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


<- PREVIOUS LETTER November 19, 1944
San Pablo, Leyte, Philippines
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Nov. 19, 1944

Somewhere in the Philippines

Hello Ma:

      There is about as much excitement here as ever. While I was cleaning my teeth yesterday morning, I watched a dogfight overhead. The Jap Zeros ran away before any were shot down. Had a couple more raids last night. Air raids are now becoming such a habit that we don't even bother to get out of bed. Today, we will get paid in pesos. One peso is equal to 50 cents. One centavo is equal to one-half cent. One hundred centavos is equal to one peso.

      It rained twice last night. It is not yet lunchtime today, but it has thus far rained four times. It's pretty "sloppy" out. There are quite a few water buffalo about. We made a table out of bamboo poles and used strips of "abacá" tree to tie it together. Hemp for rope comes from the abacá tree. It's plenty strong. At the present, the squadron is building up the tent area. Drainage ditches and foxholes are being dug. The mess hall construction has begun. Roads are being made. Individual tents are being fixed up by their occupants. Natives stroll through the camp area continually. It makes us kind of embarrassed when the girls come by at the "wrong" times. There is no privacy whatever. It's now raining again.

      I would like you, if you can, to send me some seeds for corn, tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, radishes, onions, lettuce, carrots, and some flower seeds. Well, that's all for just now -

Earl




First camp area in the Philippines - Leyte, October 1944.



 
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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