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


<- PREVIOUS LETTER December 16, 1944
Tanauan, Leyte, Philippines
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THE BLANK UNDERSCORES IN THE FOLLOWING LETTER DENOTE
SEGMENTS THAT WERE REMOVED BY THE MILITARY CENSOR
 
Dec. 16, 1944

Philippines

Hello Ma:

      Yesterday, I received a letter from you which was forwarded from New Guinea. Oct. 15th was the date. In it was included one of Yvonne's music lessons and a little note beside it. Also, a card stating that Kitty is sending me a subscription to the magazine Newsweek. Thanks. Did Kitty finally get to go ice skating? Sport Centre used to open on November 15th. Is there any outdoor skating yet - or isn't the lake frozen over hard enough? Boy! I wish I was ice skating or roller skating right now. Oh well, maybe next year. I guess I'll have grey hair before the war ends. Did Pappy get an engine for his boat yet? I received a short letter from Reader's Digest stating that I would receive the missing copies.

      Well, at the present, I am located in a new area. It is about ____________ from my first camp site here in the Philippines. [The driving distance from his previous base at San Pablo to Tanauan was about 14 miles. - Ed.] About ______________________. It's raining again. There should be a typhoon due within the next two months.

      When I get home, remind me to tell you what happened on ____________________ write about it now. Besides, it would only make you worried. [Editor’s note: An oblique reference to the recent paratroop attack, which military censorship prevented him from describing more completely. Months later, there was an expanded description of the battle, as much as could be related under military censorship guidelines, in the April 28, 1945, issue of the Squadron Pulse newsletter.]

      The other day while I was helping dig a well, I dug up seven alligator eggs. We broke one open and the animal was about six inches long. It must have been ready to be hatched as it was breathing. Our medical officer kept two of the eggs to see if they hatch O.K. We broke all of the others. They are not nice things to have around a shower, you know. I am mailing you four more Yank magazines. I haven't yet received my certificate for my Army course in aviation engines. I guess that I will have to write them a letter. I am now half finished another course. Last night, we had a movie in our mess hall, Mr. Lucky with Cary Grant and Laraine Day. It was pretty good. My squadron has its own sound projector and so we have our own movies. About five nights ago when we first got to our new location, several boys and I went to another camp to see a picture. Just before it started, we had an air raid warning. This meant no lights on, and naturally we had to wait for the "all-clear" signal before we could start the show. The raid never matured - I guess the Jap planes were driven off by our night fighters. But anyway, during the time of waiting, several Filipina girls behind me were singing American songs - "God Bless America," "You'll Never Know," and several others. It seemed rather queer to us. The civilians seem to enjoy the American movies, even though most of the older people cannot understand English hardly at all.

      One of the boys in my squadron who used to work at Martin's (there are about six or seven) received a letter from a friend of his who still works there. Ask Uncle Ben if it's true that Martin is now building a new Navy fighter. If so, how about some of the details - if it's not too secret. [Possibly referring to the Martin AM Mauler (originally (XBTM). - Ed.]

      I took some pictures, but as yet we do not have our darkroom set up. So, it'll be a while yet before I can send you any pictures. Incidentally, if you have not already done so, don't send me those dresses of Kitty's that I requested. We now have a new laundry system whereby the civilians accept money. At one time, they would only accept clothing in return for their work. Now it's different. Of course, if you have already sent them, I can always trade them with the natives for something - or else use the material for something - of which I cannot think of just now.

      Well, that's all for the time being; and so, until a few days from now -

Earl


P.S. Hope Aunt Ginny liked the New Guinea pictures and souvenirs.


MOVIE TRAILER: Mr. Lucky


HEAR THE SONGS!

"God Bless America" by Kate Smith (1940)
"You'll Never Know" by Alice Faye (original movie version)
"You'll Never Know" by Frank Sinatra



 
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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