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


<- PREVIOUS LETTER July 26, 1945*
Ie Shima, Ryukyu Islands
NEXT LETTER ->

* Estimated date, considering August 3 postmark and typical censorship delay for this base.


THE BLANK UNDERSCORES IN THE FOLLOWING LETTER DENOTE
SEGMENTS THAT WERE REMOVED BY THE MILITARY CENSOR
 
Date: (not permitted)

Location: Somewhere in the Ryukyus

Hello Ma:

      The censorship regulations have been relaxed now and I am permitted to say more than I could in my last letter to you of several days ago. I will not be able to begin dating my letters until another week is up. Well, here I am "somewhere in the Ryukyu Island group" ________________ south of Japan. We have been bombed a couple of times again. Just like old times - back into a ________. No one pays too much attention to these raids as it is all old stuff to us now. I slept through the first two. The boys described the "ack-ack" and bombs to me the next day. There are a few dead Japs around. I visited Ernie Pyle's grave the other day - fixed up pretty good. Jap machine gun bullets got him, so says the inscription. [Editor's note: After the war, Pyle's remains were moved to a cemetery in Okinawa, and then to National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii.] We get paid in yens and sens. Ten sen equals one American penny. One yen is equal to ten cents. Thus, 10 yen is $1.00 and 1,000 sen is also $1.00 American money.

      I expect to be able to send you some pictures soon. We are now allowed to take pictures again. The last letter from you, I received in Luzon - dated July 2nd. It will probably be a good while before my mail catches up to me. The nights always seem to be cool and breezy and it rains on an average of at least once per day (six times today). ___________________ probability will have had experienced several if not _______________. Enclosed, you will find some of the type of money that we are now paid and spend. Also enclosed is a Philippine peso (worth 50˘) like I used at Leyte and Luzon. Sometime later, I will send you some Philippine coins which I still have in my possession.

      Well, Ma, that is about all for just now; so, until next time -

Earl




Ernie Pyle's grave on Ie Shima. After the war, Pyle’s remains were moved to a cemetery
in Okinawa, and then to National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii.



 
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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