noon Sunday that the substitute supervisor told me I shouldn’t
have worked this week-end seems the other supervisor made a mistake so they put me to cooking – Sat. I made the cream sauce – 3 lbs of butter, 1 dipper of flour and 2 pails of scalding milk – it was good too. Sunday I French fried all
the potatoes at noon. I’m getting along fine there and just love it.
I was really pooped when I came in from work Sunday so I went to bed all afternoon
that was left and went to bed early Sunday night and slept until 7:45 – what a treat!
Friday night Connie dropped by about 8 and we went with her family
down to some Italian friends of theirs in Lansing. They were very nice – couldn’t understand their lingo but when it comes to food I sure understand their language! We came back in time for the 10:00 show. Picked up Ruthie.
We saw “The Second Woman” and “This is Korea,” both were good but I bawled thru the last one.
I’m going to be able to manage my
own washing O.K. – except for towels and sheets – I could use the food too – bring some bacon if you have it – we’ve decided we can cook it OK – I would be glad – very glad to see you Sunday – you see I
won’t be able to come home next week-end – I’ve gotta work.
Love,
Rosalie
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W. Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
16 Jan 1952
My Dearest Rosalie
Got your letter tonight. Needless to say I was real glad to hear from you.
Got up at 11:30 this morning, nothing to get up for so we didn’t. We play
cards most of the day and generally goof off. Haven’t cleaned my gun in about a week.
If you ever need any money for anything, let me know, it won’t
be too long ‘til it’s ours, and I can’t spend it anyhow, so if you ever need it, don’t hesitate to ask for it.
Washed out my socks this
afternoon. Got them hanging up in our bunker and now they’re dripping all over the place. Whatta mess. I’m going to start mailing you all my socks, so you can wash them.
Went over to see Gus yesterday afternoon for awhile. It was really good to see him. He stays about 6 miles from here so it takes about an hour and a half to get there. He said to give his love to you and to say hello to you. He’s
going to come over here tomorrow or the next day and spend the day over here.
We’re supposed to start training again in a few days. That’s really
a blow, us combat veterans going thru basic training again. We’ve got about seven ribbons we can wear if we want to now, so we’ll look almost like a Christmas tree when and if we ever put them all on.
Celebrated my first anniversary today, one year in the army. From now on we’re on the down grade. So my time in uniform is half over.
Got a
minor case of frost bite on the tips of my fingers. When they get real warm, then it starts to hurt a little under my finger nails. I guess I should wear gloves all the time, but I don’t.
Getting a nice mustache growing now. Today I’m going to wash my face and take a picture of it. I just let it grow, never get around to trimming
it, so it looks awful.
It’s real nice and warm here in our hotche (sic) tonight, the old stove is really selling up and speaking the truth (sic).
It’s really throwing off the heat. It’s almost time to crawl into the sack as its now about nine. I’ll just barely get 13 ½ hours sleep if I go to bed now, so pretty soon I’m going to have to go to bed.
Some time when you feel in a good mood could you send me a pipe. Mine broke in two, and I’ve got it taped up with a bandaide I got from one of the medics, so it probably won’t last too long. All I need is a cheap one from the dime store
or one of those places. The best kind is a straight pipe. (Ken draws a picture of a pipe) Something like the drawing. It’s impossible to buy anything like that here.
Well sweetheart, that’s about all I can think of so I’ll close by telling you I miss you and think of you all the time. I love you honey, you mean more to me than anything else, don’t ever forget that.
Bye for now
All my love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W. Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
17 Jan 1951
My Dearest Rosalie
I’m
not sure of the date, but its Saturday, cuz we’re moving tomorrow and that’s Sunday. We’re going back about 10 miles or so. Haven’t heard how long we’re supposed to be back there, only that it will be at least a couple of
weeks.
Got the new Div News so I’ll mail it on to you. It tells about the patrol we went on, outside of that not much new.
Seen a move today, “The Sea Hornet,” wasn’t very good but it was a movie. Gus was over here last night, in fact he spent the whole day
over here. We just mostly shot the breeze for a few hours. He said to send some more of his love to you.
Got our bunker too warm tonight. Put
too much oil on, now we’re just roasting.
Not too much news other side of that will write more when we get to our new home.
Bye for now, I’m sending you the love of a lonesome lovesick soldier.
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
18 Jan 1952
Somewhere in Korea
Dear Mom and Dad
Tomorrow morning we’re moving back another 10 or 12 miles. We don’t know how long we’re going to be back there.
We saw a movie today.
I guess that it was “The Sea Hornet.” Wasn’t anything special, but it killed time. We’ve got all the time in the world on our hands over here.
When we move tomorrow, we’re supposed to start training again. That is mostly just to kill time.
Got your package today with the socks and pocket
warmer in it. Thanks lots for sending it. Also got a pocket warmer from Mrs. Schreon, so I got one for each hand.
Got a little frostbite on the tip
of my fingers, under the nails. When my hands get warm, the fingers feel just like they’re asleep, but out in the cold they’re ok. It’s nothing serious tho.
Got Rich’s letter today and was glad to hear from him. I’d mail my films home only there’s no way to mail them, need a little box, and we can’t get them. Got a way to get them developed tho. Whenever a guy goes on
R&R to Seoul, the whole company sends all their film along with him. They got one day service up there.
Lost my 127 camera out on patrol, so don’t
send anymore film. It was just a cheap one so I don’t mind too much.
Got the 45 News so I’ll mail it on to you. That’s all the news.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 West Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
20 Jan 1952
My Dearest Rosalie
Got the Spartan last night along with the newspapers. Thanks a lot for sending them. I really like to read them.
We’re living in tents again.
Having classes, drill, PT, etc. It was snowing this afternoon when we was doing PT and drill. What is that, us combat veterans in basic training again. (sic)
Got a little bit of snow this afternoon. It was real warm out this morning then all of a sudden it turned cold and started snowing. It was rather windy out, but it’s kinda nice out again.
Tried to comb my hair today. Tried the week before last too. It’s too hard to comb and it’s still a mess when you get thru, so I won’t comb it again til about next week. Soon as it warms up a bit I’m going to get it
cut short, so I can comb it again.
Almost chow time so I’ll close for now and write you another one tonight. Bye for now sweetheart.
I love you and miss you.
Bye for now
All my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
20 Jan 1952
Somewhere in Korea
Dear Mom and Dad
We moved back today about 10 miles or so. We’re living in tents now for the first time in over a month. The tents aren’t as warm as our bunkers were, but we have to live in them. Then too, the tents don’t have any falling
dirt in them that was the only thing wrong with the bunkers, dirt was always falling from the roof or walls.
Gus came over yesterday and spent the day over here.
Now he’s just a mile or so down the road since we’ve moved. Had c-rations today for dinner, that’s the first time in over a week that we’ve had them.
21 Jan
Turned colder today. It’s been snowing pretty hard but it isn’t staying. It was real nice out this morning and this afternoon it turned cold and started to snow. It’s pretty windy out now too. Maybe by morning
we’ll have some snow.
Got some more papers last night. They’re still coming thru pretty good. That’s about all the news.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 West Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
22 Jan 1952
My Dearest Darling Rosalie
Three hundred and sixty days and I get paroled. Then I start in on a life sentence, but this one is going to be voluntary and I’m going to love it, more so each year than the last. Then too I’ll be with the girl I love and adore, so it’ll
be wonderful. We’ll be real happy together too, no arguments, nothing but love and contentment. But then too, it won’t always be just the two of us. First thing you know there’ll be four (twin girls, red hair, blue
eyes) then five, six. Who knows, maybe even a dozen. We’ll decide that later tho. Got three letters today from the future Mrs. Zill. (Looks good doesn’t it) Got some pictures back today from Seoul. Took most
of them while we was up on line. Got some picture of the hill where the Gooks is.
Got real GI this morning and shaved this mustache off. Feels real
clean without it too. I don’t think I’ll grow another one.
Got four cans of beer tonight, so we’re going on a big drunk tonight.
About four cans is all I can take right now, as we don’t get too much right now.
Found a poem in the newspaper tonight. I wouldn’t call
it cute tho, in fact I’d hardly know what you’d call it. Anyway I’m going to mail it on to you.
Got your picture leaning against a beer
can. The only trouble, every time I look at your picture I start day dreaming and forget about writing. I started this letter about 730 and now it’s 945 so I’m not making too much headway.
Had to get up real early this morning, 800 we dragged our lazy bones out of the sack. They serve breakfast from 630 to 730 so I didn’t get breakfast. In fact I’ve been to breakfast just once since we left the line.
Well sweetheart that’s about all I can think of now so I’ll close now by telling you you’re constantly in my prayers and my thoughts. Goodnight sweetheart, I love you and miss you and wish I could hold you tight and tell you that I
loved you.
Til then I’m your guy
All my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
22 Jan 1952
Somewhere In Korea
Dear Mom and Dad
Got your box of Xmas cookies today and they’re really good. Thanks a lot for sending them. Also got two letters from you and three from Rosalie so I didn’t do too bad today.
I got A and B box but I forgot their address. Also got Meta’s didn’t know her address til tonight, so I’m going to write her tonight if it’s not too late when I get thru.
Had classes most of the time today. The classes are always the same old boring subject.
Have a nice time in Florida, wish I could go with you, but maybe next
year.
That’s about all the news now so I’ll close.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 West Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
24 Jan 1952
Somewhere In Korea
My Dearest Rosalie
Went to see a USO show today. And guess what, we seen some white girls. Real live girls. First time since the middle of Nov. we’ve seen any. They wasn’t much to look at, but they was girls. The show its self wasn’t
worth walking across the street for. But over here any show is good as they’re so few and far between.
We ran a problem this morning. Our platoon
had to take a hill. The same thing as what we also did back on Hokkaido. Oh well, that’s the army, always training. By this time next year, we should be thru training for good too.
Got two letters form you today, so it was a good day after all. That Union job must keep you pretty busy. I want you to pay real close attention in your food class, when you’re making macaroni, cuz that’s something that I really love.
We can have that every day, I wouldn’t mind at all. But anything you cook will be good, I have no doubts on that.
We got a little bit of snow here
now. It’s snowing here now. It snowed real hard yesterday nite for about an hour. We ended up with about an inch and a half of snow.
We’re
having a big inspection tomorrow. They’re going to award our CIBs to us (Combat Infantryman’s Badge). We’re supposed to wear it right above our left breast pocket, right over the rest of our seven or eight medals.
Was about
8 degrees below zero this morning. It really was chilly this morning when we got up. Got up real early this morning. Twenty after seven. Even got up in time for breakfast. Had French toast this morning, first time in over
two weeks. Every other morning we have eggs, either fried or scrambled. Hardly anyone in the company gets up for breakfast any more.
Going over and
see Gus tomorrow. He lives about two miles down the road from where we is. We’re supposed to get Sat. afternoon and Sunday off as long as we’re back here. Hope we get a chance to go to church Sunday. We didn’t get a chance
to last Sunday as we were moving that day.
Was out to the firing range yesterday morning. Burned up about 500 rounds in about two minutes, had a lot of
fun doing it. We had some tin cans tied on a wire which in turn was hung up on poles. So what do I aim at, the pole. Cut it clean in two and all the tin cans came down. The officers never did find out who cut that pole down tho.
Got our beer rations tonight. Two cans. Haven’t hand any coke or anything like that since we left Japan. All the other companies get half
a dozen bottles as well but not E Company. We don’t get any.
First thing I’m going to get when we hit the states is about a dozen hamburgers,
a bushel of French fries and half a dozen malts.
Well sweetheart that’s about all the news I can think of now except I love you. Sitting up here gives
an ole guy a lot of time to think, but there’s just one thing I can think of and that’s you. Every day it gets so I love you just a little bit more. Every time I open my billfold and look at your picture I start to get homesick.
I just wish I could reach over and take a hold of your hand and pull you close to me, then bend down and kiss you about a million times. Then when I got thru with the first million, I’d start in on the second million. Then I’d just
love to run my fingers thru your hair like I used to do and hold you tight. When I get home, you’d better have a big supply of lipstick, cuz you’re going to need every bit of it.
Bye for now sweet heart this is your soldier boy saying
that he loves you always and misses you and can’t wait til he signs his name as Mr. and Mrs. K Zill instead of just Mr.
Bye sweetheart
I love you
Ken
PS More mail just came in again. Got a letter from Marc and Marilyn, also a letter from 218 W. Grand River now I can go to bed real happy. We also got an invite to spend our honeymoon out in Wyoming. But we can settle that later.
I kinda like that idea of having Marc marry us. I’m sure he’d do it too. He’d come to A2 anyhow for the wedding and I think he’d like to read the ceremony. If we get married in St. Pauls, I’ll be the first one
in our family to get married there. Ed got married in Bridgewater and Marc in St. Louis.
Gotta close now and hit the hay as it’s getting late
Bye again honey
All my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
24 Jan 1952
Somewhere in Korea
1900 Hours
Dear Mom and Dad
Haven’t gotten any mail now in a couple of days. Maybe we’ll get some tonight.
It’s been snowing most of the afternoon now and still is.
We’ve got a couple of inches now, so we’ll probably have quite a bit by morning. It’s real windy out tonight, and our old tent is shaking. I hope that it holds up OK.
We went out to the rifle range this morning and shot up about 500 rounds. Those five hundred rounds just lasted a couple of minutes.
Went to the show
today, saw “David and Bathsheba.” I don’t think that it was too good, but it helped to pass the time away, so it was worth seeing.
That’s about all the news there is, so I’ll close for now.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 West Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
Korea
January 25, “52”
Dear Rosalie:
“I thank my god. Making mention of thee always in my prayers.” (Philemon 1:4)
For many weeks now, I’ve been wanting to write you, but only now have I found time to do so.
I owe you several letters, but even more so, my heartfelt thanks, not only for your letters, but the hope, faith and encouragement they have given me.
Besides
your lovely and thoughtful Christmas card and letter, I have also your letter from Fort Meyers and your sweet letter of January 16, which I was so happy to receive last night.
The war continues while we’re in reserves, but the morale is very high, and everyone has the feeling that peace is near.
Only God knows when, and in Him
do we always put our faith and trust.
As you probably know by now, Kenny and I have seen each other twice since coming into reserve. And I hope to see him
this Sunday again – our day off. I saw him yesterday, just to wink at while we were having PT. His company marched by ours.
You certainly seem
to be doing tops in school, and I know Ken is quite happy about it – we are all happy about it.
Gee, I wish Ken and I could have tasted on a little southern
sunshine, but ah – we’ll settle for Michigan any day.
I’m glad you were able to take a little time off from your many activities.
Yes, Rosalie, I too hope and pray, that Ken and I will be back in school next year at this time.
Blessed is He or she that finds contentment, peace, faith, love
and happiness in the Lord. You – find all of these Rosalie, and truly, it’s wonderful.
I don’t mind at all your having written Jo.
I haven’t written home anything about Jo in several weeks now. I haven’t written Jo since December 8th, but let me confide in you Rosalie,
that I am waiting patiently. I’ll let Jo have all the time she needs to think. I’ll leave it all to her, because I feel that she know my real and true love for her, and if she feels the same way, and really knows, then I believe
she’ll write.
I want her to be sure, we both want a happy life, and if we both have faith in each other, I know, that God willing, all will work out.
If she decides different I will not feel hurt.
I have lots of time, and can wait. I’ll not correspond with Jo, unless she writes.
We both want a happy marriage. Jo has lots of time to ponder many things, and if she feels that she can find it with me, then she should know before too long.
I have school ahead and many things in mind that I want to do when home again. I guess maybe that’s one of my troubles. I have so many ambitions, writing and news commendation and an active interest in American politics are some of them.
I believe now and have for many years that a drastic reform is needed in our government. Democracy is the world’s best system, but it to needs some change,
if it is to be carried out to all people. I am speaking mainly of our “foreign policy” our “Supreme Court” needs men who understand the real meaning of democracy. Oh-gee- here I go again. I guess I could write a book about
it. But you know, Ken, my family and friends know, that my best interest are for a stable American government. I love America, we all do. Our job won’t end when this conflict is over
End Political Page
Ha
Ha
Training continues here in reserve on about a half day basis, USO shows, movies and other recreation are provided but we like the movies the best. The other day we saw “David and Bathsheba” a very good picture.
The weather up to last night (10 below) has been perfect, for a Korean winter. Many days have been mild and spring like.
However, I sleep quite warm in
my sleeping (feather) bag.
Many fellows out of our company are in the hospital or on sick leave, with colds, we have ducked the Red’s machine gun fire a
couple of times but truly God was with us and we all returned safely. So far the cold weather hasn’t kept us down. Last year at this time I was in the hospital with pneumonia.
My thanks for your compliments – they mean a lot to me.
Well Rosalie, I hope I can write again soon.
I am looking forward to the cookies. So are the fellows.
Until we meet again Gold Bless you and keep you.
Your prayers have been a constant source of strength, and Rosalie – many have been answered.
Love
G. William