Weighs about 21 lbs. and shoots about 550-600 bullets a minute. It holds 20 bullets in each magazine. You carry 13 magazines with you and you got an assistant who carries 12, so that’s about 500 bullets.) Enough about my BAR (Browning
Automatic Rifle)
There isn’t too much news now. Got KP today so I gotta go down and serve. Will finish just as soon as I get back.
Just got back from chow. Wasn’t worth a darn. It was chicken, they only trouble with it, it wasn’t quite dead yet.
All we do on
KP is serve, don’t have to wash any of the pots and pans or nothing. We got some Koreans to do all of the dirty work.
It just turned real cold and
now it’s starting to snow. That’s all we need snow. I wish that we’d get about 10 feet of it, so we couldn’t run any patrols or anything.
Going to bed early tonight as we have to get up at one tomorrow morning. We gotta be in our new positions by five tomorrow.
So I’ll say goodnight
sweetheart as I lean over and kiss you goodnight and whisper into your ear
I love you honey
All my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
3 March 1952
Chorwon, Korea
Dear Mom and Dad
We’re back up on line now. We’re supposed to be here about 13 days, then back to reserve. We got about an inch of snow last night, just enough to make it slippery out. Quite a bit of it melted today, so we just got a little left
in places.
I’m not a machine gunner now, I’m a BAR man again. I like that a lot better than being on a machine gun.
If you can’t find Chorwan on the map it’s just west of the “Iron Triangle.” Just about in the center of Korea and about 40 or 50 miles north of the 38th parallel. Last we heard on the peace talks they weren’t
coming too well. Don’t seem to be getting anywhere. Maybe with elections coming up pretty soon they’ll try to get this war over a little harder.
Over on the East coast, they’ve really been having a rough time of it. They’ve had a lot of snow all winter, over here we’ve had very little.
We’re on top of a pretty good sized hill here looking down a draw. Our bunker up here is real small, about 6 ft x 9 ft and we got three boys living in here. Two can sleep while one stands guard. We always have to have at least one awake.
It’s time to go on guard so I’ll finish this as soon as I come off.
Off guard now for three hours. We’re on three and off three.
That way we only gotta stand guard twice during the night. It’s pretty cold out tonight and you start to get chilly after about three hours.
That’s
about all the news I can think of so I’ll close
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
4 March 1952
Chorwon, Korea
My dearest Rosalie
Didn’t stand as much guard last night as I figured we would. Only stood six hours, so that wasn’t too bad. I was supposed to go on patrol, but my gun didn’t work, so I stayed here. All that the patrol accomplished was to
just about freeze us to death.
Got your letter last night with your picture in it. It’s a pretty fair picture of you, in fact, it’s even good.
I really like it, thanks a million for sending it, I love it.
Everyone who sees it asks how a guy as ugly as I can get such a good looking girl. All I can
say is it’s love.
It’s our squads turn to go out on patrol tomorrow. We just go out to a little hill right out in front of us and look around.
Far as I can see, there’s no sense in going out there, but a lot of things in the army don’t make sense.
This afternoon I’m going to clean my
gun then sleep til it’s time to go on guard. Chow!
Just got back, wasn’t worth walking down the hill for stew – ugh- lousy stuff.
Won’t even be good enough for dog food. Typical army chow tho.
There ain’t much more to write about sweetheart not much happened. Yesterday
it was nine months since I’ve seen you. Golly, it seems like a long time when you look back at it. It shouldn’t be too long before I head back toward you as this division is going to start to rotate in about two weeks. Soon as
they get all the Okkies out then the married men go then us U.S.’s and last the R.A.’s (US is drafted and RA is enlisted)
There’s a rumor going
around that us Korean Vets would be getting out in 21 months, but that’s still in the rumor stage. That really would be nice getting out in Oct. But it’s only a rumor so we’re not counting on it.
That’s about it honey so I’ll close for now. So I’ll say goodbye for now sweetheart.
I’m sending you all my
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
5 March 1952
? Day 1900
My Dearest Rosalie
Got your letter today with all the pictures in it. They really boosted my morale, and my morale sure needs boosting. It has reached an all time low. All we’ve been doing up here is digging. Yesterday we went on a patrol.
Went out a mile or so in front of our lines and sat up on a bald hill. There was a little hill right next to us we could look down on. We could see some Gooks down there digging. We stayed up there about eight hours, then came back to our
own lines. A sniper took a couple of shots at us, but other than that we weren’t bothered.
Was up most of last night. Had just gotten off of
guard about ten and nicely got crawled into my sleeping bag when our out post reported that they thought a couple of Gooks had slipped by and were running around loose. So everyone had to get up and stand 100% watch, til about 1:30 or so. Never
did see any Gooks tho. About all we accomplished was to lose a lot of sleep. I think they pulled that because they figured the troops was having it too easy and ought to do a better more work. They pull that every once in awhile just
to harass the troops.
It’s almost time to stand guard honey, so I’ll finish this when I come in tonight or first thing in the morning.
10 pm
Just got off of guard, nothing exciting happened in fact nothing happened. I’m almost ready for bed as I’ve got two hours off here, so
I’m going to sack out for a while and get my beauty rest.
Goodnight sweetheart. This is your soldier boy telling you he loves you and wishes you good
luck.
Bye for now
All my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
5 March 1952
Dear Mom and Dad
Got your letter today saying we were leaving Korea in March. As far as we know, we don’t have any idea when we’ll get out of Korea. The only ones who get out in March are the guys who joined the National Guard. After they are
all gone, then we rotate. From what we can figure out, we’ll probably get out of here about June or July. But that can be changed at any time, but that’s the way it is now. So don’t count on my being home too soon.
Didn’t do much today. We was on an outpost a ways out in front of our lines, just sat there most of the time and slept. We were only about 500 yards out in front, so it wasn’t too bad. Didn’t see nothing.
It was real beautiful out today, just about perfect. The flies are starting to come out now, so we’ll probably get a lot of insects soon. That’s about what we need, some insects.
That’s about all I can think of now so I'll close
Love
Ken
3/6/52
Wednesday a.m.
Dear Mom and Dad,
I’m sending the rest of clippings you haven’t
seen – plus an A.W.S. handbook you can give to Lou plus a campaign picture if they want one – she can probably get quite a lot of information from the articles. We had a tea last night for the new activities and Judic. Board members –
in the Women’s Faculty Room in the Union. They announced who won there. I don’t want you to be disappointed because I’m not – it turned out according to God’s will – I really prayed about this. I’ll
be the best Vice President I know how to be. Jeanne – the new president is going to Aspen, Colorado over spring vacation skiing so I’m to represent us along with Mrs. Gonon and Miss Peterson – Counselor and assistant counselor at a
conference of Associated Women Students of different colleges at the University of Michigan, March 21 and 22nd.
I wish I’d told you last night
but you can expect me home on the same bus I came on last Fri. night this Fri. night. I’ll have to study a lot but you can probably use me, I’ve written Mrs. Zill, I’m sure she’ll understand – I don’t want any back
talk –I’m coming home so meet me in Howell. Could you have some supper ready for me?
There’s not much else new to write about so I’ll
see you this weekend. Am going to church tonight. I love you all so much. You take care of yourself Mother-I’ll be seeing you Fri night.
Lovingly,
Rosalie
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
7 March 1952
Chorwan
My Dearest Rosalie
Got the day off so I slept most of the time. We spent the night out on the outpost last night. We were about a 1000 yards out in front of our lines I guess. It was a real good night last night. The moon was real bight wasn’t too
cloudy and to make it almost perfect we didn’t see any Gooks. The only thing that ruined it, it was a trifle chilly.
Got some more beer today, nine
cans to a man. Swapped off a few of mine for coke tho. Coke tastes better than beer anyhow.
Found some Gook money in an old abandoned bunker the other
day I ain’t got any idea what it is tho. Also the 45th news comes out today so I’ll send it on to you.
There isn’t much news
now, just the routine army stuff. So I’ll close for now sweetheart.
Still wishing you a lot of luck and sending you all my love.
I’m yours
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
9 March 1952
Korea
My Dearest Rosalie
Got your letter today with all the baby pictures in it. They sure look real cute. We’ll have to have ones like each of them.
Slept in til noon
today, as we’ll probably be up most of the night as we go back out on outpost again tonight. This will probably be the last time we have that, I hope so anyhow. I don’t care too much for that, but someone has to do it, so once in awhile ain’t
too bad.
I gotta write Gus today, I got a phone call from him a couple of days ago. His company is the next one over, but it’s about a three mile
walk or so. There’s a long valley between us so you gotta walk around to the end of the valley. You could cut across, but then you run a chance of hitting a mine, as there are plenty of those around.
A week from today we ought to be back in reserve for a few weeks. That means going thru basic training again, but that’s better than being up here by a long ways.
That was kinda of a mangy letter I wrote last night, I’m sorry, I’ll try to do better next time.
That was real sweet of you to send some of your hair
along. All I do is close my eyes and run my fingers thru it and simulate it’s on you. It’s not quite as nice as the real thing, but it’ll do until the real thing comes along, which I hope won’t be too long from now.
I shaved yesterday, first time in over a week. My beard was starting to itch, so I cut it off. When I get home I’m going to shave just once a month.
It’s a lot of bother to shave, so I ain’t going to. That is unless the “old battle axe” makes me and she probably will.
Well honey
that’s about all the news there is right now, so I’d better close for now. So I’ll sign off for now sweetheart, by telling you that you mean everything in the world to me and that I love you with all my heart and soul and always will.
Bye for now sweetheart
I love you
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
9 March
Dear Mom and Dad
Got your
letter today asking if I needed any film. We can get all of the 35 mm we want over here. There are only 3 35 mm cameras in our platoon and we get about 10 or 15 rolls every couple of weeks, so we get plenty.
We had outpost last night so we didn’t get too much sleep. We get tomorrow off tho, so we’ll be able to catch up on it some.
I haven’t
been getting any of those packages that you’ve mailed lately. Haven’t had any for a couple of weeks now, maybe I’ll get them all at once.
We didn’t have church services today. All there was, was a catholic service so I didn’t go. We may have them tomorrow, don’t know yet.
Got a phone call from Gus the other day. He called me on the inter company network here. He works with that all the time so he can call anyone he wants too, but I can’t call him without a lot of trouble.
It seems to be warming up quite a bit now, maybe our winter is almost over. Either that or we’re getting used to the cold and it doesn’t bother
us as much anymore.
We’re supposed to move off the line in about six days for about 21 days in the rear. I supposed that’ll mean more training
and such, but that’s better than being up here. After that we don’t know what’s going to happen, about anything I guess.
That’s
about all I can think of now so I’ll close for now.
Love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
11 March
Dear Mom and Dad
Got your
letter today with the picture of Pamela in it. She sure has grown since I last seen her, but I guess that was about nine months or so ago.
You asked about
where we were, we stay pretty much around the same area. Our division front is about 3-5 miles wide and we always get put somewhere on that. Right now we’re just about two miles west of where we were on line the first time. Next time
we go on line, we’re supposed to go back near where we were first. I doubt if I’ll ever get down to Hong Kong to see Chan’s people there. That’s quite a ways from here.
Was on a night patrol last night. Spent six hours out there, but didn’t see anything at all. Two more days and we leave the line.
Had church
today I don’t think today is Sunday over here we never know what day is what. They’re all the same.
That’s about all I can think of now.
Love,
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
12 March 1952
Chorwon, Korea
My Dearest Rosalie
Just got back from church. We had it today, but I don’t think that it is Sunday tho, not sure what day it is, not even sure of the date.
Slept until
noon today, as I was up most of the night last night. We’ve been up most of the last three nights as the Gooks have been running patrols over here to bother us. About all they succeed in doing is to keep us awake at night, otherwise they
aren’t bad.
It’s real beautiful out today, just a perfect as can be. Real warm and sunny with a nice cool breeze. Sorta gives you spring
fever, really makes you lazy and not want to do anything.
I’ve been thinking about shaving today, but that’s as far as I’ve gotten, just thinking
about it. Took my monthly shower yesterday so I’m somewhat clean.
We may have to go on patrol tomorrow, don’t know for sure yet, I kinda hope
we don’t tho. We’ll probably find out tonight whether we have to or not. If we can miss it tomorrow and the next day, we won’t watch any more until next time we come back up on line some time in April or there abouts.
Seen a show yesterday. Had Fred MacMurray and some old gal in it. Didn’t see the first part so I don’t know what the name of it was. Wasn’t much good anyhow so
it doesn’t make much difference.
We got bunker inspection today, supposed to be sometime this afternoon, always something to harass the troops. They
hate to see us get any time off.
That’s about all the news I can think of right now so I’d better close now and write both moms as I guess I owe both
of them letters, so I gotta get with it.
Bye for now sweetheart, here’s still wishing you luck haven’t got the big news yet but probably will in a
day or so.
Til then I’m still just a love sick GI who’s in love with a swell gal.
All my love
Ken
March 12, 1952
Wednesday
Dear Mom and Dad,
There isn’t too much news. Sure am enjoying
these nice days – bet you are too. Hope you’re feeling better too.
Had two letters from Ken yesterday, one dated “Feb 30” and the
other March 4th. He was to be on line 13 days and they go into reserve for about 3 weeks. He sounded like he was in good spirits. Said it was getting cold and was knowing. Had a letter from Mrs. Zill yesterday too.
She’s going into the hospital the 14th. She shoveled snow back during that real bad snow storm in Dec. when Issy and I left and the doctor says one of the disks in her spine is out of place. She will be in about 10 days. She hasn’t
written Ken about it so if you write him remember not to mention it. She sent me a hankie with the state of Fla. on it.
Am studying hard. We’re
making arrangements for the convention at Ann Arbor. My last exam is Thurs. next 8-10. Do you suppose you could come after me in the morning. Kay is coming home with me – as we’re going to the convention together. My expenses
are paid for, meals and staying at the Michigan Women’s League but Kay will share expenses with another girl from our board that will come from Plymouth. I’d like to get home as early as possible Thurs so as to get my junk organized.
Miss Peterson and Mrs. Gonon are driving through as I guess maybe we’d meet them in Howell Friday morning. You let me know what we can do. O.K.?
Would
you send me $5.00 please. I’ll pay you back – I may not even need it but in case I do then I’ll have it here. I won’t need anything Sunday so don’t come up unless you want to.
Like I said there isn’t much news – will write again if anything exciting happens. Bye for now –
Love
Rosalie
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
12 March 1952
Chorwan
Dear Mom and Dad
Not too much news today, haven’t done anything in the last couple of days except stand guard and sleep. Haven’t done too much sleeping but we’ve stood plenty of guard. We only got five more days of that, then we got back for a
few weeks. Should be able to catch up on our sleep then.
Got your box with the stationery and cookies in it. Thanks a lot for it. The cookies were
real good. There really isn’t anything to write about today so I’ll close for now.
Love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
16 March 1952
Chorwon, Korea
Dear Mom and Dad
Well today we go back into reserve for three weeks or so. It’s going to be nice to get off the line for awhile.
Not too much news today, didn’t
do anything exciting or anything at all last night. Outside of not getting too much sleep we haven’t done much this time on line.
It’s real beautiful
out today. Real warm and sunny, just like spring. I’m sitting outside writing this. This is about the first time it’s been warm enough to do that.
The roads are all staring to get real muddy now. The south sides of all the hills are real dusty while the north sides are muddy. I think I’d rather have it real muddy than cold tho.
Got a box of tootsie rolls from Mrs. Clague last night. First time I had any of those in a long time. They were real good.
That’s about all
of the news I can think of now so I’ll close.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
My dearest Rosalie
I am sorry to hear you
didn’t win the election, I was really hoping that you would. I guess it just wasn’t meant for you to win, but VP is better than nothing so Good Luck in your new job.
You asked if I liked the USO show with the Gooks in it. We never even heard about it til I got that clipping. We didn’t even get to see Betty Hutton when she was over
here. When you’re on line you don’t get nothing.
We’re moving back for 21 days starting tonight. We’re supposed to move
out sometime after dark, some other RCT is going to take our place for awhile. It is sure going to be nice to get back so we can sleep at nights again. We’ve been on line now since Feb. 6th, so we’re getting beat.
It’s really beautiful out today really warm and springy. It would really be perfect anywhere except here.
I’ve got to do my packing yet, then clean my gun, then I’ll be ready to go. Some of our stuff has already left, including my stationery, so this is going to be a one page letter.
I just got word chow is here so I’m going to close and go and eat some of that slop the cooks call chow.
So I’ll say goodbye for now sweetheart will
write more tomorrow.
All my Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
18 March 1952
My Dearest Rosalie
In a bad mood tonight. We’re back in reserve now, but it isn’t anything like what we expected. We was informed today that we’re going to have 2 gun inspections every day and 2 tent inspections every day also. At 530 tonight
the CO walks in and says there will be an inspection in 30 minutes. So we had to get ready for it real quick like. Also we got a formation every morning at six and one at five thirty every night. I hope those G.D. officers drop dead.
(Excuse the expression, is ain’t gentlemanly)
Got some good news tho, the radio announced last night that all Korean vets would get out at the end of 21
months like the rest of the draftees. So I’ll be getting out about Oct. or a little sooner. That’ll be real swell, get out in time to go back to school winter term. Maybe by that time I’ll have more to look out for than
just me. I sure hope so.
Got a letter from Gus today. His battalion didn’t come back as far as we did, he’s only about 6 miles back.
I don’t know if we’ll get to see each other this time or not. I hope we do tho.
We all got twenty cans of beer tonight so we’re going
to have a party tonight. Going to tear up the tents and see what happens the next day. We’re getting so we don’t give a darn what happens. You get that way after awhile in Korea.
We’re supposed to take showers tomorrow. I guess we’re going to be real gung ho (GI term for going sharp) back here. Hope that we get clean clothes too.
Later
Just got thru playing cards, pinochle to be exact. Drank beer, coke, had some spam sandwiches with crackers. Won two games out of three, so
I didn’t do too bad.
Most of the party has gone over to the mess hall, but I couldn’t get with it. It’s now about 9:30 and that’s
kinda late for me to be up. Usually we go to bed as soon as we can after chow. First time I take you out when I get home, I’ll take you in about 900 or so, I won’t get too tired. But I know I won’t ever get tired being with
you so actually we’ll get in about 900 am. You’ll probably get a few late minutes tho, but that won’t make any different.
Well sweetheart
that’s about all I can think of now, so I’m going to have to close.
So I’ll say goodnight honey. This is your soldier boy saying that
you’re still his gal and he loves you and always will.
Bye for now
All my love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
19 March 1952
Chorwon, Korea
My Dearest Rosalie
Got your package of pipe tobacco and cigars and candles tonight and was real glad to receive them. Thanks ever so much for sending them.
Got a cartoon from
the “Stars and Stripes” that I thought was pretty sharp. Also it shows pretty well how a bunker looks from the front end.
Went to the shower
today, got clean clothes. Even got my hair cut – all off. Got about a quarter of an inch left on top. That way you never have to comb it not that I ever did any how over here, but this gives me an excuse.
Golly honey, I can’t think of hardly anything else to write. I’m too tired. We walked around twenty miles today. That’s the first long march we’ve been on for quite awhile, and we’re really beat. I just
wish I could reach out and hold you for just a minute, I’d be so happy. Just even see you again it would help so much. But I guess you’re right all we can do is dream and I do plenty of that. It will really be wonderful when we
won’t have to dream anymore, it’ll all be reality. Til it is, tho, I guess I’ll just go on dreaming and loving you and being your guy.
Goodnight sweetheart, I’m getting sleepy so I’d better sack out for awhile, til about 5:30 in the morning.
Bye for now
All my Love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
19 March 1952
Dear Mom and Dad
We’re
way back in reserve now. We’re about 10 or 12 miles behind the line in exactly the same place we were last time we was in reserve. Gus’s battalion didn’t come back as far as ours, so I probably won’t get to see him back
here.
We got four inspections everyday back here now. Two gun inspections and two tent inspections. We’re sleeping on cots for the first time
since we got here. I’m afraid it’s going to spoil us, we’re not used to anything but the ground. It seems kinda good tho.
Got a
letter from Herb Frederick and his wife last night. He really seems excited about his new house. I guess that it must be pretty close to Ed’s from what he said.
We got to take showers today, got clean clothes, except for O.D.s (We wear our O.D.’s under our fatigues. OD’s are our wool dress uniforms. We don’t get clean ones at the showers. We still got the same ones on that we had
on when we left Japan. They are getting pretty dirty now too. It won’t be too long and we’ll be taking them off as it is getting a whole lot warmer out. It took us two days to move back here, cuz when we left we only had 41 days
on line, so we went back a mile or so and spent one day there, so we’d get credit for 42 then came on back here. All told we’ve got 70 days line time in.
That’s about all the news I can think of right now, so I’ll close for now.
Love
Ken
Korea
March 20, 1952
6:11 pm
Dear Rosalie
Another day has ended, here in
far away Korea. Soon God willing a great and happy day shall dawn for all of us. That day – we live and pray for.
First of all, peace among
all mankind, and second our blessed reunion. I have every hope that this horrible conflict will soon cease. I know and believe through faith that God will answer our prayers. I’m sure this war will end within the next few
weeks. We have hope of leaving Korea in late June or July. I hope we’re not disappointed. Perhaps the best news, is the announcement that Korean Vets will be release 3 months early if they’re home before their 21 months expire.
That should make Ken and I civilians sometime in October. Believe me, it wouldn’t make us feel sad at all – ha ha!
We’re in reserve again,
until April 8th. Ken’s battalion is in Corp reserve several miles behind us, where our battalion is in division reserve. I have every hope of seeing him soon.
As you probably know, we correspond with each other and had a chat over a phone – yes a phone (believe it or not) a few days ago. He looked good last time I saw him, and he’s changed a little from the Ken I knew back home. His feelings
are deeper and he shows it, something he’s never done before, the war has changed all of us in a way that we can clearly see the world’s ills, feel the sorrows, trials and problems war and bloodshed inflict upon poor people who hardly had any means
of living even before the war started. Perhaps if not forgotten, this war has certainly helped us to better understand different races, and nations; to realize their needs and problems.
To many of us, Ken included and yours truly, the strenuous and tiring days of war have strengthened our faith in God.
Books could be filled with stories of the
harassed hours we’ve spent during combat, but there is only one book, a Holy one – in which you can find the answer as to how we have endured the many trials and perplexing problems faced by men who wait to ambush an enemy or wait to be attacked.
Only because God being at our side every hour of the day and night have we been able to carry on. Perhaps you’ve experienced the wonderful feeling to know that He who is most high is standing watch over us with His everlasting arms. It is
such a feeling of comfort and hope. Words cannot describe the way we feel.
We’ve learned, Rosalie, that “Blessed is that man that maketh the
Lord His trust”. We will always remember this all the days of our life. It will be our watchword, our motto in all that we do – in school, church, community and family life.
I know Kenny, your family and his are very proud of you. I too join them. Your work and magnificent progress in student government is something great to be proud of. Keep it up Rosalie. I enjoyed your clippings, and notes of interest.
You look very good in the pictures, but please, where is the rest of your platform. (Ha Ha)
Seriously Rosalie, I agree 100% with you, that honor is at stake,
and those who don’t take it that way are bound to be hurt in several ways. I’ve seen enough college night life and excuses, and don’t believe there are very many valued ones. I know you’re a capable person to judge.
Hope we can discuss such issues when Ken and I are home again. It will be the most wonderful way to start our new life when home again and it will bring us
safely home again.
It seems as if I’m way off the subject Rosalie, but I know you’ll understand we’ve just got to tell someone these things,
and most of all, we would want to confess God before all the world. Our thoughts are weary, whether it be in bed, tossing about trying to sleep or on a combat patrol. Our prayers are even more so. May God grant us peace soon.
Well now on the lighter side of the news, not to distract my thoughts of the above, but to bring you up to date or I should say to start off with, “CONGRATULATIONS”. I was so very happy over your letter today, and know it will be quite the
occasion expecting to kill a beef – oh- for those day – we should all be thankful and happy indeed when they come about.
I only wish that I were as
talented as you Rosalie in choosing your words when writing. You write such wonderful letters. My English, spelling and all are way below par, especially since coming overseas.
I have to get to communion soon. Have not received it until November 28th. We have only one Lutheran Chaplin in the 45th. He just arrived in Korea a few weeks ago. It is a blessing – the greatest of all,
when we are able to partake of Christ’s body and blood. I know your happiness as a Lutheran Rosalie it is something to be happy about.
Will close
until next time, wishing you the Easter Blessing of our Lord and Risen Saviour. He is Risen indeed. God Bless and Keep you all the days of your life and grant you success in all that you do.
Yours In Christ,
Love-
G. William
PS. Didn’t see that USO show (Ha Ha) – wouldn’t have enjoyed it anyway
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W. Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
22 March
Hi Sweetheart
How’s
everything back in EL with my gal tonight? Fine I hope. Over here your old man is really tired, only got eight hours sleep last night, we’ve really been working hard. We moved back about three miles farther back. Haven’t
had any free time as yet, inspections, details etc all the time. They just won’t let us alone back here.
We turned all our winter gear in today, boots,
overcoats, mittens, caps, etc. If it gets cold again, I’m afraid these troops are going to get cold. It’s rather nasty out tonight half raining half snowing. Really glad we’re not up on line as these are the kinds of nights
Joe Chink likes to prowl around and it’s no fun when he’s out. (The night we left the line, the next unit over got hit by a regiment of Gooks. Really really raised cane for awhile too).
We’ve been having movies here at night, but it’s a little chilly standing out there for a couple of hours. They try to show one every night about 500 yards down the road. Go up there about once a week or so.
Well sweetheart, I just can’t get with it tonight so I’m afraid I’m going to have to close now. Can hardly keep my eyes open, so I’d better get a little shut eye.
Bye for now sweetheart
All my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
22 March 1952
Chorwan
Dear Mom and Dad
Got your box today with the lighter fluid in it. Thanks a lot for sending it. We don’t need it right now as we’re back here in reserve and it isn’t too cold right now, but we’ll still have cold days.
Its half snowing and half raining tonight. It isn’t too good a night out tonight. I’m real glad we’re not on line tonight. It’s no fun being on line and standing guard in the snow. It isn’t too cold out
tho.
We turned all our winter gear in today, overcoats, winter boots, mittens etc. The boots we turned in were really nice. We got them last time
we were in reserve. I never had cold feet once with those boots. The only bad thing, our feet got really really wet, our socks were wringing wet every night.
We’ve been working pretty hard since we’ve come back here. We moved about 3 miles farther back yesterday. Seems as tho they parked us in the wrong place the first time since we came back here. But I guess that its better than
being on line. Last night was the first night we had gotten eight straight hours of sleep in a long time. The night before last we got up at 230 had everything read to move at 500 so we moved at about 1100.
That’s about all I can think of now so I’ll close for now
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W. Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
Korea
23 March 52
Chorwan
Dearest Rosalie
Didn’t do too much today, just had two inspections. I guess they we’re mostly just to keep up busy, cuz they didn’t look too close at anything. If they wanted to gig us, there isn’t too much they could do. Can’t
send us to Korea, can’t send us on line, (can’t go up without your company). We don’t worry too much about inspections, they just harass us is about all.
The “army times” (army newspaper) had a couple of good news items in it.
- One is that it's really and truly official that we’re in for 21 months. That means I’ll be out for Oct. 16.
- With the GI bill
in congress now (its predicted to pass) that I’ll be eligible for 48 months of free schooling. They say for books, ½ tuition and $70 a month for single guys and $110 with one dependant. That would be OK when it goes thru.
Mail Call
No letter tonight, just a box from home.
We got a battalion inspection
tomorrow. Some more stuff to kill over time. I guess.
Golly sweetheart that’s about all the news I can think of now so I’d better close.
Goodnight sweetheart, this isn’t much of a letter, but you know I’m always thinking about you and loving now more than ever.
Sweet dreams sweetheart
All my Love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
23 March 1952
Chowan, Korea
Dear Mom and Dad
Sorry to hear that you’re in the hospital, mom, I hope that you don’t have to stay there very long and your back gets ok soon. Too bad the food isn’t too hot. I know if it isn’t hot it doesn’t taste too good.
Didn’t do too much today, had two inspections, one in the tent and one outside. They were mostly just to keep us busy.
Got the socks from Mrs. McCready
along with the candy. Thanks loads for the candy it sure was good. I’ll write Mrs. McCready first time we get a day off, but we don’t get too many days off.
Was real nice out again today. The rainy season will probably start pretty soon tho. Then it rains almost all the time. Back on Hokkaido it rained for eight straight days, then took a day break and rained for about seven more. So we’ll
probably get pretty wet at times.
Not too much news to write about, about all we do back here is work. I forgot to say that we get out of the army
in 21 months instead of 24. Anyone who is on duty in Korea gets three months knocked off, Earl and Roland and them will have to serve 24. So I’ll be out in Oct, about the 16th. The only catch is that you have to be back in
the States. We’ve got four months in now and we’re supposed to be here about six, so we sure should be back in time.
That’s about
all I can think of for now so I’ll close.
Love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
25 March 1952
Chorwan
Dear Mom and Dad
Got your package last night with all the candles and canned goods. Thanks a lot for it, all the stuff is real good. I got enough candles now, I won’t need any more for a while.
All we did today was have a big inspection. Some majors and captains came down and looked the place over. I guess everything was Ok, any how we didn’t hear about anything being wrong.
It was nice and warm out again today real springy. I can’t remember if I told you or not that it was up to 80 the other day. Every once in awhile it gets up around there, usually around 65 tho.
There isn’t too much else to write about so I’d better close now and retire.
Bye for now
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
26 March 1952
Chorwan
My Dearest Rosalie
Didn’t do much today, just a couple of inspections. Had a USO Show, but it wasn’t worth a darn. It was supposed to have a couple of good looking girls in it so we all ran down there all hepped up. What a mangy pair of witches,
after not seeing an American woman for 10 months they still didn’t look good, so you know they wasn’t worth much.
Having a real big inspection tomorrow,
some general is coming down and to look us over. Today it was only majors and captains. Then the day after tomorrow we’re going to start training. Practice being on listening posts, outposts etc. in other words all we do on line every
day. Whatta blow it is to do all that stuff. I wish that we could forget about all that stuff. To make it all the more fun we’re going to do all this at night.
Our platoon has guard duty tonight, so I gotta stand and hour and half from 9 to 10:30 so it ain’t too bad. We catch it about once every eight days at night. Half way between those eight days we catch day guard. We gotta have a guard
on duty all day just to salute the officers when they go by. Just something to harass the troops. Seems as tho we’re not saluting them as much as we should be back here in reserve, so that’s the way they get then with us.
There’s a lot of rumors floating around about us getting rotated, but we don’t know anything for sure as yet, just rumors. I’d leave tomorrow if they’d let me, but I guess they won’t so I’ll hang around for a little
while yet.
I gotta get ready for guard duty now. I’ll finish this while I’m on guard.
I’m on guard now over at the kitchen. We got a beer ration in, so its gotta be guarded. Spend 45 minutes in here and 45 minutes outside. I don’t know what we need a guard in here for, some of the cooks are in here making cookies.
You know, my spelling isn’t work a darn.
Every time we come off line this happens. You’re just tired all the time for the first couple of weeks
after you come off line. You just don’t feel right, I guess it’s mostly the mental strain on you. You don’t feel right til it’s about time for you to be back on line again.
That’s about all the news there is now sweetheart. So I guess I’d better close now. So goodnight, sweet heart, don’t ever forget that I love you and miss you something awful. I’m thinking about you all the time and
am anxiously awaiting the day I can return to you and make you mine for all time. It’ll be so much fun being married to you, so you’ll always be there to hold, to have, and to love.
Til then
Good night honey
All my love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
27 March 1952
My Dearest Rosalie
Got two wonderful letters from you. Golly it’s going to be nice when we don’t have to write letters to each other. It’ll be so much easier to say what you want when you can say it personally and don’t have to rely on the
mail.
Had some reporters here from the papers. They’re looking up all the Michigan men and going to put all their names in the newspapers. They
took a bunch of pictures too. It’ll take a couple of weeks for it to get in the paper. So we’re going to be celebrities now. He’s going to write a story about us too, anyhow be said he was going to. We asked all about
290.
We had an ordinance inspection today to see if our guns work. I got a new barrel, slide, forearm, rear and front sight, hammer, firing pin and extractor.
You probably don’t know what I’m talking about but anyhow I got about half a new gun. I don’t even know if it works or not, but we’re going out to the range next Wednesday so I’ll find out then.
Not too much other news tonight. We was on a night problem today, just got back a few minutes ago. We never did get too interested in it, so we didn’t do too good a job. We just couldn’t get with it, more or less, so we goofed
off a lot.
That’s about all I can think of now so I’ll close for now.
Bye for now sweetheart, don’t ever forget you got a soldier boy over here in love with you and misses you terribly
All my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
27 March 1952
Chorwan
Dear Mom and Dad
Seen a news reporter today who took all the names of the Michigan men. Also they took our pictures to print in our home town papers. They got a story to go with it. It’s supposed to be in the paper in about two weeks or a little later.
I hope your back is better now and that you are home again by this time. It must be awful tiresome just laying in bed all of the time.
Had a USO show today, only this one was pretty good for a change, usually they aren’t worth going to see. We had one yesterday, but that wasn’t any good at all. Usually the entertainers are the ones that aren’t good enough to
get jobs back in the states, so they come over here. Betty Hutton was here a couple of weeks ago, but we were on line at the time, so we didn’t get to see her.
When our names get in the papers will you forward it to me. It takes about a month and a half for the newspaper to get over here. They’re coming thru pretty good, I got five or six about once every week now, so that isn’t too bad.
It was real nice out again tonight and today. It’s even kinda warm out tonight too, usually is pretty chilly out at night.
That’s about all I can think of now so I’ll close. I gotta write Rosalie tonight too.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
29 March 1952
My Dearest Rosalie
Had KP today, Sunday of all days to. We could’ve slept in this morning, but no they drag me out of bed at 630. Whatta blow. It ain’t the KP I mind, it’s the idea of getting up early.
Went to church today then walked over by a river and burned up a couple of rolls of film. Some guys are going on R&R so I’ll get them developed.
Got some more beer tonight, three bottles per man. We’re getting some Japanese beer in now. It’s the same kind of beer we used to get back in Chitose. It’s not too good a beer, but it’s better than water.
There are a lot of rumors floating around that we’re going on a five day problem. I thought that we were through with all that crap when we left Hokkaido. I guess they ran out of things to harass us with, so they thought up this problem.
It shouldn’t be too bad tho, it isn’t as cold as it was, so at least we won’t freeze to death out there. Maybe even we’ll get to pitch pup tents, we don’t know yet.
That’s about all I can think of tonight sweetheart so I’ll close for now.
Bye for now honey don’t ever forget you got a guy over here in the
this h___ hole who loves you and thinks the world of you and he misses you terribly
All my Love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
30 March 1951 (1952)
Dear Mom and Dad
Had the day off today for a change. Went to church this morning with Hook. Burned up a couple of rolls of film. It was a real beautiful day out today, just about perfect in fact.
Didn’t do anything today, just mostly loafed around, got caught up on our sleep. We usually get up at about 6:00 every morning as we have a formation at 6:30 and by 8 we have to have the tent ready for inspection.
We’re going to run a five day problem starting tomorrow. I thought that we were all thru with those problems when we left Hokkaido. We don’t get hardly any rest back here in our “rest area” it seems.
That’s about all the news I can think of now so I’ll close for now. I hope that your back is ok by now.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
31 March 1952
My Dearest Rosalie
This will be my last letter for a couple of days as we’re leaving on a problem early in the morning, if they say early, it’ll be darn early. This is supposed to be rougher than anything we had back in Japan, and we had some pretty rough ones
back there.
Mail hasn’t come in yet so I don’t know if I got any or not. I don’t think I’ll wait up for it, as it usually doesn’t
come til about 10 or so.
Had classes today, mostly on patrols. After all the patrols we run, we still gotta have classes on them. We’ll probably
be getting those til we get out of the army.
I’m about ready to sack out and get a few hours sleep before we go. I hope you understand it isn’t
cuz I don’t love you because I do, more than ever before, that this is so short.
Bye for now
All my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
31 March 1952
Chorwan
Dear Mom and Dad
Got your package last night will all the candles and Vienna sausage. Thanks a lot for sending everything, I sure can use all of it.
We got paid today, I’m
going to save a couple of months pay so when I go on R&R I can buy some dishes and stuff. We only get about two days notice before you go. If I’m lucky I’ll get to go back to Japan for about five days. If you don’t go
to Japan, they ship you back to Seoul for three days. Seoul is pretty much built up again since the Chinese left. We went thru there once, but it was dark so we didn’t see too much of it.
Had classes most of the day today. Had classes on patrols and stuff like that. All the stuff we do every night when we’re on line, so it really wasn’t to teach us anything, just more or less to kill time.
It was real nice out today again, nice and warm
That’s about all I can think of now so I’ll close for now
Love
Ken
NOTE TO READER: PLEASE SEE THE SECTION ON NEWSPAPER ARTICLES TO SEE THE ARTICLES WRITTEN THAT KEN TALKS ABOUT IN THESE LAST FEW LETTERS IN MARCH.