THE SQUADRON PULSE
For the Men of the Fightin’ 3rd Published in Atsugi, Honshu, Japan
VOL. 2 No 5 September 9, 1945 3rd Airdrome Squadron **
VASILY GREETS SOVIET EMISSARIES
Atsugi, Sept 2. --- Flying from Vladivostok, two Russian PBY’s landed on the Atsugi strip. From the big, grey-blue planes stepped a galaxy of Soviet officers, diplomats and correspondents, as emissaries to the signing of the peace treaty. For a moment they were confused by the wild gibberish of American tongue around them, but as usual, the 3rd intervened and had a ready cure for the delicate situation. All credit goes to the “Russian,” Sgt. Vasily Sewerynczyk. The ebullient Sgt gave them all the information they needed in their own native tongue, and in a few minutes time they became comrades. No vodka, however, was shared, for the emissaries had some important business aboard the “Missouri” to attend. Vasily, however, did manage to get some of their addresses and a 5 ruble note, hoping someday to be able to visit the old country to see what has ticked since he left in 1939.
TOO MANY BRASS WHEELS
There was a day when a Colonel was an untouchable god, but on the busy Atsugi strip, colonels are a dime a dozen. There is so much rank down there that everybody’s doing the talking, and sandwiched in between is the 3rd, who in trying to please them all, finds after completing a job, some other colonel or general wanted it done another way. You simply can’t win, even in the peace-time army. It’s driven McDonald to sake....
MAJOR MITCHELL COMMENDS, Sgt. Launi for his efficiency in handling refueling under extreme difficulties.
---DON’T FORGET TO PAY CONVENTION DUES---
[cartoon caption: THE MAN WHO SAID, “NEVER AGAIN” DOOD IT AGAIN...]
["I dood it!" was a catch phrase of radio comic Red Skelton, and the title of a movie that he starred in. - Ed.]
In August 20th issue of Time, appeared an item, which read, “There has been no beer or sake since last February.” But, on 2nd Sept, certain bibulous members of the 3rd exploded Time’s fancied ideas. Probing around for spoils of victory, Thirdmen discovered and exploited a cave jampacked with the rich, gin-like liqueur. As soon as word leaked out of the discovery, jeeps loaded with old guzzlers and teetotalers alike, zoomed to the cave and in a half hours’ time had it emptied of its treasures.
A couple days later, “B” barracks threw an orgy which fell nothing short of historic. Subsequently, a bar room was installed in tomblike “A” barracks with Bob Goelzer as sentinel bartender. Jim Arnold and a few others who had ample supplies felt particularly sad. He opined, “Potential sales would have netted an easy $1,000.”
SHATTERED VISIONS
“Cat” Shearer, who is as groovy as a movie, and really a mellow fellow, together with Lopez, discovered on Sept 1st a cave which contained a printing press. Eagerly, Lopez reported same to your editor, who, without hesitation, gathered up Zalucki & Montgomery (with Shearer as guide) and went down to investigate. Visions of printing the PULSE, however were shattered, when glancing at the type--it was Japanese.
SQUADRON PULSE
VOL 2 NO 5 Sept. 9, 1945
Editor . . . . . . . . Pfc. Stringfield
*** First in Japan ***
EXCURSION TO IWO
At 0300, August 28th, 51 members of the 2nd echelon were awakened by 1st Sgt Lindsey, fed “stool on a shingle” and coffee, and driven to the strip in a 6x6. At 0730, the obese C-46’s took off and tiny Ie Shima was kissed a glad goodbye.
The trip to Iwo Jima was uneventful, save that couple planes’ engines sputtered, and a third lost oil most of the way. Good landings, however, were made and everybody sighed.
Iwo is a proud little isle, already a shrine in Yank history, but it is also a dusty, disagreeable little place. Volcanic ash from Mt. Suribachi and the absence of showers for several days made everyone grimy, itchy and twitchy, but aside from these petty inconveniences, everything else was fine. The first nite, Lt. Vaden and several others, fat with yens, bought beer and each man had one cold can of Pabst to whet the old appetite. The following nite, Doug Henry splurged and bought everybody a bottle of Coke. Chow wasn’t too bad, but the coffee was so rough that one had to take a water chaser after each sip. The big event was the pro baseball games witnessed at Higashi Field. Some devout fans & critics were Bones Berning, Stouch, Sam Knisely, Doug Henry, Brooks, Basso, Layser, Vucetich, Ivanick and myself. Centers of attraction were found in Joe Gordon of the Yankees, Enos Slaughter, Judnich, Marty [meaning Marty Marion? - Ed.], Lew Riggs and Mike McCormick.
To many of us, Iwo offered the first look at B-29’s, of which there were hundreds. It was this hard-won island that, according to facts and figures, saved so many crippled or fuel-less superforts in their long flights to and from Japan.
Alas at 1230, August 31st, our planes left Iwo and at 1625 landed in chill, misty Atsugi. About the same time, much to the surprise of everybody, the 4th echelon also landed, flying in big silver C-54’s from Ie Shima.
GRAPEVINE
JAPAN & DRECOLL are certainly agreeing with each other swell. Every day you find Drecoll in one of the many gardens in the area culling cucumbers and tomatoes.
ON SEPT 2nd, your editor saw generals Wainwright, Krueger & Whitehead and the British general, Percival (who surrendered Singapore) down in front of the 3rd’s hangar. General Wainwright, skinny but looking trim, was munching greedily on a sandwich, which he no doubt wished he had a week or so before while under the Japs in Manchuria.
FOR RECORD: Leaving the squadron, Aug. 28th for Manila, then home, were the following men: Theobald, Thomas, Keister, Lott, Ray Smith, Penn, Podvojski, Cooper, Lanigan, Stuart, Schmitz, McCoy, Percy Miller, Shorty Long, Norton, Low, Kolley, Dick Hayes and Obrsajko. Sayonara !!
IF SHOUMAN-DONGES & CO., don’t start building something over the Jap squat-styled latrines soon, Norden bomb sights will have to be issued to each man. [Shouman and Donges were soldiers in the squadron. - Ed.]
IF YOU WANT TO MAKE about 75 men very unhappy, ask them to total 69 plus 8. [As explained in the following text (after the cartoon caption), not receiving a star for the Ryukyus campaign meant losing out on eight points, putting the men that much further behind on the priority list for going home. - Ed.]
[cartoon caption: I CAN’T STAND IT!! THEY SHOULD BE GIVING US MEDALS INSTEAD OF TAKING THEM AWAY.]
A Sixty-Niner after hearing that we lost the Ryukyus Campaign Star.
FAMOUS SAYINGS ---
“When we get overseas, I’ll show you fellows what BLOOD AND GUTS really means.”
Captain Foster, aboard the Mormacsea. Well ---
“Now that censorship is over and no letters to read, most of my day’s work is done.”
---Lt. Bahn
“Pack your bags, boys---we’re going home.”
---John T. Goodman as a matter of habit.
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