Based on the letters of Earl Philip Reinhalter (1922-1953). Edited by his son, Earl Philip Reinhalter (1950-).


<- PREVIOUS LETTER April 6, 1944
Saidor, New Guinea
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    April 6, 1944
Somewhere in New Guinea

Hello Ma:

      Since my last letter to you, I have received Easter cards from Kitty and Phus. Also, another from Mrs. Roussey and family. Also received two letters from you and a "V-Mail" letter from Phus. How is Daddy's work in Washington? I read the clippings about Chauncey Ashley, but I haven't as yet met him. I was talking to a boy tonight who knew him about a year ago when he was stationed at Port Moresby, New Guinea. Read the cartoons and Baltimore Sun paper. Read Yvonne's school papers concerning spelling, arithmetic, and geography. Also, read Yvonne's little letter which began "Dear Turtle." [A few months later (August 25, 1944), he mentions that Yvonne is going to get a pet turtle and has decided to name it “Earl.” - Ed.] Yvonne must be plenty smart. In a previous letter, I mentioned that I had received the writing paper, envelopes and the other skate - thanks. Does Gordon like his new (or old) job. Too bad about his cleaning and dyeing business. I guess it's about time that Steve is due for overseas service. [Other letters mention Steve Getz and Steve Dackow. Unclear which one he means here. - Ed.] I am glad that you changed your job and especially glad that the hours are now halfway decent. For Easter, you could send me some chocolate candy and cake or cookies. Also, how about sending me a half-dozen ten-cent notebooks that I can use for scrap paper in doing my school work. Oh yes, I forgot to tell you that I am taking a correspondence course in calculus from the United States Armed Forces Institute. It's something to pass the time away at night.

      Well, there isn't much doing here worth mentioning. During the days, we practically do nothing. It seems that all of the airplanes here have a squadron of mechanics of their own. So, it leaves us with nothing much to do. It certainly seems queer that the closer we get to combat, the less we have to do. At least it seems that way. It's been a year since we took our various inoculation shots. So, tonight we started taking them over again by receiving two shots, one in each arm. I have some more to look forward to. A few more airplane crashes this week, as usual. Nobody hurt. One pilot got a bloody nose when his plane bounced off of another and crashed into a dirt bank. Two more airplanes fell into the ocean. All personnel were saved. Well, that's about all for just now. So, until next time -
Earl


 
NOW AVAILABLE AS A KINDLE BOOK!

The Kindle book includes the letters; all 23 issues of the unit’s wartime newsletter “The Squadron Pulse,” which was originally edited by Leonard Stringfield; all 12 issues of the “Pennant Parade” newsletter that Stringfield published while sailing home after the war; complete text of the U.S. government booklet “Pocket Guide to Australia,” which soldiers heading Down Under were given to read; more than 200 photos; pre-war and postwar family history; and over 700 explanatory endnotes.












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