70 years ago – A near brush on Guam
When J.B. wrote these missives, he was 59 years old and part of the U.S. Marine invasion force to retake Guam and determine friend from foe. These are his exact words although I have corrected some spellings and any additions/clarifications I have added will be italicized.
24th
Good morning darling.
Never have I spent such a night. Heavy firing all night. Me in a foxhole, in water. Dreary rain nearly all night. Machine gun bullets hit the trees all around me, a heavy zing over my head – not a wink of sleep, then at 5 AM the Japs tried to move in, all joined their ancestors at 10 AM. I took my binoculars and went out to take a peek. The Japs opened up with a 75 [from a] place we thought cleaned out. The first shell hit 50 yards from me and killed 3 and wounded 7. By the time the 2nd came I had dug a pretty good hole with my nose. I have learned to dig like a gopher. In fact, I live like one. K rations are so bad. We made a little fire and had coffee with canned ham & eggs. Also a fruit bar. In spite of all, everybody is cheerful. I have you to love – you are my angel and Oh how I do love you,
Your devoted “Gopher”