A contrast of two lives, a soldier and a coed.
April 2, 1952
Dearest Mother and Dad,
I still haven’t been able to find out if I’m to work
this coming weekend. I guess the only way we can leave it is if I don’t to come home – I won’t call first because I don’t think it will be necessary – try and keep that ole bill down.
Registration didn’t go too badly at all. I’m carrying 17 credits. Am taking Child Growth and development – 6 credits, Studio Art, American Civilization (History Class) Christian Ethics, and Christian History. Those last two religious
courses are electives. Mondays and Wednesdays I have 8 hours of class. Tuesdays I have 4 ½ hours. Friday I’m thru at noon. This class schedule means I’ll be working nights at the Union. It works out fine there
because they had enough girls there at noon and needed someone at night.
My checks came through – a total of $25.00 and some cents. I’ll have
a small check coming tomorrow also. My books and supplies so far have come to $7.30. I will get along just fine. I’m sure so don’t worry about anything.
I had four letters from Ken waiting for me when I got back. He’s back in reserve but they have so many inspections etc. that they don’t get much rest. They are also training. They’ve taken all their winter clothing away
from them, that’s maybe a good sign. The letter I had from him today was dated Mar. 26th.
Everything is going just fine. Thank you
for all the wonderful things you both have done for me – always- but especially in the last few weeks I was home. I love you so for such swell parents – the best a gal ever had!
I hope you found Gus’, Miss Peterson and Mrs. Alin’s letters and saved them. Guess that’s all. I’ll see you when I see you. Bye now.
Lovingly Yours,
Rosalie
4 April 1952
Chorwan
Dear Mom and Dad
We just got back from our
problem. In my opinion it was a waste of time, but over here our opinion doesn’t count. We were supposed to get familiar with the territory, so in case the Chinese push us off the line, we’ll know where to go. To me all the hills look
about the same. We’re not expecting a spring offensive this year like there was last, not as long as the peace talks last anyhow.
We didn’t
walk around any hills, we walked over all of them, and it seemed uphill all the way.
Sorry to hear you got to wear a brace for six weeks. I hope your back
gets OK soon so you won’t have to wear that too long.
We didn’t know when we go back on line again, but it’ll probably be within four or five
days from now. This should be almost our last time on line. That’s just our guess tho, we don’t know anything for sure.
It’s pretty
nice over here now, it hasn’t started to rain as yet. I guess that when it starts it really rains. A lot of our bunkers up on line are starting to cave in. They were all built in the winter when the ground was frozen, and not that it’s
thawing the walls are starting to cave in.
Got a 45th News to send on to you.
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
April 4
My Dearest Rosalie
Got back
from our little problem this afternoon. Just as soon as we got back the whole company got hiked off to the showers. We’re going to have a parade tomorrow. Some general is going to pass out medals to some of the boys. I don’t
have to be in it tho, as just the riflemen are going to be in it. Us, Barmen and machine gunners don’t have to do anything. So we’ve been razzing everyone else about it. They were out an hour this afternoon practicing the manuals
of arms and drilling. Us, Barmen just stood here in the door of the tent and laughed at them and that really made them mad. Over here we don’t care much for parades and stuff like that.
We did quite a bit of walking on our problem, as just about all of it was uphill it seemed. I was really beat when we got back. We were supposed to familiarize ourselves with the land so in case we gotta retreat, we’ll know the land.
It was almost sort of an endurance test to see how fast we could move over the ground. We didn’t go around any of the hills, we went over all of them.
We’re supposed to be headed back for the front in a few days, four or five I guess. (You’ll have to excuse the penmanship, its normal tonight.)
Got
the 45th Div News today, not too much in it but war stories.
That’s about all I can think of new honey, so I’m going to close and get a
little sleep. Will write more tomorrow.
Bye for now, this is the guy who loves you saying goodnight
All my love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
5 April 1952
Chorwan
My Dearest Rosalie
Had most of the day off today, so as usual I didn’t do anything. The general came over to E Company this morning and passed out a few medals. Had the band playing too, but our band isn’t much good, so they didn’t help the ceremony any.
I wandered up and watched it, it only lasted about 25 minutes or so. Our boys got two silver stars and two bronze stars. They were all awarded for what happened on hill 290 last Jan. 12.
We got all our stuff packed ready to go back on line pretty soon. We’ll probably be going back up around Monday or Tuesday. We’ll most likely have tomorrow off so we can go to church. We’re supposed to be on line 42 days,
then I hope that that is our last time o line. That will give us about 120 days on line and in my opinion that’s about 120 days too many.
I was hoping
that I could see Gus while we were back here, but they didn’t give us permission to go. He must be about 10 miles from here.
It’s a real beautiful
day out today, real sunny and bright and warm. Just the kind of day to go on a picnic out in some lonely place. Take out a lot food, portable and a girl, but it has to be a real special girl tho, one you’re really and truly in love with,
namely a girl named Rosalie. I think that would be a lot of fun, don’t you? Something like we did last Memorial Day, in your pasture, I’ll never forget that day. Anyhow we can dream can’t we? I guess that’s about
all we can do, til we’re in each other’s arms again, for good, never to be separated again.
But until we’re together again, I guess I’ll
just have to go on loving you and dreaming about you.
Goodnight sweetheart
All my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
5 April
Dear Mom and Dad
Got the afternoon off. It’s a real beautiful day out too. The general came over to E Company today and passed out a few medals. Our company had two silver and a couple of bronze stars. Even had the division band was down here,
it was a real short ceremony, but it was kinda nice.
Didn’t do anything else, just played some pinochle to kill time. Outside of that there’s
nothing to do. We haven’t got enough level ground to pay any football or anything like that.
We’re supposed to have tomorrow off, so we’ll
probably get a chance to go to church again tomorrow.
That’s about all I can think of now so I’ll close.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
6 April
My Dearest Rosalie
Went to
church this morning and outside of that I didn’t do nothing just couldn’t get with it.
Something funny happened at chow this morning. We had
pancakes and usually I go back for seconds when we do. Anyhow when I came thru the line this morning the cooks had a special made pancake for me. It was about 18 inches in diameter and a little over ½ inch thick. It was cooked all
the way thru too and was real good. The cook was trying to cure me of coming back for seconds all the time.
Slept most of the day today as there wasn’t
anything else to do. We’re supposed to go back on line Tuesday norming, probably around three or four in the morning. Sometime before it gets light anyhow.
Monday we’re going to go to the range and shoot our guns. I don’t even know if mine will shoot or not, so I’m anxious to find out before we go on line. We’ll most likely spend the morning out there, then come back here and clean
our guns all afternoon.
Right now I’m on guard duty. I’m supposed to be a fire guard but we do all that from inside of our tents by the stove.
It’s about 130 and I go off in about 10 minutes so I’d better close now and wake up the next guy.
Bye for now sweetheart. I love you now and
always will.
All my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
April 6 1952
Chorwon, Korea
Dear Mom and Dad
Went to chapel services this afternoon, outside of that didn’t do anything today. Tomorrow we’re going to go out to the rifle range and shoot our guns. We’ll probably be out there all morning then get the afternoon off so we can
clean our guns.
We had pancakes this morning for breakfast, and I usually go thru the second’s line when we have them. The cooks made me a pancake
this morning about 18 inches in diameter so I wouldn’t have to go back for seconds this morning. I was really surprised when they handed me that big old pancake, I’ve never seen one so huge before. It was good tho and I ate it all.
It was real nice out again today, nice and warm again.
There isn’t too much news so I’ll close for now.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
Palm Sunday
April 6, 1952
Dear Rosalie:
It’s a beautiful warm and sunny afternoon as I sit here on my cot listening to the Classics. It’s the kind of day that one dreams of, quiet and peaceful.
Tomorrow we go up front again, until May 19th. God willing it might be our last trip up front. I was so happy to get your beautiful and thoughtful Easter card, and agree, we’re over the hump now, and that happy day is coming.
It can’t be too soon – we’re all so tired of this forgotten war; in which American blood is still being shed.
Our daily prayer is for peace
among all of mankind. I guess only the fellows who have fought here really know the story of this ugly conflict.
Our only real comfort is to know that our
loving Father cares for us, and that our family and loves ones await our return.
However, there is a brighter side too, because it’s fellows like Kenny
and myself who must see that peace is secure once we have achieved it. We look forward to a new and happier life when again home and believe me Rosalie, the “best years of our lives,” are yet to come.
I miss not seeing Ken, but I know his absence must be even harder for you to bear. It’s the woman who needs the man, and your man will be home soon.
I know how you must feel staying in Ann Arbor, our Saturday nights are lonely but we remember so well the happiness we knew while home, and are faithful in believing that we shall experience it once again, and this time for keeps.
We had a beautiful chapel service this morning on “Christian Families and the church.” There is no greater happiness than a Christian family; we know that so well, and cherish it with all our hearts.
I hope you’re keeping up the good grades and are enjoying all your extra activities. Tell me Rosalie, where do you find all the time to study, participate in student government and write your dearest Ken?
You must hold some kind of record. I’ll bet you don’t even average as much sleep as we do. Needless to say, you’re doing really wonderful. Kenny is coming home to the best, and yours truly is coming along to collect that
hello kiss.
Must get a little tan now, so will sign off until next time.
God bless and keep you always
Love
G. William
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
8 April 1952
Dear Mom and Dad
Got
another box of cookies last night, thanks a lot for sending them.
We’re supposed to be leaving the line in about a week from today. I think we’re
supposed to go back to Pyong Dong Po (I don’t know if that’s spelled right or not), that’s quite a ways back anyhow. We’re going to do some more training back there.
There isn’t too much to write about as we haven’t done anything new here.
We sure ought to be home for fall, because we’ll have 36 points in
June and that’s enough for rotation, so we ought to leave here in the summer sometime.
There isn’t anything else to write about so I’ll close
for now.
Love
Ken
April 8, 1952
Wed. nite
Dear Mom and Dad,
Rec’d your letter yesterday and thanx for the
check. I think I’ll apply it on room rent. I haven’t cashed it yet. I’m managing O.K. with the money I have tho I thank you always and appreciate your concern. What did you forget to do, stamp that letter – I
had to send 5 cents postage to Howell – they send me a card informing me I had a letter there – please send postage as I did and your letter came back.
My life now is full of meetings, meetings, and more meetings. Tues night we met from 7 until 9:45. Kay and I gave our reports, we elected officers and heard as many petitions as we could. Kay was elected our State News Reporter and I was
appointed A.W. S. Representative to All College Judiciary – you might tell Lou about that and Paul. This morning I sat in on a meeting of the housemothers with Dean King, Mrs. Gonon and Miss Peterson. Tonight we had another Executive Board
meeting to finish up the petitions – that met from 7:00 until 8:45. Tomorrow afternoon I’ve called a meeting of my committee to do the art work on displays that our representatives will take to Penn State with them next week. It looks
like it will be very interesting. Tomorrow night about 40 of us “Wheels” women on campus are meeting at Mrs. Hannah’s, John’s wife – to discuss plans for Lecture Night.
I was worried about all the time these meetings were taking and their conflict with work. But the supervisors have arranged it with the lady who’s in charge of Food Services so that when I have a meeting I just leave when I have to go – otherwise
I was afraid I’d have to give up the job if they couldn’t change my working hours. Now don’t worry about my working – you know how necessary that is to my happiness. I need it as much if not more than food. Part of
it is money but greater than that is the outlet it affords of physical energy. I’ve just about made my mind to drop my art course this term. It’s 2 credits and meets 6 hours a week. I’d rather carry 15 and do a real
good job on the others that do a half job on all of them. This Child Growth course I’m taking is terribly important and I must get a grade on it so I think I’ll drop the art class.
Ken was still in reserve as of his letter written Mar. 31st. They were going out on a problem and he wouldn’t be able to write for a couple of days.
Mrs. Zill wrote me and invited me to come down sometime Saturday, stay overnight with them and go to 6 A.M. communion service and breakfast - they would bring me home after that. I would, no doubt, be back in time to go to church with you. It’s
been as long since I’ve seen them or been to church down there I hope you won’t mind if I accept the invitation.
I’ve got to work Friday night
as we’ll probably get that bus that I usually get at night that arrives in Howell about 8:30 – however just in case I don’t catch that bus don’t come out until I call. I must sign off now as its midnight –
Bye for now
Lovingly
Rosalie
P.S. I might just get a ride home so if I don’t get in leave the house unlocked.
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
9 April 1952
My Dearest Rosalie
We came back up on line again last night. We got up here about 1 am and I guess that we stay here for about 42 days or so. We’re not scheduled to go back into reserve until about the middle of May.
Our positions aren’t so hot this time. We’re sitting down in a valley with the Gooks looking down on us, I’d a lot rather be on a hill looking down on them.
Not too much happened today, slept most of the morning and washed and shaved this afternoon, outside of that we didn’t do anything.
We didn’t hit
it so good on guard this time. We stand 50% on bright moonlit nights and 100% on dark nights. So that means at least 6 hours every night, plus night patrols and such, so we’ll probably spend all our day sleeping.
We’re a bit over a mile from the chow area, so I don’t go to every meal. We got a lot of C rations up here, in fact cases of them, so at least we won’t be hungry when we don’t go to chow.
That’s about all I can think of now so I’ll close for now.
Bye for now sweetheart, don’t forget I love you more and more each day
All my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
9 April 1952
Chorwon
Dear Mom and Dad
We moved back up on line again for a while. I guess we’re supposed to be here about 42 days. We should have just about all our line time in by then.
You asked what the difference was between division reserve and corps reserve. When you’re in division reserve you can be called back to the front at any time to replace a unit that is pretty hard hit. In corps reserve the only time you go
back, is when there is a mass breakthrough. Actually you do the same thing while you’re in reserve, only corps is quite a bit father back. In the army all the big units are divided into three. Three corps to an army, three divisions
to a corps, three regiments to a division, three battalions to a regiment. There are always two up front and one in reserve. If the 45th, the 180th and 279th Inf Regts are on line at the present and the 179th
Inf is in reserve. Every once in a while corps will pull out a battalion or so for corps reserves while the rest of the regt. goes into division reserve.
I don’t know if that helped any but I hope it did.
Love
Ken
April 9, 1952
Wednesday Afternoon
2:30 pm
Dear Rosalie:
We’re over
the hump and in a few months now, God willing we shall be on our way home. However the hardest is yet to come. We are confident of an Armistice soon, but meanwhile our most trying days still confront us.
This is indeed such a strange war. It actually ended a year ago, yes ended, all but the continuation of the shedding of American blood.
To understand this
war, you’d have to be here. During our reserve period, baseball, volleyball and various other sports are taking place, which makes one wonder if he’s in a bad park at home or whether he’s just losing his senses. A few miles from
this joyous scene, patrols are taking place, men are dying, yes even the enemy, for whom we pray, being of a Christian heart.
Then all of a sudden you find yourself
up front again, you’re not worried about patrols as the enemy – you’re sure that whatever comes, you’ll be ready – both with a strong faith and a loaded weapon. We no longer wait for an armistice but rather rotation.
Both seem to be running a close race. Meanwhile – hot and humid weather has set in – bugs, mosquitoes, and other insects begin pestering- thus preventing
you of much needed rest. Hills so very high must be climbed – sweat pours down your face and soon your whole body is saturated with perspiration. There seems to be no end to this confused situation. Militarily the war is over –
politically it drags on.
Pursuing our course of duty as loyal citizens engages in a conflict of which our beloved nation is playing a part, all we can do is pray
and wait.
Nothing can be gained by continuing this fight. The sad part about the whole affair is that we continue to bare the physical strain never before
known in war.
Mentally we face a big fight, we must hold out, soon it will be all over; and our reunion will be a reality. Faith is our strongest weapon
at this stage just as it was in the beginning. Almost unbearable – we are tired – we are lonely – The weeks ahead are a test – we need your prayers now as never before. We know and believe we shall under God, be successful in
this, life’s hardest trial.
This is not a complaint Rosalie, it is not the entire story, only a letter of explanation of what we really face. This
is a test – we are no longer boys, but young men – meeting a challenge of the war weary world. It has made us strong above all in faith. When home again, we’ll be ready to meet any problem because we have that undying faith in
almighty God. And in our selves, as well. As our beloved country, “All things are possible through Him that loved us.”
I only hope that I have
not added confusion to you, and I know you’ll understand. If we could only talk with you, it would be so much easier to explain, but until that day, please bear with us – our hearts are heavy – our thoughts and prayers are with you;
indeed they are many.
Perhaps Ken has written you something similar – I know he’d like to pour out all his feelings to the girl he loves, but maybe
he is waiting until we are again home. Only then will our great tension be released.
I regret that I’ve not seen Ken n the last few weeks. In
the middle of next month, I’ll probably see him again. I miss him greatly.
I hope you find this letter at least half legible. My penmanship
has dropped since leaving home. Your sweet letter of March 30, came in Monday night and I am indeed very happy to have you confide in me some of your many thoughts.
Ken loves you dearly Rosalie he’s so proud of you – he speaks so wonderfully and happily about you. We both realize the situations you’re now facing – yet we know you so well – far more than what you may expect. Proud
of you, we know you shall meet any test you face. Jo-told me of similar experiences when I was at Polk. It takes a Christian young woman to defeat life’s temptations. Believe me Rosalie you are that type of person. This I believe.
You are so right in saying that all battles are not fought or won on battlefields. The enemy is found everywhere. Our weapon of faith is our treasured
guardian. It will be our prayer today and always til we meet again that Gold will keep us in the true faith to live everlasting.
Soon, we shall prayerfully
start new lives – the days are flying- our blessed reunion is coming. “Watch yea therefore and pray”-
I will be more than happy to answer any
questions you might have. I wish that my letters could be longer – I would so much like to answer your letter word for word, but time is so limited. This may be a “Forgotten War,” Rosalie, but we know that our beloved parents,
our sisters and brothers and friends have never forgotten us in prayers and thoughts. Our loved ones are indeed with us. I correspond with 43 people including – dearest mom. If Kay would write I will be happy to have her letters. It’s
always nice to meet someone new. That’s thirty for now. God Bless and keep you –
Love –
G. William
PS. Be seeing you soon –
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Good Friday
10 April
Dear Mom and Dad
Not too much going on right now. It’s drizzling out today, first time it’s rained since Christmas day. It isn’t too chilly out today, but it’s not real warm either.
There really isn’t too much to write about, all we do up here is stand guard and sleep. We’re standing more guard up here than we ever did before. We stand from 6 to 8 hours every night, so we sleep most of the day.
It sure doesn’t seem like Good Friday today, but I guess it is. We aren’t having services up here, I guess the chaplain can’t get up here. Even the trucks with rations are having some trouble getting thru to us.
There isn’t too much to write about so I’ll close.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
12 April 1952
My Dearest Rosalie
Got your letter this morning in mail call. We spent the night on an outpost about 500 yards out in front of our lines. Rained most of the night and was it ever cold. I never been so wet and cold in all my life. In all we spent nine
hours out there.
You also asked to tell more about what we’re doing. Usually you don’t write home most of it because you’d probably just
worry more, but since you asked I’ll tell you. Our company got commended for their fine work on hill 290 last Jan 12. A couple of the boys got “Silver Stars” for gallantry above and beyond the call of duty), one of them will never
know it tho, he’s still out on hill 290. He’s out there with four other boys. They got hit with mortar and got blown to pieces and we couldn’t get their bodies back.
Two days ago one of the Listening Posts got overrun and a couple of guys got killed because their machine guns wouldn’t work. They had forgot to clean it, so it cost them their lives.
Three days ago a shell landed in one of the companies chow area and killed 8 and wounded eighteen. One of the guys who got killed was supposed to have been rotated in about 10 days.
Tonight one of the companies in the first battalion is going on a raiding party. They’re going to clean out all the Gooks in this valley. Maybe they won’t see any and then again they might not ever come back. You never know what’s
going to happen.
The most casualties we have ever had is on 290 when we had 51 or 52 altogether. There is guys getting killed every day, but you never read
about all that in papers. They usually just say light patrol action.
I don’t like to write home stuff like that, but if you want to hear it, I tell.
Please don’t worry tho, as long as we have God looking out for us, everything will be OK. He won’t let anything happen that wouldn’t be our good. As long as we have faith and trust in him he’ll protect us.
The article you sent on the peace talks sounds good. We haven’t heard anything about it, but I sure hope that it’s right. Sounds almost too good to be true tho.
That’s about all I can think of right now. I slept all day, til four, cleaned my gun and now it’s about 6:30 and our guard starts at seven. It’s going to be a cold windy night out tonight, you can just feel it in the air.
I’m glad I don’t have to go anywhere tonight. By tomorrow I should be pretty well caught up on my sleep.
Gotta close now and get ready for guard
duty. Bye for now honey, remember always that I love you and miss you and am anxiously awaiting the day I can return to you for good.
Til then I’m
just your poor lonely soldier boy,
All my love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
11 April 1952
My Dearest Rosalie
It’s raining out today, so we’re standing in today. Then too every once in a while old Joe Chink sends his Easter greetings over. We were working on our bunker this afternoon, when Old Joe threw some “greetings” at us, so
that kinda discouraged us from working. We’re going to work most of the night on it, as Joe doesn’t bother us at night except for a patrol now and then.
Slept in til noon today, didn’t get to bed until about 6 this morning tho, so I didn’t over sleep. Wrote Gus a letter this afternoon. I haven’t seen him for a couple of months now. I don’t think his battalion is on
line right now, I’m not sure tho.
We haven’t got any mail since we’ve been up here, maybe we’ll be lucky and get some tonight or tomorrow.
It’s getting almost chow time, but I doubt if I’ll go tonight, it’s too far to walk.
That’s about all I can think of right now so I’ll close for now, sorry this is so short but I just can’t think of anything else to write.
Bye for now,
All my love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
12 April 1952
Easter Sunday
Hi Sweetheart
Just got back from a little patrol, didn’t see anything tho. I was planning on going to church this morning but had to go on patrol instead. We got lost on the way back and found ourselves in the middle of a mine field, so we walked way back
to where we got lost, then came in.
It isn’t raining today but it looks like it might at any time, real chilly out too.
Haven’t heard anything on the peace talks in the last week or so. But I guess that the war is still going on as the artillery is still banging away.
Stayed up all of last night and worked on our bunker. Old Joe Chink doesn’t like it when we work in the daytime. He usually voices his disapproval with a few mortar rounds. At night he doesn’t much care, mainly because he can’t
see us.
Not much news right now except that I love you, but that ain’t really new that happened quite a while ago, but it grows every day and I like
to tell you, cuz you’re so wonderful and you mean so much to me. I’ll be able to tell you in person before not too awfully long tho.
It’s
about time for your soldier boy to close and get a little shut eye before he goes on guard tonight. It’s going to be fun tonight, it just started to rain, so it’ll most likely rain all night. It’s really fun standing out in the
rain for six hours or so, but that’s life.
Bye for now sweetheart
All my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
12 April
Dear Mom and Dad
Not much news now
except that our raining season has started and we’re in mud up to our necks. Just about everything is mud, I’ve never seen so much. Our clothes are just covered with mud.
If you got a big map of Korea maybe you can figure out where we are. We’re right on the Chorwon Highway just about where it crosses a river. I think that is the Inijin, but I’m not sure. There’s a fork – the river
and the highway run right by.
There isn’t too much news right now. We just stay in our holes all day and stand guard at night. We don’t
venture out near as much as we used to.
I’m going to close now and get some sleep.
Love
Ken
P.S. Just got your box with the Easter candy and candles. Thanks ever so much for sending it. I’ll be needing some envelopes soon too.
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
15 April 1952
Dear Mom and Dad
Not
much going on right now. Slept all morning and walked over and took a shower this afternoon. It was about a three mile walk so it wasn’t too bad.
It’s raining just off and on now, we got an awful lot of mud right now. We’ll probably continue to do so for about a month.
The nights over
here are still pretty chilly, especially if you’ve got wet feet and we do all the time. We just got our regular boots on now, and they don’t keep the water out at all. It looks a lot like rain tonight, so it most likely will rain.
They’re really working hard on the peace talks now. Heard the radio today and they met for 20 seconds. Sure seems like they don’t want to
get his war over with very fast.
That’s about all I can think of now.
Love
Ken
April 16, 1952
Wednesday
Dear Mother and Dad,
Got back here about five Sunday nite and went
straight to bed. Kay had a solo part in an Easter cantata at People’s Church at 8:00 I went with Mrs. Vint – Kay’s mother to hear her. She did very well. Think I’m finally getting caught up on my sleep.
Dropped my art class so that gives me all of Tuesday morning to study. Our meeting last night lasted until nearly 10:00 and we didn’t get finished again so we meet again Thursday morning at 8:00 to finish up the petitions.
Received a letter from Barby that I’m enclosing. It made me feel so bad for her – it made me cry – I can imagine it will do the same for you. I wish somehow someone could go to be with her – it seems impossible now.
Ken also came through with a letter yesterday – date April 6th –Palm Sunday – they were leaving for the front a week ago Tuesday morning and will be there until May 21st. I so hope and pray that this is the last
time they shall have to go before rotated. Said that when they went through the chow line that day the cooks had made especially for him a huge pancake about 18 inches in diameter – he was always coming back for seconds so they thought they’d cure
him.
Thurs. a.m.
I went up to Booth’s last night right after work and stayed until 11:30 – took a late pass. Everything went just fine – if I get time again I shall plan to go again soon.
It’s 10 after 7 a.m. now. We didn’t get our petitions finished Tuesday night so we’re going to finish them this morning.
There really
isn’t much news. Thanks for everything last weekend – must sign off now and get going-
Write soon-
Lovingly
Rosalie
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
18 April 1952
Chorwon, Korea
My Dearest Rosalie
Just got in from guard and its only 3:45 so I’m going to write you.
Our patrol didn’t find anything tonight, we had three of them out all told.
I was lucky and didn’t have to go, but will most likely end up going tomorrow night. We got another company out in front of us tonight looking for Joe Chink but so far they haven’t found him.
It’s real cold out tonight I liked to have froze to death standing out there. It’s windy out tonight and we stand guard on the bank of the Injin River and that doesn’t make it any warmer. We stand guard out in front of the barbwire,
so if we ever get hit, I’ll have to go about 40 yards or so of wide open country to get back to my bunker.
Got up in time for chow today for a change.
It was just breaking dawn when I got there, about 230 this afternoon. Really hurt getting up so early. Between us and the chow area we got three tanks and every once in a while they fire to try and draw enemy artillery fire so our artillery can
shoot at their artillery. Simple, huh? Anyhow just as I started back those bloody tanks opened up and sure enough in a couple of minutes Ole Joe started shooting back. Here I was three quarters of a mile from home and artillery coming in,
so I just headed for the nearest bunker. It was a three man bunker with six guys already in it, so with seven of us it was really crowded. They shot back and forth at each other for about an hour and a half.
That’s about all the news I can think of now so I’ll close and get some sleep. Bye for now sweetheart, I’m sending you a kiss over the ocean. Goodnight dearest
All my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
18 April 1952
Dear Mom and Dad
It’s
snowing instead of raining today for a change. It’s a real wet heavy snow, probably will melt pretty soon.
Got your box of cookies yesterday, thanks a lot for sending them, they sure are good,
We got church services tomorrow so I’ll walk back there if I get a
chance. Last Sunday I was on patrol so I couldn’t go. Far as I know there isn’t anything going on tomorrow, so I’ll probably get to go. It’s back about two miles behind the line. It takes about an hour to walk
it, with all the mud you don’t make very good time
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
19 April 1952
My Dearest Rosalie
Got your box of cookies today and boy are they good. Thank you so much for sending them, they really are good.
It’s snowing today for a change, not snowflakes
tho, shovel fulls. They are the biggest flakes I’ve ever seen. It’s a real wet heavy snow, melts almost as fast as it lands, all except about an inch and a half. It’s colder out today than it has been lately. Boy we’re
going to feeze our tail off tonight.
Didn’t see any sign of Joe Chink last night, he didn’t come out anywhere around Chorwon. Usually if he
leaves us alone he bothers someone else. It was real quiet the last night.
I’m going to go to church tomorrow, Gus is supposed to be there.
He’s going to the same service that I’m going to go to. I wrote him and told him to be there so he probably will be. I’m sure going to unless our squad catches patrols again like we did last Sunday.
That’s about all the news I can think of now sweetheart so I’ll close for now. Bye for now sweetheart I’m sending all my love via the mail.
Your guy
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
20 April 1951(2)
My Dearest Rosalie
Went to the showers today and got all clean clothes. Also one of the boys came back from R&R with some pictures I had him develop. They came out pretty good. Got a couple of stamps I stuck in two, you may as well have them, I don’t
need them.
Had a real quiet nite last night, didn’t even hear anything, sorta chilyl out tho.
Just got word we’re getting some ice cream. Ain’t had any ice cream since I can’t remember when.
There isn’t much more news, slept
until noon today. Got to bed early last night, it was only about 400, tonight I’ll stay up until 6:00 then sleep til about 3 or four tomorrow.
That’s
about all I can think of now so I’ll close for now.
Bye for now dearest. I love you now and always, it won’t be too long before we can be together
again, for always.
All my love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
20 April 1952
Chorwon, Korea
My Dearest Rosalie
Old Joe chink paid us a social call last night. He didn’t stay too long tho, we wasn’t too glad to see him. There was between 15 and 20 gooks that came up here.
It was real dark and foggy out last night, you could only see about 25 yards or so. They came around about 2:00 am. All but four stopped in the river bed and those four came up to the barb wire and started cutting it. Someone heard them and
shot a flare over there. Then we could see them about 100 yards off. We opened fire on them with machine guns and mortars and that sorta discouraged them from coming any farther up the hill. They just more or less took off. It only
lasted about 15 minutes or so. We got four aprons of bar wire out in front of us, and by the time we knew they were there, they had cut thru three of them and were starting on the fourth. So today we had the job of patching up the barb wire.
We didn’t have church services today so I couldn’t go. I was really disappointed too, cuz I didn’t get a chance to go last week. There’s
a chance they will be held tomorrow or Tuesday tho. I sure hope so.
Our snow has just about all melted now, just a little bit left on some of the high hills.
It was real nice and warm out today, so it didn’t last too long. Good riddance, it wasn’t any good anyhow.
I shaved today for a change, first
time in a week or so. Really had a nice beard too, hated to shave it off, but it was scratching and itching to beat the blazes.
Got the new Div news to
mail on to you, not too much news in it right now. One good story in it tho “Draftees from here to eternity.” I ain’t got my 36 points yet, will only have 32 when we leave the line this time. If we stay back in reserves
long enough, about a month, I’ll have my 36 and be eligible for rotation.
I really got with it on letter writing today. Wrote both moms, Ed
and Helen, Marc and Marilyn and one of my old customers at the store. Six letters in one day is the most I’ve ever written I believe. When I get out of the army I ain’t ever going to write another letter.
That’s about all I can think of now so I’ll close now and get a little sleep before I go on guard tonight.
Nite sweetheart, sweet dreams and don’t
forget you got a guy over here who is in love with you and misses you awfully much.
All my Love
Ken
20 April 1951 (2)
Dear Mom and Dad
Not much news today, took a shower this afternoon and slept all morning.
Got some pictures back from Tokyo, one of the guys took them with him when he went on R&R.
Its cold out today, it’s real windy, I guess that’s
what makes it so cold.
Outside of that there really isn’t anything to write about so I’ll close.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
24 April
My Dearest Rosalie
It’s
about two o’clock now, just got up a little while ago. We was on a night patrol last night. We’re supposed to stay out until five this morning but old Joe chased us in about two this morning. We threw a couple of grenades at him,
then pulled a Hank Snow. Came back to our own bunker and sacked out til now.
We moved out of our valley yesterday, up to the top of a big hill. I
like this hill a lot better than our valley. If we would have got hit down in the valley our chances of getting out would have been pretty poor. Up here we got a lot better chance. Not that we’re expecting to get hit, but you never
know what’s going to happen.
It’s real hot out today, seems more like July than April.
It’s chow time, I’ll finish this right after chow.
Just got back from chow, wasn’t too good. Stew, how I hate that stuff, it’s absolutely
no good. That is positively the worst stuff the army has.
Going to play some pinochle this afternoon over in the next squad. I’m the only one
in the squad who plays, so I gotta go elsewhere to play. There’s three guys down there who like to play so we pay four handed cut throat. It’s really a lot of fun and when there’s nothing to do we play a lot.
We got guard in the day time now. We gotta have one guy awake all the time. Up until now we all sleep all day and no one is on guard at all in the day time.
Had another airstrike out in front of our position today. One of the planes didn’t quite make it back tho, it crashed into a hillside and we didn’t see any parachute, so I imagine the pilot got killed. They really blew the h___ out
of that hill tho, it was just covered with smoke when they left it.
There really isn’t too much news tonight other than what I already have written so I’ll
close for now. Tonight we’re going to get a lot of sleep as we only pull three hours guard every night, then break is at ten in the morning, so we’re going to have it pretty good. Every couple of nights they drag us out on an all-night
patrol.
Goodbye for now sweetheart, I gotta pull an hour’s guard this afternoon, then got the day off. I’m sending you all my love.
Ken
Mr. Richard Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
24 April 1952
Dear Rich
Got your letter yesterday,was
real glad to hear from you.
We moved yesterday from down in the valley where we was to the top of a hill. We can over look Chorwon, or what used to be Chorwon, from here. It's about 4 miles east
of here. There's only one building left standing in the whole town. Most of the towns and villages over here are pretty well shot up.
We're not doing much again this time on line.
We catch a patrol once every three or four nights. We still wear two jackets at night, cuz it's still pretty cold and we're supposed to stay out from 8-5 unless old Joe Chink chases us in before that. We just stay out there until we spot Joe, then
cut loose at him, then pull back into our lines.
The days up here are real nice again now, real warm, fact its hot today.
Our squad was out
last night, we came in about 200 tho.
That's about all the news I can think of now so I'll close for now
Love
Ken
PS Thanks for sending those clippings.
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
25 April 1952
Chorwon, Korea
My Dearest Rosalie
Guess what? Three letters today all postmarked East Lansing. To say the least they raised my spirits considerably. That was a real sweet poem that you sent me that expresses my sentiments exactly.
Got a phone call from Gus this morning. He moved right next to Easy Company last night. They got their outpost hit last night by about a dozen Gooks. I’m going to wander over there tomorrow sometime and see him. I’ll say
hello to him for you when I see him.
Later
Just got in from guard duty and it’s about 1030 now. I’m thru for the night now, I hope. The boys are real jumpy out tonight, been shooting quite a bit. Every little
noise gets about a dozen bullets thrown at it. We got a lot of rats running around over here and they make quite a lot of noise running around, so I guess most of the shooting is at them. We got our searchlights out tonight. You’ve
see those big lights they have at carnivals, well we got them behind our lines and they reflect a light off the clouds. Helps a while lot when there’s no moon like tonight.
There isn’t much more news so I’ll close and get some sleep. They may call an 100% alert at any time and that could last all night, so I’d better get a little sleep while I can
Bye for now sweetheart, I’m thinking of you all the time, more now than ever as you are a habit of mine, you’re about all I can think of, and I love it
All my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
25 April 1952
Chorwon, Korea
Dear Mom and Dad
Rained all morning today, everything is pretty muddy again. It’s warm tho so it isn’t too bad out.
We’ve been getting a lot more sleep
now that we’ve moved up here on the hill. We only stand two or three hours a night, so that isn’t too bad.
Found out this morning that Gus’s
company is the next one over. He’s just about ½ mile from here, so I’m going to wander over there tomorrow and see him.
There isn’t
too much to write about right now, we were supposed to have church this afternoon, but it was called off on account of the rains. So now we’re going to have to wait until Sunday. That’s about all I can think of now so I’ll close.
Love,
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
26 April 1952
Chorwon, Korea
Hi Sweetheart
Didn’t get to go over and see Gus today, old Joe Chink was throwing quite a bit of mortar and artillery in on us, so we’re all staying pretty close to our holes.
The chaplain came up to Easy Company today, so I got a chance to go, sure was good to go after not going there in a couple of weeks. It really means a lot to me to be able to go to church and I don’t like it too good when I can’t go.
I am surprised the chaplain came this far up front, usually they don’t come this for up, especially with all the “incoming mail” we’ve been catching. The only time the jeeps and trucks will come up is at night on account of the
artillery and he came driving right on up.
Didn’t get hit last night, didn’t see any Gooks, altho I guess there was some out there. We could
see their flashlights out there. When Joe goes on patrol at night they use flashlights for signaling. Every time we see one, we open up on it, and throw a few mortars out there. That sorta discourages the Gooks from using flashlights too
much.
It’s a real dark dreary day out today, looks like it’s going to rain at any time, has sprinkled just a little today too.
Cleaned my gun this morning for a change, it was really a job too, as it had rusted quite a bit. Had to use a lot of sand paper to get it off, but I got it cleaned again, it’ll be clean probably for only a few hours. I’ll take it out
on guard tonight and it’ll get really dirty again. We’re supposed to clean them every day, but usually we can’t get with it, and only clean them about every other day.
We got a radio in our bunker now so we can listen to some music. We can get about two stations, on from Sedai and one from Tokyo. About all there is is music and news so it’s pretty nice. The only trouble there’s always a mob
of guys in here listening to the radio.
That’s about all the news there is now honey so I’ll close.
Bye for now sweetheart, don’t forget I always love you and miss you so much it hurts, but it won’t be long before we can be together again, for good.
All my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
26 April
Dear Mom and Dad
Didn’t
get over to see Gus today. The chinks been throwing some mortar rounds at us, so we’re staying pretty close to our holes. Maybe tomorrow we’ll get a chance to go out for a while. They’re not dropping right where we are but
right between us and where Gus is, so I’m not too anxious to walk over there.
It’s real dark out today, looks a lot like rain, hasn’t rained
since yesterday, so we really need it.
We got about three weeks left up here on line, then we ought to go back for a while. We’ve been up here since
the 9th and we’re supposed to leave on or about the 20th of May, so we got this time on the line about half whipped.
If we’re
lucky we won’t come back again, but you can never tell what’s going to happen.
That’s about all the time I got now as its chow time so I’ll
close.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
28 April 1952
Chorwon, Korea
My Dearest
Nothing has happened since yesterday, except that it’s raining again, so everything we got is all wet. Really a nice mess, but I guess that’s life, Just one of those things.
Haven’t gotten over to see Gus yet old Joe doesn’t seem to want us to get out of our holes, so we don’t wander out too much. It ain’t healthy.
Didn’t even see one sign of Old Joe last night, he wasn’t anywhere around our area. We’re kinda looking for him to come out the 30th. The 1st is May Day and that to the commies is a big day, and if they hit
us, we expect it to be on the night of the 30th or morning of the first. I just hope we don’t have a patrol that night cuz I’d hate to get caught out in front of our lines when Old Joe attacks. It ain’t a good place to be, I’ll
clue ya! If we make it out by that night, we shouldn’t have it too bad for a while.
It’s our turn for patrol tonight, but I hope that none go
out tonight as its going to be rather wet and cold, I’d rather go tomorrow, it may not be raining then.
You don’t ever have to worry about looking
like a “mangy witch,” you’ll always look like a dream to me even if you was bald you’d still look good. Don’t worry either about getting “thrown out of the trailer” cuz I’ll come right out after you.
It’s almost chow time so I‘d better close and take this down to chow and mail it. If I don’t take it down now it won’t get mailed until
tomorrow morning
So I’ll say goodnight for now sweetheart.
I’m just your guy saying he loves you and misses you.
Bye for now
All my Love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
28 April 1952
Chorwon, Korea
Dear Mom and Dad
Got your box of cookies last night and they sure are good. Thanks a lot for sending them.
It’s been raining all morning so about everything we got
is wet again. It’s our turn to go on patrol today, so we’ll probably get pretty wet and cold. We only catch that about once a week or so, so it isn’t too bad.
Haven’t gotten over to see Gus as yet as we’ve been catching mortar about everyday now, and that kinda discourages me from going over there.
Not too
much else to write about, we had church up here Sat afternoon tho. The chaplain came right up here to the front, usually they don’t come way up here, but this one did.
That congregation in Neb., Marcus got a call from doesn’t sound like it’s too big.
That’s about all I can think of now so I’ll close.
Love
Ken
April 29, 1952
Tuesday, morn.
Dear Mother and Dad,
I’m sitting here in Morrell Hall waiting
for an instructor to show up for an appointment I made with him yesterday. It is nearly 8:30 and he hasn’t show up yet.
Arrived back about 5:30 Sunday,
took my junk to Gibson’s and then went to the library. I decided to put the term paper aside for a few days – you get stale on something like that. So I worked until late on my case study. One of them must be completed by May
19th so I have a great deal to do to. To complicate matters my partner dropped out of school yesterday and took our case study book with her – of all the stupid things to do – she lives in Flint. I’d just as soon do
it by myself – this partner business isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I don’t know how I’m going to complete everything but I will somehow. This is the hardest term I’ve ever spent. I don’t think
I’d better plan to come home week-ends after my next time home becuz I’ve just go too much to do and it’s impossible to do it at home. Nothing against you, dear family, but I can’t expect you to wait on me hand and foot nor can
I sit by and do nothing so I’d better stay here and work my fool head off.
Had two letters from Ken yesterday, one from his mom and one from Marcus and
Marilyn. It has been alternately snowing and raining there and has been miserable to do anything in it. Said he was going to church – that would be last Sunday and planned to meet Gus there - I hope they did. Said he received those
cookies I sent him. I made them way last term – ginger snaps and sugar cookies. I’ll probably be hearing from Gus soon probably about his having received the ones I sent him.
Marc and Marilyn are going to accept the call to Sioux City, Iowa. He preaches his farewell sermon May 11 then they are coming to A2 for a few days then down to St. Louis, MO to pick up Marilyn’s mother – she is going to help them get settled.
The parsonage has been somewhat flooded so guess they will have a job on their hands. Mrs. Zill wrote and wants me to be able to come down when M & M do come and of course I want to. Somehow I would like you and Dad to meet them.
Jean, the president, called said my poster was one of the outstanding ones there and that I had received many compliments on it –was one of the best organized.
Jean Richard’s boat is sailing earlier than expected so she is contemplating dropping out of school as it will leave before exams begin. She is between the devil and the deep blue sea – of course she feels she must go but hates to leave.
But one can hardly blame here. She’s going home to talk to her Mother about it today.
Mother – I dropped another class today – I’m
down to 12 credits now. What do you think of that? I think I’ve got a fair chance of coming out in a fair mental state now. Before I was scared stiff.
Ken sent me a bunch of pictures today. I’m going to send them – all except for one to his mother. He had two or three that were of him and just darling. I’ll show them to you next time I am home.
I can’t think of much more. Thanks for the swell weekend. I hope you didn’t mind too much becuz I was so anti-social. I came sick yesterday – maybe that was why. Well, must sign off for now. I love you all muchly
–
Lovingly
Rosalie
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
29 April 1952
Chorwon, Korea
My Dearest Rosalie
Didn’t get out today yet. It was a real beautiful day out today tho. About noon thirty two tanks came up to the line and fired a couple hundred rounds each. Their object was to draw enemy artillery, and believe me they did. They
ought to take all those tanks and give them to the Gooks, they’re no good.
I didn’t know it could get as dark as it was last night. It was real
cloudy then to top it off it was real foggy. Couldn’t hardly see your hand in front of your face. Didn’t have the searchlights on last night as they didn’t do any good. A couple of Gooks came around, but we chased
them off on the double. It was so dark out last night we stood double guard all night, got to bed around 630 this morning. Usually at night we get four or five hours sleep at night, but last night we didn’t. Got kinda tired, too.
I stood guard with another guy from A2 last night by the name of Dean Hume. He’s a Barman too, we were more or less discussing the party we’re going
to have when we got back home. There’s about 45 guys from around A2, and we’re going to have one big fling when we hit A2. He’s got a cottage out at Crooked Lake he offered, so we’ll probably have it out there. It’ll
probably be the last time we’re all together as a bunch, so we’ll make it a good one.
There isn’t too much
more news, slept all day, so we didn’t do much new. It’s almost time for guard so I gotta close and get ready. Bye for now honey, I’m sending you all my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
29 April 1952
Chorwon, Korea
Dear Mom and Dad
Had a real nice day out today, real nice and warm. It was real foggy out last night you couldn’t even see 10 feet in front of you, so we stood double guard all night, didn’t get to bed until 630 this morning. Slept til about 1000 this
morning, it go too hot to sleep, so I got up. It shouldn’t be too dark out tonight, as the search lights will probably be on. Last night it was too foggy to use them.
Maybe I ought to explain about the search lights. You’ve probably seen the big lights they have at carnivals, we got a lot of them a couple miles behind the lines. They reflect a beam off of the clouds and it really makes it quite a bit lighter
out. But when it’s foggy out, they don’t do any good. When there’s snow on the ground they’re really wonderful.
The nights
aren’t so cold anymore, last couple of nights it was fairly nice out.
It’s almost time for guard so I’d better close
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
30 April 1952
Chorwon, Korea
My Dearest Rosalie
Called Gus on our phone today as I didn’t get a chance to go over there. He said he finally got a letter from Jo, first one since last December. He said Jo was getting married this June sometime. He didn’t sound too heartbroken
tho, I guess he’s sorta lost faith in her to put it mildly.
Had a real quiet night last night, about the quietest one we’ve had since we’ve
been on line this time. I hope that it’s quiet out tonight, but I’ve got my doubts. We’re looking for trouble tonight from old Joe, but I hope and pray that we don’t get it.
We’re going to have two companies out patrolling the valley tonight, so if we get hit, they’ll get it first and sorta warn us. They got a couple of companies that was back in blocking position to do that. They can’t spare troops
off the line, so we don’t have to do that, for which I’m thankful. Our squad won’t go out for at least three nights as we were out two nights ago.
Slept most of the day today. We were catching artillery off and on so we didn’t (?)
It’s time for guard so I’ll finish this when I come
back in.
May 1 6 am
Well we made it thru the night without any trouble altho the companies out in front of us got hit. They ran into
some Gooks and had thirteen casualties at last count with still a few guys missing. We’ll probably know more about it after a while.
I should’ve
explained blocking position, when a regiment is on line, two battalions are up front and the other one is back a couple of miles. They use the third one for company patrols, raids, etc.
It looks like it’s going to be a real nice day out today, the sun is just staring to peep over the mountains, it’s very pretty. Don’t very often see a sunrise, usually go to bed just before it starts up. This morning I waited
up as there was a lot of mortar landing out in front of us. That company was coming in and the gooks were throwing mortar at them, and we was throwing it back, also we laid a smoke screen in the valley to cover them. Then we had our quat-fifties
firing over their heads (4 -50 cal machine guns mounted on a tank that all fire as one) It was really quite a show, lasted about an hour or so, but we’re still dropping smoke out there, so there still must be troops out there.
The rumors are sure flying now about rotation, they got us leaving Korea anytime between the last of June and August. We have enough points in June to rotate, so it’ll probably be June or July, nothing definite, I just guess at that.
There isn’t too much more to write about, so I’ll close for now. If no artillery comes in for a while, I’m going to wander over to see Gus.
Goodbye sweetheart, how I wish I could snuggle up close to you and tell you I love you and how wonderful you are and just hold you close. Til I can I’m just your guy.
All my Love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
30 April
Dear Mom and Dad
It’s
a real nice day out today, just about as nice as it can be. Sun is shining real bright and there’s a nice cool breeze. It wasn’t near as dark last night as it was the night before, so we only stood regular guard, so we got about eight
hours sleep.
We got some more artillery in on us this morning again, so we’re not wandering too far from our holes. For about the last week now they’ve
kept us pretty well at home. The other two times on line we didn’t catch any artillery at all. But the Chinese rotated their line troops, and the ones up here now like to shoot artillery.
We still shoot a lot more than they do tho, we shoot about 40 to every one of theirs. About all of their stuff they have on line is carried down from Manchuria, so they can’t afford to waste it like we can. We just shoot about all the time.
That’s about all the news I can think of now so I’ll close for now.
Love
Ken