70 years ago – A last note from Guam

When J.B. wrote these missives, he was 59 years old and part of the U.S. Marine invasion force to retake Guam and determine friend from foe. These are his exact words although I have corrected some spellings and any additions/clarifications I have added will be italicized.

16

Good morning, sweetest of all women.

Got in tired and dusty last night. Ate well and to bed early. Up at 0600. When I got in I found the enclosed. Guess you paid the premium and also the V-mail from Gloria. A nice letter. Am anxiously a letter giving a S.F. address. Just had breakfast, coffee, bacon, french toast? Nothing like my Annie feeds me. I know that you helped Maynard [Savvy’s daughter]. But look out. Tonise better let Maynard pick her own sweetheart and husband.

I asked John in my letter how he got the gas to go South. Isyl said in her letter that her father once told her “J.B. will be a good father to you”. She went on to say that I had been and that she appreciated it and was grateful. You of course, will meet all of those problems as they arise and you will handle it all well and good. Be sure and pass along what I wrote in past letters. I can’t write about things any more.

Oh, yes, the young major who we met in Chicago and who came west with us came to see me yesterday. Major Fuller is his name and he sends his regards to you. Darling I must stop now with an expression of the deepest love and affection for my adorable and lovely wife. Let me hold you and kiss you and tell you.

Your devoted Daddy

This is the last retyped missive that has been passed down. J.B. remained on Guam for a little while longer but by the end of 1944 he was back in San Francisco serving as a member of the USN courts martial board. At the age of 60 he was retired for the final time from the U.S. Navy and then re-entered California politics – being re-elected to the California Assembly in 1946 and serving there until the end of 1954.

70 years ago – Another night on Guam

When J.B. wrote these missives, he was 59 years old and part of the U.S. Marine invasion force to retake Guam and determine friend from foe. These are his exact words although I have corrected some spellings and any additions/clarifications I have added will be italicized.

15th

My dearest angel,

Gal, I am tired. When I get in at night the old dogs do bark. I go to most places by jeep but have to do a lot of walking and standing. Keep running into old friends. All ask about you. Got a letter off to John yesterday (birthday). Don’t forget the bond. You are my guiding star and I love you all the way. A 12 July letter came, sweet one.

Your devoted Daddy

70 years ago – Reconstructing Guam

When J.B. wrote these missives, he was 59 years old and part of the U.S. Marine invasion force to retake Guam and determine friend from foe. These are his exact words although I have corrected some spellings and any additions/clarifications I have added will be italicized.

Monday 14th

Good morning, precious woman,

Had a good sleep last night. We are still bothered by snipers but just a few scattered Japs left. We have to keep our eyes open. Two dandy letter from you up to Aug. 4th. One from John and Isyl. Wish you would send me one of the papers with the picture. So Savvy sent Louise his helmet! Well I have mine for you. It shows wear and tear, also have a Jap helmet, a sword, a good bayonet, officers dispatch case and a briefcase. Will try to send ’em to you when you get to S.F. and I hope you’ll be there soon. I have reported back up to my command as you know Iwas on temporary duty with the assault forces. I am now with the Island Command. The address: Island Command bldqtrs, Navy #926 F.P.O. San Francisco, Calif.

I have the job of relocating the natives and setting up industry, agriculture, etc. Orme is with us and is very busy as we all are. I do want you to get settled. It was nice for you to be at the ranch with Tonise, but you miss too much. I heard from one fellow, a wounded officer who went back the 3rd day. I would only give him John’s address and told him John wasn’t home. So he saw no one. He had been right near me in a fox hole. Then there’s your church that you love. I know you will find a place.

Gee, I’m glad I got all this Jap paper. Had run out. John said in his letter that he wished he were with me. Everybody asks for him. They ask for you too, my sweetheart. I don’t believe there has ever been a time that I have missed you more than now. Your letters are very sweet and affectionate and keep me going. I’m tired and need you. The strain now is not great. The worst ordeal for me was coming over the ship’s side and coming through that sea over the reef to land. I landed in a LVT [Landing Vehicle Tracked, essentially an amphibious tank that landed troops and materiel] and so many of them were hit. A little soothing at night would help a lot. No one can sooth as well as you. No man has ever loved more than than the love I have for you. You are my own grand wife whose love keeps me going.

– Your devoted Daddy

70 years ago – (No) Rest on Guam

When J.B. wrote these missives, he was 59 years old and part of the U.S. Marine invasion force to retake Guam and determine friend from foe. These are his exact words although I have corrected some spellings and any additions/clarifications I have added will be italicized.

Sunday 13th

My dear precious.

This afternoon I asked the Chaplain what day it was. He said “Sunday, why weren’t you at church?” Well darling, I have gone and lost track of days. I am tired and I can’t see, it’s getting dark. Goodnight adorable. I love you.

– Your devoted Daddy

70 years ago – More from Guam

When J.B. wrote these missives, he was 59 years old and part of the U.S. Marine invasion force to retake Guam and determine friend from foe. These are his exact words although I have corrected some spellings and any additions/clarifications I have added will be italicized.

12

Good morning Sweet Woman –

Today I am moving from my camp down to the general’s headquarters. After a lot of rain, we have the warm sticky weather you know so well. Tell Big that Kameriga and all of his old gang are with me. They all send their best.

A Jap surrendered to me last night. The ones that surrender have a little sense. We treat them better than they were ever treated. I am glad they had all this paper, I had run out. Got an Aug. 2 letter from you yesterday. Have done fairly well with mail. Still some missing.

Last night I caught a little cold. Didn’t sleep very well. Will rest a little after I get moved. I must keep telling you that I love you. It’s a great thing darling. You will always be the charming lovely gal that I have always loved. I’ll never tire of telling you and I get a thrill doing it.

Your devoted Daddy

70 years ago – Guam

When J.B. wrote these missives, he was 59 years old and part of the U.S. Marine invasion force to retake Guam and determine friend from foe. These are his exact words although I have corrected some spellings and any additions/clarifications I have added will be italicized.

11th
My own angel,

What a day. Busy and tired but I love you like the devil. You are my lovely lady.

Your devoted Daddy

70 years ago – Guam Recaptured

When J.B. wrote these missives, he was 59 years old and part of the U.S. Marine invasion force to retake Guam and determine friend from foe. These are his exact words although I have corrected some spellings and any additions/clarifications I have added will be italicized.

9 Aug.

My dearest Sweetheart –

Your first letter on a Jap tablet. We now have everything the Japs had here. The boys are mopping up now. I’m sorry you haven’t been where you could get the papers. I must have been mentioned in some of the papers because so many correspondents talked to me and took my name and home town. They took pictures too. Then today I raised the flag with impressive ceremonies. Nearly 8000 natives sung “America” and “God Bless America”. then a song they made up. They cheered and cheered, threw there arms around one another. A native had hidden the flag and presented it to me. Then I had a bugle we captured from the Japs. The pole was out of bamboo from the jungles. The correspondents were there and many pictures were taken. Wish you could have seen it.

Oh, how I need the clothes. Get Tonise in on the “Bundles for Guam”. Get going honey. Have been checking all the camps for Mrs. Sawada. Can’t find her. No Japs got away so she is either dead or still hiding. The big job is building this place up again. It is already under way. You are a sweet lovely lady and I love to tell you so. You are a sweetheart and wife all rolled into one. I love you precious and I’ll keep telling you

– Your devoted Daddy

70 years ago – Memories on Guam

When J.B. wrote these missives, he was 59 years old and part of the U.S. Marine invasion force to retake Guam and determine friend from foe. These are his exact words although I have corrected some spellings and any additions/clarifications I have added will be italicized.

8 Aug.

My own Sweetheart

This is my Mother’s Birthday. If she were alive she too would offer her prayers for me. Mama was a remarkable woman. Some of her traits and some of her looks, I have. I wish I had them all. Mama would be so happy about you and the love and help that you give to me. How pleased she would be about my Anne. A grand woman.

Last night I had Mrs. Butler and Notely to my tent. A marine officer, Lt. Moeling, a big tackle from Penn., cooked up a fine meal, from can rations, bacon, cornbeef stew, tomatoe juice and peanuts, coffee. The ladies related many tales of horror. Mrs Butler was badly beaten. They are so happy now. Organized resistance has ceased and all we have to do is mop up. Clean out the snipers – we need clothes for these people. They are so destitute. The Japs took everything they had. Please get busy and start a drive.

Your devoted Daddy

70 years ago – Conditions on Guam

When J.B. wrote these missives, he was 59 years old and part of the U.S. Marine invasion force to retake Guam and determine friend from foe. These are his exact words although I have corrected some spellings and any additions/clarifications I have added will be italicized.

Aug. 7th

Hello, darling.

Things are getting better all the time. My feet murder me but I’m not as bad off as a lot of others and I’m not complaining. The condition of the natives is deplorable. The Japs confiscated everything they owned. We had to practically destroy Agaña, Agat, Piti, Sumay, Asan, Agaña, all destroyed. The natives had all gone to the hills and very few were killed. The Japs executed quite a number before we came. Mrs. Sawada is still hiding. Shinihara had his restaurant in the Elks’ Club. He sure played the wrong horse. Mrs. Dejima was good to the natives and they are for her 100%. Shimizu was fine. His boys were terrible.

Found J.M. Torres. He looks terrible. Rosa is doing fine. Malnutrition is the only thing wrong. She is happy beyond words. Wants you. Ben Herera is with me. Teddy, our cook, is with me, a skeleton. Your washerwoman threw her arms around me. Wanted all my dirty clothes. Wants to wash for me for nothing. “Tello” Torres from Yigo, my old alligator-pear man, had a chicken he cooked it and brought to me. The first thing I had to eat not canned or dehydrated since landing. My belly has been upset, but I really think it remarkable how my health has held up. You know I am going on to 60.

I have been in the Marianas campaign since June 4th and since the 21st of July have been living on K, C, D, and 10-in-1 rations. Sometimes we only had captured Jap rations, pretty good too. Am living a little better now. Have a cot, but no mattress or pillow. Lots of rain. I get my baths in the rain. Oh for one of those hot baths.

I can’t realize ending my career in the trenches and with the marines. [J.B. had been in the U. S. Navy from at least 1905 until retirement in 1936, but recalled into service in 1941. He retired (again) in May of 1945, having served nearly 35 years total.] In Ham’s interview he said “None of that beach stuff for me”. It is tough. I came over the ship’s side climbing down a cargo net. Go in an L.C. [an amphibious landing craft] then on amphib. We hit the reef, weathered the waves, then hit a big rock sideways. Got a good soaking and just about ruined my pictures. Am enclosing a dollar bill I had with me. Save it. Also enclosed is a menu that comes in the 10-in-1 ration box. Good stuff, but I’ve been eating stuff like that too long. What I need now is some red meat and some loving.

You, my darling, are always in my thoughts. You sustain me and keep me. You are just a wonderful woman and I love you.

Your devoted Daddy

70 years ago – Rescue on Guam

When J.B. wrote these missives, he was 59 years old and part of the U.S. Marine invasion force to retake Guam and determine friend from foe. These are his exact words although I have corrected some spellings and any additions/clarifications I have added will be italicized.

Aug. 6th

My Precious wife –

Soon after my last letter, I received an order to the effect that there were a number of natives stranded in the Mt. Tenjo area. I took a marine patrol and two natives for a look see. Result, killed 4 Japs, rescued 40 natives, found a large cache of Jap stores. The Japs threw hand grenades but nobody hurt. Just my feet. Oh, me! Mt. Tenjo had been a Jap stronghold. We got one Jap flag, but one of the marines got it first and I told him to keep it. I ran across this among a marine’s effects. “Where He may guide me, No want shall turn me back; my Shepard is beside me, and nothing can I lack.” Sounds like C.S. to me. It was typed along with other things being sent to his home. He is here with us, sleeping on a hillside overlooking the Sea. Too many are there. The Japs are fiends. They went out of their way to torture people. I told “Shinny” that he would get a fair trail, something that his people didn’t give the Chamorros. For trivial offenses natives were made to dig a grave kneel beside it to have their heads chopped off.

Today 4 letters came from you up to July 27th. Yes, darling, I am alright and I’m not afraid. My fear of being shot here has not been nearly so great as being up in the Sespe at the opening of the deer season. I am very much tanned, my lips are badly cracked, my feet are terrible. I nurse them as much as possible. Last night I had a fire built, heated water in a Jap pot, filled two helmets and put a foot in each. What a life!! Am I going to love sitting by that fireplace? I am I can tell my grand children, and I’ll love you, my lovely wife, whose tender, comprehending, and considerate love never relapses, varies, or fails to act. I am going to enjoy life in peace and quiet but unselfishly. I want to do things to make life better for others.

Sometimes my letters may seem disconnected, It is because I’m interrupted so many times. I think of something nice to say to you and then here comes somebody and it slips my mind and I have to think of something else. It isn’t hard to think of nice things to say but getting words in their proper order, to convey a particular thought requires concentration and when the words come they must be put down lest they drift away.

I look at your picture with “Mickey” [Ham’s daughter] I thought of part of an old song the [negroes] used to sing in Arkansas. Here it is. “De stars like de ladies eyes – all around the world dey flies – to give a little light when de moon don’t rise”. Yours are the “Eyes that shine at night looking into mine when the moon is bright”. All of the natives who know you comment on how young you look. So say I. The nights are getting quieter although there is considerable intermittent shooting. Just an occasional zoom where we are. We have a fine breeze where I am but what rain. I sleep with a poncho over me. Today I tried a can of Jap beef stew, very good.

Extra!! Mrs. Notley just got in. She cried and cried, threw her arms around me telling me that I was a Saviour. Tonight I will have them for chow in my tent. Her daughter Patsy is in S.F. [San Francisco] I want you to see her – address 456 Post St. S.F. c/o Mrs. Gertrude Nicholson. Tell her that her Mother is well and I am taking care of her. She can give you a letter to her Mother for you to enclose with yours. More tomorrow, my angel. Your daddy loves you

– Your devoted Daddy

How about starting a “Bundles for Guam: I need clothes of all kinds.