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


<- PREVIOUS LETTER July 23, 1945*
Ie Shima, Ryukyu Islands
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* Estimated date, considering July 29 postmark and typical censorship delay for this base.


THE BLANK UNDERSCORES IN THE FOLLOWING LETTER DENOTE
SEGMENTS THAT WERE REMOVED BY THE MILITARY CENSOR
 
Location: Somewhere within the solar system.

Date: Twentieth Century.

Time: Sometime between yesterday and tomorrow.

Hello Ma:

      The above my sound very silly to you, but you must remember that I must abide by the U.S. Army censorship regulations. At my new base (notice the new A.P.O.), regulations are very very strict. I am forbidden to even date my letters. I am no longer in Luzon, however. My new location is somewhere in the West Pacific, north of the Equator, and west of the International Date Line. That is all that I am permitted to say. [His next few letters reveal the location. - Ed.] No one ______________. There are some Orientals about - in stockades, however. I cannot name the ______________. I cannot tell you when I ______ the Philippines, nor when I _______ here. I cannot tell you what I am doing here. I cannot say much about the weather except that mud is very deep. All of our cameras and film are supposed to be turned in. I cannot send you anymore pictures, including those which I now have in my possession. I would probably be hung or shot at sunrise if I attempted to do so. So, once again I am back into a ______________. They do allow me to say, "Hello, Ma, I am O.K." Also, I can give you my return address. That is about as far as I can go in accordance with the existing regulations. When I get home again, I'll be free to tell you all you want to know. For the long trip, we went by boat. And that, Ma, is the end of a very queer letter in regards to correspondence. I am all right, as usual. I'll write you again soon. In the meantime, I will try to think of something to write that will be of interest to you and at the same time pass the censor - if possible. So, until sometime in the near future -

Earl

P.S. How is everyone?




Getting ready to move into campsite at Ie Shima, 1945.



 
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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