Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
4 April (May) 1952
Chorwon, Korea
Hi Sweetheart
How’s my girl today, fine I hope!
It’s really hot over here now, must be up around 80 or so. We sweat like mad just thinking about working so
we don’t think about it, just goof off most of the time.
Was out on patrol all last night, we got to come in early tho, we came in around 3:30 or so.
It was the coldest night we’ve had in a long time. Every time it’s our squad’s turn to go out its bad weather. We’ve been out five times now, it’s rained a couple of times, snowed once and the other two times it was
just plain cold like it was last night. It wouldn’t be bad at all if it was a walking patrol, but we just go out a few hundred yards and lay down and wait for Joe Chink to come along. You get mighty cold just lying there waiting. We’ll
probably catch that about once now before we leave this place. Rumor has it we leave the 16th instead of the 20th as we were originally supposed to. Sooner we leave here the better. This place is no good.
Got to quit for a few minutes as we gotta test fire our guns.
Just got thru shooting my gun and it still works, now I gotta clean it. That is always the
worst part of shooting your gun, you gotta clean it when you’re thru shooting.
We’re going to get a lot of sleep tonight if Joe Chink doesn’t
bother us. I got guard from 8-10:15 then am thru for tonight. Don’t have to get up until 9:00 in the morning too, so I got it pretty soft tonight.
We ought to be getting some mail pretty soon now, haven’t got any in about four days now, so we’re just about due for some.
That’s about all
the news there is right now, not too much happening now. The artillery has let up some now, we’re not catching hardly any now at all, just occasionally a round drops in on us. Just enough to keep us from running around too much, it’s
just mostly to harass us I guess, they don’t aim at anything in particular. They just throw it over here, hoping there’s some GI is where it lands.
Goodnight sweetheart I can’t think of anything else to write, so I’ll close for now.
All my Love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
4 April (May) 1952
Dear Mom and Dad
It’s real hot today, you sweat like mad just thinking about working, so we’re not doing any work.
Our squad was out on patrol all last night.
It was real windy last night so it was good and cold out there. Every time our squad goes out its bad weather, rained twice, snowed once and was real cold the other time, then last night it was cold again. About every night we didn’t go out,
it’s pretty nice out. It seems our squad is always getting bad weather.
Got Ed and Helen’s box last night with the canned fruit. They
sure come in handy as we only get two meals a day, then C-rations for supper. We eat breakfast at 9:50 in the morning. That’s always scrambled eggs, spam and coffee. Then dinner at 3:30 which is usually pretty good, then we can eat
our c-rations at night when we come in off of guard.
There isn’t much else to write about now so I’ll close for now
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
7 April (May) 1952
Chorwon, Korean
Hi Honey
Got five letters from “my gal” last night and needless to say I was very glad to receive them.
You thought that I might be irritated with you because
you asked what we did? You know I love you too much to ever be irritated with you. It’s just when you see a buddy who you’ve trained with for a year get hit, it does something to do you, especially when there’s no reason for anyone
being over here in the first place. It makes you sorta bitter toward everything, and I guess I overdid it a little, I’m sorry, I won’t do it again. OK?
That was a real cute picture you drew of yourself, looks real comfortable with a costume like that. Your hair must really must be long now – but don’t you dare cut it til I get home, they’ll be trouble if you do.
The way you talk I’m going to be a slave driver no less. You give me a guilty conscience just thinking about it. I don’t think you’re going to have to worry too much about working very much as we got too much loving to catch up
on.
We’re expecting a hundred percent guard tonight as there is quite a few patrols out tonight, so the wheels must be expecting trouble. One good
thing there’s a nice bright moon out tonight so we can see quite a bit. Got to sack out really so if we gotta get up, I got some sleep anyhow. I’ll close for now and finish this tomorrow if I get time.
All my Love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
7 April (May)
Dear Mom and Dad
It
was another real beautiful day out again today.
We’re supposed to leave here on the 16th of May for reserve. Rumor has it we’ll spend
about thirty days back there. I sure hope so, we need the rest so I hope we get some time.
Not too much to write about now, got a phone call from Gus today,
he’s got a whole flock of rumors about rotation but we don’t know anything for sure as yet, so I won’t write about them.
We’ve still been
catching a lot of mortar and artillery in on us, so we don’t wander out too much. I probably won’t get to see Gus until we go back to reserve, I hate to walk across that valley. Joe Chink is liable to throw in a round at any time down
there.
There isn’t any more to write about so I’ll close for now
Love
Ken
Wednesday 3:45 pm
May 7, 1952
My Dear Mr. and Mrs. Nash:
Your thoughtful letter of April 28th
arrived a few minutes ago, and I am very grateful for it.
I recall very fondly some of the happiest days in my life spent at your home and farm last spring.
Your warm and friendly hospitality has always been a treasured memory, and your letter today does more than adding to it.
I’ve often hoped to write you,
especially to thank you for the wonderful time we all experienced during our visit, but our daily tasks have limited our free time. It’s very quiet and peaceful here this afternoon, not even outgoing artillery round can be heard, and that is quite
unusual. I’m happy to have a few moments in which to thank you for your kindness in writing me; and for all you’ve done for both Ken and I. It isn’t often we meet such wonderful friends, and to have you as such means so much to
me. It must be quiet and beautiful at your lovely and peaceful homestead again with the first season of spring upon us, and I can just smell the cool evening air lingering throughout your countryside. We miss all these things of life we hold so
dear to our hearts and God willing they will soon be restored to us.
I know I speak for Ken too, in saying that our loving families, our loved ones and dear friends
have never let us down in these very lonely months away from them, our country and beloved church. We are more than just proud of them, we are thankful to God for such faithful and God fearing parents.
When I first met Rosalie, I knew in my heart, the wonderful family she had at home. I was never wrong in this belief. In every manner, she reflects her loving family. She speaks very highly of all of you, ad she has every reason for doing
so.
How much better this world would be if all children would follow their parent’s example in Christian living. Your prayers have been a very constant
source of strength and comfort, and God has been merciful to us having delivered us oh so many times.
I can just picture little Nancy praying, and as Jesus said,
“Suffer the little children to come unto me for of such is the Kingdom of heaven.” May God bless her and the Christian parents who teach her the love of God.
I hope this letter finds you all well and happy. I really feel honored to have your letter, especially since you all are so very busy with the many tasks around the farm.
I’m indeed happy if I’ve been of any help to Rosalie. She and Ken are my very dearest friends, and always say a prayer for them for the blessings of a future life together. I talked with Ken over the phone earlier this afternoon, and
he is just fine. Haven’t seen him in two months, but hope to, late next week. Our daily prayer is for peace and God willing it will be soon. We hope to leave Korea in late July and should be seeing you sometime in August. It will
be a most happy day to be home again.
You have mentioned Psalm 121 in your letter, and it is so vivid in my heart and mind. My dearest mother gave me this
psalm when I departed for the Army January 15, 1951. It is most beautiful and true. Daily, I derive great joy and comfort from it. God bless and keep you all.
Greetings to all the family.
Yours prayerfully,
Love –
Gus
5/7/52
Dear Mom and Dad
I sure thank you for coming up Sunday – sometimes I oughta be kicked for not showing
my appreciation more. I really did want to see you – I saw a Short Ways bus Sunday morning and I would have given anything to be on it headed home so it was a very nice surprise when Mrs. Gibson told me you were coming. Thank you for everything.
School has been going O.K. - of course first as much work as ever. Your visit gave me some encouragement. Wouldn’t you know it – I only have
two midterms to take and they’re both next Wed.
Had a nice letter from Ken yesterday. They are really in the thick of the fighting this time.
Don’t hardly dare leave their bunkers during the day and are alerted on 100% guard a lot a night. Had a letter from his mother today. Marc and Marilyn are coming- will be here weekend of May 25th. I won’t have
to work that weekend so am lucky on that count.
I asked Kay to come home with me but she doesn’t feel that she should – it’s probably just as
well with all we’ve got planned.
There isn’t much news. I wrote to Barb and Bud but there isn’t much to tell them either. I must
get my dates straightened out so I can write Hector to see if they’ll put me in on. My exams are finished on the 14th so I could start to work on a Monday but I don’t know when I have to be back here – I know I have at least
a week I can work. There isn’t much other news. I’ll take a bus about 5 or 6 Friday night – see you then –
Love
Rosalie
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
8 April (May) 1952
Chorwon, Korea
My Dearest Rosalie
No news tonight, just ain’t done nothing since yesterday. We didn’t see any sign of Joe Chink last night, but two companies over got hit. They got an outpost over run, so they went out and took it back, so Old Joe pushed them right
back off, then this morning we got it back. That was about 1000 yards down the line, so they didn’t bother us any.
I got off of guard duty at 1015
tonight so I’ll get a lot of sleep, I hope.
Seven more days on line and then we go back. Thirty days or more back there. Yesterday we had our
anniversary, 100 days on line for the 180th R.C.T. We got 30 days more than the other two regiments. The 180th was on line before the other two left Japan.
We got some new rules here now, we can’t go out without our steel helmets on, we got also to wear a shirt and we can’t roll our sleeves up. It costs us a dollar and extra guard duty at night. I don’t think too much of the idea
of wearing a shirt all the time, it gets awful hot sometimes.
That’s about all the gab I can think of now so I’ll bring this to a screeching halt
as they would say in the army.
This letter is “purely from hunger”, I just can’t get with it. I won’t give you your 25 lashes and
you don’t give me mine and we’ll be even, ok?
Bye for now sweet heart. I’m sending you
All my Love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
10 April (May) 1952
Chorwon, Korea
Dear Mom and Dad
Had church services this afternoon, so I got to go this week. By next week we ought to be off the line and back in reserve.
We’re catching a little
mortar right now. A round lands every few minutes, they throw just enough over here to keep us in our bunkers.
It’s real hot out again today.
Hasn’t rained now for a couple of weeks, so we haven’t gotten wet for a while.
I need some more stationery, as I am just about out of it. It’s
just about impossible to get it over here. So I’d appreciate it if you’d send me some more.
There isn’t too much more news right now so
I’ll close for now.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
11 April (May) 1952
Korea
My Dearest Rosalie
Just dragged my weary bones out of the sack. Got up early this morning, it’s about 1:30 now. We spent the night out on patrol. Stayed out til 400 this morning, got back to our bunker around five, ate some c-rations then went to bed.
Just got up a few minutes ago, got too hot to sleep.
We’re supposed to leave the line Thursday night. We’re supposed to be back there about
a month according to present plans but the army can change their plans all of a sudden like. Maybe we’ll even be back longer, I sure hope so. I’m in no hurry to go back on line if we’re coming back, which I certainly don’t
want to do.
I’ll bring this letter to a close and mail it. We gotta take them to chow if we want to mail them and chow is in a few minutes.
If I don’t mail it then it won’t go til tomorrow. I’ll write a longer one this afternoon.
All my Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
12April (May) 1952
Chorwon, Korea
My Dearest Rosalie
Went down to chow today to mail your letter and that’s about all I got to do. Old Joe started dropping in mortars on us, so we got out of there, but fast! That was bout 300 and he’s still dropping them and its seven o’clock now.
He must have dropped a couple of hundred rounds on us. We get a round in on every couple of minutes. Those mortars scare me a lot worse than rifles or machine guns, rifle fire you can shoot back but those darn mortars, you can’t tell where
they come from or where they’re going to hit. I’m sure glad we don’t have patrol tonight. Some of rounds have been landing out there where we go. We don’t catch that anymore, as we’ll be off line before it’s
our turn again.
Last night it was real warm out on patrol. It was the first real good night we had to go on patrol, the moon was real bright, you could
see two or three hundred yards in all directions. We was sitting along the river banks, I was sitting right next to a big rock, so I leaned my gun up against the rock, leaned back up against the rock and propped my feet up on another rock. Was
real comfortable too. Got to day dreaming out there, since I was sitting next to Rosalie (the gun) so I just simulated that was the real thing, so I just snuggled up close and pretended it was you and we was sitting out in your pasture catching up on
lost time. It was kinda silly I guess, but it was fun. When I get home I can replace the substitute with the real thing and whatta happy day that is going to be.
Just got thru eating c-rations and old Joe is still throwing the mortars in on us. It’s about 830 now, maybe pretty soon they will let up for a while. We’ve been catching them now for five and a half hours now. This is by far
the longest we’ve ever got shelled.
Usually it just lasts about 15 or 20 minutes.
It’s about time your guy got ready for guard, got 2 hours and fifteen minutes of guard then sleep the rest of the night, I hope.
Good night sweetheart,
I love you with all my heart and soul and miss you terrible. I pray to the good Lord that soon we can be together again for always.
All my Love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
13 April (May) 1952
Chorwon, Korea
Dear Mom and Dad
Nothing much happening right now, we’re just waiting to head back for our reserve area. We’re just sitting in our bunkers all and sleeping or playing pinochle. Nothing else to do.
It’s real hot out again today. The nights are a lot warmer now than they have been for quite a while. You don’t freeze to death when you go on an all night patrol anymore.
There really isn’t any news to write about. We do the same thing every day.
I’ll close for now.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
14 April (May) 1952
My Dearest Rosalie
Not much news today, haven’t done anything exciting in the last couple of days. The Gooks are still throwing mortar at us like mad. We just got til tomorrow to sweat it out, we get off line tomorrow night after dark sometime. It’s
really going to be nice to get off this line. I hope that we get back to near where Gus is at. If everything goes according to schedule, we should be right next to his battalion. It’s the first and seconds turn to go back together,
so they most likely will.
Had a fairly quiet night last night, just the usual amount of artillery. We don’t see any chinks but the next company over
did. They were making a lot of noise for a while anyhow. Old Joe doesn’t seem to bother Easy Company too much and I sure hope he doesn’t start.
It’s still hotter than you know what over here. Hasn’t rained in a while, and as far as I’m concerned I don’t care if it every rains again or not.
I can’t think of much more to write. This will probably be the last letter for a few days as we have to have all letters in the mail by chow and it’s a lot that time now. We won’t get another chance to mail them until we are in
our reserve area. So I’ll close for now sweetheart, will write again soon as we get back into reserve.
Bye for now, don’t forget that you got
a guy over here who loves you
All my Love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
18 April (May) 1952
Chorwon, Korea
Dear Mom and Dad
We moved back into reserve again this morning. We moved back to the same old area where we was before.
Sorry I ain’t written for a couple of days,
but we couldn’t mail letters anyhow for a couple of days, so I didn’t write. Nothing new happened anyhow, so I didn’t have nothing to write about. Always before we moved they close the mail box about two days before hand.
I’m real glad we moved out of that area we was in, no one ever felt very safe up there. The chinks used to shell our chow area quite a bit, so we didn’t
always go to chow. Just about everyone lost weight up there. I hope that if we gotta go back up on line we never get another place like that.
We didn’t
get any sleep last night so I’m just about ready to take a nap before chow tonight. By the way, I got promoted to Corporal the other day.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
17 April (May) 1952
My Dearest Rosalie
We got back to our reserve area this morning. It’s really good to get out of that place. That was the worst place we’ve ever been in, that darn artillery kept us shaky all the time. The first fifteen days up there I went to chow
six times.
I wasn’t sure for a while we was going to get off the line for a while this morning. Just about the time our replacements starting arriving
the Gooks started throwing mortar and artillery like we’ve never seen before. They kept it up for about an hour and forty five minutes. Soon as they quit we really got out of there on the double. Don’t know how long we’re going
to be here, but it can’t be long enough for me.
Chow
Just
got thru with chow, had hamburgers. Seems good to be able to sit down and eat and not worry the Gooks are going to start shelling you.
Went up to see Gus
this afternoon, seemed real glad to see me. We shot the breeze for a couple of hours. Told each other all our “war stories.” We’re going to go to church together tomorrow up at our battalion headquarters.
Had a minor change in address the other day. The only change was about $25 a month or so. Now I’m getting about $4.10 a day instead of a miserable $3.50. Was reading about the new GI Bill they got in congress now. It would give
you $300 on discharge and also you could go to school at $150 a month if you was married for 36 months. That sounds a lot better that $110 a month.
Going
to bed early tonight as we didn’t get any sleep last night and we get to get up at five tomorrow morning.
That’s about all the news there is.
Just found out there’s going to be a rifle inspection at 530 in the morning. If you was a man I’d give you my opinion on that, but since you’re a lady, I can’t.
I’m getting too tired to write so I’ll close for now. I should be cleaning my gun now, but I’m not going to. I’ll be hanged if I’ll stay up and clean it.
Bye for now sweetheart soon we’ll be together and share all our dreams.
All my Love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
19 May 1952
Dear Mom and Dad
About
all we’ve been doing back here in reserve now is having a bunch of inspections. We get up at 5:00 every morning back here and the inspections usually start around 700.
Went up to see Gus yesterday, he’s about half a mile up the road from where we are. We had church services here yesterday so I went up there. Our regular chaplain got rotated today so he gave his last sermon. Everyone liked him real
well too, I don’t know who we’re going to get for a new one.
It’s a real dark dreary day out today. Looks like it wants to rain and can’t.
Everything is real dry and dusty out now. It hasn’t rained in a while so all the ground is dust.
We’re supposed to get showers and clean clothes
this afternoon. Ours are getting pretty dirty, we’ve had those on for a couple of weeks now.
There isn’t too much news now so I’ll close
for now.
Love
Ken
5/19/52
Monday Night
Dear Mom and Dad,
Thanx loads for bringing that stuff up to me. I
may not always show my fullest appreciation but I do love you for all the service things you do for me. I’m tellin the world I’ve got the best parents that ever was. Just the love, understanding, and encouragement you give me is worth
more to me than any amount of financial aid you could give me. My experiences here are doing very good things for me. Each new thing I’m faced with helps me to grow stronger in character-spiritually and morally. With God’s guidance
which I strive for always I hope I shall always make you proud of me and feel that your years of hard work and sacrifice haven’t been in vain.
The dinner
tonight, Spartan Round Table, was undoubtedly one of the nicest experiences I’ve had here at State. There were probably about 60 there – comptroller, head of food service services, men’s dorms, women’s dorms, counselors and ass’t
counselors for both men and women, manager of the Union plus presidents of all the men’s and women’s dorms, State News Editor, Pres of Student congress, class officers, A.W.S. President, etc plus Mrs. Hannah. The dinner was so nice I’d
never eaten at a banquet at the Union before. I’ve helped get them ready so many times, it was interesting to see how they worked. We had tomato and cottage cheese salad, lettuce with blue cheese dressing, Turkey and dressings, potatoes,
green beans, coffee and ice cream on a real good brownie sort of cake topped with chocolate sauce. After dinner Pres. Hannah talked to us then we asked questions about various things – he would answer them or some members of staff would answer
for him. It was very fine.
I wrote to Mrs. Zill today – invited Ed, Helen, Marc, Marilyn, Mr. and Mrs. Zill-Told her if they already had something
planned for Saturday night maybe she and Marc and Marilyn could come to Saturday lunch – that would be all right – I’m sure they could make that.
Ken wrote 2 letters today – last one dated May 11. Said they were coming off the line what would have been last Thursday. That was a tremendously big prayer answered that he returned safely from all the danger he has faced there on the line.
He says they will probably be behind the lines about 30 days – he doesn’t know for sure but doesn’t think they’ll be sent back again. They will have been on the line over a hundred days when they leave the line this time –
giving them 30 more days than the other two regiments. The 180th was on the line before the others left Japan.
There isn’t much more news
– I think both your cakes were very good. Kay shared the white cake with me and Jo shared the sponge cake – it was so good – so was the chicken- I’m listening to the records now. Thanks Janie for letting me take the record
player and your dresses – you are a sweetie.
Must close now and get to bed. Bye now. I’ll see you Friday shortly after noon with the bus
to Howell.
Love
Rosalie
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
Sometime in May
My Dearest Rosalie
We got the morning off today I guess, anyhow we ain’t done nothing yet. They dragged us out of the sack about 500 this morning. I’m a little under the weather today as we had a company party last night. The last of the Okkies
left on rotation last night and they threw a party and whatta party.
Saw Gus again last night at the chapel. We shot the breeze for a while after the services.
I think I’ll wander up there tonight again.
Just had chow, wasn’t much good but it was chow. Some bloody kind of fish, carp I guess. Maybe
we’ll get something good for supper. Every once in a while the cooks surprise us with something good.
It’s real hot and muggy out today, just
the type of day you don’t fell like doing anything but sleep. If we don’t do anything this afternoon that’s exactly what I’m going to do. There’s rumors floating around that we may have a dental checkup this afternoon.
They usually have something like that to harass the troops.
We should be getting some mail tonight we ain’t got any since the day before we left the line,
so we about due for some. There isn’t too much more news now, it’s about time for me to take a nap.
So I’ll close for now and rack out for
a little while. Bye for now sweetheart. I’ll write again tonight.
All my Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
20 May 1952
My Dearest Darling Rosalie
It’s now about 330 AM and I’m on guard duty. Only I can’t get with it to stay outside. It’s kinda chilly out there so I’m staying here in the tent. I wander out there every once in a while and look the situation
over tho about once every hour.
We started training yesterday morning and whatta pain in the neck. We need that training about like we need holes in the
head. We’re having classes on stuff we’ve been doing ever since we got over here, but I guess I can put up with it for a little while. We’re supposed to go out at seven this morning and come back at around 300 tomorrow morning.
Some more crap to harass the troops, we sure don’t learn anything. All these classes are just plain stupid, they’re designed just so we don’t get any time off. As far as a practical value, there ain’t any. Enough about
my troubles tho.
Old Gus really has got himself the job now. He’s company clerk, takes care of all the company’s records etc, just a general
flunky more or less.
My hair is getting real long now, must be all of two inches long. I’m getting so I comb it a lot more often now, about once or
twice a week now. It’s getting about four now so I gotta wake up another old boy now then maybe I’ll wander out and check my post, but I ain’t decided as yet. You’ll have to excuse me for a couple of minutes.
Went swimming last night, in fact the whole company did. We came back by the river so we all went in swimming. The weather was real hot, but the water wasn’t even warm, it was cold, but it was fun to go in anyhow. We were so tired and sweaty
it was pitiful, so it sure didn’t do us any hurt.
It’s just starting to crack dawn out now, the sky’s getting lighter, so it won’t be
too long before it’s another day. Everything over here is getting real pretty. Everything looked so bleak last time we went on line and when we came back we hardly even recognized the place, it’s really rather pretty. Not near as nice
as A2 by a long ways tho.
It’s almost time to wake up the troops, we gotta get up with the birds in this man’s army. There’s some darn
coo coo birds sounding off down the road now so I guess the birds are up. It’s about four thirty now.
Not much else new, Gus said to give you his
love and he said they received your letter and was very glad to hear from you.
That’s about all I can think of this time dearest. We’re starting
to get our replacements in now, got 32 so far, so it won’t be too long before one comes with a tag around his neck with Zill on it. It can’t be too soon to suit me as I’m getting awful anxious to get home to you and hold you tight and
kiss your dear lips again. And tell you that I love you and want you to be my wife.
Til then
All my Love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
20 May 1952
180th Reserve Army
Dear Mom and Dad
Not much news today, all we did today was to have inspections. It’s really hot out today, must be up in the 80s. It’s one of those days you don’t feel like doing anything but seep and it’s too hot to sleep.
We need rain awful bad as all the ground is powder. Every time a truck goes by it makes a dust storm.
We’re supposed to start training tomorrow.
We got some new replacements in so we gotta train them. We need training about like we need holes in the head. Besides its too hot to do any training anyhow.
Got your package last night with the nuts. Thanks a lot for sending them.
There isn’t any more news so I’ll close.
Love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
22 May 1952
Dear Mom and Dad
Didn’t
get a chance to write yesterday. We went out at seven in the morning and came back in about 230 this morning. Slept til about 11 this morning then went swimming down in the river for a while, then came back and slept for a while. We was swimming
in that river of which I mailed out the pictures of.
It’s raining out tonight in fact it’s started about three this afternoon. Got your box
tonight with the canned goods in it. Thanks a lot for sending it.
We don’t know if we’re going back on line. If our regiment goes back,
our battalion should stay always behind the line as it is our turn. Last time when we spent 40 days on line the other two battalions only spent 20 on line each, so it’s our turn to stay back. But we don’t know for sure.
There isn’t too much more news.
Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
23 May 1952 or thereabouts
My Dearest Rosalie
Slept most of the day then went swimming for a while in the river. Started raining about three this afternoon and it’s still raining and it’s about eight thirty now.
Had a little problem yesterday, went out about 700 yesterday morning and came in about 2:30 this morning. Was pretty well beat when we got in. Still tired as heck, so I’m going to bed early tonight. Got the new T Bird news so I’ll
mail that on to you.
There ain’t no hot news tonight, don’t know where we’re going from here or when I’m in no hurry to move tho.
It’s about time for me to hit the hay, so I’ll close for now. Promise I’ll do better tomorrow
Goodbye for now sweet heart.
All my love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
26 May 1952
My Dearest Rosalie
This
is going to take all the records for being short as I’m really beat. They’ve been running us ragged back here in our “rest area.” (ha ha) We started a problem at five yesterday morning and got thru about one this morning.
Had to get up at five this morning and had classes from seven to five this afternoon and right after chow we got shots. It’s now about 8:30 and this is about the first free time we’ve had all day. We probably won’t get any rest
until we get back on line and we don’t oversleep up there for sure.
We rise at five in the morning so I’m going to close now and get a little sleep.
I hope you understand why this is so short, I can hardly stay awake
Bye for now sweetheart
All my Love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
26 May 1952
Dear Mom and Dad
Just
a few lines to let you know everything is OK. We’ve really been run thru the mill back here, we’ve been getting less sleep and rest back here than what we did on the line. Last night we ran a problem till 1200, got up at five this morning
and had class from seven to five today and then went and got shots this evening. It’s now about 830 and this is the first free time we’ve had today. I’m going to bed soon as we gotta get up at five again.
Not too much else to write about, so I’ll close for now.
Love
Ken
5/26/52
Dear Mother and Dad,
Just a note to thank you for everything this week-end. Everything went off so
nicely and they really enjoyed themselves – thank you for everything. Tell Janie that is was very sweet of her to do my dishes for me. I sure appreciated it.
Issy called Mrs. Zill Saturday afternoon and asked where I was – Ruth had been trying to get a hold of her all day Saturday, but couldn’t reach her. Mrs. Zill apparently didn’t understand that I was coming down Sunday tho I felt sure
I’d made my plans clear. We stopped at Zill’s when we got in A2 for a few minutes then Ed and Helen drove me over to Issy’s – but she was out as I knew she would be – and didn’t leave a key for me so I stayed overnight
at E & Hs. Had to call Zills and tell them not to pick me up for church Sun morning becuz I’d be going with Ed and Helen. Mrs. Zill called Helen bright and early Sun. morning to tell her to tell me not to forget to call my aunt so I wouldn’t
be in the dog house with her, she was really worried. I waited til after church to call her – she wasn’t mad – I guess – she shouldn’t haven’t anyway. She had a real bad cold.
Two of Ken’s cousins were confirmed yesterday. They make a great deal of it – there were about 25 kids and adults confirmed. They give gifts and have big dinners and open houses afterwards. Ken’s Aunt Rose and Uncle Bill
(he works at Argus) had us all to dinner Sunday – their daughter, Sharon, was confirmed – there were about 25 of us there for dinner. It was really good – chicken – something like your chicken tetrazzini – on some kind of
pastry sort of cup – and just everything else to eat – lemon meringue pie for dessert. We did the dishes after dinner then went back to Zill’s and watched television and visited. We had a nice lunch at night. Marilyn, Helen
and I did the dishes and got a nice visit in – they’re so curious about the wedding and all – they get me all the more excited.
Marc, Marilyn,
and Dad Zill drove me back last night – got here about 10:00. They met the Gibson’s and took them up to see my room and they left right away. Mom Zill is quite worried about Ken – the last letter was written the 10th
– I’ve had one since dated the 12th. He’s probably just moving back but they are really quite worried.
Had a letter from Barb.
I’m enclosing and am also enclosing the $5.00 Dad gave me – the only reason I needed it was becuz I’d forgotten my wallet and might have needed some for bus fare. So thanks for it.
I must close now. If I can get off work I’ll come home for Jane’s commencement. Guess the (?) won’t begin at least today – that is a relief.
Bye for now – thanks again for everything.
Love,
Rosalie
P.S. I’ll get a bus to Pinckney if I come for commencement – if I can’t come well, I won’t be home for Memorial Day – I’ll plan to stay home over Memorial Day if I do come to commencement.
Monday nite
– 3 letters from Ken today – 14, 17 and 18th. He arrived safely back behind the lines the 17th. His Co. and Gus’ are right next to each other. They went to church with each other and I guess are close enough
that they can see each other quite often. Ken’s a corporal now – makes $25 more a month – he says the G.I. Bill will give us $150 a month for 36 months – if married – and $300 upon discharge. You might as well get
ready for a December wedding because I think that’s what it will be. Ed and Helen - Marc and Marilyn think it would be fine – if that means anything – I haven’t said anymore to Kennie’s mom, but won’t until he’s
home and we can talk more definitely.
Bye for now again.
Lovingly
Rosalie
Richard said to send Ken a cake for his birthday so get plenty of eggs and popcorn ready! Bye again!
Miss Rosalie Zill
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
28 May 1952
180th Reserve Area
My Dearest Rosalie
Ran another problem today, whatta pain in the arm. Had tanks and infantry in the attack. Was a waste of time I think. The infantry doesn’t have much use for the tanks and vice versa. We just stated the problem and some replacement fell
and broke his leg. Lucky stiff, doesn’t know how lucky he is, that means at least 6 months in Japan.
Hotter than a firecracker out today, really getting
dusty out now too. Couple of inches of dust where ever you go. By the time you get this we’ll be back on line. We’re to be there for 14 days. Our battalion has 20 more line days than any other battalion in the regiment, and our
regiment has 40 days more than any other regiment, so we’re getting a rather raw deal. After that it looks reserve, the big one, way back. We’re supposed to train replacements back there. We’ve got about forty replacements
in already and we’re supposed to get twenty more in before we go back.
Got a good dose of asthma today, so I’m going to sick call tomorrow and take
the day off. I’m going to go to bed early.
Seen Gus last night and he said to give his love to you and that he will answer your letter soon.
Got a letter from Mother Nash last night, was real glad to hear from her.
I don’t feel too well, so I’m going to sack out for a while. Take
a little nap before I go to bed.
Bye for now sweetheart, don’t ever forget I love you now and forever.
All my Love
Ken
Miss Rosalie Nash
218 W Grand River
East Lansing, Michigan
30 May 1952
Hi Sweetheart
Got your
letter today with all the clippings in it about the time you’re having up there at M.S.C. If those guys like to go on raids they got all the chances in the world to make raids over here. After about one raid over here they’d be glad
to go back to their books and be good boys for a while.
Gus came up for a while tonight and we shot the breeze for a while. His battalion is going up on
line tomorrow night too, so we’ll be coming back off together. He isn’t too anxious to go back on line either, no one is in fact. I was really hoping we wouldn’t have to go back, but I guess it’s God’s will, so back
we go for our 14 day hitch.
Just got paid, so that means we got another $90 saved for our future. We’ll probably need all we can get, but I guess
we won’t be too bad off. As long as we have each other, that’s all that counts. Being together is worth more than all the money in the world to me.
Had to work all day today, got put on a detail filling up a sump. It was about an hour’s job, but it took eight of us all day. We just couldn’t get with it, so we just goofed off mostly. We knew if we come back, we’d have
to go to some classes which we didn’t need. We had some of the stupidest classes, one was on how to eat chow on the line. After spending 6 months in this place, they give us a class on that.
It’s about time for the sandman to come around so I’m afraid I’m going to have to close and get in the sack before he comes around. But I still got time to tell you your future husband is in love with you and he misses you something
awful. But those points are starting to add up and is getting pretty close to where they add up to rotation pretty soon. Til they hit 36 (that’s the magic number) I guess I’ll just have to dream
Bye for now
All my love
Ken
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Zill
1713 Maryfield
Ann Arbor, Michigan
30 May 1952
Dear Mom and Dad
Been
raining out all morning, and most of last night. Not steady tho, just off and on. Kinda chilly out today also, it’s cold enough to wear a jacket.
Just had inspection this morning and this afternoon we’re supposed to have a class on how to eat when we’re on line. When you eat on line you can’t bunch up any, you gotta keep at least 10 yards between men. I guess we haven’t
been doing it long enough yet to know how we’re supposed to do it.
We’re supposed to go back on line tomorrow night sometime. We’re only
going to be there 14 days, so that ain’t near as bad as it was last time.
Saw Gus the other day and he said to say hello to you.
There isn’t too much more news so I’ll close for now
Love
Ken