Mount Ayr Record News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
date clipped off, 1945

Dear Friends:

Just a few lines to let you know about where I am, but I could tell you much quicker where I have'nt (sic) been than where I have. Very few places I have'nt been over here, and for sure, not much over two more logical places I can go, is my guess, (ha).

I like the island fine, really think it is the best island I have been on. The climate is grand, very cool at night and always a good breeze from the ocean. In the heat of the day it's very hot except when cloudy. We do get storms here, wind and rain from the sea, really pours for a day or more at a time. When the island is repaired and built up it will be a wonderful place to be from, (ha).

Have had one ration of beer here, so you see it's water, or else. Have a P. X., get fresh meat, maybe twice a week, then the rest of the time it's dehydrated, or can-food. What-a-meal.

This is one place money is of no value to you, except in the P. I. and for envelopes. They just pay us ten dollars a month, that's a plenty. They are trying to keep a plenty. They are trying to keep down inflation, and I do believe it's a very good thing. Should have done it in the Philippines, those people hold you up. I know the Japs didn't treat them like the Americans have; if they wanted anything they just took it.

Civilians here are located in camps or villages, they can't understand really what is going on, never so much equipment in their lives before. They raise rice and sweet potatoes, the women do the work in the fields and the men are guards or boss. These women can carry more on their head than I can lift up, it seems impossible, they carry it for hours and never take it off when they rest.

They have rice paddies about the size of a garden all-over the village. When the rice is growing it's covered with water most of the time, and it gets about knee high, similar to oats the grain is above ground.

I sure wouldn't take a lot for what I have seen in the Pacific, but I wouldn't give a penny for anymore.

Thirty-eight months overseas is a long time and the past ten months hasn't been a picinc by any means. I have 78 points, just enough for the duration unless things change in the near future. Some of the boys are being discharged with lots of points, 100 or more. My guess is that I will put in more that 45 months before I get home; sure isn't justice.

NOTE: Okinawa was the largest of the Ryukyu Islands.

Merle MILLER of Grant City, MO, daughter of Mrs. Dora MILLER of Corning and Carl HOLLAND, son of Mrs. Lesta HOLLAND of Blockton, were united in marriage August 21 in the home of Mr. and Mrs. HOLLAND of Leon. After a brief honeymoon trip through Colorado, the couple will reside on the HOOVER farm east of Blockton.
~ Mount Ayr Record News, Thursday, September 02, 1954.

Submission by Theola Weeda

Transcription & notes by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2013