| After the base closed down, a snake charmer appeared one day and provided us some entertainment. |  |
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2 Nov 45 - Last night I had the privilege (slightly doubtful) of standing guard from midnight to six. Other than completely ruining my sacktime schedule, it was not too bad. All I had to lug was a carbine and my medium-size feet. There were a couple cots along my post so I took advantage of them for some on-duty relaxation. We also stand retreat every four days. You'd think we were in the army. Some guys just love to play soldier. Just to prove I'm still sane, may I state that I noticed and enjoyed seeing 15 "falling stars" last night, watched the last sliver of October's moon rise at 4:30, saw the sunrise ar 5:30 and gave a hyena one heck of a scare. 3 Nov 45 - As I light three candles, the little winged creatures gather 'round to keep me company. Bless their little stingers. Got typhus and cholera shots. 4 Nov 45 - Took communion. 7 Nov 45 - On guard duty--Taylor is sergeant-of-the-guard so I'm gold-bricking (loafing) till dark. The boys here just loved that Navy day display of ships in N.Y. Sure, show Truman and all the people what pretty boats we have while thousands of "fellow Americans" eat their hearts out. 8 Nov 45 - I just wrote a letter to Peg which took me an hour to write. I didn't finish it however. I'm not even going to send it. It had too much bitterness and sounded too serious for me. I guess I'm in some sort of lethargy. 10 Nov 45 - Bernie Socher (fellow member of my hunting and fishing club back home) looked me up and gave me some raw Burmese gems. The third and last colonel on the base left day before yesterday. The nights are cool now. I have Sarkar make my sack with two blankets. Payne found out he was to leave six hours before the plane took off. He made it though. You'd be surprised how fast a GI can move when he's working on a good deal. 12 Nov 4 - The boys around here are thinking of sending a shower of cards to their senators. The cards would read: No boats, no votes. 13 Nov 45 - On guard from 8:30 to 1:00. Signed a letter to Drew Pearson.(newspaper columnist) 14 Nov 45 - There are a couple rats that play between our two tent tops most of the night. Since they don't live there, we are helpless to quiet them. We'd complain to the landlord but we haven't paid our rent this year. A daily visitor to our tent is a medium-sized little goat. We call her "Goat" just to be original. Her dodge is getting her bread basket full without using ration points. Banana peels, cookies, bread and most anything edible is her diet. I checked out our bearer, Sarkar, on television. He malums (understands) fairly well with his eight year education. I had to work up from a standard radio which I called a "hear radio", then added on a small cinema screen and called the works a "see and hear radio". He's hep to video now. The other night I mixed up a cup of cold cocoa using canned milk and H2O. Unable to use all of the can of milk, I offered it to Sarkar the next day and told him he'd have to use it that day before it spoiled. He took it with a big smile and drank it straight from the can with no water. He thinks it's better than the milk he buys at the market and he is right. That's the bluest milk I ever set glimmers on. 15 Nov 45 - Sports program on base--contracted for use of 2-qt. ice cream freezer--bought a gallon (5 lbs.) of ice cream mix--can get ice and salt at mess hall. 19 Nov 45 - Sign up for boat ride--will fly to Karachi on 23rd. and are guaranteed to be home in 60 to 75 days at the maximum. 20 Nov. 45 - Cleared the field (turned stuff in) |
From Camp Malir, near Karachi
26 Nov 45 - Since last I wrote you, I have moved. I flew here from
Kurmitoa on Sat. the 24th. and processed for shipping yesterday. I am
"existing" at a camp called Malir which is about 25 miles from Karachi.
It is composed of concrete barracks scattered all over and around on a
desert. At present I have my cot on the barrack porch because the
inside is full. Everything is dusty. There's not a cloud in the sky and
the sun really beats down. The sand reflects this light and if I didn't
have sunglasses I believe I'd have a perpetual eyeache. The PX, Red
Cross, theater, etc. are all about a mile away. The chow lines are a
half block long but move fairly fast. The food is mostly C-rations
which are bearable. Afternoons are hot but dry making it
non-perspirant. Nights are cold enough for a blanket and comforter.
--told to prepare for a three-week stay--hard to do but better than
waiting at Kurmitola for a plane that may never come. |
"Goat". the goat. This pregnant Capri would eat anything | Brahma - We sure got a lot of bull last month at our base |
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