Remember When

In today's article is a letter written by me to my folks after being in combat in Aitape, New Guinea from April 22, 1944.  Our 163rd Infantry Regiment combat team included all the groups that were attached to our combat force.  We had just completed combat after our amphibious landing at Aitape.  We were not there long before we made another amphibious landing.  That landing was on May 27 at Toem and Wakde Island further up the New Guinea coast from Aitape and then on to Biak Island on May 27, 1944.  We finally came out of combat on August 20, 1944 some four months after our landing on Aitape in April. My folks never knew where I was because Douglas MacArthur, the commander of the South West Pacific Theater, would never reveal which unit was in combat.  My folks knew which unit I was in, but our letters were censored to make sure that we didn't reveal where our unit was located.
    Part two in the series of my letter to my folks starts below:
    Every afternoon I go swimming in the beach as it is only two hundred yards away.  There is really a wonderful surf, and the water is not cold at all -- in fact it is a little too warm.  When I get home, we are going to have to make plenty trips to the beach to keep me satisfied.  I was very glad to hear that you all enjoyed Easter this year.  I didn't go to church on Easter as I was in busy.  But I do go as often as I can.  Even in combat church is held every Sunday.  It is a short service, but it means a lot to all the fellows.
    Boy, Mom, the Red Cross has really helped us a lot down here.  They furnish us with any toilet articles we may need -- writing paper, shaving kits which includes combs, tooth brush powder, soap, shaving cream, wash cloths, razor blades, etc. They also give us candy.  The Red Cross an even brought coffee to us when we came in at night.  In your donations be sure to include something for the Red Cross.  I know, Mom, that are really helping out and have been for a long time.  What you have done has helped many.  You can take that from me,     
    Well, I better sign off for now and get some rest.  Eight o'clock is my bed time.  It gets dark about six-thirty here.  Good bye for now and goodnight.
    Love, Pete
(The end)
    
Readers' Responses

From Jerry Livingston, Class of 1977, from San Diego, CA.         
Good Morning Pete:  My Mother, Esther Livingston, has been forwarding me your newsletter.  I was wondering if you might have written any stories involving William “Ted” Walton II, the father of Bill Walton.  I see Bill almost every Saturday and thought he might enjoy anything you might have written about his father.     Jerry Livingston
 (NOTE:  I have written years ago about "William "Ted" Walton a former principal of Taft Union High School and his son, Bill Walton, the star basketball player from UCLA year's ago and a member of the pros.  Esther is the mother of Jerry Livingston and is the daughter of Louis Dopyera and his wife, old timers of Taft.  Esther's lives in a house whose back yard is across the alley from my house.)      

From Neil Binford, from Rice University, Blanco, TX
    Ken and Nancy (Duvall),
    Your granddaughter, Payton Duvall, is on the front page of our paper in a big photo holding a big Future Farmers of America ribbon!
    Please pass to Payton our congratulations for her work with  the high school FFA Livestock Team and for bringing national recognition to her school and FFA Chapter here at Blanco High School.
    As you must know by now, Payton's livestock judging team took 7th place in the 20th Annual Iowa Western Livestock Judging Contest (with over 100 teams competing from 28 states).
    This is great news and signifies lots of work by Payton and her FFA Chapter team members.              Congratulations to Payton, to her mom and grandparents, of course.  
    Neill & Mary K. Binford at Texas Tranquility

From Thelma (Beck) Green, classmate class 1942, from Reno, NV
    Pete, Thank you so much for your Military Service.  I always enjoy reading about your amphibious combat landings when ever you write about them.  Also my thanks to Dave Conant.  I am very appreciative and proud of all my classmates in the class of 1942.  All of you guys were in the prime of your lives upon graduation, but did not hesitate to give service to our country as you all acknowledged that maintaining the freedom of our country was an honor and a privilege.  I will also always remember those classmates who did not return.
     My Sincere thanks,
     Thelma Beck Green
     Class of 1942   

From Elizabeth A. Clark, Class of 1957, from Port Angeles, Washington
    I am just listening to Thomas Stevens' recordings of contemporary music. If there are any classical music fans amongst us who have not heard him play, please go to his web site (it is beautiful) and to your favorite music source (I got my CDs from Amazon). These are beautiful, amazing, sometimes poignant, sometimes exciting sometimes both. It's a long way from TUHS Band and orchestra and Job's Daughter dances where his dance band played!!  But it does bring back fond memories!!!

From Don Scales, Class of 1953 from Laguna Woods, CA
   Pete,
    On this Memorial Day I just wanted to send you a BIG THANK YOU for not only your weekly newsletter to keep us in touch with our roots, but for your service to our country.
    It is people like you who have helped us all retain the Right to agree to disagree. You also remind all of us former Taftians what a great education we had , and how close we all are because of having lived the "Taft experience".  I have tried to explain to others the kinship we all seem to have , and it's just almost impossible for them to get it. Oh, well, their loss.  
    Again, a BIG THANK YOU. I hope to see you at Oildorado.
    Don Scales, Class of '53

From Gaylen Wood from Moscow, Idaho
    Hi Pete. We're in Moscow, Idaho about 1 block from the University of Idaho. Our son Chris is finishing up his third master's (one each in theater (MFA), education and now history. His wife Michell just finished HER third (MFA costume design, MS clothing and textiles, and MA/credential in counseling) and is now working for Washington State Dept. of Voc Rehab in Spokane. Chris and our grandson Connor will move up there after school is out next month (Connor will graduate from high school this year).
See a lot of your articles online from the Driller. And while I'm thinking about it I want to let you know just how much I sincerely appreciate all you did for me as a counselor and as a co-worker at Taft High. I will never forget you. Your faith in me and encouragement coupled with Bailey Newlee for Freshman English made all the difference in the world. Thank you.

From Don Zumbro, class of 1952, from Bakersfield, CA
    Pete,
    Do you have the picture and story of your rededication in the Jordan River? Dr. Strategos, my MD, is very interested. He attends the church your parents helped establish.
    If possible, please send.
    "Z"