SOMEWHERE IN SOUTH FRANCE
FEB 20, 1945
DEAR MR TURNER –
HERE I AM MAKING GOOD USE OF THE MEMO – DATE BOOK AND HAVENT AS YET THANKED YOU. MANY THANKS.
HELLO! AND HOW ARE YOU?
NOTHING MUCH TO WRITE BECAUSE I’VE BEEN AWAY FROM THE UNIT FOR SOME TIME. GUESS YOU HAVEN’T KNOWN IT BUT I WAS BACK IN THE HOSPITAL SOME THREE WEEKS IN JANUARY. AGAIN. WHAT A START FOR THE NEW YEAR HUH. MY TOE IS STILL BOTHERING A LITTLE. I’VE BEEN THINKING IF I SHOULD GO BACK ONCE MORE AND HAVE IT OPERATED THIS TIME. GET A GOOD JOB DONE ON IT. OTHERWISE I’M FINE. KEEPING BUSY.
I CAN SAY THIS IS ABOUT ONE OF THE BEST DEAL WE’VE HAD. I MEAN THE WINTER CAMPAIGN – SOMETHING LIKE ANZIO BUT – MAYBE A LITTLE BETTER. THE SNOW HAVE MELTED AWAY SOME WEEKS AGO. THE DAYS ARE GETTING WARMER. I’D SAY ITS THE BEST WINTER WE’VE HAD IN THREE YEARS.
ANOTHER GANG OF BOYS WERE SELECTED TO ENROUTE HOME. YES EVERY MONTH IS TAKING A LITTLE OF THE OLD TIMERS HOME. THE REINFORCEMENTS ARE DOING FINE WITHOUT LET UP – MANY OF THEM ARE FROM THE STATES – I FEEL SORRY FOR THEM THOUGH – FOR SOON THEY CAN’T HELP BUT ADAPT THEMSELVES TO THE HAWAIIAN STYLE INCLUDING THE WONDERFUL PIDGEN ENLISH – ITS TERRIFIC. WITH A MIX OF ITALIAN AND FRENCH TO IT – BOY! YOU CAN IMAGINE.
GUESS YOU’VE HEARD OF THE NEW SHOULDER PATCH OF THE COMBAT TEAM – YES BEING IN THE TEAM WE ARE “TORCH BEARERS” TOO – SORRY I COULDN’T SPARE YOU ONE CAUSE WE WERE ISSUED TWO PER INDIVIDUAL.
OUR HISTORIAN PFC. BOB FUNABASHI IS DOING A WONDERFUL JOB ON OUR UNIT HISTORY. I HAVEN’T AS YET READ HIS CHAPTERS BUT I HAVE OVERHEARD GOOD COMPLIMENTS – I’VE GIVEN HIM JUST A HELPING HAND ON MAPS & FEW SKIRMISHES.
MENTIONING ANOTHER UNRECOGNIZED FELLOW ITS THE CHAPLAIN YOST – HE IS RIGHT ON THE JOB – I’VE YET TO SEE ANOTHER CHAPLAIN LIKE HIM – HE TOO HAVE THAT LITTLE OF HAWAIIAN IN HIM TODAY – HE TOPS MY LIST FOR KEEPING THE MORALE HIGH.
ITS CAPTAIN FRONING NOW – MOST OF THE EARLIER BATTLE COMISSIONED BOYS STILL WITH US ARE NOW 1ST LOOIES. I’M SURE YOU’VE HEARD THAT MAC IS ACTING C.O. WITH “MITS” AS EXECUTIVE – DOING OKAY – HOWEVER NOSSE AND I ALWAYS SAY WE CAN NEVER GET AN ALL AMERICAN TEAM LIKE BEFORE – MEANING THE ORIGINAL STAFF
WELL – CLOSING NOW – MY BEST REGARDS WILL WRITE AGAIN –
YOURS SINCERELY
Tad OHTA
