September 24, 1945 (to Marion Sneen)

Air Mail From Dip

Lingayen Gulf, Luzon

Sept. 24, 1945

Dear Marion –

Yup – I’m on the water again – this time bound for friendly shores – I hope. At least the radio & newspapers say they’re friendly now. You can check the map of Japan & pick out the little “burgh” of Nagoya – that’s where we’re going. They tell us it has been about 30% destroyed, so don’t know what to expect there – a city or a pile of rubbish. It’ll no doubt be the latter.

I’ve been on the beach for about a week trying to get this craft loaded – finally yesterday we finished up & loaded the men aboard. Now we’re anchored off-shore just waiting. It was a headache trying to put together this big jigsaw puzzle of ammo, howitzers, trucks, tractors, bull-dozers, etc. etc. etc. We finally squeeze in the last one – it fit much to my amazement. I kept glancing on shore at various stages of the loading & each time I did the boat got smaller & the dunnage got bigger. Never thought we’d get it all in.

Lee is in Manila now – did you know? He called me one day from there, and of course we made big plans to meet the next weekend. In the meantime I was sent in a big rush with bag & baggage to the beach to help load the boat, so we didn’t even get to see each other. I’m writing Lee today to explain. Guess we’ll have to meet in the Viking Room or some other congenial spot back home.

When the BC came aboard yesterday he gave me two letters from you – they were really in the nick of time – I had been up all night & needed that little stimulus.

I see you got the package I sent & seems to me it made excellent time. Thanks for the X – Silly girl – I could tell it wasn’t a R.R. crossing. They taste & feel lots different!

Say you certainly are playing lots of bridge lately. I take it the corset is sorta curtailing your activities. Hope you get rid of that incubus (hmm) soon.

They have a nice record player aboard ship – I’m now writing to Intermezzo – very nice. By the way I’m on an LST. In case you’re not up on the Navy (I wonder) an LST means landing ship tank. It’s the kind with a bow that opens up like a huge jaw to discharge it’s cargo (that’s us). They told me it rolls heavily in a choppy sea, & we’re due to sail through the roughest there is – the China Sea. S’pose I’ll be sick before long. Oh me.

Well, Marion, don’t be impatient if you don’t hear from me for a little while – you’ll know why. In the meantime here’s my

Love, Dip

P.S. Now you shouldn’t feel so naked.