by Bart J. Kowallis Letters across the Pacific Letters across the Paciic by Bart J. Kowallis 2015 Kowallis, Bart J. – Letters across the Paciic Copyright © 2015, Bart J. Kowallis, Urth Books. All rights reserved. Printed or higher resolution pdf copies of this book may be obtained from: Dr. Bart J. Kowallis, Brigham Young University email: bkowallis@byu.edu June 2015 iv Contents Reinhart & Norma............................................................................................................................. 1 The War in January 1945 .................................................................................................................. 13 The War in February 1945 ................................................................................................................ 39 The War in March 1945 ..................................................................................................................... 71 The War in April 1945 ..................................................................................................................... 115 The War in May 1945 ...................................................................................................................... 167 The War in June 1945 ...................................................................................................................... 223 The War in July 1945 ....................................................................................................................... 275 The War in August 1945 .................................................................................................................. 327 Post-War September 1945................................................................................................................ 369 Post-War October 1945 .................................................................................................................... 411 Post-War November/December 1945 .............................................................................................. 451 v vi Reinhart and Norma The stagecoach used to stop in Huntington on its way from Ogden, Utah to the Dalles on the Columbia River. Then in 1884 a spike was driven in the small eastern Oregon town connecting railroads coming from the east and west to form one continuous line across the continent. Like Ogden, Huntington became a railroad town. The railroad brought a measure of prosperity, but it also brought saloons and brothels, most of which had disappeared by January of 1945 when young Lieutenant Reinhart Kowallis stepped from the train and onto the streets of Huntington. It was only a short layover on the way to Seattle where he and other soldiers on the train would meet the U.S.S. Navarro, a newly commissioned troop transport ship, that would carry them off into the Pacific.1 Lt. Kowallis took the opportunity to get “a big T-bone with all the trimmings…for 90¢” and to pen a letter to his wife, Norma, who had moved with their baby daughter into her parents home in Pleasant View, just north of Ogden, Utah. Norma and Reinhart had lived on army bases on both coasts and at some places in between over the previous three years since their marriage in February of 1942. Now they were going to be separated by the war that had separated so many other couples. In January of 1945 they had no way of knowing that the war would be over before the end of the summer. As they parted that January, they promised to write often, and it was a promise they kept. During the months and weeks that followed, they wrote to each other almost every day. These letters that traveled back and forth across the Pacific are filled with the ordinary details of war, faith, family, and longing for home—longing for each other. REINHART Reinhart Theodore Kowallis was born on 27 May 1910 in River Heights, Cache County, Utah to Karl August Kowallis and Justina Brenner.2 Karl and Justina were German immigrants who arrived in the United States in the late 1800’s.3 They met in Salt Lake City, Utah where Justina was working as a maid and were married in the Logan, Utah L.D.S. Temple on 31 August 1898.4 Justina and Karl first set up a home in Centerville, Utah north of Salt Lake City. Their first child, a boy born January 13, 1900, died the day he was born. Two other childern, Otto born in 1901 and Elizabeth in 1903, were born before Karl moved his family north to River Heights, a small town south of Logan, Utah. In Logan, Karl set up a printing shop and produced a German language newspaper. The printing shop was his livelihood for his entire life. At their home in River Heights, Karl and Justina added Adaline (1904), Delora (1906), and Albert (1907) to their family. On 30 March 1909 a daughter, Loretta, was born. She died the next month and joined her brother, their first son, in the Providence Cemetery. Finally, on May 27, 1910 Reinhart was born. He was followed by Mildred (1912) and two boys, both named Karl (or Carl), who were born in 1914 and 1916, and who both died on the days they were born. 1 Although troop transport records were destroyed, the USS Navarro left Seattle on January 12, 1945, the day after Lt. Kowallis’ last letter from the west coast and the ship arrived in Honolulu on January 20, 1945 the day after his last letter at sea. Therefore, it seems very likely that he was indeed on the Navarro [Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Department of the Navy, Naval Research Center, online version]. 2 Obituary published in Deseret News, Salt Lake City, Utah on 8 April 2004. 3 Karl Kowallis disembarked at Ellis Island on 24 October 1893. He had traveled from Liverpool, England on the ship Alaska. He was 19 years old. Justina, who had joined the L.D.S. Church in Germany, immigrated a year earlier as a prospective bride for another German immigrant, John Joseph Dobmeier. Dobmeier was eight years older and living in the Utah mining town of Eureka where they were married on the 31 May 1892. But the marriage was a short and unhappy one for Justina. Dobmeier was abusive and she left and divorced him, choosing instead to make a life for herself. She moved to Salt Lake City and there found employment as a maid. 4 Temple ordinance database at new.familysearch.org. 1 As a young child, Reinhart was dressed as a little girl and his long curly golden hair reached shoulder length. This practice of dressing young boys as girls had been common in western societies since the 16th century, but by the time Reinhart was born, it was somewhat of a novelty. By all accounts, Reinhart was a lively child who kept his mother busy. His sister Mildred recalled that on more than one occasion, Justina had to punish Reinhart for misbehaving—if she could catch him before he climbed a tree or escaped in some other way. But tragedy struck the Kowallis home on September 11, 1917 when Justina died of stomach cancer.5 Reinhart was only 7 years old. His father Karl was now faced with raising seven young children on his own. This was not something he wanted to do. Six months after the death of Justina, on March 14, 1918, Karl married Johanna Roemer, also a German immigrant in the Logan LDS Temple.6 Karl and Johanna raised the seven children from his first marriage and had an additional six children of their own (plus two more that died in infancy). In total, Karl was the father of 19 children, thirteen of whom lived to adulthood. As a teenager and young man, Reinhart loved the outdoors. He spent most of his free time hunting, fishing, and hiking, passions that continued on into his adult life. He was also athletic and ran track for Logan High School where he specialized in the mile run. He graduated from Logan High in 1930 and spent two years supposedly earning money for an L.D.S. mission. However, at the end of this time, he was still broke, having spent all his earnings on other things (mostly on hunting, fishing and having fun). Still, Reinhart wanted to serve a mission and so he approached his father and pled his case. Karl had previously told him that money for the mission would have to be earned, but when it came down to the possibility of not seeing Reinhart serve a mission, his father relented and footed the bill.7 The mission call came and Reinhart was off to Germany where he would have the opportunity to spend almost 3 years (1932-1934). Mission life was not easy for Reinhart, although he did manage to grow a mustache and meet several pretty young German girls. The language, however, was difficult for him and he never really conquered it even though his parents spoke fluently. As German immigrants, they wanted to be sure that their children learned English, so they never spoke German at home unless they wanted to say things they did not want the children to hear. Part of the cause for the problems faced by Reinhart on his mission may have been a lack of any formal training for missionaries; they were simply called and sent out into the mission field where they were expected to learn the language and teach the people. But this was also a time of rising nationalistic pride among the German people, eventually culminating in the election of Adolph Hitler as chancellor in 1933. Although it would be a few more years before church leaders would close the German mission, the country was now well on its way toward the great conflict of World War II. Elder Kowallis, while in Chemnitz, had the opportunity to snap photos of the growing German military might and of Hitler himself. After his mission, Reinhart returned home to Logan and attended the Utah State Agricultural College (now called Utah State University) and graduated with a degree in forestry in 1941. During 1941 and perhaps earlier, Reinhart worked for the U.S. Forest Service mostly in the area of insect control and fire suppression. It was while he was at Utah State that Reinhart met Norma Jensen. She was in Logan completing a teaching certificate. After courting her for several years, they were married on February 18, 1942. 5 State of Utah death certificate, #1700404, file no. 1150, Cache County, Utah. 6 Temple ordinance database at new.familysearch.org. 7 The story about Reinhart approaching his father, Karl Kowallis, for mission money after spending all of his own earnings, was related to the author on one of many fishing trips taken with Reinhart (the author’s father) in the 1980’s or 1990’s. 2 Newspaper clippings from the Davis County Clipper, Utah on 17 June 1904 (top) and 24 June 1904 (bottom). As a young child, Reinhart’s German parents, following tradition, dressed him in dresses and let his hair grow long like a little girl. Track medals won by Reinhart during his last two years at Logan High School where he specialized in the mile run. 3 Karl Kowallis Family with Karl and his wife Johanna in the center. Top row (left to right) are the children of Karl and Justina: Reinhart, Adeline, Albert, Delora, Elizabeth, Otto, and Mildred. Bottom row (left to right) are children of Karl and Johanna: Fred, Norma, Thea, Gertrude, and Ivy. Missing from the picture is Richard, the youngest child of Johanna and Karl. NORMA Norma Jensen was born on August 31, 1916 in Pleasant View, Weber County, Utah to Joseph Moroni Jensen and Ethel Jane Chamberlain. Joe was a fruit farmer, raising cherries, apricots, and peaches and he always believed in providing the best for his customers. Joe, unlike some other fruit growers, would never place the small peaches on the bottom of a basket and then cover them with nicer, larger ones. His honesty and the quality of his fruit kept him in business even in the hardest of times. Norma was one of five daughters in the Jensen family: Phyllis, Norma, Ruth, Audrey, and Glena (they also had one son, LaMar). The girls helped on the farm and usually Joe and Ethel did not have to worry about other hired help. Pleasant View was, and still is today, a community made up mostly of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons). In 1945, the population of the town was probably about 450,8 with only one L.D.S. ward. Norma’s grandparents were converts to the L.D.S. Church. On her father’s side, James and Sophia (Hansen) Jensen were both converted in Denmark as young children and immigrated with their families to Utah. Norma’s mother’s parents, 8 The population of Pleasant View listed in the 1930 U.S. census is 430 and in 1940 it is 437, so with some growth it was probably around 445 to 450 in 1945. 4 William Alonzo and Alice Estella (Moore) Chamberlain, were converted as a young married couple in Minnesota. They left their parents and siblings in Minnesota and also moved to Utah. Norma, as a young girl, loved to draw, particularly fashionably dressed women. She loved the farm and the hills below the mountains behind her home. In the spring, she sometimes tended sheep on the hills and with her sisters and parents explored the small canyons that cut into the face of Ben Lomond, the impressive mountain peak that gave Pleasant View such a pleasant view. She attended Weber High School and Weber College in Ogden, before completing her teaching certificate at Utah State where she met Reinhart. Norma wasn’t originally sure that he was the right one for her and after graduation from college, she taught school for a year in Huntsville, Utah and then left on an L.D.S. mission to the Northern States where she spent time in Wisconsin and Michigan. When she returned from her mission, Reinhart was still waiting and, as mentioned above, they were eventually married in 1942. Less than two months after their marriage, Reinhart entered the U.S. Army on the 3 April 1942. He trained at a number of different bases and facilities throughout the United States starting at Camp Calain in San Diego, California (1942) where he was promoted from Private to Corporal, then on to Camp Davis, North Carolina (1942-1943) where he attended officer training school and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. After North Carolina, Reinhart went to Fort Bliss, Texas (1944) and to Camp Ritchie, Maryland (1944). During much of his training at these various camps, Norma was with him. She became pregnant in late November or early December 1943 and their first child, a daughter Cheryl was born on 1 August 1944. After spending the Christmas of 1944 at home in Pleasant View with his wife and baby daughter, Lieutenant Kowallis had to return to Camp Ritchie, Maryland for a few days before crossing the country again on his way to Washington State to board a ship for the Pacific theater. Here is his last letter home to Norma from Camp. Camp Ritchie, Maryland 29 December 1944 Dear Norma, I have been so busy today I have hardly found time to write you and I realy want to. As I wired you, I got into Washington at 5:00 P.M. I had to lay over for about 4½ hrs in Chicago on account of they stopped in Cheyenne to replace a prop! That made us an hour late getting to Chicago so I missed the plane on which I was to go to Washington on, and was put on the 12:30 flight. I got to camp at 11:00 P.M. last night. We had clear weather all the way across the country, but my stomach was not clear. I know I should not have eaten that stuff in Salt Lake. I feel fine now except for a couple of sore arms where they shot me today. Yes we got two more shots today, one for Cholera, and one for bubonic plague. Looks like we could end up in India. We don’t know just when we will leave but from the sound of things it will be within a week. They told us we would not have time to send our laundry out, so it looks as if we leave around the 1st of the month. Your last three letters were here waiting this morning so I did have some news from you even if it was old. Gosh, how I would like to be back with you. When I left the other night I could hardly keep from crying. Every time I would wave at you I would have to 5 Top left: Elder Reinhart T. Kowallis while serving an LDS mission to Germany in 1932-34. Top right: Two young women, labeled on photos as “Kramer sisters”, with Reinhart during his mission. This was probably during his time in Chemnitz. Bottom Right: Troops of the Third Reich marching through the streets as photographed by Elder R. T. Kowallis. Bottom Left: Newspaper clipping from the Davis County Clipper, 27 July 1941. 6 swallow a lump in my throat. I hope the next time I come home there will be no more goodbyes. I realy am lucky tho to have you & Cheryl. I think you are the best little family in the world. I was in the PX tonight but they don’t have any more of those baskets left. I should have bought one before Christmas. In fact there is hardly anything left over there. Oh yes, I don’t think we will be coming through Ogden. As far as I can find out we go to the State of Wash. which will route us farther north. It was really swell to be home with you for Christmas. I love you so much. Love, Reinhart P. S. -- I still have some work to do tonight. Did they get the car put up all right? Each of the chapters in this book represent the letters written between Reinhart and Norma during one month of 1945. The exception is the last chapter which includes both November and December. I have included an introduction to each chapter with a brief summary of what was going on in the war and in their letters. The letters are intended to be read with Reinhart’s letters on the left and Norma’s on the right side of each two page spread. Photograph taken by Reinhart, probably in Chemnitz, when Adolph Hitler was passing through. Hitler is in the window on the right. 7 Family of Joseph and Ethel Jensen. Top row (left to right): Lamar, Audrey, Phyllis, and Glena. Bottom row (left to right): Ruth, Joe, Ethel, and Norma. Diagram of Karl Kowallis wives and children (top). Bottom photo is of Reinhart Kowallis in 1939 while working for W. W. Clyde Co. in Wyoming. His brother-in-law, Harry Clyde, helped him get the job. 8 Photo of young Norma Jensen at about age 3 (approximately 1919). Bobbed hair styles had already reached Pleasant View. Right: Reinhart Theodore Kowallis and Norma Jensen in their wedding photo, 1942. Below: One of Norma’s fashion sketches. 9 Mildred Page, Norma Jensen, and Nina Morris were companions in the L. D. S. Northern States mission in 1940-41. 10 11 January 1945 Map of war in Pacific about January 1945. The map is from “Atlas of the World Battle Fronts in Semimonthly Phases to August 15th 1945: Supplement to The Biennial report of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army July 1, 1943 to June 30 1945 To the Secretary of War” and was found online at Wikipedia. 12 January 1945 The War in January 1945 In January of 1945, the Allied forces were making good progress against both the Japanese in the west and the Germans in the east. But the Germans were still going on the offensive in places. The New York Times reported on the 3 January 1945 that, “Germany’s armies were on the offensive all along the Western Front except in the Bastogne area, where the United States Third Army was continuing to push forward. Even there the enemy was exerting strong pressure and offering powerful resistance.” The Times report continues with this comment about the war in the Pacific: “Widespread air blows fell upon the Japanese all the way from Formosa, off which four enemy planes were destroyed and five Ships set afire, through the Philippines, where the heaviest attacks fell on southern Luzon, to the Netherlands Indies and Bougainville.” On the 9th of January the Americans land on the island of Luzon and begin their drive on Manila in their effort to reclaim the Philippines. On the 16th, Adolph Hitler and his mistress Eva Braun move into his bunker in Berlin. The German offensive known as the “Battle of the Bulge” comes to an end in late January with a German defeat, but leaves 19,000 American soldiers dead. Finally on the 31st of January, the Americans with Filipino help, launch a second attack on Luzon. It is in this context that Reinhart finds himself headed out into the Pacific theater. The letters in this book are arranged with Reinhart’s letters on the left and Norma’s letters on the right side. Norma’s are in italics to make them stand out somewhat from her husbands. During each month, I have also tried to include at least one letter in their own hand. Original copies of all the letters would have taken up far too much space. I have also tried to maintain their own spelling of words as much as possible. Reinhart, for example, typically spells really as “realy” and Norma has her own idiosyncratic spellings of certain words. 13 Reinhart - January 1945 14 Norma - January 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 1 January 1945 Happy New Year Sweetheart, And I do mean just that Reinhart? With all my heart I hope that during this year we may see an end to this war. Then it will truly be a happy year—for you will be home with Cheryl & myself. We will be able to start our business and just go hunting and do all those other things together that we have said someday we would do. Last night was New Year’s Eve, but I went to bed. Glena & Ruth stayed up to see the New Year in. They woke us all up to hear the whistles blow. Then some kids went tearing through town with their horn going full blast & so the New Year arrived. I didn’t go to Church yesterday ‘cause I didn’t feel so spry. I guess my vacation is over. In the afternoon I went down to Sr. Williams to do some Relief Soc. work. Then in the evening I went to Church. We walked because the streets are rather slick & Dad won’t drive on such roads. Lenard Barker told us about the Paratroopers & then Mac talked & Reuben talked. After Church I went in & settled our tithing for the year. We have paid $360.00 tithing for the year. Reuben said it was mighty fine. Just think our little Cheryl is 5 months old. I weighed her this morning and she weighs 15½ lbs. Then I started feeding her some egg yolk. Do you know honey, I have got her to say Da Da several times now. Mom didn’t believe it but now she does cause Cheryl said it for her. Audrey & Glena have also heard her say it. She knows she is doing something smart. When she says it, she just laughs & stuffs her fist in her mouth. Then she will start blowing spit bubbles. Just think, starting to say things when she was 4½ months old. I tell you she’s a smart child. I am really going to have to watch her now. I had her crosswise of the table & just walked over to the sink & in a flash she had rolled over. I was watching so I grabbed her, but I shook for 15 minutes. Never again will I leave her without someone to hold her. Today is really going to be a busy day. I have to get a lesson to give in Relief Soc. tomorrow. Then I am going over to Zelma Johns to practice the song I shall sing tomorrow. Then I have to finish a doll I was making for Relief Soc (Oh me!) We really had a terrible train wreck just west of Ogden. There were bettween 61 & 65 killed and 175 wounded. There were bettween 28 & 30 of those killed who were army personel. The second section ran into the 1st section or vice versa. Some of the cars were telescoped. It was rather foggy which accounted for the accident. I cut this picture out of a magazine because it made me think of you & the kind of room I would like you to have. Wouldn’t it be swell. You see they have both my guns & yours too & my poles & yours. I don’t think you will play the banjo. I am also sending the Church news to service men. I notice it says soldiers should not take the sacrament offered in other churches. It also says we should not give beer & coffee rations to other soldiers & I guess when we gave coffee stamps to our friends we were doing wrong. I had wondered about it myself. Have you had any news yet conserning how long you will be there? I hope they keep you around for awhile. Golly I have dreamed about you every night since I left. I thought last night that all those friends of yours out there came to visit us & our house was so dirty that I wouldn’t even come out & talk to them. You tried to get me to come out but I just wouldn’t. My hair was straight & you said it looked beautiful, but I just felt awful. You see you are sweet even in my dreams, but of course lots sweeter in reality. You are still going to come & see me, aren’t you Honey? All My Love Norma P.S. I got a letter from Carmen. She sent me a picture of her little girl. She is still in Little Rock, Arkansas with Ronald. Her Grandmother died so it’s a good thing I told her it wasn’t our church that was responsible for her being healed. 15 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - January 1945 16 Letters to the Paciic Norma - January 1945 Picture from magazine that Norma sent to Reinhart. Pleasant View, Utah 4 January 1945 Dearest Reinhart, As I told you this morning, I went to town with Dad and Ruth. We all went to a show. Dad & I to Frenchman’s Creek & Ruth went to Mrs. Parkington. After the show we drove down & got a tire that Dad had recaped. Then we picked up Audrey’s battery. Dad had it charged up. Elmer Harris said those guys hadn’t done a thing to fix the generator. Elmer fixed it & now it works fine. on the way home we stopped at Phyllis’. Wayne was steeped in business. He has three salesmen already & he be really doing O.K. Phyllis fed me so much candy that I am having a little stomach ache. (Shame on me -- tch, tsk). When I got home, Cheryl had just smeared all her blankets & herself so I had to clean her up before I could read your letter. She was really tickled - just goo-ed and laughed all the time I was trying to clean her up. 17 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - January 1945 18 Letters to the Paciic Norma - January 1945 19 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - January 1945 8 January 1945 Hello Darling, I’ll bet you haven’t been getting many letters from me the last few days. That’s because I haven’t been writting any. Since we got here there has been so much to do that I have had but little time. But in spite of being busy, every night before the sand man over takes me, I get an acute case of home sickness. I sort of day-dream of being home with you & Cheryl again. Ga, but you two are a lot of fun. I can still see Cheryl in the mornings when she wants to get up, the way she packs herself up in the air, and afterwards how cute she is when you give her a bath. I can hardly bear to think of being away for two or three years, and then coming home to a little daughter who is already walking and talking. Not that she won’t be just as sweet then as now, but I will have missed out on all the fun of watching her grow and learn. I bet she will be a pretty little girl. With a lot of her mother’s looks & personality she can be nothing else. I certainly hope you got the wire I sent the other day because I am looking forward to calling you tomorrow night. We have not yet drawn our travel pay so I had to cash a check for $25 today again, but I will send that amount back to you pluss some tithing on the money I draw so as not to drain the bank dry. And don’t forget you will have to start this month paying $1.70 more tithing than we have been paying. My increase in pay will be nearly $17. I wish I would get a letter from you. It seems like ages since any word from you last reached me. Ray is still waiting for word from his wife to. Enclosed is my social security card. Put it in the strong box for me. In regard to social security if ever you should get the little telegram from Uncle Sam in my behalf, you are eligible to draw social security from my card. Not that I think any such thing will ever take place, but it’s good to know these things. Along that same line, you have my insurance, the policy of which is in your possession. In addition to these two things, you could draw what ever back pay I may have, which would no doubt not be much, plus 6 months gratitude pay, which is my base pay x 6 months or $175 x 6 = $1050, pluss $50 a month pension for life or until you should marry again. Now for the last three items mentions (Back pay, gratuity pay, & pension) you would have to make application to a Personal Affairs Officer at the nearest military post. He could give you all the necessary papers, etc., and tell you what to do. For Social Security you would of course go to the social security board office. You should know about these things, and it would be a good idea to also put in the strong box the informative part of this letter. Then you would always have this information. Oh yes, before you could ever make application for any of these items, you would have to have our marriage license and your birth certificate. Some time in the future I’ll be sending some more clothing home, so when you get it just look it over. If any of it needs cleaning you had best have it done before packing it away in moth balls. Also I am going to send my watch home. If you want to use it you may. If not just put it away for me to. Here’s to seeing you before too long. With all my Love, Reinhart 9 January 1945 Dear Norma, I finished talking to you on the phone, so I’ll not say anything in this letter. Anyhow it is going to lay in the Post Office until I leave here because I am enclosing a money order & my will. $13.00 if this money is for tithing, the rest is for you, to make up what I drew out of the bank the other day. You only need one copy of the will but it won’t hurt to put them both away. Love, Reinhart 20 Letters to the Paciic Norma - January 1945 I finally found time to read your letter while I fed our little darling. I hope the lump I had in my throat when I read your letter didn’t have the same effect on the milk supply or Cheryl would probably have choked on it. Of course I have expected you to go over seas for a long time, but when it actually happens, it begins to seem such a long ways to be separated from you. I won’t worry about you though, I promise, because I am as sure as sure that you will be all right and that in a very short time you will be back home with us again. Even a year goes very fast. (I hope) I don’t care what the Bishop or any of those guys say, we know what a sweet lamb you really are—don’t we? It will seem funny to be writing you at an A.P.O. number & not even know where you are. I hope my letters reach you before you set sail. I wrote the day after you left here. Thanks Honey for sending that material. I will have to get busy & make me some nice slacks for when you come home so I will look real nice for you. Don’t worry too much about the socks & handkerchiefs. We can probably get along all right without them. I don’t know why I tell you that for. You may be on your way accross the big puddle before you even get this. Cheryl may not remember you when you first come home, but I know it will take no time at all until she loves you just as I do. May God Bless you in your journeys & be with you always — I know he will be. My thoughts & prayers shall always be for you. 5 January 1945 (same letter continued) I couldn’t finish this letter last night because I had to make a sudden exit. I was sick to my stomach. I went to bed with a headache. Didn’t even feed Cheryl for fear I would upset her. This morning I just feel wonderful. I guess I have had too much candy & then the show just topped it off. I just keep thinking that maybe you might accidentally go through Ogden. I even washed my hair & put it up in curlers just in case, but then I guess I am crazy. I guess it doesn’t hurt to hope. You may get this in a month or so, but I hope you stay in wherever place you go long enough for this & other letters to reach you. I took your pants to the cleaners yesterday. Golly it’s so hard to tell you in a letter when it would be so much easier jut to put my arms around you & just kiss you. Anyway, I love you very much. Norma Cheryl sends you her love too [Reinhart apparently did not save the letters that Norma wrote between the 5th of January and the 31st of January] Pleasant View, Utah 31 January 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Ah — I just don’t know how I could be happier than I am right now unless you were here. You see today I received four letters from you & now I don’t have to worry any more about your trip accross. I’m so thankful that you arrived there safely & that you were sent to Oahu. It just seems impossible to think that your letters get here in 6 days. It makes you seem so much closer to me. I just never dreamed that you would be so lucky. I had pictured you out on one of those Jap infested islands where it is so hot & disease is so prevalent. You poor kid — such a trip. I should have been there to hold your head for you. I guess you were a plenty sick chicken. It was nice that you had so much company. The flying fish must have [been] fun to watch. I wonder how they are for frying? Oahu must be a beautiful Island. I have always thought that some day I would like to go there — palms, pineapples at 10¢, & sugar cane. Golly, you are really in a paradise. Spence says they have powdered eggs too but he doesn’t like them on account they have run out of baking powder & they 21 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - January 1945 11 January 1945 Hello Darling, What are you doing tonight? Ray & I went to the early show, and now it is time I was getting around to writing you again. As you may guess I am still here; where ever that is. I will try and write you every day as long as I am here, tho I have no idea how long that may be. Ever since I talked with you the other night I have felt badly about it for not talking longer. When I paid the bill it only came to $4.00, and you should have been worth at least a $10.00 or more call. Then to, I could kick myself a thousand times for not making a date the next night to call you. Gosh, I have been lonesome for you. To have talked with you again would certainly have helped my morale. After I hung up I thot of a dozen things I wanted to ask you about. I had worried some about Audrey’s car. Whether or not the folks got it put away. It was certainly sweet of her to let us take it the way she did. I hope some day I will be able to do as much for her. You realy have some nice folks to do all they so for us. I would like to have said goodby to Ruth when I left. You can tell her I’ll do all I can to net her a boy friend & send him back to her. There will be a slight compensation of course. But I am sure she can pay it with little trouble. You should see what I got the other day for only 40¢. I bet you can’t guess what it was. Well, anyhow, when I came back out of the shop he had the hair and I had the hair cut. Gee, but it’s nice. I don’t even have to comb it now. In fact, I couldn’t if I wanted to. It’s a good thing you can’t see me. There should be time for it to grow out again, so when I come home I’ll have a full crop. I packed a couple of boxes full of junk tonight to send home to you. When they get home open them up, put my blouse & pants away, also my razor & strop. The socks, handkerchiefs, & bag are yours to do with what you want. I received your first letter today. It was the one you mailed me on the 5th of Jan. The others no doubt will catch up with me sooner or later. We had a couple of nice days here when we first came, but now it does nothing but rain. You know how it is on the west coast this time of year. I would realy like to be back home in the snow. Maybe you & I could go out hunting rabbits in the afternoon. I know there are more cotton tails on those hills than I brought back. Or we could go sleigh riding in the evening down the lane, and then come home to a pan of hot buttered popcorn. Anyhow, I can still dream, but I don’t have to dream I love you because within me that is real, Reinhart p.s. The pants I am sending Lawrence come to $5.60 Pacific Ocean 19 January 1945 Hello Darling, My conscience realy hurts me today. The other days of this trip it has been more or less my stomach that has hurt me, but not today because I know I should have written you before this time, but then the letters wouldn’t get there any sooner, so perhaps it’s just as well this way. I realy would have written more tho if it had not been that we were told to hold our letters down to one if possible during the trip. I can tell you that the first three days of this joy ride I just couldn’t have written had I tried. I was one sea sick little Indian. The only thing that kept me from wanting to die was the thot of some day coming back to you. I tell you there is nothing worse than sea sickness. Just hope that you never have to cross the ocean on a ship. When we left Seattle we ran right into a big storm that upset nearly every one of us. Ray had been telling how he had spent 54 days on the water and was never once sick, but when I looked at him that first morning, he looked just as green as I felt. He did, however, make it up about half a day earlier than I did. That much to his credit. The 22 Letters to the Paciic Norma - January 1945 just don’t taste so good. He says they save the snow water to wash their clothes in. So Chaplin Bond is there? Be sure & tell him hello for me & Ruth says to tell him hello for her too. I still think he is a mighty swell fellow. You will get to see Fred too. I bet he will be surprised & glad to see you. Then this Lt. Rogers, who is Charlie’s brother-in-law, is there — my goodness you are really among friends and then of course you have Ray. Honey, I want you to be careful & not let any coconuts fall on your head & don’t let any of those Hula Hula gals captivate you. By the way, have you seen many natives & how do they dress & what do they live in? I will figure up our bank account & let you know how much we have. It really took a slide during the month of December. Do you know I sent four slides up to the Eastman Kodak Co. & just yesterday they returned them to me. They say I must send them through my local Kodak Dealer. Oh, it gripes me. Just when I thought I would have them to send to you. I surely didn’t think they would charge you so much for living expenses, but I would rather pay a little more & be in a safe place. The news sounds so good today. The Russians are 45 miles from Berlin. I just pray they keep right on & go right into Berlin & that our boys are spared that job. Better yet, I wish the Germans would give up. Yesterday I went to Relief Society at 10 o’clock A.M. We sewed until noon & then we served lunch. Cheryl slept until noon. I fed her during our prayer meeting then several ladies took turns holding her while I conducted meeting. It was a special meeting on the non use of Liquor & Tabacco. It has been a big worry to me & I was glad that it went off so well. At 3:30, I went home, gave Cheryl her oil rub, studied my mutual lesson & then went to mutual. I taught the girls all about Chastity. After meeting, Sr. Johns asked me to be in a play & I accepted. Today I washed, took care of Karla & Cheryl & got supper. Everyone else went to town & if you don’t think I was busy — I just wish you had been here to help me out. Phyllis, Jay & David came out on the 1 o’clock bus. She only has a week & a half now. She doesn’t feel so very good, but I guess no one feels too good when they get that near. Of course them being here didn’t help me much with the washing. I laid Cheryl in on the front room floor & put her rattle a little ways off & she would raise up & just lunge toward it, then raise up & lunge again, until she reached it. She can really get to things now. Darn, I wish you could only see her. She is quite the gal. Mom has been asked to give a talk at our next Stake Conference about “The Relationship of Mother & Daughters.” They say they think we are such an ideal family — if they could only see us “huh”. Well anyway she is worried to pieces over it. Reinhart with his baby daughter, Cheryl in August 1944. 23 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - January 1945 second night out I had a 4 hour guard to fill down in one of the forward compartments of the ship, and I tell you I just laid on the floor there and heaved until I was spitting up blood. Everything but my toe nails came up. Anyhow, after the third day I felt much better and the water had quieted down a lot. The last three days I have felt swell, eating every meal plus every thing I could find or steal in between. Today has been the most beautiful one of the trip with the sun shining all day, the water calm, and the temperature between 70° & 80° F. It seems to be getting warmer by the hour during the past two days. It looks like I will have a hot time before I see Utah again. Oh, guess what! After we got over our sea sickness, Ray & I discovered we had another Logan man aboard. He is a 2nd Lt. and was sleeping right across from us. It is Lt. Rogers. Also a return missionary. And of all things to expect he is Charles Kowallis brother-in-law, having married Nina’s sister. The three of us get together now & then and realy shoot the breeze. He is also a hunting & fishing enthusiast so you will understand we have plenty in common. He & I are both going to buy our wives a set of guns after the war so they can go hunting with us. That reminds me of a promise I made myself the other night as I lay thinking of us. When I do get back, be it winter, summer, spring, or fall, we are going to take a couple of weeks off and go hunting or fishing or both. There isn’t much I can tell you about the ship we are on or what we do on it. It is a new ship & our quarters are comfortable. Today I saw my first flying fish. In fact I have been watching them a good part of the day. It is realy interesting to see them come out of the water to escape the ship, and go sailing off through the air for anything from a hundred feet to 3 or 4 hundred yards. They don’t fly very high, only two or three feet off the water. As they glide along they will every so often let their tail in the water and give themselves another push. They don’t grow very large, only about a foot in length. Maybe one will fly up on deck and I’ll be able to send it home to you. The only mail I have received was the first letter you wrote at my APO address. I got that a day before I left Seattle. None of us have ever received any of our mail from Ritchie. It may catch up with us by the time we are ready to come back. I guess you will just have to tell me how that last roll of film turned out. If there is a good one or two in there of you or, and us, have them made up into the small size & send them to me. I haven’t a picture of you which I can carry in my wallet. I will be packing again tonight. Tomorrow morning we dock and we must be all ready to get off the boat. I’ll be more than glad to do so. When we got on the boat in Seattle, the Red Cross gave each man a cloth bag with some things in it for the trip. Mine had a couple of packs of cigarettes, a deck of cards, a couple of mystery novels, two candy bars, a sowing kit, razor blades, soap, and one or two other things I can’t think of right now. I don’t think I can put any more paper in an air mail letter so I better wind this up. I’ll be thinking of you every day and hoping for the day when I can have you with me again. With all my love, Reinhart 24 Letters to the Paciic Norma - January 1945 I just guess we are really lucky people. I just have so many things to thank God for each night that it takes me forever to get them all in & one of the first ones I mention is how thankful I am for a husband like you. Tonight I shall not forget how thankful I am that you are safe in Hawaii. God has indeed been good to me. May we always be worthy of these blessings. All my Love, Norma 25 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - January 1945 26 Letters to the Paciic Norma - January 1945 27 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - January 1945 Oahu, Hawaii 22 January 1945 Hello Darling, You are realy a Sweetheart to write me so often. Today two more letters came for me. It realy is good to hear from you. You can tell Cheryl to write now and then too. Of course I know you will have to coach her a little, but I am sure she can do it. I am glad that roll of film turned out good, and you can bet I will be waiting for a print of a couple or more of them. It will be nice having a picture or two to keep with me all the time. Well Honey, here comes the news you have been waiting for. I am on Oahu, and it is realy beautiful. Every thing is so green, and the weather is just perfect. Not too hot and not too cold. Right behind my tent is a big field of sugar cane. Every now and then I go cut me off a piece to chew. It is too sweet to chew very much of it. The first chance I get I am going to visit one of the pineapple plants and see how it is canned. Also I want to visit one of the plantations. Cocoanuts grow all over the island. A couple of the boys were out of camp the other night and came back with a cocoanut that was not quite ripe but we ate it just the same. It tasted plenty good to me. We came through Honolulu the other day and the first chance I get I want to go back. As I remember it that is where the temple is located and I shouldn’t like to miss seeing it. Also, Ray and I want to get to church at the 28 Letters to the Paciic Norma - January 1945 Norma with baby Cheryl in August 1944. Children of William Alonzo Chamberlain and Alice Estella Moore (from left to right): Lottie, Henry, George, Anna, Ethel (Norma Jensen Kowallis’ mother), Bertha Estella, Walter, and Lester. These Chamberlain aunts and uncles are mentioned in places throughout the letters. Photo taken in 1959. 29 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - January 1945 first opportunity. Since arriving here, eating has been my big weakness. It seems I cannot appease my ravenous appetite regardless of what or how much I eat. I think what I need is some ice cream, but that is not to be had on this post. The only milk and eggs we get are powdered. We had powdered eggs for breakfast this morning. They mix them with milk, baking powder, salt, and one or two other things. I don’t mind them at all but some of the fellows won’t eat them. However, there will come a time when I bet they will. As officers we are charged 25¢ a meal. Other than that I have very little expense. I should be able to get along on $50 a month, and when and if we leave here it will not cost me that much. I will try and save at least $25 each month. Then when I get back I’ll have a little to run on. We may be moving to new quarters tomorrow, but you can bet I’ll write you unless I am too busy. The place we are in now is just some place for us to stop momentarily. I am sorry to hear Audrey has received so few letters from Spence. I am sure it isn’t because he is not writing. Maybe one of these days she will get a whole sack full. I surely hope he doesn’t get hurt. From the looks of the news today I don’t see how Germany can hold out for more than a short time now. At least it stimulates my hopes of getting back within two years. I hope Wayne doesn’t get called up again now that he has his business started. It would sort of set him back after borrowing so much. How much do we have now, not counting our half acre of property? See you again tomorrow. Love, Reinhart Oahu, Hawaii 22 January 1945 Dear Norma, Two letters this morning and four this afternoon, news all the way from Dec. to the middle of Jan. It is all too wonderful but true. I have never made a haul on letters like that before. One of the letters I got this afternoon was post marked 16 Jan. from Ogden. That’s only six days getting here. Pretty good time for mail I should say. I was glad to get the letter from Faun & Ray. I wish you had sent me their address so I could have dropped them a letter. I am going to send V-mail to everyone except you, because I don’t have to write so much that way. As a matter of fact others will be lucky to get even a V-mail letter from me. If we had only known the plane was going to be late that night we could have stayed to see Faun & Ray. I would certainly liked to have seen them. I am having a tough time finding a pal for Ruth. Maybe when I get into town I can trap her a sailor or something. If they all only knew what a nice girl she is they would be asking for the chance to write her. Maybe I could write her and just change my name so she wouldn’t know it was me. Gosh, Margret & Delore are getting themselves quite a family. You and I will realy have to [try] hard to catch up with all our friends. Oh well, one little girl like Cheryl is worth three or four of the kind other people have. In your letters she sounds so much fun. I can just see her holding on to her toes. I got a big kick out of the way she would play peek-a-boo when I was there. But no doubt she has improved by now. You asked me if some one was listening on our telephone conversation. Yes, on a call of that kind they always listen in. If anything out of the way is said, you are at once cut off. But don’t worry, I am not afraid to say “I love you” over any kind of phone. Any how, they get used to it. They must hear it a hundred times a day. Yes, Lawrence is supposed to send you $5.70 for the pants I sent him. Don’t worry about the “casualty detachment”. Any how it’s “casual detachment” not casualty. And it means an organization or group of men not yet assigned to a unit. I am glad the things from Ritchie got there. Now you can make yourself plenty of nice new slacks. Did Audrey take one piece of the material? Good night Darling. I think I shall go to the show tonight. Love, Reinhart 30 Letters to the Paciic Norma - January 1945 Children of James Jensen and Karen Sophia Hansen with their spouses (uncles and aunts of Norma Jensen Kowallis, many of them are mentioned in her letters). Bottom row (left to right): Joseph M. Jensen (Norma’s father), Vera Jensen Hickenlooper, Eva Jensen Sanders, Susan Jensen Chamberlain, Julia Jensen Rose, Florence Hickenlooper Jensen (wife of Henry), Ethel Chamberlain Jensen (wife of Joseph and mother of Norma). Back row (left to right): Henry Jensen, Ray Hickenlooper (husband of Vera), James Jensen, Jr., George Sanders (husband of Eva). Missing from the picture is one brother, Ephraim Jensen and one sister Anna (Jensen) Fields. Photo taken in 1935. Frederick Kowallis, half-brother of Reinhart, was also in Hawaii in 1945 serving in the armed forces and later on Iwo Jima about 80 miles from Reinhart in Okinawa. 31 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - January 1945 Oahu, Hawaii 24 January 1945 Hello Darling, Looks like I missed another day of writing yesterday, but that was because we were moving again. Then last night when I could have written, Ray & I went to the show. We are now all moved in to our new quarters. Things aren’t bad here, but I can see its going to cost me just as much to live here as it did in the States. Our board bill is $1.10 per day, which amounts to $33 a month. The meals are not quite as good as they were at our last stop, however, I have no complaints. This morning we had a few things to do, and then we were given the rest of the day off. Ray and I took the bus to Honolulu about 10:00 am. You remember how crowded it used to be in San Diego on week ends, well that’s the way Honolulu is every day! It certainly is no picnic wading through Uncle Sam’s armed forces in that town. We stopped in town only long enough to catch our breath then took the first bus out to the tabernacle & mission home. The grounds there are realy beautiful. If I can I’ll send you a picture of them some time. We thot of going to see the temple until we found out it was over forty miles from town, and about the only way to get there is by car, some thing we will not have again for a long time. Fred is here. He gets in to church every Sunday so the first Sunday I get off, I will be able to see him. Any guess who else is in this neck of the woods? None other than our friend Chaplain Bond. I called him today. Tomorrow night I am going to meet him out here at one of the adjacent camps. He is coming out to hold a meeting. While in town, we bought us a big pineapple and ate it. Ray picked it out, a nice big ripe one for the entire sum of 10¢. They are realy delicious when they are ripe. We sat down in the grass on the corner and with Ray’s pocket knife, peeled, carved, and then ate it in joyful gulps. Gosh are they good. I don’t know when I will get some fore mail from you. Every time we move it delays it a few days. Here is hoping it won’t be too long before I hear from you. With all my love, Reinhart Oahu, Hawaii 25 January 1945 Hello Darling, I hope you are feeling as good today as I am. The reason is the weather. It is just like sunny California. At night I use two or more blankets in bed, and during the day we go in our shirt sleeves. Before I forget, we now have a new address. So address my letters as follows: Lt. R.T. Kowallis - 01044268 APO - 357, G-2 Sec., 10th Army c/o PM, San Francisco, Calif. Some address, don’t you think. We are getting down to work today. In a couple of days we will be in full swing. I feel sure I shall find the work very interesting. I am going to find a lot of it new, but I believe a good knowledge of it can be gained by study as I go along. There is no doubt in my mind about the amount of things I will be able to tell you after this war is won and I come home again. I certainly hope & pray it doesn’t last more than two years. Right now it seems like an age since I last saw you. Has Lamar decided yet what he is going to do about going in the Army? If he expects to get into the radio I would, if I were he, look into it as soon as possible. Once he is in they will put him where they want him, and 32 Letters to the Paciic Norma - January 1945 33 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - January 1945 right now that is mostly Infantry. It’s just about time to go back to work, so be seein ya again tomorrow. Love, Reinhart Oahu, Hawaii 25 January 1945 Hello Darling, I just came back from church and thot I would drop you a note and let you know that Jack Bourd sends a big hello! to you. I asked him if he still remembered Ruth and he said he surely did. Gee, it’s to bad he isn’t a little larger so Ruth would like him a mite more. He is realy one swell guy. He isn’t going to be here much longer he thinks, but you never can tell about these chaplains. There is an army chaplain here too from Salt Lake, also a member of the church. In meeting tonight I helped them set a couple of the boys apart as “leaders.” Jack tells me that as return missionaries we don’t necessarilly have to be set apart as group leaders in order to function as such. I miss the gang back in Ritchie a lot. It was realy a lot of fun being with them. If only you could have been there to every thing would have been perfect. There is nothing quite like being with a gang of good old Westerners. I think Ray & I have been rather lucky being together on this trip and all, and now being assigned to the same headquarters. Here’s hoping we will be coming back together at some future date. Say, what’s this I hear about you are going to send our daughter Cheryl out West to her Grandmother’s for the next few months? I don’t like to see it, but if you think it must be done, why I guess it will be all right. I hope every thing turns out for the best, and until I see you in a couple of years, I’ll just have to keep lovin you long distance. Love, Reinhart 10th Army Hq., Oahu, Hawaii 27 January 1945 Dear Norma, You know I fully intended writing to you last night after I got back from the show, but by the time I got back, took a bath, and got ready for bed it was so late and I was so tired that I just rolled in and went to sleep. I might mention that I will not number my letters any more. Just found out it should not be done. Anyhow, it was a lot of trouble. I never could remember what the next number was to be. Some of the birds here are certainly tame. There is a species of Dove that looks a lot like the doves back home except it is only about 2/3 the size. They are so tame one can walk to within 2 or 3 feet of them before they take wing. The other day 6 of them were eating right around my feet. The male birds coo and strut around much the same as domestic pigeons. Maybe I should send you a couple of stuffed ones home so you can see for yourself. It has been about a week again since I received any mail. I miss hearing from you a lot although I know it isn’t your fault. None of us have had any mail since we left that last post a week ago. Just another mix up on the mail some where. Just think, Cheryl will be Six months old on the first. Another six months and she will be runing around the house in hand to hand combat with Karla. I wonder who will win? With you to umpire the situation the victory should not be hard to swing for Cheryl. I’ll bet you have a time when they both start pulling things off the walls. If only they will leave the walls standing. I started this letter in the afternoon, but I was called to do a job so I’ll wind it up now and then get on with my washing. You are not the only one who has to take time out for that chore. I wish I weren’t so far away so I could run home on week ends because I sure do miss you. With all my love, Reinhart 34 Letters to the Paciic Norma - January 1945 Wayne S. Butler with his son Jay and wife Phyllis in February 1940. Phyllis was Norma’s older sister. By 1945, the Butler’s had three children: Jay, David, and Lynette (who was born in 1945). 35 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - January 1945 Hq. 10th Army, Oahu, Hawaii 28 January 1945 Hello Darling, Another day and I am about ready for bed. Ray and I just got back from town after having been in for church. You see it is Sunday and we got the afternoon off. The first thing we did was go up to the mission home and find Fred. He is looking well and seems to be happy although he still doesn’t mix very well with the other fellows. Anyhow, we all walked down the street, bought some fresh pineapple, then came back to the picnic grounds for a pineapple bust. I ate one by myself. Oh yes, Reed Dunn from Logan was also with us. He remembers you but perhaps you won’t remember him without seeing him. It is sort of nice seeing Fred, but you know we have so little in common that it is very difficult to retain an interest between us. We never have been close friends. About 4:00 o’clock, Ray and I hopped a buss for Waikiki beach to see the sights. The rest of the armed forces had no doubt thot of the same thing because they were all there, and before us. We looked the beach over. It’s only about 25 feet wide, and full of trash. Don’t think I would care to go swimming down their. The buildings & trees are well worth seeing. They are very beautiful. At 6:00 o’clock we were back at the Waikiki ward for church. There we met Major Tirl from Logan, as well as another Major and a Lt. Col. both from Idaho. They had been all around the Island during the afternoon and had the rear seat of their car full of bananas. We pushed the bananas to one side and rode back to camp with them. I looked at my watch once this morning and said to myself, “Norma and Cheryl are sitting in Sunday School right now.” How I would like to be with them. Love, Reinhart Hq. 10th Army, Oahu, Hawaii 29 January 1945 Hello Darling, How are you tonight? I would feel a lot happier if you were with me, or better still if i were with you. It seems like you are so far away when I don’t even get any mail. Boy, when it dose come through I should have a bucket full of it. I can hardly wait until you send me those colored prints of you and Cheryl. I surely do miss her, she is such a cute little tyke. We went to meeting again tonight. Some of the boys hold up out here on Mon. evening down at the post chaple. Ray and I got there a half hour late because some one had given us the wrong time last night in town. There were about a dozen of us present tonight including one full Col. He is from San Francisco and married one of the girls I knew in college. Ruth Snyder was her name, you may remember her to. Today is the first time it has rained since I came here, and then it had stoped by the time I got up and went to work. What’s doing at home? Have you had any snow since I left the states? It would be fun to be back there going skiing with you or even out on a bunny hunt. Tonight is house cleaning for us. You see the Officers are all staying in quarters where we don’t have any orderly service, so we must do our own cleaning. You can imagine how often it gets cleaned, but tonight we just can’t put it off any longer. The rest of them have already started so I had better get started myself in order to keep peace in the home. I’ll be hearing from you soon I hope. Love, Reinhart 36 Letters to the Paciic Norma - January 1945 Norma Jensen Kowallis family showing her Jensen and Chamberlain uncles and aunts along with significant cousins (children of Henry Jensen) and her siblings. Almost all of these people are mentioned at some point in her letters. 37 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - January 1945 L.D.S. Church group at a fireside on Oahu in January or February 1945. Ray Hales (Reinhart’s roommate who is mentioned frequently in his letters) is on the far left, with Reinhart just to the right of him. Ray was a friend from Utah State Agricultural College in Logan, Utah. 38 The War in February 1945 The war in February was not going well for Germany. On February 1st, Ecuador declared war on Germany. Paraguay followed on February 9th, solidifying the allies in the western hemisphere. Argentina was the main holdout, still remaining neutral. On February 4th Belgium was cleared of all German forces and the Allied leaders, Churchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt met in Yalta to begin discussions on the subdivision of post-war Europe. On the 9th, the last German troops west of the Rhine were defeated and on the 13th the Soviets were victorious in the Battle of Budapest. Over two days, the 13th and 14th, the allies fire bombed the cities of Dresden and Prague destroying much in these historic old cities, something that was later deemed unfortunate. On the 24th, 25th and 26th, Egypt, Turkey, and Syria, respectively, declared war on the Axis powers. All were confident that war in Europe would soon be over. In the Pacific, things were not going much better for Japan. On February 3rd, American and Filipino forces entered Manila. The Japanese, as the forces close in on them, massacred approximately 100,000 Filipino civilians. The battle for Manila went on for several weeks. On the 16th the American Navy bombarded the Japanese cities of Tokyo and Yokohama. Then on the 19th of February the Americans invaded the island stronghold of Iwo Jima and a fierce battle ensued. Although the battle for the island would not end until the 26th of March, American forces on the 23rd raised the flag on Mt. Suribachi in a moment that will forever stand as a symbol of the courage and valor of the men fighting in the Pacific Islands. Finally, on the 25th of February, American troops recaptured Corregidor Island in Manila Bay. General McArthur, who fled the island in 1942, kept his promise and returned. As February opens, Reinhart is in Hawaii. He finds time to go to the movies and tour the island of Oahu with his college buddy, Ray Hales. He and Ray stopped at a roadside stand near the L.D.S. temple at Laie and tried to buy some coconuts, but the lady on finding out they were members of the L.D.S. church insisted on giving them the coconuts. One of Norma’s “V-mail” letters to him was censored because she had written too small, trying to get as much into the limited space as she could. At home Norma keeps a close watch on the war news and she and her family are trying to figure out what part of the Pacific theater Reinhart will be sent to. Both of them commiserate and complain about the irregular mail service, something that won’t improve as the distance between them increases. Reinhart is getting better acquainted with his photo team members and he has decided that a couple of them “aren’t worth a darn.” Not only is he having trouble with his team, but the food served in the mess hall does not agree with him. He and a few other officers tackle that problem by buying “an ice box full of grub. Now when breakfast, dinner, or supper comes around we just look in the ice box for what we want, turn on the electric stove and presto a meal is ready. Tonight we had franks, beans, roast beef, bread & butter, pineapple juice, and jam.” If this fare was better than the mess hall, then it really U.S. stamp commemorating the raising of the United States flag atop Mt. Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima. 39 February 1945 Map of Allied advances into Japanese held regions by February 1945. Darkest regions show the areas captured as the allies invaded several islands and areas held by the Japanese. The map is from “Atlas of the World Battle Fronts in Semimonthly Phases to August 15th 1945: Supplement to The Biennial report of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army July 1, 1943 to June 30 1945 To the Secretary of War” and was found online at Wikipedia. 40 February 1945 must have been lousy. On the Sunday the 5th of February, Reinhart and Ray meet up for dinner with Reinhart’s younger brother Fred, who is also in the armed forces on Hawaii. They also make sure they attend church services, something that Reinhart tries to do throughout his time in the Pacific whenever he can. Then on the 10th of February he receives his orders for the photo team’s departure from Hawaii to Guam. He doesn’t mention where he is going to Norma because that would be censored in the mail. Before Valentine’s day, Reinhart receives a card from Norma and wanting to do something nice for her for their upcoming wedding anniversary, he hitchhikes back around the island to near Laie to find a woman who makes lovely purses. Reinhart likes exploring, fishing, hunting, and eating–his letters contain a good dose of all of these. One day after a lot of walking he writes, “I started supper by eating a whole papaya, that is a melon that grows on trees, and looks like a pear. It tastes something like flowers. Anyhow I like them. Then I fryed 4 eggs, in butter of course, fixed myself a sandwitch with a cup of cocoa, and then topped off with a half a can of peaches. Gosh, a meal like that would cost 3 bucks in town.” Once he is back at sea, Reinhart finds that the days go by pretty slowly. He spends some time trying to get a good tan and then does a little missionary work in the evenings. He reports that, “I have been staying up every night for the past week or so until one & two o’clock. It seems that every night I get into religious conversation with one of the crew members here. He is a pretty good boy. Although he doesn’t believe but only a small part of what I tell him.” At home in Pleasant View, Norma goes about her daily activities including taking care of baby Cheryl and her sister’s baby Karla, helping with chores around the house, and filling several callings in her ward. She writes about one fairly typical day of church service to Reinhart. “I went to Relief Soc., taught the Visiting Teachers & gave the Theology lesson (We had a Stake visitor). Then I went home, frosted the cakes, took care of Cheryl, got supper, dashed off to Mutual. We had two Stake Board Members visit our class. We had requested that one be there as it was a special Rose Evening. We held our class over to Bernice Case’s place. I took charge & each girl came up & put her rose into the vase (they were Red ones & they made me think of you). They each told the qualities that they wanted the rose to symbolise to them. Two candles was the only light in the room & it illuminated each girls face as they placed their rose in the bouquet. After the roses were in the vase, Beth gave a speech & presented them to one of our Stake visitors. Then the Visitor gave a speech & gave each girl a rose folder to have Autographed by each girl. Then each girl displayed her talents & hobbies. Glena & LaVern sang a duet or I should say Glena sang a solo ‘cause LaVern got scared & quit after the first few words. It was really an impressive night for all the girls. The visitors said they had never seen anything so lovely. One of them talked to Mom afterwards & she did a lot of bragging to Mom about me but I won’t tell you what she said ‘cause you know how wonderful I am without my telling you what she said.” The big event at home is the birth of a baby girl, Lynette, to Norma’s older sister Phyllis. But the winter at home is beginning to thaw and the war abroad has begun to turn in the allies favor as February comes to a close. 41 Reinhart - February 1945 Oahu, Hawaii 1 February 1945 Hello Darling, The last letter I sent came back to me on account of I forgot to put an air mail stamp on it. I may not get this one finished tonight because I just got through work at 7:00 pm, and I want to see the show. Bob Hope is playing. I intended writing last night. I was sick to the stomach so I just went to bed. It’s the first time I have had any trouble since I got here. The cooking at this mess is not as good as it might be and the meals are about 3/4 starch, that may have some thing to do with it. We never get any milk here. I didn’t think they had any cows on the Island until I saw a herd yesterday. Yes, yesterday was my half day off. I called Boud and he came up about 3:00 pm, picked Ray and I up in his Jeep and we drove all around the Island. It was a wonderful ride in spite of the fact that I wasn’t feeling well. The other side of the island is even more beautiful than this side. I don’t know the name of the little town where the temple is. It is made up of nearly all Mormons, most of which are native Hawaiians. The town is realy the prettiest little town I have seen out here yet. The temple grounds are beyond my sphere of literary descriptive aptitude. But to say that it is one of the most, or I should say the most beautiful spot on the Island. It was built in 1919, and to say the least is a credit to the Mormon people of this area. After we had looked over the temple we stoped at a little roadside stand that sold pop, bananas and cocoanuts. I was going to buy some cocoanuts when Boud came up and said hello to the lady, and introduced us to her. As soon as she found out we were Mormons, she wouldn’t take any money for the cocoanuts. She said she couldn’t take money from members of the church, and gave us the best nuts she had, making the statement that she could sell the others to non-members. (Show time) Well I got back. The show sort of takes my mind off things for a time. I hope it won’t be too long untill I’ll be able to forget all about the Army. Gee, it’s so late already that I had better clean up a bit and go to bed. At least I can dream about you there. I love you with all my heart, Sweetheart. Love, Reinhart Oahu, Hawaii 2 February 1945 Hello Darling, I received your first V-mail letter today, and guess what; right across Cheryl’s picture was this notice, (THIS LETTER COULD NOT BE PHOTOGRAPHED BECAUSE THE WRITING WAS TOO SMALL. PLEASE ADVISE SENDER.) So please be advised. You had better write about twice that size. Sometimes the letters are censored, sometimes not. So far none of yours have been, but that does not mean that they won’t be. Now I don’t mind if you tell me how you love me, but don’t give any pertinent information. Cheryl certainly looks cute in that drawing you put in the censor’s stamp. As yet I have not received the other letter and card you sent at the same time you mailed the V-mail. I suspect them to be along tomorrow or the next day. Now that I stop to think of it though I did get an air mail letter from you the other day that was mailed on the 21st, which is the same date as this letter. I have been counting the days until you should receive mail from me. By now some should have reached you. How are Audrey’s letters coming through from Spence? Is she getting them more often than she was? I guess Spence has seen some of the war by this time. Hope it doesn’t last much longer over there and it won’t last so long over here. Who knows, a miracle may happen and I will come home for next Christmas. I 42 Norma - February 1945 43 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - February 1945 Postcard of LDS Temple at Laie, Hawaii. On the back of the card Reinhart had written, “Some day if you can talk me into taking a boat ride, I may bring you over to see this temple. It is realy a beautiful little spot.” would much rather be coming home for this Easter. Let’s see, what would we do if I could come home for Easter? First of all we would go to church. You would see to that so that you could show off all your new clothes, a sum total of one pair of socks and a handkerchief. Maybe I would be big hearted and buy you three handkerchiefs. But I couldn’t let you show all three off in church, that would take too much time, and you know we would have to have time to go for a walk in the afternoon. I can just picture you running all over the hills looking for flowers, and because of the cold weather they will not have come up yet, so I have to console you by explaining how I will buy you some as soon as they come down to a dime a dozen. Any how, we would go and skip rocks on big pond, then walk around the hills and shoot a rabbit or two. I am so sorry to hear about Mom. I hope she gets better soon. As healthy as she seems to be all the time I wouldn’t think she would take an infection as easily as she does. But she has always been troubled some what that way, hasn’t she. There isn’t much more to tell you right now. Ray is over across the room thumping out a letter to his Frau the same as I am. We usually come up here in the evenings to do our letter writing because it isn’t so crowded and noisy. From the looks of this letter, you can no doubt see I am learning to use the typewriter all over again. It looks like something that has already been censored. At that I guess it has. I do my own censoring most of the time. I am having my troubles too. I have a couple of men on my team that aren’t worth a darn, and it looks like I am stuck with them for the duration plus. One wants to be chaplain and the other is just a plain eight ball. I can [see] where most of the work is going to fall on about four members of the team. Sunday, if I get off in the afternoon, I am going to try hitch-hiking around to the little town where the temple is an go to church there. I want to stop along the beach on the way and see how they catch fish. I saw a lot of them doing it the other day. With all my love, Reinhart 44 Letters to the Paciic Norma - February 1945 45 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - February 1945 Oahu, Hawaii 3 February 1945 Hello Darling, Once again Ray and I just came back from the show, and although it is already 10:30 I had still better drop you a note tonight. Sunday being tomorrow I may not be able to write. You know how it goes. You go to church, sit around and talk for a while, and before you know it night has come with no letter written. Before I forget to mention it I have my alarm clock with me. It is one jewel I will not let go until it is worn completely out. Even now it gets us up at 6:30. Or I should say wakes us up. Getting up is quite another story, but it usually occurs about 7:30. Now and then I get up at 7:00 so I can make it to breakfast before going to work. But no more going out to breakfast. We have just set up house keeping today you see, we live in houses here. 6 to 8 officers to the house. The meals at the mess have not been to go [too good] so we bought an ice box full of grub. Now when breakfast, dinner, or supper comes around we just look in the ice box for what we want, turn on the electric stove and presto a meal is ready. Tonight we had franks, beans, roast beef, bread & butter, pineapple juice, and Jam. Nothing fancy, but we were full when we finished. For tomorrow, we have a couple of chickens. Of course, they won’t taste like one of your home cooked meals, but I’ll bet there is nothing other than the bones left when we get up from the table. I certainly hope it won’t be long until I can eat some of your cooking again. Until then you and Cheryl keep each other warm. Love, Reinhart Oahu, Hawaii 5 February 1945 Hello Darling, It certainly seems strange to be down here in this warm climate when at home the clothes freeze almost as soon as you hang them out. Maybe after the war I should have you come down here instead of my going back to the cold country. But with you to keep me warm, it’s realy a lot of fun being in a cold latitude. I received a letter from you today that was mailed out of Ogden on 17 Jan. Last week I received one mailed on the 21 Jan. The mail system seems to be working in reverse. The card & pictures you sent me have not yet come. Yesterday, I intended going to the beach, but instead Ray & I went to town. We met Fred at the Service Men’s home and then all went over across the street to dinner together. After eating, we went back to the Service Men’s home where I found myself a nice, big easy chair and went to sleep. When I woke up the little boy, who lives there with his folks, was pulling my pants leg, and asking me what kind of fly the big dragonfly was [that] he was holding in his hand, so I told him all about them. Glancing at my watch, it was already 4:30 so off we went to the evening meeting of the Japanese branch. We had met Pres. Murphy during the afternoon and he had told us to be sure and go. He was going to be there himself. The meeting was a testimony meeting and one I shall long remember. I have never heard people bear testimonies with more sincerity, and gratitude than these people did. Most of them who got up were young people. Among others who spoke was a full blooded Indian, and sailor from California. He told of his conversion to the church through the Book of Mormon. I wish you could have been to the meeting with me. You would have just thrilled with it. After church, Pre. Murphy & his wife drove us over to their place where Mrs. Murphy fixed us sandwiches, salad, and the best fruit salad I have tasted for a long time. During the course of conversation, I found out they have a daughter in the Eastern States Mission with Norma. Ray & I had to catch the bus back to camp at 8:30 pm so Brother Murphy took us down in the car. We got there just as the bus was about to leave. Even if we had missed it and been AWOL, the evening still would have been worth it. It looks as if the rainy season is here at last. At least it has rained all day & night. The air is so damp I can’t even get my clothes to dry. 46 Letters to the Paciic Norma - February 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 7 February 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Here I am, sitting here all alone, at the kitchen table and wishing very much that you were here. Everyone else has gone over to North Ogden to a Weber Central Dairy party given for all those who are members of the Association & their families. They are having a cake contest. Everyone has to bring a cake. I hope Mom wins. I am listening to Kay Kysers program so that it won’t be too awfully quiet here. Cheryl & Karla are both sound asleep. I see by your last letters that you are still in Hawaii. I guess it will probably be a month or so before you go. I think I understand now what you meant. Oh how I wish I could be there with you to enjoy all the beautiful scenery. The temple just sounds like it must be so very beautiful. I tried to find a picture of it, I thought I would send it in my letter to Carmen so she could see what our Temple there looks like — but I couldn’t find one. Were the members who gave you the coconuts natives? That was surely nice of them. I wish you would tell me what kind of houses they live in. Can you take pictures? Spence has asked Audrey to send him film. I do hope if you can you will take all the pictures you can because they will mean so much to have them. I hope you are feeling better now & that the food will agree with you better. You ought to have a cast iron stomach when you get home, but I do think you are lucky to be able to get bananas & pineapples & coconuts. Mon. it hailed for a little while but other than that the weather has been beautiful. I was so busy Mon. & Tues. that I didn’t even get to write to you. I already had the Visiting Teachers lesson to get, along with a [???] party to prepare for (make cakes & everything, then Sr. Wade, who is our Theology Teacher in Relief Soc. came over the last minute & said she couldn’t be their & wanted me to give her lessons. Tues. I went to Relief Soc., taught the Visiting Teachers & gave the Theology lesson (We had a Stake visitor). Then I went home, frosted the cakes, took care of Cheryl, got supper, dashed off to Mutual. We had two Stake Board Members visit our class. We had requested that one be there as it was a special Rose Evening. We held our class over to Bernice Case’s place. I took charge & each girl came up & put her rose into the vase (they were Red ones & they made me think of you). They each told the qualities that they wanted the rose to symbolise to them. Two candles was the only light in the room & it illuminated each girls face as they placed their rose in the bouquet. After the roses were in the vase, Beth gave a speech & presented them to one of our Stake visitors. Then the Visitor gave a speech & gave each girl a rose folder to have Autographed by each girl. Then each girl displayed her talents & hobbies. Glena & LaVern sang a duet or I should say Glena sang a solo ‘cause LaVern got scared & quit after the first few words. It was really an impressive night for all the girls. The visitors said they had never seen anything so lovely. One of them talked to Mom afterwards & she did a lot of bragging to Mom about me but I won’t tell you what she said ‘cause you know how wonderful I am without my telling you what she said. At least I think we decided once that we were both very remarkable people . (brag - brag) Mom said she shouldn’t have told me what the Visitor said. So, you have your washing & cleaning to do. I can see they are really training you right. You will be such a help when you get home. Why, we can just speed through the house. You can mop & I can wax it. No, on second thought, I think I’ll just supervise. Now don’t get discouraged & decide you’ll stay over there because very likely if you are just very sweet to me & love me oh so tenderly, I’ll just have you sit down & I’ll just say, “At your service my darling & what can I do next to please your 47 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - February 1945 I must get started now to take a bath before the gang gets home or I won’t get one, and I know you want me to keep clean. Love, Reinhart Oahu, Hawaii 6 February 1945 Hello Darling, We just got through with a bachelor’s dinner. It wasn’t bad, except that I let the potatoes burn, but then bread is just as good. We had steak, string beans, and a little of every thing else we could find in the ice box. I think, however, that I have lost my touch. I can’t cook like I used to be able to. Maybe it’s the atmosphere. I need the mountain air with a good trout stream, then if I burn the spuds it wouldn’t ever be noticed. The sun is shining again today and it is warm like a summer day. It sort of makes me home sick for you because it reminds me of the good old summer time back, and the fun we used to have together. I remember so well the first leave I had and we drove the old Ford to Bear Lake. Gosh it was fun rowing the boat with you and fishing in the mouth of the stream. I also remember the trips to Bountiful. Walking up the canyon in the cool shade of the morning, and even if we didn’t catch many fish, it was peaceful and relaxing. Well, I am sure those times will come again. When they do, we will be able to take that deer hunt we have wanted to go on for so long. Do you think Cheryl will be big enough to go then? If we can shoot us three deer, they will last all winter and we’ll still have some left over in the spring to make sausage out of. Oh, I forgot, we were going to jerk all we didn’t eat during the first week in that new smoke house I am going to build. Such dreams, but that’s about all there is to do now. I think of you so much during the day that I dream about you at night. It would be swell to have you and Cheryl with me again. I miss her a lot. She was so cute when I was home. I just got the most fun out of playing with her. All my love to you both, Reinhart Oahu, Hawaii 7 February 1945 Hello Darling, Yes, Ray and I have been to the show again. We go just about every night. You know it sort of takes your mind off the day. The only trouble is that a lot of the shows we have seen back in the States already, but then if they aren’t good we can always sleep. I haven’t had but one letter from you in the past week. I am sure the mail is tied up somewhere, and I bet it is right here in the post. When it comes I will have to take a half day off to read it all. I realy don’t have much to tell you today. We had steak again for dinner at noon, but these guys don’t know how to cook it. They cook all the juice out of it. I am glad you can cook them just the way I like them. When we have chicken, they always want to boil them and make soup. I think they are much better fried, don’t you? Boy, what I wouldn’t give for a good leg of stubble duck out here. Don’t you think you could manage to go up and catch one by the tail, then if you head him in the right direction, he may fly right out here to me. Naturally, he couldn’t make it before July, but the taste would be just as good then. I intended to take the afternoon off today, but at about 11:00 some one brought a big gob of work in which kept me going all afternoon. I realy don’t mind working though. The time goes a lot faster that way, and I enjoy it more. I still want to get over to the other side of the island some time this week. I have something in mind to send you on our wedding date if I can get it, and as far as I know there is only one place on the island where I can get just what I want. You no doubt will not receive it until some time next fall. When it comes just play like that was our anniversary and it will all be the same. With all my love, Reinhart 48 Letters to the Paciic Norma - February 1945 highness?” All this & when I started this paragraph I was just going to say that I too had washed today. Audrey, Mom, Dad & Karla all have colds. I do hope Cheryl & I won’t catch one of them. Cheryl sits up so cute in her buggy & just bucks back & forth. Karla goes up and laughs at Cheryl & Cheryl laughs back. Now even if Karla doesn’t look at Cheryl, why she laughs anyway. Everytime I put her in the bedroom to go to sleep, she gets up on her knees & rocks back & forth. She just looks so tiny to be up on her knees, but she is a wiry little piece & so active. Most kids don’t even crawl until they are eight or nine months & here she is only six months. She is really a remarkable child. She just loves to open her mouth & put it on my face — then she just laughs & laughs. When I feed her soup & pablum, she is just such a hungry girl that as soon as I take the spoon out she starts squealing. She thinks it ought to just keep pouring like the milk does. Ruth is down staying with Phyllis while Wayne is out selling in Idaho. Phyllis expects her baby Sunday. I do hope it is a girl. She wants one so bad. Goodnight Honey — I hope you can stay there for two months or more. I love you as always Norma Pleasant View, Utah 8 February 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Today your V-mail of Jan 30th came. It is several days slower than the airmail so use air mail as often as possible. We still have no snow & the prospects don’t look to good. Today the sun shone & it was warm enough without a coat outside. Norma Raye Cragun & Rodney Cragun came over to see the baby. They said they thought Norma Raye’s brother had chicken pox. They may have just been talking. I can’t imagine Mildred would let them come over if he did, but to be safe I took them outside & bundled Cheryl up & went out too. There isn’t much danger outside of catching it. It was so warm, I just sat there without a coat. At 2 o’clock today the Relief Soc. Presidency met at our place to plan another party. I had thought they were coming at 7 o’clock this evening so I had cleaned the kitchen, bathroom & bedroom in the morning & when they came I had the chairs all piled together, the small rugs all in a pile, & had just finished the vacuum cleaning. So we just sat down in the middle of it all & held our meeting. Cheryl woke up so I brought her in & [let her] push herself around on a blanket. They really thought she was strong when she raised clear up on her toes — not her knees, but clear up on her toes. My you surely do get to see the shows. When you get home we will just have to see the ones you have already seen because you will have see them all, but I guess there isn’t anything else to do. I haven’t been to any shows since you left. Audrey & I are trying to plan to go to one this week. “Since You Went Away” is on & I have wanted to see it so bad. Maybe I’ll go into town with Dad tomorrow & see it. I think you told me you had seen it. I wish you could be here to take me to it. There is a March wind blowing tonight. I guess it doesn’t know it’s February. Daddy says he thinks the German war will be over by Spring. I hope he is right. Then they can all get over & help you win the war with the Japs. I am glad you enjoy your work & I think it was a lucky day that you didn’t get to be a Captain at Edwards. I wish I knew more about your work, but I guess one of these days you can tell me all about it. All your letters are opened by the Army examiner, but none of them have been censored. Goodnight Honey. I must get busy & feed my other little Honey. All My Love Norma 49 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - February 1945 Hq. 10th Army Oahu, Hawaii 11 February 1945 Hello Darling, Here it is Sunday and I haven’t written you since Thursday. I feel very badly about it, but I am almost justified. I’ll tell you what I have been doing. First of all I want to mention that your Valentine’s card and the pictures came today. Gee, you are sweet to think of me like that. It was a very nice card, and the pictures are a real treasure. I just keep looking at them. I see in the one you have your eyes open at last, but then so is your mouth so I don’t think there is much improvement there. Cheryl and Karla look so cute in the wagon. I could almost reach out and pick the both of them up. Don’t I wish I could, as well as take you in my arms. That reminds me, I dreamed last night the doctor examined you and found you were going to have another baby. It ain’t necessarily true is it? He was sure mad at me, but why? I couldn’t have been very guilty. Of course, I don’t deny the whole affair. Photo of hula dancer on Oahu taken by Reinhart in February 1945. 50 Letters to the Paciic Norma - February 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 9 February 1945 Dearest Reinhart, At last I have both Cheryl & Karla in bed. LaMar & I did the supper dishes & now I can spend a few minutes with you. The rest of the folks have gone over to North Ogden to a basketball game. Audrey is going to get her car out. It is so warm that she has decided she might as well be using it. Golly how time does fly - here the folks are back again & I have only started to write. This morning I went to town with Daddy. I left Cheryl at Phyllis for Ruth to take care of. I did a little shopping, then went out to Phyllis & fed Cheryl & had my dinner, then I went back to town & went to the show “Since You Went Away.” It was surely good but it was so sad but I didn’t cry but just had a lump in my throat when I saw the girl saying goodby to her soldier in the subway station cause it reminded me so of the times I said goodby to you. Then there were so many other things that made me feel as bad as I did. When I was on the bus riding out to Phyllis & there right in front of us, going down the street was our Ford & it was still green & gray. I just about stood up & shouted “That’s Reiny’s & my car” — but I didn’t, but I surely stretched my neck to see where it went & to see who was in it, but the bus stopped and they kept on going. As I watched it disappearing so many things came to my memory. I thought of how you talked & talked about getting a car & then one day you came dashing home & wanted me to go right down to San Diego & see this car. We walked up a hill & my feet hurt ‘cause I had my high heels on, but we saw the car — setting out there in the street. We liked it & you said “Shall we take it?” Well, we decided to take it & we drove over to show it off to Dora and Warren Fitch. We had fun in it in California, & from there we made the drive up to Audrey’s & Spence’s — over to Arizona & up through Bryce & Zion (It was fun cooking our breakfast outdoors that morning). Then Home again & then out to North Carolina. I forgot my purse & we had to go clear back home. From North Carolina up to Mass. & I had my first view of New York. In Pocasset with you we had so much fun with our car. I don’t even mind corners bumping it up a little now. You remember that first time we drove out to Pocosset & met Mrs. Austin? She was swell & we went over later & worked our garden. From there to North Carolina again. Our drives out to Wrightsville beach to fish. I would even like to run in that old store with you again & get some soda water. Then home again & I can think of no happier girl than I was that morning we climbed in our little green car & left Bonnie & Carl & their family behind. The ride over the Blue Ridge Mountains — up & down & around & I was rather shaken up but I loved being with you & we were so happy because we were going to have a baby. We even stopped in Colorado & bought a baby’s blanket. Then home for Christmas & Audrey & Spence came too. From here we went to Texas - those slippery rodes. I never thought we would ever get through that icey, wind swept canyon, but the little green car carried us through. In El Paso those drives down to Mexico & up the side of the mountain & out to the picture shows at Ft. Bliss. Then home again — oh what a ride — my air mattress bed to make the bumps easier but I’m sure we hit them all. Then one tire after another going out, but with God’s help we made it. You know when I saw that car today I knew I must have loved it — maybe it’s because it just reminds me so much of you — not the car itself — but I just have so many happy memories wrapped up in it. Then I don’t believe their was ever a car that had God’s help more than it did. In truth, I don’t think we would ever have gotten anyplace if we had depended on it alone, although it was a good car. I received a letter from Norma today too. She never mentioned about joining the W.A.C.’s, but I too hate to see her join them, although I think with her experience of being out in the world & her knowledge of the Gospel, she would probably be a lot better prepared to join the W.A.C.’s than those without that experience & with her knowledge she could probably continue her missionary work, but I think if she can find something at home it would probably be better. I don’t exactly know. Here it is nearly 11 o’clock & Cheryl hasn’t even made a peep. I guess I’ll just have to wake the little dear. Goodnight My Sweetheart, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 12 February 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Here it is Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday & we are still waiting expectantly for Phyllis to go to the Hospital. I surely hope the big event takes place today. Wayne got back Saturday, after a very successful selling trip & Ruth came home with both 51 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - February 1945 To get back to my reasons for not writing. Thursday night Ray & I went in to Honolulu and visited the Japanese branch again. Lt. Stevens (from the Navy) was there showing his moving pictures of the Hawaiian Islands. I wish I had some of his colored shots of the flowers & countryside. His pictures make me want to get a movie camera all the more, and after the war that is just what we’ll do. On the way back afterward on the bus, one of the little Japanese girls from the branch was sitting by me. They certainly are coy. She was very nice to talk to however. She is a trained nurse and works at the hospital in the surgical ward. Anyhow, when I got home that night it was too late to write. Friday night I didn’t get around to writing because I was tied up at the office. Saturday about 3:00 in the afternoon, I took off on my thumb and hitch-hiked over to Laie where the temple is. My reason for going over was to get a present for my Sweetheart. The last time I was over there with Jack, Ray & Brother Stevens, Steve picked up a purse he had ordered from an old Samoan woman who is a member of the church. She makes them herself, and they are realy a piece of art. I wanted to order one then but we didn’t have time. Anyhow, when I got over there I had no idea where the old lady lived or who she was, so I began asking different people, but no one could tell me. Finally, I got on a phone and called Jack way back at Pearl Harbor. He gave me the needed information and in no time I found my objective. She certainly is a nice old sister, but even now I can’t think of her name. It is something like Pelina. It takes her some time to make a purse, but when she found I was a friend of Stevens and a member of the Church, she wanted to leave her other orders and go right to work on mine. I told her not to do that though. She even wanted to give me the purse she had almost completed for someone else. Then she said she would make me a better one. Anyhow, when it is finished you will get it even if it is weeks late for our anniversary. I paid her for it and gave her a dollar to mail it home. It cost $15. Just thot you might want to know. On my way back I stopped by one of the sugar factories, and saw how they wash the cane when it is brought in. First of all they burn the cane field to get rid of all the leaves. Then it is cut and stacked. Railroad tracks are laid right out through the fields and a mobile derrick lifts the sugar cane on to the cars. When it gets to the factory, it is put into a big shoot [chute] where it is carried up through a big stream of water. That is all I saw of it, because that is all I could see from the road where I was standing. Then I watched some of the natives fishing out in the surf. They float around in the water with their heads in a glass bottomed box so they can see everything under the water and at the same time keep breathing. When a fish comes along under them, they just spear it, and that’s all there is to that. Halfway home I got a ride with a Japanese civilian. He told me all about the hunting they have in the mountains. He said the last time he was out hunting before the war started, he killed a wild boar that weighed 280 lbs dressed. Some wild hog I should say. He told me they also have deer & wild goats in Reinhart noted that this was his favorite tree on the Island of Oahu. 52 Letters to the Paciic Norma - February 1945 jaws swollen. She has an ulserated tooth. This morning Ruth & Audrey went down town to see the dentist. Audrey has her car out now so she drove & she decided she wouldn’t work today so she just took the day off. They are going to change my appointment for me. I guess the nurse didn’t notice that the 18th was on a Sunday. I didn’t go to Church yesterday morning because everyone else was going & there are so many diseases around that I just decided to keep the kids home. I had dinner ready when the others arrived. In the afternoon, I helped LaMar get a talk for evening service & then I tried to help Mom with the big talk she is getting. Honestly, she is so worried over that talk. I’ll just be glad when the 25th arrives. She & Audrey went down to the Far West Stake Conference just to see how the lady, who had the same talk as she does, gave it. Last night we all went to Church except Audrey & Karla & Cheryl. Mr Eyer, our Seminary teacher was the main Speaker. He gave it in the form of questions directed to about 14 of his Students. After his talk Reuben presented individual awards to Aaronic Priesthood members for Outstanding Achievement. LaMar received the most praise because he has attended Priesthood 100%, Fast Meeting 100%, Sunday School 98%, & Mutual 100%. That is a pretty good record. Mr. & Mrs. Campbell were there. They say that Fawn & Ray have had a lot of sickness in their home. I think I had better give you their address while I think of it. It is 2623 South 13th East, Salt Lake City. I just went in to get that address & there was Cheryl laying on her back, not a quilt on her & just kicking for all she was worth. She turns over like that all the time now. This morning Cheryl grabbed Karla’s hair so Karla grabbed Cheryl’s & started to pull — golly I can really see what is ahead for us. So you have the Alarm Clock. I just thought that if you couldn’t take your wrist watch, you probably couldn’t take it either. Say, that sounds like real fun. You are really getting some good training. I will probably have to take care of the Sport Shop while you take care of the house. I’ll bet you do a big share of the cooking because I don’t imagine the others are as good at cooking as you are. Honey — I wish you could send me some pictures. I really enjoyed seeing the one of you by the tents. Yes, you really look wild, but I think I can tame you down. I guess the tents are off the ground because of the damp weather. It looks like the beds are up in the air too. If you could let me know what size film you could use, I would try to locate some & send it to you. If there is anything else you would like, just let me know & I’ll send it. You know I have to have a request before I can send you anything. I guess you & Fred don’t have much in common, but I imagine he would probably enjoy your association more than you would his & maybe you could help him a little if you would just be cheerful to him & not talk to him in that gruff businesslike tone that I have heard you use on him before. I hope you won’t think I’m preaching, but I just know how really sweet you can be if you want to & if you were as sociable to him as you are to other people — how could he resist you? I know I can’t. It is really grand that there are so many Mormon boys there. Do you ever have Non-Mormons out to your meetings? Does Chaplin Bond supervise your meetings? Audrey hasn’t heard from Spence for about a week. He was on the move when she last heard from him & he had heard rumors that they would be transferred to the Infantry. I hope not. They are camping in snow & they are given two helmets of coal a day. I guess we should really be thankful that you are in such a nice location & I am thankful. Karla is trying to help me write & I am really having a time keeping her from walking all over this. May God Bless You Always & Bring you back to us soon. Love, Norma & Cheryl Pleasant View, Utah 14 February 1945 Dearest Reiny, Yesterday I received two letters, an airmail & V. mail. The airmail was written on the 5th, the V. mail on the 2nd. I received the news, along with a lot of “I told you so’s” cause everyone told me I was writing too small. So I was not surprised when I read those words (This Letter Could not be photographed Because The Writing was too small. Please Advise sender). I am advised. But I shall not write any more V-mail for some time ‘cause they are too small. I have been getting mail from you 53 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - February 1945 Orders for the movement of Fleet Photo Interpretation Squadron Two commanded by 1st Lt. Reinhart Kowallis and 1st Lt. Martin Martinson from Oahu to Guam. 54 Letters to the Paciic Norma - February 1945 just as regular as I did when you were in Maryland & it surely seems like you are closer when the letters come through so good. Honey if you could be here for Easter, I would be thrilled to go out and show off one new handkerchief ‘cause I’d have all I want with you home with me & it would be such fun up on the hill with you. I’m sorry you are having trouble with your men. Some people are never satisfied. They always want to be something different. I surely wish I could have attended that meeting with you. Pres. Murphy must be a pretty nice guy. [The corner of the letter here has a half-circle around it and a note that reads: “Ruth put some toilet water here for you.] You are not the only one who is enjoying rainy weather. It has been raining here for the past two days & snowing in the mountains & it has really been pouring down. Daddy says, “Now this is the kind of winter I like — no snow & yet it piles up in the mountains.” Now for the big news of the day — About 4 o’clock Helen and Norma Rae Cragun came over with a note saying that Phyllis had called and wanted Mom to come right down. Dad took Mom down & at about 6:30 we called & Jay told us that Phyllis had a girl. That’s all we know. Mom is still down there. Phyllis will just be thrilled. She wanted a girl so bad. This morning I washed & this afternoon I ironed & got supper. Cheryl received her first Valentines today. One from Brent Cragun and one from Janet, Molly Ann, Helen, & Norma Rae. I received three Valentines myself. Mom & Wayne just came. Phyllis had her baby before they even had her checked into the hospital. Mom was there, but Wayne had gone home to get his Mother to take care of Jay & David. Mom had to call him & tell him to get right back to the Hospital ‘cause they wouldn’t let Phyllis have a room until he was there to register her. Tues. I went to Relief Soc. & then stayed home at night. They had a Valentine dance in the ward. Everyone went but Ruth & myself & the kids. Ruth didn’t go ‘cause she has some kind of mouth infection. Both cheeks are swollen & she can’t hardly eat. The doctor is treating it & it is better. Carmen sent me a big picture of Lynne today. She surely is getting a big girl & is so cute. They are all suggesting — in fact I believe Mom was the one who really said it – that I should get busy & get a boy & surprise you when you come home, then they would have three girls & three boys for grandchildren. Some idea – huh! Cheryl has just been like a little worm today. I couldn’t even hold her down to give her an oil rub. She keeps getting up on her knees & crawling off. Then I put her in her buggy to sleep & first thing I know she is crying. I go in there & she is practically standing on her head – honestly she gets into the most complicated positions & she just turns over all the time. Well – today is Valentines day & I can tell you that there just isn’t any other Valentine for me than my own sweet hubby. Yes siree, I’ll choose him every time. Goodnight My Sweet. Love & Stuff, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 16 February 1945 Dearest Reinhart, I’ll just dash off a little note today on account I am just piled up to my ears in work. Mainly a talk I am trying to get for Mom. She worked & worked on it but finally she gave up & said I would have to get it for her. I worked on it yesterday & I am going to try to finish it today so she can start learning it. Last night we went down to see Phyllis. She wasn’t feeling so good. She has a cold & her back aches. We took her a potted plant of daffodils. We ask the nurse if we could see it & sure enough she wheeled it over & let us look at it. It has black hair & it’s as long as Cheryl’s is now, but it’s a cute little girl. Of course it doesn’t compare with Cheryl – but then how could it? After leaving the hospital, Audrey drove up to Margaret’s & Delore’s for a minute. Margaret’s baby is filling out so fast & it looks more like Margaret. Delore took us down to the basement & showed us the room he is building down there. He says they must make room for the increase. Cheryl has to help feed herself now. She takes hold of the spoon with both hands & I can’t even pry it loose, she has such a grip. When she finishes eating she is just one big smear. She just grabs everything that is near her now & her aim is such that she gets it the first time now, without a dozen trials. When I lay her on her stomach now, she just turns right over on her back and she reaches her hands out to me so cute when she wants to come to me. Oh yes & she can sit all alone without holding on now. She just loves my nose & whenever I 55 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - February 1945 the mountains. After I left him, I even saw a pheasant by the side of the road. All in all I thot it was the best afternoon I [have] spent here yet and I was all alone. Today I haven’t done much. This afternoon, I had to go down to another camp to pick up some papers so I didn’t get a chance to get into town for church, but I will go out [t]here tomorrow night. Oh yes, the boots I had Lt. Parker send me a day or so after we left Ritchie just caught up with me this morning. Better late than never, but I thot surely it would be never. I am sending you a card at the same time I mail this. I wonder if they will both reach you at the same time. I am sure some of your letters have not yet reached me. Yes, I think it is best that you do not send Cheryl out to your Mother’s. I think you both will be better off at Marian’s. But if Aunt Gwen knows you are there she will want you to leave the next day and come and stay at her place. But don’t let it worry you, I am sure everything will be all right. If I add any more pages to this letter, the plane won’t be able to fly with it and I’ll have to carry it myself, I hope. Be sure and send me the little service man’s church news each month. And if you can buy me one of those little books like I sent back to you of yours. I believe it was “The Great Apostasy.” Don’t send it till I tell you to, but have it on hand. I may also want my Bible. Well, here’s lovin you to the end of the world. Reinhart Oahu, Hawaii 12 February 1945 Hello Darling, Today two more letters strolled into the office from you. They certainly don’t come very systematically. Yesterday I got one that you sent on the 5th, and today I received the two mailed on the 1st and 2nd. But just so I get them, that’s the main thing. Right now I am so full I can hardly sit straight on account of I ate so much supper. You see, I was in town all afternoon walking myself to death so I was tired & hungry when I got home. I started supper by eating a whole papaya, that is a melon that grows on trees, and looks like a pear. It tastes something like flowers. Anyhow I like them. Then I fryed [sic] 4 eggs, in butter of course, fixed myself a sandwitch [sic] with a cup of cocoa, and then topped off with a half a can of peaches. Gosh, a meal like that would cost 3 bucks in town. I am all alone here at the house this evening, except that Ray came over to talk for a little while. Every one else has gone to the 10th Army Hq’s officer’s party. I’ll bet it will realy be some party. There won’t be a sober person there, and any of them who had any virtue before they left won’t have when they get back. This bunch I am staying with won’t have to worry about losing any. You mentioned in your letter that Lamar is going to take that exam for the Navy. I am sure he can pass it. It’s too bad he has to be going to war when he could be doing so much good if he could go on a mission about now. No the picture of the church you sent is not the one we go to. I have never seen this one. I am sorry Eastman sent those pictures back, but then I’ll get them later. Take good car of yourselves, Love, Reinhart [Note: This next letter is not dated, but Norma wrote in the date 23 February 1945. This may be the day she received it.] At Sea Dear Norma, You know my Darling procrastination is the thief of many a letter that otherwise might be written to you by me. I intended writing yesterday and before you knew it 12 midnight had rolled around so I went to bed. It is already 9:00 now. If I didn’t have so much time on my hands I am sure more letters would find their way homeward. The more time one has the less he does. 56 Letters to the Paciic Norma - February 1945 hold [her], she always grabs for my poor nose. I hope your mail is getting to you better. I wanted to have those colored pictures ready to send you along with the picture of Cheryl, but they haven’t arrived so I have just sent Cheryl’s picture. I didn’t know what else to send you for our anniversary. You hadn’t requested anything so I took Cheryl down & had a picture made. I hope you like it. It is about the same size as the one you have of me so you can put them in the same frame. I must get to work now. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 16 February 1945 Dearest Reinhart, To think that I married you because of your ability to cook and now you let me down by burning the potatoes. Do the other fellows help cook? I wish you would tell me all about them so I can picture what kind of home life you have. Send me a picture of your house if you get a chance. I just try to imagine all these things & my imagination isn’t very good. Mom & Dad went down to see Phyllis today & I stayed home with the kids. I just about finished the speech today. Karla woke up in a bad mood & I just had her quiet & she was standing by Cheryl & myself when Cheryl reached out & pulled her hair, which started her crying all over again. Later, I put Cheryl in the front room on a quilt. The two of them had a real time. Karla was looking at a magazine & Cheryl kept pushing along until she was over there & pulling the magazine away from Karla. Karla didn’t think it was much fun, so she moved, then Cheryl took after her again. After a lot of work, she got Karla’s foot & started chewing it. Karla shook her head & scolded, then I separated them again. Next Karla threw the rubber rabbit on Cheryl’s head and after I told her that she should be nice to Cheryl, she got down & kissed Cheryl’s hand, but she kissed too hard & bit Cheryl’s hand & then Cheryl’s lip went down & she started crying. So you can see I really had a good time. When the folks came home, I took Cheryl for a walk up by the barn. Although there were horses & cows, she liked the roosters best. I guess it’s the red combs that attracts her attention. In you letter you recalled so many things we have done together. I’ll surely be glad when we can do them again. Are you able to buy your Outdoor magazines over there – let me know if you can’t. Did I ever tell you that all your airmail letters are opened by an Army examiner? I guess they just don’t trust you. I do wish they would get to Berlin, but I guess if Spring comes we will get there sooner. I’m so, so sleepy from thinking so hard all day. Wish you were here to scratch my back & snuggle up to me. Then I’d probably purr like a kitten and go to sleep. But you ain’t here so I guess I’ll just climb in & snore like a horse just because you ain’t here to hear me. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 18 February 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, Yes - it’s been three years that we’ve been married & they have indeed been happy years. Even though it will soon be a year that we have been separated, I would rather be getting your letters than be married to anyone else. Just three years ago today you came over to school and we rushed back home, got the folks, went to the court house for our license, got Phyllis & Wayne & then down to the Temple. I shall never forget that wonderful session. Every time you looked at me I had the nicest warm feeling. It’s funny but I never had the slightest feeling of doubt. I knew I wanted you & I was so happy when he said “I now pronounce you man & wife.” I’ll bet by the time you opened & shut that window about a dozen times & rolled from side to side on that hard bed – I’ll just bet you had a few doubts, but I believe you recovered remarkably well. Then there was the 1st Anniversary & you brought me those beautiful roses & then the 2nd one & those lovely red roses again & now you are going to send me a hand made purse made by a Samoan woman & a member of our Church. Honestly, I could have just cried when I read about it & realized the effort you went to get it for me. It’s just so sweet & I think it’s just the nicest thing you could have given me. If you would have requested a few things, I could have sent you a real nice box of things – but I do 57 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - February 1945 Of all the days in my life, today has been one of the most unique. It started out to be Sunday, ended as Monday, and tomorrow which should be Monday is actually Tuesday. Now I know you can’t think anything but that I am nuts, however, It only means that today we crossed the international date line, which gives a 24 hour difference. We were moved into new quarters yesterday. The four of us were in one room before. Now we have three rooms between us. We drew lots to see who got what, and I came out with the best, a single state room. It is even more comfortable that the state rooms of a big liner. Last night I had quite a conversation with a couple of the boys on Mormonism again. I certainly wish I had my Bible with me. After I land I am going to have you send it out. But don’t do it until you hear from me in that regard. My address may be changed again. I found a couple of old Field & Stream magazines aboard ship here. What I mean [is] I have realy wore them out from cover to cover. There are two or three of the boys around who are sportsmen themselves, so we have some good jam sessions. I would give anything to talk to you though, Love, Reinhart [Note: This letter is also not dated. It may be that Reinhart was not allowed to date the letters while at sea. It appears to have arrived on the same day as the previous letter as Norma wrote in the date 23 February 1945.] At Sea Hello Darling, I am still at sea, but I will say we are having beautiful weather. The sun shines all day long. Every day I take my shirt off and soak a little of it up. On my forehead I have already soaked up too much of it and now have a nice little sun burn there. When I get home again, I will look like something the Indians forgot to take to the reservation with them. I expect to get a right good tan. 58 Letters to the Paciic Norma - February 1945 hope you will like the picture. This morning I went to Church. Cheryl was awake when I got home. Honestly, she acts so silly when she sees me. She slaps her hands down on the chair & laughs. She hold her hand out for me to take her. I guess I’ll have to start being mean to her ‘cause today she would be just as good as gold with the other kids until she would see me, then she’d just cry & cry for me to take her. I put her down on a quilt way over by the far end of the piano & she crawled clear across the room, across the hardwood floor between the two rooms & on over to the dining room table. She just pushes along on her stomach & I had a toy to lure her on. She is such a little bug to be crawling. She looks like a little bug. Daddy just about dies laughing at her. He thinks she’s too little to be crawling. We went down to see Phyllis today. She is feeling wonderful today. Wayne got called down by the nurse for setting on the bed. He felt quite embarrassed. We stopped on the way home to see Aunt Vera. She has been in bed since way before Christmas with heart trouble. Today she was sitting up. Then we stopped at Wayne’s to see Jay & David. Jay cried because we wouldn’t stay long enough to read the funny paper to him. Then we stopped at Gooch’s to give Mrs. Gooch her visiting teacher’s book. Her daughter Lila (the one who had the wooden leg) has just lost her husband. He died of heart attack & she is going to have a baby but the Doctor thinks it is dead. I felt such a lack of words in trying to sympathize with her. Tonight at Church, Kenny Humphreys was the speaker. He is just home from the Navy. He told us all about it. When Church was over it was just snowing – those great big fluffy flakes that are so beautiful. Audrey & I walked home under the umbrella. My one arm that got out in the snow was just piled high with snow. If you had just been here it would have been just a perfect setting for a Wedding Anniversary Celebration. You will be here next year & then we’ll really make up for lost time. That was the grandest letter you wrote to me telling about thumbing your way around the Island. I just wish I could have been there to share it all with you. I wonder how soon you will be making this next move. I appreciate your advise in regards to Marian & Gwen. We get out the map & the whole family help locate these places you tell about in your letters. Cheryl is on Ruth’s lap & Ruth wants to go to bed & Cheryl wants her dinner so I guess I’ll just have to go. You ought to see Cheryl in her little pink sleepers, the legs are four inches too long & the arms the same. She looks just like Dopey, but an awfully cute Dopey. I love you very much & miss you so. I pray that you may be with us soon. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 19 February 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, This morning when I awoke, it was just so beautiful outside every little bush & blade of grass was heavy with snow. I wanted so to get a picture of it to send to you. I put it off until the afternoon & that’s where I made my mistake. I went over to Harris’ to take a Relief Society book to Irene. My oh my, I hope I’m never as dirty a housekeeper as she is. I feel sorry for them, living in such a barn, the kids so dirty & all. After leaving there, I went down to see Mrs. Williams. Their cow had just had a calf & she was out in the barn. I thought their two big dogs would eat me up – they looked so vicious – but finally she heard me & came to my rescue. When I got back home every bit of that beautiful snow had melted. I could have just cried. I wanted you to see it so bad. ––Time out – I just had to take Mitzie out for a walk. She’s being courted again & this time we’re going to try to prevent her meeting up with any of them, so we’re keeping her in. Right now she is running back & forth between the back & front door & whining. Then she comes over & looks at me. My oh my she’s really got it bad. Everyone but Mom & myself & the kids have gone to the basketball game, but I get all the recreation I need going to Church, Relief Soc. & playing with Cheryl. If you were here it would be different, but I just miss you all the more when I go out to things. Your card came today & it was so sweet. I sincerely hope that what it says may come true. You couldn’t have picked out a verse that I would rather have had & the nicest thing that could ever happen to me is to have you come home & so I like 59 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - February 1945 There has been very little excitement on board ship except that one of the ship’s crew has gone crazy and tonight they had to put him in irons down in the hole. He thinks he is God and every night he receives messages for different members of the crew. So far he hasn’t harmed any one but the last couple of days he has been getting rather out of hand even with a guard around him, so they had to chain him down tonight. I feel sort of sorry for the old fellow. Not long ago his wife died, and both his sons have been killed in the war. I guess it has affected his mind. As soon as we can get to a hospital, they are going to let him off. I wish I could receive some mail from you. It helps so much when I get a letter now and then. I’ll just have to content myself by reading your old letters over & over. Every day I take the pictures of you & Cheryl out and look at them. I would like so much to hold her in my arms again. I bet she is realy growing up fast. Do you think I can teach her to hunt and fish? We mustn’t let her develop into a blumer [sic] button you know. When do you think the War in Germany will be over? I sort of expect it to end there in April. If it does, then it should not take more than a year to 18 months to finish this business over here. I certainly hope we will be able to start our shop in Brigham City. Sort of keep your eye open and let me know what develops down there. With all my love, Reinhart [Note: This letter sounds as if it was written before the other two letters, but Norma wrote in the date 25 February 1945, suggesting that it was received later.] At Sea Hello Darling, Well, here I am back out on the water again. Right now I am somewhere between the Hawaiian Islands and China. I know we are not the other side of China because it is too hot. So far we have had beautiful weather. Sunshine all day long, and a calm sea. There has been no sea sickness on board and everyone is feeling good including myself. We don’t have anything to do but eat, sleep, and read. I do plenty of all. The eats are tops. The boat we are on does a lot of rolling so you have to hang on to the bed at times. So far I haven’t taken any falls. I had quite a conversation with some of the boys the other night on religion. One of the boys on my team is a Baptist minister. I think I mentioned him to you when I was home. I just got the low down on how he became a Baptist. Formerly he was a Methodist, but the Methodist church wouldn’t let him into the ministry because he had not been with them long enough, so he got mad and [went] over to the Baptist’s church where things were easier. A few weeks later he was ordained into their ministry. Some fast conversion, I call it. It struck me so funny that when the boys told me about it I couldn’t help laughing out loud. The thing he looks forward to in the ministry is the money he will make from it. He expects to go back to the old country after the War and live like a king. I wonder how he will end up. Yes, I have been doing a little missionary work in the last few days if you can call conversations, some of them arguments, missionary work. I never force it on any one, but when they ask me I don’t hesitate to tell them what I believe. Here’s loving you my Darling, Reinhart At Sea Hello Darling, You can see I am still traveling, but don’t be alarmed, we haven’t been moving all the time we have been out here. Part of the time we were lying at anchor. I was glad of it too because it gave us a chance to mail some letters even though we can’t receive any until we get to our new station, which won’t be many more days now. If I could have sent you my new address when we left Oahu, you would have been able to send my mail directly to me. The way this boat rocks and rolls, one can hardly stay in bed at night. I have to lie flat on my back or stom60 Letters to the Paciic Norma - February 1945 your prophecy very well. “You two will be together soon.” The picture of the Temple is so pretty. I hope you can get one of you standing by it. Ruth says that Hazen Brown (Lester’s brother) is now in Guam on the Marianna Islands. If you ever get down that way you might look him up. Mrs. Williams thinks Melvin (her son) was in on that raid on Iwo Jima. She is pretty worried about it. I guess it was no picnic. Audrey received 12 letters from Spence today. She is still getting them in piles. He froze his foot again. Now he is just waiting around near Reims (I don’t know how to spell it) France. They are waiting to get a hospital built. But Spence says at the rate they are getting around to it, he doubts that it will ever get built. He is still afraid he will be transferred to Infantry. Tomorrow is my busy day again (Relief Soc. & Mutual). I [will] be rather glad when summer comes then I can have a rest (I [will] probably rest packing fruit). I hope you are still in Hawaii, but wherever you are, May God Bless & Keep You. All My Love, Norma P.S. Isn’t it all right to send “The Great Apostasy” that we already have? I’ll wait though until you let me know about that. Pleasant View, Utah 20 February 1945 Dearest Reinhart, It has been snowing on and off all day, but it is so wet that it just melts away as soon as it hits the ground. I took Karla & Cheryl outside when it was snowing real hard. They thought it was wonderful. Cheryl would just look & keep saying aah! & Karla just stood & looked, but I could hardly budge her when I was ready to go in. I decided to leave Mutual early tonight & when I got home they still had Cheryl up. They were hurrying to put her to bed so I wouldn’t know she had been up so long. When Cheryl saw me she just laughed & laughed & when I put my head down by her she grabbed hold of my head & started chewing me up. When I took her she just kept hugging me up & putting her face against mine. Mom says she is getting so active she is going to be climbing right out of the buggy. When I tell people that Cheryl can crawl, they just can’t believe it because she is so little. She does weigh 17 lbs & her little legs are just as fat as can be, but it’s just that she has small bones that she looks little. I guess she is wiry like you ‘cause she really gets around – Brag - Brag – but then if you could see her you would be just as proud of her as I am. Audrey got 9 more letters from Spence today & it looks like he will be sent to the Infantry. He surely isn’t very thrilled about it. He is in Laon France – right near Reims France. He has been over to Reims exploring some of the old Cathedrals. He had just heard about you getting an A.P.O. number so you can see how long it takes to get news. I haven’t received a letter now for three days & again I am wondering if you have been shipped. I hope not, but I am sure that if we place our faith in God that we will have no need to fear for the future. Francis Budge had a son on Bataan. They thought he was lost but he was one of those liberated from that prison on Bataan. They are surely happy. Francis is Bishop Budge’s brother. I may have to go down to Phyllis this week end & help her until she is able to get up. Mom was going to go but she is too busy with her speech. This is my busy day of the week & I’m rather glad it’s over. After Relief Soc. & Mutual I feel rather tired. I just think of everything in terms of “When Reinhart gets home” & I hope that day will not be too far off. All My Love, Norma P.S. – I guess your dream was a little off. I’m not going to have a baby. I guess you’ll have to dream up something else. 61 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - February 1945 ach and then brace myself like this. That’s the only way to stay put. I hope you never ask me to go sailing around the world. You’ll have to lay me out to ever get me on another ship after I get back to the states. I have all plans laid for a trip in Yellowstone after the war. First, I am going to build a boat 14 feet long by 4 feet wide and with 16 inch sides. Then I’ll buy a 10 horse power Johnson Sea Horse outboard motor to power it with. Such a boat will handle 1500 to 1700 pounds with ease. We would perhaps never have to load it with much more than 1000 pounds, which would include ourselves, and another couple to our choosing plus our duffles necessary for a three or four day trip. Launching the boat at Fishing Bridge we will follow the east shoreline to the southeast part of the lake where the Yellowstone River comes in, then up the river to Bridger Lake. The fishing is good all along the way and we will see deer, elk, moose, and bear. Oh yes, we are going to need a movie camera too so we can get action shots of all these things plus me throwing you in the water once or twice. Some fun! What an awful time I would have of it out here if I couldn’t day dream. Of course that isn’t the only time we are going to use the boat. We will go bass fishing in it on the Bear River as well as go over to Bear Lake now and then. In the fall it can always be used for duck hunting. I have been staying up every night for the past week or so until one & two o’clock. It seems that every night I get into religious conversation with one of the crew members here. He is a pretty good boy. Although he doesn’t believe but only a small part of what I tell him, yet it has him thinking and he keeps coming back with some other question or idea. A couple of times he has mentioned that he is going to have a hot argument when he gets home. I have been trying to explain to him what God is, and what part Authority plays in religion. He thinks there is no such thing as authority or a delegation of authority. In regard to God, he believes that God can change himself into any form he likes. The idea comes from the passage where the Holy Ghost descends in the form of a dove. I regret a thousand times over that I don’t have my books with me. Those I do have are all down in my foot locker where I can’t get them. The only thing I have access to is a New Testament. I have now almost gone through it cover to cover, marking all the passages that have a bearing to the Gospel. I have used them as best I can, but they are not enough. If I had a Book of Mormon with me, I am sure I could get him to read it. Perhaps he will have interest enough to read it if I send it to him later, or have you send him one. I certainly wish I had brought some tracts or pamphlets along with me. Gosh, it will seem good to hear from you again when we get in. At least I hope they have forwarded our mail ahead. I miss you so much out here. There is nothing that stirs hope within me so much as the thot of getting home again, and once more having you and Cheryl with me again. With all my love, Reinhart 62 Letters to the Paciic Norma - February 1945 Ogden, Utah 21 February 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, I don’t even know whether I got a letter from you or not because you see I’m not at home. For the next few days I will be making my abode at Phyllis & Wayne’s. Phyllis came home from the Hospital today. Mom, Audrey, Ruth, Karla, Cheryl & I all came down to see the arrival at home of the new little girl. Phyllis is feeling fine & the baby really has a husky voice. I am going to stay here until Sunday. It will really be a full time job taking care of the two babies & getting meals, but I think I can do it. Tonight I gave Cheryl an oil rub & then gave Lynette (that’s what they are going to name her) an oil rub. I’ll really be good at this by the time I get through. Mrs. Butler was here while Phyllis was at the Hospital, but now she is going home. She stayed & got supper & helped with the dishes, but tomorrow I’ll have it all to do myself. I’m sorry to hear you have such a gang to live with. I understood Ray was living with you. How come he isn’t? Are you in different groups? I wish I could be there to keep house for you – although I’m sure you can do it better than I – but it would be such fun doing it for you. I see you are still in good old Hawaii by your last letter. I hope you can continue to stay there. I enjoy you letters telling about all the things. Just be sure you give me all the details about how the people live – what the house is like that you live in. Are there many houses where you live? Are there any trees & if you do have trees around your place, what kind are they? I surely bit on one of Wayne’s jokes a little while ago. He came in looking so jubilant. “Did you hear that the war is over in Germany?” “Is it really?” I said with glee. “Yes,” said Wayne. “It’s over in France & Japan & Australia. In fact I guess it’s going on over in quite a few countries.” I am such a sucker – I always bite. Now I must fix little Lynette’s formula. That is something I have had no experience with. Cheryl’s formula just prepared itself, but you are never too old to learn. Anytime you get tired of your own cooking, just stop in & I’ll be so glad to fix you up with something in the way of eats. I love you very, very much– Norma Ogden, Utah 23 February 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Another day successfully over – the babies all taken care of and no mishaps. Last night Lynette slept until about 2:30 A.M.. & then she just started crying & kept it up until 5:30 when Phyllis fed her. Of course none of us slept. She kept holding her breath and I finally got up & picked her up. She went to sleep for awhile, but started in again soon. I got up about 7 o’clock and got breakfast, did dishes, bathed Cheryl, got Lynette’s breakfast, then Cheryl’s breakfast, went to the Grocery store with David, when I got back Ruth and Dad were here. Ruth had had her teeth fixed & they hurt. They left & I got dinner. Oh, I forgot I was able to get a few bananas at the Grocery store. It’s the first I’ve had since those we brought from Mexico. Cheryl is supposed to eat bananas now. We had lamb chops, peas, baked potatoes, fruit salad & etc. Then I did dishes, fed Cheryl, got Lynette’s dinner, washed Lynette’s and Cheryl’s diapers, went to the store again on account Phyllis decided to have company tonight. Jay went with me. Then I fixed Cheryl for bed & got supper & pressed a dress for Cheryl, did dishes (Phyllis sat & wiped), washed all the bottles, boiled them, fixed formula. Jay & David went to bed & woke up Cheryl so I held her for awhile because it was nearly time to feed her. Wayne decided to have Phyllis hold Cheryl when the company came & when they had deceived them into thinking it was the new baby, then I would walk in with Lynette. It worked too., They both looked & said “My what a big baby.” Jack didn’t even realize any difference being a man, but as soon as Virginia got close, she could see the mistake. Then I came in. They still made a fuss over Cheryl – they thought she was a doll. When Phyllis made her lay back in her arm, Cheryl just let out & hollered – she wanted to sit up. We even wrapped her up in a little blanket. I don’t think I will ever say Cheryl is small again. When I see her by the side of this new baby & realize how much she has grown – she looks like a monster. She wants to grab the babies face. You would just love her. Everybody notices her eyes & her lashes just curl up so cute! She has just been showing me where her nose is. The company is still here & I must serve them a little ice cream & cake. I wish you could be here to well – just be with 63 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - February 1945 Jensen family home on Pleasant View Drive in Pleasant View, Utah. Front row (left to right): David Butler, Jay Butler, Glena Jensen, Joseph Moroni Jensen, and Reinhart Kowallis; middle: Phyllis Jensen Butler and Ruth Jensen; back row: Cheryl Kowallis, Norma Jensen Kowallis, Wayne S. Butler, Ethel Jane Chamberlain Jensen, Lamar Jensen, Karla Garner, and Audrey Jensen Garner. During 1945 all of these people, except the Butler family, lived in this small home. On the upstairs floor it had two bedrooms, a kitchen, a small dining room, and living room. In the basement was a third bedroom, an unfinished laundry room with a shower, and a family room. 64 Letters to the Paciic Norma - February 1945 me. I would rather be busy than have nothing to do, but oh how happy I’ll be when we can have our own place & plan our lives together. I’ll just be lovin’ you always – you just are the best of the best husbands. I hope I won’t brag about you too much. I tell my girls in Mutual all about you as an example of the type of husband they should choose. All My Love – Norma Pleasant View, Utah 26 February 1945 Dearest Reinhart, No letters from you now for four days so I am strongly suspecting that you are at this very moment taking one of those obnoxious sea voyages. I hope if you are, that you have clear sailing and that above all you are well & safe. Just two more days and Cheryl will be 7 months old & just a little over two & a half months since you were home with us. It seems like ages longer than that. Yesterday I came home from Phyllis’. I was really tired. Saturday was just a nightmare. I got meals, cleaned that big place, washed floors, did dishes, bathed David, Cheryl, made formula, boiled bottles. Well maybe that gives you a sample of the things I had to do. At 6 o’clock I went up to the 7th Ward to a Welfare meeting for the Relief Soc. Pres. & Bishoprics. John H. Taylor – Pres. of the Seven Pres. of Seventies was one of the speakers. He came up & shook hands with me & said “I’m Bro. Taylor” & I said I believe I knew him. He said I must be a missionary. Then we talked about the Northern States mission as that was his mission too. Sunday morning I was up at 7 o’clock – got Cheryl bathed, dressed & myself dressed. Then we both had breakfast. By this time Mom, Dad & the rest of the family had arrived to go to Conference. So, Cheryl & I went with them. Mom was all in a dither because this was the big day for her speech. The Priesthood met in the tabernacle & the ladies met in the Church on the same lot. Mom gave the first talk & she really did well. Karla started yelling “Mom, Mom, Mom” as soon as she got up to talk & finally Audrey had to take her out. Cheryl was trucking around as usual, but finally she gave up & went to sleep. After the meeting everyone met in the tabernacle, but I had Wayne take Cheryl & I home, also Karla went with us. I got dinner & when the folks came we asked them to stay and eat with us. Earl Cragun had rode home with them so Ruth & LaMar went on out with Earl & Audrey. Mom & Dad stayed. Mom, Dad, Ruth & myself went to conference in the afternoon. Bro. Taylor was the principle speaker. The theme of the conference was the welfare work & Bro. Taylor gave a grand talk. After conference we waited for Dad to meet with his Sunday School workers & Bro. Taylor came & talked to us again – also Pres. Budge, Pres. Childs & the Stake Secretary. When we got to Phyllis, I got my things packed & came home. Ruth went down this morning. I had just arrived home when your Dad, Mother, Thea, Gertrude & Richard came in. They said they had received a letter from you. They had stopped to see Albert. He was just steeped in work. I guess his Bishop’s job is really keeping him busy. Delora has a new baby. It seemed good to see them all again. There is no bus out here on Sunday so your folks had to take the girls back to town. I was sorry we didn’t have the gas to take them down. I am in the middle of the wash so I must run. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 28 February 1945 Dear Reinhart, I received three letters all written at sea. I wasn’t surprised though because when I didn’t receive any letters I was pretty sure that you were on your way. We have been looking at the map tonight and we have located the International Date Line so I can tell about where you were. You would probably stop at the Marshall Islands before going on to Guam. You have probably been there several days by now. I am glad you had good sailing weather. If only it will be a little bit civilized in Guam. I do wish you had a camera there. Spence has been sending pictures home every few days. They are really interesting. I have 65 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - February 1945 66 Letters to the Paciic Norma - February 1945 that little box Kodak. If you thought it would get there I would surely send it. It didn’t cost very much & so we wouldn’t be out too much if it didn’t get there – but oh how I would like some pictures. As soon as I get your new address, I’ll send your Bible, The Great Apostasy, some Field & Stream or Outdoor Life, the Improvement Era & a few things to eat. I know you told me not to bother. But Spence got a fruit cake after 3 months waiting & it was just grand – now he is sending for another. If it was still good after that long, I am certainly going to chance sending one to you. If you would only shoot a request to me at once I could send you some of this delicious fruit cake Mom made. Audrey is sending some to Spence tomorrow. Please request a few things so I can send you something. I am glad you are getting a chance to do a little missionary work. I guess there are some that really need it. If you can do a little to teach others how to live & what the purpose of life is, then your travels will not be for nothing. You won’t be wasting your time & the more you can do the greater protection you will receive. It was bad about that man that lost his mind on the boat. He really had plenty cause for going crazy. Yesterday was Relief Soc. We had a Stake Visitor out “Sr. McFarlane”. At Mutual we had another visitor “Sr. Childs”. She gave our Junior girls a very fine book review. This morning we were going into town to get Mom a birthday present, but she had to go Relief Soc. teaching, so I guess we’ll go in tomorrow on her birthday. I wish I had reminded you sooner so you could have sent her a card. I guess we will get her an Easter Dress. Phyllis, Lynette & Ruth came out this afternoon. Phyllis has discovered that Lynette has curly hair & she was so thrilled. She had to sort of gloat over that fact that her child had curly hair while Audrey’s and mine were straight as pokers. I’ll still take Cheryl – straight hair and all. This is Phyllis first try out. I took a picture of Lynette & several of Cheryl. Spring is really here. The little plants are coming up. Tonight it’s just grand. I went out to shake some rugs & it felt so wonderful. I came shipping back in saying “It’s Spring, It’s Spring.” I’ll be so glad when Cheryl can be outside in the play pen. I hope you will send in your requests. I’ll be so glad to see you again. Oh, I just remembered. The agate shop sent a letter today saying they had received the agate & that they were sorry they hadn’t got it done sooner. They have a shipment of gold & silver in now & they will get busy at it right away. I am so anxious to get that purse you are having made for me. I wonder how long it takes her to make one. Is Ray still with you? I hope so, but it didn’t sound like he was. Were there any other Mormon boys on board? Now don’t go running around in the Jungle hunting wild life because from the paper I see there are still quite a few Japs left over there. So just wait to do your hunting when you get home – because I think you’re pretty special. I think the day you come home will be the happiest day of my life. I love you & miss you so. Don’t get too busy to write & don’t procrastinate. Give me all the details. I like to hear all the little things. If you get too many of my letters to carry around just sent them home because I want them as sort of a diary. That State room you had must have been plenty nice. I hope it’s as nice where you are going, but I guess that would be stretching it a little. All My Love, Norma 67 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - February 1945 Reinhart Kowallis’ father, step-mother, half-sisters, and half-brother after a fishing trip outside their home in River Heights, Cache County, Utah, from left to right: Ivy Kowallis, Gertrude Kowallis, Fred Kowallis, Johanna Roemer Kowallis (stepmother), Norma Kowallis, Richard Kowallis, Karl Kowallis (father), and Thea Kowallis. Reinhart Kowallis with his daughter Cheryl in about December 1944 just before he was deployed to the war in the Pacific. 68 Letters to the Paciic Norma - February 1945 Norma Jensen Kowallis with her neice, Karla Garner (left) and daughter, Cheryl Kowallis (right). Norma Jensen Kowallis (right) with her sister Phyllis Jensen Butler and her two nephews, Jay Butler (left) and David Butler (right). Photo was likely taken around the time that Norma went to stay with Phyllis after the birth of Phyllis’ daughter Lynette. 69 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - February 1945 Norma in 1951 with her second daughter, Jill 70 The World at War - March 1945 As March begins the war has definitely swung in favor of the allies. Manila has fallen to U.S. and Filipino troops, and in addition, more countries are joining the war against Germany (Turkey, Syria, and Finland all declare war at the end of February and beginning of March). Germany attempts to stop the Allied advance from the west by destroying the Remagen Bridge over the Rhine on the 7th of March fail, and American troops cross over the river. This crossing was mostly important as a morale builder for the allies, but was not so much a significant strategic maneuver. Japan is also suffering from continued American attacks on some of its island strongholds and from firebombing of cities across the Japanese homeland. On March 9th Tokyo is bombed along with several other cities; on the 11th Nagoya is bombed heavily by hundreds of B-29s, on the 16th the island of Iwo Jima is finally secured by American forces after a month long struggle for control, on the 19th heavy bombing from American forces hits the Japanese ports of Kobe and Kure. Plans are laid and ready to be implemented for the invasion of Okinawa, an island stronghold on the southern end of the Ryukyu Islands only 325 miles south of Japan. The Battle for Okinawa will be the bloodiest battle of the Pacific, with heavy losses on both Japanese and American sides. In Europe, a German offensive into Hungary ends with a Soviet victory on the 16th of March. Even though Germany continues to launch rockets into England and Belgium, the end of the war in Europe now seems inevitable. On March 20th, General Patton captures the city of Mainz on the west bank of the Rhine, on the 21st the British raid Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, and then on the 22nd and 23rd American and British forces cross the Rhine to its eastern bank just south of Mainz, near the city of Oppenheim. Germany is now under attack from all sides. As the allied forces close in on Berlin, the western allies pause in their advance near the end of March to allow the Soviets the opportunity to take Berlin. On March 28th, even Argentina, the last western country to remain somewhat neutral, declares war on Germany, and by the end of March, General Eisenhower is calling on the Germans to surrender. Reinhart arrives off the coast of Guam during the first few days of March, but then has to spend several more days on board ship before they are allowed to set foot on the island. The days on ship give him time to have a few more “missionary” discussions with some of the other soldiers. Norma’s letters to Reinhart continue to be filled with the daily activities of caring for Cheryl and Karla, doing her church work and chores around the house, trips into town (Ogden), as well as a substantial helping of love and longing. Fabric is in short supply and so Norma digs through the old used clothes that her mother has and finds material to make new outfits for Cheryl. In the orchards of her father, March is pruning month. In her letter on March 8, Norma mentions that, “Samuel O. Bennion, of the Council of Seventies, died of heart failure today & Rufus K. Hardy of the same council died yesterday.” Apparently, March was not a good month for the Council of Seventy. On March 9, the purse that Reinhart had made for her in Hawaii arrives and Norma could not be more pleased. She is always thrilled with whatever he happens to send her. Cheryl’s first two teeth come in, giving her an added weapon in her arsenal. When Reinhart finally sets foot on Guam, he still can’t tell Norma where he is, but she guesses correctly that he is there and then wants to know, “What are the natives like? Do the women dress & are the children fed good? Could I send any little trinket for you to give some of them? Are there trees? Have they started giving you some of that stuff that helps keep you from getting a bad case of Malaria? I hope so. Are there any flowers or anything pretty where you are? What kind of houses do the people live in? Do they have all the dead people burried?” 71 March 1945 When Reinhart gets settled into his new digs on Guam, he wanders around the area and discovers fruit growing wild among the trees. However, when he can’t get enough of the fruit and produce he craves, he decides to try growing a garden in a little plot of ground nearby, so he asks Norma to mail him some seeds–watermelon, canteloupe, and others–that he can plant. Just as in Hawaii, the main form of entertainment for the men is to catch the movie shown outdoors each night. On one March evening, Reinhart and the others didn’t even bother to come in from the rain. He writes, “Last night it rained all during the show, but everyone sat out in it anyhow. I had my poncho on so I was covered except for my head. The rain just ran off my chin. Now and then it would even do better and go down my back. Some fun.” Reinhart also tracks down the location and time for the L.D.S. church meetings, which turn out to Map of Allied advance into Germany near the end of March 1945. Darkest regions show the areas captured as the allies moved forward, Americans and British forces from the west and Soviet forces from the east. The map is from “Atlas of the World Battle Fronts in Semimonthly Phases to August 15th 1945: Supplement to The Biennial report of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army July 1, 1943 to June 30 1945 To the Secretary of War” and was found online at Wikipedia. 72 March 1945 be held on Tuesday evenings not far from his camp. All during his time on Guam and Okinawa, he seeks out the Church and tries to keep in touch with his old Mormon buddies, particularly Ray Hales, whose path in the war is similar to Reinhart’s. Reinhart loves to joke around in his letters. In one of his late March letters home he writes, “I am sending this picture along of a couple of us shooting the bull. You can’t see the bull, but I assure you it is present in copious quantities.” All in all, the war has not been too hard on the young Kowallis family. Yes, they have been separated at a time when they would rather not be separated, but Reinhart has been in mostly fairly safe places, unlike many other soldiers who never will return home. This map of the Ryukyu Islands is from “United States Army in World War II: The War in the Pacific” by Roy E. Appleman, James M. Burns, Russell A. Gugeler, and John Stevens, Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington, D.C., Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 49-45742, First Printed in 1948 (CMH Pub 5-11). 73 Reinhart - March 1945 Still at Sea 5 March 1945 Hello Darling, I wish you could tell me what you would like me to write you tonight that would still be in keeping with the censorship regulations. All I do is eat, sleep, read, and think about home. Oh yes, I went swimming today. No it wasn’t on the beach of some lonely island, it was right here on board ship. We built us a swimming pool out on the bow of the ship from lumber we could find not being used. It covers an area about half the size of your bedroom, and is about 5 feet deep. After we got it built a big canvas was put in it to hold the water. Sea water was then pumped in with the fire hose. Some fun. Every time the ship rolls, a big gob of water splashes over the side. Only about 3 men can get in it and move around at the same time, so it is dept busy nearly all day long. We can climb up onto the shipping boxes and crates that are piled around it 74 Norma - March 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 2 March 1945 Dearest Reinhart, I’ll be so glad when you are situated again so that I can start receiving regular mail again. I run down to the mail box every day & it’s so disappointing when there isn’t a letter from you – but I don’t suppose I will have much longer to wait. All the folks have gone to the ball game again tonight & I am home with the kids. I just tucked Karla in for the night. We have been looking at magazines. Since you were here every bird she sees is a “Duck, Duck”, so we saw quite a few “Duck Ducks” – I’ll be glad when we can go hunting them again. Yesterday was Mom’s birthday. Everyone but me & the kids went in to pick Mom out a present. Someone had to stay home & as I like to play with Cheryl far better than go shopping, I stayed. They got Mom a dress. I made her a cake for her birthday & put a few candles on it. She is 51 this year. Then I fixed fruit salad & we had a roast & gravy & potatoes & corn & beets. Cheryl was 7 mo. old & she weighs 17 lbs. While I was making cake, I had her sitting in the buggy. When I turned around, there she was standing up on her toes & handing over the side of the buggy trying to reach a screw on the outside to chew on. I didn’t even know she could get up on her feet. I can see where I’ll have to watch her. This morning we cleaned house. Three of the Relief Soc. ladies came here to sew this afternoon. We pieced a whole quilt together. We are going to have a big Relief Soc. party on the 15th of March so we have to make several quilts in order to get some money from the party. The quilt is sold to the highest bidder. Karla helped us put pins in the pin cushion & Cheryl crawled around trying to chew everyone’s shoes. They all said “Isn’t she little to be crawling?” Of course, I didn’t say it but after all she is Reinhart & Norma’s child so of course she is just extra fast. Most of it comes from her father of course. Every time I take her she just grabs my head & just about eats me up. I think she kinda likes me. Our bank statement just came for Feb. At the close of Feb. we had $1,491.98 in the bank. This means that I spent $74.70 ($31.70 for tithing – $10 for rent & $33 for other things). Let’s see, it was $1,336.68 last month so that would be $1,491.98 1,336.68 155.30 saved this month. That isn’t bad at all. If we could do that well each month, we would really be able to start our business as soon as you get back. I just thought you’d like to know how things are coming. Shall I buy another bond? I have a dentist appointment at 8 o’clock in the morning. It’s the only time I could get it changed to. I guess I’ll have to catch the 7:30 bus in. My it looks like I’ll have to get up a little earlier than usual. Shucks – I thought you said “I wish I could take you in my arms again” – so I didn’t read it to the folks. Then when I read it again to myself I realized that it said, “I wish I could take her (or Cheryl) again in my arms.” Of course I’m thrilled that you like Cheryl, but you can see how let down I was. I just guess I now have a rival for your affection. I will just have to be brave & face it like a man or I should say woman. Anyway, in spite of your loving another girl now, I will stay true to you. You have a magnetic quality that will not let me be anything but your loving wife. I know you will aggree with me when I say you are one in a million. Goodnight Sweetheart. Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 5 March 1945 Dearest Reiny, This is another of those wash day letters, so at the moment I am seated in the basement writing a few words now & then to the tune of the chug-chug of the washing machine. So if you find this letter a little wishy washy, why not just blame it on to the wash. Saturday morning I arose at 6 A.M. along with Ruth and Audrey. We all had to catch the 7:30 bus. I got ready and got 75 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - March 1945 and make a high dive from about 5 feet above the water. Of course we have to watch that we don’t dive too far or too deep, but no one has lost any skin as yet. You know, that little pool gives me an idea. When we get us a home someday, I am going to build us a swimming pool. Then in the summer we can go swimming, and in the winter we can go skating. How big do you think we will need it for 13 kids? Now don’t get me wrong. I don’t fell up to that many. Part of those are the neighbor’s. Anyhow, two of them. Oh yes, we can use the pool for a fish pond in good seasons. It’s still nice dreaming. If I were only there with you I wouldn’t have to dream so much. Gosh but I love you all, Reinhart Out on the deep 7 March 1945 Hello Darling, I don’t know why but I had one of those home sick feelings all day yesterday. I would have given anything to have been with you. If we could get some mail it would help a lot but from the looks of things it will be several weeks after we reach our destination before we can expect any letters from home. I will probably get the letters you are sending now some time in mid summer. There is so little new happens here on board that I find it most difficult to find something of interest about which to write. I never got up for breakfast this morning on account of I was still full from last night. About 9:00 in the evening, I came down to have a peek in the ice box. After scrutinizing its contents, I found a beautiful leg of turkey which I duely pounced upon with ravish[ing] gulps. To top off the little snack, I ate a big piece of minced meat pie. Now do you wonder that I didn’t eat this morning. Anyhow I was sort of sleepy too because I didn’t go to bed until 1:00 am. It was such a beautiful moon light night that I went out on deck to daydream about home. I was just in the midst of a nice daydream when one of the boys came out and without looking twice guessed what my dream was about. Anyhow, we got to talking, and he asked me what I had meant when I said the other night that I thot Christianity had failed generally speaking. So then, I showed him where the churches of today, for the most part, had lost control of their members in so far as bettering their way of living was concerned. He also asked me what I thot of marrying a girl outside of your own religion, so I gave him my view point on that. He is one of the few clean fellows I have met. There are a couple of others who I think are fine men. They are all part 76 Letters to the Paciic Norma - March 1945 Audrey some breakfast for a change. Then we all went over to the bus. Ruth got off at Phyllis’ to help with Saturday cleaning. I got off at 24th & Audrey went on down to the Depot to work. I had to wait awhile for the Dentist to arrive & then he went to work. He numbed my jaw so it didn’t hurt too much. Then I had an X-ray taken of my teeth so I suppose I will have to go back again. It was only a quarter to nine when we finished, so I went out to Phyllis’ for awhile & watched Lynette have a bath. Phyllis is so proud about her black curly hair. At 10 o’clock I went back to town & did a little shopping. I was able to get 3 rolls of film. One colored & one black & white for our Argus & then a roll for the little box Kodak. While I was at Kammeyers, Sgt. Jack Way, one of my old boy friends came in. He travels back & forth on transport ships in charge of men. He says he is a Sgt. Major. I have never heard of one before. Anyway, he has been to a good many of those Islands where you are going & he told me that they looked pretty from a distance, but that they were just mud holes close up. He said to not send you any cakes because it would just mold – it is so hot & damp. It is quite a different thing sending to France & England than to the Islands. So unless I hear differently from you I just won’t send any thing. I wait & let you tell me what I can send that will carry. By the time 12:30 arrived it was really snowing & to top it all I missed my bus. I had Mom fix Cheryl formula for her 9:30 feeding but I hated to have her miss another feeding so I went out to Phyllis & from there out to Five Points. I thought somebody might come in to get groceries. Ruth loaned me her scarf before I left Phyllis’. I asked some people if they were going to North Ogden, but they were going to Taylor. I was just going into the Grocery Store when Arthur Rhees came along & said I could ride home with him. I was surely glad to get home & Cheryl was just as glad to see me. She started right in mugging me or chewing me up. You should have seen Ruth when she came home. I had her scarf so her hair was just straight & dripping. Audrey said everyone on the bus just stared at her. They thought she had escaped from a zoo. Sunday morning when we awoke, there was almost a foot of snow covering everything. It is still here this morning. Some of the kids are sluffing school to go skiing. I hope it doesn’t freeze the buds. I wonder what the poor robins will do. If you were just here we would go skiing too. I just came up stairs & it’s snowing again – great big flakes. I’ll be so glad when your letters start coming again. I miss them so much, but not nearly so much as I miss you. Cheryl is getting so she almost crawls out of her buggy. She eats like a little pig. She insists on holding the spoon & thinks one end is as good as the other. When I try to take it away she really gets in a dither. She also holds her cup – but I hold too – even then her orange juice & milk are all over both of us. I started feeding her milk along with nursing a few days ago. I must hurry back to the wash or it will really be in ribbons. So long honey. I love you very, very much. Norma Pleasant View, Utah 6 March 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Again everyone is gone & I am home with the kids. It is getting to be a habit with me but tonight in Mutual they were having three one act plays & no class work. Glena was in one play & Audrey had to sing. Ruth is single & hasn’t a swell husband to dream about like I have, so she needs to get out & Mom I knew wanted to see Glena in the play & so I insisted that she go & let me stay home. LaMar & Lester went skiing tonight up on the hills. I went out & took a couple snow pictures of Karla & Cheryl. It has really been cold. I tried to hang out clothes yesterday but gave up. The clothes just froze stiff before I could even hang them up. If you are in a hot place maybe you can just think about the cold weather here & it will cool you off a bit. Daddy even popped some corn yesterday but nearly everyone but Dad, Mom & myself were too sick to eat it. Some kind of stomach flew or something has been going around. Audrey & Karla had it first. They just are sick to the stomach. Karla lost so much weight. She was sick for three days. LaMar was next. Today it’s Ruth & Glena. I hope I don’t get it or Cheryl. Sunday I didn’t got to Sunday School & fast meeting. I stayed home and let Mom go. I had dinner ready when they got here. Phyllis, Wayne & family came out just as we were ready to sit down so we had to take everything off & put in a couple more leaves. We sang after dinner & Wayne did a couple solos. Then Ruth & I tried to sing a duet. It was the Relief Soc. turn to take charge of the night meeting, so I went of course & got to sit up in front with the rest of the big shots. 77 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - March 1945 of the ships personnel. After this boy left to go on duty, one of the others came out. He being a lover of sports, we talked guns, hunting, and fishing until well after 12:00. He wants to come out west and take a trip into the Wasatch mountains. Of course, I have been filling him full of the things I had done up there while I was with the Forest Service. He has done a lot of hiking with a back pack up in some of the North Eastern states, and now he wants to come out and hike around in the Rockies. I find that in talking with others, our thots mostly drift back home to the things we did before the war and the things we expect to do afterwards. Along that line, my own thots often go ahead to the time when we will be able to set up shop for ourselves. I certainly hope we can locate in Brigham City. I still wish, however, that we could but us a piece of property out in Pleasant View. Maybe after the War someone will loosen up out there and we will be able to get us a few acres. Keep your eye peeled for anything that might come along. Here’s hoping the time will be short until I’ll be back with you again. With all my love, Reinhart Still at Sea March 1945 Hello Darling, Here is that awful husband of yours just starting out on another letter after several days of loafing. But believe me I do love you and think of you constantly. We are still out on the big pond in spite of the fact that [we] were to have docked today. I was all set to dash in to Headquarters and get all that mail you have sent me which is stacked up in there, but no such luck. We have been in sight of land all day but when we will dock is as yet unknown. I hope it is soon. All day long the conversations with the other fellows have drifted back to our homes and what we plan on doing when we get back. Nick and I talk about all the fishing and hunting we will do. Every now and then he tries to talk me into taking a trip around the world in a 50 foot schooner. Such a trip is not for me. I have had plenty of salt water as is. I’ll stick to a little trip on Yellowstone Lake with my Sweetheart. It will be a lot more fun. Nick is quite a boy. He is from Indiana. He has been out west a little, and likes to hike in the mountains with only a back pack & fishing pole. I told him to come out some time and I would realy take him on a hike in the Wasatch. He has a plan all worked out where he is going to put up some cabins way back in the woods by an unknown lake full of fish, and charge fishermen to pack or fly them back for week end fishing. I told him to let me know when he got set up and I would [take] you and the 10 kids out for a fish feed. I am sure we can have 10 kids by the time he gets it running. Then I was talking with one of my men and we have our post war homes all worked out. Yes, I have decided we will have a new home. I think we will build it out of sandstone with a small roof garden at one end. Of course, all the details are not yet worked out, but I will have plenty of time to think about that. Naturally, we must add your ideas too. I don’t know how I am going to get used to shoes again when I get off this boat. Ever since we started on this trip, I have been running around in my wooden bath shoes. My feet are as brown as my back. Well Darling, we will be landing before long. As soon as we do I will let you know where to write. With all my love, Reinhart 78 Letters to the Paciic Norma - March 1945 I went to Relief Soc. today and gave my visiting teacher lesson on “Blessed are the pure in Heart.” When I arrived home Ruth had Cheryl on the floor. Karla had just traded toys with her. She had given Cheryl her wagon for Cheryl’s wooden beads that Margie & Barrett sent her. Cheryl was so excited over the wagon, she wouldn’t even look at me. Dad said she had stood right up in her buggy again & she did it again when I got home. Right now she is trying to keep herself awake by rocking herself back & forth against the wall & banging it each time. I received your paper from the School of Forestry. It tells about us in it. I will send it as soon as you have your new address. The mail man came just as I was on my way to Relief Soc. I had him look to see if a letter was there from you but there was still no letters. I hope I don’t have to wait much longer. I heard Bro. Harold B. Lee give a talk on the radio Sunday night – it was on faith. He said if our boys would do as Paul did at one time when he was in danger. That is fast & pray before giving into danger, put complete faith in God at all times, that they would have the Protection of their Father in Heaven. I have heard so many stories recently about boys who have been placed in battles where it seemed almost impossible that they should come through alive & yet where their garments have been they have received no harm. I hope it is possible for you to wear yours because I do feel they are a protection. I guess I do a pretty good job of worrying about you even if you are miles away. I’ll be glad when the biggest worry I have is wheather you have your tie straight & if you are going to get your breakfast in time to get to work & if you will like my latest meal concoction. Goodnight my Sweetheart & be very good to your dear self. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 8 March 1945 Dearest Reinhart, It surely must be a long ways to the Marianna Island or wherever you are going. When I received those letters you wrote on the way you were about half way there and it’s been over a week now since I heard from you. I guess I shouldn’t complain though because lots of folks don’t hear for months at a time. The snow has been melting today. I went out tonight to get some parsley & I found a little violet peeping its head up through the snow. I guess we’ll have plenty of moisture now. If it will just continue to be good weather and not give us a late frost. But then it will do no good to worry about it. It looks like Glena & I will have to be Dad’s helpers this year if LaMar joins the Navy. I will get a nice tan to match yours. Then we can be two wild Indians. It looks like Cheryl will just have to wear clothes that are made over because you can’t buy print material any more. I have dug down into Mom’s old rag box & made little overalls & today I made a little pinafore out of an old green & white polka dot dress. It really looked cute when it was finished. Audrey wanted me to give it to Karla as it just fits her. I did buy two or three pieces for best dresses. It’s a good thing I got them when I could or she wouldn’t have anything. I guess the Church knew what they were talking about when they asked us to put away food & clothes supply for one year at least. Mom went down to sew at the hospital today. She made 27 sheets. She hunted for some material but couldn’t find any. LaMar is taking a preparatory course every Mon. & Thurs. night so that he can pass the Eddy test in radio when he gets into the Navy. Dad & Mom have just left to go down & get him. He rides out to the city limits on the bus. Glena was up for queen of the girls dance, but they eliminated all but three today & now she [is] out. She has ask[ed] Dwane Simmons, her latest heart throb, to go with her. I think she really likes him. Ruth & I got supper tonight. I made good old soup on a meat bone & Ruth made a cherry roll. I also made my salad as usual. Dad & Uncle Henry have both been up trimming today. It surely is muddy up there too. The news was really good today. Hodges[?] big drive across the Rhine. Then yesterday the capture of Cologne. I hope this next drive doesn’t take so long. If only the Germans would give up. You’d think they would. In Wasn’t Bennion the one who visited our Conference in Wilmington, North Carolina? Goodnight Sweetheart. May God Bless You Always. All My Love, Norma 79 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - March 1945 80 Letters to the Paciic Norma - March 1945 Glena Jensen and Lamar Jensen in front of the Jensen family home on Pleasant View Drive. 81 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - March 1945 Pacific Ocean near Guam 10 March 1945 Hello Darling, This is the last bit of writing [paper] I have so if I don’t get off this boat tomorrow, it just looks as if I won’t be able to write anymore. Right now we are at anchor in the harbor, but I don’t know when the ship will get unloaded. I had quite the religious conversation, or I should say argument almost, the other night with two of the other officers aboard. One was a Catholic, the other Presbyterian. The latter was saying how he believed the churches should find some other way to present religion to make it interesting to the people of today. He said he did not think all the rituals were necessary that are found, and that they were only carried down from the old any how. So then the Catholic spoke up and said that they all had a meaning, and if religion was the truth, they would have to be the same today as they were before. That was my chance, so I asked him if he realy believed religion 82 Letters to the Paciic Norma - March 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 9 March 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Here I am sitting in the front room waiting to greet Glena’s boy friend. I am suppose to open the door when he knocks, introduce myself & chat awhile with him until Glena gets ready. Wish you were here to help me out – you are much better at chatting than I am. Guess what the mail man brought me today – the most beautiful purse. Oh Honey, I just love it. It is so different than anything I have ever seen. I just don’t see how she makes them. It was so thoughtful of you to send me such a nice gift. It means so much to know you went to so much work to get it for me & that a real Samoan woman made it. Thanks ever so much Sweetheart. Still no letters – I am beginning to think you are going to China after all. I hope not. Cheryl was just howling a little while ago & I went into the bedroom to see what was the matter. She was standing right up at the highest point of her buggy (that is where the hood folds back) & leaning over. She has climbed up to the side when I have had her sitting up, but never when she was laying on her stomach. It was such a beautiful spring day that when LaMar & Glena came from school, they had a game of badmitton out on the lawn. I took Karla & Cheryl out & pulled them around in the wagon. Karla held Cheryl. Then I took Karla’s swing out & put it up in the tree. Cheryl thought it was great fun, she just laughed & laughed – even when I put Karla in the swing Cheryl would laugh & laugh just to see me push Karla. My oh my – the boy friend is 5 min. late. I’m all of a dither – I do wish he would come. If only it were me getting ready to go someplace with you. I just won’t know how to act when I start stepping out with you, but it won’t take me long to catch on. (Well, he just came & Glena has gone.) I do miss you so much & I wonder so often where you are & what you are doing. If you are comfortable & if you are enjoying your work. I pray that all is well with you. Take good care of yourself Honey. With all My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 12 March 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, I have just finished the washing this Monday morning & I am so hoping that I will be able to finish this letter before the mail man comes. Saturday two more letters came for me. They are few and far bettween but I am glad to get them. I guess you can only send them out with planes or ships that happen to be going the other way. That Swimming pool must be huge if it’s only half the size of our bedrooms, but it’s better than none at all. I’ll bet it seems mighty good to get in some water when it’s hot like it is there & to think that we still have a few piles of snow around the house. One little yellow crocus is in bloom, also several violets & the snowdrops. It surely seems to be taking you a long time to reach your destination. I was so surprised to find that these last two letters were written while still at sea. I am glad your thoughts turn home often & I only hope that not only your thoughts, but you will be turning homeward. I guess Ray isn’t with you any more, but I am glad you have at least two or three nice companions. They are getting more scarce all the time. Maybe some of the things you say to these boys will take effect one of these days. If so you won’t feel your trip has been wasted time. Saturday afternoon I put Cheryl’s pajamas on for a snow suit & put her sweater & cap on. With her in the buggy we started out to get a lunch committee for Relief Society Work Day tomorrow. First we pushed up the hill to Annie Cragun’s. She said she would help. Then over to Margaret Cragun’s – she would help. She showed me the things she is making for the baby she expects in June. Then we pushed down Uncle Henry’s lane to Elenore Cragun’s – she too would help. Here I tried to do a little cheering up. She gave a talk last Sunday & fell down just as she was going up to the stand – exposing herself to the waist. I guess she cried about it afterwards & resolved not to go out to Church and never to give a talk again. I gave her a pep talk. I don’t know wheather it was what I said that helped, but she was out to Church yesterday. 83 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - March 1945 should be the same at all times. When he said it should, I brought out the form of baptism, and the change it has taken. Then I mentioned the God as taught by the Bible, and that which is taught by most churches today. We talked back & forth for an hour or so, and at last I told him that the only way a person could defend that which he professed to believe was to know something about it. I may not have said anything to cause him to think differently, but today he spent a good part of his time reading the New Testament, something which is against Catholic ethics. Maybe I can do a little good in the world, even if it’s nothing more than to get a few people to thinking for themselves. I have also had several conversations with a Baptist lad of whom I have already spoken in another letter. I don’t know what is in store for me when I get on land again, but I am hoping I can find some other members of the Church again. Ray is not with me any more. I will be glad to get to my outfit again so I can collect some mail. With all my love, Reinhart Guam 13 March 1945 Hello Darling, Back on land again and it realy seems good to plant ones feet on the good hard ground. I can still feel the ship swinging though, and I fear in order to go to sleep I shall have to have someone rock my bed for me. I am still walking around on a slant. Another thing I welcome is this cool night air. It was always so hot in my state room, [that] I could hardly sleep at all. I guess that’s the reason I never used to get up before 8:00 in the morning. Yesterday, I came ashore all alone in order to find out where we belonged and to get our mail. Just think! I had eleven letters waiting here from you, and one from Dad. Some haul I call it. After I got the mail, including the mail for the rest of the boys, I headed right back to the ship to head the rest of the gang off so they wouldn’t go to the wrong place. I got there about 4:00 in the afternoon only to find they had already been taken ashore. So then they were on shore and I was on the ship with no way of getting back to land again, and I was holding the bag, the mail bag. I just sat around and took things easy, pulling out one of your letters every half hour and reading. That way they lasted me all evening, and a right pleasant evening it was. Our quarters here are not half bad. No hot and cold running water you know. We are staying in tents with floors and screened in sides. Little lizards running all around, and tiny red aunts (sic) coming in and out day and night. Only I think more come in than go out. I am glad you have sent me a picture of Cheryl, only I fear it will be a long time getting here. Most everything is unless it comes by Air. Don’t worry about me because I am getting along fine, hoping each day that the time will be short until I can be back with you so that we can have a home and some of the other things we have planned. Love, Reinhart Guam 13 March 1945 Hello Darling, Seems as if every one received mail today but me. However, I should not complain. I recall I was not too regular in writing while I was on board ship. It’s just retaliations I expect. Anyhow, I know you must still love me on account of there are no other guys around you could love anyhow. Unless it be a couple of discrepant (sic) old 4F’s. I can not tell you where I am so I guess you will just have to keep trying to figure it out. A smart girl like you should have no trouble doing that. However, my address has changed to the following: 84 Letters to the Paciic Norma - March 1945 It was such a beautiful day that when I got home I got that little swing of Karla’s out & hooked it onto the tree. She thought it was just grand. Glena & LaMar were playing badmitton again. Sunday morning I went to Church & also in the evening. I paid our tithing for this month. We stayed after Church awhile to plan a skit we are having for our Relief Soc. party Thurs. (It is a ward party) so you can see I will be busy this week. Mac Wade had more crazy ideas for our skit. It will be about “Little Red Riding Hood.” Tall Mr. Case will be Red Riding Hood. Little Mr. Williams will be the hero. Pat Dickamore will be the wolf. They are trying to get Dad for the Grandmother & Farmer Johns for the mother. Grandmother will talk in Jive language. Cheryl is calling for her dinner & both Mom & Ruth are in Town so I have the kids again. All My Love Honey I send along to you. God Bless & Keep You Norma 85 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - March 1945 Fleet Photo Interpretation Squadron Two c/o FPO, San Francisco, Calif. I hope I can keep this address for a time. The weather is so wet here today [that] I can hardly keep my paper from curling. It just keeps raining off and on, and to think that the day we came in it was so hot and dry that wherever one walked the dust was evident in copious quantities. The Japs have been here and gone, but the grim evidence of war still remains. All the things you read of in Life magazine and others can be found along the beaches of this area. American equipment still stands in the surf where it was stopped by Jap weapons. All around can be found the spent ammunition cases of both sides. Along the shore I saw cement gun casements that had been blasted open by our big Naval guns. Along the highway can also be seen the cemeteries with their white crosses marking the final resting places of those who paid the supreme price for liberty. You asked me in one of your letters if I wanted some film. No, I don’t need it. We are not even allowed a camera down here. A permit must be had to take a picture of any kind. (Here is a break in the letter) You see our tent is strategically placed so that every time they have a show, which is every night, in the outdoor theater, we have to turn out our light so it won’t shine on the screen. That leaves me sitting on my bunk with only two things to do. Either I can watch the show, or think of you. I allocate my thots into a duel (sic) compromise. When the show becomes apathetic my mind flashes back to the ones I love, and I long to be with you. Together life is full of interest; right now it is full of hope only, for the thing we shall yet enjoy. Love, Reinhart 1st Lieutenant Reinhart T. Kowallis (on right) outside of either his work tent or sleeping tent in Guam. These tents had floors and screened in sides. The white material used for sidewalks is coral. The other officer in the photo is unknown. 86 Letters to the Paciic Norma - March 1945 87 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - March 1945 Map of Pleasant View, Utah showing locations of a few of the prominently mentioned families in Norma’s letters. Norma was living with her parents (Joseph M. Jensen home) on Pleasant View Drive. Also note the location of Norma and Reinhart’s future home after the war on 900 West Street above the Pleasant View Ward chapel. In 1945, the school across the street from the church was torn down. Norma’s mother, Ethel Chamberlain, spent much of her youth in the old Chamberlain home on the edge of town. Two prominent families in Pleasant View were the Craguns and Rheeses. The Pleasant View Ward Bishopric in 1945 had Reuben G. Rhees as bishop and Earl Cragun (his brother-in-law) as first counselor. 88 Letters to the Paciic Norma - March 1945 89 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - March 1945 Guam 15 March 1945 Hello Darling, Are the March winds blowing back home by now? It would be fine if one of them would blow me in with it. I can’t think of anything that would be more fun than to play with Cheryl a little while. Here it is only a little over 2½ months since I was home, but I’ll bet she has grown once again as big as she was. I certainly get a kick out of 90 Letters to the Paciic Norma - March 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 18 March 1945 Dear Reinhart, Just think Wednesday it will be Spring, but today it doesn’t even resemble Spring. A little snow fell this morning, but it’s nearly all gone. It’s just that it’s sort of cold & wintry. Your three letters came Saturday & I was so glad to get them. One was still at sea, one you could see land, the other you had dropped anchor but hadn’t gone ashore. I am so thankful you are on land once again. I think ground is so much more secure than water. It just thrilled me to hear about the opportunities you are having to talk religion & explain about our Church. It makes me feel better somehow to know that you are doing the work of the Lord in spite of the conditions around you. I know you will be blessed for it & I know the Lord will watch over & bless you. As soon as I get your new address I shall send you the books you want & some pamplets or tracts. If there is anything else you can use, don’t forget to mention it in you letters. I can’t send anything without a request. Tonight Audrey & I are at home with the kids. Everyone else has gone to Church. I went this morning & Phyllis, Wayne & Family came out to dinner. Lynette is really getting cute & her black hair is pretty, but I like Cheryl’s straight light brown hair just as well. I had to go down to Mrs. Williams this afternoon to see her about a lesson for Tues. Her son Melvin was wounded on Iwo Jima, but not seriously. I hope there are no more. We have really been blessed. Ranae, Alice, Marian & Janet were here today. They took turns playing with Cheryl. Cheryl woke up awhile ago & I went to play with her. She just crawls all over that buggy. I wish there was room so I could get a bed for her, but there isn’t. I’ll just have to watch her closely. I didn’t get a high chair ‘cause Dad disappeared & by the time I found him Mom was ready to go home. She had to get home because she was having a party for one of the little Dial Boys. I bought two pieces of print material. You just have to buy what you can find. They don’t have anything only once in awhile. The print was $1.59 a yard. In ordinary times it would probably be .39 cents a yard – some difference. The Jensens are supposed to put on the program for Sacrament meeting next Sunday & I am supposed to give a talk. I have been going over some of the letters I wrote to Mom telling of our experiences. I thought I would tell a few of those. In Reading these letters it surely recalled some happy memories. I hope that the day will soon come when we can share some more of these experiences together. The news looks good & I pray it may soon be over. All my Love to you Sweetheart. Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 19 March 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, Today three letters came from you – I was so glad to get them, but I can tell you I had both a feeling of remorse & guilt when I read that you had received no mail & all the other fellows had received letters. I can promise you that I shall not let it happen again no matter how busy I am. I was terribly rushed that week I didn’t write, but after all you are so very dear to me & I could – if I really tried – write a few words to you – even on the busiest days. There isn’t a man out there that has a wife that loves him any more than I love you – and I’ll not have them getting mail while mine has none. I hope you will forgive me & when I say I’ll really try – I mean it. Even if there was something besides 4-Fs around, I know that none could measure up to you. You are really tops & I miss you so. You said if I were a smart girl I would probably know where you are. Well – I sort of have a feeling you are on Gwam in the Marianas. Am I right? I’m sorry you can’t take pictures, but I guess some of the things you are seeing would [not] be too pleasant to remember. I will send you the books & phamphlets you ask for right away. I only wish there were more things I could send you. You must not think you will be there long, if you don’t think they will catch up with you very soon. That was pretty good, them 91 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - March 1945 all the little things you write about her. I hope her picture gets to me before I have to move on again. That’s the bad part of moving around a lot. The mail never seems to catch up with me. I hope the folks got to see you the last time they were down that way. From the sound of the letter Dad sent me, they must be enjoying themselves in their old age. It’s too bad the war isn’t over so they could travel around the country as they would like. On a “C” card I don’t expect they get very far. There is very little to spend money on out here, so on the first of the month when I draw my pay for the last two months, I will send it home. I should have a hundred & fifty dollars to send home at least. The only thing I need money for out here is to pay my board bill of $21 a month plus $5 or so that I might spend at the PX. All they have there that I even use is gum, and now and then a few toilet articles. The more I can save now, the better it will be for us after the war. If I could save like you can, we would have enough now to start in business. Last night it rained all during the show, but everyone sat out in it anyhow. I had my poncho on so I was covered except for my head. The rain just ran off my chin. Now and then it would even do better and go down my back. Some fun. Come down and try it some time. Love, Reinhart Guam 17 March 1945 Hello Darling, I am even staying home from the show tonight so I will be sure and get a letter off to you. Have you received the purse I sent you from Oahu as yet? I got a letter from Lt. Stevens and he said he had sent it to you. I had to send him $2 more. The lady who made it, made it extra large, therefore the difference in price. I certainly hope you like it. No doubt you will have to buy yourself a new outfit to match. But that’s all right; you do that for Easter. I wish I were home to fool you on that day. It’s about my turn, you know. I have been reading over some of your old stale letters, and I see you are still having trouble with Mitzie & her boy friends. I’ll bet in spite of all your caution she wins out, and you have another litter of pups to care for. What did they finally do with the little black pup from the last batch? Looks like you should be able to go into the dog business if Mitzie keeps producing. Things are getting down pretty much to routine here now. We just sort of work all day and sleep all night. At least that is something to be thankful for, “sleep at night.” I have been going to write Ray for the last couple of days, and find out how he is doing. I learned the other day that the L.D.S. holds church down the road a ways on Tuesday nights. I am going to try and make it down next week. Hope I get a letter soon. Love, Reinhart Guam 18 March 1945 Hello Darling, In about 10 min. supper will be on so I will no more than get started on this letter. To be right honest, I think I could tell you all there is to say in about five minutes. We work Sunday as well as all other days. Oh, we may get a day off if we ever get all the work done. That may be when the war is over. Is Phyllis’ baby as cute as ours? But then how could it be! I guess Wayne thinks he is pretty good with two boys & a girl. Just wait until I get home. We’ll show them a thing or two. Why they don’t even know what production is. We are going to need an assembly line to whip out all you say you want. That reminds me of a very good bit of originality. Over at the officer’s club are two doors. On one it reads 92 Letters to the Paciic Norma - March 1945 The Simeon Cragun family is thought to be the first to settle in Pleasant View, Utah in about 1852. Simeon had previously lived in Pleasant View, Indiana and this may have been the inspiration for the name of the new settlement. By 1945, descendants of two Cragun cousins, Mormon Cragun and Levi “Lee” Cragun, were the most prominent Cragun families still in Pleasant View (see map on facing page). The other abundant family name in town was Rhees. These families were descendants of Charles H. Rhees who moved to Pleasant View sometime in the 1860’s. Charles was a polygamist with descendants from two wives, Elizabeth and Eliza. This brief genealogy may aid in keeping track of these families as Norma and Reinhart talk about them in their letters. 93 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - March 1945 “Setter”, and on the other reads “Pointer.” If we ever have duel bathrooms maybe we could put the same thing on. Of course you would have to explain to the children. These little ants just about walk off with a person around here. Last night I turned the sheets back to go to bed and I’ll bet there were five hundred of them right where I wanted to lie down. I should think they would at least go home at night. All respectable ants do. I wouldn’t mind so much if it weren’t that I wake up in the morning with ants in my pants, and that ain’t good. Give Cheryl a big hug for me. She is such a sweet little kid. If only I could be home to see all the things she does. I haven’t had any letters of yours since the 20 Feb. I guess it has got lost some where. Love, Reinhart Guam 19 March 1945 Hello Darling, Your letter of March 2 reached me today and I know just how you feel when you don’t get any mail. Every afternoon for over a week I have waited for a letter. I can’t help but think that a lot of your letters aren’t coming through. Map showing the U.S. battle for Guam in 1944. Troops landed on July 21st and by August 10th had recovered the island. Reinhart Kowallis arrived in Guam in early March 1945 and spent several weeks there before being sent on to Okinawa. The map is from the U.S. National Park Service. 94 Letters to the Paciic Norma - March 1945 sending you in to get their locations & then when you get back to ship they are all gone. At least you had the mail. I’m glad you got some that Day. It must be terrible the things you are seeing. I am only glad, however, that the Japs left before you came. Dad says to tell you to not go wandering off after bananas because there might be a few Jap snippers left. What are the natives like? Do the women dress & are the children fed good? Could I send any little trinket for you to give some of them? Are there trees? Have they started giving you some of that stuff that helps keep you from getting a bad case of Malaria? I hope so. Are there any flowers or anything pretty where you are? What kind of houses do the people live in? Do they have all the dead people burried? I like your dreams for our future. It will be fun taking that trip in a boat with you. Dad felt slighted to think you didn’t mention him going. He said, “I guess he thinks I am to old to go?” But I assured him that you or we would be tickled to have him come along. Do you think the boat will hold Cheryl too? I guess if it will hold 1500 lbs it should hold her. I am going to send you a few pictures in this letter. Maybe it will help you to see how she is growing. I let her play in the play pen most of the time, she likes it fine except when she gets her legs twisted up in the poles. Everytime I put on my coat now she starts crying because she thinks I am going to leave her. Then if I pick her up she just clings to me & kisses me all over my face. Jay slept with us the other night & she would pat his face & pull his ears & hair. I thought – That is just what she would be doing to you if you were here with us. Yesterday, I washed & today I went to Relief Soc. & tonight to Mutual. Yesterday, Maud Cragun received a letter from her son Levi from Iwo Jima. That is the third one of our home town boys to go into that Island with the first landing. Only one (Melvin Williams) was wounded & yet they say one out of three were killed that went in there. Our little town has really been blessed. Today was a beautiful day. I took Karla & Cheryl out. Cheryl just loves it out doors. She just squeals when I swing her. Karla finished picking the little crocus blossoms. Everytime one comes out, she picks it. Tomorrow I am going to start on my talk for Sunday so I guess I’ll get into bed so I can think strait. I wish you were here to do it for me. Mom & I sang in Relief Soc. today. I am really getting the oportunities if only those oportunities would convert me into a songbird. Goodnight My Sweetheart. Tell me as many things about the things you see as you can. I don’t feel quite so far away when I can picture your surroundings. Take good care of yourself. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 21 March 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Oh – I’ve been having the most wonderful time. Phyllis, Wayne, the boys and Lynette came out about 5:30. They had lunch and wanted to go up on the hill. I had Ruth feed Cheryl & Phyllis left Lynette with Mom. Audrey was just getting home as we were leaving, so we waited for her too. We drove up the lane to those gates & then we got out and walked over to little pond & then over to big pond. Those first little white flowers are out. We had such fun skipping rocks on the pond. Audrey was always bragging about how good she could skip them. She would get her arms above her head and call to everyone to look before she performed this wonderful fete. She was pretty good too, so it would quite tickle me when it would just go plunk in the water. Phyllis, Audrey, & I got the roasting sticks while Wayne made the fire. Everything tasted so good (Weiners, Buns, Olives, Potato Chips, Oatmeal Cookies, Rolls (we put these on our sticks like we did once when you were there. Then we had Candy, Oh yes & milk & did it ever taste good. The sun was just setting as we came back & it was so beautiful. Mac Wade was plowing when we went up & when we came back Mac was gone but two beautiful rooster Phesants were standing right out in that plowed field. Of course, I thought of you right away. In fact, I had been thinking of you all during the trip & wishing you were there, but those two cock Phesants just especially made me think of you. Golly – I’ll bet you would like to have had a gun & had a good shot at those two. We sang songs all the way to the car. When I got home, Cheryl was awake and she had been crying. She watched everyone that came in with tearful eyes & when I took her she just hung to me an laughed. She would look away & then look at me & laugh. She was so glad to have me home. I tell Mom I guess I’ll just have to start going away from home more often. LaMar gave her the bottle & she drank 95 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - March 1945 I had a wash day this afternoon, so right now our tent looks like a laundry shop, but that is to be expected with two men’s belongings hanging around. We don’t have any laundry service here, but there are a couple of wash machines down by the showers. Even so it takes a long time to get things clean with only cold water. Each batch has to be run for three quarters of an hour or more. I think I’ll do the white stuff by hand from here on out. Boy! Would I like to have you fix one of those good meals for me. Oh, we eat good here only that nearly everything is starch, and you know what happens when I eat that kind of food. I just scratch myself all night. Oh well, it’s only for a couple of years. Yes, I can see Cheryl takes after me. No doubt all the crawling she does is only her inherent ability to hunt. It comes from me all right. That’s how I used to get all those rabbits. It makes no difference to me if you buy a bond or not. What ever you think is best is OK by me. You are pretty good to save $155 last month. Economy is just one of your good qualities. I am going to send $200 home on the first of the month. I will send it to you rather than right to the bank. You can enter it yourself. Do not tithe it, that has already been done. This is just money I have saved. I hope Ruth’s teeth are still all intact, and don’t let the dentist pull more than half of yours. Maybe I should send mine in and have them checked over. I guess I had just better knock them out one at a time, and send in so I’ll be able to continue eating. I wish you would go down and buy me an “Outdoor Life,” and a “Reader’s Digest” and send them to me. If it doesn’t cost too much, send them 1st class mail because it takes forever to get anything else out here. 3rd class mail takes 2 & 3 months some times. Each month I will write and ask you to do this. The boys who have subscriptions hardly ever get their magazines. Some how they just don’t seem to get through. Be sure to wrap and seal mine, and then some one won’t pick them off on the way. Of course if you want to read Cheryl all the good hunting stories before you send them, that’s all right with me. With all my love, Reinhart Guam 20 March 1945 Hello Darling, I wish you were with me tonight so you could rub my head ache away. I have had one all day. It is at least partly caused from looking through a scope all day, but if I would watch my diet more I don’t think I would be troubled at all. With time I may learn how to take care of myself. If I were only home, you could straighten me out. With my head going around I can’t even think except to think of you. The rest of the boys are sitting here on their cots shooting the Bull. Right now they are talking about fights they have seen between married couples. I am glad you don’t fight with me, because I would hate to have to give you black eyes. I think your blue ones are so much prettier. Every day I take your picture out just to see if those big blue eyes still love me, and you know I think they do. At least they say pictures don’t lie, and I know you don’t. If I could only come home to see you I would even do the laundry for you now and then. May as well be doing the washing at home, I have to do it here anyhow. But then I could tend the baby. I don’t have that to do out here, and it would realy be fun. Maybe she would learn to like me as she does you. I’ll have to bring her candy every day to make up for lost time. I can just see you letting me give it to her. Better teach her to battle so she can defend herself against that Garner girl. I’ll bet you will have a time with those two this summer. With all my love, Reinhart 96 Letters to the Paciic Norma - March 1945 more milk for him than for me so I guess she did alright. I have only nursed her once today so I will soon have her weaned. Then maybe she won’t be such a mama’s baby. Anyway it tickles me to have her love me. I hope she always will, as well as her Daddy & other people. She isn’t a bit afraid of anyone & will go to everyone, so I don’t think I am training her to dislike others. She will be crazy about you I’m sure. I have been trying to explain that your picture is “Da Da” but all she wants to do is eat it. I guess she [is] still a little young to understand. I have been trying to get my speech today, but I am having a little difficulty, I’ll be glad when it is over with. The day had just been grand. I took Cheryl & Karla out. First I gave Cheryl a swing & then I took them up to the barn. Daddy was milking. Then I took them for a ride in the wagon. Everything tickled Cheryl. Karla wanted to push her out of the wagon, but when I said she would have to get out too, then she just held Cheryl so good. Here I have been writing for an hour & ½. Everyone keeps talking & I keep talking so I don’t get done very fast. Spence is still working in the Hospital in France. He is in charge of the X-ray department & likes it quite well. I’m still thankful you have landed. I hope everything is well with you & that you will like your work as well as can be expected. As soon as I have this talk off my mind, I will send those things to you. I’ll be glad to have you with me again. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 22 March 1945 Hello Sweetheart, I hope you have received some of those letters of mine by now so that I will be out of the dog house. Two more letters came from you today. The one was written on the 17th. It surely doesn’t take very long for them to get here. I guess you must be in Gwam & not in China. I wish you could tell me more about your surroundings and the natives & the trees, grass, flowers, mud, houses or just anything so I could sort of get a picture in my mind of your surroundings. It really must be fun seeing a show in the rain. I don’t see how they can do it & keep everything dry. Are you having any more trouble with the bugs crawling in and about? Yes, the purse arrived as I told you & I’m really crazy about it. That was really a wonderful gift. Golly that makes $17 it cost –Whew! I am saving it to wear on Easter with that new Dress I made. It must take a long time to do all that beautiful work. I have been working on my talk most of the Day. This morning Cheryl, Mom, Dad & I walked around outside planning where to put the garden & where to plant various shrubs. We are going to try to have an out door fire place built this spring. This evening the Ward Teachers came. The lesson was on The Church Welfare Program. They are really talking it up this year. Gordon Cragun & Bro. Wade were our teachers. Mom & Dad just went down to get LaMar. He still has five more weeks. We have just been talking about my first date with you. Dad says if I had seen you with your beard, I would have married you right away. I’m glad, in a way, that I waited because I made sure I had the best. I’m glad the best was waiting for me. I’m getting my chance to wait now & I do hope it isn’t for much longer. They are predicting that the war in Europe will be over in 60 days. I do hope they are right. All My Love, Norma P.S. Does that Fleet part of your address mean you are connected with the Navy? Pleasant View, Utah 26 March 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Here it is Monday morning but I have decided not to wash. It looks stormy & Dad & Mom are going to town so I guess I’ll go with them. Saturday I was a bad girl again. I didn’t write because I was so worried about my talk & I did the whole thing over after I had wrote it once. I didn’t even help with the work, just worked all day on that speech. Sunday I didn’t go to Church in the morning. I stayed home & studied my speech. I only wish I could get a talk the way 97 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - March 1945 Guam 21 March 1945 Hello Darling, It seems years since I left you standing in the airport, and when I look at a calendar, I find it has only been three months. Three months from two years leaves 21 months to go, that is, if the war is over in two years, and it better be. Supper is just over, and in about an hour I am going to the show. It is going to be good tonight. Roy Rodgers is playing in a rootin’ tootin’ cowboy show. Why don’t you come out and go with me. After the villain gets shot we could sit on the bench and pitch whoo. I would even give you some of my gum. I know you can’t get any at home. I wish I had some more pictures of you and the baby. The three you sent me while I was at Oahu are almost worn out from my looking at them. I am still waiting for the one of Cheryl which you sent. It is probably lost with a lot of my other mail. I hope you are getting my letters quite regular now again. I try to write every day here even if I can’t find anything to tell you. You know, I was just thinking how I would a lot rather have a piece of property just outside of town, south, and above the road, than where we have ours. But I don’t expect there is much chance of getting it while the war is going on. What I would realy like to do is get some in Pleasant View. We could even build there without it being too far to drive in for work. Of course, the best thing to do if we are going to set up shop is to build in the town or near it, and become part of its society. We will see when I get home. It is possible that a couple of years may change all our plans, though I hope not. Anyhow, right now it may be best to hang onto our funds, and make our investments after the war. I just finished reading that book I bought so long ago down at Bliss, the one on Joseph Smith. I am glad I have it with me because there is a lot of good stuff in it. I wish I could find time to take a day off around here. I would try fishing somewhere. There must be some fish on this side of the ocean. So far we haven’t found time for even a half day off. But perhaps that is best, the time goes by faster. Give Cheryl a kiss for me. Love, Reinhart Guam 22 March 1945 Hello Darling, No doubt you want to know what I have been doing again today. Well, about the same thing except that this evening I went out looking for myself a couple of not quite ripe cocoa nuts. Before they get ripe the meat is soft and tender, but I don’t think they have as much flavor as the others. While I was out looking for the cocoa nuts, I picked a green banana and cut it open. They smell just like a green cucumber, and have a very sticky, clear juice. I realy doubt that they are good green. After I got back to the tent, I started opening cocoa nuts, and made even a bigger mess that the other two guys building a desk. They are making our home more comfortable they hope. One of my boys brought me a papia [papaya] up that he had found tonight. I didn’t know we had any around here, and now I find the woods are full of them. Tomorrow evening I am going out and find myself a dozen or so of them. I just happened to think, if you would put a few water melon and cantaloupe seeds in one of your letters, I would plant me a couple of hills of each out by the side of the tent. I don’t think I will be here long enough to reap the fruit, but it would be fun to watch them grow. Send me some in two or three letters, just half a dozen of each per letter, and I’ll plant some more. Looks like I plan on feeding everyone by myself. Don’t forget how much I love you, and tell the folks hello. Reinhart 98 Letters to the Paciic Norma - March 1945 Norma taking the girls out for a walk with the wagon (Cheryl in middle and Karla on right). you can without even thinking about it or writing it down, but I’m just not smart like that. In the afternoon I went up & gave my speech to the grainery & barn. Phyllis & Wayne & family came out. We took all of our kids – Jay, David, Karla, Cheryl & Lynette. Dad opened the meeting with Prayer. Then Ruth, Glenna & Audrey sang a trio. Then I gave my talk, Wayne B. sang & Uncle Henry spoke about 5 min because I took up all the time. Aunt Florence closed with prayer. I don’t think Uncle Henry minded. He told me to take all the time I needed because he had lots of opportunities to talk. I have never had so many compliments on a talk so I guess it wasn’t too bad. All the little kids, big kids & older folk came up & told me how good it was. Flora said she could just see you & myself hand in hand skipping along through all these places. Now I didn’t say we were holding hands & I didn’t say we were skipping, I just told of the places we had been – but it was so much fun recalling the things we had done & the places we had seen that I suppose she thought we must have been skipping around hand in hand. The girls sang good & I thought it was a pretty good program. Marshall Maycock came over after dinner Sunday & asked me to give another talk next Sunday for Easter. Here I just thought I could relax & now I must start thinking about another talk (Oh me!) The V-mail Easter greetings arrived for myself & the one for the family. They were really cute. You didn’t draw it did you? Anyway, however it was done, it was surely sweet of you. The news is so good now that I can even dream that you will be here with us soon. May God Bless You Always. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 27 March 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, Here it is Tues & you know that is my busy day (Relief Soc. & Mutual). Yesterday I took Cheryl with me to town. I decided to take her to a doctor because she hasn’t been since she was three weeks old. Since her teeth have started coming in she hasn’t eaten as well & isn’t getting as fat as she was. Mom says it isn’t anything to worry about because teeth quite often upset a baby for awhile. But I didn’t think it would hurt to have her given a check up. I took her to three doctors & they were all too busy. I would have to make a apointment a month ahead of time & so I just decided not to take her to a doctor. She isn’t cross & is just as happy & lively as ever so I guess she is alright. I bought three more pieces of print. They had just got a few pieces in. Then I took Cheryl to the car. It was raining & I 99 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - March 1945 Guam 23 March 1945 Hello Darling, I have been here now for nearly two weeks. Here is hoping that another week to 10 days will see some mail coming my way. It is supposed to be forwarded from 10th army, but some one is not doing his job. Result: we are without mail. This evening I went out and found myself half a dozen ripe papaya. They are not as good as the ones I used to buy at Oahu, but for just growing wild, they ain’t bad. If only I could find some good bananas now I would be all set. Does Lamar know yet what he is going to do? There should be some way for him to stay in school until the end of the school year. It’s too bad they have to jerk those kids out before they graduate. There would be a lot of them that would go to college after the war if they were graduated from High school, but if they have to go back for high school credit first, I doubt that they will do it. In college he age groups are quite heterogeneous, and no one thinks anything of it. But the older boys will feel rather out of place going back t high school with boys two or three years their junior. I hope Lamar has enough credit so he won’t have to go back. However, in coming into the Army he will be eligible for the G.I. Bill of Rights, which will pay for him four years of schooling up to a sum of $500 tuition fees a year plus $50 a month subsistence. That isn’t bad for a young fellow wanting to go to school. A proposition like that would almost put him through medical school, which is about as expensive as any of them. Be seein’ ya, love, Reinhart Guam 24 March 1945 Hello Darling, I am sending this picture along of a couple of us shooting the bull. You can’t see the bull, but I assure you it is present in copious quantities. Our happy home is visible just behind the two of us. We are very well housed as you can see, even to the coral sidewalks. We only have to walk around the back to get cocoa nuts. If I only had my water mellons planted out to the side now. It certainly is too bad. I spent days on the boat getting a good tan only to come here and lose it because we have to wear shirts all the time. Oh well, maybe you will like me just as much as a member of the white race. There is one thing about it though. When I can get out in the sun a lot it helps take the exzema off my skin. One of the boys just coming from the States brought a copy of the Readers Digest for March with him. It seems good to have a little something to read again. We get so very few current magazines out here that anything new is more than welcome. I hope you can get me the two I asked for. If you ever get an extra picture of Carmen’s baby, send it out. I would like to see what it looks like. I have thot lots of times how I wold like to get together with those kids again after the war. Maybe we can take a trip out there some time. There are so many things I should like to do when I get back. Most of all I want to have you with me for the rest of my life. With all my love, Reinhart 100 Letters to the Paciic Norma - March 1945 didn’t want to walk the streets with her in the rain. Everyone was admiring her. A doctor & business man talked to us in the elevator. They couldn’t get over her beautiful blue eyes. Then ladies would come up & say, “Isn’t she sweet & isn’t she a doll.” I was quite proud of her. She slept on one of the counters while I did my shoping. Of course I had my eye on her every minute. Uncle Henry rode in with us. So we both sat in the car & waited for the folks. He said if I would bring him the letters you had sent requesting the tracks and pamplets – he could get them for me. So I will do that. It only takes five days to get your letters. I hope mine are getting to you by now. Three came from you yesterday. I am sorry you arn’t feeling so good. I only wish I could cook for you. I don’t see why they give you so much starch. I hope you get to feeling better. Golly honey – That army must be really making a man of you. You say you would even do the laundry for me – I’ll just remember that ––I was only kidding. I don’t believe there ever was a better man to help his wife than you have been. I think you’re just O.K. Last night Ruth & I went collecting for the red cross & afterward Dad took Mom, Glena, & I to a show, “Thunderhead.” It is really good. It is filmed down in Bryce & Zion. The pictures are just beautiful. I’ll bet it would beat Roy Rogers rootin tootin shootem up cowboy show a dozen ways. I tried to talk Uncle Henry into selling us some land, but he just wouldn’t sell so I guess we’ll just save our money. I think it’s swell you are going to send some more home. We really ought to have a nice little nest egg. I’ll get the Outdoor life & digest Thursday when I get my teeth fixed. Lots of Love, Norma Ruth Jensen (front), Audrey Jensen (back), Norma Jensen Kowallis, and Reinhart Kowallis probably taken about 1944. 101 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - March 1945 Guam 25 March 1945 Dear Norma, Three fat letters came today so I feel great. From the sound of them you must have had a little snow back home. Does your Pop think there will be enough water now for the summer? Yes, we stopped at the [section cut out of letter here] our way out here. I can’t say much for them. So far as I am concerned the [another section cut out here]. They are nothing but a few sand dunes. Even the palm trees have been shot off of them. They looked to me as if a big wind storm could even blow the sand away. The letters I got today were dated Feb 28, March 7 & 8th. Your letter of March 2nd I received over a week ago. That’s the way the mail comes. I guess you get my letters about the same way. I wish I had written to you more often while I was on the boat. Next time I will. I certainly hope we can stay here for a long time. This is one place I can learn a great deal about my work, and the people we have to work with are very cooperative. The climate is OK too. One might think it would be hot, but it isn’t. It rains nearly every day which helps to keep the temperature down during daylight, and at night it cools off so that I sleep just comfortable with one blanket over me. We realy sleep too. From about 10:00 at night to 6:00 in the morning. The eats are pretty good here too. They are a great deal better than living on “e” rations. Don’t try to send me any box camera. I have all the stuff I can carry around now, and then some. We are supposed to have a camera issued to us as part of our team equipment. I don’t know if we will even get it. The film for it was issued to us at Oahu. We still have it with us. Such rolls of it just setting around. We may be able to borrow a camera one of these days and shoot a roll of film. Of course, different theaters of war have different regulations so don’t expect pictures like Spence sends home. A snap of myself and the other boys is about all the law will allow here. Yes, I wish you would send me a fruit cake. It may not get here without spoiling, but it will be worth a try. You see if it is two or three months on the way it will spoil in this tropical climate, so be sure it is well wrapped and packed. It would be best in a sealed tin container if you can get one someplace. Also, any sporting magazines you send me I will be glad to get. Before I forget let me remind you that you had better use up that colored film before it is no good. It is way past the date when it should have been used. So, Phyllis is boasting curly hair on her baby. Well, just remind her of the personality ours has to say nothing of her parents. I’ll bet that will set her back. Just wait until we get our next one it will have curly hair, personality, and bow legs. I know she can’t beat that! I am glad you heard from the shop in Huntington about the agate. I hope it turns out good. It should be quite a novelty when you get it back. I think you will like it, but if you don’t, be sure and let me know. Don’t worry about me going out in the jungle to hunt. Even if I wanted to, I seldom have the time. I would like to go out looking for some bananas tho, but we are not allowed to do that either. One of these days I’ll paid a native who will bring me some. Oh yes! your letters. I would like to send them home, but in order to do that they would all have to be censored and I don’t like the idea. Much as I hated to at Oahu, I burned all of them that I had at that time. Looks like you will just have to make a carbon copy of them if you want to keep them for a record. I will save as many of them as I can, however. This morning after breakfast the other two boys talked me into going to church with them. It was quite informal, and the chaplain presiding gave a very good little talk. So far I haven’t found where L.D.S. hold their meetings. I tried to call the Island Command chaplain today, and find out from him, but the phone was so busy all the time that I failed to contact him. They hold up on Tuesday night somewhere. I’ll find out before Tuesday comes again. Things were rather slow at the office today so I gave the enlisted men the day off. Martin and I took time out in the afternoon to clean up around the shack. First, we grubbed all the weeds up and put in some new coral side walks. I did some washing, and afterwards we used the soapy water to scrub our floor. After that Martin would almost make people take off their shoes before coming in. It certainly looks a lot better tho. 102 Letters to the Paciic Norma - March 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 28 March 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Two more letters came from you today. It really is worth so much to me to get so many letters. I hope you will soon get some from me. Can’t you keep those green bananas until they get ripe or do you have plenty ripe ones? I hope you won’t go wandering off into the woods too far on account they say there are still a few Japs hanging around. Of course, I imagine you will know more about that than folks over here. I am sending you a few watermellon seeds & I’ll send you the cantelope as soon as we get to town to buy some. This mellon is one Phyllis & Wayne bought that they thought was wonderful. Dad says that watermellons don’t do so good if there is too much rain, but you can experiment with them. Too much rain will rot the see & if they do get up then too much rain will kill the plant. I’m not very encouraging am I? The little black things are flowers (Maybe it will cheer up your surroundings). They just fell out when I got the mellon seeds. The brown round ones are radishes. They will grow fast & even if you don’t like maybe someone else will. Let me know how your experiments come out. I haven’t done anything exciting today. I washed this morning & then got supper tonight. I have had one of those three day headaches. I went to write more, but it’s getting the best of me so I guess I’ll go to bed. This should be the last day. I haven’t had one for ages. I am going to the dentist tomorrow. My appointment is at 8 o’clock in the morning. I wanted to tell you that the other night when we came out of the show there was about 3 in. of snow on our car. They say it snowed 8 in. in Ogden. We only had about 2 in. out here. Daddy went rabbit hunting yesterday. He didn’t get a rabbit, but he saw about Twenty Five Phesants. He said he had so many swell shots, but he just couldn’t break the law. I just had to tell you these things. I guess I’ll get to bed now. Goodnight Sweetheart. Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 29 March 1945 Dearest Reinhart, This morning I arose at the early hour of 6:30 A.M. Cheryl did too so she came out with me & sat in the high chair while I got ready. Then I got Audrey & myself some breakfast. Then we dashed for the bus. I arrived in town at 20 to 8 so I had to wait a few minutes for the dentist. When he came, we both rode up on the elevator together. Then he went to work on my teeth. He filled 8 teeth. It cost me $20. My goodness, if I could just sell my teeth for what I have put into them,we would be wealthy. LaMar had an appointment right after me & he had 16 cavities – poor boy. After I left the dentist, I bought Cheryl a sweet Easter Bonnet. Then I bought four pair of shoes for her size 1-2 & 3-4. The reason I bought them is because next month they will also be rationed, so I thought I had better get them while I could. I met Margaret Bergen in Penny’s. We walked up to Pay Less where I got a readers Digest & also “Field & Stream” – they didn’t have Outdoor Life. I had also looked in several other places, but I’ll get one as soon as I see one. I have the Great Apostacy ordered & it will be here next week. We also got a package of canteloup seed so I will send you some in this letter & some in my other letters. From here I went out to Phyllis & then caught the bus out home. While waiting for the bus, I talked to Aunt Julia. She told me that last night they received a telegram telling that Jack Runstead was killed on Iwo Jima. He lived with Aunt Julia & his sister married Aunt Julia’s son. He was a member of our ward, so that is our first casualty. He was just up to our place last summer. He has written to Glena. Afton Budge & I were the only ones who rode home on the bus. She stopped in at our place to get some parsley. Ruth held Cheryl up to the window & when she saw me she was so tickled she just laughed & squealed. After I gave her an oil rub, I took her for a walk up to see the cows & chickens. When I say “Shall we go Bye Bye” she starts waving her hands. Glena taught her to patty-cake –she will clap her hands so cute & then laugh. 103 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - March 1945 It is about show time so I had better grab my poncho and start over. “Meet me in St. Louie” is playing tonight. I saw it before I left Ritchie but I want to see it again. Gosh but I love you Darling, and we will be two very happy people when I get home again. Love, Reinhart Orders from the Tenth Army for 1st Lieutenant Reinhart T. Kowallis and his team of aerial photo interpreters. 104 Letters to the Paciic Norma - March 1945 Springtime in the hills above Pleasant View. At back, Norma Jensen Kowallis and Glena Jensen; in middle, Lamar Jensen, Phyllis Jensen Butler, and Wayne Butler; in front, Jay Butler and David Butler. 105 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - March 1945 Guam 26 March 1945 Hello Darling, I just came back from a show with a full course of corn. Every now and then they throw one in like that. So Glena has a new boyfriend. Well, it’s about time. She is good looking enough that she could have a dozen of them if she wanted. Better not tell her I said so tho. But I certainly think she is too young to be going with one all the time. When is spring conference this year. Be sure and give me all the low down on it. If you can cut some of the articles out of the paper on it, and send them to me. I will be more than interested in reading them. What is Ruth doing now? You never did tell me if she started work again after the 1st of the year. I gather she must have done somewhere. She should have held off until next fall so you would have another fruit picker during the summer. I wish I could be there to help. I know I always eat more than I put in the box, but it would help get rid of some fruit. I have just been thinking! How about us growing strawberries after the war. I don’t think there will be much left of the trees on our place. If we couldn’t sell the berries, you could make strawberry shortcake, and peddle it on Main Street while I am out doing my spring fishing. On the other hand, I need a cook while I am fishing so let the robins have the berries and you come with me. You had better send me some of those snap shots you are taking around there all the time. I want to see what progress my daughter is making. Can she beat the ears off of Charyle [sic, Karla] yet? Be seeing you one of these years, Love, Reinhart Guam 27 March 1945 Hello Darling, From all the good reports we are hearing about the war in Germany, it looks as if they won’t last much longer over there. Maybe I’ll even be home at the end of two years. Do you think cars will be in production by that time so we can buy one to go touring the country for six months? Maybe we could get us another nice old Ford with tires that blow out every fifty miles just to make us feel like old times. Perhaps the best car would be an army Jeep. Then we could go back into the hills on a fishing trip. Of course, the fishing wouldn’t be any good, but who ever goes fishing to fish anyhow! I have been wondering how much cash we have, counting our bonds, that we could put into our business right now. How much do we have in bonds? How much do you think it will take for us to live a year without having to draw on the proceeds of the shop? It usually takes several months to get something like that started. It will certainly seem good to be doing something for ourselves again. We haven’t been very busy the last couple of days. The work is rather erratic. At times we are rushed and then we may get three or four days with very little to do. But there is still plenty to learn so we don’t lose too much time. I went hunting papaya tonight, but I got caught in a rain storm so I just stood under the wing of a B-24 and talked with the guard for an hour or so. What are you doing these days to keep Cheryl in her buggy? Love, Reinhart 106 Letters to the Paciic Norma - March 1945 I am setting here eating pop-corn – won’t you have some with me? It’s right hot. Dad is poping it. My head is all better today & if I get a letter from you tomorrow, I will probably be back to normal again. If only you were here to read one of those rip roaring stories to me out of Field & Stream or the Readers Digest then I could just got to sleep & feel so peaceful. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 30 March 1945 Hello Sweetheart, No letter again today, but I suppose I will get three tomorrow. That’s usually the way they come. I hope you are getting a few from me. It has been Sunny today, but there has been a cool wind blowing. In fact, the fire is out, the folks are out (except LaMar, Audrey, myself & the kids) & I am cold, so I have my coat on. Won’t you come in & keep me warm? Um – if only that dream that I had last night would come true. You were so sweet. In no time at all now the Germans will surrender – then all those men will come over & help you lick the Japs & before you know you’ll be home with Cheryl & me & we can do all the things we’ve been dreaming of these past months. That will be the day – won’t it? Cheryl will love you I know. You would have just Lamar Jensen (with gun on left), Norma Jensen Kowallis, and Joseph M. Jensen (Dad) outside the Jensen home on Pleasant View Drive. 107 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - March 1945 Guam 28 March 1945 Hello Darling, In a few more days it will be April fool’s day and Easter all in one. If I could only be home, we would have a real time. Let’s see, we would go on a hike and roast hamburger. No doubt you would spend most of your time picking flowers in spite of my trying to talk you out of it. In the evening we would pop corn and chew the fat around the kitchen table. One of the boys got a letter from home today with the new address on it so I expect I’ll be getting some tomorrow or the next day. Mail comes through from the States in about 8 or 9 days which isn’t bad. I went down to the bank and cashed in what travelers checks I had so I could send the money home on the first. I want to keep you happy and there are only two ways to do that. Either be home myself or send you all the money uncle gives me. At noon I went out looking for papaya again. I found four nice big ones. I put two inside my shirt and had one in each hand. Just as I came through the door, I tripped, landing on both hands and my knees. I need not mention what happened to the papaya I was holding in my hands. It sort of reminded me of the time you stepped in the pie. It wasn’t very eatable afterwards either as I recall. How are you making pies now? When I get home again you can make them and I will make them disappear. Now if your Pop just knew how to make jerked venison, you could send me half of one out here. Why don’t you go out and shoot one yourself this fall just to hold up our reputations. I think I have been doing pretty good writing to you every day since I got here. It must be because I love you so much. Reinhart Guam 29 March 1945 Hello Darling, I am so glad to hear that you got the purse even if it was nearly a month late for our wedding anniversary. It will probably be the last thing I will be able to give you until I get home again. I certainly can’t buy anything here but gum. Maybe I could send you a pack of that for next Christmas. I hope you bought yourself some new clothes for Easter. Clothes, that reminds me I have to wash some tomorrow. I have a hard time getting them clean out here. We don’t have any hot water and cold doesn’t work nearly as good. Maybe I should send them home every six months and let you give them a good going over. I don’t know if I mentioned it before, but I sent some clothes home while I was in Oahu. There was an overcoat, a set of woolens (OD’s), and one or two other items. Pop can have the wool OD’s, but save my overcoat. I may need it again some time. Glena’s boy friend must be causing some excitement to get you all in a dither. I wonder if everyone looked him over as scrutinously as they did me the first time you introduced me to the family. I’ll never forget how I brought you in out of the snow only to find myself engulfed in a fog. What a pest Glena was then, but I liked her just the same. I never thot she would grow up to be such a nice kid. But just give her to understand that I can still take her over my knee so it won’t be al all healthy for her to start anything when I get home. We are getting along swell here, and hope to stay for several months. With all my love, Reinhart 108 Letters to the Paciic Norma - March 1945 loved her today or any day. We were all out in the yard this evening. Mom & LaMar & Dad were raking & they had a big fire burning. Cheryl was in her swing hanging from the clothes line & she was just giggling up & down & really enjoying it all. Then I took Karla & her up to the barn. In her play pen today she sat up all by herself. Of course she has sat up alone for a long time but this is the first time she has got to a sitting position from a crawling position. She wants to patty-cake all the time. Then today when I took her clothes off she kept trying over & over again to put her socks back on. We hear the broadcast from Gwam every day. If only you were that broadcaster. I just think how close he must be to you. You go over to the station one of these days & say hello to me. Goodnight Sweetheart Take good care of yourself Norma Norma’s aunts (her father’s sisters) from left to right: Julia Jensen, Eva Jensen, Annie Jensen, Vera Jensen, and Susan Jensen. 109 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - March 1945 Guam 30 March 1945 Dear Norma, I received your first letter today with the new address on. It was post marked March 23. That makes it just one week getting here. I expect a lot of your other letters will catch up with me yet. Yes, I am at the present time working with the Navy. But don’t worry we ain’t part of the Navy yet. 10th Army still claims us. Where are you going to build that outside fireplace? I can’t think of any place to put it unless you cut out part of the garden. I expect there is plenty of material around with all the rock from that old foundation out back of the house, or has that all been cleaned away by now. When we get our home that’s one thing we will have too is an outside fire place. We’ll put it some where around the pool, then in the summer we can go swimming and come out by the fire to get warm. I hope the predictions are right about Europe because then I may be home to see you in a year or so. I have thot for some time that Germany would fall by the last of April. That doesn’t give them long to go. Only one more month. I hope I am right. I believe it will certainly boost things out here when the war in Europe is over. It can’t end too soon for me, and I know about everyone out here feels the same way. Night before last they showed one of those travel talks at the show in color. It was all about Salt Lake & Brigham Young. It certainly made me want to be back in Utah. A fellow right behind me said “that’s my home town.” I turned around and started talking to him. He is also L.D.S. and told me how to get to church on Sunday. We are going over together. You see I haven’t lost the church yet. Love, Reinhart Guam 31 March 1945 Dear Norma, When you tell me about your picnic up on the hills my thots go back to the happy hours I have spent up there in company with you and others. Don’t you think you could run those pheasants down for me? I went over to the show for an hour tonight, but the corn got so thick I couldn’t see through it. Most of their shows are pretty good, but now and then something comes along that is next to impossible to sit through. Cheryl certainly must like her Mom. I don’t blame her because she couldn’t find a better one anywhere. Is Karla starting to talk yet? I gather from your letters that she can understand you alright. I was glad to hear Spence was still working in the hospital in France, and has not yet been sent up on the front lines. I’ll bet he would like to be home again too. While the wash machine was working my clothes over today, I lay out in the bright sunshine in my swimming trunks. I think I burned my legs just a little. I should get out more often if I expect to keep what little tan I have left. If we were only nearer to the beach, I would go swimming in the evenings. The beach is about 5 miles from here and transportation is not very plentiful. When are you going to send me another snap of Cheryl? I would like to see how much she has grown. The big picture you sent has not yet come. I hope it isn’t lost some place. Give Cheryl a big hello for me even if she doesn’t understand. Love, Reinhart 110 Letters to the Paciic Norma - March 1945 Ethel Chamberlain Jensen (mother of Norma) holding her granddaughter, Karla Garner in 1944. LaMar Jensen with baby Cheryl on the lawn outside the Jensen home in Pleasant View. The photo was one of the early ones Norma took as she was learning to use the camera and she hadn’t properly rolled up the film before opening it. 111 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - March 1945 Glena Jensen, sister of Norma, holding her two nieces: Karla Garner (left) and Cheryl Kowallis (right). Photo taken in winter of 1944-45. Below: Jensen family Thanksgiving 1946. Front: Cheryl Kowallis, Norma Kowallis, Karla Garner, LaMar Jensen, Jay Butler, Lynette Butler, Phyllis Butler; Middle: Glena Jensen, Wayne Butler, Joseph Jensen; Back: Spencer Garner, Audrey Garner, Reinhart Kowallis, David Butler. 112 Letters to the Paciic Norma - March 1945 Norma Jensen Kowallis (left) with her brother-in-law, Wayne Butler, and her sister Ruth Jensen up skiing in the mountains. Below: Reinhart Kowallis and Norma Jensen posing for a kiss outside the Jensen home in about 1942. 113 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - March 1945 Reinhart’s work space for aerial photograph analysis and the equipment he used. The photo was taken on Okinawa in June 1945. 114 The War in April 1945 The first of April brings the start of Operation Iceberg, code name for the invasion of the island of Okinawa. The long-term plan was to use Okinawa as a base for an invasion of mainland Japan. On the 7th of April during a naval battle off of Okinawa, the Americans sink the Japanese battleship Yamato along with five other warships. For the Japanese, this was a suicide attack. They knew they would lose ships, but hoped to inflict serious damage to the American forces. As the battle for Okinawa continued, the main weapon used by the Japanese to inflict damage on the Americans were a stream of kamikaze pilots, their planes often laden with bombs, torpedoes, other explosives, and full fuel tanks. The allies firebombed Tokyo on the 14th of April, but one of the most significant events of the month in the Pacific happened on the 18th when famed American war correspondent, Ernie Pyle, was struck by a sniper’s bullet and killed on the small island of le Shima near Okinawa. The Americans, now firmly dug in on Okinawa are in for a difficult and bloody battle to win the rest of the island, something that will not happen until June. In Europe, the news for the allied forces is good. Germany is crumbling. The Soviets are squeezing in on them from the east and the Americans and British from the west. The German army is in disarray. On the 24th Heinrich Himmler, without Hitler’s permission, offers to surrender to the allies. Hitler orders him executed. By the end of the month several concentration camps have been liberated. Hitler marries his mistress Eva Braun in a secret ceremony in his bunker in Berlin on the 29th and the next Battleship Yamato in flames off the shores of Okinawa on the 7th of April 1945. 115 April 1945 day they both commit suicide. The war is all but over in Europe. Reinhart is enjoying his time in Guam where he has planted a “Victory Garden” with watermelons, cantaloupes, and other seeds that Norma has sent. The mail, as usual, is slow. But he has found friends and companionship at the LDS Deseret Garden Branch he attends. On Easter Morning, however, he attends church with his fellow officer, Lt. Martin Martinsen, and has some complaints about what the chaplain says. The LDS branch typically has between 50-60 soldiers in attendance, according to Reinhart. At a conference of all the branches on April 8, Reinhart reports that over 330 were present. Reinhart continues to send some of his pay home for Norma to save so that they can perhaps open a business after the war. He also asks Norma for a picture of her sister Ruth that he can show around to the boys to see if any will be interested in marrying her. In his spare time, Reinhart goes to the beach and looks for shells or coral that he will eventually send home in tin cans. These cans of shells remained in the Kowallis home for many years and were always a good way to entertain kids for a few hours. He also likes to walk out through the countryside and look for bananas, papayas, pretty flowers, and other interesting things. Reinhart recounts that there are mice in their tent and that he does not particularly enjoy them running over him while he sleeps. Norma offers to send him a mouse trap. Towards the end of the month, Reinhart travels to Okinawa where he spends a few days. There he met up with his friend Ray and they wander around looking for souvenirs, but end up getting too close to the action. At night on Okinawa he recounts a sleepless night listening to the artillery shells from the Japanese whistle overhead and explode out on the airfield nearby. 128° OKINAWA ISLAND GROUP 0 10 20 Yoron Is. Iheya Is. 30 MILES le Shima Tori Is. Aguni Is. 26° 30’ 26° 30’ Yontan d Lan Kumei Is. ing B Tonochi Is. Okinawa Is. Naha es each Keise Is. Shuri Kerama Is. 128° This map of the Okinawa Island group shows the major islands as well as the city of Naha with its airbase, the location of a second major airbase at Yontan, the headquarters of the Japanese 32nd Army at Shuri, and the landing beaches, which had code names of Purple Beach, Orange Beach, etc. (modified from a map published in “United States Army in World War II: The War in the Pacific” by Roy E. Appleman, James M. Burns, Russell A. Gugeler, and John Stevens, Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington, D.C., Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 49-45742, First Printed in 1948 CMH Pub 5-11). 116 April 1945 Troops headed for Okinawa beaches on the day of the invasion. At home, Cheryl continues to grow and Norma sends Reinhart a daily blow by blow account of everything she does. On Tuesdays she spends much of her day preparing for and participating in Relief Society (in her calling as a councilor) and in Mutual (where she teaches a class of girls). Spring has arrived in Utah and the Jensens are planning to do big things around their home. They have purchased a bunch of new shrubs and plants to landscape with and plan to have an outdoor fireplace built where they can cook over the fire. Norma continues to wish that Reinhart would come home soon, but she wants to be sure that he lets his hair grow back out before he does. In the warm climate of Guam, Reinhart has cut his hair off very short so that his beautiful curls are gone. The country mourns the passing on April 12th of a president who has served for over 12 years and is the only president to ever have been elected four times—Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Vice-president Harry S. Truman is a man that many do not know well and there is some uncertainty about how he will be as president. Norma worries about this, but concludes, after hearing Truman speak, that he is a god-fearing man and will probably do just fine. Cheryl has outgrown her buggy, where she has been sleeping, and needs a bed. The problem is that a bed will not fit in the room where Norma has been sleeping, so they clean out a portion of the basement in the Jensen home and Cheryl and Norma move downstairs. It is a pretty full house with Joe and Ethel Jensen, their three unmarried children (Ruth, Lamar, and Glena), along with Norma and Cheryl, and Audrey and Karla, their two married daughters whose husbands are serving in the military. 117 April 1945 Top and facing page: Photos of the invasion of Okinawa in April 1945 from Life magazine. Supplies and men going ashore 3 hours after the start of the invasion of Okinawa on what were called Purple Beach 1 and Purple Beach 2 south of Yontan Airfield. 118 April 1945 War scarred terrain on Okinawa in April 1945. 119 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 Reinhart - April 1945 Guam 1 April 1945 Hello Darling, The letter I wrote yesterday I forgot to mail this morning so I’ll send it off tomorrow with this one. Oh yes, and here is another picture to keep you happy. Four of the five are Air Corps boys. The other one is something that just escaped from the jungle. He had a close shave as you can see by the hair. As I recall he was just on the way to the showers. This being Easter, I went to church in the morning with Martin. I enjoyed it all right except that the Chaplin made one statement which almost made me want to get up and tell him where he was all wet. He was speaking of the resurrection of Christ, then he said that as far as he knew no one had ever been resurrected but him. I would like to have asked him what he thot Matthew meant when he said, “And the graves were opened, and many bodies of the Saints which slept arose. And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” To me the man either does not believe the scriptures or he has not read them very carefully. Every time I visit one of these services, I am impressed with the idea that most churches believe the scriptures to be only figurative, not real. The news in Europe looks better every day. Maybe I will be home before two years. In the afternoon, some of the boys called for me and we went over to our own meeting. There were eleven of us from here. I had no idea there were that many around. Altogether in meeting there must have been between 50 & 60 fellows present. This being the 1st of the month, we held fast meeting. The sacrament was passed and some very good testimonies were given. I even gave mine. We may get over for Mutual on Wed. evening. They have a High Priest for a teacher, and they tell me he is LDS servicemen’s group in Guam in 1945. Reinhart thought he was in this picture, but apparently he was not – at least it is not clear where he is if he is in the picture. 120 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 Norma - April 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 2 April 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Easter and April Fool’s Day came and went & I didn’t even get to go on a hike & I didn’t get to fool any one. I remembered our April Fool’s day in the past and Oh how I wished you could have been here so I could have fooled you again. Yesterday Morning I dressed in my new dress that I made for our Relief Soc. party, my spring coat & the purse you sent me. Then Cheryl had on her little peach colored dress with little blue flowers in it & the little bonnet to match that Gwen sent her. It is only the second time she has worn a colored dress, but she really looked sweet. She was 8 months old yesterday. We went to Church. Glena held her because I had to give the 2½ min. talk. Cheryl just laughed & squealed as soon as I got up to give my talk. After Sunday school, we had planned to roast weiners & have a real picnic, but the weather changed our minds. Phyllis, Wayne & family came out & we just had our Potato Salad, Weiners, Stuffed Eggs & etc. in on the table. I took a picture of Cheryl & I in our easter outfits so I will send you one. I finished taking the last of that colored roll yesterday too. Later on in the afternoon Margaret Bergen & her children came up. We sang a few of our old cowboy songs. While we were doing this a car drove up. It was your folks. I was so surprised to see Norma with them. I didn’t even know she was back. She also took a picture of the baby & myself. She is going to get some tracts for you. Albert has ask her to speak in his ward so I will go down and hear her when she does. Last night was Primary Conference. The little kiddies were so cute saying their poems. It won’t be long until Cheryl is up with the rest of them. Right now she is in the play pen. She has Karla’s big Elephant & she is on top of it yelling for all she’s worth. It’s more like a Tarzan cry of victory. She has the Elephant down & she is happy. She looks into the closet mirror every so often to admire her achievement. This morning the sun is shining but its snowing a little. Mom is outside shoveling a little dirt & I have been cleaning house. Your picture came & it was so good. It gives me a good idea of what kind of place you are in. Your house isn’t beautiful but it is much better than a lot of boys have to stay in & I am thankful for that. I wish if you have enough Coral to make sidewalks that you would send me a pretty piece of it. I am sending this picture of Carmen’s baby. I have a large one so you can have this. I too would like to take a trip out to see them sometime. Who knows, maybe we can. Your one letter was so nice & long I really enjoyed it. However, the censor saw fit to clip a few words from the first page, but I know what you ment. You were telling about where you stopped. Then you said, “So Far as I am concerned ____ ____ _____ – The rest was cut out. I am sorry you can’t keep my letters. I know they arn’t anything of literary value, but it does tell when certain things happened & when Cheryl did certain things that I would like to recall, but I can see it would be difficult. I am glad the weather is not disagreable there & that the food is fairly good. I don’t know what to do about the cake. I have talked to so many who say that you shouldn’t send cake because it will just spoil. The nuts turn dark & give a rancid taste to the whole affair. If I could get hold of one of those air tight containers, I would chance it though. Yes – I do hope you can locate the Church. It will make it seem a little more homey. I love you very much & I’ll be so glad to have you with us again. At least I have you with me in my dreams. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 3 April 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, Tues. night and my busy day is over for another week. I am always glad when this day is over. This morning it was about the coldest day we have had. When I got over to church, the building was cold & I just about froze. I gave my lesson, but cold 121 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 very much up on his doctrine. Oh yes, I want you to send me some more seeds. Again send me a few in your letters so they will get here in a hurry, and then send me some small packages after. I want some tomatoes, carrots, radishes, head lettuce, and some peas. Now of course you can’t send all those in letters, but I especially want some tomato seeds right away and any of the smaller ones you can put in an envelope. You might send some corn too. I saw a victory garden over at the Air Base today that was realy nice. It had about everything in it. The tomatoes were already about the size of small peaches. Be seeing you later Darling, Love, Reinhart 122 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 chills ran up & down my spine. When I came home, Cheryl had a bump or bruise on her cheek. She had been trying to stand up in her play pen & triped over. All she does now is try to pull herself up by those poles & usually she get tipsy & bumps herself. If I let her crawl outside of the pen, she makes a bee line for Karla’s little rocking chair, pulls herself up & stands there rocking it. When I get my coat on to go anyplace she just hangs on to it & if I pull away from her she starts to cry. As soon as I’m out of sight, she soon forgets me and has a gay time. At Mutual tonight my class & Beth’s class planed a party for the scouts & Explorers. I forgot to tell you that Reuben gave a testimony about how he had received a letter from one of [the] soldiers which would represent the testimonies & greetings of all the boys in our ward. He said a lot more in introduction, then he just pulled out that V-Mail Easter Greeting that you had sent & showed to the people. I thought it was very nice. I know I was glad as well as the folks to get the cards you sent. Everyone surely thinks my purse is pretty. I wore it again tonight & I really had a lot of compliments. I think it is pretty swell myself. Yesterday, a bunch of shrubs & plants arrived which we had sent for. We got about 60 strawberry plants. It reminded me of what you had said in your letter about growing strawberries. I would like to have a patch of them, but if we have more than for our own use, I’m afraid you’ll have to pick them on account I just can’t do a lot of back bending. I can just pick anything where I can stand up, but oh how I hate to bend over, but of course we must have enough for our own use. We also got a walnut tree, some kind of berries on the order of dewberries, an Azalea bush & some other things. It froze last night & I do hope it didn’t hurt them. Goodnight Sweetheart, I must off to my bed. I wish you were here so I could put my cold feet over on you & keep them nice & warm. It’s so cold & you’re so warm. Come home, won’t you? All My Love, Norma Norma, her sister Ruth, and her mother Ethel. 123 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 Guam 2 April 1945 Dear Norma, I drew my pay today and sent $225 home to you. It will take about a month for it to get there I expect. Let me know when you receive it. If I have good luck, I should be able to save a little each month and send it home this way every now and then. Why don’t you send me a snap shot of Ruth so I will have something to back up my statements by. How can you expect me to sell a piece of merchandise with no evidence of what it is? I know this is a very short note tonight, but I realy can’t think of anything more, and besides, every one else got mail today but me. In spite of it I love you more than anything else. Love, Reinhart Guam 3 April 1945 Hello Darling, Thanks for sending me the watermellon seeds. Just before I received your letter this afternoon, one of the fellows at the office came up and said, “I hear you are looking for some seeds! I have some tomato seeds I don’t need, so here is a package you can have.” It was just like pennies from heaven. About five minutes later, Martin brought me your letter with the seeds you sent me. I went right up and started spading the soil. My garden is now about 6’ x 8’ with tomatoes in the top row (all twelve seeds of them), and then four hills of mellons below that. Maybe they won’t grow, but I will have had a lot of fun trying to get them to. They tell me watermellons grow so fast here that the vines drag the mellons all over the ground. Oh yes, at the corner of my garden are some bananas growing, now that is something you can’t get to grow in your garden. I would like to go hiking out in the jungle for some ripe ones, but they won’t let us do that. I would probably get lost, and they would have to send a patrol out for me. I am sorry to hear you are having headaches again. Maybe they will not be so bad as time goes along. What kind of weather are you having back there? I get a letter saying it is just like spring, and the next one mentions 8” of new snow. Why don’t you ask the weather man to make up his mind? The reason Pop never got any rabbits is because he didn’t go where they were. You have to think like a bunny and then you come out right where they are. After that its just a matter of shooting them. It’s the same as killing hens in the back yard. Now if I were only home. I am certainly glad I am not with the 10th Army right now. I just don’t care for the idea of being shot at. You no doubt read in the papers by this time about the invasion of Okinawa by the 10th Army. They are getting pretty close to the Jap homeland, and it is bound to get tougher as we draw nearer. I am surprised at the light opposition our forces encountered when they hit the beach in Okinawa. I have wondered a great deal about Ray, and how he is getting along. He was no doubt a witness to at least part of the landing. I still haven’t received the picture of Cheryl. I hope it gets to me before the end of the war. All my love, Reinhart Guam 5 April 1945 Hello Darling, So Cheryl is starting to get some teeth. That’s fine. Now you can teach her to chew gum, and it will save wear & tear on your face. Oh, but can you get the gum? Maybe they are sending it all out here. I got half a dozed packs today. I have two chews in my mouth right now. If you will drop around, I’ll offer you a chew. I am enclosing a couple of snaps. When are you going to send some to me of you and my family? I just happened to think about those pants I sent to Lawrence [Larsen] before I left the States. Did he ever 124 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 125 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 send you the money for them? I have never heard from him. The first chance that comes along we are going swimming and look for sea shells. If I can find some nice ones, I’ll send them home to you. You have to go out in the surf and dive for them to get good ones. I wish you could go with me. I enjoy looking for things like that so much more when you are along. I remember the days in La Jolla when we used to walk down on the beach looking for shells. And the times we stopped in Wyoming to pick up Moss Agate as well as other occasions in our wandering around the States. If you ever hear of any good way to get rid of ants let me know. Coming home would probably do it. We don’t have so many there. Say, what are you doing with your teeth? Having them all pulled out or just filling another dozen? If you get new ones do it before I come home. I don’t think I would like kissing a gummer, in spite of the fact that you are the nicest one I could find. I am beginning to think you never do much of anything but work out talks for yourself and the rest of the house. I’ll realy have to put on the speed to get a few words in when I get back. If you want you can start working on a coming home talk for me. On second thot maybe you had better wait for a year. I still have over 18 months to go before I get back. So Uncle Henry still doesn’t want to sell any land. Well, don’t worry about it. Things will come back to normal again sometime after the war and then we can get all we want. Here’s lovin’ you, Reinhart Guam 6 April 1945 Dear Norma, We were not very busy at the office today so I suggested going swimming in the afternoon. It was the first time we had been, and I think all of us enjoyed it. The water as just right with the tide going out. The reef at the beach goes out over a quarter of a mile and is only about waist deep. You have to wear shoes or the coral would cut your feet to ribbons. I wore these wooden bath slats of mine, which were not so good. Next time I will put on regular G.I. shoes. I took my eye shield with me so I could look around under water. It is the most interesting thing in the world to watch the marine life on the bottom. There are thousands of little fishes from little tiny ones to a foot long that are found all through the coral. They don’t show any fear at all. They are of all kinds and colors. One little one about 6” long even took a bite at my toe. I’m glad he wasn’t a shark. I saw one fish about 2 feet long, that looked like a tuna, swimming around just a few feet from me so I submerged and swam over to it. He was after an eel and paid no attention to me at all. Then as he swam, under me I reached out and grabbed him by the tail, but I didn’t get a very good hold and he got away. One of the fellows saw a shark about 5 feet long. It didn’t take him long to come back in where the rest of us were fooling around. Perhaps the thing that affords the most fun is looking for shells. You have to dive down, turn over the rocks and coral lumps, and then pick the shells off the bottom when you find them. I was having so much fun watching the fish that I didn’t start looking for shells until it was time to go, so I didn’t find any. Some of the other fellows had some real nice ones. Next time I go over I am going to wear shoes and gloves, to keep from cutting my hands & feet on the coral, a spear to catch fish, and a bag hung on my belt to carry shells with. Now if I only had you with me what a time we could have. I can just imagine how much fun you would have doing these things. I hope the time won’t be too long until we can be together again. I enjoy so much going hunting, fishing, swimming, etc. with you. It seems like we have so many things in common which we both enjoy doing. Give Cheryl a big kiss for me. I surely wish I could see her again. Love, Reinhart 126 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 127 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 Guam 7 April 1945 Hello Darling, Just a note before I go to bed. We just came back from the show. There is a party going on over at the Officers club which has little interest for me in spite of the fact that there are 45 nurses over there. None of them will compare with you. You are tops in my life. Oh, I must tell you. My garden is up. That’s realy coming up fast. I planted it last Mon. night, and this morning (Sat) everything is up. I think the watermellons have grown an inch today. I ran out and looked at them every couple of hours during the day. Give my daughter a big hello for me. All my love, Reinhart Guam 8 April 1945 Dear Norma, We had conference out here today. I never realy new [sic] before that we have so many L.D.S. boys here. There were over 330 present. The Chapel was full to the last seat, and I am sure every one got a lot out of it. The next conference is to be held some time in July. Hope I am still here then. We have and L.D.S. chaplain here which I did not know before. He’s from Salt Lake. Just recently a couple of fellows were baptized into the church, and they were confirmed members in the meeting. You can see there is some missionary work being done even out here. There are 18 different groups functioning so quite a little advertizing is being done among the friends of the men out here. I hope it rains tonight because my garden needs some water. The mellons are coming along fine, but the tomatoes don’t seem to be doing so well. If it doesn’t rain every day things get pretty dry, and then too we are coming into the dry season. It can get hot down here when we don’t get a daily rain. Here’s lovin you, Reinhart P.S. Add this picture to my collections Guam 10 April 1945 Dear Norma, One year ago today I entered the portals of Camp Ritchie, for what I thot was to be a two month stay in the green mountains of Maryland. My sojourn there went into over nine months. I have never yet regretted staying there that long. At least I got to see you a couple of times. Then I used to count the months until I would be with you again. Now I think in terms of years before I may again be with you. Your letter with the picture of Lynne came today. She certainly doesn’t look anything like the last time I saw her. I wonder what Carmen feeds her for breakfast to keep her so fat. I wish that picture of Cheryl would come. Every day I keep thinking that maybe it will be here, but I guess it is over on Okinawa or some other place by now. From the time it is taking to come it may even be in China. I think it would have been here by now had it not been sent to my old address. By the way, weren’t you going to have some of those colored shots made up for me? What happened to them? At least I am glad you used the rest of the color film before it went bad on us, although I thot we had a couple of rolls left the last time I was home. Are you sure there is no more around? My garden is coming along fine except that only one or two tomato seeds came up. The ants destroyed all 128 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 Cheryl in an Easter outfit sitting on her mother’s lap. 129 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 the tomato seeds. The larger seeds they don’t seem to bother, but the smaller ones they either eat up or carry away. My watermellons are just starting to sprout their second leaves. I was talking to one of the native boys this evening. He asked me what I had in my garden, and when I told him I had mellons he said they realy grew fine out here. I have been expecting to find a ripe one any day now. Yes, I think I can get you a piece of coral some time. One of the boys brought me two very pretty shells the other day. After I get a few more I’ll send them to you. Why didn’t you send me Ronald & Carmen’s address? I asked you for it. I think it best not to send any cake. Just send me an extra outdoor magazine. With all my love, Reinhart Reinhart with a catch of fish on one of the last occasions he had prior to being shipped overseas in about 1943. Fishing and hunting were his passions.. 130 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 7 April 1945 Dearest Reinhart, I guess Spring is really here at last. Yesterday and this morning is just beautiful. Conference started yesterday so we stayed in and listened to it in the morning. I see they are still urging people to put in a store of supplies in food & clothing. They are also stressing the importance of keeping the Sabbath day Holy. They definitely state that it is not a day for excursions, but should be a home day to get better acquainted with the family of a day to visit the sick or those who need to be cheered up (a day to do good). It still looks like you would have to plan to do your hunting on some other day than Sunday. They said regarding Farmers who work on Sunday to save a crop, “They will only lose in the long run, not gain.” Maybe if we hunted on the other days we would get twice as many deer – I bet. In the afternoon, we turned the radio up loud & went outside to dig & haul the old rock garden away. This morning the others are out working at it again while I am cleaning house. Cheryl & I had our first bath together. She surely liked the big tub, only she was determined to let all the bath water out & then she wanted to keep standing up – the little rascal. Yesterday it was harder than ever to keep her in the buggy. I pined her in – put a quilt completely over the buggy & a dozen other things, but she would find a way out. She would crawl out the end & then fall over the quilt I had pined accross the buggy. I surely wish there was room for a bed – but there isn’t. Right now she is outside in the swing watching all the digging that’s going on. From the sound of her hollering right now, I imagine Karla pushed her too hard or tried to pull her nose or something. I am sending a few clippings about yesterday’s conference. As you can see, Dr. Hunter of Logan is now one of the Seven Pres. of Seventies. He gave a fine talk this morning. Dean Clyde of Logan is just talking about the water forcast for this year over the radio. I had better dash. It’s time for the mail man right now. I’m so glad Russia & Japan are not on such close terms now. Maybe you’ll be home in a yr. I hope even sooner. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 8 April 1945 Dearest Reinhart, How is my Honey this beautiful day? In the pink, I imagine, what with that Sunburn you are getting. I imagine with close shave you have on you’re head that it is probably pink too. Oh – sweety – How could you do it to your beautiful hair? It’s criminal – that’s what it is. You better start letting it grow, because I expect to see you home in a few months & I don’t want a snowball haircut on you. I did enjoy the picture though. I see you are really getting the spirit of your surroundings. They say when in Rome, do as the Romans & I supose that is true for Gwam too. “When in Gwam, do as the Gwaman’s do.” – or in other words wear a surong. You really looked cute in it. It shows up your physic (now is that how you spell it or is that the kind you take – well you know what I mean anyway.) We have been listening to Conference today. It was really a good Conference. I wish we were taking the Deseret News so I could send you a copy of all the talks. Say – have you been getting the Era? I just wondered because it hasn’t come here since the first of the year. Let me know so I can check on it. You’re Victory garden really tickles me. I will climb up in the cupboard & see if there’s any of the seeds you have requested. If so, I’ll send a few. Then I think Dad is going to town Monday & I’ll have him get you some then. I only wish I could see the results of you efforts. Send me a carrot when you get them full grown. Yesterday afternoon you should have seen Mom, Ruth, LaMar & myself out shoveling that old rock pile away. I guess we loaded & unloaded 50 truckloads full of dirt. We really made the dirt fly. That whole hill was just like one big ant hill. I have never seen so many ants in all my life. Now it is all nice & smooth where there was once a hill. It looks much neater though. Today we drove over to North Ogden to see an outdoor fireplace over there. It surely was nice. It was all made of rocks. Cheryl & Karla went too. I took Cheryl into Ruth Macs on the way back. Nephi has been bed ridden for the past week. He tried to do hand springs at school & broke a blood vessel, which clotted & was very serious. He is up now but can’t bend 131 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 Norma & Cheryl in spring of 1945. 132 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 over. They surely thought Cheryl was cute. They think she is still like you except her eyes, they are like mine except she has long lashes like yours. She waves at everyone now, especially at Mom. She waves at her everytime she sees her. She doesn’t do it with her hand, but just lets her arm flop out and in again. I let her crawl around the rooms today & she was up into everything. She would climb up by the chairs & pull the doilies off the book end table. Every little piece of dirt was examined & then put into her mouth, but I usually intercepted them before they reached her mouth. They are playing that lovely song, “I’ll See You Again.” I remember I danced with you at one of our College dances to the music of that song, but I didn’t realize then that we would ever be separated for such a long time. I’ll see you again Whenever Spring breaks through again Time may lie heavy between But what has been, is past forgetting This sweet memory, Across the days will come to me Though the world may go awry In my heart will ever lie Just the echo of a sigh Goodbye – Of course I wouldn’t say goodbye, but just till your home again – all the memories of the fun we’ve had together is the anchor that will keep the world from seeming too topsy turvy and those same sweet memories give me so much to plan for in the future. I even get a kick out of think how I’d like to tease you a little so I have to do it to Cheryl once in awhile. Do you know when I tickle here nose she reacts just like you do when I touch your mouth. I think of you every time. Do you find anyone out there who appreciates your humor? Norma says that she met several on her mission who had met you & they just didn’t see how she could be the sister of such a cut-up as you. “The life of the party,” they said you were. Well my sweetheart I think I will write Carmen a letter & see how she is getting along. I am so glad you went to Church & love your testimony. Is there any fellows from Ogden? Find out & let me know their names. Maybe I’ll know them. Say what was that one fellow doing on top of the house? All My Love To the Very Sweetest Man in the World Norma Pleasant View, Utah 9 April 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, It really has been wonderful to receive your letters so regularly. I’m glad that you still love me even though occassionally my letters haven’t been so regular. I think I have been a lot better here lately. I do write whenever I can. That one week when we had that ward party to put off I was just so busy I didn’t know weather I was coming or going. You know how much I love you & that I will write whenever I can. You have been so sweet to not complain & to forgive me. Some fellows would say I shouldn’t take a job that keeps me so busy, but honestly it has been a blessing to me. I know that if I were not so busy with Relief Soc., Mutual & Cheryl, I would just be down in the dumps all the time. Every time I am idle & don’t have anything to do I just get so lonesome for you & Oh – I just wish you were here so much. Everytime Cheryl does some cute little thing, I just wish you were here to see her. I say “Wouldn’t Reiny get a kick out of her now.” I wish we had a movie camera to catch all cute little things she does so you wouldn’t miss out on all of them. 133 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 Guam 12 April 1945 Hello Darling, That little daughter of ours must be quite a girl by now. I can hardly imagine her standing up, clapping her hands, and all those things you say she does now. When I last saw her she was such a little bit of a thing. I expect by summer she will be walking out to see the flowers all by herself. What are you going to do with she and Karla when they start chasing each other around the house? I can see their Dads should be home to teach them a few things. Maybe it won’t be too long now before they will be. The Allied armies are only 50 miles from Berlin now, which is good news to me. I certainly wish the pictures you sent me of Cheryl would get here. So you have all gone in for planting again this spring. How I wish I could be home with a place of our own to do some spring gardening. Yes, and if I could I’d plant an acre of Strawberries. But don’t worry I wouldn’t expect you to pick them all. We would get Glena to come down and do that for us. Just ask her if she wouldn’t do it. Then of course in a couple of years our half a dozen kids could help out too. Where are you going to plant all the things you bought? I don’t recall many spots where some thing isn’t growing all ready. Those cantaloupe seed you sent me are not doing so well. There are only about half of them that are going to come up. The ants ate the others up. I have never seen a place where ants were such a pest. They get into everything. Every time I open a can of peanuts, and don’t eat them all, I have to tape the lid air tight or the ants just about walk off with them. They are not large ants either, but what they lack in size they make up in numbers. I have seen them swarm onto an opened cocoanut so you could hardly tell the color of it. Martin is still building stuff here in the tent. In another three days I think he will have us built right out of our home. Already we have two tables, two chairs, a desk, and a clothes closet, pluss our beds and other junk, but he enjoys it. He has also put a light in over each of our beds. All the comforts of home. All we need now are our wives to keep house for us. Happy dreams to you Sweetheart, Love, Reinhart Guam 14 April 1945 Dear Norma, Some guys get all the breaks. The Navy Lt. staying with Martin and I in our tent has been out here just about a month and now they are sending him back to the states to go back to school, then come back out with a new unit. Its too bad I don’t need some more schooling. Oh well, with me out here the war will be over sooner. I am still waiting for those other seeds you were going to send me or did you forget to do it. Also, I wish you wouldn’t forget to send me Ronald’s and Carmen’s address. Of course I know you have a lot of things to do and think about with Cheryl and all, but it would be so nice if you would remember to do these little things for me. Yesterday afternoon just before supper I went out and found me some bananas in the woods. After I got them home I learned they were not yet ready to be picked. They should be filled out quite round first, but these I have are still ribbed. They will ripen all right but they may not be so good. Anyhow, I have them hanging in the tent now. Bananas never ripen on the tree. They just rot and fall off if they are not picked. It takes a week to two weeks for them to ripen after they have been picked. Yes, I approve of the places for the outside fire place, tho I don’t see how there is going to be very much room right where you are putting it. There is one thing about it. If you can’t cook your hot-dogs in the fire place, you can always dash through the door to the kitchen and fry them on the stove. The outside touch can be added by just sprinkling a few ashes on the dogs. Yesterday evening after supper I started out to go for a walk out along the road. I hadn’t gone far when a jeep stopped and the driver asked me if I wanted to ride, so I accepted. After we had driven down the road a ways he asked me where I was going to. I told him I was just out looking the country over. He said he was doing the same thing, so we may as well do it together, and he would bring me back later in the evening. He turned out to be the agriculture expert here on the island, and a very interesting person. He is a middle-aged man from Mass., 134 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 I had the folks get some seeds today so I will send a few in this letter & the others in a package. I was so tickled when I heard about that big garden of yours. The watermelon & what was it? 16 radishes & then the tomatoes – what happened to the flower seeds? Do you mean to say you didn’t plant them? When I heard that it was the 10th Army that invaded Okinawa, I was so glad that you were with the Fleet Photo Interpreting. I surely hope Ray got through all right. They are really getting close to Japan. You asked about the weather, well if you are wondering about it what do you think we are doing? This morning we were having another fine snow. Maybe we can start planting next fall & then maybe you will be here in time to eat some of our radishes. Over Kate Smith’s program this morning, she was telling about the Victory gardens on Gwam. So you see already they have heard about your garden. Ruth says she’ll get a pin-up picture as soon as possible. She says it’s such a special & rare occassion that someone asks for her picture that she’ll have to have a special one made up. She says if you are going to sell her to some young man, she refuses to be placed on any bargain counter. She expects to be sold to the best coustomers at top price. I sent a letter off to Carmen today and the mail man brought me a card from her asking why I didn’t write. I’m glad mine was on it’s way before I received that card. She is still in Little Rock with Ronald. Well – I washed again today. I always console myself by saying – Just think how awful it would be to wash in cold water like Reiny does & then I go merrily about doing my wash. Cheryl is here squirming all over my lap. I’ve finally put her on her stomach on my lap & pined her down with my elbow. She’s got the table cloth & trying to pull it off. Now she’s pulling my dress up & my underwear down & all the time her feet kicking. She just woke up & I can’t have her in the buggy a minute or she would be on her nose. I’ve pined her in & almost tied her down, but she finds a way out. It’s time for me to feed her & both of us go to bed. Just 9:30 now in fact, so I guess that’s why she’s awake. Goodnight Honey I hope you have a good garden & that you enjoy yourself as much as possible. Our prayers are always with you. May God bless you. Love, Norma P.S. They are just having a skit on the radio about the invasion of Gwam. It sounds like they grow rice over there. P.S.S. – I just went to look out in the car for the seed & lo & behold they had left it in town so I decided to send you a few more cantaloup, radishes & then a few turnips. That’s all we have at the present. Pleasant View, Utah 10 April 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, Right now it is really snowing outside, but in spite of it Dad is up working in the field. I guess he has decided that there just isn’t any use of waiting for Spring. I guess I didn’t use my eyes too good because the seeds were out in the car under the lawn seed, so I will send it to you today. I would give a lot to see that wonderful victory garden. You say the mellons are so big they drag the vines all over the Island – my Oh my – that must be quite a sight – walking watermellons. Yesterday at Relief Society we picked apart old coats. These coats will be made over into jackets. Then we are collecting all kinds of old clothes to be send to the needy in Europe. Dad is donating his old overcoat & suit. Cheryl is here in her play pen standing up. She keeps letting go with one hand & holding it up in the air so I can see that she can stand up by holding on with only one hand. Oh dear, Karla is poking the broom in her face. Mom cane to the rescue. Oh she’s silly (I mean Cheryl). She keeps bending back so that she can see me. If she isn’t careful she’ll fall on her head. Beth Payne says her baby can’t even crawl yet & Cheryl has crawled since she was 6 months old. Right now Cheryl is waving Bye Bye to Karla & Ruth. 135 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 very clean cut, and intelligent. We went hunting down along some of the beaches, & in the woods for what we could find. He showed me several different kinds of trees and plants. Among them was the plant from which tapioca is made. It is a bush that grows about 3 feet high, and on the root is found a tuber, that looks about like a sweet potato, which is the part they use. The Japs used to have fields of the stuff growing. They ate it raw. We found several places where American machine guns had been active during the invasion, and empty 30 & 50 cal shells were heaped up knee deep. They must have pumped a lot of lead out. On our way back, we stopped at his camp, and he gave me some water formed rock crystals he had found in one of the rock quarries around here. Now I have two crystals, and two nice sea shells one of the boys gave me the other day. As soon as I get a few more, I’ll send them all home at once. He showed me an old three legged stone slab that the natives used to use for grinding corn. It is about two feet long by 15 inches wide. Then there is a square rock used to pound the corn. Years ago the Spanish introduced corn into this country. At the same time, they brought from Mexico this slab hand mill for grinding the corn. Even today I guess some of the natives use them. How do the people around home feel about the President’s death? As far as the progress of the war is concerned, I don’t think it will make any difference. I would have liked to have seen him finish his term now that he was in. I didn’t care for his policies, but I care even less for Truman. Here’s loving ya, Reinhart Guam 15 April 1945 Hello Darling, Thanks for sending me the clippings of conference, only you left half of them off. I guess you just sent me the part you thot was important. I went to church this afternoon. They held it sort of like a Sunday school, and we had a very interesting lesson. There are certainly a good group of fellows over there. Three Logan fellows were there today, all of which I had not known before coming out here. Of course not having lived in Logan for several years makes quite a difference. I would surely like to be back there this fall to go deer hunting up in Temple fork once again. I’ll bet you and I could realy come out of that canyon with a load of buck skin. I found the prettyest big red flower while out walking around. I have put it in a book, and when it gets dry I’ll send it to you. When I picked it I thot of how nice it would look in your hair. I wish I could get some transportation and a day off. It would be more fun to tour the island looking at old Jap installations, and hunting for souvenirs. If it weren’t for the lack of transportation, I could have all kinds of fun in my off hours. If only we had the jeep that was supposed to have been issued to us as well as the camera we should have gotten. I could even have fun on a bike. Maybe you could set up our shop right now and send me one of those. I surely miss you both, Love, Reinhart Guam 16 April 1945 Dear Norma, I now have bananas hanging in three corners of the tent. One more trip out into the country side and I’ll be able to fill the other corner. All we have to do now is wait until they get ripe. From the looks of their green appearance, I think it will be some time before we can eat them. I bit into a green banana the other day and it puckered my mouth up just like choke cherries do. It is very easy to spot the natives houses out here because every one has a grove of banana trees around it. I’ll bet it is getting pretty around home now. Everything will be getting green from the spring rains, and the 136 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 I just can’t think of any news today, so I guess I’ll say goodbye. Oh did, I ever tell you that Mitzi did pull a fast one on us. She is expecting a family any day now. We thought she was going to have them the other night so Dad & I dashed downstairs & fixed her a box in the coal room, but she didn’t have them. I guess we’ll get some more chicks this Spring. Dad had at last consented. He didn’t like the idea of his ditches being ruined. Cheryl is going down with me to mail this. I want her to see the snow. We both love you & miss you. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 12 April 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Oh – if you could only see it outdoors this morning you would swear that Christmas would be here soon. All the trees & shrubs are heavy with snow &it is still falling fast. It’s hard to believe that it is April. Here the Apricots are just starting to blossom. A few are out & I do hope it won’t freeze them. A month Ago I was worrying for fear we wouldn’t have sufficient water. We surely don’t have to worry on that score anymore. Last night Audrey, Glena and I went to a show last night. The weather was fairly clear when we left, but when we came out of the show it was really snowing. I guess if we had had any sense we would have gone by way of North Ogden, but we came around the other way. We would have made it up the lane, I believe, but another car was stalled & we had to turn out around it. The road was slippery & we were sort of sliding back & forth so we slowed down to pass & we stalled. We backed up several times, but couldn’t make it. Finally, I ask[ed] the Lord to help us a little & sure enough up we went. The other car never did make it. I didn’t tell the other kids, but I know that’s how we got home. You keep asking why I don’t send some pictures. I sent you some just before I got your new address. Haven’t they reached you yet? There were some out in the snow & etc. The show we saw was “A Tree Grows In Brooklyn.” I thought it was very good. Wayne is out on the road again. We stopped in to see Phyllis a few minutes. Lynette is really growing. She still has more hair than Cheryl, but Cheryl’s hair is growing. I have even tried putting a few curls in it but the bobby pins fall out before I can get them in. Now she has just woke up & Mom brought her out & I now have the little wiggle worm on my lap. She is crowing for me. I wish you could hear her. If only you were here we could go tracking bunnies this morning. You could pretend that you were a bunny & then you would know right where to look for them. The pictures you sent were just swell. If only you had not shaved your head I think they would be about the best pictures I have seen of you. They look so natural, gosh it makes me want to see you. Martin looks like a good natured fellow. He reminds me of Bill in a way. What is he like? I wish I could taste those papayas. I can’t imagine flowers tasting so good, but then you never can tell. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 12 April 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, Today is one that will go down in History for as you know Pres. Roosevelt died today. I heard the broadcast from Gwam telling of the reaction of our men there. They said the news reached you at 6 o’clock in the morning, while here it came at about 4 o’clock in the afternoon. So I know that your thoughts today are probably centered around this event & what it will mean to our future. We are now listening to a national Broadcast given by the Salt Lake Tabernacle Choir & Organ in memory of the Pres. Since the news first came over the air all the programs have been cancelled & only programs & news about the President have been given. Solemn music is played in between. I hope Truman will make a good Pres. It will probably be difficult for anyone, but I know that God rules the destiny of nations & our nation will move on as God would have it. 137 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 Gay Perry Kowallis and Albert Kowallis (Reinhart’s brother and sister-in-law). 138 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 I have been making a print dress today & at 4:30 two or three kids stopped in to practice a play which I am directing. So you have been diving under water to study sea life. It sounds so much fun. When did you get your goggles? I wish I could do it too. I hope you can get some pretty shells & coral. It is sweet of you to want me with you, but I know you can’t want that any more than I do. The news sounds so good. Just think, only 50 more miles to Berlin. If only those stubborn Germans would surrender. I hate to think of all those lives being lost on both sides. I should think they would realize their cause is lost. Here it is 11 o’clock & I am very sleepy. Everyone but Audrey & myself have gone to bed. Audrey is writing to Spence. He is still working at the Hospital & he also acquired a German P-38 Automatic Pistol. He is really proud of it. He bought some Champaign & other liquor for $6 and traded it for the gun. Some deal huh? Say – those clothes you sent from Hawaii haven’t arrived yet – I wonder why. I will have some more pictures ready to send to you Monday. I hope the others reach you. I get such a kick out of the pictures you send. Hope you can send some more. It seems ages since I last saw you. If this war will only hurry up & come to an end so we can have a chance to do all the things we’ve dreamed about – boating, hunting, fishing – start our business, have a nice garden – a few chickens & also a few more sweet kids. If the war doesn’t end soon, I’ll have to cut my quota down to half a dozen instead of a dozen. That would be sad. So Long Honey. I miss you as Always. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 16 April 1945 Dearest Reinhart, I’ve just finished the Monday wash so if this letter smells of Clorox & soap don’t be surprised. Just as I came up from down stairs, Ruth was leaving for town. She is on her way to see if she can find a job. I hope she gets one that is interesting and one that will give her a little enjoyment. Yesterday, I took Cheryl with me to Church. She really looked sweet. I had her dressed in a pink & white bonnet & all ruffels. Then she had a white dress with pink flowers & little pink ankle socks. Everyone came up to tell me how sweet she looked. She was so good too. Except she wanted to go & see everyone. She pulled Edna Buckley’s necklace off – but I warned her & she said it wouldn’t break. In the afternoon I practiced the play I am directing. Iris Chamberlain was here for dinner. I invited her because she didn’t have anyone at home to eat with. We all went down to Aunt Lotie’s for awhile. Karla had the best time with their dog. The dog would lick her face & she loved it. We tried to get her to leave it alone, but she just had a fit. Mitzie won’t let her get near her so it really pleased Karla to have this dog let her love it. Uncle Henry was the speaker in Church. They let him talk last night because I took all of his time before. He talked about Mohamadanism. I was so tickled to hear that you’re Garden was growing so fast. I just can’t believe they can be up all ready. That was a short letter, but it just tickled me. You are sweet you know. Just think of it all those nurses over to the party & you stay home & write to me. I just about cried I thought you were so sweet. There just isn’t a nicer husband in all the world. Delbert Burnett was home last night. He is being shipped over & he’s really glad about it. I surely like those pictures you sent. They are really swell. If you can only get one of you’re victory garden now. Cheryl has at last got her shoe off & she is pleased as punch. I had it tied in knots too. The little dickens. Say – Glen Christofferson from here is on Gwam. He lived up on the pole patch. The Conference you had must have been really nice. I didn’t realize there were so many L.D.S. boys there. Yes – I too think there is an opportunity for a great deal of missionary work. It would be wonderful to know you had accomplished something along this line. May God Bless You. All My Love, Norma P.S. Dad says you can make holes by the mellons & carry water to them & make ditches by the tomatoes & water them. 139 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 Assault on Hill 178 20 hours after the initial invasion of Okinawa. Wounded soldier receiving blood plasma on battlefield in Okinawa. 140 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 The Post Exchange on Okinawa. The first sale occurred only 80 hours after the invasion. Sorting mail on Okinawa in April 1945. 141 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 blossoms will all be coming out. When I stop to think of it, it has been over three years since I last saw a spring at home. It will certainly be a great day when we can go walking up through the peach blossoms again. The other night while I was asleep, a mouse ran right down over the top of my head. I would not have minded his going down so much, but half hour later when he started back up it was just too much. I made a pass for him getting exactly one handful of my own hair. Last night the critter kept dragging some thing around on the floor. Tonight I have no idea what he will be doing. Probably sleeping in my arm pit. I’ll have to look around for a ball bearing mouse trap to leave in the tent at night. It certainly takes a long time for anything but air mail to get out here. The picture you sent of Cheryl over two months ago is still not here. Here’s loving you both, Reinhart Guam 17 April 1945 Hello Darling, You are getting better. I received two more letters today, and you know what, Cheryl’s picture was in one of them. She is even cuter that I expected. When her hair gets longer she will realy be a knock out. Do you think she will boss me as much as she does you? I went to Mutual tonight. There were about 15 of us present. I enjoy getting out with the gang that way. It sort of takes my mind off things. A Navy Lt. by the name of Murray was there. He is also from Logan. He is a middle aged man with two sons in the Navy. He is in charge of the rat control here so I asked him how to kill the rats around our tent. The best way seems to be to catch the rat and then drown it. He was interesting to talk to. I found out that strychnine will not kill rats because the heart palpitation is so rapid that it throws off the strychnine faster than the blood stream can assimilate it. Mice are about the same way. Looks like that ball bearing mouse & rat trap is the only solution. They had a nice stage show over here last night. They sang a song about the “old woman who lived in a shoe” that I thot was pretty cute. It goes like this, “There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, she had so many children she didn’t know what to do. There was another old woman who lived in a shoe, she didn’t have any children, she knew what to do.” Thanks so much for sending me the seeds in these last two letters. I got busy and planted them all tonight. In the morning I expect them to be up. That is a little fast I guess, but they do come up in about 4 or 5 days. I have to water them every night now because we don’t get any rain; this being the dry part of the year out here. Today was the first anniversary for Interpron-two in the field, so we all got off at noon and went to the beach for a swim. I got you a piece of coral and a couple of shells. At 4:00 every one came back to camp for a party. They had beer, peanuts & cake. I ate peanuts. Tell the folks hello for me, and tell Cheryl I think she is a very pretty baby. With all my love, Reinhart Guam 19 April 1945 Dear Norma, I never got around to writting you last night because it was quite late when I got back from mutual. You asked me if I have been getting the Era. So far I haven’t received any of them since I left the States, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been sending them. With my address changing around as it has it is possible that they are some where in the mail. I think if they want to send it, it would be best if you could do it for them because you always have my most up to date address. 142 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 16 April 1945 Dear Reinhart, I am sending you a few pictures. Not one of them are really good of Cheryl, but I think she’s cute anyway so I’ll send them just the same. She is really a doll and I’m sure you would agree if you could see her. Oh, if you only could be with us. We would have such fun together. It does look like the war is going good & that soon we will be able to consentrate our efforts in the South Pacific. Edna just wrote a letter to me today. She & her sister are living together. Bill is in Germany & is a Captain. She says to tell you that Walter Strool (or something like that, I can’t read her writing) just left for the Pacific for the second time. I don’t ever remember the guy. She sends Bills address in case you would like to write to him (Capt. Wm. H. Wright 0J044733, G-2 Sec. 7th Armored Div., A.P.O. 257 Postmaster, New York). I see they are fighting around Kemnitz – That is where you were on your mission wasn’t it? I wonder about all those folks you worked with. This afternoon I had play practice. I have to get up & demonstrate how they are to make love, how an old man should walk & how a young girl should come skipping in. So you see I have to be quite versatile. Of course with your lessons on making love, that part comes quite easily. Mitzie still hasn’t had her pups. Oh me poor thing. Wayne has bought a white frame house just one block above Binford where they used to live. It will cost him $38,000. He will know for sure in the morning about closing the deal. It has a patio in back & is landscaped very nice in back. The check you sent arrived today. That makes about $2,080.00 that we have in the bank. Now if we can just get the $3,000. This month has been an expensive one for me, what with buying material & getting teeth fixed & buying shoes, but even then I saved over $100. That $225 you sent really helped our savings to grow. Oh I hope we can have enough to really start in business. Then if we can find a good pace to locate – We will make good & we’ll have such a good time planing & living together & having fun together & with our family. How’s the Victory garden coming? Send me one of those mellons in a week or two. Goodnight my Sweetheart. Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah [no date on this letter] Dearest Sweetheart, Work’s all done & now I can sit down & spend a few minutes with you although my thoughts are nearly always with you. The sweet Mother’s day cards came the other day & Mom & I were both happy to think you had remembered us. I’m sorry you haven’t received Ronald & Carmen’s address. It must have been in one of those letters that went astray. Also the pictures of Cheryl. I have sent several lots & I’m so sorry they never reached you. I think you have all but two bunches of pictures now. Here is the last card Carmen sent. I had Ruth send off the see the other day when she went to town. It never even entered my mind that she would send it anyway but first class. That is why I made certain it only weighed 8 oz. I even took it over to Barker’s Store to weigh it. But she didn’t understand & sent it off just ordinary mail so I don’t know how it will come through. I hope it gets there O.K. I sent two kinds of peas, some beans & corn. Speaking of those colored shots I was having made up, I have just about given up ever getting them. I stop in at the Ace Photo every time I am in town, but they still haven’t arrived. They say it takes 3 months some times so don’t give up we may still get them. I’m glad your garden is growing so fast. Dad says maybe we had better send all of our seed over there so that it can get an early start – then you can send them back in a month or so. Yesterday was Relief Soc. & Mutual. I took charge at Relief Soc. Four little mice were running around & just as I was about to get up to make an announcement one of them ran over my foot. I just about forgot everything I wanted to say. All the ladies watched the mice like a bunch of little kids & I doubt that they heard the lesson. To top it off, a woodpecker kept 143 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 Norma (middle) with her and Reinhart’s Army friends. The two on the left are Ronald and Carmen Albright, who are talked about occasionally in their letters, while the two on the right are unknown. Reinhart and Norma lived in the same house in Pocasset, Massachusetts with Ronald and Carmen while stationed near there during the summer of 1943. Ronald D. Albright died on 17 January 2005 in Anthony, Kansas. His obituary stated: Ronald “was born Nov. 26, 1921, at Florence, the son of Thomas and Lola A. Ivey Albright. He was an attorney. On Oct. 25, 1941, he married Carmen Harper at Newkirk, Okla. She survives. Other survivors include: a son, Dennis, Anthony; two daughters, Lynne Gregory, Pine Island, Fla., and Sarah Wickware, Fort Meyers, Fla.; three grandchildren; and three great-grandsons.” [From the Hutchinson News, 18 January 2005] 144 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 rapping away around the window sill until we just couldn’t hear the lesson. We were hav[ing] about 12 short plays at mutual last night. One of them I directed & one Ruth directed. We all wanted to go to Mutual, so we took Cheryl & Karla. Cheryl had her pajamas on, but she looked cute anyway. All the kids were passing her around – even Connie Rhees & Donna Dickamore & the boys setting with them. She had fun but when I came and took her she just opened her mouth & planted it right on my face. She practically ate me up. I stopped in to see Earl Cragun’s and Mildred’s new boy. It is the first one to look like Earl. It even has black hair instead of red. Ruth hasn’t found a job yet. She was a little discouraged yesterday. It seems they all want typists. I hope she can find something she will like. We are going down in the basement today & see if we can’t condense that pile of junk. I think Cheryl & I will move down for the summer & let Audrey use her own furniture. I would like to get a cot in some second hand store & a matress that wouldn’t be to hard, then I could fold up that great big bed & we would have more room. Then I could get Cheryl a bed. Yesterday while I was to Relief Soc. she climbed out of the buggy & reached out to the handles, it overbalanced the buggy & tiped up on one end. Mom tried to get in the door, but the buggy was in front of it. She could see Cheryl though & she didn’t even cry. She just looked around, saw the sack where I keep soiled diapers & started leaping toward them (that’s the way she crawls – in leaps and flops). Mom said “Cheryl Kowallis.” She turned & laughed, then started off faster than ever. The little monkey – but I do think she should have a bed ‘cause I don’t want her to get hurt. I have her practically tied down in there now & she doesn’t like it one bit. Mom & Ruth have been out planting more garden & now that they are coming in, I guess we’ll go down & see what can be done to the basement. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 19 April 1945 Dear Reinhart, Already Mom & Ruth are down stairs tearing into that pile of stuff downstairs so I’ll make this brief so I too can be helping. We worked at it all day yesterday. We swept out one grain bin & carried one of those tables we have in the basement up there. We are going to stack as many boxes on top of it as we can. I believe it will be better on top of the table. We are leaving all such things as linens, towels, or clothes & books down here, but anything the mice won’t hurt goes up to the granary. We really looked like darkies when we got through yesterday. Cheryl even needed a bath. We let her sit up in the granary in the swing. She thought it was the most fun ever. Do you think it would hurt that trunk to put it up there? The mice couldn’t get into it. Oh, I wish you could be here. Yesterday & today are just perfect Spring days. The Apricots come in bloom yesterday. They look & smell so beautiful. Then green fields are showing up here & there across the hills. Yesterday Cheryl said bath & sock. She just loves her bath & gets so excited that she just said “bath.” Mom heard her too. Then she likes her socks too & always wants to help take them off & put them on again. She said “Sock sock” when I took them off. When I ask her if she wants to go “bye bye” she gets all excited & says “ba ba” a combination of “Da Da” & “bye bye.” Oh yes & whenever the music is played on the radio, she starts jiggling up and down because she wants to dance. Do you want any more seeds? Shall I send off another bunch first class so they will be sure & reach you? We had ward teachers last night. They have been stressing this Welfare Plan for the last three times. I think they must be really going to do things with it after this war. I see that I spelled Chemnitz wrong the other day. I see they have taken Leipzig now. It doesn’t seem possible it can last much longer. I hope the Russians are right when they say it will be over by the 25th of this month. (Time out) Cheryl just woke up. I dashed right in but she was already out of her buggy & crawling away. Boy oh Boy, now I’m really going to get a bed. She thinks it’s fun but I don’t. I just look forward so much to the time when we can be together again. I think I spend half my time planning the things 145 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 I guess Nephi will just have to admit that he is getting to be an old man like the rest of us, and can’t go around doing hand springs. I do hope nothing serious becomes of his accident. Are their kids just as fat as ever? I went on another swimming party today. A bunch of the enlisted men wanted to go so I went along with them. I hope by the time I get to go again I can find myself a fish spear some place. I could have more fun spearing fish out around the reef. They just swim around you like you weren’t even there. I have never seen so many different kinds and colors of fish. You would realy get a bang out of watching them. I also found a few little shells to put with my small collection. Tomorrow I’ll just leave them setting out in the open and the ants will eat the little animals out of them. I planted the flower seeds you sent, but the ants must have carried them all off. Anyhow, they didn’t come up. What does Audrey hear from Spence? Is there any chance of his coming home soon? Love, Reinhart Oh, I almost forgot. Here are a couple of Propaganda leaflets one of the boys gave me. Also a Jap bill for five Pesos. This was Japanese invasion money of the Philippines. 146 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 Front and back of the five peso bill Reinhart sent to Norma, along with the propaganda leaflets 147 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 Guam 20 April 1945 Hello Darling, Some spring you must be having with it snowing in the middle of April. I hope it doesn’t freeze the blossoms. You should have a little of the warm weather we have down here. Your garden would realy come up then. And speaking of gardens, the radish and turnip seeds I planted last Tuesday evening were up this morning. Three days coming up! I would like to see you beat that record at home. I planted the carrot and lettuce seed tonight. Thanks so much for sending them. I now have about everything I can plant with what room I have. What is happening to the Relief Society? Picking old coats apart does not sound like them. In the old days it was always an old bone they were picking on. Of course, maybe I was just president of the wrong group. One of our boys got some bad news today. A letter came telling him his Mother passed away on the 10th of April. His father is very broken up about it, so we are trying to get him an emergency furlough home. I hope we can swing it for him although it will mean loosing the best man I have on the team. But then he will be back with us later, I hope. So Mitzie did it again. Seems to me she has about three batches of pups a year. It would almost pay to get rid of her and keep one of the pups, if only she wasn’t so good a finding pheasants. I have an idea. Put pants on her, that will fool the boy friends. Say what have the chicks got to do with the ditches being [???]? I wish Ray would write and let me know how he is getting along up on Okinawa. I guess they are having a pretty rough time of it. Just think, it won’t be long before Cheryl will be a year old. I’ll bet she starts walking by that time. The boys are at it again. Martin & Fran have the saw and hammer out [and] are putting up more shelves. We have so many now that we have to fill them up with rocks to keep them from looking barren. Oh well, it will give the ants more places to climb around in. At last I got the mouse that runs over my head at night. I couldn’t get a mouse trap, so I set a big rat trap baited with cheese. It did the job, a little too well I think. I almost had to gather up the mouse with a blotter. Give Cheryl a big hello for me. Love, Reinhart Guam 21 April 1945 Hello Darling, How is my family by now? I guess Cheryl is still boss of the roost. I could love her every time I look at her picture. I’ll be she is getting sweeter every day. She must be smart too. Have her drop me a letter some time. I walked down by the experiment farm this evening and while walking around through the tomatoes, and papaya trees, I met an old native man with whom I struck up a conversation. He couldn’t speak much English, but was fairly understandable. I found out from him that there are three kinds of bananas here. The kind we usualy get back home are called the Long banana. According to him, it is the least good. Then there is the Ice Cream banana, which is better. It is not as large and has a sort of powder on the outside like a prune. Last and best is a real small variety about the size of a finger called the Mannilla banana. So far I haven’t had a chance to try any of them, but I will. About 75 head of milk cows are on their way to the dairy experiment farm. They should be here in a month or so. What I wouldn’t give for a good cold glass of fresh cows milk. Some times in the morning I fill a glass with water and then put a little canned cream in it. Any how it looks like milk and with bread, butter, & jam I can even drink it and dream. (There goes my rat trap, but I see I only have a mouse in it this time. Last night I caught a rat.) Coming back to the native man I talked to. We walked over to his shack, which was hidden in the customary grove of banana trees. He is a batchler, but seemed to have things quite neat around his place. He offered me a drink but I politely declined. I don’t know what he was drinking but it smelled like some sort of corn liquor. I could smell it on him yards away. Just before I left, he pointed to a couple of aluminum tanks of about 100 148 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 we will do. I really don’t think it will be so long now. It will be a happy day when you come home again. Until that day comes, I’ll just keep right on loving you and praying for your safe return. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 21 April 1945 Dearest Reinhart, I didn’t get a letter off yesterday because the night before we went down to the twelth ward to see the floor show that was put on at Easter time for the stake party at the white city. The Twelth Ward wanted them to do it again for their ward & then the 7th Ward wanted them to come their afterwards. We didn’t know where it was to be so Phyllis said it was at the 20th Ward so we went there first. It wasn’t their but Uncle George had said he thought it was at the 21st Ward, so we drove clear back to that ward. It wasn’t their so we went to the 7th Ward. They said it was at the 11th Ward first so we started for that ward on the way we saw Sally & Donny driving along the street. We knew they were in the floor show so we followed them and ended up at the 12th Ward. We only saw the last half so we went over to the 7th Ward again & saw it clear through. The Pleasant View girls chorus gives most of it so you know it was really good. Audrey drove & then Mom, Aunt Lottie & Myself went. I didn’t write yesterday because I had to rush through my work because about 6 of us Relief Soc. ladies were going up to Bushnell to take them two Afagans we had pieced together & some Candy & books & magazines. I took Cheryl with me because Mom was house cleaning. Of course, she really made a hit with all the boys. They would all turn & smile at her. They sent us to the Colonel’s office (How do you spell it?). He sent us to the Red Cross Office. We walked down so many ramps & corridors that I was just all in. I don’t think they are so crazy to get Afagans anyway. The Army furnishes that kind of stuff. I would rather have sent it for this foreign Relief that they are gathering stuff for, but then when I am Pres. I can do it my way. We had fun though. After leaving Bushnell, Mrs. Case treated us all to a Banana Special. It was really good. Cheryl at the Banana, but I ate the Special. I really need it too. Yesterday I weighed & all I weigh is 111 lbs. I just eat & eat & I can’t get fat. Cheryl is out in her play pen & it looks like it was going to rain. Yesterday it was so hot that it was comfortable without any quilts. I hope it doesn’t rain for our Junior & Explorer party tonight. Mitzie had her pups night before last (five of them), but now there are only two. Dad put away the little girls. One of the little girls was pure white. I took Cheryl & Karla up to the barn last night to see the little kittens. One of them is snow white & one is gray striped & one is black & white. They are just old enough to be cute. Cheryl just loved them. I let her hold them. She was so nice to it, just felt it & laughed. Glena took her up again this morning. She says “Bye Bye” now so cute & waves her hand. It looks like your garden isn’t going to do so well with those little varmints carrying off your see like that. I’m glad you will be able to get me some coral. I have always wanted some. Everything is so beautiful now. I just long to go for one of those good old hikes with you again. It won’t be long now will it. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 22 April 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Here it is Sunday evening and I should be at church. In fact I had planned to go & was on my way out the door when I decided to stay home & write you this letter. Two letters came from you yesterday. They were both such nice letters, but one made me feel a little sad. You said “I do wish you would remember to do all these little things for me.” I don’t know, I guess it made me feel worse because I have felt that there was so little I could do for you. I have wanted so much to do something more but maybe my brain just isn’t bright 149 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 gallon capacity and asked me if I knew what they were. Then before I could answer, he told me they were Jap emergency gas tanks. He was using them for water, and here a mistery was unfurled to me. I had often wondered how the natives got their drinking water. They just run it off their tin roofs into a trough under the eaves, and then into a barrel. He said it made fine drinking water. Well, maybe. Love, Reinhart Guam 22 April 1945 Hello Darling, Here it is Sunday again. Wouldn’t it be nice if [we] could have spent it together. Out here it is just more or less another day except that I did go to church this afternoon. I met another Logan man there whose name I can’t remember now, but he knew Albert. How is Albert getting along at his new job? Do you ever see him? He is the one brother of mine whose interests are somewhat in common with mine. At least they used to be, tho I think they have changed a lot in the last few years. I have often thot that it would be a lot of fun to go on a trip with he & Gay. Albert has never done any hunting or fishing, but I believe he would like it were he ever to get started. Looks as if you and I will have to take some of our near relatives in hand after the war and teach them how to enjoy life in the out of doors. Won’t it be great when we can take a week or two in the summer and go fishing up in the Park. I am still looking forward to our boat trip on the Yellowstone Lake and on up into Bridger Lake. We’ll have a whole load of fish when we come back. That two weeks deer hunting trip in the fall is going to be fun too. Let’s see, where could we go. Logan Canyon, and Blacksmith Fork are both good. So is the Wasatch. Of course we must not forget about your Dad’s prize spot in Southern Utah. In a couple of years maybe we can do these things, right now it’s nice dreaming about them. Love, Reinhart Guam 23 April 1945 Hello Darling, I hit the Jackpot today. Six letters all from you. Three of them had been to Okinawa and back. They were post marked Feb. 23, 25, & 26th so I still have hopes that some day I will get the pictures of Cheryl you sent me. No, I haven’t received any of the pictures you sent to my old address. I’ll be glad to get the ones you are sending now. The other day we had some pictures taken of the three of us in our happy home. As soon as they are finished, I’ll send them to you. It seems as if the seasons are getting a little out of control back there. I don’t know why we couldn’t have had a little of that snow at Christmas time when I was home. By the way, did you ever have any of those colored shots made up for me? What ever happened to the Agate you sent to have cut? Did you ever get it back? Have you received the $225 I sent home last month? Did you buy any more bonds and how is our bank account holding out? I thot Ruth had already been working for a couple of months. What kind of job is she looking for? Sgt. Gill was over in our tent yesterday helping us with a little manual labor when he noticed your picture. He couldn’t believe it was my wife. He thot it was some ones pin up girl. He said it looked like something out of Hollywood. Of course, I should not be telling you these things, but you are very pretty, and very sweet. My garden is coming along fine except that about every other evening I have to powder the ground where the new seeds are planted or the ants eat them all. After the seed germinates, the ants don’t seem to bother. It’s only before. Well, my Darling, don’t break a leg trying to ski down the lane on all this new snow you are getting. Love, Reinhart 150 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 or something, but I just can’t think of things that I could send you. I have tried to the best of my ability to send you the things you have ask for. I sent Ronald’s address as soon as you ask for it & when you wrote that you hadn’t received it, I sent it again on a card. The seeds you ask for I sent off as soon as we could get to town to get them. Maybe I should send off some more first class so you’ll be sure to get them. You know we only take the Standard & I was unable to get only those few articles, as that was all they gave in our paper. However, I talked to both Arlene & Dorothy R. about your Era subscription. I knew if you received your Era that it would contain all the conference talks. This morning Arlene brought me a card to send to Salt Lake with your change of address on it, so your Era will be sent directly to you. I will tell them to see that you get the conference issue. The book “The Great Apostacy” I have had on order for ever so long. They said they would have it in a week, but as yet it has not arrived. Mom stoped in two weeks ago & Ruth last week – they are still expecting it & when I go to town tomorrow I will inquire about it again. The tracks Norma said she would get them for me in Salt Lake & send them off so you should be getting them soon. I sent off the Reader’s Digest & A Field & Stream or something like that some time ago. I’ll see again if I can get “Outdoor Life” for you tomorrow. As soon as you told me Cheryl’s big picture hadn’t arrived I sent off one of the smaller ones – It should have reached you long ago. I know & understand how very disheartening it is to be away from home & not get anything from home. Maybe too the other fellows are getting lots of things from home on account of maybe their wives are smarter & can think of all kinds of little things to send. I wish I could think of those things. I have been scratching my head for two months trying to think of something to send you for your birthday. I’ll try again tomorrow, but it just seems that I can’t think of anything. I hope this doesn’t sound like a lecture because I don’t want it too. I know there are a lot of things I could do for you if I could just think of them and your letter just brought it home so much more forcibly how little I have been able to do for you & I guess that’s why I feel so very bad. Honey I do love you so much & I want so much do as many things for you as I can. Maybe if you could make a list of those things that are useful & also any food that would reach there alright – you see you are there & know what could be used & what others are able to get. I would appreciate it so much if you would do this for me. You have been so sweet to me – writing so often, sending me pictures & that lovely purse. Enough of this sad talk – Please don’t let it get you down – Just keep on loving me & you know I’ll be happy. Yesterday it started raining a little before our Junior & Explorer party, but we went on over to the Church anyway & then it started pouring. We were just about to give up & have our party in doors when Glena went out again & lo & behold it was clear again & a beautiful sunset. So we divided off into five groups & started on our scavenger hunt. Our group included Lester Brown, Reed Chamberlain, Darlene Ferrin, Lorine Rhees & myself. We cut accross the field & down to Uncle Henry’s first to get his signature only to discover that he was up to the Church when we had just came from so we cheated a little & sent the boys back to the Church while we went over to Baileys to get a white shoe lace. We then met the boys at the top of the lane. We got a white hair from Annie Cragun’s hair & then ran & walked down to Eva Tuckers (clear down past Reuben’s & Earl’s places). Here we got a article about Roosevelt & then down to Allan Barth’s for an onion. Then over to Earl Rhees for a garter. Then to Arthur Rhees for a purple thread & to Horace Rhees for a 1941 Magazine. My shoes were so loose that when I ran they came off, so I took them off & ran in my stocking feet. They were just soaked when I reached our place so while we continued running, Lester stoped in & got me a pair of ankle socks. We were not the winners. Two other groups were ahead of us, but the first group cheated more than we did. They all split up & each took a separate place. When we all reached the Church, we had a weiner roast. We also had punch & cookies & peanuts. Then we sang songs around the fire. It was really fun, but I feel like an old horse today. As you can see by the above the peaches are beginning to bloom out. By tomorrow they will mostly be out. We went down to Phyllis today & as we drove along the orchards looked so pretty all white & pink that I just had to send you a little sample. It made me think of two springs ago when both of us were here to enjoy the spring together. Maybe next Spring we can walk through the orchard together. 151 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 Lamar Jensen, Cheryl Kowallis, and Glena Jensen in the Spring of 1945. 152 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 Have you ever received any of those corney newspapers our town puts out? Audrey types them & does she ever wish they would leave out some of the stuff they put in. Spence has received a promotion to Staff Sargent which means $21.60 more a month. I think that is really swell. Wayne is in Montana selling. He called Phyllis today & is feeling rather homesick, but is doing well. We took pictures today of Lynette, Cheryl, & Karla. I hope they turn out good. I certainly haven’t had too much luck with my picture taking. I guess I need your expert advice. I think I told you once how Earl & Reuben are changing houses. You see they owned the houses together so finally they settled up. Reuben took the best land & Earl took the best house. Already, Reuben has the little house all torn apart – putting in new windows & remodeling. It will be painted white. The family is just living with all their relatives until the house is fixed. We have [the] basement all cleaned & it really looks so much better. Tomorrow I will get Cheryl a bed & a bed for me. I will just get an army cot for myself so there will be room for Cheryl’s bed. Goodnight my Love – Tomorrows another day dear – Goodnight – Sweet dreams – Sweetheart. May angles above watch over you & keep you safe my love until the dawn breaks through. Good Night Sweetheart – May you return to us very soon. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 23 April 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, I’m so glad that at last you received one of the pictures of Cheryl which I sent. Of course it is smaller than the other but at least it is better than none. They if you are just getting the seeds I sent in the letter I wonder when you will ever get the seeds I mailed. We are getting a few bananas here now & they are really green so I can understand a little how your bananas look. I have had a bunch a week & they are just now beginning to turn yellow. I’m glad you got the coral for me. I think it is so pretty. This morning I washed & I was just in the middle of it when your folks came. They brought the tracts I had Norma get for me. She had everything but the one’s on the Book of Mormon, which I had particularly ask for, but maybe you can use them anyway. Norma is working I believe it is at her old job. Richard was with them. He has just finished taking a part in their school Operetta. Cheryl was asleep so they didn’t get to see her. I had her all pined into the buggy & I just didn’t want to disturb her. It takes to much effort to tie her down again. I left her with Mom today & she found out what a wiggle worm she was. She said she was sure she had it fixed so Cheryl couldn’t possibly get out. Then she’d just stand & watch to see what happened. Cheryl would wiggle & jump & twist & pretty soon out would come her head. When I got home, Mom had a towel pined across the front of the hood, a quilt pined across the body of the buggy & the quilt tucked clear around her so she couldn’t get out. I went to town on the One o’clock bus. I guess I spent a little of our money today, but I think it will be worth it. I bought Cheryl a bed. It cost $37 with the mattress. Then I bought a couch for myself for $50. I hope you don’t think I am extravagant, but with our limited space, I really think it was necessary. They will both be something we can use. I will move down in the basement now & let Audrey move upstairs. I guess I’ll stay away from town now for two months to make up for it. I got some more seed for you. Your book “The Great Apostacy” had arrived & I got that – also a look Magazine. The “Outdoor life” was still no place to be found. I ask several people today who have boys over in the South Pacific what they send to them & they say they have tried sending different things in the food line & it always spoiled when it reaches them. I was down to Kammerys looking for something you might like, but I couldn’t see a thing but what would be in your way. I even thought of sending you a fishing pole, but I decided it wouldn’t be very practicle. I did get two more rolls of film & had him put a roll of black & white film in our camera. Mom says you can send us a little of that Tapioca. We haven’t had any for a couple years. There are two or three grains left in our old box. We all had to take a look at it after you told how it grows. It is really wonderful that you can be with so many Latter Day Saint fellows. Oh, I forgot to tell you that Ruth got a job today. She is working for the Badger Stock & Bond Co. She will read the Stock quotations as they come in & greet the customers as they come in & type with one finger. It is right accross from J.C. Penny’s. 153 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 Guam 25 April 1945 Dear Norma, I got the report I was working on in yesterday so things have slowed down some today, therefore I am starting this letter in the morning for a change. In your last letter you asked me about the clothes I sent home from Oahu. Don’t worry about them. They were to be held for 60 days after the 10th Army left so they might still be setting in the CJC office. Some day you will get them, I hope. I went down to Island command this morning to see Chaplain Jackson (He is our LDS Chaplain here) and get a copy of “The Great Apostasy” he said I could have so if you haven’t sent a copy to me already don’t bother to do so. There is something I would like to have you do, however. Remember my speaking of a fellow I met on the boat out here who was quite interested in the church? When I last saw him we had two or three questions pending that I wanted to answer for him, but I lacked the necessary references with which to do it. I promised to write to him about it later. So far I haven’t gotten around to it, but will do in the next couple of days. Now, what I want you to do is get a copy of “The Great Apostasy,” and “The Book of Mormon” and send them to him. Here is his name and address. Stanley H. Young, 872 Glenwood Ave., Buffalo, N.Y. Please do this as soon as possible. There was no mail for us yesterday, so I am keeping my fingers crossed today in hopes that some pictures will come. I haven’t yet received the magazines you sent me last month. If they are coming at all they should be here before long. Love, Reinhart Guam 26 April 1945 Dear Norma, The snaps you sent came today, and I must admit it looks like a silly daughter we have. But then what can you expect with the Dad and Mother she has. I know, you thot I was just going to say dad, but it’s fifty-fifty in this deal. Anyhow, I think she is cute as can be, but I would like to know what you feed her to get her so fat. That’s one characteristic that doesn’t take after me. I was never that fat. You both surely look nice where you are holding her, and I like your new dress. The pictures of you guys up on the hill almost make me homesick. I like the press you have in your slacks. Who did it for you? I don’t know where Wayne is getting all the money to buy homes with, but more power to him if he can do it. His business must be doing very well. Looks like our bank account is building up pretty good. If we can keep going we will have plenty to start our business on. Have you heard if any one has as yet set up in Brigham City? I still think that is a good town for sporting goods. Say, did Lawrence ever send you the money for the pants I sent him? I remember you wrote me about it once, and then I never heard anything further. I was glad to hear Bill got his captain bars. I think he was well worth them, and thanks for sending his address. I will write him in a few days. Today has been the hottest we have had yet. Even in the shade you look like you had just stepped out of a shower. It seems as if it just can’t rain anymore. It would help my garden out if it would. My carrots came up today. As I was sitting here writing this letter tonight, an earthquake tremor shook the tent. For a minute I thot someone was trying to push the tent over. I am told they have them quite often out here. I have to do some laundry yet tonight so I better get at it. I am enclosing some pictures for you in this letter. With all my love, Reinhart 154 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 Oh, I forgot again. I got Cheryl’s bed at the Home Furniture Co. The fellow who waited on me – when I signed my name, said “Oh, do you know the Kowallis in Logan?” I said “Yes, they are related to me.” Then he perked up & said “Do you know Reinhart Kowallis?” Well – of course I knew him slightly. When he found out I was your wife, he said he was Howard Tribe & that he had been in Germany with you. He wanted to know all about you & wanted us to come & see them when you came home. He has been in the Army & now he is out. I believe he was wounded or something. Mom said she had heard something to that effect. Tomorrow is mutual & Relief Soc. so I guess I’ll turn in for the night. All My Love, Norma P.S. I hope the mice don’t get in you hair. But I was glad to know you hair is long enough to get hold of. P.S.S. Shall I send you a ball bearing mouse trap? Pleasant View, Utah 26 April 1945 Dearest Reinhart, How is my honey today? If only I could just see you & know for myself how you are. If only I could just pull your hair or scratch your head or your back or just do something so I would know you were real. Of course I know you are but it’s so nice having you close. I’ll be so glad when it can be that way again. Your letter came yesterday with the Japanese $5 bill & the propaganda. It was so interesting, but it sort of gave me a peculiar feeling. Dad read the articles allowd. I don’t see how they can expect our boys to believe such things. They must think our boys are dumb. Glena wants to take them over to school & show them in class. I told her she could if she would see that they were taken care of. It sounds so much fun swiming under water & spearing the fish. You will be such a water dog that we will probably have to build a boat house & live at sea to make you happy. Tuesday of course I had Relief Soc. & Mutual. Cheryl went to Relief Soc. with me & for the first time she was a naughty girl. If I didn’t let her down on the floor she would straighten out & yell. Then she wanted to take John Howard’s mittens away from him (he is 1½ years old). He gave her a kiss & she didn’t like it at all. I guess she thinks she too young for such things. Yesterday the San Francisco Conference began. I do hope they will figure out something to help our civilization. I was a little disappointed that they should begin such a momentous occassion without a united prayer. Oh they had a moment of silence, but to me this is one occassion when prayer should stand out as a very important part of the convention. Yesterday I just thought I would see if Cheryl could stand alone so I gave her that little silver cup you gave her (she just loves it) & she just stood there holding it alone for about 3 seconds. Then she discovered what she was doing & floped. Last night we had leadership meeting. Dad took charge of the meeting. It was held at the 7th ward. Dad was so frightened, but he got through all right. The Relief Soc. had a good meeting after we separated to Departments. The whole church is stressing in every meeting our welfare program. The future doesn’t sound to good but I think people who are living right will be happier than ever. The Relief Soc. is now to prepare to take care of as many or more people than were in need than there were in the last war. The church has extablished every kind of factory for manufacture of clothing except shoes. Now they are setting up a tannery & a shoe factory. The time is coming when not even trains or cars will travel & we will have to have these store houses in even the small communities. People will travel by horse & wagon. But our people will be prepared. We will be helping each other & for that reason I am sure people will be happier than they are now. They say that everyone should put their money into food & clothing. It makes you so you don’t know just what to do. The General Board member said that he envied the farmers because they were going to be the secure ones. To some people these things might be depressing, but I’m sure if other people can manage, we can too. I don’t mind depression or anything as long as I have you, our baby & we are all happy, & I am happy when you are here. So long for now honey. All My Love, Norma 155 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 156 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 26 April 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, Mom, Dad & I just came in from out in the garden. It is 9 o’clock now. We have been setting out some new rasberries. I held the plant while Dad dug the hole. Then we planted out some iris down that hill in front of our place bettween the fence & the road. We are going to try to crowd out the weeds. They have also planted grapes along our front fence. It is still rather cool outside. It snowed all over the mountains just Day before yesterday. Your letters came today telling about your chat with the native & your visit to his house. I wish you would tell me what his house was like. I enjoy hearing about all those things. You are really improving in you letter writing. They are all so interesting that I just want to hear more about it. If our bananas are the worst ones, those best ones must really be delicious. As to a pair of pants for Mitzie – Mom tried & tried to get LaMar to make her a pair, but somehow LaMar just didn’t get around to it. Glena has been home in bed for three day. She had a Streptoacocus throat & tonsilitis. I guess she will go back tomorrow. Mom had some kind of poison rash break out on her arms, but the Doctor gave her some medicine & it is going away slowly. I read in the paper that they had some print material in town. When I got there only one piece of material was left. I bought that for Glena. The Clerk said it was like a mad house in the morning. I then went over to visit Ruth at her new job. She was busy reading the stock quotations. I had until the 4 o’clock bus, so I went to the Show “National Velvet”. It was good I thought. I bought an Outdoor life, Sports Afield & the May Reader’s Digest. I guess you will have to count these Magazines as your birthday present until I think of something else. I surely would like to send you something. Good Night Honey – I hear our little daughter calling. I don’t know why she is awake at this hour of the night. Well I have her now. She had her head pushed into the corner & couldn’t get out. She is trying to grab this letter & squealing & Da Da’ing – Oh she thinks this is great being up at this time. She’s crawling up over my head & pulling my hair & Oh me – Goodnight Honey We Love You Very Much Norma & Cheryl Pleasant View, Utah [this letter is undated] Dear Reinhart, I hope I can get this in the mail. I’ll hurry & see if I can. I received a very sweet letter from Carmen. Ronald is now a 1st Lt. She wanted to know if you were a Capt. yet & then said ha! ha! about the way everyone used to write and ask that question. Yesterday Afternoon Sr. Williams, Sr. Dickamore, & myself (the Pres. of the Relief Soc.) went visiting teaching. We are going to try to cover the entire ward. We went down the lane where Uncle Henry lives & do you know as long as I had lived in this town, I hadn’t been in one of those houses I was in yesterday. Aunt Florence & Uncle Henry weren’t home. Cheryl was so happy to see me when I got home that I just had to take her for a walk. We took Karla & went up to the barn. She just jumped up & down & said bye, bye. The sweet little kid is here in her play pen beside me. The radio just started playing a tune so she is humming & jiggling up & down & eating a graham cracker in bettween. Now she is tired I guess ‘cause she laid down & is pretending like she is asleep I guess. I taped her fingers so she wouldn’t suck them & she keeps putting them in her mouth & then looking at them as if to say “What’s the matter? They sure don’t taste like they used to.” Now she has the rag doll I made for her swinging it around. She pulled the tasles off it’s sweater & now she’s trying to pull the one off it’s hat, but she loves it just the same. Now she has a spoon & she is pretending that she is eating. Oh dear, Karla just came in with a bouquet of Dandelions for her. I guess I’ll have to dash or she’ll be eating them. She likes them so well so long as she just looks I won’t bother her. Oh me she is eating them. I tried to teach her to smell them. She would go snif snif & then put them in her mouth so I took them & now She is squealing & standing looking hopefully at me. Now she’s bumped her chin & I had to kiss it better. She thinks it helps. LaMar has now brought a piece of snake grass to whistle at her. She is getting a big kick out of it. Glena is making a sun suit & Mom has been working in the yard. Dad is up getting the pipe line cleared out. 157 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 158 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 This is just a sketch of what we are all doing & not much news, but I do love you & miss you as I always will. May the time speed by until we can be together again. All My Love, Norma P.S. Yesterday Russia & Our forces met so maybe it won’t be long now. Pleasant View, Utah 29 April 1945 Dearest Reinhart, It is such a lovely day. On days like this I just wish more than ever that you could be here with me. You would enjoy it all so much. Walking through the orchards heavy with their pink & white blossoms. Strolling over the green hillside with the deep blue sky above, made bluer because of the white clowds here & there. Oh yes – & I must not forget the beautiful mountains in the background – Snow capped & snow down the side canyons. It is really lovely. We just couldn’t resist if all today so Audrey, Ruth & I persuaded LaMar to take us up to big pond in the truck. We took Karla with us. Cheryl wanted to go too, but I thought she was just a little young for such things. When we reached the top of the road, LaMar carried Karla on his back over to the pond. She just had a circus picking flowers & of course I did too – You know me & flowers. We picked Johnny Jump Ups – Dog Tooth Violets, & Star flowers. I took a few pictures so I’ll send them when I get them finished. I have a roll of black & white in our camera now & it seems like I’ll never get it finished. Everything is so pretty now I wish I had some colored film in it. I am sending this picture of Ruth to you. I hope you like it & maybe you can use it as a sample of your merchandise. Hope you can land a fish or something. Everyone has gone to Church tonight except Karla & Cheryl & myself. It is Jack Runsteds memorial service tonight. They will have military men there to take charge of part of the service. ---------Time out with the kids-----------Karla just did her no. 1 duty on the floor, so I had to give her a little paddling. Then I took Cheryl & her for a walk to make her feel better. Then we all went down to the basement to give Cheryl her bottle & put her to bed. Then Karla did no. 2 on the floor & I had to clean that up. You see she didn’t have any pants on as I couldn’t find one to put on her. Just before we came up she did no. 1 on the floor again. Now she is sitting on the toilet in the bathroom howling. She has learned to tell us when she has to go. I don’t know what ails her tonight, but she’s really doing things up brown. Well – now I have her sitting on the chair rocking & eating crackers with jam on it. She is smearing it all over her face. We are now all moved down into the basement. It seems rather good to have a spot of my own & to know that the bed is mine. It always worried me using Audrey’s. I never knew when I might damage it & it just makes me feel good to know I don’t have to worry about it. Cheryl likes here bed too. She thinks it is to play in instead of sleep in, but she is learning what it is for & she can’t fall out of it. Yesterday in Ogden they had whistles blowing & guns firing & everyone was celebrating the end of war, then Pres. Truman announced that there had been no official statement given & that the war in Germany had not ended. I guess it is near though & everyone is looking for it but I’ll believe it when I see our boys coming home. The war will not be over for me until I see you here safely with me again. That is what I am hoping & praying for. It will be a fine thing to have the war in Germany over, but I will save my celebrating until was is also over with Japan & you are free to return. Then I shall really celebrate. May that day come quickly. All My Love, Norma [Editor’s note: Jack Charles Runstedt, whose memorial service is mentioned in the above letter, was b. 16 November 1925 in Ogden, Weber County, Utah and died on 7 March 1945 of wounds received on Iwo Jima. He was a beach gunner with the 28th Marines, 5th Division, which landed on the first day of the invasion of Iwo Jima. He was a brother of an in-law of Norma’s Aunt, Julia Jensen Rose.] 159 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 160 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 30 April 1945 Hello Honey, So at last you got a few of my letters. I surely didn’t think they would see Okinawa before they reached you. I hope they hadn’t picked up any of those fleas, mosquitos, or other pests they say they have on that Island. I am so glad though that you were not there to receive them. I would much rather have you where you are. I hope Cheryl’s picture & the other I sent reach you one of these days. I’ll answer the questions you ask in this letter although I have answered them at least two or three times, but I’ll do it again just in case you don’t get the other letters. The colored shots have never arrived. I stopped in again last week & they still hadn’t come. I have never received the agate. I sent a card telling them I still wanted it. The $225 dollars arrived safe & sound. I have not bought any more bonds except that $100 bond at the first of the year. We now have about $2,000 in the bank. I believe that finishes the questions for today. I surely hope you receive some of my letters so you will know about all these things. You must think I am a pretty poor wife. Don’t tell me all my letters have gone to the bottom of the ocean. I failed to put Ruth’s picture in my letter yesterday, so here it is today. That Sgt. Gill must be a very fine fellow to say such nice things about my picture, but It pleased me a great deal more to have my own sweet husband say those nice things about me. I’m glad you’re garden is coming along so fine. By the time you get all the seed I sent, you will be able to start a seed store. I thought you could plant all over the island. I didn’t know you only had a limited space. Norma’s Mutual class holding Karla (in back) and Cheryl (in front). Photo probably taken in about October 1944. 161 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 162 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 Today I did two big washings. I started at 8 o’clock & finished at 4 o’clock so I’m rather tired. Phyllis, Wayne & family were just here. They are trying to buy a place in North Ogden. I haven’t seen Albert & Gay for ages. Audrey said Albert came in to get his check at the Railroad the other day – at least that’s what she thinks he was doing. She talked to him for a little while, but evedently they didn’t say much so I didn’t get any news. Guess I’ll go to be now & just sleep & dream of you. I do that quite often now it seems. Maybe that’s why I like to go to bed so well. Goodnight Sweetheart. Love, Norma Norma Kowallis, half-sister of Reinhart Kowallis, who had just returned from an LDS mission in 1945 and helped to get some missionary tracts for Norma Jensen Kowallis to send to Reinhart. 163 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 M29-C cargo carrier in a rice paddy being used to set up telephone lines shortly after the invasion of Okinawa in April 1945. Suicide bomber, called a “Baka Bomb,” by the American troops. Baka means fool or idiot in Japanese. These bombers were designed for short distance flight (about 20-25 miles) and were used to attack the American fleet. The nose of the plane was a bomb and the plane was powered by solid fuel rockets. Once off the ground, there was no going back. 164 Letters to the Paciic Norma - April 1945 Bishopbric of the Pleasant View Ward in 1945: Bishop Reuben G. Rhees, 1st Counselor Earl B. Cragun, and 2nd Counselor Mac M. Wade. All of these men are mentioned in Norma’s letters at various times. The photos are reproduced from the “History of Pleasant View, Utah” by Earl B. Cragun written as his Master’s thesis at Utah State Agricultural College in Logan, Utah in 1953. Ronald and Carmen Albright, army friends of Reinhart and Norma mentioned several times in these letters. 165 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - April 1945 Salt Lake City, Utah Deseret News front page on 1 May 1945. 166 The War in May 1945 By May of 1945 the end of the war in Europe is imminent and Reich Chancellor Joseph Goebbels and his wife, following the example of their former leader Adolph Hitler, first kill their children and then commit suicide on the 1st of May. The city of Berlin surrenders on the 2nd followed by German troops across Europe. As the war ends, the outside world gets their first glimpse at the horrors of the concentration camps. Victory in Europe (V-E day) is officially declared on May 8th. Toward the end of May, Heinrich Himmler the head of the German secret service also commits suicide. On the Pacific front, the invasion of Okinawa is plodding along. After quickly pushing onto the island in early April and capturing the central and northern parts, things bog down as the allies press toward the south where the Japanese are entrenched. The Japanese inflict substantial damage on the U.S. fleet by using suicide “Kamikaze” pilots. Fighting also continues on New Guinea and in the Philippines. Nagoya and Yokohama, important cities on the mainland of Japan are heavily bombed on the 14th and 23rd, respectively. Reinhart is still on Guam, but makes another trip over to Okinawa as part of his duties. He is also certain that his group of photo interpreters will be moving to Okinawa fairly soon. Okinawa, Reinhart reports, has cold nights unlike the mild pleasant nights on Guam. He is still tending his victory garden and things initially look good as the melons and other seeds sprout and begin to grow. But then they get attacked by ants and fungus making Reinhart worry if they will ever produce. Reinhart’s roommate Martin has a native boy doing his laundry and on one occasion, Reinhart spends some time talking with the lad. This conversation he reports in his letter to Norma, who is always so interested in what the natives are like and what they do. A flame-throwing American tank blasts away at a Japanese position on Okinawa in 1945. 167 May 1945 This month during his spare time, Reinhart plays a lot of volleyball with the other officers, but then complains that he never manages to get onto the winning team. He also continues his collecting of shells and coral to send home. On May 11th, he takes a fishing trip up along the coast with some other officers who have refitted a Japanese landing craft as a fishing boat. They don’t catch any fish, but have an enjoyable and interesting time nonetheless. Best of all, Reinhart gets a few outdoor-type magazines from Norma. He reads them from cover to cover. Mother’s Day comes and the LDS branch has a nice program. Reinhart sends V-mail cards home to Norma and to his mother-in-law, Ethel and also sends Norma a tropical flower, which she claims still has a sweet smell when it arrives in Utah. Spring and fruit tree blossoms and rain and even a little snow are all part of May in Utah. In addition, President Heber J. Grant, prophet of the LDS Church dies on May 14. Norma, along with her daughter Cheryl and her parents and siblings, travels to Salt Lake City to view the prophet and attend his funeral. The people crowding into the Tabernacle for the funeral frighten Cheryl, so Norma misses most of the funeral, but does see the funeral procession led by the members of the First Presidency and other apostles. Cheryl continues to be adorable–most of the time–but does end up getting her first spanking for being too much of a wiggle worm when Norma is trying to pin on her diapers. Karla and Cheryl seem 128° le Shima 26° 30’ 26° 30’ APRIL 4 Okinawa Is. Yontan Landing Beaches APRIL 1 Keise Is. Naha APRIL 4 APRIL 30 Shuri JUNE 14 0 10 20 30 MILES 128° Map of Okinawa showing the lines of advance for the American troops. They moved fairly quickly to control the central and northern part of the island, but it took much longer to secure the south where the Japanese had strong defenses and were determined to fight to the death. 168 May 1945 not to have quite so many struggles in May as they have earlier in the year. On the grounds of the Jensen home, new plants are planted, the garden is sewn, and an outdoor fireplace erected by a neighbor, Bernard Cragun, who struggles to work as quickly as Ethel Jensen would like. The quality of the work is not very good either and the outdoor fireplace falls into disrepair in a few short years. On one Spring day an interesting man passes through town and after scaring Norma off, he spends much of the day visiting with her mother, Ethel. He claims to be a lawyer heading for Brigham City, Utah where he is to defend a man in jail. His story, however, does sound just a bit odd and Norma wonders if he might be a little crazy. The town celebrates V. E. day a little prematurely on May 7th and then again on the 8th when the official declaration comes. Norma on one day is left with three babies to care for while the rest of the family hike up to Pine Canyon, a favorite family spot at the base of Ben Lomond. She decides to load the three (Cheryl, Karla, & Lynette) up and go to Relief Society meeting. Halfway along the block to the church, however, Lynette begins to fuss and Norma decides to turn back. A few minutes later along the stretch of road where she would have been walking, a car full of teenagers veers off and crashes. Towards the end of the month, Norma helps plan a ward (town) party. The old Pleasant View school is to be torn down and the occasion calls for horse pulling contests, food, and fun. A view to the SW over the strait of water called Unten Ko between one of Okinawa’s many smaller islands (left) and the main island (right). This harbor was a Japanese submarine and PT boat base during WW II. The rugged, mountainous terrain of northern Okinawa can be seen in the distance. 169 May 1945 Celebration festitval in Isikawa on the island of Okinawa in May 1945 after the liberation of this area by the American troops. 170 May 1945 171 Reinhart - May 1945 Guam 1 May 1945 Dear Norma, Two very sweet letters came from you today. One of them made me feel like a heel for saying what I did in a letter some time back. It seems that the poor mail service was the cause of my thinking what I was. You have realy been very good about sending me everything I have asked for. If it does not get here it is no fault of yours. I am glad you were able to get a bed for Cheryl and yourself. They certainly do charge for that stuff these days. I hope you were able to get a good one so it can be used later on. I was sort of hoping you would just get a good single bed for yourself so Cheryl could use it later on. What is the couch like that you got? Does it open up into a double bed? Are you & Cheryl going to use the same corner Audrey had or have you made room some other place? When we build us a home, I would like to have a large basement like Beth has, then we can put in rooms and let most of our 12 kids sleep down there. Don’t try to send me anything for my birthday because if it were something to use I couldn’t use it out here, and anything eatable would spoil before it got this far. Payday rolled around again today. I sent another $75 home to you. That will sort of balance up your expenses this month. I don’t think I spent more than $10 during the month. There just is nothing to spend money on out here so long as there isn’t I should be able to send $50 home each month. It will help out a little. Maybe we will get the money we need to start our business yet. So you met my old friend Howard Tribe. I have often wondered what became of him. Your meeting him sort of brings back old memories. He was with me all the way to Germany and we almost came back together. If you drop by his place again stop in and tell him hello for me. You might even ask him for his address. I may get around to droping him a letter. I certainly am getting big hearted writing all these people. It must be an improvement in me. Now don’t get the wrong idea about my hair. It isn’t long enough for the mice to get in. It is just long enough for them to slide on. And don’t worry about it getting longer, I am having it cut down to the bald again tomorrow. As long as I am out here that is the way I am going to keep it, but think nothing of it. From now on when I have a picture taken, I will keep my hat on so it will make no difference. Yes we can use a ball bearing mouse trap. I can feed it on cocoanut milk if it can’t find enough mice. So you are using black & white film in the 35 mm camera. What’s the matter, did you run out of color? I thot you just got some the other day. I found out while I was on Okinawa that we are going to get our team camera yet, so I’ll have one around after all. I’ll bet you are beginning to think I never will send the coral & shells I have, but I am just waiting till I get enough of them to be worth sending. Don’t give up hope. I’ll send them some day. So Ruth got herself a job on the stock market. I can’t imagine her shouting quotations all day. I’ll bet she doesn’t even say pass the butter when she gets home at night. Thank you for the peach blossoms. Do you think if I hang them out in the sun they will bear peaches? Boy, would I like to be home for peach time this year. I haven’t had my fill of them for three years. Yes, I received a couple of the town news papers while I was in Oahu, but none since. As to the Era, I don’t think it will ever catch up to me because my address changes to often. If they would give it to you and let you send it out I may have a chance of getting it. I have a little sore throat tonight, and I can’t figure out how come. I must have caught cold while on Okinawa. I slept with two blankets over me and still about froze. I was glad to hear of Spence’s promotion. There is no doubt in my mind but that he is well worth it. I would like to have a man like him on my team. As it is I have two staff Sgts. who should be Pfcs. 172 Norma - May 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 1 May 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, I guess I am really getting terrible. I stayed home from mutual tonight, but I went out & helped out in the garden. It was so beautiful outside, one of those brilliant sunsets. I have never seen a more beautiful spring. Accross the street, the pink & white blossoms of the orchard intermingle. Then in front of our place our flowering peach is more beautiful & more brilliant than ever. Looking from our window where the yellow forsithia makes a frame for all this beautiful color it just makes me want to put it all in this letter & send it to you so you could enjoy it too. When I came home from Relief Soc. I took Cheryl & we went for a little tour with the camera. I took 20 pictures. I wanted to get these black & white pictures taken so I can get a colored roll in. Karla came along too & every time I went to take a picture Karla would put herself in front of Cheryl. We took pictures with the kittens & the pups & the blossoms & the play pen & just all kinds of things. I hope they turn out good. Cheryl was 9 months old today. Beth Payne came along with her baby while I was out taking the pictures. Her baby is a month younger than Cheryl & weighs 2 lbs more than Cheryl – but he can’t even sit up entirely by himself & here Cheryl can stand 2 or three seconds alone & she tries to say diaper & shoe & sock & bath & she says bye bye, ma -ma & da-da very plain. She surely sleeps good in her new bed. In her buggy she would get into such terrible positions that it would wake her up, now she just sleeps & sleeps. Now I must hie me away to my little nest in the trees, or should I say my burrow in the ground. Well goodnight Sweetheart & come home soon. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 2 May 1945 Dearest Reinhart, The carrier pidgeon was really good to me today. Do you know he brought me two letters and all of those super pictures. I have them in front of me now & I just think they are swell. Yes I can see you precious alarm clock (It must have been 28 min after five). Then I can see the box of Lux, mentholatum, canteen, the coral you are going to send me I hope, some books & several other things. I think your little place is wonderful. Those fellows must have really been working to build all that furniture. How come you didn’t help? I always thought you were good at things like that. I read an article about how the fellows on Gwam were making furniture out of all kinds of crates & they even built houses. Is that what they used to build their furniture? The lamps are really quite modernitic. That is really an ingenious little cupboard for storing your woolen clothes. I hope it doesn’t let the clothes touch the light & burn them. Yes, I see your laundry. It looks nice. I guess it’s the lux. Dad says if that is as big as the bananas grow, he would rather just have the low grade bananas & have them big but maybe if he tasted them he would change his mind. It seems so funny to see my picture sitting there – If only it were me instead of just my picture. Who is the sweet baby? Is that Martinsen’s baby or Fran’s? Say are Martin and Fran 1st Lt’s too & so all three of you live together. Why don’t you get a picture of the boys on your team? Does Martin & Fran have teams too or do some other kind of work? Whose wife is the other picture of? Now I can’t understand about those pictures of the Phillippines. The one picture says “A party on the Phillippines – I am not on it” – Do you mean you are not on the picture or you are not on the Phillipines? Are they members of the Church or what? Lawrence sent me the money some time ago. I’ll get those books to send to that fellow. It’s too bad I sent you “The Great Apostacy” but maybe you can give it to someone else to read. I hope they still have some left at the book store. Today I finished taking the black & white film. I hope some of them turn out good. I have put the colored roll in & have been reading up on the use of the camera so I can get some good shots. Cheryl stood several times alone today for at least a minute. She knows I want her to stand up so she just bends her knees & refuses to stand at all some of the time. Karla poured 173 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 I don’t recall your mentioning Reuben and Earl before, but it looks to me [like] Reuben is getting the better deal. The house may fall apart some day, but the house [?land?] will always be there. Isn’t Ray in on the deal some where? I guess Earl needs the bigger house, however, he has the most kids. I would like to have part of the land they have up there. Let me know how Cheryl likes her new bed. I’ll bet she thinks it’s a play pen. In a couple of months she’ll be climbing on the top of it. You will have to put a tie over the top to keep her in. I wish I were there to have some fun with her. Tell every one hello for me, and may the time be short until I can be with you again. Love, Reinhart Guam 2 May 1945 Hello Darling, It seems to be getting hotter by the day back here. This is the dry season, and there is no mistake about that. If we could only have some of the rain we were having when I first got down here. I can see now that the time to plant a garden would be about in Dec. or Jan. Then when the dry season came along the plants would have roots deep enough to take care of themselves. Not that my garden isn’t all right. The water melons and cantalopes are doing swell. I got a letter from Dad today. He sent it on the 21 March regular mail and it just got here today. Some difference between Air mail and the other. The folks seem to be enjoying themselves since Dad sold out. It’s just to bad they can’t get more gas so they could go places during the summer months. As it is they will have to content themselves with a couple of trips to Bear Lake, or maybe just up the canyon. Dad said he hadn’t heard from Fred since I left Oahu. I sort of think Fred is down on Okinawa although I can’t say for sure. But I do know they were to leave about the same time we did. However, by this time Dad may have received a letter and will know. I will write Dad tonight, and then if Fred is on Okinawa he can let me know. Next time I get up that way I will look him up. I was not very busy this afternoon so I took the picture you sent me of Cheryl and made a frame for it. She surely is a cute little bug. I think we should have named her Happy Jack. She is always laughing. Must be her mother she takes after. Every time I look at her picture I could just about reach out for her. I am curious to know how she likes her new bed. Does she get mad when she can’t tip it over and get out like she used to the buggy? Just about every afternoon we get up a volley ball game among the officers. I don’t know why, but it seems I am always on the side that almost wins, but doesn’t. One of these days I’ll get on a wining side. Anyhow it is a lot of fun, and gives me just enough exercise to make me feel good. And that is one thing. For the most part I have been feeling good down here. My worst ailment is a touch of home sickness now and then. Perhaps in a year I can be back with you. Love, Reinhart Guam 3 May 1945 Hello Darling, Just a note tonight to let you know I still love you. I have a few things to take care of yet this evening as well as try to get a couple of hours sleep before 10:00 on account of I am going to be up all night. We had a game of volley ball again this afternoon, but it was so hot I almost melted. Mr. Coffey has some pictures of a game we played the other day. As soon as he has some made up, I’ll send you a couple of them. The news in Germany realy sounds good. I wish we were that near to the end over here. I hope it won’t be more than a year until we can put a stop to things. It will certainly be wonderful to take you in my arms again. Love, Reinhart 174 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 talcum powder on her so thick today that she looked like she had grey hair. I just have to watch every minute or Karla is stuffing her with soda crackers & graham crackers. She slobbers on the cracker & then gives Cheryl a bite. She gives Cheryl a shove. Cheryl gets up & then Karla loves her ever so sweetly & kisses her, then bang she pushes her again & I come dashing to the rescue. “No, No. Karla - you mustn’t do that to little Cheryl, Now be nice to Cheryl” & so she loves her again. That’s the way it goes all day. I will go to town tomorrow & get the things you ask for & also look again for something to send for your birthday. The news looks so good today. Berlin has fallen & the Germans in Italy have surrendered. It doesn’t seem possible that it can last much longer. Then Hitler is reported dead, but the man who replaced him looks worse if anything. But even he can’t accomplish the impossible. We keep our radio on all day so we won’t miss hearing the news telling that Germany has surrendered. It can’t come to soon to suit me & if only the Japanese will give in then we can soon be together again. That will be so very wonderful. God Bless You Sweetheart. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 3 May 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Just back from another unsuccessful shoping trip. Honestly, I hunted up & down those streets for 3 hrs looking for something to send for your birthday. I decided I would send some candy packed in a can. Dad got some Kraft Karmels the other day so I thought I’d put some of them, some filled hard candy & some other candy – but do you know look as I would I couldn’t find a carmel or anything but chocklates & I knew they wouldn’t do. I did get some filled hard candy. Finally I decided to get another book. It is the latest one put out by Jos. F. Smith. If you can’t carry it with you then donate it to the Church or someone. I will try to find something else to put in the box but I just didn’t know what to send you. I also got the Book of Mormon & Great Apostacy & I’ll send it off tomorrow. Tonight Audrey, Karla, Cheryl & myself went down to out new pasture with LaMar & Daddy to milk the cows. The pasture is down that lane by Barrett’s old place. Audrey & I picked asparagus. Karla had fun running from LaMar to Daddy & having them squirt milk in her mouth. Cheryl just stood & looked. She was so amazed at the truck. I keep trying to get her to stand up. If she isn’t thinking about it she will do it, but when she thinks she sits down. I just hold her up by her hand & she’ll just buck until she gets away. Laura Christofferson’s husband Glen who was on Gwam looked for you at church but said they had never heard of you. I’m beginning to suspect that you must be on the Phillipines & yet I can’t see how that can be. It is most confusing. Do you ever get our home town paper? Audrey types it & she is afraid you’ll think she writes it – but she doesn’t. The one this time mentions your birthday. Golly – all of a sudden I discover everyone else has gone to bed & here I am still up & they didn’t even say goodnight or anything. I wish you were here to crawl in with me. The pictures you send made me all the more anxious to see you (If that is possible). They were all swell, even the one where you looked sort of dreamy – I just imagined that maybe you were thinking of me & my old heart just skipped a beat. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 7 May 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, Everyone is in a dither this morning. News came that V. E. day had been declared – this news came just before breakfast. However, Truman did not verify it. I had an appointment with the dentist. I didn’t know wheather he would be in his office or not but I decided to take a chance on it. Leaving the house I could hear the whistles in Ogden blowing. I went on over to the bus. LaRue Williams and her sister were there. They were all excited about the news. When the bus came it was filled with people coming home from work. They said we might as well not go down because no one was working. I took a chance though & sure enough my Dentist was still on the job. While I was having them cleaned, I saw a flag being raised over Penny’s 175 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 Guam 7 May 1945 Hello Darling, I am so sorry I have not been able to get you a letter off every day, and I fear there will be times like this right along from here out. It is just one of those things. But I love you just as much, and think of you just as often. I just got back from Okinawa so if this letter is not very long it is because I am tired. I wrote you a V-mail letter from Okinawa, but just in case you don’t get it, I will mention again that you can get me a all metal wrist watch band for my birthday. That should make you very happy. Stainless steel is best if it is to be had. Be sure and send it air mail because I need it. Oh, I finally got the picture of Cheryl. It came into Okinawa while I was up there. Ray got a picture of his family that was sent about the same time. I realy like the picture of Cheryl, but I think I will keep the smaller one because it is easier to carry around with me. I’ll send the large one back as you suggested. 176 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 Cheryl in the garden showing off how well she can stand and laugh in spring 1945. 177 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 Last week when I took off I left the boys some bananas that were just getting ripe thinking they would surely eat them. When I came back tonight they were still hanging there only they had spoiled by now. Just wait till I leave some thing good for these guys to let it spoil. I won’t. Oh well, I have another nice bunch just coming on, and this time I’ll be here to see that they are eaten. Well, My Darling, I must get to bed tonight, but I’ll write you again tomorrow. Love, Reinhart Guam 8 May 1945 Dearest Norma, I have been so busy today I have hardly had time to think, but in the evening my thots always come back to you. Now if you would just come over for a visit I could give you some of these ripe bananas that are hanging above my head. Another day and they will be just right to eat. Oh yes, and my canalopes are starting to bloom already. The watermelons aren’t doing so well, however. The ants have their cows feeding on them, and you know what that does. Before I forget, I want to mention that Martin got a box from home yesterday, and in it was a piece of fruit cake. It was still perfectly good when it got here. She had it very well packed. So if you want to send me one be sure and pack it good and air tight, and it will get here OK, I think. Also, if when you send me magazines you will put them in large brown envelopes or wrap them good then send them first class mail they will get to me faster. Martin has received several things from Wis. that were sent after the date that you say the first magazines were sent to me, and I still haven’t received any of mine. Did you send mine first class mail? Martin has one of the native boys do his laundry. This evening he was here and we have been asking him about the treatment the Japs gave them, and some of the native customs. He said the Japs that could speak english treated them quite well. The others he said were mean to them. They had to work for the Japs who paid them one yen a day (about 25¢). He said he worked in a mine, and when ever the Japs were not watching them they would stop working, and sit down. They always kept some one watching so when the Japs came back they would start working. If they ever got caught they were beaten, and often killed. Food got rather scarce during the months of occupation. Some times they had no sugar, salt, or rice, and they had to give the Japs half of every thing they raised. The Japs took nearly all the live stock. This lad wants to go to the States after the war. He says out here you can’t take a girl out after dark or her father or brother will kill you. All the courting has to be done in the family or at church. They sort of[f] many the gals and count them after. He has sort of a distorted idea about all these high paying jobs in the States. He thinks that after the war he will be able to go back there and get a job for $50 to $80 a week. We tried to discourage him on that point. Here, when ever a native family kills a cow they call the neighbors in and divide it with them. He said he didn’t think they did that in America, and how true it is. In regard to the American invasion, one of the boys asked him, “How was it, pretty hot here when the Americans came?” He said, “Oh no, it was a cold, rainy day.” Did we laugh. On Sunday, I was able to go to church with Ray on Okinawa. There were about 10 of us there as I remember. None from Ogden but myself. Chaplain Curtis was with us. He is going on leave soon so we may not see him again. It being the first of the month, we held a testimony meeting. They other night on Okinawa, Ray and I were walking around about ¼ mile from camp looking for berries, etc. with no thot of Japs being around, but the next day when I went back up alone, the engineers told me they had just flushed a couple out of the very area we had been walking through. They had a patrol looking for them then. Guess I’ll have to stay in camp from now on. The last night I was there, there was no air raid but the Japs were shelling the Air field. About eight in the evening one of the boys was coming across the field in a jeep with a Col. when a shell landed some where around. He made a comment on it, but the Col. said, “Oh that’s only our own artillery.” About two minutes later a shell 178 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 store. The Dentist was just awaiting Truman’s confermation so he could quit. Leaving the dentist I was surprised to find all the stores closed and very few people on the streets. There seemed to be no celebrating atmosphere which is as it should be. After all the war is not over & it won’t be until the Japs also surrender. I went over to see Ruth & watch her bending up and down writing the stock quotations on the black Board. Then we watched the ticker tape. The news came “Truman Officially declares V. E. Day.” But even then he had not given his report over the radio & we found that Stalin was holding up the works. I finally decided to go out to Phyllis. As I rode out on the bus I heard the news that all the stores would open again at 12 noon because of this confusion. Joe Limburg, his wife & baby were just arriving as I arrived at Phyllis. But even though they are here I decided to get this letter written to you. They want me to go up the canyon with them. Phyllis, Wayne & the boys are going but I think I would rather be home with Cheryl & see if there is a letter from you. I am truely thankful for this Victory & only hope & pray that Victory may come in the Pacific. I haven’t had a letter for 3 days from you so I am hoping I will have one today. I do Love You so Very Much. If this day means you shall be home sooner then I’m glad. God Bless You My Darling. Love, Norma 179 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 Orders from the Tenth Army to Lt. Reinhart Kowallis prior to his excursion to Okinawa to deliver intelligence materials, probably gathered by his photo interpretation team. 180 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 181 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 Cheryl in the garden laughing with the tulips in spring 1945. landed within a hundred yards of them. That was more convincing, and they got out of there in nothing flat. About midnight the shells were screaming over our tents. I know of no sound that will make chills run up and down ones spine more than a passing artillery shell. When ever we hear them coming we always make the comment, “Well, sounds like Millimeter Pete’s at it again.” So far it has not been dangerous for us, just annoying. No one gets much sleep. The things you write me about the future sort of make me wonder if we should start a business or not. But I guess we can decide that when I get home. I do believe that shortly after the war money will be one hard item to get the hands on. Oh yes, more about Okinawa. I was setting in Ray’s tent when a shortage of chairs came up. I asked them why they didn’t go out and get some from the deserted houses. Ray just laughed and said, “ they don’t have any. You are sitting on one of their tables now.” And sure enough I was. The tables are only a foot high. The people always sit and sleep on the floors. I’ll send Cheryl’s picture back tomorrow along with a couple of other photographs I have. I can’t think of any more news tonight. Anyhow, this is about all I can put in one Air mail letter. Love, Reinhart Guam 9 May 1945 Hello Darling, One of the letters I sent you came back to me today because I had forgotten to put a stamp on it. It was only a little letter anyhow. This has just been one of those normal days with not very much doing. About 3:30 this afternoon I went out and played volley ball. I know it can’t be all my fault, but it seems I can never get on the winning team. I haven’t 182 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 183 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 Sergeant Jack E. Gill shell hunting at Naha Beach on Okinawa in July 1945. Sgt. Gill was part of Reinhart’s aerial photography interpretation team. Native boy on Okinawa in about July 1945. Reinhart took many photos of the native people and particularly loved to photograph the children. 184 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 The Jensen barbecue grill being built in May 1945. From left to right: Bernard Cragun, Glena Jensen, Karla Garner, Cheryl Kowallis, Ethel Jensen. 185 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 been to a show for about two weeks so that is what I shall do tonight. I wrote Bill a letter last night. He may be back in the states by the time he gets it, and then again he might even be sent over into this theater. Who knows, I may run into him on Okinawa one of these days. I have an idea Fred is up there. When Dad writes me again maybe he can give me some information about him. It certainly seems good to be back here after spending a few days on Okinawa. I don’t like the cold, damp climate up there. Must be I am getting soft. I about freeze at nights up there, and here it is realy comfortable sleeping with just a sheet over me. The remnants of war left behind on Okinawa. Top: a naval mine on the beach near Naha. Bottom: a Japanese landing barge. 186 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 9 May 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, Two very sweet letters came from you today. I see you are getting plenty of excercize playing ball. It sounds fun & I’m glad you are feeling so good. I wish I could see the frame you made for Cheryl’s picture. What is it made out of? I hope your garden gets plenty of water. Do you carry water to it every day? I’ll be looking for a watermellon from it, you know. Of course I’ll probably look a long time. It will probably be like the book & candy I sent to you. They will probably catch up with you when you get home. I don’t know how the candy will reach there or if it ever will, but I already had it when you wrote saying not to send anything so I sent it just the same. I was going to fill one of those 5 lb. boxes with stuff, but I decided to just send the tin can full. It is hard candy but it will prove to me wheather things can be sent or not. The book I think you will enjoy if it ever reaches you. It is a series of radio talks given by Jos. F. Smith, proving various points of our doctrine. I don’t believe I mentioned that I sent those two books off to your friend (Stanley H. Young). It sounds like you are expecting to make some more trips to Okinawa. I hope not but if you do it would be nice to look Fred up. From reports we receive here it sounds like they are still having some tough fighting on that Island. I guess they must send you over to get your photographs so that you can draw up maps of the territory to be invadid. I hope you will be careful, but then I know you will. It has been quite warm here the past few days. Yesterday having been officially declared V. E. day, Ruth didn’t have to work but Audrey did and I had to go to Relief Soc. at 10 o’clock to sew – so you can see I was carrying out the Pres. orders to “Keep working.” About 1 o’clock Ruth came over. Phyllis & Wayne & family had come out to get us to go up to Pine Canyon. Mom & I were both at the church & I knew it would[n’t] be right for me to leave when I was at the head of an organization, but I didn’t want Ruth to have to stay at home just to take care of the kids so I dashed home with the idea of getting Cheryl & Karla & bringing them back with me, but when I reached the porch I saw Lynette too. Well I didn’t know how I could manage with three but I told them to run along & I’d get by some how. After they left I fed Cheryl – put a clean dress on Karla. Then sat Cheryl with her legs around Lynette in the buggy. Then holding on to Karla’s hand we started out. We had just about reached Donny Cragun’s when Lynette set to crying. I don’t know why but I just turned around & came home. A few minutes later Mom came home and told us that and accident had happened in front of Burnard Cragun’s. A car with two girls & two boys had skidded accross the road & into a tree. If I had continued on with the kids, I would have probably been right where it took place. I’m glad Lynette cryed. The car was just ruined & the kids only were bumped & bruised a little. We went to Mutual in the evening. It was a musical program & all out of Town talent. It was really good. One fellow played the trombone & when he & his wife stood up to leave I was surprised to see that his wife was none other than my old friend Marion Parrish, now (Mrs. Rasband). You know I worked up in Yellowstone with her. You stopped down at the College Drug store in Salt Lake. She made us a delux Banana Special the day we stopped in. Now they are living in Ogden & have two children. They came over after mutual & I woke Cheryl up to show her off. They thought she was cute & Max had a good time playing with her. She pulled his tie & had fun too. Of course like all parents they had more fun telling about the achievements of their own children. Today has been wash day, but it was really nice out hanging things out. Cheryl played & watched the cars & waved every time anyone looked at her. I let her just run around in her bed until she gets tired then she lays down & goes to sleep. She likes it so much & doesn’t mind going to bed at all. It used to make her so mad she would just buck around & try to get out, but now she just sleeps when she gets ready & usually it is only a few minutes until she is ready. Then she jabbers a little when she wakes up & I run down & get her. Dad went up to Pine Canyon yesterday too & he says he has never seen such a big stream up there before. It was so big they couldn’t hike up the canyon, so I guess we will have plenty of water this year. It won’t be so long now until I will see you again so don’t keep saying a year. You have said a year ever since you went away. By now it ought to be a little less than that, don’t you think. I was just wondering today how you would come, by plane or train & where I would meet you & how you would like Cheryl & I was hoping I could get fat so you wouldn’t think I was too thin – but then I know you’ll like me even if I can’t give heat in the winter & shade in the summer. Oh – it will really be swell that day when you come home. All My Love, Norma 187 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 Is Lamar still going in the Navy this spring? What dose Audrey hear from Spence? I wonder if he will get to come back to the states for a short time. It’s just about show time so here’s loving you, Reinhart Guam 10 May 1945 Hello Darling, The picture you sent of Ruth came today. My but she looks nice. I think I’ll come home and court her myself. I went to the show tonight. One of those double feature horse operas. If only you had been there to hold my hand maybe I would have stayed to see them through. You were always the major attraction of any show I ever took you to anyhow. I went swimming this afternoon and found a few more little shells, as well as some more coral. The coral is very pretty, but oh how it does smell. After it drys for a few days, the smell will mostly leave. It is a brownish-green color, tipped with blue. I think a lot of the color will fade out, but it should still look pretty. My Outdoor Life came today. Thanks so much for sending it. You don’t know how much I enjoy reading them out here. It sort of takes me back to the good old days of deer hunting, and the summer fishing trips with you & the folks up at Mirror Lake. I would surely like to take the folks up into the West Fork some time. I have often wondered what has taken place on the Wasatch forest since the war. I have never heard whether they are doing any control work up there or not. I doubt that they are able to get the men any more. I guess the bugs are just living in peace. Good night Sweetheart. Love, Reinhart Guam 11 May 1945 Dearest Norma, Today has been a vacation for me. We left this morning at 8:00 for an all day fishing trip. Now to ease the suspense on your mind, we didn’t get any fish. Not even one, in fact not even one bite. But after all who ever heard of any one going fishing to fish. Any how, we went out in a converted Jap landing barge. It was fixed up very nice with a cabin, in front of which is a nice deck. Then in the rear is a bench where the fishermen sit and troll. We went down the coast 15 or 20 miles. At noon we stoped at a little village. It was low tide so every one got out and walked around on the beach looking for what interested them most. One of the fellows, a painter, got a little native boy to pose for him, and he made a sketch of him in colored chalk. He realy made a good sketch, and then afterward he gave the little boy 25¢ for standing still so long. Jack & I went looking for shells. When the little native kids found out what we were doing they started gathering them, and giving them to us. Most of what they brought me were not much good, but I accepted them with all the gratitude I could muster. Before we left the village, we ate our lunch. Every one had to fix their own sandwiches so you can bet they were good. The ham was cut half an inch thick, with plenty of butter and relish to go along. Then we had olives, hard boiled eggs, bananas, coffee, coke, and grapefruit juice. I drank grapefruit juice. After eating we shoved off again. I just sat around and enjoyed the ride and scenery in the afternoon. You know every time I go looking for shells I always think of you. I guess it’s because you were so much fun when we used to look for shells in Calif. and Mass. You must have taken a lot of pictures in a couple of days. I hope they all turn out, and they should if you use the light meter right. Oh yes, all the questions you asked me about the pictures I sent. The baby is Fran’s as well as the Frau. Martin didn’t have a picture of his wife here at the time. He doesn’t have any children. Fran’s baby is now about 20 months old. She is starting to talk and every thing his wife writes him about her he tells us. Yes, Martin is a 1st Lt, and Fran is a Navy ensign. We now have another ensign with us so that makes four of us in the same tent living together. Martin is part of my team, but Fran is part of Photo group #2. Interpron two is part of Photo 188 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 11 May 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, Last night it rained and now the sun is shining and it’s so beautiful out side. Everything is fresh & sparkling. Yesterday Mom & Dad went to town & I took care of Karla & Cheryl. When they came home they brought with them 75 little chicks. Karla & Cheryl were just crazy about them. We practically have to stand over them all of the time to keep Karla from killing the whole lot. Cheryl so far is surprisingly careful with them & also with the puppies. She just touches them so carefully & then looks up at me so surprised & laughs. Our fireplace is just about finished now & it really looks nice. Burnard has been working the past two days so he hasn’t done anything to it. Won’t you come home & have some hamburgers with us? When we get a place we’ll have to build an outdoor fire place. I still wish we could get a piece of land here in Pleasant View. Maybe something will turn up latter on. Your clothes you sent home finally arrived yesterday. It’s been so long since you sent them that I can’t even remember what you wanted me to do with them. I guess you just want them all put away with your other things. I am making a print dress for Mom for mother’s Day. I just started last night so I will really have to work if I get it done. You just can’t buy anything, so I decided to make something. I can hardly wait for the day when I can meet you & show off our little Cheryl to you. I just know you will love her. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 12 May 1945 Dearest Reinhart, How is my sweetheart today. I just hope you are still on the same island & not gadding around on Okinawa. I haven’t had a letter for two days & so I start wondering if you are making such a trip. The news comentator has just been telling about the island of Okinawa. He says that disease is one of the biggest enemies & that the have quite a little trouble with the poisonous snakes. It doesn’t sound like any picnic. They say it is one of the best fortified of all islands. I see that already they have started releasing some of the soldiers & already they are getting ready to send men to relieve all of you out in the Pacific. Soon with these armies united we will be able to have a real V Day. Tomorrow has been set aside by Pres. Truman as a Day of Prayer. I was glad to see our leaders remembering God & placing their trust in Him. We are having quarterly conference tomorrow & even though it is Mother’s Day i imagine a great deal of the time will be given over to prayer & thanksgiving for this victory in Europe. Cheryl is sound asleep now. I just let her run around in the bed & finally she goes to sleep. She always picks the place where the quilts are piled highest then she goes to sleep & I have a difficult time finding a quilt to put over her. I put a little foot stool in her play pen & now she climbs up on top of it & tries to get out of the pen so I guess I’ll have to take it out. She is getting so she knows what she wants & if she is headed for something or doing something she likes & you try to take her away, she really gets huffy. Mom says that’s the only way they have of letting you know what she wants & when she gets old enough to let you know some other way she will get over it. For instance, if she is watching the chickens & I try to take her away she just starts kicking her feet & straightens out. I never give in to her so I doubt that It will last long. But she is still the best baby & everyone says she is. She plays all day all by herself & I never have to spend time amusing her only when I have time & want to do it for my own amusement –which happens quite often. But then I want her to have a mind of her own so I don’t want to do away with her inititive entirely. She has the cutest sunburn accross her nose & under her eyes. She will probably look like an indian before the summer is over. You ought to see her rock in Karla’s little rocker. She just makes it go back & forth. Yesterday the picture came back to me. The colored ones I took. I’m afraid I’m not quite as good at taking pictures as you are but they are fair. The one of you & Wayne Duck Hunting was good. Since I took that roll I have read & studied up on taking pictures so the next ones will probably be super pictures. Last night I just lay there in bed thinking about you & recalling every feature of your face. I could see the whiskers on your chin growing so close together. The way they grow on your neck under your chin (you never could get them too short). 189 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 group two. It is sort of like a Co. being part of a Battalion. Fran does lithographic work. The pictures of the Phillippines are some that Fran took a few weeks ago while he was down there. I have never been to the Phillippines. Speaking of Cameras. I have a friend out here who just sold a used Argus C-3 for $100, and the range finder, and numbering dial were both broken. It’s a good think we have ours at home. I might be tempted to sell it out here, and I doubt that we could get another one for a long time. Anyhow, I expect to have our team camera available as soon as Martin gets back from Okinawa. It looks like the only solution to your problem with Cheryl & Karla is to tie each in a different corner. One thing sure we don’t have to worry about Cheryl being spoiled because she is the only child. When Spence & I get home it will be just like having a sister for those two kids. Of course it will depend a lot on how soon we come home. Even after the end of the war, it may take a year to get us back. I just can’t imagine Cheryl standing up by herself. Before long she’ll be walking around. To me she still seems so little. Good night Sweetheart. Looks as if I must get to bed. Fran says we must be up at 6:00 in the morning so he can swab the deck. Love, Reinhart Guam 12 May 1945 Hello Darling, Yes I received the last ward news. That is, the one for last month. I sort of enjoy them. It sort of keeps me up on all the news you miss giving me. I don’t doubt that Glen Christofferson didn’t see me in church. There are several places where we hold meetings and I don’t think he goes to the same place I do. I doubt that we ill be her much longer. Our work here is sort of giving out on us so it looks as if we will be rejoining the 10th Army again. I don’t know just when we will be leaving, but I expect Martin to bring definite word about our move as soon as he gets back from Okinawa. Guess I will have to will my garden to the other boys here. But then with the seeds that are coming, I will be able to plant another one on Okinawa. I think the soil is better up there anyhow. Did you Dad buy a new pasture or is he just renting one? If he has bought it tell him to build a duck pond in the middle so we can go hunting in the fall (some Fall). I just have a few minutes to get to the show. It’s a training film I have to go and see. Also, I am enclosing some pictures of a volley ball game we had the other day. We have some good times playing. Oh yes, and I was on a team today that won at least part of the games. Love, Reinhart Guam 13 May 1945 Dearest Norma, I had not given Mother’s day much thot until I went to church this afternoon and found a Mother’s day program awaiting us. It seemed rather strange to be holding such a program with not even a mother in sight. Just the same it was a very good program, and the thots of us all were turned to our Mothers and Wives at home. I thot of what a pretty, sweet Mother Cheryl has, and what a lovely wife I have. I am sure neither of us would trade you for any one else in the world. We certainly will have a lot of fun and enjoyment when this war is over and we can all be together again. Sgt. Gill received another wire from his folks saying that his brothers wounds were around the hands and arms and were not as serious as had been thot at first. He feels much better about it now. I have never seen any one turn so bitter as he did upon first hearing the news. We tried to cheer him up a bit but it was no use. He is the only good enlisted man we have, so it would have worked a hardship on us to lose him. 190 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 Then the way your eye lashes curl up & the brown & green spots in your eyes, your mouth. I had you smile & then you looked serious & even stern. Then I ran my hands through your hair & scratched. There wasn’t much dandruff but you wanted me to scratch anyway. Then I decided to tickel you just because you were so contented – but I was so, so sorry because you see I got the worst of the deal. –––It was so nice thinking about you but so sad to come back to reality & discover that I was all by myself & missing you so very much. But then it just can’t be too much longer until we will all be together & boy oh boy – how we’ll make up for these lost moments. All My Love Sweetheart Norma Pleasant View, Utah 15 May 1945 Dearest Reinhart, So you have been over on Okinawa again. I was hoping you wouldn’t have to go there again. – and Honey – you arn’t being a bit careful – wandering around in the jungle – jeepers don’t you know how much you mean to me – I will take you for lots of long walks when you come home so just confine yours for the time being to that walking that is very essential. I am really not such a worry wart as I may sound because I know you will be as careful as possible & that you will be alright. I just love you so very much. During the past few days I have observed of few more of these so called “husbands” (I won’t mention names) but the more I see of them the more thankful I am for your thoughtfulness. Don’t get conceited Honey – but I think you are one in a million. It was interesting receiving those phamphlets used for Japs to surrender with. I like you sending me those things. Yesterday over the radio we heard the news of Pres. Grant’s death. Of course we all feel the great loss in his passing, but I am sure the Lord will provide a man for these times & for this period ahead of us that will be for the best good of the people. As you see George A. Smith is acting Pres. until the dec[is]ion has been made. As soon as I heard this news Monday, I got busy & went about town planning something special for our Relief Soc. Meeting. I had Mildred Cragun give something on his life & Mrs. Critchlow sang one of his favorite songs “Oh My Father”. I took his picture over & sat it in front of a bouquet of lilacs & tulips. Sunday was Quarterly Conference. We attended both sessions. I took Cheryl in the afternoon. She certainly started out on the wrong foot. First she bumped her head & I ran out with her. Then I came back & she wet all over my dress & I went out with her. I came back & she just got plain tired & started crying so I went out for good. Thomas E. McKay was the speaker. In the evening we went to church. Uncle George Chamberlain’s family put on the program. We stopped at Phyllis & Wayne’s place on the way home from conference. They gave Mom a set of bowls for Mother’s Day. We gave her the dress, Ruth gave her a bathroom set & Audrey gave her a tablecloth & two little china deers. Wayne gave Phyllis a new Diamond & wedding band. It is a large diamond & the rest is plain. All the packages I have sent first class, except the seeds Ruth sent, & Mom & Dad didn’t send the candy & book first class. I thought they knew I wanted them first class because I had said quite a bit about Ruth sending the seeds otherwise. All magazines have been sent first class. I wrapped them good & tied them at both ends & I just can’t understand why they haven’t arrived. I got some Kraft Carmels the other day & I think I’ll try sending them. As soon as we get to town we will try to get some fruit to put in the fruit cake. I hope you can get it now. Then I’ll send it right off. I enjoyed your conversation with the native boy. Yes, I think his idea of American jobs is a bit exaggerated. I guess the Japs treated them quite terrible. Sunday in the Deseret News Church section was a picture of you with a group from the Marianas. They had about five pictures which took up a whole page. Then on the front page was the group leaders with an article about your conference. I tried to buy a paper in town so finally I borrowed Lee Barker’s. Ruth is going down to the Deseret News Office & get me a paper today. I see Howard Berrett, one of my old missionary companions is one of the group leaders. He lived in the same house with me, in fact & his folks come her for fruit every year & he stayed here one night when Nina was here because he liked her. Tell him hello if you see him. Then Glen Cristofferson from dear old P. V. was also on the picture. Just think, two of you from the P. V. Ward & you didn’t even know it. I was tickled to see your picture although I could hardly see you. Now at least I know I was wrong about the Phillipines. Honey, I just hope that this war will soon be over. Do you think it will take long now that Germany is out of it? Maybe 191 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 Reinhart with two of his roommates (on left) and an officer from another tent in Guam in 1945. From left to right: Ensign Fran Coffey (a Navy officer), Lt. Martin Martinson, Lt. Reinhart Kowallis, and unknown officer. 192 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 you will be home yet for Christmas. We all miss you & pray for your safety. I [am] thankful for your high ideals because I know of no better shield – no better armour of protection than those ideals & the living up to those ideals. May God’s Choisest Blessings Be with You Alway. Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 16 May 1945 Dearest Reinhart, I think you have been wonderful to write as often as you have & such nice long ones too – and I certainly shall understand if you miss a day or two now & then. I am getting so I say if I don’t get a letter for two or three days “Well, I guess Reinhart has gone to Okinawa again.” I’m so glad you thought of something I could send you for your birthday. I’ll go down town tomorrow and see what I can get. Then I’ll get some fruit to put in the cake. It will be late for your birthday, but maybe it will reach you for Father’s Day. The pictures you sent arrived today. They surely came through good. The picture of the water buffalo is just beautiful & I want you to have one taken of you on a water buffalo just like the one you sent home. I’ll even hang it up in the Church if you’ll only have one like it. Say wouldn’t that thrill Cheryl in a few years to see her Daddy riding on a water buffalo – & of course we want a big one. Now don’t forget will you because we’ll be waiting for it. I hope you get on the winning volley ball team one of these days. It is quite discouraging being on the loosing side. After all I know you are probably the best player on either side & one of these days they will see your talent. Spence hasn’t written anything yet about the close of the war. I suppose we will hear soon what he is going to do. These pictures arn’t so good. I took them with the 35 mm. I didn’t focus them too good & they did a poor job of developing. Last night the Ward had a three act play. Douglas Burnett & Connie Rhees were the two leading characters. We all went so Cheryl & Karla went too. She is surely getting a handful to hold down, but she patty cakes when the audience applauded & she said Bye Bye to everyone & they all thought she was so cute. I will send off a can full of Kraft Carmels tomorrow first class & see how they compare with the ones Mom sent ordinary mail. Tonight I have been weeding a little out in the garden. Phyllis came out & we pulled our first radishes for supper. Well, if I get these pictures in I’ll have to close. Love, Norma (This next letter was not dated, but it must have been about the 19 May 1945) 193 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 Let me thank you for sending a book for my birthday. I don’t know of anything I would sooner have out here than a good book. And as you say, if I can’t carry it with me afterward I can always give it to some other appreciative person. I need some Resinol. Can you send me a jar of it next time you get to town? Other than starving it is the only thing that helps my eczema. Yes, I still have it, but it’s because I have to eat so many starches. Here’s lovin you. Reinhart Guam 14 May 1945 Dearest Norma, You don’t need to worry about my making trips to Okinawa just for the fun of it, because they ain’t fun. The hours spent in the air are among the most monotonous I can think of. If I move to Okinawa it may be possible for me to find Donald & Melvin Rhees, but when I just go up and back I don’t have the time to go out looking for anyone. Transportation is a real problem up there to. The Outdoor fire place looks as if it is going to be all right. You will have to send me a picture of it when it is finished. I sent you a book of photographs today of Interpron two. It is a book they put out covering the past year’s activity of the Squadron. It may not mean much to you, but to me, having worked with the boys in the Squadron, it has quite a value. Don’t look for me in it because my picture is not there. Just keep it safe for me, when I get home I’ll tell you all about it. I was also going to send the shells home today, but some of them still smell so I took them out and buried them in the ground. They tell me by having them in the ground a few days the smell will all leave. Seems as tho the pretty color of the coral I got the other day has already faded out, but I think it is still worth sending. I do hope that next year will see us coming back again. Not a day passes that I don’t think of the many things we want to do, and the home we want to build. With all my love, Reinhart Guam 15 May 1945 Dear Norma, I was just looking at your picture and the frame is all molding. Anything that is leather molds after it had been out for a few days. Even the case of the typewriter is all molded. I am going to take your picture out of the frame and make one for it like I did Cheryl’s. Tonight at church I met one of your old friends. A fellow by the name of Bennett. He says he was in the Northern States with you. I didn’t have but a minute to talk with him, but he told me you used to say you weren’t going to marry me because you thot I was to religious. You always used to tell me just the reverse. What a line I must have eaten. Anyhow, he and I are going to get together one of these days and have a good long talk. I expect the truth will out. Oh yes, he said he had even thot of marrying Nina but you were to fast and got some one else for her. I got a letter off to Carmen and Ronald last night. I guess he is still in the states, although I have sort of expected him to be sent out any time now. No doubt you are wondering how my points stack up in this new point system for discharge. I have only 52. But I don’t think [it] matters much. We will all be out here until the war is over, and anyhow Officers don’t come under the point system. They will discharge us only when we can not be of further use. But don’t worry, I’ll be home as soon as I can. Till then, all my love goes out to you & Cheryl. Love, Reinhart 194 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 195 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 Guam 16 May 1945 Dearest Norma, My brain tonight is just about as blank as my face so you can understand how little I have to say. I have read my Outdoor Life from cover to cover, and right now I would give anything to be home hunting deer. It would realy be great to get up in the morning, shake the frost off the blankets, eat a good hot breakfast, and then start up the mountain with you after a couple of Bucks. Of course, I am going to have to teach you not to get buck feaver before we go out. One of us has got to be calm, and I know I always get the feaver. I still don’t know how I killed seven deer the last time I was out hunting. Here’s good hunting to us after the war. Love, Reinhart Guam 17 May 1945 Dearest Norma, The better part of May is already gone, one more month and the year will be half gone, then one more month and Cheryl will be a year old. I wish I could see her. I’ll bet she has changed a lot. By the end of the summer she will be runing all over with Karla with you bringing up the rear trying to hold the two of them down. You should get yourself a big dog to watch them. Things should be growing pretty well by this time in your garden back home. I put in some more tomatoes tonight that Sgt. Gill had in a box. Then I went out and dug up a small banana tree, brought it back here and planted it next to the tent. Some one is certainly going to have plenty of stuff around when I leave here. I’ll bet your Dad already has plans made for a fishing trip or two during the summer. I understand they are going to release more tins and gas right away. Maybe Dad will get enough gas this year to make a trip to the park. I keep trying to kid myself that the war in this theater is going to be over before long, but if the Japs hold out like they are doing on Okinawa, it wll be a long war yet. The only way they can get them out of their burrows is to blast them out with artillery. It is tough going. The news tonight said we already have 20,000 casualties, with nearly 4,000 dead. Perhaps the end will come sooner than we expect. They can certainly have my part of the army life when it does. Here’s to seeing you. Love, Reinhart Guam 18 May 1945 Dearest Norma, When this war is over I don’t know how I will come home. It may be by plane, train, or bus, but if I have to I’ll come on my hands and knees. However, don’t look for me for a long time yet because the Japs aren’t giving up very fast. Even if the war is over by Christmas (wishful thinking) it will still take a year to get home if I am lucky. By the time I get home Cheryl will be old enough to drive the cows home by herself. I would certainly like to be home for a little while just to play with her. I’ll bet she is a lot of fun. I am still hoping these colored shots of you will get here. Yes, I still remember Marion Parrish. I’ll bet it was a surprise to you when you saw her. I hope you didn’t send me very much candy because I can’t eat it. Or I should say that I shouldn’t eat it. You know what it does to my skin. My eczema was rather bad the last few days because I have been eating so many starches. Last night I got to scratching my face while asleep, and before I knew it I was bleeding like some one had cut me with a knife. However, things do get out here in pretty good condition. Sgt. Langston got some hard 196 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 197 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 candy yesterday and it is just as good as new. He gave us half of it. Right now there is some sitting on the table tempting me. I hope you will be able to get a watch band for me. It’s about time for the news so good night, and my love to you both, Reinhart LDS Church President, Heber J. Grant’s funeral was held on 18 May 1945. Norma and her family drove to Salt Lake for the viewing and funeral. Above is the headline in the Deseret News announcing the funeral along with a photo of Pres. Grant from the LDS Church. On the facing page are photos of the funeral procession (top) entering Temple Square from the Deseret News and (bottom) the funeral itself in the Tabernacle on Temple Square (courtesy of the Utah Historical Society). 198 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 199 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 Guam 19 May 1945 Hello Darling, I just have an hour before supper and I can’t think of anything better to do than write you. I didn’t get any letter today, but the Sports Afield that you sent came. Only the one magazine came and as I remember it you sent two or three in the same package. Someone had opened it, taken a couple of them out, and then just sent the one on. Of course I am glad to get even the one, but I think if you will mail the magazines in these large mannila envelopes we will have even better luck. They had a field day here today, so no one has done anything but play ball. I played a game of soft ball in the morning and one in the afternoon. We won the first one 1 to 5, and lost the second 1 to 2. Tonight there is a big party going on, but I will be true to you, and just go to the show. Of course, Interpron two not having been invited to the party might have some thing to do with my being true. Then again maybe it’s because I am in love with you. Yes, I would like to have some land in Pleasant View, but right now may be a bad time to buy even if we could. I think we will be able to get some property there after the war. As for a building there right away, I don’t think it would be wise unless we don’t intend to put up shop in Brigham City. Who knows, maybe Christianson will want to sell their little place to us for a normal price, or maybe even their large place. However, the more I think of it the more I would rather build one of our own above the road some where. When I get home in a couple years we can decide what is best to do. But always be on the lookout for a good buy. Love, Reinhart 200 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 201 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 202 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 20 May 1945 Dearest Reinhart, I couldn’t quite make it to Church tonight although I would like to have gone as they are having memorial services in all the wards for Pres. Grant. I had to feed Cheryl & get her to bed & didn’t get through in time. I think I played with her a little too long. I was playing “get ya, get ya.” I bent against her & tickle her ribs, she squeals & laughs & crawls all over the bed as fast as she can to get away & we have a jolly time. Dad got 25 more chicks Sat. He put them with the old hen but she deserted them so now we have them in the house. Cheryl says, “Chick, Chick” and just loves to watch them. She just hollers when I take her away. We took both the kids to Church with us this morning. It was Karla who tried to be good but Cheryl wouldn’t let her. She just kept poking Karla & pushing & pulling at her. I guess she must be going through that same wild stage Karla went through. Well I’m glad she has enough life in her to do those things. She is thinning out a little, but she eats just swell & feels like a million so I guess there is nothing to worry about. Mac Wade came up & said, “Let me see Little Reinhart,” this 203 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 Karl and Justine Kowallis, parents of Reinhart Kowallis. They were both immigrants from Germany in the late 1800’s. Justine died when Reinhart was just seven years old. 204 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 morning. That is what lots of them call her so you can see who she looks like. She has discovered she has hair now so she pulls it all the time & she still sucks her two fingers. Beth said you sucked your two fingers so I guess she gets that from you too. It was Phyllis Birthday Friday but we had her Birthday dinner today. Dad, Mom & you, I gave her a dress. Audrey & Ruth gave her a slip. We had a cake with candles on it. She didn’t blow one of them out so she had to sing “Happy Birthday” herself. We joined in with her in the second round. It has been raining on and off for the past week of two. Pres. Grant’s funeral luckily came on a nice day. It had even snowed on the mountains & has been quite cool. Looking up at the mountains now a cold looking cloud encircles the mountain with the white peak showing through. Okinawa sounds like a very pretty island but I guess the looks do not betray what lies within (snakes, bugs, disease, Japs & so forth). I hate to think that you will be sent there. I am glad I sent you more seed. Now you can have a garden over there. I hope they soon take the island then at least you can fight the pestilence in peace. You guys ought to be ashamed of yourself for adding to the fright of that flight nurse. You will never know how thankful I will be when you can leave all that & when it is all over. Take care of your sweet self for I love you so very much. The volley ball pictures came but I can’t tell weather you are on them are not. One of them looks like you & yet he doesn’t. Is it you? He has hair on his chest like you. I wish you were on all of them. Martin looks like a real athletic. That one pose is really graceful of him. I hope you will try to get me one of those big pictures of you on a water buffalo. Dad is just renting the pasture so I guess you’ll have to build your duck pond elsewhere. I sent the watch band off Sat. The mail man wasn’t sure wheather they would send it air mail or not, but if they won’t I’ll get it back tomorrow. He also returned a letter to me for more postage. I had a few pictures in it. He also had a coconut in the back & I asked him if they sent them like that. It was all polished & had the address on it. He said it was from Glen Cristofferson to Laura. The pictures I am sending today or those colored ones at last but they surely turned out dark. If you hold your flash li[ght] behind them in the dark you can see what they look like. Any of these pictures you don’t want to carry around just send them back. I can’t understand why the outdoor Life got there first. I sent two other Magazines almost a month before I sent it. Mom will make the fruit cake for you. She will get busy on it next week. Here’s hoping more of these things reach you. Spence thinks he will be transferred to the infantry. He says he hopes he gets to Paris before he is sent out of there. He says the fellows say it is beautiful & the girls are beautiful too & just fall all over the fellows (Some girls I bet). He sent Audrey some French Perfume for Mother’s Day. Here it is 9:30 & church will be out & I have been writing this letter for an hour & a half – isn’t that awful. I guess I had better do like the preacher – stand up, speak up & shut up. All My Love to You, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 22 May 1945 Dearest Reinhart, This will be just a note on account it’s time right now for me to start getting ready for Relief Soc. The flower came yesterday and it did smell so sweet. How do they grow on trees or just by themselves? They surely are pretty. The little bud was still green. It was a nice as if you had wired me some flowers for Mother’s Day on account you picked it out yourself. Say Honey, you tell that Bennett guy he must be off his bean. That is one thing I most certainly did not say. “That you were too religious.” I always maintained that no one was too religious (That is if they were truly religious). As I told you, I wondered if you took your religion serious enough because you once said that “Mildred was too religious.” But of course I found out that you were not only religious, but also had all the other fine qualities I wanted in a husband. I think I told several people I wasn’t going to marry you – including you, but that just goes to show how dumb I was in those days. I should have been able to see what a swell person you were but I think I had to learn what is truly valuable in a husband. Now I give my girls in Mutual sermons on how to choose a husband – using you as the model husband. 205 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 206 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 However, you can tell Howard hello for me & tell him I always thought he was a nice guy & I’m sorry I spoiled his intentions toward Nina. Tell him that she now has two little boys. I’ll get the Resinol as soon as I go to town again. I didn’t think you would even have 52 points so I was quite surprised. The pictures of Interpron Two came yesterday. They were really good pictures & we all enjoyed them. I also showed them to the Ward teachers & Mrs. Williams. Why weren’t you on some of the pictures? Were all the native pictures taken on Iwo Jima? I must run now. All My Love, Norma P.S. The mail man brought the watch band back. You can only send letters by air mail, so I flattened it out straight, put it in an envelope. I hope it gets there O.K. Pleasant View, Utah 23 May 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Today the sun is shining but there is still a cool breese blowing. Everything is just beautiful outside. It is so green & pretty. Dad has been planting potatoes and has the horses out going through the orchard. We have just had some new people move into the house accross the street where Berretts lived. They have quite a few kids but I haven’t seen them close enough to know what they are like. Today is the last day of real school. Tomorrow the whole school is going on a hike to celebrate the close of school. Of course they are all happy to have a vacation. Yesterday when I went over to Relief Soc. I met a very jovial looking man with a suit case. He ask me which way it was to Audrey (Jensen) Garner, on left, with Ruth Jensen, back, and Glena Jensen, right. Karla Garner is in the middle dressed in her bonnet. In the rear distance is the home where Joseph M. Jensen (Norma’s father) was born. Their current home is off to the right of the girls in the photo. The pile of rocks behind them was removed in 1945 and an outdoor grill was built nearby. 207 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 Guam 21 May 1945 Dearest Norma, It’s a good thing you can’t see me now. Everyone has been bawling me out because of my hair cut. If you think the others I had were short, you should see this one. I have about 4” of white showing all the way around. I didn’t know before that I had such a homely head. I promise never to do it again. But it is cool. Yesterday I sent my summer uniform home. I packed it in a good can so you will have something to send some cake back in. I think it will take about a month to get home. Also I packed the coral & shells in another can. I will mail it as soon as the post office opens again. It will be closed for a few days on account they are making some changes. I feel sort of badly about the shells. I put them in the ground to take the smell out and the acid in the soil took all the gloss off the shells. It sort [of] ate into the shells and ruined them, but I am sending them anyhow. Maybe I’ll get some more if I get down swimming again. Also packed with them is the little cup I found on Okinawa. I just thot of another Idea. When you send me magazines if you will put “Property of Lt. R.T. Kowallis, Interpron two, FPO, San Francisco” on the front cover I don’t believe people would be so prone to pick them out of the mail. Also mail them in a sealed envelope as I suggested, as first class mail. It may seem silly to mail them first class, but they get here much faster. The three magazines I mainly want are Outdoor Life, Field & Stream, and Readers Digest, and any others you think might be good if you can’t get these. I think the comentator back there is all wet. The boys at 10th Army Hq. have only seen on snake since they hit Okinawa. Snakes are very much over emphasized. I know of no one yet who has been bit. That does not mean there have not been any, but they are few. Snakes are no worse than they are back in the states. As for disease, there is always some of that on the front lines of any battle, but in the rear areas it is almost unheard of up there. At least they haven’t had any around Hqs., and as far as I could find out no one had heard of any. As for fortifications, they are as near perfect as any we have yet found. Now don’t get excited about the boys out here coming home. Very few will get out of this theater until this mess is cleaned up. I realy don’t think I will get back for nine months after the fighting stops. You know, I have just been thinking. If we could save $5,000 we would be able to build us a home and start in business to. Of course $5,000 is a good little amount to save, but if I can keep sending home $50 or so each month we should be able to save almost $200 a month. In a year that would give us $2,400. This pluss what we have would do it. I certainly would like to have a home, and I know you would. What does Audrey hear from Spence these days? Does he think he will be coming home? Here’s loving you all, Reinhart 208 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 Norma with her catch of fish on a trip with Reinhart probably in about 1943. Both Reinhart and Norma loved the outdoors and fishing in particular. 209 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 Guam 23 May 1945 Dearest Norma, The seeds you sent me came today. That is the ones you sent First Class. I am going to save them until I go to Okinawa, and plant them up there. Your letter with the clipping of Pres. Grant came also. I read the clipping, and then I gave it to Sgt. Gill. He said his father had always been interested in Pres. Grant. Last night at mutual, Chaplain Jackson told us of one of our boys from Okinawa he had just visited at the hospital. He is from the Sugar House ward in Salt Lake so the Chaplain asked that any of the boys from that vicinity go over and see him when ever they got a chance so some of the fellows went over last night after church to visit him. I talked to one of the fellows this morning and he told me all about it. This fellow was on his way up to the front when he steped on a land mine. It blew him into the air and when he came down he opened his eyes to look around and saw that one leg was completely blown off at about the knee, the other was lying by his side just hanging from a piece of skin from above the knee. His buddies thinking him dead had all left. He said he just closed his eyes again and prayed. When he opened his eyes again a medical corps man was near by so he called to him for help. They got him on a stretcher and started back, but they didn’t get far before the Japs opened fire on them (so the Corps man had to leave him and take cover). After things quieted down, they got him onto a tank, but again Jap fire intervened and they had to leave him and take cover once more. At last they managed to get him to a jeep and to the hospital. The boys who visited him last night said they had never seen any one exhibit so much courage, hope, and faith as he does. He is so happy to still be alive that he hardly knows how to express it. He says it could have been a lot worse. My hat is off to a man like that who with both legs, and the fingers of one hand blown off, can still retain faith and hope in life, and even joke about his misfortune. He even plans on setting up a business as soon as he gets home. Well, Goodnight my Darling, and don’t worry I will be careful. Send me another picture of Cheryl when you can. I want to see how much she has grown. She is certainly a sweet looking little daughter. Love, Reinhart Guam 25 May 1945 Dearest Norma, I never got a letter written last night because of having to get some work finished up. Sgt. Gill and I worked until quite late so I went right to bed. This morning when I got down to the office, I found the Field & Stream magazine you sent me. Some one down at the post office must have taken it out, and then sent it up several days later. Better late than never. The Readers Digest with the tracts came, and also the seeds Ruth sent. Looks like I will have me a good garden when I get to Okinawa. My cantalopes are all in bloom here now, but I don’t think I will be here long enough to get any of them. Some one should have a good feed off of them. I went out looking for Papaya this evening and all I could find was one little one. Either they were too ripe or too green. When they start to ripen, you can get a couple or three off of a tree every two to three days. If they get too ripe, they go soft and aren’t so good. I know just about where every tree is within a mile of here. It will certainly be great to get home and be able to have a garden, with some fruit trees. Even now I can taste the strawberries and cherries we are going to grow. How is the fruit doing back home this year? Did any of it freeze after that big snow? Is Lamar still planning on going into the Navy or does he think he will have to go in at all? I hope not, but it doesn’t look as if the war is going to be over for some time yet. I see they are starting to give the people more gas back in the states. Maybe my folks will have enough to make a trip up to Yellowstone on this summer. I know Dad would certainly like to get up there and do some fishing. 210 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 Brigham City. I told him & then he said say “Do you know that tall Blond Girl that lives down there?” – pointing down the lane. I said “I don’t believe I know her”. “That’s too bad,” he said, “she sure is pretty.” Then he said, “Say what’s your name?” At that I decided I had better be on my way so I excused myself & hurried in. When I got home after meeting I found Mom had spent the whole afternoon with this same gentelman. He had come to the house to get a drink. As he came in the front door he ask if he could set his suit case down – then seeing Cheryl he hesitated, “Say she won’t run off with it will she?” He was just funny or crazy, one of the two. He said his name was Ezra T. Robinson. Mom ask if he was related to Bro. Robinson who is on the Stake Mutual Board. He was, he said. “His half brother,” & proceded to tell his family history. Then he told that he was a lawyer & that a fellow who was in jail in Brigham had asked him to come up & help him out. He hadn’t been to Brigham since the only road came up this way & he had got on the wrong road & had took the bus out this far. He started telling Mom how he wrote Books & his hobby was the Book of Mormon. He has a letter from Apostle Widsoe. They had corresponded for years & the letter which was recent mentioned Robinson’s writings. Then the man said he was trying to write a new book on one of the Books of the Book of Mormon, but he needed a certain book as reference. It was an old book & out of print. When he gave the name Mom said, “Why I have that book. It is old & the cover gone. It belonged to my father.” She let him look at it & he seemed so thrilled so when he ask to borrow it she gave in. He said, “You know I prayed this morning that I would find that book.” He left two fine books with Mom as security. One was a play on the Book of Mormon writen by himself. The other is just what I have been looking for. That Watch Tower preacher I talked with the other day is coming back & she says I shouldn’t say, “I believe the Bible as far as it is translated correctly.” This book gives a great many of the contradictions in the Bible. Of course, he may not come back, but I think he will & I guess I should[n’t] have been so short with him. He told Mom that he had met the prettiest girl down the street & he wanted to talk to her & the only excuse he could think of was to ask where Brigham was – he said, “But I knew all the time where it was.” Then he said, “But my – she really gave me a brush off.” Mom told him I was her daughter & when he learned I was married & had a baby he wouldn’t believe it. Now don’t worry, this man is at least 65 but a very intelligent looking man. I hope he isn’t crazy. I hear Cheryl calling from the basement. I think she is saying, “Mother I have dirty pants – please do something about it.” She is sure a ball of energy. I know I never had that much ever – you must be responsible. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 23 May 1945 Dearest Reinhart, I have been out side this evening with Cheryl but a wind came up which blew papers or any loose thing right along with it so I brought her in & put her to bed. Then Mom & I raked the lawn while the wind blew & blew. Karla stayed out too, she would chase the papers & just run for the fun of it. We also got our first look at our new neighbors. Two girls about 12 & 14 yrs. old. They were out running around on the road & they didn’t exactly look civilized. The fourteen yr old girl had a Bloomer afair on like this & she was on the plump side. The other one was thin with stragly Blonde hair. LaMar was chuckling when he came back from the pasture. He had to take the horses right through their place. The girls ran & hid behind trees & when he was past they jumped out & called “Hi Butch.” Maybe they are just what LaMar needs. I let Cheryl crawl all around in the house today – from the bathroom to Kitchen. She climbed up to every chair she past. Then up to the toilet, bathtub, & etc. – just going as fast as she could. Oh boy, did she have fun. She even explored the coal bucket. It is the first time she has been dirty & she really was black even though I had just washed the floors. I am on a lunch committee for a ward get together Saturday. So we met here today & did we have a time planning lunch for 300 people. Saturday they are going to have the men go over & tear down the old school building, In the evening everyone is coming for a horse pulling contest. The horses are from North Ogden and P. V. Then we will have a Bon Fire & serve lunch. I think it will be fun if we only have good weather. As you say – It will probably take quite a while to defeat the Japs. I have heard there is over 4,000 Islands with Japs on them – but we will get them sooner or later. If only they had sense enough to give up. But surely when Tokyo begins receiving the same treatment Berlin did then they will realize how useless it is. 211 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 I have been thinking how much I am going to miss a car when I get home. I don’t see how we are going to get along without one, but I don’t think it would pay to buy a used one, and the new ones will be hard to get for a while. Anyhow, I don’t believe we can build a home, set up a business, and buy a car all at the same time unless you know of some way I can make a lot of money between now and then. Here’s to seeing you one of these years. Love, Reinhart Guam 26 May 1945 Dearest Norma, I just came back from seeing a show that I have waited years to see, “Union Pacific”. It was the best show we have had out here yet. The birthday card from Mom and you all came today. Tell them thanks for remembering me. I have been wondering if you received the $75 I sent home on the first of the month. So far you haven’t mentioned anything of it. Let me know when you get it. I am glad you are sending me the carmels. I will try not to eat more than I should at a time. Sleep is over taking me so good night my love, Reinhart Officers playing volleyball on Guam in about April or May 1945. Lt. Reinhart Kowallis is third from the left in the center of the group. 212 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 George Albert Smith has been officially declared our new Pres. & has kept Clark & McKay as his councilors. I don’t think he felt like he should be – because at the funeral he mentioned how old he was & that he too would soon be on the other side. I am sure the Lord knows what he is doing. He has never been wrong & I think very soon we will see the wisdom in his choice. Ruth got the Resinol for you today so I’ll send it off tomorrow. I’m sorry your eczema is worse. I think you had better give the Candy I sent to some of the other boys. I surely don’t want it to get any worse. The Mother’s Day Program sounds like it was so nice. The boys must have put forth a great deal of effort to put on such a nice one & also to make up those programs. I would give a lot to see your garden. I just bet it is the nicest one on the island – but I would rather see you. I too wish you could see Cheryl – she is certainly your offspring. She has twice the life I ever had. I don’t know how I’ll ever hold her down. Other kids her age & older can’t even stand & she will be walking by the time she is 10 months old. She walks by just holding on to my finger now. I hold on to her hand & she just goes tearing along. She has developed the silliest laugh the past few days. She wrinkles up her nose, pokes out her mouth & sort of breathes in & out. We just about die laughing at her. Those colored pictures I sent are so dark. I was really disappointed in them. The slides didn’t look dark at all. I just can’t understand it. We look forward so to your coming home & all of us watch the developments in the war over there with hope & a prayer that God will be with our armies & that peace may speedily come & that you may soon be with us again. All My Love to You Sweetheart, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 24 & 25 May 1945 Dearest Reinhart, We have just been outside experimenting with the fire place. It really works swell – except for the plate. It is steel & it buckled a little in the middle when we made a fire in it. It should be cast iron but we couldn’t get one like that. It is now 10 o’clock & we have just come in. I weeded another row of vegetables. Daddy & LaMar weeded some too. Tonight I left Cheryl in the front room with Glenna & she tipped our big floor lamp over & broke the big Globe & it went right on top of her. It didn’t hurt her but she was so frightened she just couldn’t get over it. I hated to see our lamp get broke, but I’m glad it was ours & I’m glad Cheryl wasn’t hurt. I imagine we can buy a new globe or shade whatever you call that white glass thing that sticks up around the globe. All afternoon I was with Edith Jones. We had to canvas nearly the whole town getting out lunch signed out & collecting money for the party. Some were happy to help & others weren’t so happy, but we got from everyone. Glen Christofferson isn’t on your island any more. He was on a ship that was torpedoed but he was safe & has been sent to Okinawa – Laura thinks. Donald Rhees is still on Okinawa, but either Melvin or Carl Rhees is on Gwam. I am not sure which. I didn’t get this finished last night, so I am writing again this morning. I have just finished the work & now I have just Cheryl out in her pen. She is where she can watch the little chicks so she should be happy. I gave her her first spanking this morning. She has a little too much determination. When I try to put her diapers on it’s like trying to saddle a bucking bronko, so I paddled her little behind. She calmed down right away. She plays as happy as a Lark as long as no one tries to keep her from doing what she has in mind. She hardly ever cries to be picked up or just for the sake of crying. The only time she fusses is when she has something in mind to do & someone tries to stop her. I guess I’ll have to start disiplining her a little. You would probably rather have her like she is than too meek – at least the others think it’s funny & cute, but I think she can stand a little taming. When she wants me to take her out of her pen she opens her mouth and kisses me. Well – now I ask you – How can I resist? Well – News is scarcer than hens teeth so I’d better quit. I may go down town today to see a doctor. I have had a little touch of sinus & I just think it’s wise to check it before I get a case like I had in Calif. It is nothing to worry about now so think nothing of it. I enjoy hearing all about the natives so write all you can about them. All My Love, Norma 213 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 Guam 28 May 1945 Dearest Norma, Today two very nice letters came for me, both of them were full of pictures. Gee, is that daughter of mine ever growing. I won’t even know her when I get back. Looks like Mitzi and her family are doing all right to. What are you going to do with the pups this time? Cheryl surely looks like a little lady in her bonnet and dress. In her coveralls she looks just like a little tom boy. Boy, where did you get those pants for her anyhow. You must expect her to grow a lot in the next few months. I like the shot of you and the kids on the lawn. It’s a nice looking dress you have on and you look so pretty sitting there. Yes, and I can see that at one time your slacks were pressed. Which reminds me. Did you ever make yourself some slacks from the material I brought you? I bet it is still tucked away in moth balls. Does Cherly still kiss everyone the way she did before, or have you taught her to be a lady by now? Tell Audrey not to worry about Karla because I know she’s not realy a droopy draws. It’s just that she had been runing hard and was panting. I am glad you were able to get me a stainless steel band. The other kinds don’t seem to be so good out here because we sweat so much that they tarnish as well as color up ones arm. Now you know I would like to have my picture taken on a water buffalo, but I don’t think there is one around that I can rope. I knew if I sent that one home of Coffey, I would get some sort of request back. We will see, but I don’t promise. I was looking at my garden today and I find I have little cantalopes about the size of my finger tips already. I don’t know if they will do well though. There is a sort of fungas that attacks the hairs from the under side killing them out. I fear it is going to kill the plants out before the mellons have a chance to mature. If it isn’t one thing it’s another. You certainly seem to have met plenty of your old friends in Salt Lake. I’ll bet they were surprised to see you. Thanks for sending me the blue prints on how to operate the wrist band. I don’t know how I would be able to do it with[out] them. Jack and I went over to the farm this afternoon to see all the cows, sheep, chickens, etc. We even helped feed the calfves. They have had a little bad luck over there. A few of the cows have died due to the hard journey over here and then calfing right away. The change of climate has had something to do with it to. Quite a number of the turkeys have died, and a few of the pigs. They think some of the pigs have died from eating some of the toads, of which there is an abundance. They claim them to be poison because of an anti adrenalin. They are not sure of it yet. They were performing an autopsy on a pig today to see if they couldn’t determine what had killed it. Well my Darling, it’s time I should be in bed. Be seein you some time, Love, Reinhart Guam 29 May 1945 Dearest Norma, After such warm sunny weather like we have had here the rain we got this evening is more than welcome. It is just nice and cool now. One of the boys brought me a letter from Ray on Okinawa. He is leaving there soon so I don’t know if I will get to see him for some time. I certainly enjoyed being with him on my trip up there. It looks as if he may beat me to Tokyo yet unless I get moving soon myself. But I realy am in no hurry. I still like it here better. I don’t know why I get so homesick around here unless it is just from looking at pictures of you and Cheryl. Here is hoping it won’t be many months until I can be back with you. All my love, Reinhart 214 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 27 May 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Just think – today is you’re birthday and again I am unable to be with you to celebrate the occassion & again it seems that I have been unable to do very little for you. I will be so glad when we can spend these occassions and all other days together. I hope this birthday was a pleasant as conditions permitted. We were finally able to secure everything we needed for your cake so we will get busy on it this week. It may get there for Christmas, but in the mean time I just hope you will understand how much you mean to me & just what a super husband I think you are. Of course as you used to say, “You don’t need to tell me, I know I’m good.” So I guess I had better go a little easy about airing all your wonderful qualities are you will really get a case of inflated ego. We went to town Friday as I said we would. I took Cheryl down to Phyllis but she wasn’t there so I had to take her to town with us. I left the folks & we went up to the Doctors. Mom came up later just in time to hold Cheryl while I went in. He treated me for Sinus & gave me some pills to take. I am to come back next week. I sat in the car most of the time with Cheryl (while she slept) & waited for the folks. Saturday was such a busy day I just didn’t have a minute. Mom & I left on the one o’clock bus along with some of the other ladies to attend a Visiting Teachers Convention at the 7th Ward. They had a Speaker from the General Board. She talked to me quite a bit because I was the youngest member present & told me to always stay in the Relief Society. They served us cake & Frapieu or frozen punch. Oh, I forgot to mention that in the morning all the men went over to tear down the old school house. There was quite a crowd. I went over & took several pictures of the activity. After I returned from the Visiting teachers Convention I started super & then got ready to go over to the school grounds. The Elders had fixed a stand with streamers on it & it was here I spent my evening along with 4 other women. We sold Cracker Jacks, bars, pop cycles, & Dixie cups earlier in the evening. At 7 o’clock the horse pulling contest started. Several stores has furnished some very fine prizes. Horses came from N. Ogden & P. V. They were really beautiful teams. Earl Rhees won a very nice milk can & then there were other prizes. After the horse pulling, We served lunch. We had been wrapping it up during the Horse show and now we just kept wrapping the rest & handing it out. We served 300 people. They really had a crowd. After lunch they had a bonfire & some roasted weiners they had brought. Phyllis, Wayne & family came out. Every time the folks brought Cheryl over to the stand she just started jumping and waving her arms & if she could reach me she would grab hold of me & try to pull me over to her. Phyllis was watching her for a little while. She just turned a minute to see the horses & Cheryl was out of the buggy. She didn’t hurt herself. I guess she’s made of rubber. This morning I didn’t go to Church because I was too tired & I hadn’t put my hair up so I stayed home. I went in the evening though. In the afternoon I took Karla & Cheryl for a ride in the wagon & up by the grainery it tipped over & they didn’t like it very well. Karla bumped her head but Cheryl didn’t get hurt. I’ll have you thinking I’m not very careful with them but I really am & It just seems like these things just happen. I guess kids just have a certain amount of bumps & It seems that Cheryl gets her share. Now Karla used to sit for hours in that babies swing we have. They are supposed to be safe for babies but somehow Cheryl tips it upside down & crawl out. Honestly, I don’t know where to put the little dickens. I suppose it won’t be long until she will be climbing up over the play pen. If there’s a way she’ll find it. Last night when I came home she was awake & sitting in her chair & just started clapping her hands & waving them for all she was worth. Then I danced her around & as soon as I would stop she would jiggle up & down. When I go fast she just squeals. Oh you would just love her. Karla just killed another chicken, so you can see she is still doing her part. All My Love to You, Norma 215 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 Note: On the 25th of May, Reinhart started to send letters home written on his own letterhead stationary, like this one from the 30th of May. Guam 31 May 1945 Dearest Norma, It was just like Christmas today with four letters from you, and the watch band you sent. The band is just what I wanted. Stainless steel is the only thing that won’t stain out here. I am also glad you didn’t pay so much for a band. It isn’t worth having an expensive one out here. If you can get another stainless steel band do so and send it out to me. Martin wants to get one. Just let me know how much it costs and then he can pay me. That reminds me, today was pay day, and I am sending another $75 home to you by money order enclosed 216 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 29 May 1945 Dear Reinhart, I wonder if any of us here at home really realize what it’s like up on the front lines. The incident you related about the boy who lost his legs really brings home some of the terrible things that war brings. The courage he exhibited is something we can all learn from. If only all our wounded boys could feel like that. After all they must face life. It can either be one of joy & happiness or one of bitterness. I hope you too will have a chance to talk to him. He must be a wonderful fellow. After all his mind is still as good as ever & I’m sure he will probably succeed far better than those of us with all our limbs. He will have the determination a lot of us lack. I’m glad you got the seeds. I hope you have more water for you garden on Okinawa than you did on Guam. I’m also glad you told me those things about Okinawa. It makes me feel better to know it isn’t such a terrible place. I guess the commentator was putting on a little for our benifit here at home. Your clothes came yesterday. They were just fine but the can was bent, but I think it can be used again & straightened out as good as new. I guess I should have sent all your things first class. I did send all your magazines first class. I didn’t wrap those three magazines all together. I wrapped each one separately because you can’t send anything first class if it weighs over 7 oz. – so you can see I won’t be able to send very much first class & you can’t send anything airmail unless it is in a letter form. I sometimes think our mail man doesn’t know all he proffess to. I guess I’ll have to check on him down at the P.O. Cheryl is really having a sad time. I have decided to have her quit sucking her fingers so I put some “Thum” on her fingers. Phyllis used it on her kids with good success. It has a little cayenne pepper in it. Cheryl is so unhappy she always goes to sleep sucking her fingers. She has been down there all morning & hasn’t gone to sleep. She just cries & cries. I feel so sorry for here but I do want her to break this habit. Spence says he doesn’t think he will get to come home before being sent to the Pacific. He says he will probably be transferred to the infantry. I was hoping he would get home, but I guess with only 50 points he won’t have a chance. When you left I thought you would surely be home by the time Cheryl was a year old. It seemed funny to me when you said “Cheryl will probably be walking when I get home.” That seemed like such a long time & now here it is almost here. Time slips by so fast in one way, but goes so very slow when I think of how long we have been separated & how long it will be until you will be home again & yet somehow time flies by. I sometimes look at Cheryl & wish I could somehow just hold back time until you get home so you can watch her grow & see the cute things she does. But no matter how long it takes, we will always be here waiting for you & loving you. Your Loving Family, Norma & Cheryl Pleasant View, Utah 30 May 1945 Dearest Reinhart Yes – today is decoration day – It is hard to believe that another Decoration Day is here. Just last year at this time I was waiting expectantly for the 1st of Aug. Mom, Dad & Audrey left early that morning for Calif. to see Spence. We at home went to the Cemetary & decorated. I had Karla – we sat there on the grass listening to the program. All the kids came up to play with her. This year I sat there again listening to the program only this time the same kids were playing with our little Cheryl. After the program, Owen Fiet – one of my old friends came up & talked to me. I hadn’t seen him since before I went on my mission. I met his wife & he thought Cheryl was so sweet. He is living at Long Island & is working in a lab inventing new things in the field of Radar. After the program, we came home and ate Tuna sandwiches & Jello & milk & Radishes. I am making a new print dress so I sewed on it this afternoon. I have decided to just wear print dresses this summer. I don’t need to dress classy while your away. If I look neat that is all that’s neccessary. When I hear you are coming I’ll go down town & buy myself two new outfits so I can look nice for you. After all you are the one I want to look Special for & right now I would rather save our money than spend it for clothes. I guess I’ll have to make another trip to the doctor tomorrow. My nose is still leaking & my eyes are sore (Not really bad but just irratating & I think It best to get it cleared up while it’s in the bud. 217 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 in this letter. Pleas let me know when you get it. I didn’t want to send it by Government check this time because I have not yet heard if you received the $75 from last month. If you haven’t I will have to send a tracer through on it. Oh yes, we are about to move to Okinawa so start sending my mail to (G-2 sec 10th Army, P.I. Team #151, APO-357, c/o PM, San Francisco, Calif.). I better write that all over again. My address will be: Lt. R.T. Kowallis 01044268 G-2 Sec, 10th Army (P.I. team #151) APO - 357, c/o PM San Francisco, Calif. Be sure and always put the P.I. team number on. It will save a lot of trouble on the receiving end. I would like you to get me some more seeds and send them in a letter. Cantalop & watermellons. I don’t have either one of these two, but I have everything else I need. After reading what you said about Martin on those volly ball pictures, I can understand just how deceptive pictures realy are. Why he is so fat he can’t even get up in the morning. Why everyone here calls him “Ye Old Bucket of Guts.” He isn’t as bad as I am making him, but I have to bring him down to his size somehow. After reading to him what you said in your letter, he realy thinks he is hot stuff. I think it is a lack of good workmanship that makes the colored pictures so dark. There is no doubt that the war has taken a great deal of their skilled workmen. Martin says to tell you thanks for making the comment about him. For his part it came at a most opertune time. We are just having some of our intramural sports. Also he thinks you are very pretty, but who doesn’t. He says the baby is very cute to, but he won’t admit it looks like me. Now if I had known you wanted a cocoanut I could have long ago sent you a whole gross. I think I will send a lot of the pictures back that you have sent out, but I want to keep them a little longer yet. I guess now that I am moving it will take a month longer for me to get the cake you are sending. And don’t worry, I am going to get my share of the carmels when they get here. I was sorry to hear that Spence is still expecting to be transferred to the infantry, but then unless he is sent out here he wouldn’t have it so bad. The news this morning said that all those in the states who have not been over seas are yet to be sent. Looks as if Ronald may be over here with me yet. I am glad I am getting some time in now because I don’t want to stay after the war is over. Here’s lovin you my Darling, Reinhart Native village on Okinawa. Photo taken in July 1945. 218 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 Tonight all the folks have gone to a show but I volunteered to be baby tender because I wanted Mom to go. Glena went with her new boyfriend from Willard (Alma Warren). He is leaving for the Navey in two weeks. LaMar went with some of the fellows & the rest went together. After they had left, Cheryl didn’t seems to want to go to sleep. She hasn’t felt just right all day. She is cutting her top teeth & it makes her a little cross. I finally went down & got her & rocked her for the first time. We has just started rocking & I was looking outside out of the kitchen window. It had been raining & now the sun was shining through the clouds. It was so pretty – then my eyes focused on two birds coming toward the house. Even at that distance away they seemed large & I kept watching them. They kept heading for the house. Now I could see that they were either ducks or geese, so I dashed out the front porch with Cheryl. They were just going over & I know they must have been geese – they were so large. It just gave me a thrill to see them. I thought of you & how you would have enjoyed seeing them. I have never seen them fly so low. I brought Cheryl back in & sang her to sleep. She was so tired but her teeth hurt so bad & she didn’t dare suck her fingers for consolation. I wished it wasn’t spoiling her to rock her like that because it was such fun looking into her sweet-like face – so tired – so dependent & just so sweet. She is getting so soft & mushy here lately. Whenever the kids take her away from me she starts kissing me or rubbing her nose up & down my face. Last night we drove up to Willard. We were going to clean Grandma & Grandpa Chamberlain’s graves, but Uncle George had already done it so we just decorated them. So you’ve cut your hair again. I can’t blame you in a way, but just be sure that you get it grown out for when you come home. Of course, if you go bald, I won’t care. There won’t be such a large area to scratch then. It seems like I never really plan for anything any more unless it is in terms of sometime – or one of these days – (Not in weeks or months) but sometime. I am always looking forward to that day but never know when it will be but I hope it will be very near & I pray God may speed the day & Bless you Always. Lovingly, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 31 May 1945 Dearest Reinhart, It’s just raining cats and dogs outside – well – anyway it’s raining hard. Dad is beginning to think we are going to have this kind of weather all summer. This afternoon Dad, Glena & I went to town. I helped Glena get a few things to wear on her date tomorrow night. Then I bought a pair of white non-rationed shoes to wear with my print dresses. Then I got a Reader’s Digest for June which I will send off tomorrow. I tried to get an Outdoor Life but couldn’t find one. I saw a Outdoor magazine & another one but I thought I would find the Outdoor life. I may get in again tomorrow & get it for you. I’m glad you are at last getting some of the things I sent you. It surely takes them a long time. I really don’t think they will come through any better in an envelope that wrapped as I sent them. My – that is surely ritzie paper you have now with your name on it and your insignia on it. Yes, we surely could use a car all right but I’m sure those things will all work out when you get home. If we take each think in it’s stride & not try to do anything we can’t afford, we will be much better off. Of course, a car may be an essential item, in that case we’ll just cut down some place else but I’m sure we will be able to work it out. We stopped at the city cleaners on the way home so I went over to see Albert & Gay. Albert was out in a little Victory garden with a neighbor woman. He was mad as hops. Gay had gone to town & locked the door & he couldn’t get in & he had a million things to do. He came over to the car and talked for about an hour. He is having his worries about this Bishop’s job. His councilors won’t work. They are trying to get money for a new Church. They are putting on a program tomorrow to raise money & he wanted us to come down. He ever offered to give us a gas ration stamp, but I doubt very much that we will get there. I guess La Mar will go to Salt Lake Monday to take this Eddy test. I hope he passes because I hate to have him get in the Infantry. You said, “Here’s to seeing you one of these years.” Golly, I hope it isn’t more than one year longer. I just can hardly wait to see you again. Best of wishes to you & All My Love, Norma 219 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 The battle for Okinawa was a long, difficult battle with many casualties due to the entrenchment of the Japanese army in bunkers, tunnels, and caves. Top: Japanese coastal defense bunker on Okinawa. Bottom: Japanese airplane hanger on Okinawa. 220 Letters to the Paciic Norma - May 1945 The new LDS First Presidency in 1945 organized after the death of President Grant. Left to right: J. Reuben Clark, Jr., George Albert Smith, and David O. McKay. Two cousins: Karla Garner (left) and Cheryl Kowallis (right) in the Playmate De Luxe wagon that was used to give them rides around the yard and town. 221 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - May 1945 USS Bunker Hill in flames after attack by Kamikaze pilots on 11 May 1945 near Okinawa. Photo from Still Picture Records Section, Special Media Archives Services Division (NWCS-S), National Archives at College Park. 222 The War in June 1945 Europe has now entered into a post-war era and by early in June the allies slice up Germany into four regions, one each for the British, French, Americans, and Soviets. The first three will later become West Germany, a free democratic state, while the Soviet portion will become East Germany and remain depressed economically while under Soviet control for several more decades. In the Pacific, the battle for Okinawa continues through much of the month. But on the 17th, with victory assured, Japanese Admiral Ota Minoru commits ritual suicide for failing to defend the island. Four days later on the 21st the Japanese army ceases hostilities. However, you would never know this from Reinhart’s letters. He makes no mention of the defeat and it is evident from the letters that isolated pockets of resistance are still found all over the island. Many Japanese soldiers are holed up in caves and tunnels that must be inspected and cleaned out one by one. In Okinawa: The Last Battle we read that “On 23 June 1945 Tenth Army began a thorough and coordinated mop-up campaign to eliminate the disorganized remnants of the Japanese 32nd Army in southern Okinawa…The price paid for Okinawa was dear. The final toll of American casualties was the highest experienced in any campaign against the Japanese. Total American battle casualties were 49,151, of which 12,520 were killed or missing and 36,631 wounded. Army losses were 4,582 killed, Shuri Castle on Okinawa prior to the invasion. This was the headquarters of the Japanese 32nd Army on Okinawa. Stereo photo pairs like these were used by Lt. Kowallis and his team to provide intelligence on Japanese defensive positions prior to and during the invasion. 223 June 1945 93 missing, and 18,099 wounded; Marine losses, including those of the Tactical Air Force, were 2,938 killed and missing and 13,708 wounded; Navy casualties totaled 4,907 killed and missing and 4,824 wounded. Nonbattle casualties during the campaign amounted to 15,613 for the Army and 10,598 for the Marines. The losses in ships were 36 sunk and 368 damaged, most of them as a result of air action. Losses in the air were 763 planes from 1 April to 1 July. “The high cost of the victory was due to the fact that the battle had been fought against a capably led Japanese army of greater strength than anticipated, over difficult terrain heavily and expertly fortified, and thousands of miles from home. The campaign had lasted considerably longer than was expected. But Americans had demonstrated again on Okinawa that they could, ultimately, wrest from the Japanese whatever ground they wanted.”1 The island of Okinawa itself suffered deep scars that will take decades to heal. Approximately 90 percent of all the buildings on the island were destroyed and the lush forests that grew over much of the land were burned and turned into mud and ashes. But the war itself is not over even though this is a major victory for the Americans and their allies and they dig in for the long haul all the way to Tokyo. Bombing of cities in Japan continues, while the Japanese armies are in retreat in Borneo, mainland China, and elsewhere. Only a few are aware that within a few more weeks the war will be over. As June unfolds in Guam, Reinhart is preparing with his team to move to Okinawa where they have heard that 13” of rain have fallen in the past couple of weeks. They arrive in Okinawa on June 6th and 1 United States Army in World War II: he War in the Paciic, Okinawa: he Last Battle by Roy E. Appleman, James M. Burns, Russell A. Gugeler, and John Stevens, published by Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington, D.C., 1948 (reprinted 1993), p. 473. Shuri Castle, headquarters of the Japanese 32nd Army on Okinawa shortly after the invasion of the island began. The holes in the castle roof in several places are evidence of the damage from the attack. 224 June 1945 Remains of Shuri Castle. All that is left is rubble. None of the buildings remain standing on the site by the time this photo was taken in about June 1945. find that the rain is still falling. Once on the island, they have to get their camp and equipment up and functioning, but they still have time to visit tombs, comb the beach, and dodge falling debris from shot down planes, construction blasting, and practice artillery fire. By the middle of the month the weather has turned hot and dry and the roads throw up great clouds of dust when driven upon. On one excursion away from their base, Reinhart and his team encounter a group of working native women who are mostly laboring without any clothing above the waist. In his letter he provides a lengthy description of the wide variety of female breasts, something that Norma may not have found quite as interesting. In general, conditions on Okinawa are improving for the Americans. They have better support, better food, better mail service, and fewer casualties by the end of June. Norma starts the month of June by receiving a can full of shells and coral from Reinhart. She loves all these fun beautiful items from such an exotic place and wants to know more about them. The Jensen family all trip off to Salt Lake City for their son and brother, LaMar, to take the Eddy Test, a test given to see if an enlisted man had the aptitude for electronics maintenance in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. Lamar will be 18 years old on the 23rd of June. He does not take the test on the trip to Salt Lake, but later in the month takes it in Ogden and passes. The big event around the house in June is that Cheryl begins to walk and Norma provides us with a daily, blow-by-blow account of how she progresses. In addition, Norma has an embarrassing experience at the doctor’s office, checks out a Pleasant View barn dance, and spends time trying to discuss religion with a Jehovah’s Witness woman who visits her. On the radio, Norma and the rest of the Jensen family listen for news of the war. Reinhart never mentions the end of hostilities in Okinawa in his letters, but Norma hears General Buckner of the Tenth Army announce that all that is left to do is mop up a few pockets of resistance about the middle of the month and then she reports that she has heard of Buckner’s death a few days later. Brother-in-law 225 June 1945 Spence Garner, who has been in France, is worried that he will now be shipped off to the Pacific, and brother LaMar Jensen enlists in the Navy. All the while, spring is progressing. The first turnips and lettuce are harvested from the garden, and more importantly, the first strawberries. Norma reports that the strawberries are so big that it only takes a few to fill up a bowl. Her father, Joe Jensen, attempts to go fishing with his brother Henry and nephew Stephen, but they return home early and empty handed due to unseasonably cold weather. Norma Jensen Kowallis holding her daughter Cheryl in the Spring of 1945. The couple standing next to them are unknown, but are likely one of the couples mentioned in the letters (perhaps Fawn & Ray). 226 June 1945 Camp area for the photo interpretation group of Lt. Reinhart Kowallis with the 10th Army on Okinawa. Reinhart Kowallis and two of his sisters, Delora (in back) and Mildred (front right). Reinhart was probably about 8 years old in this photo, which would have been shortly after his mother passed away, perhaps explaining his somewhat disheveled appearance. 227 Reinhart - June 1945 Guam 1 June 1945 Dearest Norma, The reason my picture does not appear in the Interpron two book is because I am not part of interpron two. We are only attached here. None of the native pictures were taken on Iwo Jima. They all came from our present location. We have been running around like mad tonight trying to find boxes to ship our stuff to Okinawa. The worst part of moving is the packing every time. I wonder what it will be like to get home, and not have to move to a new location every two of three months. I hope you get the money order I sent in yesterday’s letter. Be sure and let me know when you do. Sounds like some party you are putting on at the ward. Is Pop entering his horses in the horse pulling contest? I think they would do pretty well with the old ford out in front to help them. Then to[o] with a bail of hay hung on the back of the ford they would do double well. Anyhow, I would like to be there and get in on a good old ward party again. Your drawing of the new neighbors was most interesting. I don’t think I shall miss them at all. Have they even been to school? I bequeathed my garden tonight to one of the fellows in the next tent. At least some one may get some good out of it. It has little cantalopes on about the size of my thum. Oh yes, I just thot of some tomato seeds you can send me in a letter. I am out of them also. I am sending some of the pictures back to you in this letter. Some of them I want to keep. The best ones of course. Love, Reinhart Guam 2 June 1945 Dearest Norma, I can just see what a stern mother you are. I’ll bet every time Cheryl looks at you your heart melts. I know it does when I look at you. But I do know that you are a good Mom, and Cheryl and I both love you. The outdoor fire place sounds like it is a lot of fun. Just wait till we get our place. We will have an outdoor fire place, and swiming pool. Every week end we will invite the gang down for a party. I received a letter from Dad today. He said he did not know if Fred is on Okinawa. From the sound of the letter, I don’t think he is. Martin and I have been tearing around all day getting things together we are going to need after we leave here. I am looking forward to the day I’ll see you again. Love, Reinhart Guam 4 June 1945 Dearest Norma, We are still here, but sitting on our foot lockers and about ready to take off. I hope the rain on Okinawa has stoped by the time we get there. The last report we had said they had 13” of rainfall in the last 10 days. That is almost as much as we get back in Utah for a whole year. I’ll bet the mud up there is shoulder high to a tall indian. 228 Norma - June 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 2 June 1945 Dear Reinhart, I hope I will have time to get this in the mail before the mail man comes. I tried to finish my Saturday cleaning before I wrote this letter & I’m afraid it took a little longer than I expected. I scrubed the floor on my knees this morning & waxed it so it really looks pretty. Cheryl was 10 mo. old yesterday & her tooth that has been bothering her finally came through to celebrate the occassion. For the past two mo. she has weighed 18 lbs & now this month she gained 2 lbs which makes her 20 lbs. She isn’t fat but she isn’t thin either – I guess she’s just right. Right now LaMar is throwing his hat on her head & she is enjoying it. Now he has his head down & she’s pulling his hat & his hair. She is still rather wobbly on her pins, but she did take one step for me day before yesterday. I think she could do it better but she has fallen down a few times & now when I try to get her to stand she just sits right down. Yesterday we were all busy getting Glena ready for her big party. I loaned her my 51 gage hose (you can’t get them that sheer only once in a while) & I also loaned her my garter belt. It was the first time she has wore long hose so she just didn’t have the proper equipment. I greeted her boy friend. He brought her a beautiful corsage of Roses & Gardinias. Spence hasn’t written for several days & he told Audrey that if she didn’t hear from him that she would know he was on his way to the Pacific or some other place. LaMar is diligently studying for his test. I hope he makes the grade. We are putting up new clothes lines & starting to sandpaper the bathroom. We are going to paint it rose. Daddy is getting ready to go fishing with Stephen & Uncle Henry the 1st day the season opens. Dad says next year you will be here to go fishing too. Oh honey – I do hope so. It would be so wonderful. All My Love to You Sweetheart, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 4 June 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, I received two letters from you today. They were quite brief, but I was glad to get them. Then besides that I received the can with coral, shells, rocks & etc & the cup. It was all just grand. That white coral is just beautiful & that sort of crystal is so pretty & feels so funny. Did it come from one of those caves? The little cup is just as cute as can be. Was it in some of the ruins & did it belong to a Jap? Then the shells, they are just so pretty. You know that one kind that there are so many of? I just wish you were here to make me a necklace of them. They are so shiny. I wondered if you hadn’t polished them. There was one little yellow one that would make a pretty ring. The little white rock wouldn’t it make a nice ring too? I wonder what kind it is. I am so glad you sent them all to me. They mean so much more to me than something out of a store because when I look at them I don’t just see a gift, but I see you out on the beach hunting them & thinking, “I’ll bet Norma will like these.” Then I think of you working to get the little animals out of them. I don’t see why you were disappointed that they looked dull. They just looked so shiny & pretty to me. Oh, I just love them so much & I can hardly wait to hear all about the places where you got them from. Did the waves break like they did in La Jolla? It was so pretty there. I would give a lot to just go skipping down the beach with you. We’ll soon have fun together again & I don’t think it will be a year from this fall either – I’m just sure you’ll be here sooner than that. Today they have made some very important gains in Okinawa. I am sorry to hear that Ray is leaving. It was nice being able to visit with him now & then. I am glad you are still on Gwam or whichever island it is & I hope you will stay for a long time yet or until Okinawa is really cleared of Japs. Sunday in Testimony meeting I told about the Mormon boy who was blown up by a land mine. So many people came up & said they enjoyed my testimony. Sunday morning it rained & also in the evening. Phyllis & Wayne & family came out. They are still hunting a place to buy. 229 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - June 1945 I can see us now sitting on top of our cots trying to keep out of the water. I don’t think I ever made it clear whether or not to send my Bible, but I would like you to send it to me now. That is to the new address. Occasion arises every now and then when I could use it. Be sure and pack it well. Also sent it 1st Class. Martin got a package today that some one sent him for Christmas while he was still at Ritchie. What a mess that was. It had been all over the Pacific as well as in the Pacific. One end of the package was all soaked up, and the rest of it was a mass of mold. I hope the cake you guys sent me is packed in a good tin container. With my moving it might be a long time before I get it. But at least I do have hopes of getting it. Another month and a half year will be past since I left the states. It seems like a century when I look back upon the last time I saw you, and another century to the time when I will see you again. If only the Japs had any brains in thier thick skulls maybe we would get home before long. As it is it appears as if a lot of us are going to have to visit Tokyo before coming back. Anyhow I’ll be thinking of you every day. With all my love, Reinhart Okinawa 7 June 1945 Dearest Norma, We reached Okinawa yesterday just after a big rain storm, and when I say the mud was knee deep, I mean it was knee deep. Ray is still here for which I am glad. The deal he was to have gone on fell through so it looks as if we will be together for a few months to come at least. The air raids have quieted down to a point where no one pays any attention to them at all. From the looks of things the fighting here on the island will be all over within a couple of weeks. Optimism is runing high out here. A lot of the boys think the Japs will give up before long. For my part I hope they do, but I fear it will still be a year from this fall before I get home. I hope it is no longer than that. If the Japs were not so dumb they could see that by continuing the war it only means certain death for them. You should have seen me yesterday. They didn’t have any cots here for us when we came in so I found some old lumber, and went to work building me a bed. It looks like old Mother Hubbard’s but with my air mattress on it I can sleep like a doll. The weather here has warmed up a great deal. I fear that when the rainy season stops it will get too warm. I’ll bet things are nice back home by now. One more month and you will be eating cherries. Wouldn’t I like to climb up in a tree and eat my fill of them. It would even be worth a stomach ache. It’s too bad I don’t live near enough so you could send me another box full this year. But that reminds me, you can send me some dried fruit if you will. A couple of pounds of prunes, and raisins. Any other kid of dried fruit you can get is OK to. I get a big appetite for fruit, and there isn’t much chance of getting any out here. On Guam I was able to go out and find myself papaya & bananas. In fact when we left there the other day we had two big bunches of bananas hanging in the tent that were not ripe yet. I sure hated to leave them there to the wolves, but we had no room to take them with. We finally got our camera. Martin & I took a couple of pictures this afternoon just to try it out. I should be able to get a lot of good pictures as we go along now. I would certainly like to have the developing kit we got. It has everything in one could use including an enlarger. The whole thing folds up into a box about the size of two bushel boxes. In fact if isn’t quite that large. I’ll try and write you every day again. The mail service isn’t as good here as we had it before, but it is getting better all the time. All my love to you, Reinhart 230 Letters to the Paciic Norma - June 1945 From left: LaMar Jensen (son of Joseph), Stephen Jensen (son of Henry), Joseph M. Jensen (father of Norma and Lamar Jensen), and Henry Jensen (brother of Joseph). This morning LaMar was going to Salt Lake to take the Eddy Test. Mom & Dad were going & Glena wanted to go & I wanted to go. I didn’t mind taking Cheryl because I thought I would like to go up & visit Beth & Mildred & Fawn so then they had to take Karla too. It was raining when we left & when we arrived it was still raining but after we sat a few minutes in the car it cleared up & was nice until we left to go home. He had to go down to the Federal Building so we all started walking. I carried Cheryl & Glena, Mom, and LaMar took turns with Karla. About a block above the Federal Bldg. I met Gertrude, so I left & went up to the shop with her. I tied Cheryl into a chair while Gertrude combed my hair (we had all just left our hair in pin curls & wore a bandana or scarf around our heads). While she was combing a customer came so then I called Fawn. She was fine but Kent is having an operation in a few days. His eyes are crossed. She thought it was a little too far out to her place. She says it’s 3 miles so I just didn’t go out there. Then I decided I was probably bothering Gertrude. The telephone was almost on top of her customer so I didn’t even call Beth & Mildred. I decided to go down & see Norma. She works at a Jewelry store just a few doors away. When I reached there, Mom, Dad, LaMar, Glena & Karla were there too. LaMar had been given a chance to look the test over for 15 min. before deciding if he wanted to take it. He found that in the field of shop instruments he hadn’t studied too much so he decided to wait until tomorrow. He will take the test in Ogden. He said nearly all the other questions he knew the answers. Norma was glad to see us. She has been made the Pres. of the Y.W.M.I.A. I guess that will be a big job. She has some more tracts for me to send you & also some pictures she took of Cheryl & myself. We said goodbye & started out to find a place to eat. Karla was a handful. She didn’t want anyone to hold her, she just wanted to run. She ran into a bunch of sailors & tripped over one of their toes. He picked her up & gave her to Glena. Cheryl was good until we went into Z.C.M.I. to eat & then she started to cry so I decided to take her to the car. I had just reached the car as it started to rain. In a few minutes here came the rest of the gang. We bought some milk, rolls & candy & ate that for our dinner. It really poured down all the way home. When we reached Ogden, the gutters were just rushing streams. 231 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - June 1945 232 Letters to the Paciic Norma - June 1945 When we got home, the cow had a calf & it thought another cow was its mother & it had really milked it for Dad. So Dad had to bring the calf up to the barn. The cow the calf had been with just bawled & bellowed, but its own mother never said a word – she just went on eating. Yes, I received the $75. I believe I mentioned it before – at least I had good intentions of doing so. Last month was really an expensive one what with furniture, Dentists & Doctors so I was glad to get it. Now this month hasn’t been bad at all & this one that is just beginning I will try to keep down even more than the others. Spence wrote two letters today & he is still in France. He has been in Paris for a few days. All My Love to you & Best Wishes – I hope they are good to you. Norma P.S. Fawn says you owe them a letter. I wrote to Ronald & Carmen yesterday. Pleasant View, Utah 6 June 1945 Dearest Reinhart, It is still raining here. Looking out the back window I can see old Ben Lomond – white clouds hang along the top. Then about half way down fresh snow has fallen. Dad had us all go out not long ago to look at the streams of water running down all the canyons. One of them looks almost like a river. I washed yesterday & from the looks of things I won’t be able to hang them out for a week. All the furrows are so water soaked that the water just stands in pools. I guess there was no need of my worrying about a dry season. LaMar decided to wait until today to take his test. Dad took him down a little while ago so I suppose he is struggling through it by now. I hate to see him go into the infantry. Spence was quite down in the dumps in his letter yesterday. He was telling Audrey what to do with everything he owned just in case. He expects to leave for the pacific any day & I guess he doesn’t relish the idea. I know it is bad but it certainly doesn’t pay to harbor such thoughts. The Lord is good to those who serve him & I’m sure that whatever may come it will be for the best. The news coming over the radio right now is telling that only a little mopping up is required on Okinawa. That sounds good to me. I suppose as soon as Okinawa is cleared up they will move you along with Headquarters to that island. That is if it isn’t too handy for bombings. I guess you will be sent there anyway. It’s too bad you have to leave your garden just when it is about ready to bear. I imagine someone else will enjoy the fruits from it. I have put the coral, shells, cup & etc. in on the piano for a few days to show to people as they come in. Then I will put them away again until we can put them in our own home. I hope that time will be very soon. I can think of nothing I would rather do than keep house for you & take care of you and our family. I have had Cheryl practice standing alone. She took another step alone. Oh you would get a kick out of her. The way she dances. She bends her knees clear to the floor almost when she jiggles. Now the radio is playing “I Love You Truly” & she is huming with it. Karla has hurt her so many times here lately that every time she even gets close to Cheryl, why Cheryl starts crying. It’s a good thing she does because then I can come to the rescue. This morning Karla hit her over the head with a stick. Then she tried to pick her up & they both fell down. Then Cheryl was trying to turn on the radio & Karla pushed her down. She doesn’t mean to hurt Cheryl because she doesn’t realize that Cheryl’s legs are still plenty wobbley. Right now she is sitting by Cheryl’s play pen & they are jabbering away at each other. Oh – Oh – Cheryl’s crying. – Nothing serious. Karla just took one of her toys away from her. Now Karla’s crying. She bumped her head while trying to get away. Oh – they really have a time. I had your magazines ready to send off but then I decided I had better send them in envelopes as you told me to so I am having Dad get them for me. We’ll be seeing you very soon – I hope. All My Love, Norma 233 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - June 1945 Okinawa 9 June 1945 Dearest Norma, Tonight was the first time I have eaten in two days, but I am feeling fine again. We went down to the beach this afternoon to do some water depth determination work, and while we were wandering around on the reef I picked up a couple of little shells. One of them is realy pretty. It is almost black. When I get some more I will send them home to you again. Have the ones I sent you before ever reached you yet? On the way to the beach we saw some civilians walking along the road. Most of them were women with a couple of old men. They were all carrying baskets on their heads filled with vegetables and stuff. They can realy carry some big loads on those domes. The women all wear sort of an open kamona affair with their breasts hanging out. A lot of the natives have already learned a few english words like, tobacco, cigarette, match, and candy. Yesterday a couple of the boys were out on the road when a little kid about 4 years old asked them for cigarettes. There were two other little boys with him still younger. The captain only had one cigarette left so he gave it to the oldest one. The captain said he thot the others were a little young to be smoking, but they can all smoke like vetrans. I take it all back, we did have another air raid last night, but it didn’t amount to anything. There was only one plane we could see and he was so high it looked like a pin head. I’ll be glad to get some letters from you again. Till then I’ll keep lovin you. Reinhart Okinawa 10 June 1945 Hello Darling, I was a good boy and went to church this afternoon. Ray is still taking charge. From the first meeting when we only had about 7 present they have grown to around 35 present today. I was the only one there from Ogden. One fellow was from Brigham City so I talked to him for a minute about our future plans. He seems to think they should work out all right. Some of the fellows I met back at Oahu were also there. We now have 5 L.D.S. 234 Letters to the Paciic Norma - June 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 7 June 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, It has been raining again all morning. Right now, however, the sun is shining. I just took Karla outside. We shook the rain off the trees. She thought it was so much fun to be outside again. Two of the nicest letters came from you yesterday. They just sounded so much like you that I just lay there in bed thinking over every word you had said & I could almost see you saying them. There was just enough foolishness to really make me feel good. I’m glad that in this serious business of war you are not loosing your sense of humor. It can help you over a lot of rough spots. Before I forget to mention it – The $75 came. So don’t worry about it. I surely wish I had known that Martin wanted one of those wrist watch bands when I was in Salt Lake the other day. I will try to get him one in Ogden & if we make another trip to Salt Lake I am pretty sure I can get one there. I just can’t believe that they would call Martin such terrible names. From the way you talk about him I rather think you like him too even if every one calls him “Ye Old Bucket Of Guts.” Anyone that says such nice things about my picture must be pretty nice themselves. Tell Martin Thanks for the Compliment. Well it has happened at last – they are sending you to Okinawa. I would much rather you stay where you are but if that can’t be then I’ll just be thankful things are looking so much better on Okinawa. I will send this to your new address so you will be all settled there by the time you receive this. I had a few cantaloupe seeds left so I will send them & the mellons will come in a few days. Now Honey – how could you tell I was hinting for a coconut? I just had to chuckle. I guess you know me pretty good. Please don’t send me a gross because it would swamp the mail I’m afraid. Glena says if you have so many you can send her one. Mildred Kowallis (left) was Reinhart’s younger sister and the last child of the first family of Karl Kowallis. Gertrude Kowallis (right) was part of the second family and Reinhart’s halfsister. Norma intended to visit several of Reinhart’s sisters on a trip to Salt Lake in June of 1945, but ended up only visiting with Gertrude and another half-sister, Norma Kowallis. She did not get to see Mildred and Elizabeth. 235 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - June 1945 chaplains here on the island. We had three of them with us in meeting today. Sgt. Gill and I took off this afternoon and got some pictures of one of the tombs. If we had had a flash bulb with us I would have also taken a picture of the interior. Ray got word this evening that he is now Pop of a daughter. She was born some time about the first of June. He is quite proud of himself. He now has a boy and a girl. I have some eczema in one of the most unorthodox places. I know you could never guess where, and I know I would never tell you. It has only been about a week since I last heard from you but it seems like ages. I should get some mail within another week. I sent you my address nearly a week before we left our last station. The mail had been getting out here to the boys in about 8 to 10 days. We were just saying today that back home the strawberries would be getting ripe about now and Sunday dinner would be decked out with strawberry short cake. Oh well, I topped off tonight with a couple of raw carrots I dug this afternoon. Give me all the hot news from the home front. Love, Reinhart Top: Wrecked Japanese planes on Naha airfield in June 1945. Bottom: View out of the door of Lt. Reinhart Kowallis’ tent on the island of Okinawa in June or July 1945. 236 Letters to the Paciic Norma - June 1945 Jensen barn in Pleasant View, Utah located north of their home on Pleasant View Dr. with Ben Lomond peak in the background. I’m glad you liked the pictures. I will try to get some more for you in a few days. Yesterday Cheryl took one step three different times. Glena just brought her up. I guess she had a bad dream & was a little out of sorts. I walked around with her a little. She laid her head against mine & I sang to her. Then she kissed me & now she is happy & playing in her pen. She always carries your letter to the box so if it is a little wrinkled you will know why. I tell her it is for “Da Da” & she jabbers “Da Da” all the way to the mail box. I had to go up to the pole patch & from one end of town to the other yesterday getting my visiting teachers all lined up with their summer work & I had them act as messengers to tell our members about a mothers & daughters party we are having next Tues. LaMar took me in the car. This Friday they are having a big barn dance down in that big Potters barn. I wish you were here to take me. We could really “cut the rug” couldn’t we. You are really sweet you know. You tell me about the parties they have out there & about the girls they have to entertain you & then you say “But I was true to you.” You just don’t know what that means to me. But even if you never said a word, I would know that you were & even if you went to the party I would know that you would be as safe as if you were home with me. It seems to me that every day I am more thankful than ever that I was blessed with a sweetheart. I hope that you are able to continue doing a little missionary work of Okinawa. I have been telling LaMar this morning that when he goes into the Navy he must consider it as a mission and not as just an adventure. He says that is just what he intends to do. I’m sure that if he goes into it with this attitude that he will come out a better man & better prepared in every way to meet problems when he returns home. I think he will be a little homesick because he has never been away from home but if he doesn’t have to get into any of these terrible battles it will do him a great deal of good. 237 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - June 1945 Curious native kids on Okinawa crowd around the tents in the army camp hoping to be given some candy or cigarettes. Photo taken in July 1945. Okinawa 11 June 1945 Dearest Norma, First thing this morning I was told to get my team ready for a day on the beach. We had to go down and take water depths along the reef as well as check the tide. As soon as the tide goes out every one starts looking for shells. I found about a dozen pretty ones. Also about a dozen cat eye shells. The cat eyes don’t look like anything at all until they are polished. When I get all the shells I think we will want, I’ll sent them home to you. Martin and I took some pictures while we were fooling around today. I am going to try and develop them tomorrow night so I can send some in a couple of days. I wish I could let you do my laundry along with yours tomorrow, but as it is I’ll have to steam up the old iron pot and do it myself. Yep, I sure do miss you. Goodnight sweetheart, see you in my dreams. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 12 June 1945 Hello Darling, Every day in every way I wish the war were over so I could come home and be with you. That’s about the only thing I look forward to, but it seems I just keep getting farther away. I started to polish some shells today, but I don’t think I will get many done. It’s too much work to do them by hand when you don’t have the right things to do it with. That reminds me, did you ever get the moss agate back that you sent away to have it cut? Seems to me that guy should be sending it back or some thing. Ray is sort of under the weather tonight. It seems I am not the only one who has trouble with his stomach. If we could get some thing fresh now and then it would help out a lot. Wouldn’t I like some of those cherries that are ripening back home. With all my love, Reinhart 238 Letters to the Paciic Norma - June 1945 You had better tell Martin that he better have his eyes fixed if he can’t recognize that you are the best looking man in the outfit & I still say Cheryl looks just like you & she is a mighty sweet & pretty child – If I do say so. May the Lords Bless You Always. All My Love, Norma P. S. I will be looking forward to that picture of you on the Water Buffalo. P. S. S. I’m so glad the blue prints of the watch helped you. I was just afraid you would be at a loss with such a complicated gadget. Pleasant View, Utah 7 June 1945 Dearest Reinhart, It’s just 9:30 and that means it will soon be time to go to bed & dream of you – I hope. Ruth is practicing her piano & the way she’s banging it out I don’t know just who will be the winner – Ruth or the piano. Jeepers – it’s really taking a beating. LaMar is threatening to move up on the roof if it keeps up. He says he can’t sleep nights just thinking about her playing. Really – it isn’t all that bad. Ruth is really improving. It’s just that her teacher wants her to play loud. Mom has just finished painting the bathroom. It is a pretty rose shade. We have all had one turn getting dobed with paint. I set Cheryl on the toilet to do – well you know what & lo & behold when I took her off she had a white ring on her little fanny. Yes, Mom had painted the toilet too. Today my “Watch Tower” preacher came. She really didn’t give me a fighting chance to preach the gosple to her. She just sat me down & said we would have a little lesson. Then she had me read from a book & then ask me what I had read. It was like a little story all about Springtime & the birds & John baptizing on the River declaring “The Kingdom is at hand.” Everytime I went to ask her something she would have me read a little further. “It would explain,” she said. Finally, when I did get a chance she said a few insulting things about the Mormons. Then the hail & rain started & she said she would have to leave but would be back next Thursday. She may have won this round but believe me I’m going to do a little reading bettween now & then. I know I probably won’t convert her but I’m surely getting a refresher course. Guess what? – Um Yum. I went out today – along with LaMar & we picked two pan fulls of strawberries. Honestly, I have never in my life seen such large ones. I had eight strawberries for supper & I had a large bowl full. Then LaMar & I waded through the mud out to the garden & pulled our first turnips & our first lettuce. It isn’t raining right now but it’s still cloudy so I don’t know how long it will last. It has taken three days now to get my clothes dry. Cheryl is crying. Her teeth are still bothering her a little. I be glad when the other top one comes in. I didn’t get a letter today. I sort of imagine you are on your way to Okinawa. If you can’t keep warm up there just let me know & I’ll gladly fly over & do my best. Goodnight My Sweet – Pleasant Dreams to You. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 11 June 1945 Dearest Reinhart, By this time you are probably on Okinawa. I hated to see you go there but I guess there are a lot worse places in the world. I hope the rain has stopped. Today is our first clear day for almost a month. It is still a little cool though. These pictures of Cheryl do not flatter her but they are the only ones I have at the time. I thought you would like these pictures of the School house being torn down. I guess I am absent minded but I forgot to put the cantaloup seeds in your letter. Now I don’t know wheather there is room for both seeds & pictures but I’ll see. I also have another confession to make. We didn’t make the cake until Saturday. I didn’t want to takle it alone & Mom was busy painting & I just didn’t get her to help me until Saturday. Now that it is made I will be able to do the next one all 239 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - June 1945 Okinawa 13 June 1945 Dear Norma, Another request comes through. This time I want you to get me a sheet of fine sand paper and a couple of sheets of emery cloth. In my spare time I have gone to polishing shells, and I need these materials to do a good job. These cat eyes surely shine up nice. When I get a bunch of them done, I’ll send them to you. Maybe some day we’ll find some use for them other than just to look at. Martin and the other fellows just made themselves a pot of coffee, and as they were taking it off the stove a bar of soap droped in it. They griped and I laughed. We are going to develop some film tonight. I hope they turn out good because there are some pictures on it I want to send to you. Martin and I got some work in this afternoon that will keep us busy for the next couple of weeks. So far we haven’t had much to do but get straightened around. Now if I were only home, you could take care of my sun burn for me. As it is one of the boys had to grease my back down for me last night. The Army puts out a sun burn cream that is realy good. About 10 minutes after I had it on the sunburn didn’t hurt hardly at all. After being on Guam, I never thot I would burn out here. It was even cloudy most of the time, but I guess the reflection on the water has quite an effect when it comes to burning. It is getting hotter by the day out here now with plenty of dust to go with it. It’s one extreme or the other here. Either it’s mud on your feet or sand in your eyes. I don’t know which is the worse. And when I think of all the good weather we have back home. Further than that the fishing season is just opening. Did Pop go out for the opening day? I guess he is too busy to get away this time of year. Here’s loving you always, Reinhart Okinawa 14 June 1945 Dearest Norma, I am so sorry I was not able to get a picture of myself on a water buffalo, and also that I didn’t think soon enough to send you some cocoanuts home. Now I am out of the buffalo and cocoanut country so I don’t know if I will ever get the chance to do it. Maybe I will get back through there some day. Sgt. Gill came dashing up to my tent this noon with a hand full of ripe tomatoes he had picked just a little way from camp. When I first looked at them, I thot they were cherries. There wasn’t one of them as large as a big bing. The only thing tomato about them was the taste. You should see me take my bath every evening in a helmet of water. Why when I get home I will be able to bath myself and all the kids in a gallon of water. There won’t be any need for plumbing in our house. We’ll just spit in the air and jump through it. But I will be happy when I get somewhere where the water runs instead of pours. I am inclosing in this letter a Jap bond (war bond) so you will be a share holder in the land of the rising sun. You mentioned in your letter I got today that you had received the $75, but you didn’t tell me which $75 it was. I sent you $75 by government check, and then $75 by money order. Have you received both of them? Your first letters written here to Okinawa reached me today. They only took 7 days to get here which isn’t bad. Don’t bother about the sand paper and emery cloth I asked for in yesterday’s letter. I have found a source of it here. I’ll bet the cake and things you sent me will get around some time this fall. But if it does I’ll save it for Christmas and eat it in Tokyo. Cheryl sounds like she is growing up so much. It won’t be long and you’ll be chasing both her and Karla all over the place. I’ll bet she is a lot of fun tho. Sgt. Gill and I worked a good part of the day setting up our photo lab, so from now on we’ll be able to devel240 Letters to the Paciic Norma - June 1945 by myself. Anyway I’ll tell you what I did do. I cut up the dates, picked over raisins, currants, cut up the nuts & mixed in the fruit mix citron. Then I creamed the shortening & sugar – then Mom mixed the eggs & spices with the flour – then I mixed the fruit, shortening & flour together. Mom put it in the tin & we both watched it bake. So you can see we both helped. We then cut it in circles, wrapped it in wax paper & put it in that tin can you sent. Now I am taking it to town to mail. The can just weighs 5 lbs. That is all I can send. I hope it reaches you O.K. Yesterday & the day before Karla had been sick with a fever of 104. She was perfectly all right until Goodwin & Lester drove up on their motorcycles. She is just scared to death of them & she has just shook ever since. When she would dose off to sleep she would awake suddenly with a jump & start screaming. We called the doctor & he said it couldn’t be caused by a scare. He says it was probably just a case of tonselitis. She is better this morning & I hope she keeps on getting better but it doesn’t sound like tonselitis to me. I’ll hunt up your Bible right away & send it to you. I hope the cake doesn’t look like Martin’s Christmas package did. It will just be too bad if it does. Dad wants me to hurry & get ready for town. I’ll take the $75 down & add it to the rest. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 12 June 1945 Dearest Reinhart, How do you like Okinawa by now? Now that’s rather a dumb question because I know your answer without even hearing or seeing you. It isn’t home & you arn’t a duck so of course you arn’t crazy about all the rain. But in Spite of it all I’ll bet you are able to find something to laugh about or something to keep your spirits up. I don’t know when I have been so thankful, as I am now, that you have a sense of humor – In fact I’m glad that you have just plain sense. Whenever I tell someone what you are doing over there (You know some of the things you do in your time off – such as picking up shells – visiting with the natives & seeing what there is to see). Whenever I start telling them these things they always say “You don’t have to worry about Reinhart getting down in the dumps like some boys do because he will always find something to do & he will think of some crazy thing to say if he hasn’t anything else to do.” Of course I know you do get homesick (I’d be insulted if you didn’t miss us a little) but I’m glad you can take it with the best of them. Just yesterday I was talking to Beth Cragun (Lewis Cragun’s wife) & I was telling her about the shells & cup and things you sent & she said “Trust Reinhart to find something to do. You don’t have to worry about him having war nerves. I bet if he gets low, he just gets busy & thinks up something to do.” I’m just so proud of you. It just seems that people that have only met you once or twice still have something nice to say about you. It gives me such a good feeling to know everyone thinks so much of you. Even the little kids never fail to ask about you. It will seem strange to see you dressed in Civilian Clothes again. It seems ages since I have seen you that way. Nearly all the happy times we have spent together you have been in G.I.’s but when the day comes that you can take them off for keeps I’ll be so happy. Yesterday I took the cake down & mailed it. I hunted all over town for some of that tape like you used & I finally found some in Pay Less. I sent it first class so I hope it gets there O.K. I wasn’t going to tell you this cause I didn’t want you to think I was so absent minded but if I tell you you may be able to check & get the package anyway (In writting the address I left off the G-2 Sec. Dad rushed me off to town in such a hurry that I didn’t get the letter with your new address to take along. I was so sure I remembered it – the only thing I worried about was the new P. I. number. When I got home I found I had failed to put on that G-2 Sec. Oh honey I just felt sick about it. After all that work & stuff in that darn cake. Do you think it will ever reach you now? If it doesn’t I shall just weep. I would have called the P.O. but it was closing time. Yes I went to another Dr. yesterday. (Dr. Stromberg) He’s sort of an in between a (Osteopath & a Chiropractor). Anyway I was never so embarrased in my life. I thought he would just look at my nose to see about my sinus, but when I went into his office there was just dozens of booths. The nurse ushered me into one of these & told me to take off everything but my panties. I did as I was told. When I was [un]dressed I didn’t know just what to do. I supposed the Doctor would come & look at me there but instead the nurse came & led me passed the booths with just curtains over them & I knew there were men in some & women in others (Oh I forgot, they put a little white gown on me like this. Well, I walked passed all these booths in this little gown & it was slit down the back. 241 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - June 1945 op & print our own pictures. I think this developing kit we have will be on my list of things to get after the war. This blasting up on the hill here is getting almost as dangerous as the flaks used to be. The other day an eight inch rock burried itself right by the side of Ray’s tent, and yesterday evening one came right through one of the enlisted men’s tents, going right on down through the bed while the lad was lying down. Luckily it didn’t hit him. They should have the hill all blown away in another few days. They are using the rock from it to surface roads. How much do we have in the bank now? You haven’t told me for a couple of months. Goodnight now, give Cheryl a big kiss for me and take one for yourself. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 16 June 1945 Dearest Norma, Yesterday I got four letters forwarded from interpron so my mail is starting to come through again. It certainly seems good to hear from you. Today is the second day of fishing season back home. I wonder if Pop caught any. I’ll bet you need me home to fill the bag. If I couldn’t do any better I could get a sack full of suckers. Why you and I could go to bear lake and bring back a whole car load, and a good sun burn. Young Okinawan woman with a heavy load of firewood on her head, July 1945. 242 Letters to the Paciic Norma - June 1945 He said my back was crooked so he snaped it into place. He said that would have been the cause of my head aches. Then they wrapped a thing around my head & put me on a cot with a heated pad under it. After about a half hour I was sure my nose was blistered. I was pouring perspiration. Then I called the nurse & told her I was too hot. She took me out & I had her look to see if my nose wasn’t all blisters, but it wasn’t. Then she sat me at a desk in my little gown right in front of another booth. Then she pulled back the curtain & there lay a man with his shirt off. She sat him up on the edge of the bed facing me & then someone else called her & she left him there facing me. I looked at the floor & ceiling & hoped I could find a hole to fall in but I didn’t find any so I just held my gown tight around me. Believe me I was glad to get out. Phyllis had her sinus completely cured by this Doctor & already I feel better so I guess I’ll have to go back for my other treatment but believe me I’m taking a house coat this time. The mail man just came & I missed him but I’ll try to catch him on the way back. A letter came from Carmen. LaMar got notice that he has passed the test so I guess he’ll join right away. I must run now. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 13 June 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, I haven’t received any mail from you for three days so I guess you are still on your way to Okinawa. From the news I can see they are still having a lot of tough fighting on that island. I suppose when you get there they will all run back to Tokyo. The rain has stopped here but now the wind is blowing – drying the ground so hard you can hardly hoe it & yet things keep growing and everything looks beautiful. Dad & LaMar picked the Strawberries. They are just huge but they don’t color up as much as they would if the sun would shine. The Letter which Carmen sent me had a picture in of Ronald, the baby & herself. She said she had sent you one too. Wasn’t it cute? It was so natural of the kids I would just love to see them. Little Carmen Lynn is really cute, isn’t she – but of course not nearly so cute as our Cheryl – especially when Cheryl gets some more hair. Yesterday I was trying to get Cheryl to walk & she took three steps. I was so tickled I had Mom hold her & I was holding out my hands for her to come to me & first thing I knew there was Karla right in front of Cheryl & walking toward me just like she was taking her first steps, then she fell into my arms. I laughed so hard that she didn’t like it so she pulled my ear. Here lately she is getting a little jealous of Cheryl. Everytime they have Cheryl do anything, Karla does it & everytime I do anything for Cheryl, Karla wants to do it too. If I pick up Cheryl, Karla holds up her hands for me to pick her up. Yesterday afternoon I went down to Sr. Williams place. She & Amelia Dickamore & myself made 82 corsages of roses, daisies & blue flowers for our party. We finished about 5:30 P. M. Then I came home & got Cheryl ready for bed & fed her. Then I fed myself & left for the party. We surely had a good crowd of Mothers & daughters. There were 95 present, so we didn’t have a corsage for everyone. We had a lot of fun. We had a program, then played games & had lunch. Tonight they are having another barn dance. The last one was such a success that everyone wanted another before hay was put in the barn. They are having about the best orchestra in the country. It is from Hyrum & I guess they are really good. At the last dance there was people there from every ward in the stake. The man who owns the barn isn’t a Mormon, but he decorated it just grand for the party. They had to park the cars in rows because so many came. Audrey & I may get LaMar to take us down for a few minutes just to see what it’s like. Everyone is going so we’ll have to take Cheryl & Karla if we go. I just wish you were here to swing the light fantastic with me. Mom is in charge of the stands for hot dogs, pop cycles & etc. so I guess she will be busy. Dad & LaMar had planned on going fishing this week with Uncle Henry & Stephen but it’s just to cold & stormy so they decided to wait until the hay is in the barn. I hope you get some nice quarters there at Okinawa. Of course I don’t suppose you will find a hotel room with all the modern conveinances, but all I hope is that you have a leek proof roof over you & a place to keep warm & a fairly comfortable bed & that they will feed you good. Take care of yourself Sweetheart. I love every hair on your sweet head even if they are short – in fact I love every bit of you so be good to yourself. I look forward to seeing you. All My Love, Norma 243 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - June 1945 At four o’clock this morning the A A opened up on a couple of Jap bombers that came over. Just after one of them got passed us a 90 mm shell hit him and he spun to the ground in a trail of smoke. The plane was 20,000 feet or higher when they hit him and we could realy hear the old motors whine as he came down. The other plane was shot down just a short distance from the air field. I was that way today and looked at it. One wing was lying in a gully, the other was in a field about 200 yards from the first. Part of the fuselage was across the road between two trees, and the nose of the fuselage came crashing down between two tents where some of our men were sleeping. I’ll bet those guys had a pants washing job to do this morning. Seven Jap bodies were picked up around the litter. Then yesterday evening about 6:30 one of our 90 batteries fired a couple of rounds calibration fire way up over the top of us when all at once something tore through the tent roof and hit the floor just about at the door. Martin, who was standing in the door looked around and there was a piece of flak sticking in the ground. Now Martin walks around with his helmet on all the time. Things are certainly being built up here in a hurry. Roads and buildings seem to spring up over night. It won’t be long till this is the bigest base in the Pacific. Here’s hoping I’ll be with you at least a year from this fall. With all my love to both my Sweethearts, Reinhart Here are three of the LDS chaplins who are mentioned in one of Reinhart’s letters. On the back of the photo he listed their names as Jones, Evens, and Widason. 244 Letters to the Paciic Norma - June 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 14 June 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Dad has decided to go fishing after all. LaMar is going to stay & take care of the cows. He thinks he should enlist right away in the Navy because his Birthday is on the 23rd. Mom has been trying to discourage Dad from going because his hay is ready to cut & everything needs attention right now but Uncle Henry & Stephen persuaded Dad to go. He has his new sleeping bag out on the lawn & a wool blanket & a double cotton blanket in it. It is really cool so he may need it. They won’t be packing in so if he doesn’t need them it will be alright. They are going up near Kamas someplace. They will stay until Saturday. Last night Audrey & I went down to the barn dance for a few minutes. We didn’t go until about 10:30. It was really quite a party. The Orchestra was up on a balcony about 12 ft from the floor. How they got it there I do not know. About the first ones I saw was Ruth May & Nephi out dancing the Virginia reel with the 100’s of others who were doing it. Nephi had on a plaid shirt & Ruth Mae an old fashioned long dress. There were people from all over the stake. North Ogden put on a floor show – a series of old fashioned dances. I danced once with Dad & once with Sherman Jones. Then Mac Wade ask me but I didn’t know those old dances so I turned him down. Dad bought Audrey & I a hot dog & some punch. Mom was making the Hot Dogs. Oh how I wish you could have been there. A group of us girls who have husbands over seas spent most of the time decorating the walls. Everyone ask about you as usual. Ruth Mae & Nephi of course wanted to know all about you. Nephi ask me to dance just as we were leaving but we had our coats on & Ruth Mae should[n’t] have to stand around so I said I wait & trade them a dance when you got home. We came home about 11:30 so we only stayed an hour. I told Audrey the main reason I wanted to go was so I would have something to write. Cheryl took four steps yesterday. It just tickles me so. Why she will be walking by herself in no time. The little rascal just woke up & she is here in her pen clicking her tongue on the roof of her mouth to get my attention. Oh my, now she is sitting here with a jar rubber in her mouth – she looks just like a bull. Oh – now she sees the flowrs on the table so she is just snuffing for all she’s worth. Well my Sweetheart – I missed the mail man the past two days & had to stop him on the way back so I’de better stop. Oh yes – my watch tower preacher is coming today. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 16 June 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, Your two letters came from Okinawa yesterday. I am glad you are safely there & I hope the rain has stoped for a while & I hope the Japs have permanently given up. I’m so glad you have your mattress with you. It just seems something that isn’t real to think of you having to build your own bed. By the time you get back & we set up our tent you will really be able to furnish it in style. I’m so glad you got your camera. Now you will be able to send me all kinds of pictures (even one of you on a water buffalo). With the experience you are having in developing pictures we will be able to have a place for developing pictures in connection with our sport shop. That is the way Kemmeyer do. So you just learn all you can because I think the information will help a lot. As to selling our enlarger. It is packed so deep down in the boxes that I just think I’ll wait until you are here to dig it out. General Buckner made the anouncement today that the fighting in Okinawa is all over but cleaning up a few stubborn Japs. Now that you have left Guam maybe you can tell me a little more about what you did there & what it was like & all about it. I guess the natives on Okinawa are all Japs. Do they look like the ordinary Japs? Mom just brought up the mail so I see I have missed the mail today. I see by your letter that the Jap or native women aren’t very modest. My oh my you must really be seeing sights. They say in the papers that the natives of Okinawa are a mixture of Chinese & Japs & that the Japanese consider them inferior. They say they are more friendly to the Americans – Is that so? 245 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - June 1945 Okinawa 18 June 1945 Dearest Norma, I never got around to writing yesterday on account of I was working up at the air port all day and then in the evening after I got back we printed some pictures up. I’ll send you a couple of them in this letter as soon as Gill brings them back to me. It certainly looks as if the old school house is a thing of the past from the pictures you sent me. When are they going to start building the church? Do you think they will have it built by the time I get home? Cheryl is surely growing up. She looks bigger in every picture you send. Also, the pups seem to be doing well, but the poor little fellows must have quite a life of it with Karla & Cheryl both mauling them. Does Karla feed the chicks she strangles to the pups or do they just go to waist? Hey, the fruit cake you are sending sounds like it ought to be real good. I hope you were able to send it to my address here. Some of the fellows here go down to the front lines every few days to take pictures of Jap installations. One of the boys here in my tent just came back after spending the day down below. He brought three Jap rifles with bayonets. The boys take some awful chances to get souvenirs. People are getting killed down on the front lines every day, so for my part I don’t think the souvenirs are worth it. Here it is almost 8:00 o’clock and I have some more pictures to develop tonight. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 19 June 1945 Dearest Norma, Enclosed are a few more pictures to sort of redeem myself for some of those I sent you yesterday. I received a letter today from Carmen with the sweetest picture of their family in it. Their little girl is realy growing up and is just as cute as can be. I certainly hope we can get together with them again some time. If Ronald ships out as they expect he will, it is possible that I may see him out here. We’ll go to the show together in Tokyo. Two letters from you came today to. One was forwarded to me from Interpron. But I’ll still try and answer all the questions you asked me. I was glad to hear you received the shells OK that I mailed you. I have some prettier ones now than those I sent you. I’ll mail them to you when I get a few more. The crystal I sent is from one of the caves on Guam. The cup was from a destroyed house on Okinawa, and no doubt at one time belonged to an Okinawan family. The shells are not polished. I pick them up while they are still alive, and they look just that way. The only ones I polish are the cat eyes and you haven’t any of those except one old one I sent that isn’t any good. I have some very pretty ones now. It sort of looks as if you are going to have a can of shells for your birthday this year. There is nothing out here I can buy for you. I don’t know why you have to do all your strip tease acts for the doctor. Can’t you do some for me? Now I would realy apreciate them. That must have been some experience you had tho. I can just imagine how embarrassed you must have been. Anyhow, I hope the Doc can help you out as you expect he will. Don’t worry about the cake. I think it will get here all right even tho you didn’t put G-2 on, just so long as the rest of the address was correct. I was glad to hear that LaMar passed his test. If they will just give him a break now I am sure he will make the grade. I do hope he doesn’t have to get over into this mess. Maybe it will be over by that time. I took my team down toward the front today to look over some old Jap fortifications, and what I mean they realy had them. Every ridge and ravine had rifle, machine gun, & artillery so located that it was impossible to move in any direction without coming into the field of fire of one or the other. Nearly every thing was underground. Connecting underground passages lead from one position to another. They must have lived in them like ground hogs. 246 Letters to the Paciic Norma - June 1945 Snow on Ben Lomond Peak in this photo taken from the Jensen garden. I am so glad you are getting some more shells. They really mean so much. I’ll have you make me a necklace out of some of them when you come home. The boys up at Bushnell are making just beautiful necklaces out of those little green & white shells like you sent me & then rings out of a shell they call the “cat’s eye.” These shells came from the islands. Yesterday LaMar drove the car to town & Mom & I went with him. We had to stay in town until 5 o’clock because the man at the recruiting office was in Tremonton. At 5 o’clock Mom & LaMar went to the office & LaMar enlisted in the Navy. Wed. he is going to Salt Lake & take his physical & on Thursday he will be sworn into the Navy (If he passes the physical). The Navy will pay his hotel room for the night. Imagine LaMar staying in a Hotel room all night. I’ll bet if he has to stay alone, he’ll be homesick before the night’s over. Why he hasn’t ever been away from home alone. We didn’t get home until 8 o’clock. Dad had already returned from his fishing trip. He said they woke up in the morning & found two inches of snow all over. They were glad they took your little pup tent. Dad said the bed was plenty swell. They tried fishing out in the reservoir in Stephen’s boat & also from the shore, but had no luck. The line froze as soon as they pulled it out of the water. They said that they saw lots of fishermen, but no fish. The radio reports said the streams were too high for good fishing. Tomorrow is Father’s Day. I don’t suppose your cake will get there in time for Father’s Day (if it gets there) but Cheryl & I are both so very proud of the Father in our family. I’m sure that we couldn’t have found a better one if we had searched this old world over from North to South to east & west. I think of you so much that I spend my nights dreaming about you. Last night I dreamed you came home. It seemed so real & so grand to have you that when Ruth’s alarm went off at six & you disappeared, I could just have cried. I tried my best to go back to sleep & dream you back again, but I was wide awake & Cheryl was calling for her early feeding so I had to get up, put her bottle on to heat & leave you over on Okinawa. Some day soon I’m going to wake up & find you really here for keeps. Oh I’ll be a happy girl that day. You would get such a kick out of that Cheryl now. You would just die laughing to see her walking. I let her lean against my legs a little ways from a chair & let her walk to the chair. The little rascal has a fit if I try to hold her a minute until her feet are fixed solid. She’s like a wild colt – all raring to go. She doesn’t walk when she starts, she just runs, Then I bring her back to do it again & she just has her legs wriggling & her whole body squirming to be off again. Maybe she’ll be a foot racer like you. She surely does change in a few days. She used to say a lot of words & now all the little dickens will say is “Da Da.” I tell her to say “Ma Ma” she just laughs and starts chattering “Da Da Da Da.” I guess if she wants you that bad you will just have to hurry & come home. You can plainly see we are both crazy about you. All My Love, Norma 247 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - June 1945 On our way back we came through some of the civilian concentration areas, and that is realy something to see. I only regret that we are not permitted to take pictures of them. There are some real characters among them. While working, a lot of the women do not wear anything above the waist. I never knew there were so many varieties of gadgets on women before. Big ones, little ones, flat ones, round ones, hanging, drooping, and standing ones. Modesty such as we have it is unknown to them. While we were waiting on a cross read for trafic to get moving, one woman droped her pants (most of them wear sort of a bloomer pant) and defecated in a ditch not twenty feet away from us. No one paid any attention to her at all, except of course us. However, the people here are to be pitied. They have a hard life to live. The struggle for food and shelter is always present, and the Japs being here I don’t think helped them any. They have always been considered by the Japs as an inferior people, and treated as such. As we drive along the road the men all take off their hats and bow. I don’t know if that is what the Japs made them do or not, but it may have been. In general the people are an ignorant lot. Except where the Americans have built roads, they are nothing but cart trails about 6 or 8 feet wide. I don’t see how the Japs ever got around the island. All my love to you Darling. I am looking forward to being with you again. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 20 June 1945 Dearest Norma, Your letters are certainly coming through in good time for this distance. The one you mailed on the 14th got here tonight. That’s only six days coming out. Also the Reader’s Digest and Sports Afield came this evening. It took them only eight days to get here. Thanks so much for sending them to me. In a couple of your letters you have mentioned your watch tower preacher, but you have never told me what it is all about, or if you have I didn’t get the letter. Let me hear more. It realy sounds as if Cheryl will be walking soon. Four steps is pretty good for a little tyke like her. I wish I were there to see her. Don’t promise to many dances to others because by the time I get home I will have forgotten how, and you know my enthusiasm for dancing. This is short, but you are sweet, and you know I love you even if I don’t write much. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 22 June 1945 Dearest Norma, We were busy last night printing pictures so I never got a letter written. We printed 124 pictures. In fact we kept going until we ran out of paper. Our little outfit realy works well. I hope I can get on just like it after the war. If you haven’t sent the dried fruit I asked for a few days ago, why don’t send it. I think it would be best to wait and see how the other things you have sent come through. Our meals here are getting better all the time. It won’t be long and they’ll be just about like they were on Guam. Next week they expect to have fresh vegetables & meat. The PX opens tommorrow so they may have some things there to buy. Now I can start spending my money again, but it won’t be much. I don’t think I will spend at most over $5 a month on PX crap. From here on it will cost me about $30 a month for board, and what I will otherwise spend. About 3:00 AM last night some one started yelling “Help! Help!”, and in about two seconds flat half a dozen men were out of bed with their guns in their hands looking for Japs. It turned out that one of the boys in the next tent was having a nightmare. He had been down by the front lines investigating some caves, and he was 248 Letters to the Paciic Norma - June 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 18 June 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Here it is Monday again but I couldn’t do my washing because the wringer went on the blink. I have just finished my cleaning for the Morning. Glena & I divide up the work. This week I clean the Front Rooms & Bath Room for a week & she does the kitchen & wipes the dishes for Mom. We each try to out do the other in keeping our rooms clean. You should see the house. We won’t allow anyone to put anything on the cupboards or drape their clothes over chairs. All piles of junk on top of cupboards have been cleaned off & Glena & I stand guard to see that no one dirties the house. Glena is really a good helper. The new boy friend of hers is really getting to be a regular caller. He thinks every day he will leave for the Navy Air Corps but as yet he is still here. Yesterday they went with a couple other kids on a hike up Brigham Canyon. They found a mother deer & two little fawns. The two babies stayed behind & hid in the rock. The boys caught them & turned one loose. The other boy took the one home & is going to feed it on a bottle. Alma seems to be a very fine kid. He likes sports & has a good sense of humor. He always takes a bunch of kids along & they sing & do all kinds of things that are fun & he doesn’t get mushy so Glena likes him. Then he takes Glena to Church with him. Yesterday, Phyllis & the kids came out. Wayne doesn’t feel so good so he stayed home. After dinner we took the kids out on a quilt & sat in the Sun. It is one of our first Sunny days. Cheryl was everyplace but on the quilt. She even got in an ant bed but she didn’t mind even if I did. I took her to Church in the morning. I made her a little red & white dress & she looked so cute with her little locket on. I made 6 curls on her head. I could only make one twist & then put the bobby pin in, but when I combed it, she looked so cute. We sat by Donny Cragun’s baby & Cheryl would point at his eyes & ears & nose when I asked her where they were. He is 3 mo. older but he doesn’t even know that. Cheryl was just like a worm. First she was sitting on Lila Gooch, then on me & then over to Sally Cragun. She didn’t cry or fuss but she is so quick – she doesn’t miss a thing. She takes 6 steps all alone now & everyone gets such a kick out of the way she does it. She just runs. After Phyllis left, Audrey, Ruth & I walked up to the cherries. I carried Cheryl & Audrey & Ruth took turns carrying Karla. The tartarian tree is getting quite red or dark pink. Ruth & I climbed up the tree. It seemed so good – last year I just stood & looked up & now I can climb. I don’t want to miss the mail man again so I’d better say Goodbye for now. I love you very much & miss you every minute. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 19 June 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, Whew! – Am I tired or am I tired? Well – to tell you the truth I am. This morning at 9 o’clock LaMar, Glena, myself & 4 of Mom’s Primary boys climbed onto the old truck & headed for the mountains. Today was the warmest day we have had this summer, so by the time I reached the canyon I was really perspiring. Up the trail to the mine in Pine Canyon, the boys rolled rocks down into the Canyon. There is still a lot of water running down the Canyon. We reached the mine about 11:30. The entrance of the mine for about 20 feet had water standing all over about a foot deep. LaMar fixed boards around & we were able to get in with only our shoes about half wet. We had your flash light, so we went quite a ways back in the mine. Glena & I came out before the others. We decided we had gone far enough. As we were going over the boards, one of them slipped with Glena on it & ker-plunk, into the water she went. She surely was a wet chicken. When the others came we all went down by the water & ate our lunch. Then the kids & LaMar decided to go further into the mine – so Glena & I stretched out on the rock while Glena dried her pants. On the way down the trail we picked Blue Bells, skunk flowers & Indian Paint Brushes. I also picked four wood ticks off of me. It looks like they still like me for some reason. We got home about 2 o’clock and I just guess I’m not used to hiking but I’m tired. My watch tower preacher came to call on me this afternoon & I just told her I was too tired to talk to her. So you are fasting again. I guess you arn’t feeling very good. If only they could give you some good vegetables & fruit instead of so much starchy food. When you come home I’ll just have to put you on a diet. Of course I know how well you mind me but maybe I could get you to cut down on your starchy foods a little. Yesterday we heard the news about your General (Simeon Bolivar Buckner Jr.) getting killed. I guess it was probably the 249 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - June 1945 Elizabeth (Beth) Kowallis Clyde, Reinhart’s older sister who was married to Harry Clyde. 250 Letters to the Paciic Norma - June 1945 subject of the day. It was really too bad. Here in the states the Arrival of General Eisenhower is the subject of the day. They are even hoping that he will make a stop at Salt Lake City as he travels through the country. I have just been down putting Cheryl to bed & playing with her on the bed. She surely likes that flashlight. I keep it down there just in case I have to get up with her at night. She flashes it all around. Then puts her hand over it to watch the light shine through her fingers. She will stand alone in her pen for the longest time now just looking at something. Every time I even look in at her she is sure I am going to take her so she just drops everything & heads my way. Then she just gets so excited & jumps up & down. If I take her she’s happy & if I don’t she cries about a minute & then goes on playing as happy as a lark. Today she went around just in her diaper & shirt. She looks so cute that way. She just loves to rock in Karla’s rocker. She rocks rather jerky – but she thinks it’s fun. She stands on her toes & reaches the piano keys so she can play it. Last night Glena & Ruth played peek-a-boo with her down stairs. She would peek around the boxes & then just laugh & laugh till I thought she would be sick. Finally, I had them quit so she would go to sleep. Oh you would just love her to pieces. She is so quick. She is always going like someone was after her – up & down then up again. I try not to keep telling Karla not to do this & that because I don’t want Cheryl to be a panty waist. But as soon as Cheryl gets something, Karla wants it. Today they were both in on the front room floor. Cheryl had a big root beer bottle playing with it. Karla saw that Cheryl was having fun so she came & took it, Cheryl kept grabing at it but didn’t get it so she found a paper to play with. Karla left the bottle & came & took the paper. Cheryl went after the bottle & Karla got it. Then Cheryl grabbed the paper out of Karla’s hand & so it went. Then Cheryl decided to turn on the radio & Karla came & tackled her. She ment to love her but they both went ker-plunk on the floor. Then Cheryl was injured & I had to come to the rescue. Then when Cheryl has her bottle, Karla wants to feed it to her. She holds the bottle & even when Cheryl doesn’t want any more Karla keeps poking it in her mouth & says “Dink Dink.” Then Cheryl spunks up & definitely refuses. But Cheryl likes her just the same & always laughs when she sees her coming, but lots of times she isn’t laughing when Karla leaves. I’ll be glad when she can hold her own. Sometimes I just about die laughing at those two. Dad says to tell you that he destroyed two Phesant nests while cutting the hay. He didn’t mean to. Ruth says to tell you hello & that one of these days she will surprise you & write you a letter. Audrey & Mom are taking LaMar down to Salt Lake to take his physical tomorrow. If he passes he will be sworn in the next day. He is a little worried for fear he won’t pass the physical but we are all hoping. Goodnight Honey – My paper has run out. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 21 June 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, This morning before I even got up I could hear the news broadcast saying that the battle on Okinawa had officially been declared as over. I am truly thankful for that. Of course, there are still a few enemy pockets to be wiped out, but at least there will not be the danger. Maybe they will soon have things there so they are not too uncomfortable. Now with a base so close to Japan, it may not take too long to convince the Japs that they are on the loosing side. Then you can come home to us. Oh happy day! Mom, LaMar & Audrey went to Salt Lake yesterday. They took LaMar down to take his physical. They went down to the Federal Bldg. There were about 15 or 20 other boys. LaMar went right up & started chatting with them. Then the man came out & told them that all those who had not take their exam there would go up to Fort Douglas for their physical. LaMar was one of the first names read off. Mom went to ask LaMar where they could meet him in case he didn’t pass, but he just gave her one of those looks as if to say “For Gosh sakes, lay off, none of the rest of these boys have their mamas with them. Don’t embarass me by letting them think I have to have my mother here to protect me.” Mom took the hint & LaMar left for Fort Douglas. They waited until 4 o’clock but he never showed up so they came home. We are looking for him this afternoon. If he had failed his physical he would be home by now so I guess he has been sworn in. I had Mom get another of those wrist watch bands. This is a little better than the one I sent you, so if you want it why give the other one to Martin. I don’t know weather Martin is still with you or not but somebody will probably need one. I got some prunes & raisins & I’ll 251 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - June 1945 dreaming he was falling down into one of them. It seems we have more to do here than we did at Interpron. Martin and I have been working every day, and from the looks of things we are going to get more, but that’s what makes the time go fast. We had a little air raid this morning just before noon. There were a few clouds in the sky so we could not see the plane. Here’s loving you with all my heart, Reinhart P.S. I am including a small cat’s eye just to show you what they are like. Okinawa 23 June 1945 Dearest Norma, I have a couple more pictures to send you as soon as I get them censored. I have two enlargements of myself made from a picture I have already sent you. This was our first try at blowing them up and they turned out very well I think. We were out in the field today looking over some Jap defenses. We looked around into quite a number of Jap caves, but they had nearly all been blown in. I saw all the dead Japs I care about. They were lying every where we went. Of course there isn’t much left of them but the bones, the smell, and the clothes. One we looked at had been blown right into the side of a hill. The head had burried itself in the sand about a foot. You have to realy watch where you walk or you go stepping right on the dead. In one cave that is just what I did. One area we covered was littered with tanks, both ours and Japs. After seeing the defenses down there I can certainly understand why it was so hard to break through. The Japs had every foot of ground covered with their fire. The caves honeycomb the hills like ground hog mounds. In one of the caves I found a pair of Jap binoculars. They arn’t much good now, but I may be able to clean them up. They had been lying in the water. Right now Martin and I are out in our lab deciphering some film. We are waiting for them to finish running Tenth Army chapel on Okinawa in July 1945. 252 Letters to the Paciic Norma - June 1945 send those off too. It certainly is grand that Ray can be with you. I’ll bet he would give a lot to see that new baby of his. Your Sunday School is really growing. I am glad you attend the Church as often as you can because I’m sure that as long as you are attending your meetings & live near to God that he will be near you in time of need. Are you helping in any way in the services? You probably get plenty opportunities to talk. Gee Honey – I’m so sorry your exema is so bad. I don’t care if it does sound funny where you have that exema. I’ll just bet it’s darn miserable. Did you ever get the Resinol I sent? If you want I’ll send you another jar. I started to wash this morning but first the wringer went hay wire & then the pin came out of the dasher. Mom has it temporarily fixed now so I guess I’d better get going. I didn’t wash sooner because Dad keeps saying he will take it down & have it fixed. The clothes are so high now that I just think I’ll try to make it work one more week. Glena & Dad are hauling hay. Last night I picked the Strawberries. Glena brought some cherries down that are getting quite ripe. I am glad you have a few carrots to eat. It surely sounds interesting to hear about the tombs. I hope you can get a picture of the interior. I see Beth Payne has a ring made with a cat’s eye shell. Her husband made it. They are really pretty so I’ll be very glad to get them. It’s sweet of you to even try to polish them. You just don’t know how happy it makes me to have you write such nice letters. You have really been swell. Take care of yourself honey. I do hope you will be feeling better. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 22 June 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, I might as well start right out with the big news of the day. We waited for the bus yesterday – expecting LaMar to be on the One o’clock but he didn’t come until the 6:30 bus. I had just gone out to give Cheryl another push in the swing [that] LaMar made out of an old tire – when I saw him coming. He was beaming from ear to ear. Of course I knew he had passed the test. He said that his heart was a little bad & his blood pressure wasn’t just right & he had an arm broken once. The Doctor asked him if he wanted to get in bad & he said he did so the Doctor fixed it so he could. He told LaMar that he could keep out of the Army too if he didn’t want to get in, but LaMar wanted to pretty badly, so he was sworn into the Navy. His pay started yesterday & then to top it off he was told that because he was 18 tomorrow that he would have to be ready to leave tomorrow for Chicago. LaMar was the only one of the fellows who took the Eddy test who passed the physical test. He will be a Seaman first class with pay of $66 to begin with. We are all rushing around like mad trying to get everything done in one day. Everyone has gone to town now but myself & the kids. I am trying to clean house, do dishes, cook a chicken, pick some peas & take care of Karla & Cheryl. Cheryl is asleep now so I am taking a minute to write to you. Phyllis & Wayne are coming out & we will have LaMar’s Birthday dinner today as he will leave tomorrow at 9 o’clock in the morning. I sent some prunes & raisins off yesterday, also the watch band & some more watermellon seeds. The folks are getting LaMar a wrist watch for his birthday. Did I ever mention that Phyllis & Wayne bought a house out on 5th Street about a half block off Wash. Ave.? Spence is still in France but expecting to leave any time. Cheryl’s fourth tooth is just peeking through. I was talking to Beth Rhees Payne in town day before yesterday & she says her boy can’t even pull himself up in his buggy & he is just starting to crawl so you can see Cheryl is a pretty fast little girl. She is getting so she will only kiss me when she wants something. If she wants to get out of the play pen she reaches up & kisses me. If she doesn’t want to go to bed she kisses me. What will I ever do with a scheming child like that? But then her Dad is pretty smart that way too. I guess she takes after him in more ways than one. She has gone to pointing at things she wants. She doesn’t say anything but just sticks her one finger out in the direction of what she wants with her arm out straight. If it’s a flower she wants of course a snif snif goes with it. Karla is waiting for me to go to the mail box & I really intended to write one page but I just get started & can’t stop. Do you want me to mail prunes & raisins every two weeks or how often? I surely thought you would have this war over 253 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - June 1945 Native Okinawans being relocated to an military government camp carrying their few remaining possessions. The group includes very few young men, who were almost all conscripted by the Japanese. Typical Okinawan cart used for transporting goods and people. 254 Letters to the Paciic Norma - June 1945 long ago. But then looked what happened when you went to Okinawa. At that rate, with you to see that things get done right – why who knows you will be eating Turkey with us on Christmas. You know we are going to be so happy to see you coming home. “There I said It again.” All My Love, Norma 255 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - June 1945 before we turn in, and I feel plenty tired tonight having walked around in the hills all day. It is now 10:30 so good night my love. Reinhart P.S. I got the digest and Sports afield the other day. I don’t remember if I mentioned it before. Okinawa 25 June 1945 Dearest Norma, Seems like whenever I develop pictures I can’t find time to write, but then I am able to send you a couple of pictures to make up for it. Knowing how you like pictures I believe you would just as soon have them as the letter. Anyhow, when I don’t get out in the field there is so little I can think of to write. Now for example take today. I have been setting at a table all day looking through a scope. Yesterday, I did get to church in the afternoon. Our little branch is growing every week. We had 44 present this time. I met a fellow from Logan with whom I was in the National Guard, and went to school with. At that time he was a sergent and I was a Lt. Now he is a Major and I am a Lt. However, he got his commission in ROTC and is well worth it. He has a master’s degree in engineering so of course he is in the Engineering Corps. I dreamed I was home on a leave last night and it was awful, not because I was home, but because I only had one day to stay. I was almost in tears when I had to leave you. It is so hot and dry here that working in the day time is almost unbearable. I hope it doesn’t get any worse. I haven’t had any mail for a couple of days so tomorrow I expect a fist full. Here’s lovin you always, Reinhart Okinawa 26 June 1945 Dearest Norma, I’ll bet you and Glena realy make it miserable for every one around the house not letting them lay anything around. How do they live with you two there? And it was so much fun just hanging my coat over a chair, and putting my shells in the window after hunting up in the hills. Looks as if with your reformation I will have to change my ways. Martin wanted me to develop pictures again tonight, but I didn’t feel much like it, and anyhow I wanted to write to you. I still owe Faun, Carmen, and Dad a letter each, but with this developing of pictures nearly every night I hardly find time to write you. I just got through cleaning up my Jap binoculars. They arn’t to hot. Some of the lenses are in pretty bad shape, but they will make a souvenir for me. The rising sun sent his falling bombers over again last night. I had just gone to bed and got to sleep when our A A [anti-aircraft artillery] opened up. It certainly gives you a start to be waked from a sound sleep by bursting shells. One of our A A shells landed just a short distance from us. No one was hurt. I was in and out of bed about half a dozen times between 12:00 & 3:00 AM. After that the Japs were either all shot down or went home and I went to sleep. Gosh it would be great to come back home and go walking up in the orchard with you to pick cherries. And to think that this year I won’t even get to taste one. I am so glad Glena has a new boy friend. Not that I didn’t like Lester, but I think she can get much better guys if she wants. She is pretty cute, and a darn nice kid, I think. There is no doubt in my mind but what Lamar will be home sick. As much as I have been away I still am now and then. The Army is the worst place in the world for it because of the uncertainty of every thing. When a person goes on a mission, he knows that in a couple of years he will be coming back, but in time of war you are never sure when, if, or how you will get back. I’ll bet Mom worries a lot about Lamar to. 256 Letters to the Paciic Norma - June 1945 257 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - June 1945 I can see by the time I get home Cheryl will be coming in on our bed and tromping all over us every morning. In fact, as soon as I get home I think I will start teaching her how to use a shot gun so she can go duck hunting with us. I don’t like the idea of developing pictures in connection with a sport shop. It’s a lot of fun as a hobby, but I don’t want to do it for other people. I am sorry I can’t tell you more about Guam, but I told you all I could, even then or now, while I was there. Anyhow, I have to have something to talk about when I get home. Yes, the natives here are quite friendly. So far the Military government has had very little trouble with them. Goodnight my sweet. I’ll see you in my dreams. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 27 June 1945 Dearest Norma, I have a couple more pictures to send you, but I will have to get them censored yet. If I keep sending pictures we will have so many we never will get to look at them all. They just had mail call and I got two nice long letters from you. Also the watch band for Martin came. He is very glad to get it. I still like the one I have just as well. Thank you for sending the watermellon seeds. If only I had some place to plant them. Kind of looks as if I will have to carry them home with me in ‘48 and plant them in our own garden. Have you ever been down to our place since I left? I guess he is taking care of it like he did last year. Sort of looks like Glena is going to be the farmer’s boy from now on. I’ll bet your Dad has a rough time getting his crop in this year. Now if you could only convert some of Cheryl’s and Karla’s energy in that direction. I bet Cheryl could strip a cherry tree in about nothing flat. If she takes after me, she is bound to be the best picker. I get the bigest kick out of what you write about Cheryl. I can almost see her do the things you tell me about. It would be so much fun if I were with you. So Lamar is in the Navy at last. I hope he will like it. I am sure he will get along all right because he is a good worker and a studious boy. I don’t think Mom has to worry about him. By the time he gets out here, if he does, the war will be over. I still wish you would let me know what our balance is in the bank. I would like to know how mush we have saved since I left the states. Now don’t worry about how I feel because I feel fine. Of course I fast one full day out of the week, but it certainly keeps me in shape the rest of the time. I eat just about everything that comes along and plenty of it. Our meals are getting better here all the time. We are even getting fresh eggs for breakfast in the morning now and then. For supper tonight we had roast beef, bread and butter, mashed potatoes, corn, jam, and cookies. I made myself a cup of caned milk. I have used it so much, it almost tastes like fresh milk to me now. Tell you Dad that for runing over the Pheasant nests we will just have to cut his limits down about 24 birds this fall. Of course my not being there, he can have my share so it will about even up. None of the things you sent to me at Guam have ever caught up with me as yet, but I expect to get them one of these summers. Hope I don’t have to be out here more than a year from this fall. I think it will be about that long. Love, Reinhart 258 Letters to the Paciic Norma - June 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 25 June 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Monday is here again and I guess you are washing your clothes out just as I am – but undoubtedly in quite a different manner than I am. Saturday I kept my word & went up to look over the things in the granary to see if I could find your Bible. I found it alright, but not before I had looked through every suit case & box in the joint, all except one – your Val-o-pack, hanging from the ceiling. Dad put it up but no one was around so I decided to try getting it myself. I got up on the table with one foot & straddled over to the division bettween the grain bins. In this precarious position I attempted to get the Val-o-pack. I was finally able to lift the duffle bag within which it was enclosed from the nail. With it’s extra weight on the table, the table 259 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - June 1945 Lt. Reinhart Kowallis at the Tenth Army encampment on Okinawa. Okinawa 30 June 1945 Dearest Norma, So Lamar made it all right. I think he will like it to, although I believe he will wish he had some good company to run around with. If I had been him and knowing what I know now, I don’t think they would even have to ask me twice if I wanted to stay out. Not that I have been mistreated in the Army, but there is nothing like the freedom of a good civilian life. Of course in my case age had a lot to do with my way of thinking. If I were 18 again, I would be just as anxious to get in as he is. I got a letter from Max Willis this evening and he is in Europe. The whole bunch of them were alerted just a short time after we left. He says he doesn’t know what they are going to do with them now. They are doing nothing at all a present. What a goose chase we went on this afternoon. About 3:30 we had our work all caught up so we decided to go up the coast a ways and have a look around. We went through the civilian concentration areas which never cease to fascinate me. The people are so interesting that I can’t help stairring at them. At one place they were burrying some of their dead, which was rather a pitiful sight. A lot of them have lost their lives in this battle. After we got up north as far as we thot we had time to go, we started looking for a road over the mountains to the West side of the island and back down the other coast. We found a road all right, but it was only 6 to 8 feet wide. It took us through some beautiful country as well as past some excellent places from which to be ambushed if any Japs had been around to do it. Martin, Jack, and I were only the three of us. Martin was driving so Jack and I kept our guns loaded and our eyes on the hillsides. We stoped at a place or two long enough form me to 260 Letters to the Paciic Norma - June 1945 began to tip. Both suit case & I came down. We both arrived safely at the bottom & lo & behold I found the bible so you can start looking for it one of these years. I’ll send it first class & just hope. Saturday evening LaMar called Phyllis & said he would be at the Depot for a half hour & for us to come & see him. (He had left early that morning for Salt Lake) Ruth & Glena were leaving for girls camp so Dad, Mom, Karla & I went to the Depot. It was time for his train when we got there & we dashed around trying to find LaMar. There were so many trains going to Chicago that it was a puzzle to know where he would be. Finally a conductor directed us to track 4 where a train was just pulling in. LaMar was on it. They said he would only have 10 or 15 min. so LaMar dashed to get a drink. The other kid with LaMar had the same idea so when the conductor called out “All aboard” on train 28, this kid came running as hard as ever he could. When I saw him I thought sure it was LaMar’s train so with Cheryl I ran as hard as I could to get LaMar. When I told him about the other kid, he went dashing down the track & just about knocked down a couple soldiers only to find that it was the chair car devision leaving on track 4. LaMar had talked to us about a half hour when Phyllis came puffing up. She had been over on track five looking for LaMar. We expected LaMar’s train to leave any minute, but Phyllis wanted me to go over on track five & get Jay & David & Ruth Butler, so I dashed down the tracks amid whistles from soldiers & “Hey where you going in such a hurry.” I got Jay & David & Ruth & we started our mad dash back. It’s funny but with Jay & David holding on to both hands nobody whistled at me. I wonder why? LaMar was still there. He & two other kids were the only ones being sent from this district back to take the radar school. I guess a good many failed the test. LaMar & the other two kids just looked scared. LaMar just looked so worried. No one was in charge of them & I don’t think they hardly knew where they were going. One of the kids had their sealed orders. He was from Ogden. None of them smoke. At last the train left. Dad & Mom really felt terrible. Dad just about bursts into tears every time he thinks of LaMar leaving. We stopped at Phyllis & Wayne’s new place to see it & their garden. Karla would run around the bare rooms yelling & Cheryl holding my finger was following after her trying her best to yell as loud as Karla. I didn’t get to Sunday School yesterday morning, but Audrey & myself decided to go up to Camp in the evening & see Ruth & Glena. We took Cheryl & Karla. Then we stopped & got Wayne, Phyllis, & family to go with us. The Canyon was just beautiful. We arrived there just in time for Church. Reuben & Earl Cragun were conducting. They had Wayne help with the sacrament & I offered the closing prayer. Cheryl was passed from one girl to another. She was good during Church, but after Church if they tried to pick her up she just hollered. She wanted to walk. I had to let her walk every step of the way to the car – holding my finger. We listened to Harold B. Lee on the way down the canyon. He is certainly against keeping a standing army after the war. He says that it would only mean that our Government would decay as the Roman Empire & all other Gov. who have tried to live under a military Gov. Cheryl is here trying to get my attention by standing alone or walking from one corner to the other. She thinks she is just so smart. Well Honey – my wash awaits me. So I musn’t linger longer. Take care of yourself & let me know if there is anything you need. I just wish you could drop in and see me sometimes. I miss you & miss you so much. I just don’t know how those Japs can be so mean as to keep you over there. Be careful around those rocks. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 26 June 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Three of the most interesting letters came from you yesterday. I had to read all but the personal parts to the family twice – as part of them weren’t here when I read them first. I have never heard such a complete discription of a woman’s shape before as the ones you gave of the Okinawa women’s chests. I can imagine the American boys really get their eyes full. Tell Martin I think he is very wise to wear his Helmet & I think it might be a good idea if you wore yours too. It sounds like it isn’t any too safe with Jap planes being shot down, flak flying & mountains blasted away. The pictures were just wonderful. We all laugh out of the close up of you. The one of you loving that mule or donkey Jack Ass is really cute. (It sure is a little animal. Are they all that little over there?) Mom says she thinks I should put it over in the church instead of the one that is there. On some of the pictures you look fater & on others you look thiner than you were – which are you any how? The tomb 261 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - June 1945 snap a picture. The other day one of the teams was out taking pictures when they cam upon six Japs just below them by a cave. One of the Japs threw a grenade at them, but they were able to take cover before it went off, and then they opened up on the Japs killing all six of them. It could have been the other way around to. The Japs in the Southern part of the island who are left are trying to infiltrate North where they have heard some of there forces are still fighting. As a result, every night down here by our area we get a song of machine gun and rifle music. We get a little jumpy now and then. Some of the boys even sleep with their 45’s under their pillows. Me, I just keep mine hanging from the led post all the time, with a couple of hand grenades right beside it. People back home get the funny idea that when a place is secured that the danger is all past, which is a long way from true. It means only that the enemy armies are beaten down, and that organized resistance has ceased. But the hills are still full of small bands of Japs, and it will take months to get them out. Right now these roving yellow bellies can pick up American guns and ammunition all most any place on the battle fields. We have picked up some Jap ammunition loaded with wooden slugs. I guess they still use them now and then. Is it dusty on these roads now! When we hit the main road this afternoon, the dust was so thick we couldn’t see a vehicle 30 feet in front of us. Every one had their lights on so they wouldn’t be runing into each other. During the dry season it realy gets dry and hot. Some one said it was 120° F today, which is pretty warm in a humid climate. Well my Darling, don’t forget how much I love you both, and have Cheryl kiss you once for me. Love, Reinhart Lt. Martin Martinson dressed and ready for a busy day at the office on Okinawa. 262 Letters to the Paciic Norma - June 1945 is surely different than I had imagined. I am glad you have a good man on your team like Sgt. Gill. He looks like a Happy Chappy. Zenger looks like an intelligent fellow. He looks like he should be a Colonel or Major one of the two. What is he? Is that Coral you are standing on in one picture? I like the picture intitled “Ye Old Man on Okinawa.” You look so Healthy on the picture. Is that some sort of rock fortification behind you? Fawn & Ray stopped in last night & I showed them the pictures. They want me to come down & stay with them for a few days in Aug. I’ll have to see how things work out. They had a good chuckle over that one picture of you. Kent has been staying with Reuben for a week so they came down to get him. They want you to write to them. The shells you pick up & polish for me will mean more than anything you could get, so don’t you worry at all about my birthday. I’m glad you have enough sense to not go running up to the front lines for souvenirs. After all who wants a Jap gun anyway? I’m sure I don’t. I would much rather have you just come home safely to me. We picked the strawberries last night and I have been putting them into bottles. Dad is going to take them down to our lockers at noon. Mom has gone down town. She is on the old Folk Committee, so she has been away yesterday & today getting the meal ready. Karla just fell down the stairs. She was trying to walk down with both legs in one pants hole. Now she is really hollering & I guess she has woke up Cheryl too. With both these kids I don’t seem to get much done. I wonder what I would do with twelve. At least I’d have a few old enough to help. Next Fall seems a long ways off Honey – but if you are home by then I shall be happy. I believe there will still be plenty of deer & plenty of fish by then. We will just take one big vacation before getting down to the business of making a living. But even that will be fun & I shall enjoy every minute of it. Karla just went out the back door & I heard her calling “Ollie Ollie Ollie” that’s what she calls Cheryl. I went out & looked down the stairs & Cheryl was standing in her bed awake. Those two get so tickled when they see each other. Cheryl said “Karla” several times yesterday. All My Love Sweetheart, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 28 June 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, It was really a relief to me to have you say that you thought the cake would get there in spite of my omitting the G-2. I hope the Bible get’s there alright too. I would really hate to have it get lost. Tues. was really a hectic day for me. Mom went down to serve the meal to the Old folks that they had cooked before & I was left with Cheryl & Karla. To begin with Karla got about thirteen patterns out of my machine drawer. Then she pulled all the patterns out & threw them into Cheryl’s pen. When I came in Cheryl was having the most fun just throwing them around & wading them up & squealing, while Karla looked on & laughed. Then I put Karla to bed & when she woke up I guess she remembered my getting gum out of that Bedroom drawer so she pulled it open, threw everything out until she found, down in the bottom, the one package of gum I have left. When I discovered her, she had two sticks in her mouth. One box of the most recent slides strewn around & diapers, shirts, socks & all here, there & which way. Then she went outside. Daddy had watered the night before & of course she found the muddiest spot to park her feet & then hollered for me. Cleaned once again she went to playing with Cheryl. I put a chair by the door & let Cheryl crawl around while I cleaned the front room. First thing Karla is playing Cheryl as a horse & is teatering up & down on top of her while Cheryl hollered. Then Karla wants her to walk so she drags her off & they both go down together. Cheryl gets really spunky now when Karla starts pushing her around & she pushes her away. I won’t let her be mean (I hope) but she has to stick up for herself. Mom said yesterday she thinks Cheryl is really going to be fast. You should see how she travels now. When I change her pants it’s like putting a saddle on a bucking horse the way she wiggles. First she straightens out & slides down my legs, then she wants to sit up or stand up or turn over. Yesterday she was trying to climb over the chair into the kitchen. She could get her leg up but it would slip down between the rounds & then she couldn’t get back. Well coming back to Teus. Right in the midst of it this Watch Tower preacher came. She is about 20 & is just a little girl, but really knows her bible. I keep inviting her back because she is nice & it is good practice for me. I learn more about 263 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - June 1945 General Simon B. Buckner, Commander of the Tenth Army (front right), holding camera with Major General Lemuel C. Shepperd, Jr., Commanding General, 6th Marine Division (left with walking stick). He was killed by artillery shrapnel on 18 June 1945 near the end of the fighting on Okinawa. Reinhart never mentioned this in his letters to Norma, but she commented on the radio reports of the incident when writing to him. 264 Letters to the Paciic Norma - June 1945 my religion because I look up things to back up my claims. But Teus. I think my hair was standing on ends & I really didn’t know which end I was standing on so I told her she would have to come back another day. But two sweeter kids I have never known. I love them both to pieces & I really get a kick out of them. No matter how tragic the escapade you just can’t help laughing. Of course, not where they can see you. Yesterday I went to town. I was able to get an Outdoor life & a Reader’s Digest for July. Then I bought a photograph Album to put the pictures in that you send me. When I arrived home I received a letter from Norma & the other girls telling that Thea is going to be married in the Logan Temple & they are having a party for her tomorrow. That means I will have to go to town and get a present. Then I’ll have to see Gaye & Albert to see if they arn’t going so I can go with them. I was surely surprised. I didn’t know that they even planned such a thing. The party is at Mildred’s place. The kids came home from camp last night & had a wonderful time. Ruth had a bad sun burn, but other than that they are fine. We received a card from LaMar yesterday. It was mailed while on the train. He seemed to be enjoying the trip & was feeling fine. Spence is still in France, but expecting to be sent out any day. All My Love to the Sweetest Guy In All this Great Big World Norma Ogden, Utah 30 June 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, Here I am sitting in Phyllis kitchen writing to you. It is 9:30 A.M. & if you are wondering why I am here at this early hour then I will tell you. To begin with – Yesterday morning I went to town with Dad. We stopped at Gay & Albert’s to see if they were going down to Thea’s party. She was glad I came & wanted me to be ready to catch the 3:30 Bamburger to Salt Lake. I just decided that if I was going down to Mildred that I just wanted a new dress. I haven’t had one except the one I made since you left & Mildred & Beth always dress so nice & I decided I wanted to look sophisticated instead of like a little girl so I picked out a plain black dress with a low V neck, the new butterfly sleeve & a drape effect on the side. It was a really slick chick dress. Then I got a double strand of Pearl chokers for my neck & a wrap around Pearl bracelet. Yes, I looked like a big shot & a smooth number, but when I got home nobody liked me that way. They just want me to look like a little girl I guess. Daddy liked it but no one else. So I didn’t even wear it. I’m going to take it back & get something less glamorous but more feminine. I also got some black shoes. I guess that deal came to $30 so I guess that will be my birthday present. I am invited up to Logan Teus. for the Wedding & the Wedding Breakfast & if I go I can wear it then. If I had known, I wouldn’t wear it yesterday, I would never have got it. Dad brought me down town again a 3:30 & took Gaye & I to the Bamburger. We bought a pretty dish & ornament to go in it down at Aurbacks. Then we had something to eat at Walgreens. Then we met Scott & he told us which bus to take up to Mildred’s. We arrived a little early so we talked to Beth & Mildred. Mildred is going to have a baby & Beth just had a misscariage. She was three months along when she lost it & I guess came pretty near losing her own life. She had a transfusion & now she feels pretty good. They are all talking about Delora being up to visit. They think her husband is a drip & I guess Dad Kowallis really told him off. They were getting quite a kick out of it because [he] seldom interferes with his children’s lives but he didn’t like the way Delora’s husband treated her. We had a grand time at the party. Mrs. Hoffman, a lady who lived neighbor to you in Logan was there. She was the sweetest old lady. She told me about when you were about 2 or 3 years old & still in dresses, you ran away & got lost. You came up to her place just crying. Then your mother came & got you. I showed them the pictures you sent & they all enjoyed them. Thea looked very nice & her husband came after the party. He seems like a fine fellow. I think it is really swell. Beth took us down to the Bamburger & we arrived in Ogden at 2 A.M. I took a taxi out to Phyllis & crawled in bed with her (Wayne is out on the road). We talked until about 3 o’clock. I am going down town now & change that dress. I hope I can suit everyone. 265 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - June 1945 266 Letters to the Paciic Norma - June 1945 Phyllis got a letter from LaMar just now. He had been assigned [to] clean the “head” or latrine & He is waiting at this camp to get his clothes & be assigned to units, then he will be sent to the Boot Camp. I haven’t had a letter for three days from you & I do hope there will be one today. I know that when you don’t write it’s because you can’t. You have been so good to write, but I always wonder what new thing you are doing when I don’t get a letter. I hope you are well & safe. I love you My darling. Love, Norma Raising the American flag in the Tenth Army camp on Okinawa on June 22 signifying the official end to hostilities on the island. However, even after this, there was a considerable amount of mop-up work left to do. Many Japanese soldiers were holed up in caves and tunnels along the southern coast. 267 Letters from the Paciic Tenth Army casualties at Okinawa during April, May, and June 1945. This figure is from United States Army in World War II: The War in the Pacific, Okinawa: The Last Battle by Roy E. Appleman, James M. Burns, Russell A. Gugeler, and John Stevens, published by Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington, D.C., 1948 (reprinted 1993). Lt. Reinhart Kowallis was one of the lucky ones who never had to serve on the front lines of battle, but provided support for the troops through his photo interpretation team. Lt. Kowallis with his stereo aerial photography equipment on Okinawa. 268 Norma - June 1945 Commanding general’s quarters on Okinawa in 1945. Naha City and harbor in about June 1945. Note the sunken ships in the harbor and the almost total destruction of the city. 269 Letters from the Paciic Another group of Okinawan children, a couple of them wearing Army hats. Photo taken in June or July 1945. One of several photos Reinhart developed from a roll of film left behind by the Japanese in a cave near Shuri Castle. 270 Norma - June 1945 Native Okinawan boys. Okinawan woman and her son. According to Lt. Kowallis, they come from one of the better, more educated families on the island. Thea Roemer Kowallis and Ralph Edwin Knight, Reinhart’s sister in her engagement photo (courtesy of Nadine Knight). Norma tried her best to stay close to Reinhart’s family while he was away and they visited her in Pleasant View on several occasions as well. 271 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - June 1945 In the midst of a war, Lt. Kowallis found time to investigate and photograph not only the people of Guam and Okinawa, but also the surrounding countryside. These photos from his collection show some of the beauty of the island. Top photo is of a sunset on Okinawa and the bottom picture is of one of the beaches and mountains found on the island. 272 Letters to the Paciic Norma - June 1945 The home in which Joseph M. Jensen, Norma’s father was born with Ben Lomond peak in the background. In 1945, the building was called the granary, although not much used for grain. Instead it was used to store much of Reinhart and Norma’s belongings. Joe Jensen is standing in front of the building. 273 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - June 1945 Lt. Reinhart Kowallis in June 1945 on Okinawa with a small horse or donkey. 274 The War in July 1945 By July 1945 it seemed that the end of the war was finally in sight. On July 4th, General Douglas McArthur reports that the Philippines have been liberated. The Potsdam Conference, which included Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union, began on the 16th of July and continued until the 2nd of August. Decisions were made on punishment for Nazi Germany and post-war conditions in the axis territories. Winston Churchill, who had led Britain through the war, was defeated in general elections in July and was replaced at the conference by the new prime minister, Clement Attlee. Also on July 16th, a 6 kilogram sphere of plutonium was exploded over the New Mexico desert with a force equal to approximately 20,000 tons of TNT. It was called the Trinity test and it was a spectacular success. Colonel Stafford L. Warren the Chief of Medical Section of the Manhattan District reported the following on the 21st of July to Major General Groves in a memo on the effects of the test and the precautions taken beforehand:1 1. The test was performed two days ahead of the tentative schedule because everything of importance to the test was ready. 2. A study of the weather indicated that a variety of wind conditions at slow speeds going on in general N.W. and N.E. could be expected with different directions and speeds at different levels for 16 and 17 July 1945. These slow winds would be advantageous in localizing the outfall of active material from the cloud to the site and nearby desert areas. They would also dilute the outfall most effectively in the early hours of the life of the cloud when it would help the most. The monitoring problem would be worse, however, because of the wide area covered. 3. In the two days available, the population of the surrounding areas was located by G-2 on large scale maps for a radius of 75 to 100 miles. The deserted areas corresponded fortunately to the most probable courses of the outfall from the cloud as predicted by the directions of the winds at the various altitudes. Troops under Major Palmer were available if monitoring indicated that evacuation was necessary. 4. At zero minus five hours, five cars with Dr. J. Hoffman in charge were stationed with Major Palmer and troops at the outlet road near the east-west highway #380. They were in radio communication with Base Camp and Post #2. Outlying monitor cars were in San Antonio, Roswell, Carrizozo and Fort Summer to cover these areas in case the speed of the cloud was greater than predicted. 5. Dr. Aebersold was in general charge of the monitoring at Base Camp and the three shelters at 10,000 yards, with local telephone and radio commumication. There was a technician monitor and doctor in each shelter and at Base Camp. 6. Dr. Hempelmann in charge of all the monitoring program was at S 10,000, the center of communication and final decisions (also Brig. Gen. Farrell, Dr. Oppenheimer, Dr. Bainbridge, Mr. Hubbard, etc.) 7. This officer acted as liaison in a secondary communication center in Base Camp. Lt. Col. Friedell was located with G-2 at Albuquerque as another communication center via long distance for controlling the field monitoring in case Base Camp communications broke down. All groups were keyed in by identical maps showing preliminary locations of the monitors, their presumed course, the two possible paths of the cloud, WNW and NNE (depending upon the altitude which it reached) houses and nearby ranges, etc. 8. Accessory equipment and other preparations were in keeping with the preliminary plans submitted in the preliminary report. 9. The shot was fired at 0530 on 16 July 1945. The energy developed in the test was several times greater than that expected by scientific group. The cloud column mass and top reached a phenonenal height, variously estimated as 50,000 to 70,000 feet. It remained towering over the northeast corner of the site for several hours. This was sufficient time for the majority of the largest particles to fall out. Various levels were seen to move in different directions. In general the lower one-third drifted eastward, the middle portion to the West and northwest, while the upper third moved northeast. Many small sheets of dust moved independently at all levels and large sheets remained practically in situ. By zero plus 2 hours, the main masses were 1 U.S. National Archives, Record Group 77, Records of the Oice of the Chief of Engineers, Manhattan Engineer District, TS Manhattan Project Files, folder 4, “Trinity Test.” 275 July 1945 no longer identifiable except for the very high white mass presumably in the stratosphere. 10. By 0800 hours the monitors reported an area of high intensity in a canyon 20 miles northeast of zero. Since this was beyond the tolerance set and equally high intensities were expected in other areas, four more monitor cars were sent into this northeast area from Base Camp. The roving monitors in this area were each accompanied by a trooper in a 4 wheel drive and authorized to evacuate families if necessary. At no house in this whole north and northeast area between 20 miles and 40 miles from zero was a dangerous intensity found. The highest intensities, fortunately, were only found in deserted regions. The highest found is shown in detail attached #1. Intensities in the deserted canyon were high enough to cause serious physiological effects. 11. The distribution over the countryside was spotty and subject to local winds and contour. It skipped the nearby highway #380 (20 mi. N.E.) except for low intensities which were equalled at twice and three times the distance. It is presumed that the largest outfall occurred in the N.E. quadrant of the site. This can only be explored by horseback at a later date. 12. The monitors all took considerable risks knowingly and many have received exposures of considerable amounts, i.e. 8r total. This is safe within a considerable margin. They should not be exposed to more radiation within the next month. 13. The dust could be measured at low intensities 200 miles north and northeast of the site on the 4th day. (Attached #2) There is still a tremendous quantity of radioactive dust floating in the air. 14. Neither the Base Camp or the shelters were contaminated very much. 15. Partially eviscerated dead wild jack rabbits were found more than 800 yards from zero, presumably killed by the blast. A farm house 3 miles away had doors torn loose and suffered other extensive damage. 16. Details indicating blast, heat, and other effects cannot be worked out until the area around the crater “cools down”. It is this officer’s opinion, however, that lethal or severe casualties would occur in exposed personnel up to two miles from a variety or combination of causes, ie., blast, heat, ultraviolet and missiles. The light intensity was sufficient at nine miles to have caused temporary blindness and this would be longer lasting at shorter distances. Several observers at 20 miles were bothered by a large blind spot for 15 m after the shot. The light together with the heat and ultraviolet radiation would probably cause severe damage to the unprotected eyes at 5-6 miles; damage sufficient to put personnel out of action several days if not per- Photo of the Trinity test in the New Mexico desert on 16 July 1945 taken by, Berlyn B. Brixner (May 21, 1911 – August 1, 2009), who was the head photographer for the Trinity test, the first detonation of a nuclear weapon. Brixner was positioned 10,000 yards away from the explosion and had 50 cameras of varying speeds running from different locations to capture the shot in full motion (references: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlyn_Brixner; http://www.lanl.gov/orgs/pa/ photos/images/PA-98-0520.jpeg). 276 July 1945 “Jumbo,” the Trinity test bomb being put in place before the detonation (photo from the U.S. National Archives). Plutonium, from which the bomb was made was only available in very limited amounts and a failure of the test could have scatter tens of millions of dollars of the precious and very toxic element across the New Mexico desert. Therefore, a massive steel vessel was built to contain the explosion (see http://www.atomicarchive.com/History/trinity/g3_p1.shtml). manently. All of the personnel obeyed the safety precautions during the test so that no such injury resulted. 17. A great deal of experience was obtained on the requirements for quick and adequate monitoring. Excellent radio communications, good transportation and better and more rugged meters are required. 18. It is this officer’s opinion based on the damage to “Jumbo” (2400 ft), the extent of the glazed sand area (up to 500 ft.), the extent of the cleaned off area (about 1 mile), the farm house (at 3 miles) that this explosion was a great many times more violent than the 100 ton test. “Conservative” estimates by the scientific groups put it at least equivalent to 10,000 tons of T.N.T. 19. While no house area investigated received a dangerous amount, ie, no more than an accumulated two weeks dose of 60r, the dust outfall from the various portions of the cloud was potentially a very serious hazard over a band almost 30 miles wide extending almost 90 miles northeast of the site. 20. It is this officer’s opinion that this site is too small for a repetition of a similar test of this magnitude except under very special conditions. It is recommended that the site be expanded or a larger one, preferably with a radius of at least 150 miles without population, be obtained if this test is to be repeated. 277 July 1945 Following the Trinity Test, the United States issued a final call for surrender to the Japanese, promising that if they did not do so they would face total destruction. Near this same time, President Truman, who was at the Potsdam Conference, told the Soviet leader, Josef Stalin that the U.S. “had a new weapon of unusual destructive force.” Japan, however, is not ready to accept defeat and on July 29th they reply with a rejection of the U.S. demands. On Okinawa, Lt. Kowallis is completely unaware of the destruction that is about to end the war. Some of the soldiers working with him think the war will be over soon, but he can’t see it. After all, it took several months to secure the small island of Okinawa – it will undoubtedly take much longer to secure the main islands of Japan. Early in July, Reinhart and four other soldiers head out to do reconnaissance of some of the caves and tunnels on the south end of Okinawa where Japanese soldiers are still holed up and causing problems. They meet up with five other soldiers who are doing the same thing and who warn them that several Japs have been sighted in the area. Shortly thereafter, the group finds a cave with three Japanese soldiers in it. After trying to coax them to come out and surrender, they finally succeed in getting one to do so. The other two, however, throw out a grenade causing the group to scatter for cover and then inside the cave blow themselves up in a type of grenade hari-kiri (or seppuku), a ritual form of disembowelment. The experience is one that remains with Reinhart for the rest of his life. Still, as July progresses, things improve on Okinawa. Work at the office has slowed to the point that they have time for training (Reinhart calls it school) and they are given a half-day each week off to do what they want. Reinhart and his colleague, Sgt. Jack Gill, often use this time to go to the beach and hunt for cowrie shells. Reinhart describes in his letters the process they go through to clean out the shells and make them shine. Cowrie shells of various sizes and colors (photo from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Different_cowries.jpg). Cowries are gastropod molluscs, a type of sea snails common in many parts of the worlds oceans. They were used as currency among people in some parts of the world and have been also used in jewelry. 278 July 1945 With their photo developing and enlarging equipment set up, Reinhart and his team spend many evenings (using the evening hours as a natural dark room) to develop and print up both pictures for work and ones they have taken to send back home. During July, Norma is busy as usual with kids and house cleaning and church work. One Sunday, Norma and her family attend church in her sister Phyllis’ ward where the young teenage boys have invited the prophet, Pres. George Albert Smith to come and speak. This event is probably the source of the idea Norma planted in her own Mutual class a couple of years later when they also invite the prophet to come to their ward, and he graciously accepts. At another sacrament meeting, an airman, Capt. Robert Clay, who is not a member of the LDS Church, speaks about his experiences as a captured soldier in Germany. The fruit harvest is on and without his son LaMar around to help, Joe Jensen relies heavily on his daughters to get the harvest in and delivered to Mr. Seely, who buys much of the Jensen fruit crop over the years. Picking cherries (sweet), then apricots, then more cherries (tart), along with keeping up with letter writing, taking care of an 11-month old child, doing laundry, getting dinners, cleaning house, and doing church work keep Norma busy. She is exhausted at night, but finds that hard work gives her a sense of accomplishment and she seems to enjoy it. Her father is also paying her for her help with the harvest, something that Reinhart finds hard to accept, since Joseph and Ethel Jensen are providing room and board for Norma and Cheryl at a very minimal cost. Neither Norma nor Reinhart nor anyone else among their acquaintances for that matter have any inkling that within a few more days, the war will be over. Native houses on Okinawa made of board walls and thatched roofs, and built very close together. 279 Reinhart - July 1945 Okinawa 2 July 1945 Dearest Norma, It seems rather strange to hear you say the kids are up at camp. I can’t hardly understand that it is summer back home. The last recollection I have is that of winter. Then to when I look back the time seems to have gone so fast I can hardly realize vacation days are here again. We had sort of a vacation ourselves today. We went out on a field trip out along the beach, and checked some more of the heights and depths we had made before the invasion. Our depths checked out to within a half a foot of what they measured. Not bad for just looking at photographs. After we got that finished up we drove on down to Naha. That town is nothing but one pile of rubble. It was a city of 65,000 and there is now only one house left standing in it. The harbor is full of sunken Jap ships. It looks like it will take months to clean it out. We went over to Naha air field and looked at some of the Jap AA positions, and coast defense guns. We stoped to talk with some of the Marines down that way and right away they wanted to sell us a Jap flag. I told them I would give a dollar for a car load of things. About half of them they make themselves anyway. Looks like the generator has gone out on us again so I’ll have to sign off. It’s sort of hard writing in the dark, and anyhow I have a couple of rolls of film to develop tonight. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 3 July 1945 Dearest Norma, I developed films last night so tonight I will have to print them up. I should have some more to send you then. The Resenol you sent me came today. I still had a little left so it came in plenty of time. You had better not put that picture of me and the horse up in the church. If you do you will have to explain which is which every time you go to sunday school. I will admit, however, that the picture which is over there should be thrown away. The pictures in which I look fater were taken after dinner so that explains it. Yes, I admit Zenger looks like a big shot, but he’s a Lt. like myself. And what makes you think he looks more Sunken ships in Naha harbor in July 1945. 280 Norma - July 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 1 July 1945 Dearest Reinhart, I was glad to get the letter from you Saturday. I hadn’t had one for 3 days & I was beginning to wonder what you were doing – but the letters had just piled up a little. The Cat’s eye was so pretty. Do they just grow flat like that? You are really getting some valuable experience – learning to develop pictures. We can just as well have a dark room in connection with our Sports Store. I’m really glad you are going to get a few good things to eat now. Maybe you will get rid of you exema if you have a little variety in you diet. What sort of things do they have in the P.X.? The enlargements you made were really swell. It must be a nice outfit you have & I think you did very good on your first ones. It really seems wonderful getting the pictures. It brings you a little closer to me & boy oh boy the closer you can get the better I like it. Horace Rhees says his son Melvin is on Okinawa in the 9th Marine Devision. He is helping with the construction work. It would be nice if you should happen to meet him. Is Ray still around? You don’t mention him & I just wondered if you were still seeing him. That was so awful about you stepping on a dead Jap. Ooo – I bet it gave you a terrible feeling. If only you didn’t have to see such things I would be happy. Saturday was Audrey’s birthday so we went down to a show together. We saw “The Affairs Of Susan.” It was good I thought. Earlier Saturday – after leaving Phyllis, I went to town and took the new dress I got back. They didn’t have one to suit me so I got them to refund my money so now I have $25 in my purse. Then the Jewelry I also took it back & exchanged it for a black patent leather purse & a pair of ankle socks. I needed both so I feel a lot better now. I won’t buy a dress now & won’t need one now that I have the party over with. Oh, I wanted to tell you about when I arrived home after nearly two days away from Cheryl. Mom says she never has seen a kid act so tickled. Cheryl just put her little arms around my neck & laid her head against mine & kept kissing me. She just did that for almost an hour & she didn’t want me to leave her for a minute. This morning I went to Sunday School & Marshall asked me to teach a class with about 30 kids in it. They were about 14 years old. They were really good for me. The subject was the Holy Ghost & I usually have a hard time with that subject, but today I got along swell. Phyllis, Wayne & family were out for dinner & Jay & David are staying out here this week while Phyllis moves. This evening we went down to their ward to hear Pres. George A. Smith talk. The boys about 14 & 15 had taken it upon themselves to invite him. They said a Pres. had never visited their ward so he came up. The building was just packed & it was so hot in there. Cheryl was good most of the time, but the meeting lasted two hours & she was so tired I finally let her crawl around between Phyllis & my feet & walk behind the chairs. She tried to get a man’s hat & she got into another man’s pocket. Then the little dickens was so cute trying to climb up the backs of the chairs. She would get her foot up but it would always slide onto the other side of the round leaving her straddle the chair round – then I would come to the rescue. She got dirty but she didn’t holler like a lot of the kids & I heard the very fine talk. He spoke on trusting in the Lord & how he does answer our prayers if we have faith. He told some good stories to illustrate. They always stress the important missionary work our soldiers are doing & they all fell that they are doing even more good than our missionaries have done. At nearly every church service stories are told of the wonderful work our mormon boys are doing. The more I hear of these things, the more convinced I am that the things you are doing out there do have a purpose & meaning & that if we place our trust in God & do his will he will be near us. Our leaders tell us that our boys who are out there teaching the Gospel & living good lives will come back leaders. They will succeed in business, in their homes, & that the Lord will increase His blessings towards them. It is a wonderful blessing isn’t it. I know that you will come back one of those leaders. The Lord is good to us even if we have to wait for what seems an eternity to receive those blessings. I don’t believe a night passes that I don’t kneel in prayer & thank Our Father in Heaven that I have been blessed with such a fine Husband & to ask that His spirit may always be with you to protect & guide you. Reinhart, I have such faith in those prayers & I know that they are being answered. Today is Sunday, the Lord’s Day; I guess 281 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - July 1945 intelligent than I do? You never told me I should be a colonel or a major. If it’s a lack of hair that gives such an appearance, I will have mine shaved off except just above the ears. Oh yes, not all the horses are as little as the one with me. Some are smaller. I have got to get around to writting my friends again. I owe Fawn and Carmen both letters, and I haven’t written Dad for a couple months. When are you going to send me a picture of Phylis’s baby? I would like to see what she looks like. I hope she takes after Phylis because I like pretty girls. That’s the reason I married you because you were so good looking I just couldn’t resist. Then of course there was your money that had its influence. And if I hadn’t married you, I couldn’t go hunting pheasants in your Dad’s back yard. It certainly is a good thing you said yes. Sort of looks to me as though you & I & Spence & Audrey will have to live together after the war so as not to break up our family. It’s time I got my lab set up & went to work. Goodnight. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 4 July 1945 Dearest Norma, This is the second 4th of July we have spent apart from each other. I certainly hope it is the last although I believe it will not be. My faith is still for a year from this fall for my return home, so plan on going deer hunting with me at that time. There has been no change in atmosphere here. This 4th has been just another day. We got out a report on our last field trip, and I worked on some photographs of Southern Okinawa. I don’t know if I mentioned it before but Martin & I received training in water depth determination while we were at Guam, so of course up till now our work is mostly along that line. From aerial photos we can determine the depth to within ½ foot in 30 feet of water. Some day after the war I will tell you how it is done. This climate is not so bad as I have made it out at times to be. At least amid all the heat we are having right now, it cools off at night so we can sleep like so many babies. We have to make up some more pictures tonight. It seems like when we get started it takes two or three days to catch up on them. But just to keep you happy for the present I am inclosing a couple in this letter that we made up last night. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 6 July 1945 Dearest Norma, Why did you take that nice black dress back? All these years I have been waiting for you to buy something which would make you look more grown up & sophisticated, and then you turn right around and take it back. Seems like the only time I remember seeing you when you didn’t look like a little girl was in a bathing suit one day. Guess I’ll just have to take you swiming more often. It’s a good thing you get around now & then so you can keep me informed of all the news. It was quite a surprise to hear that Mildred was awaiting a new addition to her family. I wonder if Ralph is still afraid of being drafted? It had never entered my head that Delora’s husband was mistreating her. I thot they were suposed to be the happy family. What seems to be the trouble? When are you going to send me a picture of you & Cheryl with your hats off so I can see how much hair you both have? I still seem to think Cheryl is bald. Well almost anyhow. 282 Letters to the Paciic Norma - July 1945 that’s why I felt in the mood to write as I did. We have heard so many fine things this day I only wish you had heard them or that I could tell them to you. May the Lord Bless & Keep you my darling. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 2 July 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Wash day is over once again & also my iorning is done. That is pretty fast work for one day – don’t you think? It has been a warm day for a change. The day I was in Salt Lake it was 40 degrees. That is the coldest it has ever been recorded for this tim of the year. Did I tell you that Sunday Wayne, Phyllis, Ruth & myself went up in the cherries. They are really getting ripe. Dad says we will probably be picking in a week. It just too bad you can’t be here to pick with me, maybe you could get a stomach ache too. You were always so cute when you got the stomach ache from eating cherries. The bank Statement came today so I will give you the latest developments. Last month we had 2,072.81, I believe & now we have 2,255.67. Jay & David have been here having quite a time out here today. They have been shooting down Jap Zeros all day. Jay gets so mad. He says David always wants to be the Americans & he has to be the Japs. He says he has played that he is a Jap so long that he thinks his skin is turning yellow. Cheryl & Karla have been having a few rounds today & also fun together. I had her play pen on the lawn & I could hear them laughing. I went out & Karla was pulling Cheryl’s Bonnet down over her face but they were both getting a kick out of it. Later on, in the house, Karla was riding on top of Cheryl’s back. Cheryl didn’t like that & was squealing as loud as she could. Cheryl pulled the radio off & tiped over a big vase, but didn’t hurt either of them. She tells me every part of herself nearly now. She pulls her ear when I ask where it is. Then Sniffs her nose & wrinkles it up. Her tongue goes out about a mile when I ask to see it. Her belly button is one of the favorite spots. She laughs & pinches it. Her hair is so straight & she pulls it all the time. As soon as she has her bottle she starts pulling her hair. It must be that it comes from you pulling your hair. Nothing has happened today of interest and I’m getting so sleepy so I guess I’ll say goodnight. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 5 July 1945 Dearest Reinhart, This will really have to be written in a hurry because you see today Glena, Mom, Dad & Uncle Jim are out at the back laying a big piece of cement from the back door to the garage & it is about 10 ft wide. I am left with the responsibility of cleaning house, taking care of the kids & getting dinner for the bunch. It is so hot out there & Mom is leveling it & I think she is about cooked. I wish you could have been here to celebrate the fourth with us. We really had a nice time even if Wayne & Dad didn’t catch any fish. We went up Ogden Canyon & stopped several places but no fish. Ruth & I even dug bait. Audrey had to work & Glena was on a ball team playing against a Willard team so she didn’t go but the rest of us went along with Wayne, Phyllis & Family. After giving up the idea of catching fish we couldn’t even find a place to park. So many people were up the canyon. Finally we stopped by a dry creek, up North Fork, under some trees & spread out our quilts & ate. It may not have been the most beautiful spot but it was secluded & quiet. We really enjoyed it. I hung Cheryl’s swing in a tree & she had a good time. We had fried chicken, potato salad, fresh tomatoes, punch & a bunch of other stuff. Then we had watermellon & cake. Maybe I shouldn’t tell you these things, but it won’t be long till you too will be home enjoying these things with us. Phyllis & I hiked a little ways to Spring Creek & tried fishing. Dozens of people were there & two young kids told us they had caught the only three fish in the stream & I believed them. The water was riley & swift with no pools. Anyway Phyllis lost her spiner so back we went to camp. I took a few pictures so as soon as I finish the roll, I’ll have some to send you. When we got 283 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - July 1945 Photo sent home by Reinhart of Naha harbor in July 1945. Ruins of the city of Naha on Okinawa after the invasion. Lt. Kowallis in his letter said that before the invasion it was a city of 65,000 inhabitants. Photo in July 1945 of ruins of Japanese pillbox constructed along the coast of Okinawa near Naha. 284 Letters to the Paciic Norma - July 1945 Cheryl Kowallis (left) and Karla Garner at about age three (summer of 1947) decked out in their summer hats and overalls. The two cousins lived together in 1944-45 and remained close friends even as adults. 285 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - July 1945 Yes, I still remember Mrs. Hoffman. She was one of the best persons I ever knew. I remember she used to bring us good things over to eat all the time. That was realy a treat for us kids. I am going to send you some pictures tomorrow so this should be a long enough letter for tonight. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 6 July 1945 Dearest Norma, Two pictures of Cheryl came in a letter today. She certainly looks like a doll. And that is the prettiest bonnet she has on. Where did you get it? Also, I like the way you cut yourself off the picture! What’s the matter, didn’t you wash back of your ears that day? I am inclosing another picture of me in this letter. Just to keep you happy you know, and please note my appreciation of Field & Stream. I also have another group of general interest pictures to send as soon as I get them censored. I was going to send just a couple at a time, but I think it will be best if I take them all over to the censor together with a letter. They can then censor the letter to. I can seal it, have it stamped & put it in the mail myself. I have sent you quite a number of pictures which you have never commented on so I rather feel that they are being taken out of my letters and not returned to me. It could very easily be done because in some of my letters I never mentioned pictures at all, I just wrote on the back of them and put them in. In other letters where I did mention them, I said nothing of the number enclosed so if any were removed there would be no way of knowing. Well, from now on I’ll play it safe even if I have to register the letter. From the sound of things you realy have a time back there with the kids. I can just see Karla & Cheryl tossing your patterns back and forth at each other. After all the training you had at Bliss with those two indians, I thot you would have no trouble at all taming a couple of angels. And they are such sweet ones to. What a surprise! Thea getting married. And she being the youngest of the bunch to. I got a letter from Fred today, but he said exactly nothing. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 8 July 1945 Dearest Norma, I didn’t think I would be able to write tonight because there was an alert sounded, the first we have had for some time, but the all clear just sounded so the lights are back on, and I am back on the job of writing you a letter. Yes the cat eyes just grow flat. All I do is smooth them up. I’ll send you some in the rough one of these days so you will know what they are like. When supplies come in fresh to the PX they usually have several kinds of candy bars, gum, cookies (fig newtons among them), grapefruit juice, tomato juice, orange juice, peanuts, tobaco, soap, toilet articles, etc., so it isn’t a bad P.X. At least it gives the boys a chance to spend a few cents now and then. They don’t give us much to spend out here. We are allowed only $10 a month of our pay. The rest has to be sent home. Which reminds me that I sent you $60 this month through PTA (personal transfer account). That’s the same as those other government checks I sent you. From now on each month I will send it that way. This month I didn’t have to hold any money out, other than my board bill, because I still have about 15 dollars with me. When that runs out I will have to hold out a few dollars each month. But I still will be able to send about 50 a month home. That will give you $280 each month. I don’t know how much of that we can save but we should do pretty good. Just what do you mean by saying the enlargements I sent were very good for the first time? Why I’ll have you know they are professional, and rate first class, but if ever we put a photo lab up in our shop you will have to run it. I have three more enlargements I will try and send you in a day or two. I would do it tomorrow, but I’ll be 286 Letters to the Paciic Norma - July 1945 home it was just 4 o’clock so the folks decided to go up & watch Glena play. Karla was asleep, so Cheryl, David & I stayed home. Jay & David are still staying with us. I guess the Van will take their furniture to their new home today. While they were to the game I took some more pictures of Cheryl standing alone. Audrey came & then David & I went up to the Cherry Orchard & filled a little bucket & also our little stomachs. The picture you sent in your last letter of the natives & the battle fields & you were so interesting. Daddy has shown them to everyone he sees. He has me take them everywhere I go so he can show them off. The fighting must have been terrible. I just can’t see how those Japs ever stood up under just terrible bombardment. I do enjoy the pictures but I also enjoy your letters. But they have all been just grand. Your folks stoped in Tues after the Wedding. They were taking Ivy to catch the train. She is being sent to Chicago on business for the company. Your Dad’s foot that he hurt is getting better, but he still walks with a cain. I think he dropped something on it. Richard is really growing & is a nice looking boy. Thea’s mother-in-law was with them. Thea’s husband is being stationed in South Dakota I believe. Well, honey I have talked to long already, but I love you so much. God Bless You Always Norma Pleasant View, Utah 5 July 1945 Dearest Reinhart, I decided I had better write to you tonight because Mr. Seely was just here & he wants us to pick some cherries for him tomorrow & I don’t think I’ll have much time then. Dad was down milking when Seely came so I sat out on the lawn & talked to him. I showed him the pictures you sent & told him all about you. Cheryl was out on the lawn in her play pen, so Seely picked her up & danced her up & down & she just squealed & laughed. She kept saying “Da Da” so Seely told me to tell you that she had a new “Da Da.” He thought she was pretty cute. They didn’t quite get the cement job done because they run out of gravel, but it’s really going to look swell. Phyllis & Wayne just left. They came out & got David & Jay so our family has decreased again. Jay had been cutting lawn all day & also helped me snip the first beans from our garden. Ruth, myself & Jay & David went up in the cherries tonight. It really seems good to be climbing those trees again. I wish you were here to tell me to stop eating so many – but I bet it would be me who told you not to eat so many. Tonight I pulled a row of weeds out of the parsnips. They look pretty good now if I do say so. A few rasberries are getting ripe. I guess we will soon be going up to Brigham to pick our berries. Mr. Christiansen is taking care of the place as usual. I took some pictures of Cheryl standing alone again today & also experimented with some of her walking. If you don’t want to develop pictures in the shop you certainly don’t have to. I just have to have a few hair brain ideas. Anyway it is swell you are learning about developing. We can have fun just doing our own. Golly won’t those Japs ever stop coming over? I’ll bet it’s no fun having to get up in the middle of the night to hear those planes droping bombs. Oh, I’ll be so glad when you will be home & the only thing you need worry about waking you is one of the kids with the belly ache or something like that. I worry about you – but it’s mostly worrying about your exema or wheather they are feeding you properly. I know you will be all right. I have no doubt of that. When they set me apart as Relief Soc. worker I was given the promise that if I lived right & performed my work faithfully, you would come back all right & I believe it with all my heart. You are going to come back & raise a whole family of rip-roaring kids who will be a credit to any parents & I know those kids will be so proud of their Dad – just as proud as their mother is of him – and that’s pretty proud, I can tell you. I think my man is tops. Sweet Dreams Sweetheart. All My Love Norma 287 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - July 1945 Christian church in the ruins of Naha in July 1945. Reinhart indicated that this had been the only Christian church in the city. Karl Kowallis and his second wife, Johanna Roemer. Reinhart’s father & step-mother. 288 Letters to the Paciic Norma - July 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 7 July 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, I wonder what time it is over where you are. Here it is just 11 A.M. & as I sat here thinking about you, I just wondered what you were doing. Likely as not you are probably snoring away because Okinawa is on the other side of the world & if the sun is shining here it can’t be shining there too. Isn’t it wonderful to think that the same sun that shines over me is also the one that looks down on you. I think I’ll tell it to not shine quite so hot on you when you get up & start your daily routine & I think I’ll tell the sun to tell you that I love you very much. Of course you already know – but it would be a little quicker than by letter. Do you have the same stars over there as we do? The big dipper & all? Of if I thought this war would be over by a year from this fall I think I would put a bee under father time. Maybe it would hurry him up. Golly time goes so slow in one way, but when I look at Cheryl & see how much she has grown I can see that it is going pretty fast. Why it’s over a year now since you brought me up from Texas & left me here & it has gone fast hasn’t it? Then in Sept. it will be a year since you came home to see me. Then by Dec. it will be a year since I last saw you. We had so much fun duck hunting & just plain hunting & loving you. How is your dandruff crop coming & are you saving a lot of pimples & dead hairs to pluck? There sits the chair over there where you can sit while I give you a shave. I wonder where we will live when you come home. I don’t really care just so long as you are there. We’ll stay here a few days until we decide & then we can just pack up bag & baggage & go live by ourselves. It will be such fun getting all of our things unpacked. Cheryl will be two years old then & I’ll bet she will be able to break more dishes than you & I together. You probably won’t know what to do at first with such a big girl, but you will soon find out & I’ll just bet she will be spending a good deal of her time with her Dad. (There she just woke up & is letting me know it is time to come & get her so I had better come back to earth & reality.) Yesterday I moved into LaMar’s room. Cheryl thinks it’s fine because everyone comes & peaks in the window at her. Then I can close the door & she isn’t getting woke up all the time. It really seems nice & it’s so cool for the summer. All we lack is you now & we would be so happy. Last night Audrey, Ruth, Glena, Dad, LaVern Humphreys & myself went up to Crystal Springs. Uncle Walt & Aunt Helen were in Salt Lake seeing Bob off. He is in the Navy. We went swimming & had a lot of fun. After the swim, we had ice cream Sundaes & then ate pop corn on the way home. Oh – there goes the mail man & I haven’t this letter in the box – Woe is me. Two letters came from you in the mail. One was a Scotch Blessing & the other was a sweet letter. Honey – that’s the trouble with letters – you can’t tell how I am saying what I am saying. When I gave you the detailed account I didn’t feel in the least that you were trying to check up on me. Not one thing in your letter would lead me to feel that way. I simply felt that if I gave you the whole thing then I wouldn’t give you any erroneous pictures of the amount we have. Then I felt you might be interested in seeing just how our account was coming. If you were home you would see it that way & so I wanted you to see it. I guess if I just said “I received the $75” it didn’t make it very clear, did it? Arn’t letters the most misunderstood critters though? But even though my letters don’t sound like I mean them to, you know that I think you’re just tops & one of these days I’ll really become an efficient Secretary & put things down as they should be. My lattest colored slides came back today & I think I try sticking One or Two in my letter so you can see them. I have one roll of colored film. I was going to put them in the camera, but I’ll sent them to you & I’ll probably be able to pick up some more in a while. I want so much for you to get some pictures. They will mean so much to us. Then as soon as I get to town I’ll send the file & chisel to you. I wish I could see the things you are doing with them. The second letter told about your trip through the country with Jack & Martin. That must have been interesting & I can understand what you mean by saying “You just couldn’t help staring at the people.” After that detailed discription you gave me awhile back, I know what you mean. It just gave me the shivers to think of you going through that Jap infested country. Then your telling about sleeping with a gun & hand grenades near you. I had no idea there was so much danger. I think we all realized that there was a great deal of moping up to do, but I hadn’t realized it was so close to you. I know you will be careful & I know that you will be alright, but I don’t like it just the same & I did howl when I read your letter. It just makes me so mad to think you have to be over there under such terrible conditions. I think this is the first time that I have really realized what danger you are in. You will probably write back & tell me I have exaggerated what you wrote & that you are really in no danger. I know you are safer than those at the front, but I see too that you are not having any picnic. I am so thankful that you are feeling so much better. It helps a lot when you are feeling good. My prayers & the prayers of all of our family are 289 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - July 1945 out on a field trip. Today conference was held down at the 24th Corps, and it was realy an inspiring meeting. We had 287 present among which were five L.D.S. chaplains. I wanted to get a program to send you but they were all gone before they got back to me, but I can tell you what we had. After the sacrament was passed the quartette sang “See The Mighty Angle flying.” They were realy good to. Then Chaplain Smith spoke followed by Chaplain Jones. Then another number by the quartet, “My Prayer,” followed by a talk by Chaplain Widdeson. It had been a long time since I felt the spirit of God as it seemed to be present today. The meeting was held in the shadow of the historic Nakagusuku Castle of which I will write you more later when I develop the pictures I took of it. Good night for now my Love, Reinhart Okinawa 9 July 1945 Dearest Norma, What a contrast today has been from yesterday. Yesterday I went to conference, today I was down on the South tip of the island where the Japs still infest the country. We went down to check some Jap installations and caves. There were only five of us went down, but when we got down to the escarpment to be inspected we met a five man patrol out looking for Japs. They told us that the day before they had killed three within fifty yards of where we were standing. With us only five men it didn’t sound so good to be wandering around in the rocks by our selves, so we asked them to join us for a ways, which they did. We had not moved forward fifty yards until some one spotted a Jap ducking into a cave. We went up to where it was and one of the boys saw him duck out of sight. Twice after that some one saw his head come to the light and then disappear. we tried to get him to come out by calling to him, but he would not come so we threw a smoke grenade. The smoke came out of the ground in at least a dozen different places around us, but no Jap showed up. After the smoke cleared out a couple of the boys got down into the entrance of the cave, which was not very large, and shined their lights in. They could make out two Japs. One was lying under a blanket which had been set afire by the grenade. The other one we could only see his foot sticking out from behind a box. We didn’t know what they had in the way of weapons so no one would go in after them, which is a very unwise thing to do in any case. We kept talking to them although they couldn’t understand us. Finally I guess the smoke got to hot and heavy for the one under the blanket. We heard him coming and backed up so we could cover both entrances to the cave. He came on out very slow and Old native Okinawan woman outsider her home in July 1945. One of many photos sent home of the native people by Lt. Reinhart Kowallis. 290 Letters to the Paciic Norma - July 1945 with you. God will hear those prayers. He will watch over you. As long as we can be worthy of that care. I have no fear. I only wish I could help you more. We are so helpless here at home. All we can give is our love & our faith. All My Love To You Sweetheart, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 9 July 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Boy am I hot! You see we couldn’t finish the cement job the other day because we ran out of gravel, So this morning we have been finishing the job. I have been turning the cement mixer in the hot, hot sun. I have decided that turning an egg beater is hard enough work for me. I just don’t think I am the muscular type. We have it all finished now except leveling it. I’m sorry I wrote such a depressive letter Saturday. I mean I should never have told you I shed tears about your letter. I guess I just felt a little low at that particular moment. I really don’t mope around here at home because I just know you will be alright. Besides I want to hear all the facts & I don’t want you to think I’m a Bloomer button. You just continue to tell me everything you can & believe me I won’t moon around worrying my life away. I’ll just do enough worrying to be healthy. Do you know I forgot to mention a very important event in my Sat. letter. Friday we started picking our first cherries. Glena, Dad & I picked 8 lugs of black Orb. We only picked about 2 hrs. & I made $1.85. At that rate I’ll really be rich when the picking season is over. Yesterday I took Cheryl to Sunday School. She was a pretty good girl even if she did go from one person to another & wiggle continually – she didn’t cry. She even held hands with the big boy behind us. The Lou Jean took her up with her. Yesterday she finally said Mother. I was really tickled. I just couldn’t see why she had to say “Da Da” all the time. Karla played peek-a-boo with her yesterday & I thought those two would just split laughing. They got such a kick out of it. Thea & her husband stopped in for a while yesterday. I really think he is a nice fellow. He has a sense of humor & he’s friendly. I took some pictures of them. He has been in England & France & has had quite a few experiences. Last night at church, Bob Clay was the speaker. He is from Willard, but he used to come to P.V. & play on our ball team. He is a Capt. in the Air Corp & has made 25 missions over Germany as a piolet of one of our big planes. On the last one his three motors went out & he crashed in Denmark after all had bailed out except he & his co-pilot. The Danish were nice but turned him over to the German authorities. He lost 30 lbs while there. He was forced to march 50 miles along with other prisoners. Many had frozen feet which had to be amputated. His talk was given just like a novel. He was so humble about it & could hardly talk about some things. Especially when he told about seeing the American tanks coming over the hill & Robert Clay from Willard, Utah who served in the US Air Force and who spoke in Norma’s ward sacrament meeting in July 1945. Bob was not a member of the LDS Church at the time, but later married an LDS girl and was baptized a member in 1958. Photo courtesy of Ryan Curtis. 291 July 9, 1945 - Top: checking for Japanese soldiers in a cave on south coast of Okinawa. Middle: One Japanese soldier surrenders, but two others blow themselves up in the cave. Bottom: Checking the naked Japanese prisoner out for hidden explosives. 292 July 9, 1945 - Top: Preparing to offer Japanese soldier a cigarette. Middle and bottom: marching the prisoner back to their vehicle. 293 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - July 1945 Reinhart Kowallis outside his tent in Okinawa in July 1945 reading one of the magazines that Norma sent to him, a Sports Afield. Reinhart loved his outdoors magazines. 294 Letters to the Paciic Norma - July 1945 seeing out flag raised. Then when he came to America & saw all things running orderly & all the happy faces here. His talk touched everyone in the audience. I think it helped us to understand the feelings of our boys & appreciate them a little bit more. He had quite a few souvenirs to show us. He had them all mounted on a board. I am going to town this afternoon & I’ll try to find the file & chisel you want. I enjoy doing the few things I can for you. It’s the only way I can even be a wife to you so don’t hesitate to mention the things you want. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 11 July 1945 Dearest Reinhart, It is just 6:30 A.M. & I am all decked out in overalls & shirt ready to really tackle the cherry trees. We have 40 lugs to pick today, which is quite a few cherries. You remember when you were in Calif. I used to write that I was thinking of you with every cherry I picked, well that goes double now. Wish you were here to give me a hand. Dad is going to try to get someone else to help us but I don’t know wheather he will be able to or not. Yesterday we had Relief Soc. meeting. We only have it once a month in the Summer. We sewed Carpet rags while others quilted. After meeting I stopped in at Flora & Paul’s, they were just getting some cherries ready to send Gordan. I wish it were so I could send you some. Gordan is in Mississippi. Seely came out 6:30 A.M. & wanted us to get the cherries so I stayed up until 11 o’clock getting our washing done. I guess I had better be on my way now, but I’ll love you twice as much to make up for the short letter. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 12 July 1945 Dearest Reinhart, This is really the earliest I have written to you. Right now I am sitting on the side of the bed & still in my pajamas. Cheryl is awake all ready & is romping around on the bed. Oops, there she went on the floor with a minor bump on her head so now she is on my lap & I am trying to comfort her. In the meantime she is rumpling this paper an…(That’s all the further I got this morning – Dad called that I had better get right up there because he was nearly ready to go up to the orchard so I didn’t have time to finish). Yesterday we picked cherries until 7 o’clock P.M. & tonight until 7:30 P.M. so you can see that is why I feel so tired right now. I pick just as many as Dad & that has always been a big goal in my life. Yesterday I made $10.50 and today I made $10.20. At that rate I’ll really be rich. I’m going to save all I make just to see how much it amounts too. We are paid 3¢ a pound so you can figure out how much I picked. The cherries are a nice size & they are really loaded. Today I picked 17 boxes just off one tree so you can see they are pretty thick. Every morning if you could look over here you would see Glena, Dad, Mitzi & I tearing up the road in the flying Jeep – our shoulders back – a laugh on our lips & determination to get those cherries picked. We come back shoulders drooped – dirt smudges on our faces – hair pulled out from under our bandanas. Yes – we conquered all right, but it just about gets us too. We are picking the amount that 6 people ordinarily would pick. Cheryl is always so glad to see me. I can’t give her a bath in the morning so I have gone to letting her take a bath with me last night & tonight. My – was she amazed when she first saw me in the nude. She got over it though & did she ever go in for a splashing good time. She would slip & her head would go right under the water & she would come up liking it & away she would go down to the other end of the tub. Just the last two days since I have been picking cherries – Cheryl has started walking all over. I guess it’s cause Mom lets her go where she wants & I usually kept her in the play pen. She comes walking out to the kitchen. Her hands up in the air & just about running. She will stop at a chair & then away she goes. Of course she goes down quite often, but she crawls to a chair & off she goes again. I’m so glad you can send me pictures. The two came, one of the country & one of you & they were just swell. Now honey, it’s perfectly alright for Zenger to be a colonel, but as for you I’d love you just as much if you were a buck 295 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - July 1945 cautious like, carrying a grenade in his right hand. We motioned for him to drop the grenade, which he did. As soon as he was in the clear, we cut off his clothing he had left on. He had no other weapon. He was pretty much afraid at first until one of the boys gave him a smoke. Then by means of sign language he told us there were still two more in the cave. We then got him to call to the others to come out with no results. When we tried to get him to go back in to get them, he would not, and again by means of signs gave us to understand they would kill him if he went back in. We kept trying for another half hour or so to get them to come out, but no soap. Then all at once out comes a grenade right through the entrance where we were standing. You never saw ten men take cover so fast in all your life as we did. At the same time the grenade went off outside, one went off inside. The Jap we had told us they had blown themselves up. We went down into the entrance once more, and could still hear someone moving, so we threw in three grenades. Our prisoner told us that in the cave to the right of us ten more Japs were hiding, and in a cave just a little to the left were five more. One of them he said was a captain, and he thot they had two machine guns. He also said in the cave he had come out of were about 200 rifles. We thot we had better get out of there while the getting was good, so we loaded our prisoner in the back of the Jeep and took off for camp. He was very cooperative all during this time, especially after he found out we weren’t going to hurt him. On the way up the coast his eyes almost poped out when he saw all the trucks, ships, & other equipment. We gave him a candy bar to eat on the way and he downed it in about two gulps. He had been making signs to tell us he was hungry and I guess he was, in spite of the fact that he was in excellent physical condition. We brought him right up to the G-2 section so the boys couldn’t help but believe our story, then we turned him over to the MPs. He was very grateful for what we had done, and when we left him, he gave us a big smile and sort of half saluted. I guess this story should do for tonight, but don’t go worrying because I’ll be as careful as I can. I don’t go on the trips for enjoyment but because I have to. All my love to you, Reinhart Okinawa 11 July 1945 Dearest Norma, I was so tired that I just laid down and went to sleep with my clothes on. We had been down to the south end of the island looking over more installations and caves. Yes and wading through dead Japs. The smell got so bad a couple of times it almost made me sick. I hope I don’t have to go down there again for a while. We didn’t run into any trouble this time, but the heat down around those cliffs & rocks takes just about all the strength out of a person. I certainly am not in shape to do much climbing around. This office work is making me soft. You will have to take me on some good long hikes. The mail just came in and with it was the Reader’s Digest for July. Thanks for sending it. I have a couple more pictures to send you tomorrow. General Stillwell is speaking to us tonight. We have to be down there by 7:00 o’clock so I must be getting started. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 13 July 1945 Dearest Norma, I received my Bible in yesterday’s mail, so it came through pretty fast. I wish the fruit cake you sent would get here soon on account of I am getting hungry for it. I developed films last night so tonight we are going to print them up, then tomorrow I can send you some more pictures tho I don’t know what you will do with them all. We have been sort of taking it easy the last couple of days. Things here slowed up at the office a great deal mostly because no one seems to know what is coming next so we don’t know what to start on. 296 Letters to the Paciic Norma - July 1945 private or even a plain civilian. Of course, if you turn up with a bald head, I’ll probably think it looks dignified & like a big shot just because it’s you. Your shoes finally came. It looks like they had collected a little mold along the way & they smell just like mold. I’m glad the resinol came. Now maybe some of the other things will get there. I didn’t know you had taken a course in water depth determination. It sounds interesting, but deep (like the ocean, I guess). I’m glad you married me for something besides money – you rascal. All My Love To You, Norma 297 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - July 1945 This afternoon we went up to Yontan Air field to pick up some maps, and then went down on the beach to hunt shells. I only found 7 but they are the pretty dark brown ones so I don’t feel so badly for only getting so few. The other day some of the boys were down at Naha beach and they found about 150 of the little green shells. Next time I have an afternoon to spare I am going down there myself. Very few of the boys are finding any cat eyes so I guess I was lucky to find the few I have. Things are still hot, dry, and dusty here. I would certainly give anything to be home for a few days and have my fill of those big Bing Cherries. We will have to grow all kinds of fruit on our place just for me to eat. That is one thing I miss out here more than anything else in the food line. Well maybe next year at this time I can start thinking about coming home to some of the better things in life again. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 14 July 1945 Dearest Norma, We were going to print up some more pictures tonight, but by the time we got back from the field, supper was all over with so we got out the last of our 10 in one rations and got our own supper. No doubt you would like to know what we had. We started off with chilled canned tomatoes (chilled to 90 degrees), then we had hamburgers, cheese, crackers, canned butter, jam, cocoa, and grape fruit juice. All this comes in the Army 10 in one rations and when a person is hungry it tastes pretty good. We were down around Naha this afternoon looking over some installations, and about 4:00 o’clock the tide was out so we took time off and went looking for shells out on the reef. Ray, Martin, Jack, and myself were all together. I have never seen such good shell hunting. When I got back tonight I counted mine and I had picked up 156 shells. The other fellows had about the same amount each. I was feeling so proud of all my little green shells until I saw what Martin and Ray’s. They had some of the most beautiful big brown shells I have ever seen. Jack & I hunted & hunted but we couldn’t find any. Anyhow, in a month or so, after I get them clean, I’ll send you a couple of hundred. I am enclosing a picture of myself. Please note my hair is growing, on my chest. But don’t worry, I’ll grow some back on my head some day. Goodnight my love, Reinhart Okinawa 15 July 1945 Dearest Norma, There is no doubt in my mind now but what I gave you the wrong conception of the danger out here. We realy have been in no danger at all to speak of so don’t go worrying yourself any. Right now it is just as safe here as it is in New York City, and I like it just as well as I liked Camp Davis so you know how much I enjoy it. A lot of the boys are getting to the point where they want to be moving forward again, but for my part the only move I want to make is back to the States. We are still in the Northern hemisphere so the stars here are the same as back home, big dipper, north star, and all. We had a very nice church service this afternoon. About 40 boys were there, ranking all the way from private to full colonel. They are enlarging the chapel to so next time we hold conference we should be able to hold it here. I would certainly like to see some of the better slides you have, and I am sure if you put them in a letter, 2 or 3 at a time, with a thin piece of cardboard around them, they would get here all right. I could send them back to you after I had looked at them. I could even look at them under the viewer down at the office. Try sending me a couple first and if they come through all right you can send some more. If you have any good shots on black & white that you want made up just cut the negative up into strips about 6 inches long and send me the shots 298 Letters to the Paciic Norma - July 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 15 July 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Just wait until you get home & then I’ll get another Sophisticated dress just to please you & you can take me swimming once a week. In just 15 more days Cheryl will be a year old. It’s just too bad you can’t get the natives over there to make her something so that she could have a keepsake from Okinawa. Maybe those natives don’t make anything though. I think I’ll have some 299 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - July 1945 Sgt. Jack Gill, a member of Lt. Kowallis’ photo interpretation team on Okinawa. Escarpment (cliffs) along the southern coast of Okinawa where the Japanese army made its last stand and where many caves and tunnels still held enemy soldiers long after the main fighting had ended. It was near here where Lt. Kowallis and his group of soldiers had their experience with finding some Japanese soldiers, one of whom threw a grenade out at their group before blowing up himself. 300 Letters to the Paciic Norma - July 1945 postcard pictures made up of the both of us (something like the ones Carmen had for her first Birthday). Then I can send one on to you so you can see that we both have hair and we arn’t bald. Cheryl’s hair is two inches long at the back & about an 1½ in on top. I bet that is longer than your hair at that. It is getting to be quite blonde so it doesn’t show up in pictures very well. I just finished a whole roll of black & white pictures today. I don’t believe I mentioned it but I sent the roll of colored film off airmail Saturday. The mail man wasn’t sure it would go that way but he took it. I used the bag that is suppose to be for sending it back to Eastman so we will have to think of something else to use when we send them back to develop them. I haven’t been to town to get the file & chisel but if you don’t get in a hurry it will get there. This morning I took Cheryl to Church. I sat by Beth Payne & her little son. We compared notes on the accomplishments of our children. Her boy is just learning to stand on his feet a little & Cheryl walks all over. He just says “Da Da” & Cheryl is getting so she just trys saying so many words even if they don’t sound exactly right. For instance. Karla is (Arla) & Ruth is (th) and Shoe is (Sh) & Glena is (en-na) & Mother is (Ma-Ma or if I have her try hard she says Ma-er) most of the other words she says quite plain such as sock, chick, Jay, David, Da Da & etc. Wayne was having fun playing with her today. Only he would bump her swing against the tree & made her fall out – she didn’t like that so good. She just walked around at Church & here at home. She goes on her toes like a little fairy & just flies. Karla used to just clonk along & walk so heavy but Cheryl is all together different. She is still a little schemer. She won’t kiss me only when she can see it will benefit her, then does she ever give me the lovin’. In Church she sang the song as loud as anyone. She just pulls the funniest faces & it just about makes everyone die laughing. She looks sweet most of the time, but when she gets a silly streak she is so funny. When you get this you will probably think I brag like this to everyone, but I really don’t. It’s just that I want you to get a little idea of what your offspring is like. Other folks don’t have to be told, they can just see how smart she is. Oh I forgot to tell you how the hose leaks all along & little squirts go up out of them so this afternoon Cheryl & Karla were getting drinks. They were just wet all over their faces, but Cheryl kept saying drink & Karla kept finding “Another” squirt. Wayne & Phyllis were out & I went up in the cherries with them. Cheryl went too. We saw some of the boys over at Tams place (up where Ferrins used to live). They wanted us to come over & see their Modle Airplane motors. They were really swell. He makes the whole plane & then controls them by a wire someway. Wayne had to sample every tree to see which was best. I tried to convince him that the Bing were best, but he thought the Lamberts were. LaMar says he will be glad when Boot training is over, but he seems to be getting along fine. He swam the 50 yrds when many failed. He was able to do all the exercises required of him. But after the shots when they were required to stand for a long time in the hot sun, a sailor buddy had to help him to a seat, as he got dizzy. The sailor told him if he had wriggled his toes & had left his clothes looser he would never have got dizzy. Many men had to be carried off the field, others walked away under their own steam so I guess LaMar wasn’t alone. He has found out where Mormon services are held so he is going to start attending them. They made him shave so I guess he is getting a few new experiences. His address is: Jos L. Jensen S 1/c Co. 924 V. S. N. T. C. Great Lakes, Illinois Just in case you might like to write. Spence hasn’t written for a few days. The last letter he was just waiting to leave. He thinks he will be sent by way of India to the Pacific. He is hoping he will get to see you. He seems sort of depressed & he says he feels you can cheer him up. He asks about you a lot. I guess he thought you were an allright guy. I believe if he would keep himself really busy like you do that it wouldn’t be so hard on him. They say work is a cure for anything & I believe it. I didn’t go to Church tonight so I could write to you. I don’t get a chance in the daytime, so I have to take any time I can get. ----------------------------Ruth just dashed in with the latest news. She had been to Church & I could just cry to think I wasn’t there too. They 301 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - July 1945 you want. I will print them up and send them to you. I am speaking only of 35 mm stuff. That’s the only thing I can handle here. If you have any good shots of Cheryl I could blow them up. It’s getting dark and I have some work to do in the lab, so good night Sweetheart. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 18 July 1945 Dearest Norma, I missed a couple of days writing you on account of I have been busy at night getting some pictures out. Tonight I am duty officer and in between messages I will try to get a letter written to you. It looks as if my troubles for the night are starting out in good fashion. I just sent a message out a few minutes ago that should not have been sent, however, I sent it under orders of higher authority, so I am in the clear but someone else caught the devil because of it. I sent a small package off to you today (air raid warning just sounded so all the lights have to be turned out, but don’t go away, I’ll be right back with a flash light and finish this note to you). As I was saying, I sent a small package first class mail that had two small cups (tea cups) and some sea shells in it. I sent another package 4th class mail that has in it a Jap mess kit, and half a dozen tea cups that I picked up out of a bomb crater down at Naha air field. I have no idea how they got there. Maybe some Japs had a last afternoon tea party. We are holding school in the mornings here now to sort of break up our P.I. [photo interpretation]. And I was in hopes of never having to go to a class again. Not only that but I have to give a lecture the day after tomorrow on some photography. What do you know, they are realy getting big hearted now. They are giving us a half day a week off. Yesterday was ours. I spent the afternoon doing my laundry and the evening developing pictures. Oh well, there is no place to go around here anyhow. Except when the tide is out I can go shell hunting. I wish I could go with you, it would be a lot more fun. I certainly miss you two. About every night I dream of being home with you. That is the joy of going to sleep at night. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 19 July 1945 Dearest Norma, I certainly have a rough time trying to think of something interesting to tell you on days like this when I don’t do anything but stay in the office all day. All we did there today was hold class in the morning. In the afternoon I sort of sat around and read a Field & Stream magazine Sgt. Gill loaned me. Reading some of the stories in it sort of made me home sick. Wouldn’t it be great if I could be home to take you deer hunting this fall? We could certainly have a lot of fun. It has been raining a little today. Tonight we are expecting a strong wind with rain. I hope the tent doesn’t blow away. I sent another group of pictures off to you today. I hope they reach you O.K. Love, Reinhart 302 Letters to the Paciic Norma - July 1945 spent the whole evening reading letters from our service men. After the letters had been read the Bishop stood up & said he had a card that he wanted to read himself. It was a card from Captain Jackson telling all about you & how proud they were to have just a fine fellow as you to represent the church. He said you were living the Gosple & that you were helping out with their services. Ruth couldn’t remember it all, but believe me honey no citation or no greater honor could be paid to you & none could make me happier than those words “That you were living the Gosple.” Of course, I knew you were but to have it come from your Chaplain just made me swell with pride. I would [have] given a lot just to have heard him read that. Ruth said everyone turned to look at her as she was the only member of our family at church – usually we are all there. I should have been there so they could have looked at me and said (“That is Reinhart’s wife – I’ll bet she’s proud of him.) I would have been too. I’m going to ask Reuben if I can have that card. We will let it be my birthday present. I couldn’t ask for a nicer one if you searched from one end of the earth to the other. May The Lord continue to bless you and keep you safe always my dear. All My Love, Norma P.S. If you get a chance drop Reuben a letter. They all think you are swell & I know they would like to hear from you. Pleasant View, Utah 18 July 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, I haven’t been able to write to you for the last two days for reasons which I will enumerate. Monday I stayed up in the orchard with Dad until 8 o’clock carrying boxes of Cherries out, helping him weigh them up & liding them. By the time I got a bath, put Cheryl to bed, I just couldn’t see straight so I went to bed. Yesterday Cheryl & I both started with colds & after working all day I was really dead. Cheryl didn’t feel so good either and kept me awake a good deal of the night, which didn’t make me feel any better. I had decided I just couldn’t pick today, but when I saw how bad Dad needed pickers I couldn’t refuse so I went & we came down at 7 o’clock tonight. As a result I feel like the wreck of the hesperus. Cheryl is feeling better so I don’t mind. It sure is crazy – neither of us had a cold all winter and now when it’s summer we both get a cold. Ruth brought it home first, then Karla got it & gave it to us. Dad just can’t get pickers so we are picking over time to get them finishes. They are just loaded & more beautiful than I have ever seen them. I picked 23 – 20 lb. boxes off one tree. Shirly Tams & her brother Vernon have been coming over after 5 o’clock work to help & Ruth has come [with] us too, but even then it keeps us going. Shirley treated us to ice cream sandwiches tonight. Two very interesting letters came today. The conference sounded like it was really wonderful. I am so glad you are able to keep in contact with the Church. It just seems like there is nothing like the teachings of our Church to encourage us. I’m so glad you are able to save so much. I guess I won’t be spending much this month because I just don’t get into town. We should be able to save quite a bit. I think the new arrangement for sending money home will be much better. I have already read the letter about you taking a Jap prisoner three times aloud & I’ve told every one in the orchard about it. It just send cold chills down my back to think of you being so close to danger & I know you are as careful as you can be. Dad will probably take it to Church for everyone to read or something like that. He hauls your pictures all around & shows them to everyone. Let me know what happened to the rest of the Japs. Did they capture them? I received a letter from Margie last week. I don’t know wheather I mentioned it. Barrett is stationed at a Prisoner of War Camp in Virginia & Margie is there too. He had thought he would be released but no such luck. Ruth said last night over the teletape news came that the Jap radio had reported that they were going to surrender, immediately stocks dropped $3.39 on industrials. It was only off $0.70 before the report came. I guess it was only a rumor though, but it surely would be (beautiful.) (that goes to show how foggy my mind is, Mom was talking about flowers & hence the beautiful) I mean it would be wonderful if it would end. But I won’t get excited until that day comes & then I’ll be the happiest girl in the world. I know this isn’t a very good letter, but I think I have done well to get this far & now if I can just carry this battered frame to bed. I think I’ll live but I could really do with a dose of Dr. R.T. Kowallis good old sympathy cure right now. They say we 303 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - July 1945 Okinawa 21 July 1945 Dearest Norma, I received two of the nicest letters yesterday. One of them had three colored slides in it, and are they good! I showed them to just about every one around and they realy think I have a good looking wife, as well as a top notch baby. I certainly get a kick out of the things you write about her. I’ll bet she is just plenty of fun. I took the slides last night and put them in the enlarger. That way I could throw them on to a white piece of paper 9”x 9”. I think they are some of the best we have. You must be getting better all the time. I wish you would send me the others I haven’t seen that are any good. Only when you send them don’t stick the tape on the slide because when it is pulled off it pulls part of the paper with it. Just tape a couple of cards together with the slides inside. I’ll keep the ones I have here until I get some more, and then I’ll sent them all back at once. In fact, every time I want to get a good case of home sickness, I’ll just pull them out and have a look. You look so real on the one that I could almost reach out and kiss you. Cheryl seems to be taking after you going around picking all the flowers. And the fire place is superb. I bet I will hardly know the place when I get back a year from Christmas. All the guys wanted to know who the good looking gal was standing in back of the fireplace. She looks so cute I thot it was you at first glance and then I saw it was Glena. [These photos are in the earlier chapter on the letters during May]. It sounds as if you are realy having a bumper crop of cherries this year, and I’ll bet the three of you realy have to pick to get them down in time. Why don’t you hang Karla & Cheryl each from a limb and let them help? At least they could pick enough to get the stomach ache. How much is Pop getting for cherries this year? After all the folks have done for us I think you should try and give them more for board and room if you are going to accept pay for helping in the fruit. Don’t you? They have done a lot for us and accept next to nothing for it. It makes me feel like a piker when they don’t take more, and I am out here where I can’t do anything about it. From the sound of things we will be here on Okinawa for the next few months. I can think of better places to be, but there are worse ones to. What does Audrey hear from Spence? Is he headed out this way yet? All my love to you Sweetheart, Reinhart Okinawa 23 July 1945 Dearest Norma, I sent Cheryl’s little bracelet today. It should get there about the same time this letter does. If it does not come within two or three days, let me know. Not that I can do anything about it other than make another one. The aluminum we make these things from won’t stay shiny very long. If you paint them with clear finger nail polish they will remain shiny as long as the polish lasts. But any how they are mostly souvenirs. I haven’t much time to write tonight, as usual I have some pictures to print for a report I am working up. I should have got started earlier but I was cleaning shells and what a job that is. I’ll tell you how we do it. First we have to find the live shell. The dead ones are no good. Then we bring them back to camp, put them in a paper box, and set them out in the air raid shelter for ten days to two weeks. During this time the flies and ants go to work on them and the worms start crawling in and out. About the time they start smelling like a dead Jap we take them out, put them in a can of water and stir well until all the dirt and stuff comes out of them. Then with a little wire we poke the remaining maggots out of each one, wash them for another half hour, and strange as it may seem, the smell and dirt is about all gone. After they are all clean we have to polish each one individually to bring the luster back out. Now do you understand why it takes several days to do them up before I can send them home? I have better than 150 to send you when I get them finished up. I am still wearing the underwear you gave me before I left home, and I think they will do me for some time to come. I still have 3 or 4 pair in my foot locker that I have never worn yet. Be seein’ you again tomorrow night. Love, Reinhart 304 Letters to the Paciic Norma - July 1945 should[n’t ?] write about our troubles to our boys over there, but I’m sure you know that a cold is nothing that a day or two will not cure & a tired body is probably good for the soul – I hope. Enough grumbling & self pity – anyhow I love you & I wish you were here & I’m glad I can help out & goodnight. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 19 July 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, That must have been a terrible day for you – walking through all those dead Japs & smelling that awful stench. It’s enough to turn anyone sick. I hope for your sake that you don’t have to make any more trips down there. Don’t the Americans bury the Jap dead? I guess they have enough of their own but I should think that all those dead would cause disease to break out. That reminds me. Is there much danger where you are from Malaria & do you take those pills that turn you yellow? It just seems impossible to think of you going to hear Gen. Stillwell talk. We read about him here at home & he seems like he must be quite a wonderful General. I guess you must have felt somewhat like I do after a days picking Cherries, after your trip to Southern Okinawa & yet there is a certain satisfaction in being tired from a good days work that I don’t imagine you would feel after walking through those dead. My cold is better today, but now I have larengitus & I can hardly speak. Cheryl’s cold is nearly all gone. She is so wiry that it just couldn’t get her down. She is as brown as an Indian. Karla turned the hose all over her out in the play pen while I was in the orchard. Mom said Cheryl really squealed. It is the second time Karla has done it to her. Jay stayed out again today to pick cherries, but he just got tired & wouldn’t work so we sent him home with Glena & her boy friend this evening. He earned $1.20 yesterday picking two boxes. Mitzie never misses going up to the orchard with us. She sits on Dad’s lap with her paws on the wheel & helps steer. It is 9:30 now & Dad is just getting in so I guess we’ll have supper now. I have some pictures getting developed so when they get finished you will get a picture of Cheryl without a hat. Some pictures came yesterday. There were some of your outfit. I thought they were really good of you. The others were so nice too. It just helps a lot to get the pictures. Goodnight Honey & All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 20 July 1945 Dearest Reinhart, I am enclosing this picture from the Yank. Somehow it just made me think of a certain letter you wrote to me & I was wondering if this picture is a good example of the flat type. You see we get the “Yank” all the time as Spence sends it to us. I suppose you have already looked at this lovely portrait, but I’ll send it just the same. Arlene Johns husband is home after being in Burma for two years & he says 8 fellows out of his outfit married those native gals. Are there any of the boys over there that have begun to think that those black belles look pretty good? We picked cherries until noon & then I did an almost two weeks washing. It filled three big lines & then a line from the tree by the well clear down to the light pole above the house. So I’m tired again. It’s getting to be a habit with me. It’s a good thing Cheryl is such a good baby. She just plays all alone in her pen nearly all day. Mom says she just never has to bother with her, only to feed her & change her pants. We have to pick the cherries without stems tomorrow as the market is all haywire. These will go to the canary. But Dad has already made about $8 or $9 hundred dollars. Then I have made over $74 just picking so that will diminish his roll a little. Glena’s boy friend is leaving for the Navy Air Corp tomorrow so she is out at his place for dinner tonight. He gave her about a $20 pearl necklace. LaMar seems to be enjoying the Navy. He likes being on gaurd & “telling those big guys what to do.” He is also reading 305 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - July 1945 306 Letters to the Paciic Norma - July 1945 the bible. Dad is so thrilled about every word LaMar writes that he practically busts a button sticking out his chest. It’s 11 o’clock now & I must be up at 6 o’clock so goodnight Sweetheart. I love you very much – & twice that much more. As Ever, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 22 July 1945 Dearest Reinhart, This is really a quiet Sunday afternoon. It looks like everyone is keeping this Sabbath day – at least they are all sound asleep in the basement. Everyone except me. Oh -oh here comes Mom up so now I have company. I just finished writing Carmen a letter. We took two boxes of cherries down to the Express office last night. One for LaMar & one for Carmen & Ronald. I thought they would enjoy having some cherries. I sent them C.O.D. so I wrote a letter & enclosed a $1.00 for the shipping expence. At Church this morning Reuben said he had received a letter from you. He hadn’t had a chance to read it, but he was going straight home & read it. He was really pleased. I guess my suggestion came to late or else our minds were thinking the same thing at the same time. He also gave me the card the Chaplin sent him & I will put it in the Album with your pictures. Dad found a pretty kitten down in the pasture so he brought it home – for some reason it has taken a liking to Cheryl & just stays right out in the play pen with her. I like the cat, but I don’t like it to lick her hands & toys. I ran out there every few minutes & washed her & the toys. Then I decided to bring her in. I think Dad will have to take it to the barn. Cheryl just loves it & it tickles her with its tail & with its tongue. She just laughs & laughs & when I take the kitty away she cries like her heart was broken. If only cats were cleaner. Oh me – what shall I do with it? Spence is evidently on his way because Audrey doesn’t get only red cross stationary from him & it is censored. He tried to give her a clue but we can’t figure it out, he said “I have decided to get a Chevrolet – a nice green one.” Maybe you can tell us what he means. We are all mystified. Glena’s boy friend left for the Navy so now Glena is trying to recuperate from a week of continually being out. I dreamed last night that you sent home the handsomest man to look me up & I was in my overalls with my hair in pigtails & he looked as if to say “This surely isn’t the wife Reinhart has been talking about.” Anyway I brought Ruth in & he took her off & I thought they looked so happy. I woke up and Ruth still hasn’t a man. If only she could get one. She is just crazy about the kids & we have to watch her or she spoils them. We went to a show after taking the Cherries down. It was Spencer Tracy in “Without Love” & it was pretty good. Dad, Audrey, Glena & I went. We stopped & had malts after the show. We will finish the cherries Monday & also start on the Apricots. They are quite small so we will have to sell to the canary. We picked Saturday & I have just earned $80 this week in the cherries. That isn’t bad at all – is it. But I miss Cheryl so Okinawans at a festival in May 1945 after the Americans arrive on the island. 307 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - July 1945 Okinawa 24 July 1945 Dearest Norma, To start off I had better answer all your questions. As a matter of fact that is about all I will get done, and with all the time I had this afternoon to. It was our afternoon off and all we did was sleep & chew the fat. That’s the way it goes. When you have the most time you get nothing done. We were going shell hunting but the weather was bad and our transportation was not good so that was out. To get to the questions. The reason I am not on the church pictures is because I was taking the pictures. The reason the boys look so tired is because they are listening to Ray speak. It’s a rough life. A torii gate is just a gate. Torii is the name for gate in Japanese. It is about the same thing as the gate to the city. The picture of the one I sent you is at Naha. Yes, I was present at the flag raising. It took place right here at the 10th Army Hqs. Where we are from the office we can see the flag waving all day long. Gen. Stillwell lives just across the road from us so it wasn’t hard to get pictures of him. He is realy a regular fellow to. In general we are not allowed to fraternize with the natives, but a lot to the fellows do, at least with the children. They are very friendly and seem to realy take to the American boys. Yes, Ray and I still get to talk religion to now and then. The other night Ray talked to Martin for a couple of hours, and the next day Martin asked me some more questions. Ray gave him the Era to read the article out on marriage & divorce. He thot it was one of the best Articles he had ever read on it. Every now and then Jack asks a question or two also. The other night he wanted to know about the temple. I mentioned getting my Bible in a letter already but I’ll mention it again here. It came O.K. Also the roll of colored film came tonight. The first good day I get off I’ll go out and shoot it. I’ll have to shoot it all in one day because we use the camera all the time for official work. We only have about 300 yards to go to church so we can always get there. Every Sunday there are about 40 or more present. We have some very good meetings. I am inclosing some pictures of Myself & Martin doing our laundry, or I should say my Laundry. I realy do mine as you can see, but he is just trying to fool his wife. Here’s lovin you till doom’s day, Reinhart 308 Letters to the Paciic Norma - July 1945 much & I’ll be glad when I can stay home with her. The one tree I picked in was so nice. It had a little next with a canary in it & it even had one blossom on it. Speaking of Delora – I think everyone seemed to think her husband treated her like an old squaw. He wouldn’t help her with anything & yet she just kept on having children. I surely hope that next fall will see everything all peaceful again & our boys on the way home. We probably won’t have any fancy house & we will probably have to make every penny count until you get started but it will be fun & I know we will make a go of our sport shop. I think it’s really nicer when you don’t start out on top because then you have the joy of watching your accomplishments. I am still convinced I have the best husband there is & if you make up your mind to do something, I know you will succeed. I love you so much & look forward to the day when we can realize our dreams together. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah (undated, but probably 22 July 1945) Dearest Sweetheart, I’ve just been out taking a stroll up through the garden with Mom. Dad wanted us to see the squash. They are little green ones like we used to get in Calif. Then we came down through the Strawberries & gleaned a few last berries just to fill our stomachs. Then I topped it off with a few Rasberries. Right now Lester is out here trying to get his Motor Cycle going. He has been here since 5 o’clock & now it is 9:30. Poor boy & Glena just gave him the cold shoulder & went off with the gang. He walked clear down to where that big barn is & got Goodwin & his Motor. Now Goodwin is trying to tow him. I went to town but I didn’t get the file & chisel because I had to stay too long at the doctor. This is my last treatment & I do feel all right now & what with this fruit picking I’ll really be on top of the world. At least I’ll be at the top of the cherry tree. Beth Cragun was two booths away from me taking her heat treatment. A man & a woman were in the two booths bettween us, but we just talked back & forth. I told her all about what you were doing & how I would be so glad to have you home. The nurse heard us talking so she joined in & told us about her boy friend who is in Italy. She wanted to know how often I got a letter from you & when I said nearly every day, she said “My – he must think a lot of you” – and of course I informed her that we both thought a lot of each other. I think the Doctor got in on it too because he said he still thought I was 18 and he didn’t think I was old enough to be married. Of course I know he was just drumming up business. Glena was waiting for the bus when I got to 25th St. She and Francis Pead had tried to catch the 4 o’clock bus, but it didn’t come & now it was 5 o’clock & still no bus. Audrey came then & gave us all a ride home. We stopped to get some ice cream cones but all they had was orange sherbet Dixie cups so we had to be satisfied. It tasted pretty good & I guess we should feel thankful to even get Dixie cups. Mom & Dad & Uncle Jim had just finished the cement job when we came home. I had put Cheryl in her bed when I left & she was still there when I came home with the same wet pants on. Mom said she hadn’t had a minute to take care of her & I know she hadn’t, but it just goes to show what a good baby we have. Mom & Dad would call in the window once in a while & she would jabber back at them. When I came she just grabbed me & said “Ma Ma Ma Ma” she was so tickled. There she had been there from 2 o’clock until 6 o’clock. I took here out & put her in the tire swing LaMar made. She holds on so tight & I swing her way up & she just loves it. When I stop she starts jiggling for me to do it some more. You should see her go after Mitzie. She doesn’t like the feel of the grass on her knees so she straightens out her legs & goes on all fours with her little seat in the air. Then Mitzie starts moving too. Cheryl stops & Mitzie stops. Then they are off again. When Cheryl stops she puts her chin down and very solemnly says “Da Da.” That means she is trying to think up a new angle. Then when she gets close she just squeals & grabs. She even tried feeding Mitzie grass, but still Mitzie wouldn’t stay. She has got to the stage where she throws everything on the floor. When I got home every piece of her bedding was on the floor except the sheet. If she can reach any of my clothes she tries to put them on. The other day she had my brazier around her neck. Then she thinks everything is a hat & so she puts it on her head & says “hat.” She tries to put her shoes & socks on as soon as I take them off. When I take her clothes off, I say “Hold up your arms” & up goes her arms as high as she can reach. When we say “Look at Cheryl Stand alone,” she puts up her arms & stands out there as proud as a peacock. I received a letter from Margie today. She & Barrett are in Leesburg, Virginia. He has been stationed at a Prisoner of War 309 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - July 1945 Lieutenant Reinhart Kowallis in July 1945 on Okinawa, tanned and with his beautiful wavy hair all gone. Norma was not particularly happy with the loss of his nice curls, but as he pointed out in his letter, the chest hair was doing great. 310 Letters to the Paciic Norma - July 1945 Camp. She & Barrett planed on stopping to see me but “Sexless” their car started having Engine trouble in Fallon, Nevada & then in Ely so they arrived in Salt Lake at 5:30 in the morning. They drove around & saw the temple & thought it was really beautiful. It seems almost unbelievable to think of cities completely destroyed as was the city of Naha. Think of the time it will take to build them up again and all because some fanatics wanted to fight. It is wonderful the way you are able to measure the water depth. Do you take pictures under the water or just how do you do it? It is raining this morning & Dad said “Now if only Reinhart were here we could go duck hunting.” We did need a rain though & this one will help a lot. Well – today makes it one more day sooner before you will be home. That seems to be the big goal in my life. All My Love To You, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 23 July 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Tomorrow is the 24th so I probably won’t get to send this off but I’ll write one just the same. They have been celebrating the 24th since the 19th in Ogden, but we have been too busy to see any of it. I’m trying to tell Cheryl that I can’t play with her because I am writing to her Da Da. She understands all right because she just keeps saying “Da Da.” We are down in our room in the basement where we moved after LaMar left. Cheryl keeps reaching over from her bed & pulling my hair & when I squeal she squeals. Then she wants to kiss me & then when I get close she says “eye” & wants to poke my eye. Then she grabs my nose & when I made a snorting noise just a minute ago she took hold of her nose & tried to do it. She did it so hard that it hurt the inside of her nose. I thought I would split laughing at the look of surprise on her face. Now she is attracting my attention by showing me her neck. That is the latest thing she has learned that she has. Today I was resting in the front room & she was walking around & she walked clear from the further chair in by the piano, past all the chairs & by the front room table, right out into the kitchen. Usually she stops at the chairs or falls down occasionally, but she had in mind where she wanted to go & she just went right there. When I take her to the toilet she either goes right away or says “done,” then I know she doesn’t want to go. Right now she is looking at herself in the mirror & pulling all kinds of faces & waving her hands. When she sings she hums & waves her hands like she was beating time. Yesterday I went to Church in the morning & left Cheryl home with Mom. In the evening all of us went down to the pagent which is held in the stadium in memory of the pioneers. A huge chorus furnish the music. Paul Cragun was one of the soloists. The pagent depicted the coming of the Pilgrims, the first Thanksgiving, the signing of the Constitution & the coming of the Mormons & their trials. The stadium was filled to overflowing. Karla just about had a couple people murder her. She is really a handful & she just kept bucking around and kicking a man & woman in the backs. Not intentionally, but just in her squirming about. Cheryl of course was the best child ever. A little boy & girl in front just played peek-a-boo & talked to her nearly all the time. Then a man & woman in back just thought she was about the sweetest thing ever. The man finally ask if he couldn’t take her so I did. She is so friendly & isn’t afraid of anyone. After the pagent we went over to the park & watched the Merry-go-Round. Cheryl & Karla were just amazed. They both could[n’t] keep their eyes off it. The lights were so bright & it went so fast. The kids would say something to Cheryl, but she would[n’t] turn to the left or right, she just looked at the merry-go-round. We met Phyllis, Wayne & Family by the merry-go-round. He just sold his home again & made $900 so they are moving back to the mills. He is giving Phyllis $400 to spend as she likes for all the bother of moving. But I guess that wasn’t a bad deal. It wasn’t in a location they would want anyway. We picked Cots this morning, but it was slow & tedious picking around. I made .85 cents & Glena made .65 – some difference bettween them & cherries. Seely paid Dad tonight and after paying for picking the cherries Dad made $1,100 – not bad for cherries. Two letters came today – both had pictures. One of you coming out of a Jap cave which was so interesting. I hadn’t imagined the entrances were so small. The gun & grenade looked formidable. The other was pictures of the grow of the hair on you chest, but I liked them too & I’m looking forward to the day when you can let your hair grow again on your head. I think I will take you up on that deal to do me some pictures. I’ll have to look them over & see which ones I want. You 311 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - July 1945 Baby Cheryl playing with the tulips in her grandmother’s garden. This may have been one of the ones sent to Reinhart in Okinawa in July 1945. Lt. Martin Martinson, Reinhart’s friend and the other officer on his team, heating water for laundry in the Tenth Army camp on Okinawa in 1945. Lt. Reinhart Kowallis (on left) doing his laundry on Okinawa in July 1945. The other soldier is unknown. 312 Letters to the Paciic Norma - July 1945 really do good work. You can say there is no danger but I can’t believe that as there are so many Japs still free on that Island. Of course New York City is a dangerous place too so that doesn’t help a bit & I know just how well you liked Camp Davis. But really honey, I won’t worry – not a bit I won’t. It will be so nice having your chaple to hold your conferences in. Do you have quite a few non-members attend your meetings? Those shells will really be worth getting. Those little green ones are so pretty & they will be just grand to make into a necklace. The mosquitoes are coming in from some place & Cheryl is getting sleepy so I had better say goodnight. I wish you were here to celebrate the 24th with us. We will next year I hope. All My Love Sweetheart, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 26 July 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, I am a lucky girl. Today a whole bunch of pictures came for me & yesterday those two sweet cups and the shells came. The small cup was in perfect condition but the larger one was in about 10 pieces. I have it all glued back together again & to put in a China cupboard, just to show off. I don’t think it will ever show that it was broken. I think it needed a little more space between it & the box. I have never seen such beautiful shells. That shiny black one was so pretty & also those about like it only more brown. In fact, all of them were just grand. The brown & white speckled ones were so unusual & was that a tiny Abaloni shell? It looked like one. I would surely like a necklace made out of the small green ones. The pictures too were so interesting. The ones of you capturing the Jap & the conference were especially interesting. Of Ruth Jensen, Norma’s sister. She later married Henry Wilson Johnson. 313 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - July 1945 Okinawa 25 July 1945 Dearest Norma, I knew I should have given Chaplain Jackson only a dime. For 25¢ he realy spreads it on thick, but I am glad he said all those nice things about me. He is a very nice guy himself. I hope Spence makes it to Okinawa, but I don’t think he will. At least not unless he comes through the U.S. first, which isn’t very likely. He, no doubt, will stop in the Philippines. I expect that to be the big staging area for future operations. If I even meet him out here it will be some place in Japan. You gave me Lamar’s name as Jos. L. Jensen. Is that the name by which he goes now? It doesn’t look right. How about it? Yesterday and today we had ice cream for the first time since we came down here. Some of the Navy boys wanted to tour the island so they bring us the ice cream if we loan them a truck. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 27 July 1945 Dearest Norma, I haven’t received any letters for the past two days, but yesterday some of the things came that you had sent to Guam. There was a copy of Reader’s Digest, Outdoor Life, the Kraft carmels & the hard tack you sent. The candy got here just fine. Oh yes, and last but not least was the book you sent me for my birthday. I am going to enjoy the book very much, and am realy glad to get it. I read two chapters last night before going to bed. We are still holding school every morning. In the afternoon we do our regular work. I have been working on a report I should have gotten out a week ago. As it stands now I won’t have it finished until next week. A lot of the fellows are talking about the war being over in a month or two, but I still can’t see how it will come to an end before next year. I hope I am wrong. There is nothing I want more than to come home to you. I’ll just keep hoping. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 29 July 1945 Happy Birthday Darling, and I hope you have many more happy ones ahead. This isn’t much of a birthday present, but there just isn’t anything to buy out here so I made these for you. I send them to you with all my love, and in the hope that next year I can be with you for a birthday party. Love, Reinhart P.S. The clasp on the chain is not very good, and I intentionally left the chain a little long so you could cut it off where you want it, and put on a new clasp. The bracelet is of Aluminum the same as Cheryl’s. When it dulls get a blitz cloth and polish it. 314 Letters to the Paciic Norma - July 1945 course I looked for you & couldn’t find you. That must have been a frightening experience capturing that Jap. I am anxious to hear all about it from you in person. That castle must be a pretty place. What is the history of it & what is it’s importance? There must be a lot of mormon boys on that Island. The conference must have been an inspiring one in such a beautiful setting. I notice you are always carrying scrolls of paper. I guess that is what you do your map drawings on. Just think the cups & shells arrived here a day before the letter telling about them. That is in about 5 or 6 days. I hope the other cups come through good. It would be nice having a whole set of them. This morning we finished picking most of the cherries. I guess we picked about 500 lbs. Then Seely came & told us to stop because the canary wouldn’t take them & he wasn’t sure he could get rid of them. He took part of them & sold them so I guess he will be able to sell all of them. Yesterday we picked about 75 lugs of Apricots. They are rather small so we are going to sell quite a few to the canary. On the 24th we all went to the Parade in the morning. It was mostly all military, but it was pretty good. Cheryl really liked the horses & the bands. Tonight we have been picking beans & rasberries. We were going up to our place in Brigham, but we decided to pick these first. I am anxious to just look at the place again. I hope I get to town soon so I can get you that file & chisel & your magazines for next month. I’ll bet you think I have forgotten them, but I just haven’t been to town. Did I ever tell you your shoes came & how moldy they smelled? Cheryl is trying to go to sleep with me scratching away. She turns over once in awhile & says “Da Da” which is still her favorite word. It is hard to believe that in a few days she will be a year old. If only you could see her. Ruth just came in & picked her up & then put her back down & you should see her lip quiver. Her feelings are really hurt. She is just trying so hard to cry that it is funny. She is having a hard time with Karla here lately. Karla is a little jealous of her & every time I put her in her high chair up comes Karla & starts pushing her. Every time I do something for Cheryl & don’t do it for Karla, Karla slaps her or today she kicked her. Now don’t think Karla is a mule because she isn’t. She is very sweet & we all love her but Cheryl gets so much attention from me & with Karla’s mother working, everything is rather irregular with Karla & she can’t understand why Cheryl gets so much attention. I try to always do things for Karla too, but naturally with me Cheryl always comes first. I want so much for them to like each other & they have so much fun together, but it’s just when I do something for Cheryl that Karla gets unhappy. If I give Cheryl her orange juice, then Karla grabs the cup. I guess I’ll have to start doing the same for both of them. I am glad I can be home with Cheryl even if we arn’t making quite as much as Audrey & Spence. I think it is worth a lot to be here & be so close to Cheryl. I just hate to even go up in the orchard all day, but it has to be done & I really don’t mind it so much. If only these rumors about the Japs wanting to surrender were true & you could come home to us. We would really go hunting & fishing & all those things you’ve been wishing for. I love you. Goodnight Sweetheart, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 28 July 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Ruth is leaving for town in 10 min & I will try to send this with her. I received a very sweet letter from you yesterday & I’m so glad you liked the slides. Tomorrow being Sunday I will get some more ready to send off to you. Spence is now on his way to the Pacific. At least he hinted as much & Audrey doesn’t hear from him. Maybe he will get over that way. Yesterday we picked 100 boxes of Apricots. The ones who set the wages for picking certainly don’t know much. About all we can make a day in Cots picking fast is $5.00. As yet the most we have made is $3.40 because we haven’t picked all day. Dad & Mom insist that they pay me for picking. They surely are too generous with us, but I don’t know what to do with them. Last year they paid Audrey & she was living here for nothing & so they insist that they pay me too. Cheryl learned how to climb into Karla’s rocking chair today & she has spent half the day climbing in & out of that chair. She puts her one foot way up & then pulls herself up to a standing. So Long Honey, Ruth’s Leaving... Norma 315 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - July 1945 Girl’s school on Okinawa in July 1945. Native Okinawan children at their home. Native Okinawan boat. Photo taken in July 1945. 316 Letters to the Paciic Norma - July 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 29 July 1945 Dearest Reinhart, It seems like these week ends come & go so fast that I hardly know we have had any rest. I have really been taking advantage of my day of rest today. Cheryl & I were romping on the bed and we both went to sleep. Cheryl hasn’t been feeling too good today so I have been spending most of my time consoling her. I guess it’s the heat that’s getting to her. She has had a little fever & has been sick to her stomach. I think she will be all right by tomorrow. Right now I am trying hard to be a little firm with her. She has just broken her last bottle. I guess she figures she is too old for one anyway. (Time out – I just went to Church and now I’m back again. Cheryl woke up for a minute and I believe she is feeling much better. She is back to sleep already. She gave me a kiss then lay down & went right to sleep) Mom says that Lee Barker said he tried to catch me after church because he wanted me to give a talk down at the Tuberculosis Home tomorrow night. It would be a mixed group, so I would give a talk something on the order of what would be given in the mission field. He hasn’t been over yet and I’m rather hoping he won’t because it is such short notice – I just don’t know what I would do. Tonight was family night at church. Harold Ferrin’s family furnished the program & I thought it was very fine. Mitzie is having callers again and Mom took your suggestion & made Mitzie a pair of pants. Dad – I think has got quite a kick out of watching those big bad boys make passes at her – to no avail. One even tried pulling the pants off. Don’t tell Dad I said he enjoyed it he might not appreciate my observations. I went upstairs to get the pictures or slides to send you & I got the wrong box. These are the ones we started when you were here and we only took about two or three pictures. The rest I took later & as I had never taken a roll of film out, I opened it before rewinding. Hence the spots on some of the pictures. I learned how to take out the film the hard way, by trial & error, but I don’t think I’ll make the same mistake again. I may send a few of them to you just so you can see the results of my experimenting. Tomorrow we have 100 boxes of Apricots to pick so of course we’ll be up early. I read your letter about capturing the Jap & showed the pictures to Phyllis & Wayne. They really thought it was interesting. Wayne is going out on the road tomorrow. According to the papers the ban had been lifted on all woolens & worted material – so of course Wayne is Happy about that. Dr. McKay’s wife & daughters were here Sat. evening & she wanted some cherries so I put on my overalls & shirt & went up to help them. She has been in England & France as a red cross nurse & all she wanted was fruit. I guess that’s about how you will feel when you come home. I guess they don’t grow even Bananas on Okinawa – do they? LaMar says there is a chance that he may get a pass to come home around the 6th or 15th of Aug. Of course we are all hoping. We want to see him in his “Bell bottom trousers” & also see his short hair cut. He said he volunteered to do some welding instead of having inspection, so I guess he is learning how to get around. He likes welding, but he doesn’t like inspection. So you are going to school & giving lectures again. It seems like you will never get through going to school. I think the lectures are always good for you & you can do it well. Who is really your best friend now? Do you still chum around with Ray? If he in charge of your Sunday School or just what? I hope they are giving you a lot of opportunities to take part because I am sure there isn’t any better qualified. Do those fellows you bunk with ever ask about our church & have you ever taken any of them to the church services over there? I guess a lot of them don’t care much about religion, but isn’t that the way the world is? If only people would realize that this is a war against evil & not a war to see who has the biggest & finest army. It’s a lot of work for such a small handful of people as we Latter Day Saints to try to convince all these people just what the purpose of life is and why they must turn from their wrong doings, but someone has to do it & if we don’t start the ball rolling, it’s going to be a mighty long time before we ever have peace. May The Lord Bless & Keep You because I love you so very much. Norma 317 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - July 1945 Okinawa 29 July 1945 Dearest Norma, I certainly wish I was home to help with the cherries. It sounds like you guys have a lot more to do than you can handle. One more good man would make a lot of difference. I hate to see you runing your health down working so hard. How much longer do you think the cherries will last? You with your cold it must be pretty rough going. That’s the first cold Cheryl has had isn’t it? Now don’t go worrying about not being able to write me every day. When you are busy I don’t expect it. You will even notice I am missing a day now and then. We do so much work in the photo lab at night that quite often I don’t get around to writing. Martin just took off for Guam. I don’t know how long he will be gone, but I expect it will be a month or so. Maybe longer. Ray got a call from one of the Chaplains this morning asking him to drop down to one of the hospitals and pick up a couple of nurses who want to come to church. Ray isn’t all to go so he asked me to take his place. I just hate to do it you know, but it is my duty, and when duty calls I must. But I promise to sit way to the back of the jeep and I won’t even move because there will be two nurses sitting on top of me. But I still won’t look at them. I’ll just keep looking around them until I see the church. That way I can tell when I’ll have to let go of my hold on em. Anyhow, I’ll be thinking how I wish you was them cause there is only one of you so you couldn’t be nearly as heavy! I sent you a little birthday present off today. It should get there about the same time as this letter. I am enclosing a little piece of a chain in this letter. See if you can get me 3 or 4 necklace chains on the same order, either in the silver or some thing else that looks nice. I think you should be able to get them for not to much. Don’t spend more than a dollar for one. They can be either the same type link or just the plain round link. A round link would be even a little better. If possible get two of each. These Kraft carmels are realy good that you sent me. I sit here on my bed and just eat & eat, then at night I sit in the bed & just scratch & scratch. I took the can of candy corn to the office yesterday morning so the boys ate nearly all of that for me, but I like the carmels too much to give them all away. Just keep letting me in on these rumors Ruth gets hold of. Maybe if enough of them come through one of them will turn out to be right, I hope, but I don’t think so. The Japs are likely to fight to the bitter end. Well Darling, here’s loving you always, Reinhart 318 Letters to the Paciic Norma - July 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 30 July 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Well Honey – what do you know – I just got back from giving a Sermon. Yes – Bro. Barker came up to the orchard this morning & ask me if I would talk to the patients at the T. B. Hospital. The L. D. S. hold services there every Monday night. I couldn’t very well refuse so I went & I really enjoyed it. There were about 15 to our meeting & only one was a man. The rest were all young girls about my age. They were all members but one & she was a sweet little girl from Georgia. She is a methodist but is investigating our church. She ask them if they wouldn’t put her name on the list that they pray for in the temple. They all seemed to enjoy my talk & ask me to come back again sometime. I picked apricots all morning, but I stayed down this afternoon & worked on my talk. Cheryl has felt some better today, but she has really lost weight. Mom says she will gain it all back as fast as she lost it. She has kept all her food down & is eating a little better, but it seemed so funny this morning – she always hop up almost as instantaneously as her eyes come open & then she starts jabbering & I know she is still half asleep – but this morning she just lay there with her eyes open looking at me & didn’t make any attempt to get up. When I picked her up she wimpered a little & laid her head against me. This afternoon she has been walking all over. Mom cleaned her insides out & I think that did the trick. I just felt her head & it feels perfectly normal. I surely felt like howling when she was like that. She just looked so little & helpless. I just don’t know what I would do if she was seriously sick. That will surely be a swell souvenir for her to have. A bracelet made out of a Jap plane. Did you make it all yourself? I didn’t know you could do such things. I think something like that will mean ever so much to her. When she gets to know you it will mean all the more to her. “Something Daddy made for me over in Okinawa.” I can just see you two really hitting it off together. Right now you would probably be missing an eye – cause she loves poking eyes & if you arn’t careful her finger is half way up your nose or in your ears. She still clings to the habit of pulling her hair for consolation – when she is eating or when she is sleepy. But she also loves to pull other hair too & I’m sure she would have a great time trying to get hold of your hair. Dad’s decided he will have to get rid of the cat because it stays right with Cheryl as soon as I put her outside. It’s just too bad they carry so many germs. She loves that cat & I’ve never seen a little kid so gentle with animals. Karla just about kills the poor thing, but Cheryl just touches it & it licks her hands & legs. In the morning it is here by our window “meowing” & Cheryl is just tickled to see it. Right now it is sitting up here in the window & if only she knew it was here she would jump right up out of her sleep. She chases Mitzie from chair to chair but he [she?] won’t give her a chance to be good to him [her?]. Mitzie remembers how Karla was & so he [she?] stays away. We are going to get some cherries for Seely by 9 o’clock in the morning so I’ll have to get up early. It was interesting to hear how you got the shells cleaned & polished. I never realized it was so much work. It’s a good thing you have the worms to help you or you would never get them done. I hope I can get to town some day & get a file & chisel. I’m always glad to hear about you going to church, but you don’t need to tell me your a good boy ‘cause I already know your about perfect. Then I was glad to know you are able to use your garments. I was hoping you could. We have had stories related of fellows who have been saved just through wearing their garments & I think they are a big protection. I’ll try to send some more pictures in this letter tomorrow if we get down from the field in time. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 31 July 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, My – Oh my that is some picture you sent me – & I most certainly will take a lesson from it. The only difference bettween the picture & me is that I forget to put one on in the first place. Before baby I didn’t need one & now I do. Some salvage adds they have. Just think tomorrow is Cheryl’s birthday. It’s a good thing you are sending her something on account it doesn’t look like I would ever get to town. It has been a month or more now since I have been to town except at night about twice. I had made up my mind I would take off on Cheryl’s birthday & go down & get out pictures taken together & maybe buy her a little toy 319 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - July 1945 320 Letters to the Paciic Norma - July 1945 & a dress – but Glena made a dentist’s appointment on that day & we have a big order to get off to the canary, so it looks like my plan will not mature. Then I wanted to get the file & chisel for you. Maybe you’ll get it for Christmas. Cheryl is feeling fine today & I believe in a few days she will have gained back all the weight she lost. She broke another bottle today. Mom says I’ll either have to teach her to drink out of a cup or go broke buying bottles. I’m not here to teach her so it looks like I’ll go broke. Glena took Mitzie over to the store on the truck tonight to get some bread. (She just tells me the dogs jumped on the car before it even stopped). When she stopped the car about five dogs came after Mitzie. Glena grabbed Mitzie & started slugging dogs. She finally got the car started & headed home. Boy oh boy that was just about a slip – after all of our watching. Glena also had an appointment today with the dentist, so Dad & I went up early this morning so we were able to get 50 boxes for Seely & 6 bushels for the Bishop’s storehouse. As we were going up, the school bus had just stopped with the German prisoners. Earl Rhees, Mac Wade & Alcama were all getting a bunch. They surely did beam at me, but I let Dad wave at them. Everyone thinks these Germans are the best workers. The Italians won’t do anything & the Mexicans are striking for higher wages. They want .25 cents a lug for picking. Boy they must think the farmers are made of Gold. They pay the Germans .80 cents a day for picking. Earl Rhees’ wife said she went over where they fed the Germans & all they had was a piece of moldy bread & some cheese. I don’t think that will make them feel like we have something better & that our way of life is better than theirs. Audrey received a letter from Spence today & he is in Belgium. He didn’t say how long he would be there. He just said the country was beautiful. LaMar got the cherries we sent & the boys devoured them in nothing flat. I guess Carmen will be getting hers – I hope. I’m sending you this picture of Carl Woods daughter. I thought you would know her. I see she is marrying Dewey Farnsworth of El Paso. His name sounds so familiar but I can’t place him. From the looks of things the Jap fleet sounds like it is just about finished. That sounds incouraging. Good night My Sweet. I guess I’ll hie me away to my nest in the trees & I’ll be dreaming of you. All My Love, Norma Equipment salvage sign on Okinawa in July 1945 (see letter above). 321 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - July 1945 Three LDS nurses who Reinhart gave a ride to church in July 1945 (see letter above). He identified them as Lieutenants Richardson, Spry, and Hyatt on the photo. Japanese 150 mm howitzer, Model 96, captured near the headquarters of the 32nd Army near Shuri. Large numbers of guns and ammunition were captured as the Japanese retreated to the southern tip of Okinawa. Lt. Reinhart Kowallis returned home with several souvenirs from his time in Okinawa including a sword, pistol, tea cups, wooden Okinawan shoes, called “geta,” and hundreds of shells, mostly cowries. 322 Letters to the Paciic Norma - July 1945 Karla Garner in the garden among the canna lilies in summer 1945. Dusty roads in Okinawa in late June or July 1945. 323 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - July 1945 Torii (traditional Japanese gate) in Naha, Okinawa, July 1945. These gates were commonly found at the entrance to a Shinto shrine or sometimes within the shrine. One of Lt. Kowallis’ photos of a native Okinawan man. 324 Letters to the Paciic Norma - July 1945 Soldier looking for shells on an Okinawa beach. This is probably Sgt. Jack Gill who seems to have also had an interest in collecting shells and is mentioned by Reinhart in this setting. Sgt. Gill was a member of Reinhart’s photo interpretation team. Below: Two LDS soldiers that Reinhart met at the services held on Okinawa. On the left is Brother Childs and on the right is Brother Swenson. 325 July 1945 Cheryl Kowallis at about age 3 years (probably winter of 1947-48) outside the back door of the Kowallis home in Pleasant View with the family dog, Mitzie. Mitzie often comes up in Norma’s letters, particularly when she is in heat and they try to keep her from having another litter of pups. 326 The War in August 1945 As August begins, the men in Okinawa and their loved ones at home were all feeling as if the war might soon be won, but they did not know how very soon it would end, nor did they know how those first few days of August in 1945 would change the world forever. Reinhart was thinking that there was a good chance that several more months of fighting would be needed to capture the Japanese islands. The 10th Army is preparing its men for this by giving lectures and training on fighting and survival in the colder weather expected in Japan during the coming winter. Even though the war in Europe is over, men there are concerned that they will now be shipped over to the Pacific to help fight the war there. Norma’s brother-in-law, Spencer Garner, has been in France but is being moved and cannot tell those at home where. They speculate that he is being sent to the Philippines or somewhere else in the Pacific. However, it turns out he was only being moved to Belgium. On the night of the 4th of August, a few planes fly over Okinawa and drop bombs. It is the last air Atomic bomb explosion on August 9, 1945 over Nagasaki, Japan. The picture was taken from one of the B-29 bombers used in the attack. This was the second of the two atomic bombs dropped on Japan, both of which wreaked horrific destruction killing thousands of civilians and creating long-term health problems for many more. 327 August 1945 raid reported in Reinhart’s letters. Then on the 6th and 9th of August with the dropping of Little Boy and Fat Man everything changed and by the 14th, the war is over. Interestingly, on August 11th in his letter home, Reinhart reports on what he knows about the destruction caused by the bombs: “I have seen the pictures of the areas that were hit by it. There is nothing left of them but a couple of cement buildings. There is no crater to be found because the bomb goes off before it hits the ground. The great pressure & heat exerted by it simply smashes everything to the ground where it burns like chaff. The heat that is produced must be tremendous. If such an instrument of war ever fell into the hands of our enemies it would just be too bad. There is no doubt but what a nation could be wiped out with one good air raid.” On the evening of the 10th of August, while the men are at the show, a rumor was somehow started that the war was over. Reinhart, who was at the show, reported this in his letter home. “Last night we were all sitting at the show when a red flare went off up on the hill, then some one started shooting tracer bullets into the sky. Pretty soon, from another direction, more tracers went up, and then several other areas started it. In about three minutes some one came yelling that Japan had surrendered. Well that is all it took. Every one jumped up with a yell, and about the same time the island seemed to explode with tracer bullets & A.A. fire. It went on for about half an hour before a stop was put to it. Of course this morning we learned the truth and from the news tonight it looks like it will be some time yet before things are settled.” Norma heard about this false alarm the next day on the radio and then the following day in the paper where it was reported that 6 men had been killed in the celebration and several others wounded. But the war was indeed almost over, and at 5 p.m. on August 14th, Norma and her family huddled around the radio to listen to President Truman. Here is her account: “This morning we picked five gunny sacks full of corn & I spent the morning husking it & cutting it off the cob. We were all feeling rather low & uncertain of everything because The Code, which we had thought was the note of surrender turned out to be something else. I went to Relief Soc. & after meeting I went down to Barker’s store. Donna told me that the Jap note of surrender had now been received & in about two hours the Pres. would make a statement about it. “I dashed home. Phyllis, Jay, David & Lynette were there & she too was getting corn. I went to work cutting corn & just at 5 P. M. the Pres. went into a news conference & about 5 min later we heard the news ‘The Japs have accepted the terms & have surrendered – This is official.’ A few minutes later they played the Star Spangle Banner. Glena & I both stood up with our pans of corn. You just couldn’t help it. It seemed so wonderful.” Finally, the war was over in both Europe and the Pacific. Like everyone else, Norma and her family want to celebrate and rush into downtown Ogden to be part of the big party. The party, however, turns out to be more raucous than the family expected. Norma reported that: “We were all anxious to get into town & see the celebrating so we worked extra hard to get the corn done. Dad & Glena went down to milk the cows. Cheryl slept through it – Bless her little heart. When Dad got back we got into Audrey’s car & went into Ogden. Mom stayed home to finish the corn & take care of the kids. I’m telling you Ogden was just a bedlam. Dad, Audrey, Glena, Ruth & I were jumping, dodging & hiding behind display windows in order not to be blown up by firecrackers! I have never seen so many in all my life. We were really scared. One went off under Glena’s arm & burned her a little. One went off on a woman’s back. So many were drunk. There was confetti & paper all over. Cars had toilet paper streaming from them – tubs, tin cans & other junk rattling behind. Others had dummies of Tojo & Hirohito hangin from a pole. One drunk held out his arms for me to come along. We didn’t stay long because we were scared. It was really risking your life to stay. Dad said 328 August 1945 Servicemen on Okinawa watching a movie in the evening. It was an evening like this on 10th of August when the false alarm was sounded that the war was over. if he ever went down to such a celebration again, he would go alone. He had a time keeping up with us. Oh yes, there were snake dances too. The honking, rattling, banging was really something.” It might seem surprising to find that “so many were drunk” in a Utah city where the predominant L.D.S. Church preached abstinence from alcoholic beverages. However, Ogden, unlike most other Utah towns at the time, had a large population of non-Mormons due to its history as a center for the railroad. It is likely that not all of the drunkenness can be blamed on non-Mormons. This was an unusual time, a time when a great war had finally come to an end, and many must have felt the urge to celebrate in ways that they probably would not otherwise have done. Amidst it all, family and church and longing for home continue to be major themes in Reinhart and Norma’s letters. Norma reports on every little thing that Cheryl does, and every thing that Karla does to upset Cheryl. She continues to help her father with the fruit harvest, mostly apricots during August and to help her mother preserve beans and corn and other crops for the winter. Reinhart, on the other hand continues to take photos and collect sea shells (mostly cowries) and send both the shells and the photos home. Towards the end of the month, he makes the offhand comment to Norma that she will need to start paying an additional $5.60 a month in tithing. She puzzles over this until she turns the letter’s envelope over and sees that the return address is to Capt. Kowallis, not Lt. Kowallis. He has been promoted, but doesn’t make a mention of it in his letters. 329 Reinhart - August 1945 Okinawa 1 August 1945 Dearest Norma, The rains have come again. For the past week we have had rain every day. It isn’t a steady rain, it’s just one shower after another. You look out the tent door and the sky may be clear above, and ten minutes later you have to drop the tent sides or have everything soaked. There certainly isn’t much to do out here at times. I don’t mean we arn’t busy with our work, but unless I get out and see or do something around the island, I have a tough time trying to write anything of interest. I wish I could think of the common little things of every day like you do. Your letters are always so interesting to me. Since I left Oahu I have saved all your letters, so today I got them all out and filed them according to date. Maybe I will be able to bring them home with me sometime. I would sent them back but the censor would have to read them all so I don’t like the idea. I don’t think he would like going through them all either. I am sorry I can’t help you out in regard to Spence, but I believe your guess is as good as mine. See you later Darling. I have to go to an Orientation hour this evening. Love, Reinhart General Joseph “Vinegar Joe” Stillwell in his tent in about 1944. 330 Norma - August 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 1 August 1945 Dearest Reinhart, The little bracelet arrived today – right on Cheryl’s birthday. It was really cute. How did you engrave the name & date? It’s a good thing you sent her something because I haven’t even had a chance to get her anything. Dad & I picked cots all day. I had two letters ready to send off to you & ask Mom to put them in the box. The mail came early & she didn’t get them in. Now you will probably get three letters all at once. Two letters came from you today & those cute pictures of you & Martin doing your washing. We all got a kick out of it, but I bet you don’t get any kick out of it. Now I think that shower is really clever. Maybe you can make us one like that out in back of our tepee. I had no Idea you were so close to Gen. Stillwell. Why that’s just like Hobnobbing with the Pres. of the U.S. or something. Why do they call him vinegar Joe Stillwell? Next time you take a picture of the Church group have someone else take the picture because I just about wear them out looking for you. In fact every picture you send I always look for you because naturally you are the one I want to see. I am glad the Bible & film arrived all right. When the Cake gets there – if it does you can just throw it away without looking at it. I’m so sorry it didn’t get there in time to be good. Yes – LaMar’s name is Joseph L. Jensen. In the Navy they make them use their first name. So – you paid Chaplin Jackson a whole quarter to say all those nice things. But I don’t believe a word you say. I know what a big fibber you are & so you can’t pull the wool over my eyes. Goodnight My Love, Sweet Dreams. All My Love, Norma P.S. Can you tell I’m tired? Well I’m not…very … Pleasant View, Utah 4 August 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, I just got down from the orchard & I’m trying to get this written & in the Mail in about 15 min. If you could only see me you would disown me as your wife. My hair is straight. I was helping Dad push the car through a ditch. The wheels threw mud all over my overalls, shirt, neck & chin. It is all in speckles all over me. Yesterday we picked apricots all day. We picked over on Uncle Eph’s. Uncle Henry had been watering so we couldn’t drive over to get them so Glena, Dad & I carried 29 lugs clear out to the road. We each carried them alone. Just as we finished up, Joe Limburg & his wife drove up. Of course you know how I looked but I just took them over & let them pick a few peaches & acted like I didn’t care, but I surely don’t like to have them see me looking like that no matter who they may be. We were all so tired that night but Audrey wanted to go to a show so we got ready & went. We saw Greer Garson in “The Valley of Decision.” It was really good & the way the hero held her head between his hand – up under her head – made me think of the way you do to me. If only you were here. Oh, but that day will soon come, won’t it? Oh I do hope so. Day before yesterday we didn’t pick & I had planned to go to town to get a few things. Just as I had started getting ready, Mother & Father Kowallis came. I had to get into my overalls & go up & help them because Dad was cutting hay. They said that Ivy had returned from her trip & Norma had just gone back to work after a vacation. They have been busy in the berries & cherries. I was able to get through & catch the 2 o’clock bus, but the bank was closed so I couldn’t put the $60 that just arrived in the bank. We have $2,414.62 in the bank now & with the $60 & $230 that will add a little more to our account. We also have $850 dollars maturity value in bonds. In town I took out an insurance policy for Cheryl. It will be paid up in 15 years. Just in time to use it for her college 331 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - August 1945 Okinawa 3 August 1945 Dearest Norma, The rain having been so heavy the last couple of days, the mail has not come in, but the wind has stoped now as well as the rain so I am hopefully looking forward to a letter tonight. Maybe there will even be a picture of you & Cheryl in it. Which reminds me, I had better send some of these pictures off that I have here or I’ll have to get a basket to put them in. The ones I sent you the other day of me doing my laundry were so bad that I had Ray take a couple more of me. One of the boys from next door sneaked in on them, but don’t mind him, he believes he sprang from a monkey anyhow. Ray is leaving us for a month or two. He is going down to work with the Air Corps, but he will still be here on Sundays for Church. We are doing a little reorganizing here in the section right now. Up till now each little P. I. team has been operating as a unit by itself. Now they are putting all of us together and using the men where they can best do the work. I of course am going to stay with the sonne. I think it will be a much better set up, and the only thing I dislike about it is the two officers who are in charge of. My feelings in this respect are in common with the rest of the boys. However, it’s only for the duration pluss, and I hope that will be sooner than I believe it can be. Wouldn’t I like to be home to go hunting deer this fall, but 3 months notice is a little short for the Army. I can still hope for next year. How is Lamar coming along in the Navy? I think he will like it there much better than he would in the Army. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 5 August 1945 Dearest Norma, No letters for five days. I beginning to wonder if you are sick or something. I usually get mail every other day or at least every three days, but maybe the mail planes just haven’t been getting through on account of the storms. We had an air raid last night, the first for quite some time. There were three or four planes over head, and they droped bombs on the air fields along the coast. I don’t know if they did any damage or not. Our A.A. opened up, but they are just like me shooting at ducks so all the planes flew right on home. We had 64 out to church today so you can see it is getting to be a pretty good sized group. Maybe the increase is because they heard the nurses are coming out to church. Only today, one of them is all that could come. Ray and I went over in the jeep and picked her up and then I took her back after supper. She was telling us that last night a Jap broke into their P.X. The two guards that were around couldn’t see to well in the dark, and in the ensuing schuffle the Jap got away, and the guards ended up fighting each other. When we were down there today they had a small patrol out looking for the Jap. We attended a lecture on the use of cold weather clothing this morning. I hope I don’t get far enough north to have to use it. Hope I get a letter tomorrow. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 6 (and 7) August 1945 Dearest Norma, If I don’t get started on this letter right now, it will be another day before I get it written. I wrote the date last night, and that’s as far as I got. Jack came around, and wanted to develop some pictures so I helped out. The other night when we were developing we started talking about the church, and before the conversation came to an end it was 12:30. 332 Letters to the Paciic Norma - August 1945 education or whatever else we want. Then after going to every hardware in town, I finally got the file & chisel. It isn’t exactly what you drew, but it was as near as I could find. I will put them in the two magazines I got. I also bought Cheryl a little Teddy Bear & a dump truck & a couple things to float in the bath tub. She liked them all but I am saving the truck for Christmas. While I was looking at the truck, I looked up & there looking at another truck was Capt. Jeffs. He is being transferred to Oklahoma in a few days. He took me up to where Marjorie & the boys were having an Orange Aid. Marjorie is going to have another baby so she is staying home this time. I received a check for the cherries I sent Carmen & Ronald. I guess they have moved so the Express sold the cherries & sent me the money. I wonder where the kids went. On the way to town we stopped by the Canning Factory. A terrible accident had happened. Three boys from the Industrial school had been helping a farmer with his hay. They were on top of the load & I guess they stood up. Anyway the guy wire that crosses the street knocked them to the pavement. One was killed instantly. The one is not expected to live & the other was injured seriously. There they lay in pools of blood. I guess you see things like that every day over there, but it made me feel so terrible. Cheryl is here trying to get my attention. I must hurry if I get it to the mail. I love you & look forward every day to that day when you will be with us. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 6 August 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, I hadn’t had a letter from you for 4 days & then the mail man was late today so we had to go back up to picking cots without knowing weather or not he was bringing me anything. When Dad took a load of cots to the canary, he stopped at the house & lo & behold there were two letters from you & a package from you. He told me when he came up & of course I could hardly wait to get down & see what it was. When I opened it I was so surprised. The necklace was just beautiful. I just can’t believe that you made it. It will mean so much to me. Then the bracelet – I love it too. You should have put a dot on it just to represent the approximate spot you are in. Cheryl thought it was hers & wanted it right away. I ask her “Where is the bracelet daddy gave you?” and she looks at her arm to find it. It just fits her & looks so cute on her. The note you enclosed was nicer than any card you could have bought. I have wanted a necklace made of those shells so much & these are just so perfectly matched & the large one in the center is so beautiful. You just couldn’t have sent me anything I would rather have had. To tell you the truth, I had forgotten all about having a birthday. I had been thinking about Cheryl & then all the fruit we have – well it just slipped my mind, so it came as really a surprise to me. I thought it must be the Jap canteen you were sending. Right now outdoors the heavens have given way to a real old pour down with lightning, thunder & wind all combined. Dad cut his hay the other day & this is the second real soaking it has received. We also have about 30 lugs of apricots up in the orchard getting wet. Our corn is on now & we are really enjoying it. We have it right above our garden & it makes it so handy. Then with our little roosters just right for frying, it really makes a nice meal. We’ll have some next year so that when you can come home you can just fill up on all these things you’re missing. Ruth says that she hasn’t heard any more news over the ticker tape except telling about the new Atomic bomb. I hope they will invent something to end the war but I don’t think it will end before the Lord is ready for it to end, but I hope that is soon. I will try to get the chains for you as soon as possible. I hope it won’t take as long to get it as it did to get the file & chisel. Will wonder’s ever cease? So you really got the candy & the book. I’m so glad they arrived at last – but still no cake. Maybe someone was kind enough to throw it in the ocean so that you wouldn’t have an extra douce of exema. I’d send you more candy if you wanted it but I certainly don’t want you to get exema any worse because of it. Would you like me to send anything else to you? Candy, carmels, fruit or anything like that? I’m really worried about those two nurses sitting on you! I do hope they arn’t heavy ones – you would be only a greese spot then. It really sounds complicated having those two on you’re lap & driving the car all at once. Pretty big order for one man. I can just imagine how bad you hated that assignment. You surely have changed Honey. They don’t worry me though. I know you love me. We picked about 90 lugs of apricots today. Little Kenny Tams brought us our water as usual. He is the cutest kid. He 333 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - August 1945 334 Letters to the Paciic Norma - August 1945 Norma and her daughter Cheryl in the Jensen yard in summer of 1945. 335 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - August 1945 Some of Reinhart’s Army buddies in front of a Native Shrine on Okinawa, July 1945. Japanese tunnel (right) dug into the ground next to an Okinawan tomb (left). One of many tunnels scattered across Okinawa where soldiers holed up for weeks after the fighting had ended. Young Okinawan girl carrying baby in traditional harness. Reinhart thought the baby was likely a sibling, since the girl seemed to young to have a baby of her own. 336 Letters to the Paciic Norma - August 1945 brings us each a glass & then something to set them on. Then he brings us little presents all wrapped & sealed. Saturday it was carmels & today it was sweet pea seeds & a spool with two pins. He is just 7 yrs old but in just a short time he picked three lugs. He talks like a steam engine & keeps us entertained. Yesterday I took Cheryl to church. She is beginning to be quite a handful. She wants to get down & walk. Then she gets something to play with & some little kid comes over to look at it & she just bristles up like a banty rooster. She thinks all kids are like Karla & want to take everything from her & so she gets ready to fight for her rights. I hate to see her act like that. She is just starting & I try to tell her how nice they are but I don’t know that I can make her think Karla is nice when she is biting her or knocking her down every few minutes. Karla is getting such a pretty girl but she is really two handfuls. It will be nice when we have our own home & can train our children the way we want them. Of course I think both Karla & Cheryl are quite ideal in most ways when I hear others talking about their children. Cheryl is still the best kid to play by herself & never fusses. It’s just when Karla comes around that she gets in a dither. She has started shoving Karla as soon as she comes near her play pen or her high chair. Karla tries to push her out of the chair & Cheryl pushes back & hollers. Today Cheryl was out in her play pen & it started to rain. Mom says she yelled like the Boogy man had her for sure. It scared her cause she didn’t know what it was. Jay & David have been out the past few days & Cheryl just loved them. She would call Jay & David by their names. They let her pull their noses & poke their eyes & she thought it was great. The way I tell it you would think both Karla & Cheryl are terrors, but I’m sure if you could see them, you would love them both & laugh with us about the crazy things they do & the silly predicaments they get into. Cheryl is always trying to climb up on something she gets her foot way up in the air time & again & can’t quite make it. Then she climbs under the buffet & table – then tries to stand up & bumps her head. I was saying “get cha, get cha” & then blowing on her stomach tonight & she would just laugh & laugh – then she would say “get cha, get cha” & I knew she wanted me to do it some more. I sent in a roll of pictures to be developed three weeks ago & they are still not ready. I think I’ll send them to you next time. It would be faster than that. I wanted to send them to you. Everyone is in bed except me so I’d better vamoose. We must pick again in the morning. It’s 11 P.M. now. Goodnight my darling. Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 7 August 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Dad had the radio on full blast and all you can hear is about the Atomic bomb. It certainly is a history making discovery & I sincerely hope that it will help to end the war. All day long this has been coming over the radio. Comentators have told over and over in detail about it. It just seems to big to even grasp. It sounds like LaMar will be home in a week or two from the sound of his letters. We are all hoping. Mr. Seely’s boy is out there too & they see each other at Church. I had Audrey go down & ask for my film back again. I decided they were never going to develop them. They had already develop the negative but hadn;t printed them. Audrey brought them home & now I am sending them with her down to a place near the depot where she has hers developed. They do good work there usually. I hope they hurry them up. The negatives look pretty good. I’m glad you are saving my letters. I know they do not have any literary value, but they are sort of a diary. I have yours all filed away. Sunday I worked putting the pictures you have sent in an Album, but I ran out of stickers when I had only got a few pages finished. I hope I can get them all in soon. They are really nice pictures. I think you letters are very interesting. Especially when something important happens – you always describe is so good. We brought down the first tomatoes from our patch. I hope we can have a garden with everything in it. Uncle Jeff – Dad’s oldest sister’s husband came out today to visit. He is 77 yrs. old so he sat up under a tree & smoked his pipe. He is a pretty good old fellow, even if he isn’t religious. He thought Cheryl & Karla was about it. He had dinner with us. When we came down from the field he had just brought Cheryl in the house. He discovered her out in the pen with her head just plastered with corn. Karla had rubbed an ear of corn all over her head & it was just thick with corn. Then she 337 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - August 1945 I am duty officer tonight so I am sitting down in the G-2 tent all alone. I had to come on at 5:00 o’clock so Jack & I pulled out part of a 10 in one ration for our supper. We had cheese burgers made from the hamburger of the ration & some cheese Jack got from home. They tasted just like old times almost. To drink we had grapefruit juice, and then we topped off with fruit cocktail. Jack managed to get a case of fruit cocktail from some one the other day so we have a snack just about every night. I’ll wrap up a Jap coin I found in a 10 in one ration menu sheet so you can see what we get out of the rations, and also it will help the coin from running around in the letter. I got two letters from you today so I guess you haven’t forgot me after all. Cheryl sounds like she is growing up more every day. I have a big stack of pictures to send you if I could only get over to the censor with them. I’ll need a box to put them in if I don’t get them off right away. If I could get a full day off some time, I would like to go up around the North end of the island and take that roll of colored film you sent me. Ray was just in to see me. He has been up with the air corps all day moving in with them. He tells me his work up there will mostly have to be done at night. He was a little worried for fear he wouldn’t be able to come down to church on Sundays, but I think he can make if all right. I am sorry the one cup I sent was broken. I will be sure and pack anything like that better from now on. I hope the others I sent all get there in good condition. How much is Pop getting for cots this year? By the time this letter gets home you will be right in the thick of them no doubt. If only there were some growing out here. Tomorrow is the day for shots once again. I should have gone over today, but it sliped my mind. Ray has to come down for them to so we will go over together. I am still looking for either the pictures of the negatives of you and Cheryl. With all my love, Reinhart Cheryl and Norma on the horse with Norma’s father, Joseph Jensen, at the plow outside the Jensen home in Pleasant View, Utah in 1945. 338 Letters to the Paciic Norma - August 1945 took her shoe off so he brought her in again & put it on. He surely likes kids. It looks like we are both getting some rain, but I imagine yours is the worst. I hope you can keep dry. Another man is now discussing the Atomic bomb. Everyone seems to think this will shorten the war. I do hope so. It just seems too good to be true to think of you being home again. It’s funny – when you were here I never dreamed about you, but nearly every night you are in my dreams. Last night you were giving a lecture & afterwards you were just shaking even though you had been so calm & given the lecture so well. You told me you had been so frightened & so I put my arms around you & you just lay your head back & seemed to feel so much better. It’s funny what that Sub-conocious mind can conjure up – but it just goes to show how much I miss you & wish you were here. May God Bless You Always. All My Love, Norma 339 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - August 1945 Okinawa 9 August 1945 Dearest Norma, With the news of the new atomic bomb, and Russia coming into the war, optimism is once more on the rampage. Bets on the close of the war run from 10 days to 6 months, with all kinds of odds. There is no doubt in my mind but what the war can now be shortened, but I do not think the Japs are ready to quit yet. I hope I am wrong. I sent a flock of pictures off to you today. Both packages are registered so when they come if you will just let me know what the registration number is then I will know you have received them. Of course I don’t expect you will remember to do this, I can hope. I am enclosing the story of Nahagasuku Castle which you wanted. You have the pictures already. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 11 August 1945 Dearest Norma, If I could write letters with as little effort as you seem to be able to do, there is no doubt but what mine would be much longer, and more interesting. Right now I am tired and want to go to bed. You see, today was out half day off so Jack & I piled into the jeep & went down to Naha where we spent the afternoon hunting for more shells. It was pretty good hunting to. I came back with 50 of the brown spotted ones like I sent you, and about 175 of the green ones. Getting them clean is going to be the job now. It was sort of funny down on the reef today. Jack would look & look for the brown shells and maybe find a couple or three in a spot some where, and then I would come along and find four or five more in the same spot. One of the boys gave him a beautiful brown shell last night, one like I have never seen before, and he gave it to me tonight. That is he gave it to me for my weekly beer ration of six bottles. Yes, they have beer on the island now so I draw my share, and then trade it off for things I want. Last night we were all sitting at the show when a red flare went off up on the hill, then some one started shooting tracer bullets into the sky. Pretty soon, from another direction, more tracers went up, and then several other areas started it. In about three minutes some one came yelling that Japan had surrendered. Well that is all it took. Every one jumped up with a yell, and about the same time the island seemed to explode with tracer bullets & A.A. fire. It went on for about half an hour before a stop was put to it. Of course this morning we learned the truth and from the news tonight it looks like it will be some time yet before things are settled. I don’t see how Japan can last more than a couple of weeks more. At least not if we start using the atomic bomb to any extent. And that bomb really works. I have seen the pictures of the areas that were hit by it. There is nothing left of them but a couple of cement buildings. There is no crater to be found because the bomb goes off before it hits the ground. The great pressure & heat exerted by it simply smashes everything to the ground where it burns like chaff. The heat that is produced must be tremendous. If such an instrument of war ever fell into the hands of our enemies it would just be too bad. There is no doubt but what a nation could be wiped out with one good air raid. Well, here’s hoping things come to a close soon. [part of the letter here has been cut out]. Here’s loving you, Reinhart Okinawa 15 August 1945 Dearest Norma, Everyone out here is anxiously waiting word from Pres. Truman that the war is over. If only it would mean that we could come home right away, but I expect it will still be a year before I get that far, unless the point system 340 Letters to the Paciic Norma - August 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 10 August 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, This morning before I was even awake, Mom came down & quietly opened the door. I awoke immediately and in a whisper, so she wouldn’t wake Cheryl, she told me that ever since Ruth first got up this morning that news has been coming over the radio that the Japs are seeking a surrender. Now every few minutes news comes over telling us all the developments. They had a broadcast from Okinawa. From Okinawa they said that they were shooting off traser bullets, bombs & the boys were out in the street shouting “The war is over.” It just seems that it will only be a matter of a little while now until the Official declaration is given ending World War II. It just seems too good to be true. Now again they are telling how the news was received in Okinawa. Golly from the sound of things it’s a wonder someone didn’t ger hurt. I think I would have climbed in a bomb shelter myself. Dad & I have not stopped to celebrate yet. We have been out all morning hauling hay. I have been tromping & riding the derick horse. We just came in for dinner. We had more things go wrong. Ropes got twisted, the lock would [not] work, & I sat on that horse all the time. When I got off I could hardly walk. My knee was out of joint. I’ll be so stiff tomorrow I won’t be 341 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - August 1945 is droped to around 50. Anyhow – for occupation we will be moving to a colder climate, and I for one would like to get out of this hot, mold ridden country. I was looking at Life magazine yesterday and ran across these home plans. Maybe some day we will be able to encorporate some of them into our new home we are going to build. I especially like the three passenger bath room idea. The corner lavatory would certainly be handy to have in a bed room to. (The boys just yelled up that the war is over. It’s a great day. If only I could come home and go hunting deer with you this fall.) Oh yes, I am enclosing a can opener to put into out kitchen. I think we can crowd all these things into one tent, don’t you. Anyhow, you can be thinking about a home for the next year because we are sure going to have one, and we are going to have a lot of fun planing it. I am sending off some sea shells, and pictures this morning. We should have a pretty good collection of them if I keep sending them to you. The mails are certainly fouled up out here. I last letter I got from you was post marked 27th July. It seems all the planes are being held some where, and as a result the air mail is not getting through. I hope you are getting my letters all right. Don’t forget how much I love you, Reinhart 342 Letters to the Paciic Norma - August 1945 able to walk. As we were hauling hay, Dad would keep saying “Won’t it be nice if Reinhart can be here to go hunting this fall.” Then when we passed the cantaloupes he said “Maybe Reinhart will be here to eat some of them.” Oh, I just hope this isn’t another rumor. I have been thinking all morning what we would do when you came home. I don’t know where we will live or how we will begin, but I know things will all work out. Maybe if you get here to go hunting we can leave Cheryl with Mom & really have a honeymoon together. Go deer hunting – if it’s in season – or just get out someplace. I just think that would be so much fun. Oh, I can hardly wait to see you. It will probably be three or four months before you can get home, but it will be wonderful to have you again. I know you will love Cheryl. Of course the more you see her the more you will love her. I’ll bet you will be surprised to see how she has grown. I’ll just be hoping & hoping & praying & keeping my fingers crossed until I hear they really say officially “Japan has surrendered.” All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 12 August 1945 Dearest Reinhart, These past two days have been filled with suspense for all of us. We have had the radio on constantly waiting and hoping to hear the news that the Japs have accepted the terms of the Allied Nations, China & the Soviet, but as yet no news has come through but we are still waiting & we all feel sure that the war is near to the end. I read about the celebrating on Okinawa – 6 killed & others wounded. I hope that the celebrating didn’t take place where you are stationed. The Church, after hearing the news of the pending Jap surrender, have opened the Tabernacle grounds again so that Tourists are free to visit & the Organ recitals are given again for the public. Cheryl just came over & wanted me to pick her up so I am trying to write with her daubing around. I took the chair away that keeps her out of the kitchen & she has been having the time of her life going from one room to the other. She just runs around like she didn’t want to miss out on one little thing. Oh, oh I let her down cause she was causing me grief and now she’s climbed up on the round of the chair. She has a paper on her head that she is saying is a hat. She was just out in the kitchen & Audrey said she kept pointing at the stove & saying “hot.” When I go down stairs to get her when she wakes up she always hands me her doll & says “doll” then her Teddy Bear & last her bottle. I spanked her because she broke so many so now she is so pleased to think the bottle isn’t broken so she always hands it to me. I think it would be just grand if you could make the girls a necklace. Ruth hunted for chains but couldn’t find anything for less than $3.00. They are all so crazy about mine & are wishing they had one. I will look again next week if I can get into town. I think we will finish the Apricots tomorrow. Then Tues. we will fix corn all day & Wed. we will go to the storehouse to help can beans & Apricots. Dad says – looking at the calendar – “August, September, October – duck hunting – hum – Reinhart should be here to go duck hunting this year.” I guess we are all getting over optimistic – just hoping & wishing that you will be here with us soon 343 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - August 1945 Okinawa 16 August 1945 Dearest Norma, Every where I go the boys are talking about what is going to happen next. Of course no one knows yet, but every one has a different idea. Some think we will all be sent forward, some think only part of us will be sent up, and others think part of us will be transferred to another unit. For myself, I have almost stoped thinking, 344 Letters to the Paciic Norma - August 1945 Reinhart Kowallis in portrait taken while in uniform. again. I have been telling Cheryl all about you – showing all your pictures to you. I don’t think she understands but when I ask where Da Da is she always points to one of your pictures. Then when I ask who gave her the bracelet she says “Da Da.” I can’t wait until I hear from you when your letters tell that you too have heard about the Japs surrendering. I know you will be just as happy as I am. There will be so many things to plan for. I just don’t know where we will start, but we won’t worry about that now. If we take everything as it comes, I just know it will work out. If we can just get our Sport Shop started, it will really be swell. I just took time out to feed Cheryl & now she is down in bed. Ruth is playing the piano. Mom is writing to LaMar. Audrey is feeding Karla & Glena is down by the mail box talking to the new Tams boy who lives up our lane. She has convinced him to come & help us pick cots tomorrow. Lester & Goodwin stoped in on the Motorcycle last night. They are taking a trip to Texas on the Motorcycle so they had to tell us about it. Honey, I hope you will crawl into a deep air raid shelter when V. J. Day comes – just in case the boys really start celebrating. It’s so close now until everything is settled & I just want you home so very much. It will be the naturalest thing in the world to have you come walking in again. All My Love Darling, Norma 345 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - August 1945 Glena Jensen, Ruth Jensen (in costume as a soldier), Lester Brown, and LaMar Jensen probably about 1943. Lester is mentioned several places in Norma’s letters. but I believe it will be some time next year before I get home, unless I can manage to break a leg or something right soon. A filling came out of a front tooth of mine so tomorrow I will have to go over to the dentist. If I thot I could get home in a couple of months I would wait and have Dr. Haskins take care of my teeth, but as it is I guess I will have to let a horse doctor work on me out here. Martin got back from Guam today, and Ray will be back from the air corps today. The peace terms sot of slowed the work down so the boys are all being sent back to the 10th Army. Martin tells me my garden at Guam didn’t amount to much. No one took care of it, and although the tomatoes bore, they rotted on the vines before they were ready to eat. Maybe I will be home in time next year to plant a real garden for us. I hope some mail comes through tonight, but I don’t think it will. All the planes are being held to carry troops into Japan. I’ll bet the cake you sent me will catch up some time next summer. I am certainly homesick for you, but I guess I’ll just have to be out here for a while yet. Love, Reinhart 346 Letters to the Paciic Norma - August 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 13 August 1945 Dearest Reinhart, I hope my letters are getting to you all right. I’ll admit I have missed writing to you three or four times since I have been picking. Today we finished up the apricots and it is really going to seem good to have a few days rest. Although I don’t think the work has hurt me a bit. In fact I think it makes me feel better. I really sleep good after a good days work. Tomorrow we are going to pick the corn and can it. In the afternoon I have Relief Soc. Then Wed. I am going to the Bishop’s Storehouse to can Apricots or beans. So I guess we won’t have much rest. All day we have been waiting for the news that just doesn’t come. Up in the Apricots I kept sending little Kenny Tams over to his house to see if there was any news. i didn’t want to miss out on the big news when it came – but it just didn’t come. The Japanese are really taking their time. It is too late for anything to come over tonight. They have closed the White House & no news will come now until 7 o’clock in the morning. Oh, I hope the Japs will decide to accept the terms so this terrible war can end. I want you home so very much. My hopes have been going up & down so fast the past few days that I’m just all in a dither. You probably are in the same state of suspence. Coming home to you will mean just as much to you as it will to me to have you come. I just keep thinking & thinking over the little things we will do when you come home – like sitting in the big chair while I scratch your head & you well probably just have gobs of dead hair to pluck. Maybe I can even give you a shave with you electric. You won’t even know how to use it after this long. The folks say they are going to be lost without Audrey and I and our little ones & I believe they will; but they are anxious for us to have our own homes & live as real married folks. Dad never drives into the yard but what both Karla & Cheryl know it & start saying “Pa Pa Pa.” Then when he comes in he has to greet them both or they feel slighted. “Hello Cheryl” Dad says nodding his head to Cheryl. Then he asks her to dance & she starts jiggling up & down. Mom let her come out on the front porch today while she shook rugs. When she looked at Cheryl she had just taken a bite out of a sow bug & was holding half of it in her fingers. Mom washed her mouth & had her spit & spit. I guess we’ll really have to watch her if we let her outside of her play pen. Uncle Ray & Aunt Vera, Artis & Clark’s wife & kids were out yesterday. Cheryl went to visit each of them & took turns sitting on their laps. I hope I can keep her friendly like that. She isn’t afraid of anyone or anything. They all thought the beads & bracelet you sent were just beautiful. Your Church services are really growing. Have you a chaple now to hold your meetings in? The nurses pictures came & I think they look like very nice girls. I’ll bet it seems good to them to get out to church & I’ll bet the boys are glad to see a few nice American girls. Those Japs must really get brave or desperate to break into the P. X. like that. It’s 11 o’clock & I want to be up first thing to see if there is any news. I’ll just be hoping & praying that the news is the right news. Just hoping to see you soon. All My Love, Norma P. S. Aug 14, I just got back from picking the corn & this is what had happened to my letter. Karla got into my stationary & wrote you a letter. 347 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - August 1945 Okinawa 17 August 1945 Dearest Norma, Our half day off came around again today. Martin wanted me to go up north with him, but I stayed here and did my laundry. Seems like no matter how I try to get out of it, I still have to do the laundry at least once a week. But I have hopes that before many months a very sweet laundress will be doing it for me. Of course I’ll be doing twice as much for her I hope. I am enclosing a couple of pictures of Lt. Richardson at her best. Now I know what you are thinking, but as a public photographer I must get out and around to find my subjects. But don’t worry I still think you have it over this one for looks, and every thing else. Any how I realy didn’t take the pictures. I got these from a roll she gave me to develop for her. I must make another confession. The bracelets I sent you and Cheryl were made by one of the boys over at the post office. A fellow by the name of Brown. He has made them up for a lot of the boys. I realy can’t tell you why Gen. Stillwell goes by the name of Vinegar Joe. He certainly is not a sour type of personality. Now how do you know the cake is not going to be good when it gets here? But the only thing I am wondering now is whether or not it will show up. But I think it will. It usually takes about three months to get out here unless it is sent first class mail. Chaplain Widison brought some negatives over to me yesterday to print up for him. He is sending pictures of the cemeteries to the parents and relatives of our boys who were killed out here. The least I can do is print them up for him. The Japs were suposed to have signed the peace papers today, but they didn’t show up. I hope we don’t have to go back to fighting again. Tell Phylis I think her little girl is cute as can be. I’ll even let her play with Cheryl when whe gets big enough. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 18 August 1945 Dearest Norma, Another day is about done which means I am that much nearer to home. No one knows what is going to happen to us yet. We may stay right here or we may be moved up forward. I guess some of the Japs on Okinawa have heard the war is over. At least 17 of them gave themselves up today down on the south end of the island. They brought them in here this afternoon. Among them was a Col., several Lt.’s, a Pfc & one or two other ranks. They looked quite weary from living underground. I expect in the near future a lot of them will be coming in. I went to the dentist this morning to have a filling put back in. As I climed aboard the stool I told him if it didn’t hurt I would come back over and take his picture, and you know I didn’t hardly feel it. Now I’ll have to go over and keep my word. I am going to take Martin with me & get a picture of the Dentist working on his teeth. Before I forget it let me tell you that beginning with August we are to pay $5.60 more tithing a month. I have had a little raise in pay. Maybe we will be able to save the money we need for a shop yet. Maj. Carlson came up tonight so he & I & Ray sat around and chewed the fat for a couple of hours. Both of them being engineers they did most of the chewing. But I did manage to remind them of the year 1939 when the foresters tied the cow to Dean Clyde’s door over in the engineer building. I recall very clearly that the cow was not to particular where she made her toilet, and the next morning several engineers were walking around with mops & pails. Next year by this time I bet I am home again, and then you and I can realy go on that deer hunt we have been planning for so long. Till then, I send for you & Cheryl all my love., Reinhart 348 Letters to the Paciic Norma - August 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 14 August 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, This is the day we have waited for for 4 years. It just seems to good to be true. We have waited so many days for it to come – rumors have been running wild the last few days. This morning we picked five gunny sacks full of corn & I spent the morning husking it & cutting it off the cob. We were all feeling rather low & uncertain of everything because The Code, which we had thought was the note of surrender turned out to be something else. I went to Relief Soc. & after meeting I went down to Barker’s store. Donna told me that the Jap note of surrender had now been received & in about two hours the Pres. would make a statement about it. I dashed home. Phyllis, Jay, David & Lynette were there & she too was getting corn. I went to work cutting corn & just at 5 P. M. the Pres. went into a news conference & about 5 min later we heard the news “The Japs have accepted the terms & have surrendered – This is official.” A few minutes later they played the “Star Spangle Banner.” Glena & I both stood up with our pans of corn. You just couldn’t help it. It seemed so wonderful. Then the English played “Our Country Tis Of Thee.” We were all anxious to get into town & see the celebrating so we worked extra hard to get the corn done. Dad & Glena went down to milk the cows. Cheryl slept through it – Bless her little heart. When Dad got back we got into Audrey’s car & went into Ogden. Mom stayed home to finish the corn & take care of the kids. I’m telling you Ogden was just a bedlam. Dad, In August of 1945, Reinhart was promoted to Captain. The two silver bars of his hat and collar are indicative of the new rank. 349 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - August 1945 Ray A. Hales of Spanish Fork, Utah (left) and Enos J. Carlson of Logan, Utah (right) were fellow LDS Church members in Okinawa who spent time with Reinhart Kowallis. They likely had all been friends at Utah State Agricultural College. Ray and Enos had majored in engineering, while Reinhart had majored in forestry. Ray and Enos were also both in the ROTC at Utah State. The pictures shown here are from The Buzzer (1938), the annual yearbook published by the student association at Utah State. George Dewey Clyde in 1938 as Dean of the College of Engineering at Utah State Agricultural College. Dean Clyde later became Governor of the State of Utah and served two terms (1957-1965). Dean Clyde’s brother, Harry S. Clyde, was married to Reinhart Kowallis’ oldest sister, Elizabeth. It is unclear if Reinhart participated in the prank pulled by the forestry students on Dean Clyde, but it would not be surprising if he was. The photo is from The Buzzer (1938). 350 Letters to the Paciic Norma - August 1945 Audrey, Glena, Ruth & I were jumping, dodging & hiding behind display windows in order not to be blown up by firecrackers! I have never seen so many in all my life. We were really scared. One went off under Glena’s arm & burned her a little. One went off on a woman’s back. So many were drunk. There was confetti & paper all over. Cars had toilet paper streaming from them – tubs, tin cans & other junk rattling behind. Others had dummies of Tojo & Hirohito hangin from a pole. One drunk held out his arms for me to come along. We didn’t stay long because we were scared. It was really risking you life to stay. Dad said if he ever went down to such a celebration again, he would go alone. He had a time keeping up with us. Oh yes, there were snake dances too. The honking, rattling, banging was really something. In Salt Lake on Temple Square crowds gathered & a service of prayer & thanksgiving was conducted. In my way of thinking, that would be a much more fitting way to celebrating this day. After giving thanks they also had the other celebration, but I think no one should forget that God gave us this victory. In that drunken brawl in town, I doubt that many thought of that. I need not tell you how thankful I am & just how much this news means to me. They say it will probably be from 6 mo. to a year before a lot of our boys will be home, but just to know that the biggest hurdle has been crossed means so very much. Your letter today told that you had heard of the Atomic bomb & Russian’s entry into the war. I have it figured out that about Mon. your letter will be here telling of this day on Okinawa & your reaction to it. It also told about the pictures you had registered & sent to me. I admit I felt like wringing your sweet neck after that remark you made about my punktuallity in answering your questions. Quote (Of course I don’t expect you to do this but I can hope) I don’t think I deserve it but I am too happy to think of your coming home one of these days & I know you really didn’t mean it. You probably had a hard day or something. As yet those tea cups that you sent 4th class mail have not arrived. I hope they get here one of these days. I am glad you sent me the story of the Nakagusuku Castle. It was so interesting. It will be a good edition to my scrap book. The people of Okinawa have quite a history behind them. Carmen sent me back the money I sent her for the cherries. She didn’t get them as She is now back in Eldorado with her grandmother. Ronald is on his way overseas. Carmen is feeling rather low now that he is gone. I am so happy about this news that “the war is over” that I probably won’t sleep a wink tonight. I shall just be thinking of that day when you will be home with us again. I think you better get a hug proof vest because when I see you I’ll probably break a few ribs I’ll be that glad to see you. All My Love Sweetheart, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 17 August 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Stores, Post Office & everything has been closed for two days so we haven’t even been able to send off a letter. Today I left early this morning to go down to the Bishop’s store house. We Peeled apples all morning & then at noon we went over to Bob’s Barbeque & had a Malt & Barbeque Sandwitch. In the afternoon we had beans to snip and then put them on the belt to lid them. When I arrived home all the pictures you sent were there (Registration No. 230 & 229). They were really swell. You are getting so good at taking pictures. Some of those Natives are really not bad looking. That was really quite a shot of the woman feeding her baby. Those two kids carrying their little baby brothers or sisters on their backs were so cute. Reuben was here tonight & I showed them all to him. He thought they were swell too. The ones of you picking up shells made a nice enlargement (the clouds are so pretty too). Audrey was finally able to get my pictures but they didn’t do a good job on them or else I just can’t take pictures. Some they didn’t finish us so maybe you can make something out of them. The one with the horse & the one with all the kids they didn’t develop. Glena wants you to see if you can make the ones of her & Alma look better. (Time out) – we just drove down to Lee Cragun’s for a minute. Levi Cragun is home for three days. All the kids are having a party for him. He has been in nearly all the major battles of the pacific, Iwo Jima & etc & he was on the front lines. We talked to him for a few minutes. He is quite nervous & he is taking treatments for this condition. He also has Arthritus. The house & lawn was decorated with Christmas lights. It really looked festive. Day before yesterday, Audrey & Ruth didn’t have to work so we all got busy & finished the corn in the morning – then we started driving. We didn’t know quite where we were going but just went. We drove up Brigham Canyon through Logan – up Logan Canyon. It is so beautiful this year. We have had so many nice rains. As I passed through the Canyon it seemed like 351 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - August 1945 Okinawa 19 August 1945 Dearest Norma, I don’t know if I mentioned it in my last letter, but the Field & Stream with the file in it came a couple days ago. I started writing this last night, but all I got done was the date. Just about that time, Ray yelled for me to go to the show with him. Our meetings are growing each week. I think we had 79 out yesterday. But even so, out of all those people I have to give the lesson next Sunday. Now if only you had been here I am sure I could have swung it your way. It would be much easier for you to give it because just looking at you people would be satisfied without your saying a word. What kind of insurance policy did you get for Cheryl? I was talking with Ray about insurance the other day and I think I will convert my Army insurance after I get home. I can get it so much cheaper than any other kind, and the protection it gives is pretty good. I don’t want to get more insurance than I can handle, and it is going to take some time for us to realy get on our feet after I get home. Speaking of getting home, things look pretty good for my doing just that in about 9 months. I expect to be home some time next spring. Some of the boys think they will be home by Christmas, but I think they are jumping the gun a few months. Anyhow, it will be a great day when it comes. We still have no word as to what we are going to do or when we are going to do it. For my part they can send me back to the States just any time. Well Darling, here’s to seeing you soon. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 21 August 1945 Dearest Norma, The mail is certainly slow getting out here these days. The last letter I received from you was dated Aug. 9th. You didn’t have much to write about that day just as I haven’t tonight. I’ll bet it seems good to have the cots all picked. Of course right behind them come the peaches, but then they are not so bad, because you can pick them so much faster. Now if only I were home, I could be picking peaches & eating watermellon & cantalope. You planted some this year didn’t you? It seems almost impossible that the summer is about gone, but we are beginning to notice it out here. The last couple of nights have been much cooler. I haven’t done a thing all day except read a little and sleep a little more. Oh, I did cut the grass and reeds around the tent as well as cultivate my two cantalop plants I have planted between the ropes on my side of the tent. Of course I never expect to be here to get anything off of them, but I can watch them grow. It sort of looks as if a lot of us will be transfered out of 10th Army before long. I wish it would be to go home but there will [be] no such good luck as that. I still think it will be next spring or summer before I make it back to you. Have you heard from Ronald & Carmen since they didn’t get the cherries? I expect Ronald is on his way out here. I am glad I already have a few months in over seas. It will mean getting home that much sooner, and that’s what I want more than anything else right now. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 22 August 1945 Dearest Norma, Two very nice letters came today, and from the sound of them you are expecting me home much to soon. Look for me some time next spring. So far there has been no point system set up for officers so none of us know just where we stand except that we will be out here for a few months yet. I am enclosing our program of our July 8th conference. At the time, there were not enough to go around so I didn’t get mine until last Sunday when the chaplain brought some extras around. 352 Letters to the Paciic Norma - August 1945 every spot of it reminded me of you & all the grand times we had up there skiing, hiking, picnicing & etc. We decided to keep on going to Bear Lake. We had our lunch at Ideal beach. I could see the cabins where we stayed those few wonderful days & I just hoped that soon you would be here & we could again go boating, fishing & just have a grand time. After lunch we all took our shoes & socks off & I let Cheryl paddle her feet in the water. She liked it right away. It was cool, but she loved it. So I took off her diapers & just left her little panties on. She splashed & kicked & squealed. Karla was afraid at first but when she saw how much fun Cheryl was having, she decided to come in a little ways & before we got out she was having a great time too. They both cried when they had to get out. I just wish you could have seen that little wart of ours. I’ll bet you would have just laughed & laughed to have seen her. We could only stay a short time & even then it was eight thirty when we got home. In Willard a car was tipped up side down. Two soldiers from Bushnell & two girls were just crawling out – no one hurt. Everyone is going so fast since the speed limit has been raised to 60 mi. & the Gas rationing has become a thing of the past. Everyone seems to be overdoing this victory celebration. Phyllis left her baby out here tonight. We measured Lynette by Cheryl & she is only about two inches shorter than Cheryl. But Cheryl is solid & every bit of her is strong. Her back is as straight & strong & so are her legs. She is a wirey little piece. Mom says Karla had a big rug on top of Cheryl. When she came in all she could see was a big rug moving & Karla just laughing & laughing. “Poor Cheryl,” said Mom & took the rug off. Then Cheryl just started hollering – she wanted the rug on her. Tonight Cheryl had Karla’s chair & Karla couldn’t get it from her so Karla was hollering. Cheryl is beginning to take care of herself pretty well. She comes and loves my leg when she wants to get up. LaMar wrote today that he won’t get home on the 20th as he expected too & he doesn’t know when it will be. Phyllis & Wayne are going to Timpanogos Cave tomorrow – that is why we have the baby. Now please try to be a little bit Optimistic in your letters telling when you will be home. Don’t tell me it will be a year before you will get home if you arn’t pretty sure cause I like being up in the clouds. Oh, I’d love to have you here. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 19 August 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, Here it is another Sunday already. Time really does fly. Pres. Truman has declared this a day of prayer and thanksgiving so tonight in church we are having a special meeting to give thanks for the victory. I am glad to see our Nation remembering the source of their Victory. Last night we listened to the landing of the Japs on Il Shima. They surely are obstinant. Golly – I don’t believe they did one thing they said they would. I hope they do a better job of keeping the peace. Janet & Marion just came over so I have been showing them the pictures you sent & also the necklace & bracelet. They thought they were all so wonderful. They got quite a kick out of the way the Natives carried their children. They say they are going home & write you a letter, so don’t be surprised if you get one. I also lit some firecrackers for them & gave them some to light. Yesterday we had the most freakish storm I have ever seen. I was out cutting the lawn when I saw it coming. It had been thundering & lightning, but nothing to worry about. Dad came down & said “You’d better get Cheryl in there’s a storm coming.” I picked Cheryl up – a few drops of rain had started falling. We came in & let Mitzie in the front door. in about 2 min. it was just like a continuous sheet of water. You couldn’t even see as far as out hedge. The wind was blowing with it at a terrific speed. Almost as soon as it came it was gone again. The lightning & Thunder during that few minutes was so loud. It made popping noises in the wires. We all thought it was a cyclone. But it was over so fast. It broke the biggest tree we have right in half. They say it did quite a bit of damage to trees in North Ogden & Marshall says it broke down some of his peach trees. I guess it only lasted about 3 min or it would really have damaged things. Glena is up staying at Crystal Springs this week end so I guess she is having quite a time. Dad was going fishing tomorrow but we have been having so much rain that I guess they will have to put it off a few days. They are going to hike up to some lake in the Uintahs & sleep in their bags. I surely wish we could go some place, but Dad is waiting until you come home he says to take all of us. He doesn’t like so much responsibility. He thinks you could 353 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - August 1945 Small islet off the coast of Okinawa in 1945. As usual there has been nothing doing today. We now get every other afternoon off but when there is no place to go that doesn’t do much good either. Ted Benson was down this afternoon. He was one of our LDS group back at Ritchie. He tells me his wife is living back in Ogden with her folks. With all the experience you are getting on the farm, maybe that is what we should do when I get home. You could do the work outside while I cook. Cheryl sounds like she is getting to be quite a little girl. I certainly hope it won’t be long until I can see her. Love, Reinhart P.S. Did the Bishop ever read the letter I wrote to him in church? I have never heard from you about it. Okinawa 25 August 1945 Dearest Norma, This is what is known as sweating it out. We just more of less sit around and wait for things to happen and they never do. I wish they would just tell us all to go home and wait there. I wouldn’t mind that at all. None of us know yet what we are going to do or when or why. What does Audrey hear from Spence? I expect him to be coming home long before myself. At least he should now that he doesn’t have to come out here. The Japs have been giving up all around us. Hundreds of them have come out of caves & the hills in the last few days and given themselves up. Now don’t ask me if I am letting my hair grow out, because even after I am told I can go home they will still be time to grow a crop of hair. In the Army things can move slower than anywhere I know of. I wish you were here to help me with my Sunday school lesson tomorrow. It has been so long since I gave one that I just don’t know how to go about it. And then I have a subject of which I know nothing at all. “The scattering of Israel.” I have been studying all afternoon and I still don’t think I can fill half an hour. Oh well, maybe we should let out early once anyhow. I hope you can find some chains. At least then I can be making up some necklaces. The mail seems to have 354 Letters to the Paciic Norma - August 1945 shoulder most of it. I wish I could mention all the pictures you sent me. They are all so good. I guess I have looked at them a dozen times. I would still like more with you on them though. Cheryl is bringing me everything she can find in the coal bucket. I tell her to take it back – she does & brings me something else. Dad just gets the biggest kick out of her. He says it looks so funny to see such a little wart going all over like She does & climbing around every place. Now she’s climbing into the rocking chair. She sticks her foot up like this [see sketch] & climbs right up then turns around. What do the boys you talk to think about our Church? Do they agree with anything you tell them? The jap coin was interesting and maybe if they send you to Japan, I can come over & spend it. Those Ten in One rations sound pretty good even to a well fed civiliam like me. We don’t know exactly how much we will get for the cots. We sold them by the ton. Some were $90 a ton & they varied clear down to $30 a ton. I made $52 picking cots & they insist that I take the money. I haven’t drawn a penny out of the bank this month or last month so we will save quite a bit. It sounds like the other fellows are still getting food from home. How do they send the cheese? Would you like some? I haven’t seen any carmels for quite a while – we will probably soon have all we want. Cheryl says she is hungry & wants to eat so I’d better sign off. Oh, I hope Monday I get a letter saying you’ll be home in a few months. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah [no date] Dearest Reinhart, I am writing this note bettween washes of clothes so It will be brief but at least you will know I am thinking of you – as I always am. This morning we are going to at last get us a telephone. Isn’t it wonderful. Mom has been asked to be the Pres. of the Primary so we thought we really needed one. This afternoon I have to go to town to get a gift for our Visiting Teachers to give to Mrs. Call (formerly Mrs. Gooch). She just married Mr. Call a few weeks ago. Yesterday I spent all afternoon with Sr. Williams. We had to go down Uncle Henry’s lane & see several people. The folks were in town so I took Karla & Cherly in the buggy. We made a call on poor old Sr. Larson, who is practically blind and deaf. Then we visited Sr. Call & also Laura Christofferson. In the evening I had to make about 20 calls to tell the ladies about our party. I went over to Mildred’s first, but someone on her line wanted to play & wouldn’t let me have the line – they just kept saying – “I hope you’re having fun” – so I went home & Audrey was going down to see Reuben about our town newspaper, which she types. It had an article which we all felt was very radical, so we went down to see Bishop. He said it definitely should not be printed. While they were talking I did my telephoning. Reuben surely has his place fixed up beautiful. He has an outdoor fireplace too. The house is all painted white & it is really darling. I wish you could have seen Cheryl last night at supper. We were all busy eating & all of a sudden we looked at Cheryl & there she was sitting in a bushel basket. It had a few clothes in the bottom but I just couldn’t see how she could have got in there. I was sure someone must have put her in it but in a few minutes she climbed out & in a few minutes she was back again. It was just too funny to see her do it. After she got her leg up she just sort of tumbled into the basket. She is really a little monkey. You’re letters have been quite sparse the past two weeks. I have received three letters in two weeks so I hope I get one today. I really miss them. Golly that’s all I wait for each day, but I know you are busy. I do love you so much & I’m just praying that you will be among the first to come home. All My Love, Norma 355 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - August 1945 Lt. Reinhart Kowallis with his young nephew Jay Butler. The Butler’s lived in Ogden and were frequent visitors at the Jensen home during the time that Norma was living with her parents in 1945. Photo taken about 1943-44. 356 Letters to the Paciic Norma - August 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 23 August 1945 Dearest Reinhart, You are just to modest about your letter writing. If you only knew how I enjoy every word you write & how every little things seems so exciting – you would not say your letters were dull & uninteresting. Every thing you do is so unusual & different from the dull existence we had here at home. It is I who writes the same old stuff in my letters day after day. Yesterday I received two letters from you. The first in about a week. It was so good to know you had received the news of the victory. You say it will be a year, but I sincerely hope that is an exagerated statement. You always are the pesimist. I shall still look for you around Christmas or New Years. I see you are planning to go into Japan with the troops of occupation. I had hoped you would not have to go in there. I am sure you will be all right & I guess it will be a little cooler, and then you wouldn’t have the mold. By the way – your letter of Aug 11 was censored. Two whole lines were whacked right out. You had just finished telling about the Atomic bomb. Then you said, “Well, here’s hoping things come to a close soon. ––––––––––––––––––––––– Here’s loving you.” Of course, my curiosity is just working overtime. I don’t know why they have to do things like that. The pictures registered under the number of (279) came yesterday. They were all so interesting. These pictures of capturing the Jap were even better than the others. Were you there when that Jap Captain was burned by the flame throwers? He surely looked like he was in pain. Were you the officer in charge when that Jap was captured? I see you are leading the group. You are really going to have a lot of pretty shells. I am sure the pretty brown one was worth more than several gallons of beer. The pictures you sent of the Three way bathroom were really swell. I think that is certainly a brilliant idea. Just you see, one of these days we’ll have one like that. I tried out the can opener & it really works good. I just wouldn’t believe that such a little thing could really open a can – but it does. Last night I went over to the party for Mrs. Call. We all had a good time. I even told a joke & believe it or not I had everyone laughing. Maybe one of these days I’ll be able to tell a joke as well as you can. Dad & Mom went up the canyon to a Sunday School Board party. Audrey sang at another party up the canyon. Ruth went Roller skating with some girls & Glena stayed home with Cheryl & Karla. Yesterday afternoon, Bro. Wyatt came over & told Dad to get ready to go fishing. This morning they left at 5 o’clock. They are going to Greenriver, Wyo. They are just going to stay about three days. Just to show how excited Dad was about going. Last night he jumped in the Jitney & dashed down to the cow pasture – only to find that he had left the milk bucket & milk can at home. Of course, he had to come back to get them. Cheryl is cutting two more teeth & she is a little cross. She just keeps falling down & bumping her head & I have to comfort her. She just wimpers over little things that ordinarily wouldn’t fase her. She just keeps coming over & back up bettween my legs & leans there. She feels better when she is close to me. Maybe today your letter will be more optimistic & you will say 6 mo. instead of a year. Oh I do hope so. I love you – you sweet guy you. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 24 August 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Karla is here helping me to write in her hindering way. She is trying to grab my paper & lots of other helpful little things. I am beginning to think the mail is fouled up on this end too. I didn’t receive any letters again yesterday. I miss them so much – then it seems that since the Peace came I get more anxious than ever to here from you. Even though I know it will be some time before you will be able to come home, I just keep hoping that some turn of events will make it possible for you to come home sooner. Yesterday I spent most of the time ironing. In the afternoon Glena took me around town to see my visiting teachers & to give them a copy of the lesson for this month. Glena does pretty good at driving the car (jeep) now. She goes every place in it. Last night Cheryl just kept waking up every few minutes. I guess her little gums don’t feel any too good. As a result, I feel 357 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - August 1945 come to a total stand still for the time being. Every plane we have seems to be here on the island waiting to move into Japan as soon as the word is given. I have some pictures I have been going to send off for the last couple of days if I can just get over to the censor’s office. Here’s being with you soon. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 27 August 1945 Dearest Norma, Some mail finally came in again and with it were three very nice letters from you. All of them had pictures of some kind or another in them. The colored slides look pretty good. I guess you are becoming an expert at taking them. The other pictures are good to except they were not developed right. Either the water they used was to warm or they used a very course grain developer. I will print up the negs you sent tonight, but I fear they will still look grainy. When a film is improperly developed it is impossible to get good pictures from it. However, if they do come out I will blow them up some. When I see the kind of commercial work that is done on films, it makes me think your idea of having a dark room in our shop isn’t so bad after all. Maybe it would be best to put it in our new home. Then you and Cheryl could do all the developing while I fix bikes and stuff. What a meeting we had yesterday. It still is growing every week with a record of 116 for yesterday. When I stood up to give the lesson it scared the daylights out of me. I told them I hadn’t been so nervous since Christmas eve of 1941 when I said “Wilt thou,” and you wilted. We had a good meeting in spite of my telling them not to feel badly because Jacob worked seven years for each of his wives, after all he worked the rest of his life to keep them. Anyhow, before we closed I got Israel scattered pretty well. I don’t know if the next lesson given can get them gathered up again in one hour or not. Tell the folks not to worry about feeling lost due to you guys moving out cause it sort of looks like it will Japanese prisoner being interogated by a Nisei interpreter, Okinawa 1945. 358 Letters to the Paciic Norma - August 1945 rather sleepy this morning. You should have seen her yesterday. She was opening & shutting the clothes shoot & every time she would shut it on her fingers. She was just crying & crying, but she wouldn’t give up. She wanted to get it clear open. Finally in spite of her fingers she learned how to make it stay open. Then she was trying to get down the stairs. She knows how to get up, but I have never showed her how to get down. She was out in the little landing just outside the kitchen & she wanted to get a bottle she had thrown down the back stairs. First she tried edging over but she didn’t like that method so she laid down on her stomach & tried to worm down the stairs head first. She decided that wouldn’t work either. Finally she just sat down & wiggled back & forth until her legs dangled over the edge. Then she made her feet touch the next step & stood up. She was as proud as a peacock. The bottle was still down another step. This time she turned around & went down the next step backwards. Of course I [was] keeping a sharp lookout to see that she didn’t fall. She just follows Karla all over. They go into a bedroom, shut the door & when we find them they are maybe behind the bed with all the lables of the baby food or in a closet with all the shoes thrown out. Cheryl picks up everything. Glena had just taken a bath & left her clothes on the floor. Out came Cheryl with her levis. I told her to take them back, she paddled right back & left the levis – then came back with a shirt. I sent her back with it & she came back with the shoes. Oh she is very good to mind, but somehow I think figures out some way to get around it so she still can have her way. I’m just hoping the old carrier pidgeon stops & fills our box with letters from you. All My Love to you – And hurry home to us. We sure would love you to pieces. Norma Pleasant View, Utah 24 August 1945 Dearest Reinhart, This morning they said over the radio that the first occupation troups to go into Japan would come from Okinawa. I just imagine that maybe you will be with them. You always did say you were going to Tokyo & now it looks like you really are. When you get this letter you may be in Japan. I guess we are all a little suspicious of the Japanese, but I’m sure you will be all right. I am sure too that there must be many good Japanese people. They will need a great deal of help. I believe the only way we can help them is show them that we are really fine people & to show them by our living example how they can better themselves. I hope that Ray & some of your other good friends will go with you. I have heard of several wifes that live new here who have been sent for by their husbands. One is going to France, another to England & I don’t know where the other is going. Will they be doing that in the Pacific area too? I have wondered if it isn’t just those who are with the regular army, but they say that any soldier who is ask to act in an occupational capacity & had to stay for any length of time can send for his wife & family. Now don’t think I am getting anxious to make any sea voyages – because I’m not. The thoughts of even crossing the ocean makes me sick – but of course if I could be with you I would get sick a dozen times. Let’s hope that no such far fetched idea has to come to pass. Let’s just hope that in about Six months you will be steaming into some port in good old U. S. A. But if for any reason you have to stay for any length of time & you can send for us, we certainly wouldn’t hesitate to come. Mom & I went to town today. We girls got Dad the prettiest plaid wool shirt at Kammeyers (for his Birthday on the 27th) for deer hunting. Mom is going to get him a watch. Then I also picked out a little dress to give Karla on her birthday from us girls. We stopped in at Wayne’s store on 24th street. He just opened a couple days ago. It is a retail store. I had him measure me up for my slacks. I decided to have him make that material you gave me up into some slacks so they would really look nice. I don’t want to hear any more comments from that good looking Lt. Kowallis about my drab slacks. Mom & Glena are still milking & Dad is still fishing. I hope he really gets some this time. The letters you sent of mine arrived today. I have a sneaking suspicion that you wouldn’t have sent them had you not been getting ready to move. I was glad to get them but I am still hoping for a letter tomorrow. It was plenty nice of you to have them all cencored & send them to me. I got an outdoor life & Readers Digest today, but I couldn’t find a chain anyplace. I imagine that soon they will be making those inexpensive ones again. I wish I could get you one because the girls really would like one of those necklaces. 359 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - August 1945 be a few months yet before you do. I suspect it will be at least 9 or more. But it will be great to live like normal people again. I met another fellow from Brigham over in church yesterday and told him about our sport shop. He thinks it should go over all right. He said people always had to go to Ogden for sporting goods because there was no good sporting goods stores in Brigham. I only hope some[one] does not beat us to the draw. This is certainly an interesting letter Karla wrote me, only what is she saying? If she is saying “hello Dad” tell her I am complimented but not convinced. I can almost taste that watermellon you are eating on the 4th of July. I hope you and Cheryl held down our family reputation for mellon eating. When I look at the pictures of Cheryl, I can hardly believe she is so big. She surely looks like a wild un. Thea’s husband looks just like one of the boys on my team. He looks like a very nice sort of guy. And Glena, why she looks like some thing that stepped out of a dream book. I can see I should have waited a few years to do my courting. I think I have said plenty, so long my Dear. Love, Reinhart Reinhart after a successful deer hunt post-WW II. Hunting and fishing were the things he missed most while away, along with missing Norma and Cheryl, of course. 360 Letters to the Paciic Norma - August 1945 Here lately, I am getting so restless & anxious to see you. It seems like that knowing the war is over & yet you may have to be away so long just is so agravating. I would just like to cuddle up close to you tonight. Umm – would I ever like that. Golly – Oh shucks. I think if you were in China I would start digging just to see if it wasn’t true that I would come out there & then I could see you – but Japan – anyway I love you just so very much. Norma Pleasant View, Utah 27 August 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Today is both Dad’s & Karla’s birthday but we celebrated the occassion yesterday. We gave the bright red & black & white plaid shirt to Dad & the dress to Karla. Dad came home from the fishing trip Saturday night about 11 o’clock. They had a wonderful time. The Green river fish were too small for Wyatt so they went up the far end of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone & also fished on the salmon river. He said they had all they wanted to eat & he brought home 17 nice fish. Wyatt thought they were small & was dissapointed, but if I could get fish like that I would be plenty happy. The small ones taste better than the large ones. All of them were larger than the ones we caught up that Bountiful Canyon & two were about 13 in. long. The ones Mr. Wyatt had were larger, but I didn’t see them. They had to make a dash to an abandoned gas station once to get out of the rain. Just think, next year we can [go] fishing too. I can hardly wait for that Day. I see it is the 8th Army that is going into Japan first so I guess you won’t be with those first ones. Delbert Burnett & Gwen’s husband Burnell Bybee are both on Okinawa. I hope you will get to see them – but I don’t suppose you will. I took Cheryl to Sunday School yesterday. She made friends with everyone. Lenord Barker was back from France & was sitting accross the Isle. He got her to come over to him & then she kept wanting to go back. He thought she was pretty cute. Then she saw Dad over the other way & was gone like a flash. She triped over Isabelle’s toes, but Isabelle caught her & she wanted to hold her. Then Ranae, Alice, & Marian had to take turns having her. Then LuJean Cragun Pulsipher wanted to hold her – so I didn’t see much of her. I had her hair curled & she looked pretty sweet. Phyllis, Wayne & family came out for the Birthday dinner. Wayne was so happy – Phyllis has a corset that makes her look thin now. It practically squeezes her to pieces – but she’s thin and Wayne is happy & Phyllis is happy that he is happy, so I guess it’s all right. Albert Zobell & family came up yesterday. He is Dad’s cousin. They have a daughter who is feeble minded & all she does is ask the same questions over & over. “Who are you?” & “Who is that girl?” Then she asks the question all over again. It surely seems too bad. His other children are so bright. One son is an editor for the Improvement Era. Then we had about 10 girls here all afternoon. Ruth Ann Rhees & that gang & also Helen Cragun & three of her friends so you see we just didn’t have a minute to ourselves. Last night Mom was sustained as Primary Pres. Then Reuben gave a pep talk on getting the building fund. I hope they get in & do it. I am in the middle of washing as usual. Karla helped me sort them. Saturday, four letters came from you. I was really tickled. I see you had just waited for the Japs & they didn’t show up. In your letters I get today they will probably just have arrived at Il Shima. The pictures of the nurse who sits on your lap came too. I bet those nurses are really popular in that country of men & natives. But I still wouldn’t like Ruth or anyone I liked very well to have such a job. Those girls look like they could take care of themselves pretty well though & It’s lucky for them they have some fine fellows to look out for them. I’m glad the pictures got there O. K. I hope those negatives I sent get there before you leave for Japan cause Glena is anxious to send one of them to Alma. I wish I could get the chain for you. I will keep looking & as soon as they get some in I’ll send them right off. The last pictures to arrive were (Reg. number 279). If I haven’t already mentioned it. I guess you are glad Martin & Ray are back. It’s nice to have your friends to pal around with. I wish those cups you sent would get here. I think they are so cute. Well the Wash isn’t getting done & I can’t talk to you all day even if I want to so – All My Love, Norma 361 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - August 1945 Okinawa 28 August 1945 Dearest Frau, I sent one batch of pictures off this morning but I guess you can stand these as well. The negs you sent me were very poor, but I did the best I could, and hope you can use them. I am realy proud of that gal in the drivers seat with Lamar. It would have been a very good picture of Glena if the neg hadn’t been spoiled. If you have any others you want done, just send them out. Love, Reinhart P.S. I haven’t trimed the pictures, but I know you like to do it. Also the pictures of me you can give to whom you wish. Okinawa 29 August 1945 Dearest Norma, I am glad you received the pictures I last sent you. Yesterday I sent off two more bunches. Only the one package was registered, the other I just sent air mail, but I think they will both get there all right. Have you been able to find any chains yet? If I don’t hear from you about them soon I will just send most of my shells home and maybe some time later I can make something of them. It sounds like you had some time at Bear lake. When ever I think of it I am reminded of our last trip over there when we caught all those fish. That was just before I went to OCS as I recall. Think nothing of it if the cups I sent 4th class have not come yet. After all I am still waiting for your fruit cake. First class mail seems to be the only thing that gets through. Jack’s Mother sends him things every now & then first class mail and it only takes about two weeks to get out here. But I guess I am still quite scotch when I see the difference between 1st & 3rd class mail. Don’t give up hope, the stuff will get there some time. If Carmen gives you any inclination as to where Ronald is going, let me know. It might be that I can get in touch with him. Although I imagine that at this time he will go right on into Japan. I am beginning to think I will be left right here till I am sent home. I would sort of like to see Japan, but I would much rather see Ogden again. All my love, Reinhart The Jensen barn with fruit picking ladders leaning up against the side. 362 Letters to the Paciic Norma - August 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 28 August 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Congratulations Honey – It just doesn’t seem quite right you’re being a Capt., but I think it is wonderful & I think you deserve it. I had to sort of chuckle the way you were so modest about telling me & All the time I know you are just as thrilled & happy about it as I am. That extra pay will help so much & I will try to take care of it so we will have a nest egg to start out on. When I read that I should pay $5.60 more tithing I couldn’t quite understand. Dad says, “That seems like quite an increase of pay for no apparent reason.” Then all of a sudden my brain began to tick. Like a flash I turned over the envelope & there it was “Capt. Kowallis.” Dad says he guesses it’s because you pay your tithing. The shells arrived yesterday too & they were just beautiful. That one with the frilley edges was beautiful. Then those big brown ones. I think the buttons are the most wonderful idea. I’m going to make a dress & use them on it. They will be so pretty. They that cute pin. Did you really make it or did someone else? Whoever did – it is really swell. You are so good to send me all those things. I wish I could think of something to send you. You say candy makes you’re exema worse. How do they send the cheese & would you like anything like that? Golly are those other guys getting things all the time& are you being neglected. You never say so I would know if you were starving. What in the world can I send you for Christmas? Would you like me to send you a book now & then? Yesterday we put Cheryl & Karla out under the hose with just their pants on. Cheryl thought it was great. She just kept running through the water & Karla would turn the hose all over her – but the minute anyone put any on Karla she would cry. Cheryl isn’t afraid of anything. She’s game to try anything. She’s been that way ever since she would push the buggy over & crawl out. She takes so many chances. I’m usually there to supervise, but I hope she doesn’t go trying any of her tricks when I’m not there. She just goes all around the house now. Last night Audrey, Glena & I went to the show “Son of Lassie.” It was a good show. Ruth went with Jay & David earlier & Mom & Dad went even earlier to celebrate his birthday. That feeling of fall is in the air now. It is warm but there is just a little crispness in the air. It feels good. You may not be home this year for the big hunt, but I’ll bet this will be the last year you’ll miss out on it. We will have fun – won’t we. It doesn’t sound like you will be going into Japan as soon as I thought, but I imagine you will probably get there. By “moving up front” – do you mean Japan? As I came into my room last night I could almost imagine you curled up in bed & jumping up & saying Boo at me. I hope when you come home you won’t surprise me like one girl. She works down with Audrey. She had planned how nice she wanted to look when he came. Then he walked in on day & her hair was straight & the baby was dirty. She said she cried for two days. I would cry because I would be too happy, but it’s so much fun planning for you to come. You usually can’t keep a secret, but after the way you kept me in the dark about this promotion I am beginning to suspect that you have learned how to keep secrets. Now when you write I want you to give me all the details about this promotion. Why? How? When? Who? & all about it. Imagine just briefly telling me to pay more tithing when you know how much I would like to know all about it. I would just like to pull your ears for you my sweet Captain. Cheryl and I both send our love and we are so very proud of you. Thanks again for the lovely shells. Here’s some loves & kissed from both of us. XOXOXOXOX That’s just a starter to what you’ll get when you come home. All My Love, Norma P. S. Charlie Walton wrote an article about you in the town cryer. When he brought it over for Audrey to type, I tried to revise it without changing it to much but when he had you capturing the Jap single handed, I just knew you wouldn’t like that. Then he said you spent your time looking in fox holes, bomb craters & pill boxes – I changed that to Jap caves & installations. He had been looking at the pictures you sent & I guess he got a little mixed up. [the next part of the P. S. is in Ethel Jensen’s handwriting] 363 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - August 1945 Okinawan woman and her two children who had been hiding in a cave during the attack on the island come forward when discovered by American soldiers. 364 Letters to the Paciic Norma - August 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 29 August 1945 Dearest Reinhart, I’ll be glad when the mail starts coming through every day, of course, I’ll be even happier when you are home & we don’t have to write letters any more. It seems like so many of the boys are coming home now – it makes me all the more anxious for you to be here. Levi Cragun, Lenord Barker, & now Bob Berrett is home too. He is out here on his horse now talking to Dad. He has been in France in the paratroopers. Yesterday LaMar wrote & he is definitely leaving for home Friday or Saturday. Of course we are all excited about seeing him. He has been quite disappointed in as much as they have discontinued the radio school. If they join for 4 years they can take the course, but otherwise they will just get whatever the Navy gives them. Mom has papered the bathroom & hall. Dad is planing another fishing trip with Uncle Henry & Steven. They leave Friday & get back Saturday night. He and Steven have been hunting grubs this morning. Last night we had supper outdoors. I fried hamburgers & a big pile of onions. We frixed the best hamburgers. Mitzie & the cat thought they were good too. While I went inside they ate five hamburgers right off the hot stove. Last night I pasted more of the pictures you sent in the album. I hope I get them all in some day. I hope you don’t stop sending them though because they just make me feel so much closer to you. Cheryl is crying down in the basement & the mail man is coming. All My Love, Norma Kamas, Utah 31 August 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Here we are in Kamas on our way to Teal Lake just past Mirror Lake. Dad, Stephen, Uncle Henry & myself are going. I made such a fuss they just had to take me. I surely wish you were here. I’ll try my best to catch some for you. All My Love, Norma 365 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - August 1945 Orders promoting Lt. Reinhart Kowallis to Captain. 366 Letters to the Paciic Norma - August 1945 Photo Reinhart took of an older Okinawan woman with a child strapped to her back in the traditional style in which children were carried. 367 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - August 1945 Okinawan women photographed by Reinhart Kowallis. He loved to take pictures of interesting faces and he found many of them on Okinawa. Japanese “tanket” on Okinawa 1945. Okinawan man wearing the traditional wooden shoes called “geta.” Reinhart brought home a pair of these shoes and his children played with them for many years. 368 Post-War September 1945 September begins with the official surrender of the Japanese on the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay. It is the start of a new era in Japan, one of a new non-imperial government. Rebuilding of the country through the occupation and co-operation of the United States leads Japan within a few decades to become an economic powerhouse and strong ally. On the same day that Japan officially surrenders, Ho Chi Minh issues his proclamation of independence from France for Vietnam. As one war closes, another is just beginning, although American forces will not be significantly involved in Vietnam until the 1960’s. Early in September, Reinhart has to deal with a problem that has been growing for some time–his team member Sgt. Gill is having a breakdown and needs to be hospitalized. Reinhart tricks him into going to see the doctor by sending him over for some film that needs to be developed. The problems are compounded by the fact that his fellow officer, Lt. Martinsen has been transferred out of the team and things around the camp are slow now that the war is over. But on a positive note, a new enlisted man is assigned to the team and he is from Ogden, Utah. On September 2, 1945 aboard the battleship U.S.S. Missouri the surrender papers are signed by General Umezu, who was ordered to sign the papers by the Emperor Hirohito on behalf of the Japanese armed forces. Photo taken from the Navy History and Heritage website (http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/japansur/js-8.htm). 369 September 1945 On the 2nd, Reinhart flies to Tokuno Shima another island to the north of Okinawa on business. Although he does not tell Norma what the business is, he does describe the flight along the islands and the wrecked planes found when they arrive. On the 4th the Japanese generals and other dignitaries arrive for the signing of the official surrender of the Ryukyu Islands. Reinhart’s jeep and driver are busy shuttling these arrivals around. Reinhart and Norma both long to be back together, and initially the rumors are that they will be shipped back to the states in a couple months, but then he is reassigned to an administrative unit on Okinawa and the prospects of a quick return home dim. Life in camp, after the signing of the treaties is pretty dull and there is not much to do. Reinhart complains that he typically has about 15 minutes of work to do each day and then they just sit around. In his spare time, he makes jewelry, bracelets and necklaces, from the shells he has collected on the beach. In addition, Reinhart, who has had some health problems throughout his time in Guam and Okinawa, now begins to have more serious problems with his diet and the skin problems the diet and climate cause. These problems will ultimately be the cause of his return to the states and release from the army. On the 16th Reinhart experiences his first typhoon. It will not be the last. This one causes some damage, but the men and camp survive pretty much intact. In fact Reinhart writes, “In spite of the rain and wind we held church in the afternoon. There were only seven of us there so we all got up by the pulpit where the rain wasn’t coming through and sang songs around a short lesson Ray gave.” Amazingly, on the 18th of September, Reinhart receives a fruit cake that Norma sent to him a couple months earlier...and he claims it is still good. Another testimonial to the durability of the American fruitcake. He and his buddy Ray Hales have found a watermelon growing in the camp area and plan to pick it when it ripens, but the typhoon blew away the cover over the patch and the melon is gone when they check back on it. Someone else beat them to the prize. At home in Pleasant View the month starts with a visit from Norma’s younger brother, Lamar, who is in the Navy. She writes that he has grown an inch and a half and put on some weight. The family takes a break from the fruit harvest to go fishing and camping in the Uinta Mountains near Mirror Lake where Norma packs the tent and food in for four miles, but then can’t stand to sleep in the tent with the men. A few days after they return from the Uintas, they drive down to Utah County to hike up to Timpanogos Cave. The peach harvest is in full swing in September and even though the peaches are described by Norma as “the best we have had,” they have trouble selling them because of the rationing of sugar, which has apparently not ended even though the war is over. On the 19th of the month, Norma writes about the visit of Elder Marvin O. Ashton of the L.D.S. Presiding Bishopbric to Pleasant View. Elder Ashton is looking for property for a new chapel and wants to visit with Norma because the church might be interested in a piece of land owned by Norma and Reinhart. Elder Ashton brings with him Ab Jenkins, former mayor of Salt Lake City and famous as the driver of the “Mormon Meteor.” Ab, recognizing a pretty girl when he sees one, flirts a little with Norma. More peach picking, canning, church service and a little attempted match-making, along with trying to keep Cheryl from getting into scrapes finishes of the month for Norma as she continues to dream about the day when Reinhart will come home. 370 September 1945 Above: Admiral Nimitz signs the surrender papers for the Allied Forces in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. Photo taken from the Navy History and Heritage website (http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/japansur/js-8.htm). Below: A group of saluting Okinawan boys, part of the troop that seemed to hang around the 10th Army Camp. 371 Reinhart - September 1945 Okinawa 1 September 1945 Dearest Norma, Yesterday was your birthday and I didn’t even get a letter off to you. But it wasn’t because I didn’t think of you. Every now and then I have my troubles to, and yesterday was one of those days. We had an I. G. inspection in the morning which is comparable to a bank inspector’s inspection. They go through all your records & look to see that every thing is OK, which in most of our cases it was with the exception of a few little things that didn’t amount to much. Sgt. Gill had been working down in the G-2 tent for a couple of days, and about 10:00 o’clock the Major came up to me and wanted to know what was going on. Gill had just told him he was tired of doing that kind of work and was going to quit. The Major told him to sit down and do the work he had given him. Well, to make the story short, I told the Major what I thot was wrong. For the last three or four months Gill’s mind has been wandering to quite an extent, and has been getting progressively worse. He lets his imagination get the best of him. Anyhow, I knew it would do no good to tell him to go and see a doctor because he would not do it, so I went over and talked to the Doc first and we decided to send him over for some film the Doc had that he wanted developed. It would then give him a chance to talk to Gill. The plan worked and I went over later to talk to the Doc again. He told me Gill would not say much to him, but that he definitely was mentally ill. I don’t know yet what I am going to do with him. Unless a person is a raving maniac it is almost impossible to get him into a hospital. I have done every thing I could to keep his mind occupied, but I think I am going to have to get him to the hospital some how. So much for my troubles. I know you don’t want to hear about them. Martin has been transferred to one of the other teams so I am the only officer now, but then there is nothing much to do anymore. I got a new enlisted man in this morning. He is an Ogden boy and his Dad is President of Weber College. His name is Stevenson, I believe. He is a good clean fellow. He told me I was the first L. D. S. person he had seen since he came over here. Oh yes, we got word this morning that the P. I. teams are now considered non-essential, so it may be a step toward getting home I hope. Of course we can always be called out to another unit, but I doubt that we will. For the present, we will just stay here with the tenth Army. But I may get home before next spring at that. We don’t even have any water around today and I have some laundry to do. Guess I’ll just have to spit on it and then shake it out. If I were only back home it would be no worry at all. I am so sorry you haven’t been getting much mail, but I am sure I have written more letters than you seem to have received. A lot of the Air mail has been tied up some where due to all the planes being held up for the invasion. Mail should start coming through regular again pretty soon. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I started this letter this afternoon, but with my laundry and all I didn’t get it finished. It is now 8:15 and I just got back from what I hope is my last run for the night. Myself and one of the other officers is on as Office messengers. We have to pick up and deliver all the incoming & outgoing messages in regard to the surrender of all the islands in the Ryukyus. When the Japs first started sending their messages, they were realy funny because they couldn’t write english so well. I wish I could tell you what is in some of them but that I can’t do. Here’s loving you Darling. I’ll try & be a better writter. Love, Reinhart 372 Norma - September 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 3 September 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, So many things have happened since I wrote last that I just don’t know where to begin & besides I have the wash going so I don’t know how I will tell you all the details about our fishing trip. Then to top it off LaMar arrived at 4 o’clock this morning. We expected him at 9 or 10 o’clock but he got in early & caught a ride with a paper man who had two papers to deliver – one in North Ogden & one in Willard. LaMar is looking good. He is an 1½ in. taller & weighs more. I am trying to hear all he says & write you a letter. Some of the boys have just stopped in to see him. Now that he won’t be able to take that radio lic. course unless he joins for 4 years, he has decided to take an engineers course. It is the only thing open unless he takes regular Navy. We got back from our fishing trip Saturday afternoon. We just had a wonderful time. (Glena just informed me that today is labor Day & no mail will come or go so I might as well go on with the wash.) 4 September 1945 (same letter) We are really on the go these days. Here I thought I would have all morning to write to you & now Dad & Mom both wanted me to go to town so here I am on my way. I wish you could have been with us on our fishing trip. We went up about 6 mi above Mirror Lake – parked our car & then packed in about 4 mi to Teal lake. I packed the tent & a sack of food, my jacket & Dads fishing pole so you see I had my share. Dad, Uncle Henry & Stephen took turns carrying the boat. Also Uncle Henry & Steve had Back packs & The one who didn’t carry on the boat carried our two bed rolls. We arrived at the Lake about Sundown but the fish were still biting. Dad & Steve went out in the boat and Dad caught 9 fish the first night. Uncle Henry & I prepared camp & fixed supper. We had your tent & our little camp was just beautiful tucked in bettween the pines. We started out that night sleeping four in the tent, but by 3 o’clock I couldn’t stand being crowded so I took my bag & went outside to sleep. We stayed the next Day & next night then fished early in the morning & started home. We caught 50 fish in all. The only time they took me out on the Lake was when no one else could catch any. In a short time I had five, then Dad & Uncle Henry wanted to go out. They fished quite a while but only caught two. Stephen & I were the only ones who caught any from shore. We each caught one apiece. We surely lived on rations, but we had enough to keep us going. They didn’t want to eat the fish, but wanted to take them home but I ate two because I like them so well. Coming back I carried the tent & a bed roll. I guess I overdid it a little because I had a headache next day & a real sunburn, but it was worth it. Dad just let me out and now I am up in Penny’s Store finishing this letter. When we got back from our trip, Ruth & Glena were ready to go with Dorothy Rhees & some other girls on an overnight trip to the peak. It turned out to be one of the hottest Days this summer & they really got scorched, so we are quite a bunch of sunbeams. We thought LaMar would arrive at 9 or 10 Monday but he got her at four. There he was snoring away in bed when we got up. Yesterday Phyllis & the kids came out, Wayne is on the road. We had a big fish supper for LaMar. After supper, Vernon Tams, Glena & Francis Pearl persuaded LaMar against his will to go riding. It turned out that they went to a show & he had Francis Pearl. Glena said he seemed to be having fun but instead of walking to the house with Francis – he just said “Goodnight” at the car & let her walk alone to the house. LaMar went to Salt Lake today with Lester & some of the boys. They are going to show him a time. I guess we will go to Timpanogos Cave tomorrow. I tell you all about it. Golly I wish you were here to do all these things with us. I hope you do get to come home. There were no letters for me when I got home from my trip & so I am hoping I get 373 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - September 1945 Okinawa 2 September 1945 Dearest Norma, Another day, and what a day. There are two of us on this messenger deal and we work it so we are on 24 hours and off 24. Today was my day on so I didn’t even get to church, but I saw Ray at supper & he said they had 125 out. I certainly hate to miss church. I took Sgt. Gill to the hospital this morning. I don’t think he liked being sent over although I am sure he knew it was the best thing to do. The way he was acting last night, I was almost to take him over then. At least it is a load off my mind to get him under medical care. I have been wanting to get a letter off in answer to the one the kids sent in your letter the other day, but I am going to print up a couple of pictures of myself and send them at the same time. How I would like to be home to feel the cool night air of early fall. It is still so hot here that I have a heat rash all over my arms & sides. A lot of the other boys have the same thing. It will certainly be a great day when I come sailing home again. I am printing up some new pictures tonight so I will have a few to send to you in the next couple of days. There are still a lot of Japs on the island who don’t know the war is over. They arn’t causing any trouble except when the boys go down through the caves, and then they toss a grenade now & then. Here’s to seeing you soon my Darling. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 3 September 1945 Dearest Norma, If I don’t get this job done right now, another day will go by without your getting a letter from me. I am glad you finally got the check for $57. I don’t know if I mentioned it in my last letter, but the next P. T. A. check you get will be for $198. The reason for so large a check is because we didn’t get paid for two months, so it is an accumulation of two pay days. Let me know when you get it. From the sound of your letters you almost believe I will be home in two or three months. Well, as I told you don’t build yourself up for to big a let down. I think I will be very fortunate if I get home by the first of the year. It more than likely will be March or April before I see Zion again. Ray is sitting over at his table right now drawing plans for a new home. He has one or two pretty good ideas. I wish we had the money to start a business & build a home to. I certainly would like to have a home, and I know you would. You know I dreamed about you again last night. I dreamed I came home and you gave me a great big kiss. In fact you almost smothered me with it. Boy are you potent. I flew to Tokuno Shima yesterday on business for G-2. Tokuno is an island about 150 miles north of here. We went up in a C-47 transport. There were only four of us on the plane so we had plenty of room. It takes about an hour to fly it so they only go up about 1000 feet. At this low altitude, they leave the door off the ship in order to keep it cool inside. I had the camera along so I took pictures of all the things I saw along the way. We flew up along the west coast of Okinawa, over Yoron Shima, Oki-No-Erabu Shima, out to Tokuno. The air field there is hardly more than a dirt road. In fact, it worried me just a little because I couldn’t see where the pilot was going to land, but we made it down all right. The place is strewn with Jap planes that our air force knocked out on the ground. There are also two or three of our planes. Here’s hoping I get home by Jan 1st. Love, Reinhart 374 Letters to the Paciic Norma - September 1945 some today. Our bank statement came & we have $2,700 & something. I don’t remember the exact figure. It may have been 2,780 but I’m not sure. Well, Dad is going to meet me in a few minutes so I must hurry. I just miss you more & more every day. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 5 September 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Yesterday two very nice letters came from you and I can tell you I was glad to get them. I see at last you have remembered to put Capt. on your letters. I know you are not the only one who is guilty of forgetting. I think I have only remembered once to write Capt. It isn’t because I’m not impressed with your promotion – because I am always talking about it, but I am so used to writing Lt. that I just do it automatically. The pictures you sent came too. The ones you developed that I sent. Golly you really did swell on them. I wish I had sent you the negatives in the first place. Then the pictures you enlarged of yourself are just perfect. We are going to put one of them over in the church. You certainly do a hundred percent better work than these commercial places do. Of course I don’t know how Cheryl & I would do, but we would try to help but until you were able to hire someone I’m sure Cheryl would be a big help if she didn’t eat all the pictures. Last night Daddy was going up to see Seely so Cheryl & I went along. We got Dad to take us over to see Mr. Christenson & his wife. It was too dark to see the place, but Mr. Christenson said it had plenty weeds in it, but he had tried to keep it watered. He was trying to convince me to sell it. He says that it is gradually getting run down & he says that every few days someone wants to buy it. He says he is satisfied if we divided it into quarters of an acre. That we could get $350 a quarter or $700 for the piece. Everyone is buying around there because of the Hospital. I told him I didn’t think you would want to sell. Dad says he thinks you would rather find a place on the upper side of the road anyway. I have said nothing because I don’t know what is the wise thing to do. Of course there is no house on the land. That is one thing we will need when you get here. Don’t let anything anyone else might say influence you. Think it over carefully & use your own good judgement. I know it will be best. I would like to have heard that Sunday School lesson you gave. I’ll bet it was a humdinger. I’m sure they were impressed when you told them about my wilting. We are beginning to suspect that Spence is in the U. S. A. We received a letter & it only took 4 days to get here. All other letters have taken at least 10 or more days. He had always surprised Audrey, so it wouldn’t be unusual. Audrey is hoping he will let her know. We bought two mellons on the way from Brigham. Wish you were here to help us devour them. We have had 2 or 3 cantaloups from our patch. The peaches are the most beautiful we have had, but it seems there is going to be no sale for them. The reason is sugar rationing. It seems rather inconsistent the way things are done, but I don’t know what we can do about it. I’m glad that our letters won’t be censored any more. We have decided to go to Timpanogos tomorrow. I love you just as I Always shall, Norma p. s. - Mr & Mrs. Christenson thought Cheryl was just so sweet. They made a big fuss over her & she seemed to like them too. Cheryl squealed at everyone going along the street at Seely’s & they would smile & say hello to her. 375 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - September 1945 Flying over a small village on the way to Tokuno Shima. Map of the northern Ryukyu Islands showing the approximate flight path for Reinhart’s flight to Tokuno Shima on 2 September 1945. 376 Letters to the Paciic Norma - September 1945 377 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - September 1945 Airfield on Tokuno Shima and the transport plane in which Reinhart traveled from Okinawa to the more northerly island. He described the airfield as a “dirt road.” Okinawa 3 September 1945 Dearest Norma, Except to go down to the hospital and see Gill, I have hardly gone out of the tent today. I don’t know if Gill is coming back to us or not, but I hope not. He should be sent home and I am going to do all I can to get him there. I talked with him about ten minutes and he never said anything that made sense. So far I haven’t been able to talk with his doctor, but when I do I am certainly going to recommend his not being sent back to duty. Even if he gets well again, I don’t need him. We don’t do anything but little odd jobs that come along. I haven’t done any P. I. work for about two months now, and there certainly is not going to be much need for it until another war comes along, which we hope won’t happen. Has Audrey heard anything as to whether or not Spence is coming home right away? I wish they would come out on some thing definite in regard to officers so I would know where I stand. There are a lot of rumors floating about, but one can’t believe them until some thing in black & white comes along. I expect Lamar will be sent out after he finishes the training he is now taking. I am glad he didn’t have to come out while the fighting was still being done. As it is he may get to see a lot of interesting things without having to partake of the grime & filth of war. Everyday I take your’s & Cheryl’s pictures out and just wish I could be back there with you. She looks like she is such a lot of fun to have around. I can just see her climbing into baskets and up on chairs. I’ll bet she grows up to be a great duck hunter. Here’s hoping to see you both soon, and loving you as ever. Reinhart Okinawa 4 September Dearest Norma, Ray and I went to the show tonight, and during the whole thing I was very much bored. It was one of these exaggerated Hollywood love stories way out of the realm of human character. Earlier this evening I went over to see how Jack was getting along at the hospital. They told me his condition is much better, but that it will take time to cure him, and that they expect to evacuate him back to the states which is a load off my mind. I most certainly would not want him to come back here. 378 Letters to the Paciic Norma - September 1945 379 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - September 1945 Some of the boys were down in the admeral’s cave today and found a bunch of this Jap money so I am sending these three 5 sen notes to you. They are worth about ½ ¢ each so don’t bother to put them in the bank. I hope by the time they get to you that they don’t still smell like something dead. The other day when they came back from this same cave, they had about 6 or 8 Jap bugles, and now every one is trying to learn to play the things. What a noise it makes. It’s almost impossible to get my noon beauty rest any more. And with me coming home before long you know how badly I need it. Today was the day when all the Jap Generals & Admirals from the other islands came to Okinawa to surrender to the 10th Army. My driver has been hauling them back & forth all day. They have an old house fixed up just a couple hundred yards from my tent which they are using for a sort of headquarters. I expect they will be over there all night reading & signing documents. But I don’t see much of them. The MP’s keep every one pretty much away. Here’s loving you my Sweet, Reinhart Okinawa 5 September 1945 Dearest Norma, Sounds like Pop is realy having a time for himself in these days of prosperity. I’ll bet he never did as much fishing before in his life. I only wish I were there to go with him, but as you say, next year I will be if we can only find time enough to take off so we can do some of the things we have planed. We may be pretty busy getting our home and business into shape not to mention raising a family. However, people can usually make time if they realy want to. So at last you are getting some slacks made up from the material I brought you at Christmas. I was begining to think you didn’t like it or some thing. Another item I am still wondering about is the Moss Agate we sent away to be made up. Did you ever hear from it again or has it just been forgotten? Not that I care much if it has, only my curiosity is stimulated. Now don’t you go worrying yourself about having to come way out here to be with me. This would be the last place I would bring you even if I had to stay here for the next ten years. So far as I know now there are going to be no wives brought to this theater. I am almost sure to be home within 6 to 9 months. So far they have not come out with anything on how officers are to be discharged. Wayne certainly puts up shop and takes it down again often enough. Does he still go out on the road or is he selling only through his store now? Wrecked airplane on Tokuna Shima photographed in September 1945. The soldier standing by the plane is unknown, but likely someone who traveled with Reinhart to this island when he flew there in September. 380 Letters to the Paciic Norma - September 1945 Audrey Jensen Garner, Glena Jensen, and Joseph M. Jensen harvesting the peaches. 381 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - September 1945 I am begining to think the Jap mess kit, with the little cups are never going to get to you. It must be six weeks or more since I sent them. Maybe they are confering some where along the way with the cake you sent me. I’ll bet what happened to the cake is that it spoiled and was thrown out of the mail. I am enclosing in this letter a short note to Janet & her gang in answer to the one she sent me. I forgot there were four of them when I made the pictures up, therefor the three of the one kind and one of the other which I dug out of some old ones I had around. Now that censorship has been lifted I can tell you anything I like only I can’t think of anything interesting to tell you right now. Anyhow, I love you as long as the day is long and hope to be home with you soon, Reinhart PS. Give this note to Janet for me with the pictures. You can put them in an envelope so she won’t know anyone else saw them first. Okinawa 6 September 1945 Dearest Norma, Just a short note tonight to let you know I still love you. I haven’t realy done anything today except deliver a few messages that were not even interesting. This evening I was going to do a little developing and found some one had jerked the wires apart so I had no power, and I didn’t feel like fixing it up then. I sent some more pictures off today, but I left these two out so I will put them in this letter. They are a couple of rather dull shots of supply dumps. The mail is starting to come through regular again so you should be getting it the same way. I am sorry to hear about Lamar’s school not going through, but if it were me doing it, I wouldn’t sign up for any more than I had to. Boy those hamburgers sound good that you cooked outdoors. In fact after not having eaten all day they sound very good. Yes, I still try fasting now and then to clear up my excema. If I fast for two days it seems to leave me almost altogether for a week or two. I also have heat rash all over me, but then so dose nearly every one else. It’s the first time in my life I have ever had it. I am not sure whether it is the heat that is actually causing it or a combination of heat and diet. We haven’t been getting anything fresh for two or three weeks now. I am glad the shells got home. If you want me to make some more buttons just let me know. I have plenty of shells and they are easy to make. And I did make the pin all by myself. I also have another one I made of a rabbit head (Bugs Bunny) that I will send you one of these days. It isn’t as good as it might have been because I didn’t have the clear varnish to finish it up with. A couple of the other boys had be make one for them to. Don’t worry about sending me anything to eat. With the exception of fresh fruits, etc. we get all that can be used. But Boy how I would like some of those fresh peaches hanging out on the trees. Next fall I’ll be there to realy have my fill of them. If you just send me a couple of outdoor magazines & the Readers Digest each month, that is about all the reading I need. The Era still comes to me and several of the other boys get reading material that we exchange back and forth. If you send me books I just have to carry them around. I just don’t know what you could send me for Christmas, and anyhow it is possible that I might be on my way home by that time, I hope. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 7 September 1945 Dearest Norma, Your card sent from Kammas came today. I can just see you setting up a howl to go fishing. I can also see there will be no me stag hunting & fishing trips for me. Oh well, if I don’t get any fish or game I can always love you, and what could be sweeter. Today was the day the Japs signed the surrender papers for the Ryukyus. It took place out under the flag pole 382 Letters to the Paciic Norma - September 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 7 September 1945 Dearest Reinhart, The other pictures you sent under the Reg. Number (340) came yesterday. I got the biggest kick out of Martin saloming to your rank. They were really cute pictures. Did Martin make those large captain bars? I think you look as proud as a peacock over your new rank, so you just better get busy & tell me all – remember nothing is censored now. These last pictures you sent of you & the enlargements are the best you have sent of yourself. You have that big grin on your face again. Some of your pictures looked so solemn I was afraid this war was beginning to have it’s effect upon you, but I am glad to see that you guys can still act crazy. I just wish I could be there to congratulate you in person. You look so darn cute or handsome (I should say) in your pictures that I would like to just be right there & give you a big hug. I’m glad you send me all the pictures of you because I like everyone of them. I just finish taking a roll of film yesterday. I think I will send them right off to you to develop & print. If there are bad ones of me in it just don’t look at them. We went to Timpanogos yesterday. We left about 9:30 A.M. & arrived there about 12 o’clock noon. So we ate a little (Fried chicken & etc.). Then started up the trail. You have been there before so you know how beautiful the trail is. Phyllis & David stayed & took care of the babies. Both Ruth & Audrey got the day off so Audrey & Dad both took their cars. Wayne is selling up in Montana so he didn’t go. I took Cheryl’s play pen so she stayed in it most of the time. The ranger who took us through the cave is a realitive of Rex & Margaret Walker that we met in El Paso. I talked to the ranger & his wife quite a bit. After we got back we let Karla & Cheryl swing & then teter tottered them. They have opened up more of the cave & it is really a very pretty cave but of course not nearly so beautiful as Carlsbad. We had watermellon & canteloup when we got back and finished up the rest of the meal. Golly, I’m getting the cart before the horse all the way through this story. On the way up the trail LaMar saw a rasberry bush just off the trail a little ways & stopped off to get it. From up the mountain someplace a voice boomed out “Keep On The Trail.” When we got to the Cave the ranger gave a speach bawling him out in Jensen family outing in about 1946. From left to right: LaMar Jensen (in Navy uniform), Ruth Jensen, Joe Jensen, Jay Butler, Glena Jensen, Audrey (Jensen) Garner, and sitting in front, Norma (Jensen) Kowallis. 383 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - September 1945 over by the General’s quarters. Tanks were lined up all along the road and over head squadrons of planes were flying over. Everyone and their dogs were there. Ray & I got a ring side seat up on the hill. As the Jap Generals were brought over the band played “The Old Grey Mare.” None of the Japs looked very happy. I wonder why. It’s the 10th Army’s job to gather up the Jap arms from all these islands out here, and I am hoping I can get in on the deal, but I think there are too many higher ranking officers who want to do the same thing so I’ll probably end up by just sitting here waiting to be sent home. I very much doubt that I will even get to Japan. Of course I would much rather come home, but if I am going to be out here for several months, I would rather go to Japan where I can see something new and do something usefull. Here’s loving you, Reinhart P.S. here is another Jap coin I found today. Reinhart’s driver shuttling Japanese officers around on the days prior to the surrender signing ceremony. U. S. Army tanks lining the road on September 7, 1945 during the surrender signing ceremonies on Okinawa for the Ryukyu Islands. 384 Letters to the Paciic Norma - September 1945 front of everyone. He said he wouldn’t arrest anyone now but if it happened going down the trail he would make an arrest. Of course we all felt guilty & had no intentions of doing anything wrong. Before we left home in the morning it hailed & rained but we had beautiful weather all the time we were away. This morning we can fell that fall is definitely here. It is really cool. Maybe if they don’t send you to Japan they will send you home. Oh I hope so. I guess that the new law which makes it possible for men over 35 who have 45 points to return home does not apply to officers? I wish it did. I just wish there was some way to get you home. LaMar says that when he gets back to camp he is quite sure he can get chains like you want. So don’t send the shells to soon – Just wait awhile because the kids would all like a necklace. Phyllis has a chain that she thinks would do & she was wondering if you would make her one if she sent it. I told her I was sure you would so she will probably send it. The agate came back yesterday with a note saying he had gone out of business. He gave me an address of a very reliable place in Oregon – but I think I’ll wait until you come home before I have anything done. Your Dad was down day before yesterday to see about when the peaches would be ready. He says Fred is on Iwo Jima. Thea is working & living with the girls because her husband is in a Camp where it is impossible to have her come. You say this one fellow gets things from home all the time & it only takes about two weeks to get there. Will you please list some of the things he gets? What are some of the things people send? Do you advise me to send another cake? Please be sure & answer these questions. I really do want to send you something because I would like to show you in some way besides words that I do love you & think about you all the time. Love, Norma P.S. - These are Audrey’s negatives. Two are some they didn’t print. Maybe you can do something with them. You did so good on those I sent. Print two enlargements of Karla & Cheryl on the horse & make enlargements of the two of Karla – Thanks, Honey. Pleasant View, Utah 10 September 1945 Dearest Reinhart, It has been several days now since I heard from you. Of course, I always begin to wonder if you are being transferred to a new place, but then I suppose it is just the mail that is tied up. If only I would hear after one of these periods of waiting that you were on your way home, I think I would be the happiest girl in the world. But that probably will be quite a long time before such a nice thing will happen. Cheryl is here carrying all the shoes out of Audrey’s closet. At the moment she has triped over the rug & she is clinging to the shoes but her feet are in the air. This morning we have been picking peaches. It is rather discouraging when the price is so low. The peaches are so nice, they should be selling for $3 a bushel instead of .85 cents or $1.00. I just finished taking a bath with Cheryl. She took her pants off in the pen & then proceeded to do her duty all over. She had her hands full & all over her clothes when Mom brought her in to me. I guess she had quite a time. We took LaMar to the train at 8:30 P.M. Vernon Tams went too. He could have gone right then on a train but his friend (Lane Goodsell) wanted to wait until the 10 o’clock train on account he had just got engaged & wanted to spend as much time as he could with his girl. We went out to Phyllis to wait for awhile & then came back. Vernon took Cheryl walking all over. She just seemed to like the sailors. Every one she would take after them. They thought she was cute too & would stop & talk to her. Then I took her walking. Old men & sailors would stop to talk to her & I heard different ones sitting on benches saying “Isn’t she cute”. Of course I was proud as could be. LaMar then found out his train wouldn’t come until 11 P.M. By this time Cheryl & Karla were getting tired & cross so we got Vernon to take us home. (Ruth, Audrey, Karla, Cheryl & myself). Mom & Dad stayed with LaMar. They didn’t leave until 12 midnight & even then the train hadn’t pulled out. LaMar & Lane had to sit in the smoking car as all other seats were taken. Mom even saw them making a lady get off the train because there wasn’t room – was she ever mad. We went to Quarterly Conference Sunday Morning. Marvin O. Ashton was the principal Speaker. LaMar had a cold & headache so I hope he gets a seat. He had a fever of 102. I hope I get a letter today. All My Love, Norma 385 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - September 1945 Above and right: Reinhart’s photos of the Japanese officers being marched to or from the surrender ceremony on Okinawa. He had a ‘ring side’ seat. Surrender ceremony on Okinawa at the 10th Army headquarters. A table has been set up for General Stillwell and the Japanese to sign the official terms of surrender. 386 Letters to the Paciic Norma - September 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 10 September 1945 Dearest Reinhart, The mail man was very good to me today. He brought me two very nice letters from you. I was sorry to hear about Sgt. Gill’s troubles. You said he was such a help to you. I’ll bet you hated having to take him to the hospital. You know how well I like to hear every little thing about you – so don’t ever think I don’t want to hear about your troubles – because – golly that’s the things that make me feel more like your wife. I never get tired of hearing how you feel & what you think, because you see I happen to love you. Mom & all her primary people are here tonight. They are having a party & they have all the chairs so Audrey, Ruth & I are doing our letter writing in style. Ruth with her legs spread out is bending over the table writing her letter. Audrey is seated on a High stool thus – & yours truly is sitting on Cheryl’s high chair. We are really quite a sight. When you say that you may be home before next Spring, I know you must have pretty good reasons for saying it. Maybe you will even get home for Christmas. It just seems to good to be true. I do miss you so. Everything I do – my whole existence is centered around that day when you will be home again with me. Of course I always try to give the other people a chance to talk about their sons, brothers or husbands, but I am always proud & willing to tell them about you & maybe brag just a little about you. Maybe I don’t send you things like some of your friends get – I wish I knew what to send – but if I don’t send you any other gift – I shall keep this one for you – I shall keep myself just for you. No matter how long I have to wait, you will always know that I shall be waiting just for you. I just haven’t eyes for any one else. When I see the girls who are running around with other fellows while their husbands are away & the fellows who get in trouble while their wives wait at home – I just thank God for you & for your high ideals. I believe if all of our boys & girls would look forward to Church & keep active as you are & remember their prayers – they would not fall into such temptation. Our Apostles tell us we must be ready to forgive them, but even if they did, how can they really be happy? I guess the reason I am talking like this is because a couple girls in our town have been running around with other men & now they are going to get a divorce – then I have heard of on girl in this town whose husband got into trouble over in Europe. Paul Ferrin & his wife are the ones who are going to get a divorce – the others you don’t know. Now I am telling you the sad news of our town, but it does make me feel terrible to think they would do that to each other. Alma is coming today, so Glena is in quite a dither. I think she expects him about noon. Spence writes that he may be home about the last of Sept or the first of Oct. Audrey has been down getting a new dress, shoes & etc. I just found Cheryl & Karla in Mom’s bedroom behind the bed with every bottle they could find. They were playing as quiet as they could & they had the door shut. Then I brought them out here & now Karla is trying to make Cheryl go to sleep on the pillow. She won’t so Karla is trying to boost her up on the davenport. Cheryl is climbing & climbing, but can’t quite make it even with Karla’s help. Oh they are just to silly for words. You’ll have to see them to appreciate how funny they are. All My Love Sweetheart, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 11 September 1945 Dearest Reinhart, I have just been playing hide & seek with Cheryl & have we had a time. She thought that was the most fun she ever had. I would hide first behind one door & then another – then behind the davenport & the big chair. Cheryl would look & look until she found me & then squeal with delight & hug me when she discovered where I was hiding. Karla joined us later & then we really had a time. Now Cheryl is tucked in her bed & is probably sound asleep. We picked peaches again this afternoon & I guess we will have about 80 bushel to get tomorrow. It is beginning to look like we will at least get rid of them & if we get $1.00 a bushel we won’t do so bad. Alma came today & so Glena is off someplace with him. They were both so backward when they saw each other. Just stood & sort of laughed & didn’t know quite what to say. I imagine he will get over that when they are alone. Uncle Walt & Aunt Helen were here too. They are planning on selling the Crystal Springs & going to Calif. to live. They 387 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - September 1945 Okinawa 9 September 1945 Dearest Norma, Yesterday was a lovely day, I spent it all just sleeping for a lack of something more interesting to do. Oh, the Outdoor Life & Readers Digest came so I read some out of them. I wish there was some thing useful to do around here. I am still on the message runs, but there are only two or three coming in a day now, and I can take care of those in about half an hour. I am enclosing those pictures of some Koreans, taken while the war was still on, in one of our consentration camps. Every time I read a story out of Outdoor Life I get more home sick for the fall back home. I don’t think I will ever live long enough not to want to be around when the leaves start turning color, and droping to the ground. Gosh but we could have fun together. If the rumors I hear were only true it would not be long until I would be seeing you. They have it that we are going back to the states in a couple of months. There is a remote chance. Even if we come back I have to stay in the Army afterward. When I get back to the land of promise I want out, but fast. I see by the new game laws that the deer season in Utah is open from 20 Oct to 10th Dec this year. I am wondering if that is actually so or if it was a miss print. Ask you Dad about it. Seems like a long deer hunt to me. Here is seeing you by Christmas. Love, Reinhart Korean boys photographed in 1945 by Reinhart Kowallis. 388 Letters to the Paciic Norma - September 1945 feel they have slaved away long enough at that place & I think they will be better off. Mom & Ruth are off to the Mutual opening party. I should have gone but I just didn’t think about it soon enough & anyway I couldn’t have written you a letter if I had gone. You must be quite an important person to be one of two officers to receive surrender messages. Now that the Censorship has been lifted, you can tell me all about it. I’ll bet that was really interesting. Did you have to interprete what they said & how did you do it? Just like Mom said today, “Reinhart doesn’t do any bragging does he? To hear him you wouldn’t think he ever did anything our of the ordinary.” But just the same we all think you do. You know me – why I had you a Captain years before you were made one. Maybe I’d better start working on your being a Major. Of course, you should be one. Now if you were here you would say, “I know it” & If I told you you were good looking you would say “Why sure I am,” but in your letters you are so modest. Now come on give with more details about yourself & also tell me more about your promotion. Who informed you of it? What did they say? etc. Dad says I must get up earlier in the morning so I guess I’d better get to bed. Oh I do dislike this fuss. Wish you were here to share it with me. Maybe I wouldn’t mind it if you were here. Other than the fuss, I rather enjoy it. Goodnight My Sweet All My Love, Norma P.S. I see Tojo has tried to get rid of himself. Maybe it’s too bad he didn’t succeed. I don’t know, but at least now they may have a chance to find out something from him. Pleasant View, Utah 13 September 1945 Dearest Reinhart, It is just the noon hour & we are down from picking peaches all morning & I am hoping I’ll get this note in the mail before the mail man comes. Your Dad is coming for three bushel of peaches this afternoon to take down to the girls. I spent quite a bit of time picking around to get some nice ones. Seely came early & when he saw them he just had to have one bushel of them. Then I had to spend some more time picking and picking. Boy was I burned up at that guy. Last night Clark Hickenlooper came out. He is home on furlough from the navy. He has been all around Okinawa & Gwam, you remember. We saw him & his wife in Tijuana, Mexico. He saw all the pictures you sent & he wonders if you would make him up one of each of the following pictures. 1. Ernie Pyle’s Grave 2. The Goats on the beach. 3. The children carrying the babies. 4. The City of Naha – showing the river 5. A group of natives carrying wood 6. The remains of the sugar factory 7. Buckner’s grave 8. The bank at Gwam 9. The woman nursing her baby (so he can show the folks his girl friend) 10. A good picture of the scenery in Okinawa He couldn’t take any pictures, so he would really appreciate them. He just wants small pictures. Except maybe one enlargement of the scenery. Mom went to Salt Lake yesterday, Glena to town & I was left to take care of Cheryl, Karla, Jay & David. In the Afternoon, Marion Parish Rasband brought her two kids out & visited with me all afternoon. Her husband came for her after he had finished making his tour of inspecting the farmer’s cows & barns selling market milk out here. I gave them tomatoes & cantaloupes & squash. (10 P.M.) (The mail man came so I’ll have to send this tomorrow) He brought two letters from you. In the one you said not to send 389 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - September 1945 Okinawa 11 September 1945 Dearest Norma, Enclosed are a couple of little gadgets I have made. The one little rabbit head I have not finished for two reasons. I don’t have the right colors to do it with and second you are a much better artist than myself. The ear broke while I was cutting it out so if it comes off again jus glue it back on. I think the bracelet is too large to wear, but it may make a keep sake. Ye old man Okinawa 12 September 1945 Dearest Norma, You certainly are getting around these days. I believe you get to go more places with me away than you do when I am home. Might be a good idea for me to sign up for occupation, that is on the home front. If I ever get back home I don’t care if I never get more than ten miles away again. I am sending you some pictures here of the surrender the other day. There is not much to be seen because I was to far away, but you can look at the clouds. I did my laundry this morning so it would rain this afternoon, but then it is only about 3:00 PM now, and the sun is just coming out again. With good luck, the laundry will be dry before dark. I have been going around all day with my shirt off trying to clear up some of this heat rash. As long as I have any clothes on my skin never gets dry and the rash never goes away. It will be heaven to be back in a dry climate again. Even on dry days around here there is enough moisture in the air so that ordinary glue won’t dry. After reading the town cryer, I think it would have been better had you removed the entire paragraph about me. The people back home certainly do magnify the truth into our statements. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 13 September 1945 Dearest Norma, Here I am sitting down in the iron lung, as it is known around here. The sweat is runing off me like I was standing in a rain storm. The pictures of you guys and the kids over at Bear Lake are realy good. From the way Cheryl takes to everything I think she should have been a boy. When I get home I’ll make her a tom boy anyhow. I guess Mr. Christenson would like to see us sell our lot so he wouldn’t have to take care of it any more, but this season is about gone and for the next one I will be there to take care of it myself. If we were sure we could get a good piece of ground east of the road for a reasonable price, then I would say let’s sell, but until we have some thing better I think it is best to keep what we have. I have thot of selling before, and then I thot it was best not to. I don’t think we will have to take a loss if we do want to sell later. Let’s wait until I get home anyhow. We may even build on that lot yet. I hope Spence is back in the States. Do you know what he & Audrey plan on doing when he gets home? Are they going to run his dad’s farm or something of the sort? I thot all the food rationing except meat was a thing of the past. If it will help any to sell the peaches, I will send a ¼ pound of sugar now and then. If you could just Air Mail them out here, I am sure I could get them all sold. I would buy and eat half of them myself. Here’s to seeing you soon. Love, Reinhart 390 Letters to the Paciic Norma - September 1945 you anything cause you might be on your way home before Christmas. That sounds so good to me. It would be the nicest thing that could happen. I think you are right about us not doing to much gadding around when you come back, but I certainly think you deserve to get all the hunting you want & I shall try to tag along as often as I can. Of course, occassionally I’ll let you go out with the boys. I think that we can do a lot of these things & still not spend much. That’s one thing about the kind of recreation we like – it isn’t too expensive. We will have to sort of pinch those pennies though for a few years. I just hold my breath & hope no one puts up a sport Shop in Brigham. I think it is an ideal set up. Your folks didn’t come for the peaches so I called them. They had received a note from Dad saying they wouldn’t be ready until Mon. & we had received the card from them asking us to get three bushel for today. When I called they said they would be right down & it wasn’t long until they were here with Richard. They came in their everyday clothes – just as they were, but they looked good & it seemed good to see them. They are all feeling fine. Dad Kowallis picked up Cheryl when she came walking in & said “Is this your baby?” When I assured him it was, he just exclaimed how she had grown. “Wouldn’t Reinhart get a kick out of her now?” he said – and you would. She fell down the stairs twice today. We need a personal watch dog for her. Fred lost your address so I gave it to them. He is going to try to fly over to Okinawa to see you. Spence just wrote that his Shipping orders have been cancelled & he will probably be assigned to a hospital. He is a very downhearted lad. Will you print two each of these negatives? Ruth wants one & so do I. Maybe you better do three. Mom will probably want one too. I haven’t sent that roll of film to you so I’ll send them down to Kammeyers with Ruth tomorrow & have them finish them up. Dad & I have 80 bushel to pick tomorrow. Glena started school today & tomorrow she is going on a picnic with Alma & some friends. He leaves Sunday. Maybe we can get something out of her then. Dad says I must get up at 6 o’clock so I’ll have to get into bed, but I shall dream of you & pray that the day will not be too far distant when you will return home. All My Love, Norma P.S. How is Sgt Gill? P.S.S. Did you get pictures of the Japanese surrendering? I hope so. P.S.S.S. Have you taken the roll of colored film? P.S.S.S.S. I hope you do get to help with the gathering up of amunition if it is a safe job & if you want to do it, but most of all I hope you get home. P.S.S.S.S.S. Hope the exema gets better Pleasant View, Utah 17 September 1945 Dearest Reinhart, How’s the best man in the world tonight? I hope things aren’t too boring over there. But then I know if there is anything to do you will find it. I’m sure you won’t sit around waiting for things to happen – you will probably make them happen. I have just taken time out to get Cheryl to bed. Answer the phone thrice (once someone calling for peaches & then Alma calling from the Ogden Station. Glena went to Salt Lake to see him off, but he had a short stop in Ogden so he called us up). He gave her a beautiful Vanity set for her birthday today. We had a big chicken dinner for her with cake & candles. We sang “Happy Birthday.” We girls gave her a slip & Mom gave her a jumper. Phyllis, Wayne & Family were here. Lynnette is just about as big as Cheryl. Wayne & Phyllis are just crazy over that girl. They never acted that way about the boys. Everyone thinks Cheryl is so little & I guess she is. She is just a dainty little miss, but well filled out. Everyone says when they see her “Wouldn’t Reinhart get a kick out of her.” I guess it’s because she’s crazy like you are & not the least bit afraid of anything. She stands up in the little rocking chair (not holding on) & rocks back & forth. She slides frontwards off the bed & all kinds of crazy things. Tonight I wanted her to drink her milk out of a glass, but she wants it out of a bottle. So when I would try to get her to drink she would shake her head & say “All Gone.” Then her little seater was sore so I was putting oil on it & she would keep saying “Oil, Oil.” Everything she finds she starts calling, “MaMa mama” and then brings it to me. If she wants attention she calls “Mama Mama.” Tonight she did No. 1 on the floor. I went to get a Cloth to wipe it up & when I got back she had a handkerchief wiping the floor. She calls Grandpa “PaPa” & does she love his old hats. One of them 391 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - September 1945 Okinawa 14 September 1945 Dearest Norma, Here I am sitting at my desk again and doing my new job insofar as there is anything to do. Ray is also here doing just a little more than myself. We are in what is now known as the “New Order of the Ryukyus.” It consists of two task forces, one going South to secure all islands in that direction, and one going north to acomplish the same thing. The rest of us are the administrative section to remain here at 10th Army and make up the reports as the information comes in. So far I have had about 15 minutes work a day, the rest of the time I spend reading, chewing the fat, writing, etc. Yes, and I think a lot about the Bike shop. Why you should see all the window decorations I thot of today. I’ll bet we have the best looking and most interesting windows in town. With my brains and your talent for art we can realy go places. I’ll bet I have looked at the pictures of you and Cheryl 20 times in the last three days. I just want to reach out & hug the two of you. I can hardly wait to get my hands on Cheryl. Bet I have a lot of fun with her. Why don’t you take some more black & white pictures and then send the roll to me to be developed? Send them Air mail if you can, if not then first class. Also try and make them air tight because after film has been exposed and before it is developed, it spoils quite fast in this hot, damp climate. I should be able to develop the film, print it up, and get it back to you within three weeks from the time you mail it. We still have no word as to what we are going to be doing. The Navy is taking over the Ryukyus some time in October so there is still a chance we will be sent back. All my love, Reinhart Okinawa 15 September 1945 Dearest Norma, Enclosed is a small clipping I took from Outdoor Life, and in as much as you are always wanting to do some thing for me, you can get this book “Gun Digest” and send it on out to me by first class mail. That way I should get it within about a month from now. I want it for these reasons. First of all I just want it, 2nd, from it I am going to select the gun for you on our future hunting trips, and lastly I am always interested in goods I might want to put in our sport shop. I am also writting to Johnson Outboard Motors to find out what I can about getting the agency on their motors. I know that at best it will be several months before I am home and can realy start doing something about the shop, but I at least can start investigating things now. What I wouldn’t give to crash dive the mellon patch back home right now. I can just see all those big cantalopes out there that you folks can’t possibly eat. Oh, but I didn’t tell you that Ray & I have located a real live water mellon growing over by the post office, and I think it is almost ripe. I couldn’t believe my eyes when he showed it to me, but there it is growing among the weeds, and people passing within three feet of it every day. So far no one else has noticed it, I hope. I certainly do miss you a lot. While the war was still on I sort of resigned myself to the idea that I would be over here for a long time, but now with so little work to do and so much time to think I find it difficult to control my thots of you & home. I certainly hope by the first of the year I will be on my way back. All my love, Reinhart 392 Letters to the Paciic Norma - September 1945 had a long string tied to it today & she had draged it around with her all day. She put it on her head & used it for a wagon. She still goes on the run & is as light as a feather on her feet & her little legs are so pretty & straight. Last night it was thundering & lightning & the wind was blowing & she couldn’t go to sleep so I got her in bed with me. She would say “Mama Mama” & then kiss me. Then she would stand up so I would say sternly “I guess I’ll have to put Cheryl back in her bed.” She would flop right down & snuggle up to me & give me another kiss. Then up she would go again. I finally had to put her back in her bed even if I did like to have her. Dad & I have about 80 bushels to get tomorrow. He is out looking for help now but I don’t know where he will get any. I am sending the film I mentioned in a letter – that is if the mail man will take it. Ruth took it to Kammeyers & they didn’t have any paper to print them on so I have decided I had better send them to you anyway. I hope they get there O.K. Tues night Bishop Aston, Bishop Richards & the Church Architect are coming up from Salt Lake to talk to the people about our new Church & to look over our lot. I told Reuben if he would find us a good building spot here in P.V. we would be glad to donate to the Church too. He said he just knew we could find a place & he said he really wished he could have us as permanent members of the ward. But then it’s a different job when you go looking for a place & beside we’ve got to have a house to live in when you come home. Golly it would be swell if we had a lot with a house on it. Then when I knew you were coming, I could get busy & clean it up – fix up the curtains & be all ready to move right in when you came, but we haven’t so I might as well not pipe dream. I like to think of it though. I’m just anxious to fix up a house of my own & run it like I want to. If you can just get home soon, I’ll be so happy. Delbert Burnett sent home for your address. He is going to fly over to Okinawa & he wants to see you. He is on that Island near you, Iwo Shima or something like that. I went to Sunday School this morning but Audrey wanted to go tonight so I stayed home with the kids. If I get my beauty sleep I’d better get too bed because I don’t want you to outdo me when you get home. All My Love, Norma 393 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - September 1945 394 Letters to the Paciic Norma - September 1945 Above: The back of this picture said, “Some results of a typhoon on Okinawa on 16 September 1945. Below: Another view of the transport plane after the September typhoon on Okinawa. 395 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - September 1945 Okinawa 18 September 1945 Dearest Norma, Guess what I received yesterday! Nothing short of a fruit cake sent to me by my Sweetheart a long time ago, and it’s good too. Already about half of it is gone. I guess it was your good packing that kept it so well. It had been sent 3rd or 4th class in spite of the fact that you had mailed it 1st class. Oh well, I like it just as much now as I would have a couple months ago. If I thot I would be here long enough to get another one, I would have you send it to me, but there is the small chance that we may be on our way to the States by Nov., I hope. There are a lot of rumors runing around about our going home in Nov. The Navy is suposed to take over the Ryukyus on the 20th Oct so if that happens the 10th Army will be out of a job even more completely than they are now, in which case they will have to send us to Japan or back home. I can’t see them sending us to Japan because their organizations there are all quite complete by this time. Who knows, I may be home for Christmas yet. But just because I make such a rash statement is no cause for you to get your hopes up. It could still be spring before I get home to. Yesterday some one got the watermellon. Ray and I have had our eye on for the past couple of weeks. The storm blew all the foliage off that was covering it so it could be seen by every one passing by. I knew I should have taken it in the morning when I saw it that way, but I didn’t think it was quite ripe enough yet. Now I’ll have to wait until next fall for the crop back home to come on. I dream about you & Cheryl every night or so. Here’s hoping I won’t have to do that much longer. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 19 September 1945 Dearest Norma, Two letters came today. The first in a couple of weeks. One of them has Audrey’s negatives. I thot I explained before that the only thing I can enlarge are 35 mm. I don’t have the equipment to do anything else. I can print them, but can not enlarge them. I wish I could because the ones of Karla look pretty good. Two of the negs don’t have enough contrast to get anything out of them. A dark neg can be printed all right if it has contrast. Don’t worry about sending anything other than what I have already asked for because things are too uncertain. We got word last night that as it stands right now 10th Army will be sent home (they think) about the last of Oct. However, it is not know if we, who do not have the amount of points needed, will be screened out and left here or not. Other than that there is still one more mound in the way. None of the P. I. teams belong to 10th Army. We all belong to Gen. McArthur’s headquarters and are only attached here for duty. It is therefor 396 Letters to the Paciic Norma - September 1945 397 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - September 1945 Cheryl in swing outside the Jensen home. Photo probably taken in summer 1946. 398 Letters to the Paciic Norma - September 1945 David Abbott “Ab” Jenkins (top) and Marvin O. Ashton (bottom) visited Pleasant View in September 1945. Bishop Ashton was 1st counselor in the LDS Church Presiding Bishopbric and came to look over the spot for the new Pleasant View chapel. Bishop Reuben Rhees wanted Norma to talk to Bishop Ashton because there was a possibility that property owned by Reinhart and Norma would be needed for the new chapel. Bishop Rhees also introduced Norma to Ab Jenkins who was apparently with Bishop Ashton because he owned some property in Pleasant View. Jenkins, who was famous for his land speed records on the Bonneville Salt Flats in the “Mormon Meteor,” spent some time visiting with Norma and gave her and her sister Audrey a copy of his book. Even though Jenkins was about 62 years old at the time, he still enjoyed visiting with a pretty girl. Ab served as the mayor of Salt Lake City from 1940-44 and Marvin O. Ashton was a member of the Presiding Bishopbric from 1938 until his death in 1946, serving under Bishop LeGrand Richards. Bishop Ashton’s son, Marvin J. Ashton, later served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Photo of Ab Jenkins courtesy of the Utah State Historical Society and the photo of Ashton is from the 31 October 1942 issue of the Deseret News. 399 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - September 1945 Lynette Butler, Cheryl Kowallis, and Karla Garner (three cousins) on Cheryl’s fourth birthday in August 1948 outside the Kowallis home on 900 West Street in Pleasant View, Utah. doubtful whether we will move out with 10th Army or not. I hope so but I doubt it. How soon they will come out with something deffinit on us I do not know. For all the work we are doing they could have sent us home a couple months ago. It seems like all I do is think about what we are going to do when I get home. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 20 September 1945 Dearest Norma, I did what I could with Audrey’s negs last night but about all I can do is print them up as they are. I did manage to blow part of a couple of them up, but as you can see they didn’t turn out too good. I can only blow up a neg the same size as a 35 mm. The other day a notice came out that they wanted all men who had been in forestry to turn in their names. They need men with technical knowledge of the lumber industry in the Philippines. I never turned my name in so today I got notice that I was to let them know at once if I was interested in going. I told them I had no knowledge of the lumber industry, that my experience had been along entomological lines, and that I was not 400 Letters to the Paciic Norma - September 1945 401 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - September 1945 interested. I would certainly hate to get stuck with something like that. I fear it would mean another couple of years over here. Also, the 24th Corp up in Korea is calling for all surplus officers that 10th Army has. I don’t know yet if this will effect the P. I. officers, but it very well might. Have you ever heard from Carmen since they moved? Do you know where Ronald is? If he is in Japan I may get to see him yet. Tell Phyllis I will be glad to make her a necklace if she will send the chain. How is the necklace I sent you? Have the shells all faded white yet? At least I am glad that guy sent the agate back. Some day I’ll have it made up. I hope Lamar can get some chains so I can make up the other necklaces for you guys before I have to move. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 21 September 1945 Dearest Norma, I hope the ink in my pen dosen’t run out before I get this half page written. The mail has been catching up with me the last three days. Yesterday three letters came, and day-before-yesterday I got three, and I have had one today so far. It surely seems good to get all the news from home again. Your letter today brought some more negs and a request for some pictures for Clark. I only have a few of the negatives to the pictures for which he asked. Over half of the pictures I have sent home came from negatives I had borrowed or developed for other people, and to find them now would be next to impossible. I will do what I can on them. By the way, Some time back you mentioned you were having the Phone installed. What is your phone number out home? Who knows, but when I hit the coast in three or four months I may want to call you. I am sorry to hear Spence isn’t coming home as soon as expected. That’s the way the Army is. Things often change when you least expect it. In answer to all you P. S.’es, Gill is back on the Job & feeling fine. By this time you should have the pictures of the Japs surrendering. I still have not taken the roll of colored film. Since our transportation has been placed at the disposal of the G-2 section, I don’t have too much opportunity to get out around the island. The exema is about the same. Looks as if the points are coming down, but until they get down to 66 I guess I’ll stay out here. Now if Cheryl had just been twins, I would be all set for the homeward trail. Oh well, she is as good as two. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 22 September 1945 Dearest Norma, Here are the pictures you wanted. They are not to bad but they could have been better if the negs were not under exposed. Also they aren’t to good when you shoot them into the sun. Anyhow, I found them very interesting, but I would like to know who the two charming creatures are with their hair done up on top. Boy has your family got class. You look sweet enough to reach out and kiss, and that’s just what I would like to do. If only I can make it home by the first of the year. One year over here is plenty for me anyhow. I wish you had sent me that roll of negatives to develop so I could enlarge all the good ones. If there are any good ones on it send them out and I’ll do them up for you. I still don’t know what is going to happen to the P. I. teams. A letter was sent to higher headquarters today stating that we were available for reassignment. When the answer comes back in a few days we will know a little more about it. I hope they will say to take us back with 10th Army. I hope I am not building you up for a bit let down, but you said in one of your letters that you would rather be up in the clouds than thinking that I wasn’t going to be home for a long time. 402 Letters to the Paciic Norma - September 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 21 September 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Here it is 11 o’clock and Mom & I are huddled up against the stove waiting for my peaches to get done. Outside it is blowing & raining & cold. I decided that if you were coming home in two or three months, I might as well can a little fruit. So after we had finished picking today I got a nice bushel of peaches & Dad went to North Ogden & got two dozen jars for me. We just have the first boiler full on. It will take 20 min. & then we will put the next bunch in. This morning Dad & I went up at 8 o’clock & started picking the 5 bushel for your Dad. About 8:30 it started to rain. I had the field jacket on & I had picked up one of Dad’s heavy plaid shirts that I had left there yesterday, so Dad put that on & we kept on picking. After we got the five bushel we picked twenty five for Seely & all the time it poured & thundered & lightening. But we didn’t mind too much – we even sang a little & chuckled about how crazy we were. We had another order of 25 ripe ones but we decided to go to the house. Your Dad came just as we got to the house. I waved to them through the bath room window. Then a Man from Bear river came. He had left Bear river in dry weather & they always get there peaches here, so finally as the rain slowed down we went back up to the orchard with him. He & his wife & the neighbor women helped up pick. We got 18 bushel for them. Even my field jacket was soaking through. After they left, Seely called just to make sure it was all right if he went on a shoping tour on account of the rain. When he found we had them picked, he came right down. Then he said we could pick the 25 ripe ones. It had stopped raining but everything was wet. I had Dad’s 403 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - September 1945 You have never mentioned yet if you received the PTA check which amounted, as I recall, to some thing over $50. Let me know when you get it or if you have it now. It was sent out of my July pay. We have not been paid for Aug. so we will have two months coming at the end of Sept. I should be able to send $100 then. Here’s loving you more & more, Reinhart Okinawa 24 September 1945 Dearest Norma, Little as I can think of to say today, I guess I had better write it in a note if for no other reason than to let you know I still loves you all. I don’t think I mentioned it before, but two weeks ago I was sitting in church when a big heavy-set guy comes in and parks himself right in front of me. I looked at him but couldn’t quite place him. Then when he turned around and said hello to me, it was no other than Paul Gilgan my old rival. It seemed good to see him. He is in the Sukus. I think he has put on a hundred pounds since I last saw him in Odgen. Rumors are still runing wild around here. The latest one coming out this morning is that 10th Army is being broken up this week end and the personnel is to be broken up & reassigned to other units unless they have enough points to be sent back to the States. I sort of have the feeling that I won’t be coming back until some time next spring. The points won’t be down to my size before Dec or the first of the year, and even then it will take a couple months before I would get moving. I’ll just keep hoping for the best. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 26 September 1945 Dearest Norma, I had the darndest dream last night. I dreamed I was matching pennies with you and tossed all night. Then again, I dreamed I was chasing ghosts and I woke up with a handfull of sheet. But I found out where they get their clean sheets. They get them from the sheet house. Guess I better not tell you anymore of my dreams. Think I’ll hear about these as it is. But I don’t have these kind of dreams all the time. I usually dream I am home with you and Cheryl, they are always my best dreams. And then I dream about going deer hunting, but these are not so good because I never can get a deer. Just wait till next year. I’ll show em. Paul Gilgan called for Ray & I about 5:30 last night and took us to Mutual down at the 11th Bomb group. We called down at the 233rd hospital first and picked up the nurses. They are for Japan today. I hope the next trip I take is in the other direction. We are still sitting on the fence not knowing which way we are going. The days seem to get longer all the time. It seems like I have read everything but the dictionary while down here in the office. I keep thuming through my old Sports magazines that are laying around here, and day dreaming of the time when I can get out and do some of the things I want to again. In my imagination I have built my boat dozens of times, as well as a home, and plans for a shop. Oh well, another three or four months should not be to long. I feel almost sure that I will be on my way home by the first of the year, although I have no evidence upon which to base it. Here’s hoping. All my love, Reinhart 404 Letters to the Paciic Norma - September 1945 high top boots on so it didn’t bother too much. Cheryl gets more bumps per day than anyone I know. She seems to have no fear of anything & climbs as high as she can get & usually sits down to close to the edge & falls over, but she goes right up & tries it over again. She told Mom today she had to go to the toilet – she come to Mom & said “Toe Toe” & headed for the bath room. She has only told me twice before. I guess she would have been trained long ago, but no one has time to watch her. Today Mom put a scarf around her [Cheryl’s] neck & Karla wanted one too so she put one around Karla. They thought they were really dressed up. They went around all day like that. I had two jar boxes stacked in the corner of the kitchen & of course they both climbed up & had to sit on top together then they look at each other & laugh. If you ask Karla what her name is, she says “Name, Cherwol.” You can’t get her to say her name is Karla. LaMar wrote today that they are going to let them take the Radio Technician course because not enough volunteered for regular Navy. That makes him happy I guess. Spence is stationed at an elegant Hospital out of Paris. He has the X-ray department in charge. He had a private room & bath – clean sheets & all the luxuries of civilization. I guess it is quite an elegant affair. He thinks he will not get home before Christmas now. He sent his first pictures home that he had developed & they were pretty good, but of course they don’t compare with you’re expert work. Cheryl & I are both looking forward to that day when our Daddy will come home. Please hurry won’t you? All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 24 September 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Dad & I just got down from picking the last of the early Elbertas. I think we will just about finish up the late ones this afternoon. It is surely a relief to be so nearly through. I haven’t had time to look up the exact amount, but that check came for $57 that you wrote about. Phyllis was out Sunday & now she wants a turtle too. She also wanted a necklace, but I told her you probably wouldn’t have time to make both of them. Eldon Larson & his wife (my old District Pres) came down Saturday night for peaches & parked on the folks that night & Sunday. I’ll be glad when we have our own home so my friends won’t have to bother the folks. Not that they say anything, but I personally don’t like the idea. This is really short but I did want to write to you. I can at least tell how I think of you every day & every time I think about you coming home soon I just shout for joy. I do love you Sweetheart. God Bless & Watch over you & bring you home very soon to us. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 26 September 1945 Dearest Reinhart, I am just getting ready to do the biggest washing of my career. It has accumulated over a two weeks period while I have been picking peaches. I am sending off for the “Gun Digest” today so it shouldn’t be long until it is on its way to you. Golly, I just couldn’t believe that you could possibly have received that cake & to think that it was still in good condition. It must have been air tight. Just let me know if you want me to send another & I will. Of course I would much rather make one for your homecoming. It sounds so good to think that you may be coming home in November. I have been busy as a bee putting up fruit. I have 24 qts of peaches & 24 qts of Tomatoes. (I know you arn’t crazy about Tomatoes but they are so good for you.) I will also put up some pears when they are ready. Just doing a few things like this makes me feel sorta good. I hope we will soon be together. It will be wonderful. I’m glad the typhoon wasn’t more serious & I’m glad you were able to hold your tent down. Golly, I’d hate to go through one of those things. Then the darn typhoon had to blow away the cover from your mellon. You & Ray must have been very 405 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - September 1945 Okinawa 28 September 1945 Dearest Norma, If only I had ten more points I would be able to get out of the Army with the bunch that gets out in Oct. As it is I will have to wait at least until Nov. and maybe Dec. Then there is always the wait for transportation after eligibility for discharge has been attained. Ray seems to think he will get out in Oct. I got the film today that you sent but it may not be any good because the roll had broken open in the mail. It depends on how much light got to it as to whether it will be any good or not. I hope it is OK. Paul invited Ray, Chaplain Jones & myself up to dinner last night. They realy have it nice up his way. They have floors & sides on their tents, regular mess halls to eat in, and a beautiful location out on the peninsula with a bay on either side. At night when the ships are all lighted up it looks like a real metropolis. Anyhow, we had dinner with Paul, which was no better than what we have over here at our mess except that they had ice cream, and you can bet we got our share. Two bowls each with no scruples but plenty of gusto. After chow we went to the show. I don’t know the name of it but it must have been filmed during the first world war. At least the dresses the girls wore were way below the knees. Just before the end of the show, it rained and everyone slid down the hill in the mud. We went back down to Paul’s hut, chewed the fat for an hour or so & then took off for home in a pouring rain. Here’s loving you, even when I don’t get any mail like the last four days. How are the peaches coming? I guess you have them just about all picked by this time. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 29 September 1945 Dearest Norma, Still no mail and nothing to do here at the office, but I still have to be here all the time because the Col is gone to Tokyo, and I doubt that he will be back. I’ll have to hold this place down until 15 Oct when some one else is going to be put in the job. I developed the roll of film you sent and to my great surprise they are all good with the exception of a couple on the end where the light got in. It looks like you must have used the light meter on them because they are all so evenly exposed. I am going to print them up tonight. What is the story on the chains? If they don’t show up before long I think I will send the shells on home. Sgt. Gill went down to the beach yesterday with four little necklaces he had made and sold them for $10 each to the Navy. With all the shells I have I must be a capitalist. Be seein ya some time. Love, Reinhart 406 Letters to the Paciic Norma - September 1945 dissapointed. We’ll just raise a whole patch of them when you get home & you can eat & eat all you want. You are probably wise in keeping the place & until we find something else we had better hold on to it. I guess you & Ray must be among the really faithful ones of your congregation. You came out to church in all that rain. I think that is pretty good. Audrey stayed home today to can some peaches. She expects Spence may be realeased by Nov. too. Did I tell you that LaMar is going to get to take the Radio Tech. Course after all. He is quite happy about it. Last night I went to Mutual. It was quite fun going for once & not having to teach a class. We are all waiting & hoping for that day when you come home. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 28 September 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Brr – rr, it [is] really getting chilly around here. The other night it snowed about half way down the mountains & they just look so cold. A lady who came from Wyoming for peaches yesterday said it snowed 6 in there & just laid their grain flat. We have had two light frosts. One laid the tomato vines flat & also the squash & cucumbers. We went down to Cragun’s yesterday & looked under the vines & finally got a bushel of cucumbers for piclking. Cheryl & Karla were in the car & I spent most of my time running to the car to settle their difficulties. Karla pushed her onto the floor, pulled her hat off & in general made her miserable. Before getting cucumbers we picked three bushels of tomatoes up in our patch. Then last night we had Relief Society Officer’s meeting down at Grace Williams place last night. We were there until 11:30 P.M. writing invitations to our opening Social & figuring out our lunch. Then one of my old Missionary friends came to see LaRue Williams & I had a good old session of reminiscing with him. When I got home Cheryl started fussing & fussing all night long until I am just about dead this morning. She is here pestering me now & looking as chipper as ever – but her poor old Mother just couldn’t take it. We are getting ready to make some pickles now. I hope you will like them. Then Audrey & I are going down to the store house & can about 30 cans each of tomato juice & about 30 cans of soup. I am going to town with some of the women today to buy the vegetables & I guess we will work most of the day tomorrow making it & canning it. I’ll be glad when this busy fall canning season is over & good old lazy winter comes along. It is getting harder every day to wait for you to come. I can hardly wait for you to find out if you get to come home along with the 10th Army when the Navy takes over. Even if I do sort of rush these letters, you know I love you very much & I’m just doing all these things in anticipation of your coming home. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 29 September 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Here is another hurried note. I have just finished my Saturday cleaning and the mail man isn’t here yet so with good luck I can get this in. Yesterday Mom & I fished pickles all day – sweet & dill. I was going down to the store house & can tomatoes tonight but it sort of fell through. Last night Dad, Audrey & myself went to a show “Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker.” It was pretty good. Glena was out with a new fellow last night. He is up for Pres of the Junior Class & Glena is up for Junior Vice Pres. They went to the Ogden-Weber football game. While we were in the show the Weber kids came snake dancing in & yelling “Weber”, so we knew they were the victors. Out on the streets they made bon fires & just had a great time. I am waiting every day to hear that you will soon be home. Our Phone number – 21066. I’ll be so glad to hear you call. Oh I hope it will be sooner than 3 or 4 months. But I’ll be glad whenever it is. I’m glad the exema is better. All My Love, Norma 407 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - September 1945 Photo of Forest Meservy in about June 1945. Forest served in both World War II and the Korean War, and was a paratrooper. He also served an LDS mission to the Northern States Mission, the same mission where Norma Jensen Kowallis served. Norma tried to get Forest interested in her sister Ruth during a visit to Pleasant View in September of 1945, and although he did take Ruth out, he ended up marrying Iris Kunzler from Willard, Utah. Photo is courtesy of Iris Kunzler Meservy and her son Rayman Meservy. 408 Letters to the Paciic Norma - September 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 30 September 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Oh what a hectic day! It had just been one thing on top of another. After I met that missionary (Forest Meservy) down at Grace Williams the other night I decided to invite him & Lenord Barker over to dinner. He is staying with Lenord. You see I sort of hoped there might be a chance for Ruth. Well – they must have read my thoughts because right away they called & asked if Ruth would go to a consert with Forest last night. It was fast Sunday today and we had a good attendance. Forest bore his testimony & told what a good missionary I was & I got up & told what a good missionary he was (mutual admiration Society). Anyway after church they came over here to dinner. Another paratrooper was with them so we had three soldiers to dinner. We really had a banquet too. Fried chicken & all the trimmings & apple pie & ice cream. We’ll fix even a more Special meal when you come home. After dinner we sang & Forest played & then he entertained us with all kinds of crazy songs. He is really talented. Audrey played her guitar. Then Margaret & all of her four kids came & we sang some more. After she left, Aunt Annie & Uncle Jeff & Florence came. Then Ruth’s four bee hive girls came & Forest entertained them some more. The other two fellows left to get their girls, but he stayed & waited for them to come back. When they came back I took their pictures & Ruth & Forest went with the others. He is two years younger than Ruth, but I do wish it would work out. After they left we fixed dinner for Aunt Annie & Uncle Jeff & Florence. Now they have all gone & it is quiet & I’m all tired out. I just about forgot – I met Faun & Ray as I was going to church this morning. They were on their way to Logan to see if they could get a place there. He has a job teaching up there so I guess they will live up there. Saturday I went to town in the afternoon. Glena & I both bought us new winter coats. Mine is really pretty I think. I can’t discribe it to you. I guess you’ll just have to see it when you come home. It has a fur collar & cuffs. I tried to draw it but I can’t. Anyway Audrey wishes it were hers & Mom thinks it’s cute & the rest of them all like it so I guess it’s pretty cute. Phyllis called & said my slacks are ready. I’m anxious to see them. She said they just barely had enough material. The pictures you are getting for Clark don’t have to be the exact ones on some of them. Maybe you can substitute something. Just finish those pictures for Audrey small. I guess I forgot about 35 mm being the only kind you could do. I got a roll of colored film in town Saturday. I practically Sobbed on the man’s shoulder to get it. I told him my poor husband was away out in Okinawa & he just was dieing to see some pictures of our baby in Color. “Wouldn’t he please let me have one roll?” Well he couldn’t resist – he went down in the basement & got a roll of film for me. Yes & I also got the Reader’s Digest. Again the Outdoor Life was out so I substituted “Field & Stream.” The leaves are all turning color now & that old Fall feeling is in the air. You just seem to be such a part of Fall. I wish you were here to enjoy it with me. All the town’s people always ask about you. They seem to be almost as proud of you as I am. All My Love to You Sweetheart Norma 409 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - September 1945 U.S. Air Force planes on Okinawa with their own unique art work. Reinhart’s collection of photos included several of these decorated planes shown here. 410 Post-War October 1945 October opens with continued hope from Americans as their soldiers trickle home from the war fronts. Fighter Joe Louis is discharged on the 1st and many others follow. At home in Pleasant View, Norma wonders when Reinhart will finally be discharged. She shares her dreams and hopes of this event in almost every letter. Life is returning to normal in many ways. The baseball World Series begins on the 3rd with the Detroit Tigers taking on the Chicago Cubs. Detroit prevails 4 games to 3 to win the series. But even as the world contemplates a period of peace, the seeds of conflict are taking root in new places. Civil war breaks out in China between the U. S. supported forces of Chiang Kai-Shek and the communist followers of Mao Tse-Tung and in South America, dictator Juan Peron seizes power in Argentina. Both of these events would lead to years of conflict and to the suppression of freedom in these countries. In Okinawa, Reinhart attends a conference of over 400 LDS servicemen on the 7th of the month. He continues to make necklaces and other trinkets to send home to his wife and friends as well as some of the spoils of war: Japanese binoculars, a 300-year-old sword, a bugle, guns, and other items. On October 9th, Okinawa is hit by a powerful typhoon that destroys much of the camp where Reinhart is stationed including his photo work tent. His personal tent, however, is one of the few that is still standing the following morning. At home, Norma hears the news of the typhoon and then receives no word from Reinhart for a couple of weeks and worries that maybe he was injured or worse in the typhoon. But life on Okinawa seems to return to normal fairly quickly and Reinhart, whose photo talents are no longer needed, is assigned to help unload materials off of ships at Naha harbor. His problems with eczema become more and more severe until by the end of the month he is planning to go to the hospital to see if he can qualify for a medical discharge. Tenth Army Chapel showing the meeting times for different groups including the Latter-day Saints group that Reinhart attended. 411 October 1945 At home in Utah, Norma continues to wish for his return and to plan for their life once he does. She wishes that one of their neighbors would sell them a piece of ground at a reasonable price, she reports on some of the disappointing talks the returning servicemen give in their ward sacrament meetings, and she continues to try and corral their now 14-month-old daughter, Cheryl, who seems to love to find trouble whenever she can. But even though they do not know when Reinhart will be released, there is a feeling that he will make it home in time for Christmas, and that thought sustains and comforts Norma. They have been almost a year apart and both of them long for their reunion. Visit of movie star, Danny Kaye (left), and baseball star, Leo Durocher (right), to the typhoon ravaged soldiers in Okinawa in October 1945. Accompanying the two stars was General Patrick W. Timberlake of the 8th Air Force on Okinawa. Gen. Timberlake was a sports star of sorts himself; according to his page on Wikipedia, he had played “a critical role in the Army–Navy Game in 1922. He caught the goahead touchdown in the 4th Quarter to beat the Midshipmen, by 17-14.” The photo is an official Air Force photo from the Library of Congress. Another shot of Leo Durocher and Danny Kaye with the military brass on Okinawa in October of 1945. Kaye and Durocher do not appear to have come to the part of Okinawa where Reinhart Kowallis was stationed, but put on shows for servicemen there in other locations. Photo courtesy of the U. S. Library of Congress. 412 October 1945 Norma and Reinhart with their fish catch in a photo taken about 1943. Norma and her daughter Cheryl at the Jensen home in fall of 1945. 413 Reinhart - October 1945 Okinawa 3 October 1945 Dearest Norma, I will be able to make some of the small turtle shell pins, but I don’t have any of the large shells left so I can’t make any of those. As to the bracelet Glena wants, I don’t know if I can get it anymore. You see, those bracelets were made by a couple of boys over at the Post Office who were making and selling them. If they are still there I can get one made, if not Glena will have to settle for something else. I can make Phyllis a small turtle. The reason I can’t make any large ones is because I sent all the large ones home so you know how many of them I had altogether. There are only a very few of them found. Tell Phyllis if she will send me a chain, I can still make her a necklace. It doesn’t take long to make them if I have the stuff to do it with and I have plenty of shells for that. As to a rifle for Pop, about the best I can do is draw a picture of one for him. If I do get one he can have it. I wouldn’t shoot one of the things on a bet. The worst of our rifles are better than the best of theirs. I am enclosing a story your Dad will be interested in reading. In fact maybe all of you will, but what ever you do don’t let it get out because I cut it out of a classified G-2 report and would get in trouble for it until it is published by the Army first. Also save it. I would like to have it latter. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 5 October 1945 Dearest Norma, I wouldn’t worry to much about putting up a lot of stuff because by the time I get back the winter will be mostly over. In fact the Strawberries may be in bloom again. And you are not the only one who has big washing to do. I spent all morning getting mine out. It was so nice and cool last night that I had to put two blankets over me and today it is just about as hot as ever. I would give anything to be home and enjoy the cool fall days there. Since I wrote you yesterday, I found out that the story I sent you was given to the press a long time ago, so you may show it to anyone you like. It may even have come out in the paper at Ogden. I think I will send your pictures back home. It is getting so moldy I can hardly tell the color of the frame any more. Before long I am going to clean out my foot locker and send a lot of stuff home out of it to. When I leave here in a few months, I don’t want anything but my Val-Pack to carry or worry about. We have still not heard what is going to be done with the PI teams. I wish some one would get wise and send us all back to the States for deactivation. That would suit me just fine. I thot Ray would get out this month, but he has just one point to few. He needs 75 and he has only 74. Delbert just came in so I stoped and talked with him for a half hour. HE seems to be pretty busy at the air field. He tells me he has been up to Tokyo twice already. He says the black market is flurishing in every way. He doesn’t think he will get home until next spring some time. All my love to you, Reinhart Okinawa 6 October 1945 I just made up a package with yours & Cheryl’s pictures in to send back to you. The envelope I was going to send this letter in is also in there all addressed for you, but don’t start looking for the letter in it cause this is it. 414 Norma - October 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 3 October 1945 Dearest Reinhart, I am writing this letter in bettween trips of riding the derrick horse. Yes – I am getting to be quite a farm boy. I took Karla up & let her rid a little ways with me – she thought it was great. The leaves on the mountains have all turned colors. We had some of the leaves to decorate for our opening relief Soc. Social yesterday afternoon. We had about fifty women present. Everything went off fine. Each Teacher demonstrated her work for the year. Mom & I sang “We Love Our Work”. A relief Soc. song. After a few other songs we had lunch. It all turned out quite well. After the crowd had left – the Pres. got their heads together & we decided to go down to Salt Lake Thurs. to the Relief Society Conference. It is the first general conference we have had for quite some time. I hope I will get to go down for one session at least of the regular conference. Of course I was quite dissapointed to hear that their is a chance that you won’t get home until Spring – but I’m glad you let me in on all the rumors because then at least I know what you are thinking. I am still hoping something will turn up to bring you home at least by Christmas. I have looked forward so much to our Spending that day together. If the Navy is to take over there on Okinawa I imagine they will decide right away what is to be done with you. I should be getting a letter by the last of this week or the first of next week, telling what you are going to do. I am just hoping & praying that they will decide they don’t need you & that you can come home. I went to Mutual last night. Forest Meservy was there & he brought Ruth home. He is surely a smart fellow. If only Ruth could land him. But I’m afraid he is just a fellow who likes to date the girls wherever he goes. He is a religious fellow, but he is 2 yrs. younger than Ruth. Oh dear, I wish I could get Ruth a man. She is getting so discouraged with life. I think she is beginning to worry about the future. Darn – this war sure messes people’s lives all up. Cheryl is getting sweeter everyday but I’m afraid she is starting to be a mama’s girl. she won’t have anything to do with anyone else when I’m around. I wanted her to know who her mother was, but I also wanted her to be friendly to others. She will get over it though. I guess I’ll have to be a little more mean to her. She says so many things so cute & is such a good baby that she gives me very little room to be mean to her. She minds me so good. I tell her to take things back & she always does. Then if she had an axident on the floor she runs & gets a rag & wipes it up. Audrey was hunting for Karla’s panties last night & Cheryl ran off & in a minute she was back with Karla’s pants. I do hope Karla hasn’t pulled all of her hair out by the time you get home. Every time Cheryl walks by Karla – Karla pulls out a handful of hair. That Karla is so full of the dickens. Mom spanks her, Audrey spanks her. She has gone to throwing things too. Yesterday she threw a pair of sissors within a fraction of an inch of Cheryl’s head, but Karla is so sweet in bettween times that we all love her – but she does get into more trouble. Oh, I do hope you will get home soon. I just miss you so darn much I just don’t know how I can get along without you. I’ll be flying right over to see you. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 5 October 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Just now the opening session of our Conference has begun. The Quoir is singing “America” & now Pres. McKay has just finished praying. It was a grand prayer. Now our Relief Soc. Singing Mothers are singing “The Lord’s Prayer.” Yesterday, Grace, Amelia, & Minnie & myself were all going down to Relief Society Conference, but they all got sick & there I was ready to go so I just rode down to the bamburger with Audrey & went by myself. I sat by Mrs. Coefed who she told me was Pres. of Albert’s Relief Soc. We talked all the way down & then we decided that since we were both alone we would attend the conference together. We had a good seat in the Tabernacle. It was just filled with women. There was a sprinkling of men here & there. In the opening session Amy Brown Lyman – former General Relief Society Pres. spoke & also her first Councilor. 415 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - October 1945 I am also enclosing a few pictures that I took when I flew up to Tokuno the other day. I didn’t have time to go any place because we only stoped for half an hour. It’s all I think about any more is home. I wonder a lot if we will be able to set up a shop with all the strikes going on. If people don’t go back to work we won’t have anything to sell. Oh well, Cheryl and I are both pretty good Indians. We can keep you supplied with venison to eat. Here’s to seeing you soon. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 8 October 1945 Dearest Norma, We held a wonderful conference yesterday. One session was held in the morning at 10:00 and another in the afternoon at 1:30. The afternoon session ran until 4:00. There were 423 present, and we had some realy good speakers. I am enclosing a few pictures Jack made up for me. He picked them up from some one else’s negatives. I wish the mail would come through more regular than it does. I have a tough time trying to find some thing to say when I don’t get any mail. Last night after supper Ray, myself, Stevenson, Brown, & Swenson all happened to come around to Ray’s tent to watch a spider build it’s web and in the course of events a bull session started. All of us being L.D.S. the comments started out in regard to the conference and we ended up talking about what we were going to do when we get home. Those of us who don’t have homes are trying to work out some way of getting one. I think my case for the moment is hopeless until the business is started. Paul Gilgan told me he was having his wife look around for a home in Ogden. If we had ten thousand dollars instead of three, we could do the same. In the course of the mentioned bull session and while discussing business possibilities, the idea struck me that in case Brigham doesn’t work out, Ogden might be a good bet in itself. Five Points might even be a good spot, but of course some investigation would have to be made before any conclusion could be drawn. It’s just an idea that might be worked upon. If we ever should go into Ogden, we could then live in Pleasant View. At least it is a delightful thot though I don’t know about the practicability of it. I wish you would send me any ideas you might have. After all you are my right hand man in the deal. All my love, Reinhart LDS servicemen’s conference on Okinawa, October 7, 1945. 416 Letters to the Paciic Norma - October 1945 In the afternoon Pres. George A. Smith spoke in the Afternoon & also the new Relief Soc. Pres. – also Bish. Aston & Bish. Richards & Bish. Worthland. Oh yes we had dinner at the Hotel Utah. After the last session we went shopping. I looked for chains but couldn’t find any. LaMar says he has found some out there & is sending one home. I had to wait an hour in Ogden for the 9 o’clock bus so I shopped in Pay Less drug store. I even found an Outdoor Life for you. I just took time out to sustain the first Pres. They are asking even the Radio listeners to join in the sustaining. They are having each group of the Priesthood from the First Pres. on down to the deacons & then the congregation vote separately & they only vote for one group at a time. They stand to vote. It will take most of the morning but I’m sure they know what they are doing. Matthew Cowley is the new member of the Apostles. At One O’clock we are having a clinic at the church & the Relief Soc. Pres. have been asked to assist the doctor. I guess I will have Cheryl vaccinated for Whooping Cough. She will probably be misserable for a few days – but I guess it is best to have it done. Mom says that yesterday Karla & Cheryl were so silly while I was away. They were out sitting on the front steps. All of a sudden Karla pushed Cheryl. Then she went over & kissed her. Cheryl sat & looked at Karla for a while & then got up & went over & kissed Karla. Then she went over & sat down. Then Karla came over & kissed her & Cheryl went over & kissed Karla. They just kept that up. Then all of a sudden they both started laughing. They laughed & laughed & laughed. Then every time Cheryl would get into something Karla would call Mom. This morning they were outdoors. Karla called to tell me that Cheryl was getting into a bushel of cling peaches. In a few minutes I went out again & Cheryl was right out on the highway & Karla was following her. Karla has never gone onto the road & I had no idea they would do anything, but I guess when Cheryl went, Karla just thought she had to go too. Boy I gave those kids a paddling they won’t forget. I think that is a good reason for paddling them. Golly it scared me so bad. I can see I am going to have to keep my eye on Cheryl every minute. They have just finished the sustaining. Now the Quoir is singing “We Thank Thee O God For a Prophet.” They are now having Matthew Cowley come & take his place with the Twelve. Pres. Smith is now going to Speak. He says he doubts that there is a man in the house that feels as humble as he does. I haven’t had a letter from you for several days. I hope when it comes it will be good news. I just wish you were here this very minute with us. But if we have to wait until Spring or Summer, we will wait because the man we are waiting for is the very nicest & grandest person I know. All My Love Sweetheart, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 7 October 1945 Dearest Reinhart, I’ll be so glad when you find out something definite about coming home, but I don’t suppose we will really be sure of anything until you are actually on your way home. If you only had those 10 extra points. You are getting quite a group of Mormons out there. I met an Elder Bangeter down to our missionary reunion & he says he has a Brother (Major Bangeter) there on Okinawa. He was wondering if you would know him. Yes, I went down to our missionary Reunion this year. Saturday morning I went down & bought me a new dress in Ogden. It is Gold color & has nail heads all over the top. I wanted a new dress for when you came home so I decided to get it now. I haven’t had one for a year now. I dashed home & Ruth & I got ready & dashed back to Ogden. We caught the Bamburger to Salt Lake. We went into the Hotel Utah to primp & as we were leaving we met Moyle Peterson & his wife Ethel Cowley. Remember I used to go around with her & Moyle used to date me. They walked to the bus with us. We caught no. 10 bus up to Yale Avenue & walked to the Hill Crest Ward. I saw so many of my missionary friends. I had brought Ruth along to introduce her to some of the missionaries, but lo & behold they were all married. Even Elder Bennett that you met on Gwam was there with his new wife (married 3 days). I told him if it wasn’t for his recent marriage I would ring his neck for all the things he told you. He said you were looking as handsome as ever. Then Elder Bagley was there. He worked with us in Eau Claire, Wis. Then there were a lot of others I knew. Elder Meservy (the one I had over for dinner) was there with another girl, so Ruth was disappointed. Sr. Page (my first companion) invited us to stay with her all night so we did. She was on the committee so we had to stay & clean up & wash dishes. It was 1:30 when we got home & 2:30 before we stopped talking & went to sleep. One of the missionary wives came up to me & said “You are so pretty. I think you look just like Hedy LaMar.” Of course 417 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - October 1945 Another shot of the LDS servicemen’s conference held on October 7, 1945 on Okinawa where 423 servicemen were in attendance according to Reinhart’s letter home to Norma. Okinawa 10 October 1945 Dearest Norma, I hope you aren’t going to too much trouble bottleing a lot of stuff that I won’t be home to help you eat this winter. Just to keep you posted, we still have not heard what is going to happen to us, but one thing sure we won’t be going home with 10th Army. In fact, only a very few will. All this news paper talk about all the men that will be coming home with 10th Army is strictly for the birds. No one is leaving except the high point men. Another Typhoon hit us yesterday so I didn’t get a letter to you. We had all we could do to keep our tent on the ground. About half the tents were gone this morning including my photo tent. I think the only thing that saved the tent we are living in is the fact that we are right by a little hill and when the wind changed it gave us some protection. There were two tents on top of the hill that took off like a couple of wild ducks. I don’t think they even did find the one of them. They claim it was the worst typhoon they have had here for seven years. The wind got up over a 100 m.p.h. It would drive the rain through the canvas until it was about as wet inside as out. I had put a shelter half my rain coat over my bed so it was the only dry spot I could find. At dark I crawled in and never got up until sun up this morning. The front of Ray’s tent caved in but some how the center pole stayed up so he put every thing he could over his bed and that way he kept quite dry. About the middle of the night a rat started playing around on top of my bed. I didn’t mind as long as he stayed down by my feet, but when he started jumping up and down on my stomach I took a swing at him and then he ran right up over my face. What a night! Some of the boys from other tents that went down came over and slept on chairs in out tent. We spent all of today rebuilding our camp. For my part they can give Okinawa back to the Okinawans. I’ll take any part of Utah in its stead. Day before yesterday we each were given a souvenir. We could take our choice of a Jap pistel, sword, or binoculars. I took the binoculars, then I came back and got those old binoculars I found down in a Jap cave last sum418 Letters to the Paciic Norma - October 1945 Publicity photo of film star Hedy Lamarr (courtesy of Wikipedia.com) compared to photo of Norma Jensen Kowallis. Some apparently thought there was a resemblance. Bamberger train near Farmington, Utah. The Bamberger Electric Railway was built under the leadership of Simon Bamberger, pioneer Utah coal-mine operator and railroad entrepreneur. Bamberger projected the Ogden-Salt Lake City line as a steam line as early as 1891; and in 1908 Ogden was connected to Salt Lake City on what was known as the Bamberger. The line was electrified on 28 May 1910 and renamed the Bamberger Electric Railway. The business of the line included commuter and shopper travel between Ogden and Salt Lake City as well as heavy summer traffic to Lagoon resort. Bamberger had developed Lagoon at Farmington to compete with the Denver and Rio Grande’s resort, Lake Park, on the shore of the Great Salt Lake. In 1908 the Bamberger had five daily trains running both directions. The Ogden depot of the Bamberger was located on Lincoln Avenue just north of 24th Street. [Description and photo courtesy of utahrails.net and the Utah State Historical Society]. 419 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - October 1945 The G-2 camp area after the typhoon of October 9, 1945. Most of the tents were damaged and many were blown away. Rivers of water and mud flowed down into the camp area. Reinhart’s photo interpretation work tent after the devastation of the 9 October 1945 typhoon. The soldiers in the photo may be some who worked in his PI group. 420 Letters to the Paciic Norma - October 1945 I didn’t believe her, but just when I was beginning to think age was creeping in upon me, it did boost my moral. This morning Sr. Page fixed breakfast for us. While Ruth & I did dishes she was supposed to get ready but she had just barely started when we got through. I wanted to get to Conference early so we could get a seat. It was 9:30 a.m. when we finally got down town. Sr. Page had to meet another girl, so Ruth & I wormed our way through the crowd & finally reached the stairs to the balcony. It didn’t look like we would ever get in, but we pushed & squeased & finally reached the top of the stairs. Some man showed us a spot over on the North side along the railing where no one was standing, so we followed him over there. I started talking & found out he is in Albert ‘s Ward too. He was a bachelor & was trying to reform. He said he couldn’t get any girl to marry him. He told me how he liked one girl but he couldn’t tell weather she liked him or not. I told him that he should persist like you had done & I told him how glad I was that you persisted. He id from Lyman & remembers when the Clyde Construction gang was up there. His name is Wall. He said to ask you if you met the Wall family while you were up there. We sat on the railing while David O. McKay spoke & then Lester B was sitting on the first row in front of us. Someone left because it was too hot so Lester slid over & made room for Ruth & myself. After Conference we met Audrey over by the Museum. She came down on the Bamburger. We also found Mildred Page. We dashed over to a fruit store & bought grapes, apples & cookies. Then we bought each of us a half pint of ice cream & then dashed bach to the Tabernackle. We got a good seat & ate our lunch right there. It was a wonderful conference. They stressed being tolerant & having love in our homes & love toward our neighbors & those not of our faith. Pres. Clark urged us to keep our church ceremonies simple & not introduce elaborate dressing in administering the sacrament as had been done in some wards. He said for us to not change the order of the Church to suit our own conditions. The meeting stressed to sustaining & upholding our leaders. The Word of Wisdom was brought out by two speakers. “We must worship in our hearts & not in our ceremony,” said Pres. Clark. The Welfare plan was discussed by Marion G. Romney & Benson. “We must be one in Temporal Things as well as Spiritual.” Bro. Kimball said that he hoped none of our boys were allowing any obsene stories to come from their lips. “Let our light so shine before men that others seeing our good works will magnify our Father in Heaven.” I will send you a copy of the talks as soon as they come out. It was really a wonderful conference. We visited a little after conference & then caught the Bamburger home. We had to stand it was so crowded. The fellow I met in conference was there too & he came & stood with us. Audrey let him ride out to 13th street with us. He was going to try to get Albert to take him back to Centerville where his car had two flat tires. Cheryl was just going to bed when I got home. Her vacination is beginning to work. I was so glad to see her. I think I’ll stay home for the next month. You will think I am a regular gad about, but I did want to go to conference & I’m sure you would want me too. Of course my favorite subject. I missed you so much at our reunion – everyone was there with their husbands – except the old maids & when I saw them holding hands & looking sweet at each other I just wished you were there. It surely isn’t half the fun to do any of these things when I do them without you. It’s just like doing something half way. I love you so very much and I just pray those days that separate us will soon be only a memory. All My Love to You Sweetheart, Norma P.S. I will send this one chain to you that LaMar sent. If it is O.K. I’ll have him get some more. 421 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - October 1945 mer, took them back down and traded them in for a Samuai sword so now I have both sword and binoculars. I boxed the sword up and sent it off in the mail yesterday. I insured it for $100 so I think it will get home all right. The one I have is around 300 years old. Capt. McJacy got one that is 518 years old. I’ll be mailing the binoculars in a couple of days but I don’t think they will get home in time so Pop can use them for deer hunting. Just think in another ten days it will be time to go out and get a buck. If only I could be home and you could go with me. Here’s hoping I’ll be home soon with my two Darlings. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 12 October 1945 Dearest Norma, I certainly hope the storms are a thing of the past. They not only make it be very uncomfortable to live but we don’t get any mail. Yesterday morning Chaplain Jones called around for Ray and myself and we took a little tour down the country. The high light of the day was stopping down at the See Bee’s to visit Haws (another LDS man, and having ice cream for dinner along with a K-ration. You can tell things are pretty tough when the See Bee’s are eating K-rations to. Their place was in just as bad shape as ours. The storms had leveled it. Chaplain Evens says that after they saw one of the nurses quarters from the other side of the hill go sailing over their tent and crash on top of a jeep, they got out and spent the night in a tomb. We came back from our little tour by way of Naha and with out even trying to see to much we picked out four ships that had been sunk or crashed against the reef. Some one said there was 1500 lives lost in the storm, but I don’t know how true that is. I know there were a lot of them. Back here at the CP everything is about the same. We still have no word as to what our disposition is going to be. Hope we get some mail today. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 13 October 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, Here are the little shell turtles you wanted for the gang pluss the necklace I made for you. I hope you like it. The big turtle is for Mom if she wants it. If not she is to take any other one that she likes. I am sorry I was unable to get the bracelet for Glena, but she will have to settle for one of these pins. I’ll leave it up to you as to how they get divided up after Mom gets hers. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 14 October 1945 Dearest Norma, Here it is Sunday night again. I wish I was home with you and then after church we could sit around poping corn, or maybe eating a water mellon. Do you even see Albert and Gay and has Carmen written you of late? Has she said anything as to where Ronald is? Yesterday I spent most of my time making little turtle pins to fill your order. I sent them off this morning so they should be home in a couple of weeks. I have located one more chain so I’ll make up another necklace and when I send it to you you can give it to Phyllis, of whom ever you wish. Ray & I got picked up by the MPs yesterday for shooting in the CP area. We didn’t know we were until these two guys came over the hill and told us we were violating a general order and they would have to take our names. 422 Letters to the Paciic Norma - October 1945 423 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - October 1945 U. S. Army photos of (above) the officer and enlisted men’s mess tents on Okinawa and (below) the army operations room on Okinawa, probably taken before the October 1945 typhoon. 424 Letters to the Paciic Norma - October 1945 425 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - October 1945 426 Letters to the Paciic Norma - October 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 10 October 1945 (2nd letter this date) Dearest Sweetheart, Today I received a letter from you. Although it was only on one side, I was glad to get it. I see by your letter that you arn’t getting any mail. I know I haven’t written every day, but I have hardly ever missed writing every other day & now that our canning and peach picking is over I have been writing every day. I hope you soon start getting my letters & I hope I soon start getting more letters. If you feel like I do & I think you do it certainly is an awful feeling to not get any letters. I usually see the mail man & dash down & look expectantly through the pile. If you could see me dashing back full speed then you would know I had a letter from you, but if I just walk back then you could rightly conclude that as far as I was concerned the box was empty. It looks like LaMar is going to be cheated out of his R. T. training. They decided to give it to them after all & most of the boys were sent off to school. LaMar & a few others just happened to be near the end of the group & they needed a few guards, so LaMar was picked along with his friend Dean to stay at the same camp. They have to see that the fellows keep the barracks clean & they get off four nights a week. Most of the fellows think it is swell, but LaMar says it’s not what he wants. He wants to be learning something & not wasting his time. Mom wrote a letter to his commanding Officer, but I don’t know weather it will help or not. Just think he will have this guard business from 4 to 6 mo. & after that start his R. T. training. The ones that are starting the R. T. training will finish & be out of the Navy 6 mo. before LaMar is. Spence is still at the Hospital in France. I guess he’s really living in luxury. He is in charge of the x-ray department. I haven’t written to Carmen yet & I’ll just have to get it done soon, but it’s been such a busy summer I just haven’t had time to breath. Just imagine I wear a size 11 dress now instead of 14. That is three sizes smaller. Ruth has about 15 girls in the front room wrapping grab bags to sell at our Country Store tomorrow night. Mom is over at the church pricing the stuff that has been donated. They have had committees canvasing Ogden city to get stuff for our store. Then everyone in the Ward is giving produce or anything they want to give. Mom says that Van Kampens furniture store gave a $40 occassional rocker. The Coal Co. donated two tons of coal. Samuel’s a dress. The knitting factory a beautiful pair of slacks. Then they have a $30 coat, girdles, slips, pies, cakes, dishes, blankets & bridles & everything imaginable. Dad is donating 4 bushels prunes, 4 bushels pares, 4 chickens, a sack of potatoes. Everyone is then expected to spend about $50 at the store. It will all go to building the church. I think I’ll take $25 over & see if there is anything I really need. I may only 427 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - October 1945 428 Letters to the Paciic Norma - October 1945 spend 5¢ but if there is things I need I would just as soon get it so I can help on the church. They are having a dance after the store closes. If only your were here to trip the light fantastic with me. Of course, you would probably get tired but I’d be glad to go home with you. So you have taken over the colonel’s job while he is in Tokyo. They must have had a lot of confidence in your ability to give you that job. Maybe when the 15th comes & someone else is given that responsibility, they will send you home. I hope. I’m so glad the films were O.K. I can hardly wait to see them. This is one time you will get to see them ahead of me & I can’t even take out the bad pictures. I didn’t want to have LaMar send any more of those chains unless they were all right. They are just common ordinary dog-tag chains. If they are all right he can get as many as you want – at $10 a piece you would really make a haul. I just can’t understand why they don’t have those chains in Ogden, but it won’t take LaMar long to send them if they are all right. Xury had to tell Glena & a bunch of other kids about Cheryl being down in the road. He said that after he gave her to me Cheryl waved at him & said Bye Bye. I guess I was so scared I didn’t even notice. Audrey just got a call saying that New York was calling. They asked if she had a Sgt. Elden Garner. They can’t get the lines cleared yet, but Audrey is just about dying wondering if he is in New York or if he is calling from France. I’ll let you know when we find out. If only it were you calling to say you were in the good old U. S. A. I know I would be the happiest girl in All the world. All My Love to You Sweetheart, Norma (Next Morning – Audrey is still waiting for her call. It is coming from Switzerland) Pleasant View, Utah 12 October 1945 Dearest Reinhart, I do hope you are getting some mail by now. You are in the same predicament as LaMar. He hasn’t had any mail for two weeks & I have never heard him sound so sad. He says he feels so sad he just doesn’t know what to do. It’s just too bad you have to be away from home without having to go without mail. Yesterday I heard about the terrible Typhoon that struck Okinawa. They said that 5 or 7 were killed and that most of the men lost their personal belongings. I do hope you are all right & that your things weren’t all carried away. I just would give a lot to be able to talk to you so that I would be know that you are all right. I hope those nurses who were Mormons weren’t on their way to Japan. I’ll just be waiting & hoping that a letter comes through real fast telling that you are O. K. Of course I know you will be, but it was probably a very unpleasant experience. Cheryl is looking at your new picture. I told her to give you a big kiss right on your mouth & you should have seen the big juicy kiss she gave you. The pictures you printed came yesterday & I was so tickled over them. You surely made them look different than when I send them down town. Those of Cheryl were so cute & I thought the one of me was pretty good too. The enlargements were just swell. We want these pictures finished: 2(No. 10), 4 (No. 13), 4 (No. 15), 3 (No. 16), 2 (No. 26), 1 (No. 17), 5 (No. 23 & 24), 4 (No. 22), 2 (No. 19), 4 (No. 18), 3 (No. 5), 3 (No. 2), 2 (No. 1). I did use the light meter but I also used it on all the others I have taken. If all your things were destroyed, maybe you won’t even have the negatives. The Country Store was a big success. I guess they must have made at least $1,500. Uncle Walt & Aunt Helen were there. Margaret Bergen & her Sister in Laws brother was there. They had booths where you could throw darts at the bulls eye & get candy bars & also a booth where you toss pennies in a dish & if you hit it you got an apple. Just on those two booths they took in $30. Ruth & her girls had a grab bag booth. They took in $15.65. Then they had a lunch counter with ice cream cones, hot dogs, bars, punch. Glena’s gang had a bean guessing contest. The winner got a $15 electric rasor. I don’t know how much they made. The stake presidency was there. The North Ogden bishopric was there & many others. They danced also. I danced once with Margaret’s friend. 429 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - October 1945 430 Letters to the Paciic Norma - October 1945 Golly I just found out it’s way past time for the mail man. My watch had stopped. I pray the Lord may watch over you alway. I am thankful that you are helping in the Church. I am sure the Lord will be with. I miss you more & more every day. Come home soon won’t you. All My Love to You Sweetheart Norma Pleasant View, Utah 13 October 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, Still the papers seem to know very little about the damage done on Okinawa. From what you have told me about where you are, I would think that you were not on the part of the island that was struck the worst. I surely hope that is the case. It sounds like nearly everyone’s belongings were lost. I hope you were able to keep your things. I have wondered about Paul Gilgen. He was with the Navy & it seems that they were hit the worst. The radio says that the food situation there is quite bad & it is probable that most of the boys there will be sent home. I hope you arn’t too important & they decide to keep you there. I hope the news will be more definite soon. Aunt Anna is worried about Delbert Burnett. He is on the island too. Dad says, “Oh Reinhart will be all right. He is used to roughing it & he will know what to do to take care of himself.” I will have to get this right in the mail. We are all anxiously awaiting news. I am sure you will be all right, but it will be good to hear it from you that you are O. K. May the Lord Bless you Always. I love you so very much. Norma P.S. I hope the storm doesn’t make the mail deliveries worse than ever. Pleasant View, Utah 14 October 1945 Dearest Reinhart, It is Sunday afternoon, the company (or Phyllis, Wayne, & family) have gone & I am sitting out here on the front porch so I can keep an eye on Cheryl & write to you. If I stay in doors, I have to run out so many times I’d never get this written. Already today I have changed her dress twice because she has played with the water hose. She tries to drink out of it & just drowns herself. I have her in the swing now but I see she is trying to climb out. She has also pulled one of her shoes off. Karla is slipping down the slippery slide behind me & bumping me in the back which accounts for the jogs every so often. I went to Sunday School as usual this morning. Several people mentioned the Typhoon on Okinawa & were concerned over your safety. Bishop Rhees said we made $1700 on the party the other night. That is pretty good, I think. Phyllis & Wayne have moved back to the mills again. They surely move often enough. Phyllis, Wayne, & I went up & picked a few tomatoes that the frost left & also picked some seedless grapes. They are so good now. All I can think about these days is the Typhoon & wonder how you are fareing. I hope you have enough to eat & I hope it doesn’t make it so it is impossible to get mail back & forth. I was wondering about all those shells you gathered & I think it would be such a shame if they have all been washed away. But if you are all right that is the main thing. I probably can’t expect any word from you for at least a week. At the rate I have been getting mail it may be longer. I hope it won’t be so very long. I just can’t think of anything nicer than having you home with me. Dad & Wayne went out to Salt Creek duck hunting yesterday. It was the first day of the hunt. The farmers who owned the ground had fenced it off so they couldn’t drive down. Some one who belonged to the duck club gave them a ride. Everyone was surely dissapointed. They were late getting there & only got two small Teal ducks. Dad gave them both to Wayne. Cheryl & Karla are both pestering me so I can’t even write. Cheryl is determined to have your picture. She took it in to show Mom & now she is climbing all over me to get it again. She is really facinated by it for some reason. She says, “Da Da” and hollers for the picture. I guess it’s just that way you have with all the girls. At least you have a way with this particular girl. I know I could not have found any one to compare with you in all the world. Living with you has been the grandest part 431 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - October 1945 Copies of two editions (on the previous pages) of The Buccaneer were included in Reinhart’s letters to Norma recounting the damage from the typhoon and the frustration of the soldiers at not having anything useful to do anymore in Okinawa and wondering why the government had not made a decision on what to do with the 10th Army. 432 Letters to the Paciic Norma - October 1945 of my life so it is no wonder that I look forward so much to your homecoming. When I think of the many times the Lord has come to our aid & has never failed to help us, I am sure that he will be with you now. God Bless & Keep You, I love you as I always shall. Norma P.S. I am glad you like our little sweetheart because she is very precious to me too. P.S.S. I am starting to put the P.I. #151 on your letters to see if that makes any difference in your getting them. Pleasant View, Utah 17 October 1945 Dearest Reinhart, This morning I was through with my work by 11 o’clock & as the mail man usually doesn’t come until 12:30 or 1 P.M., I felt I would have just plenty of time to write a nice long letter. I had just sat down with my paper before me when along came the mail man or I should say mail woman. The mail man was on vacation & had a woman to do his job & she was just too darn fast. Anyhow I felt terrible, but there was a nice short letter from you – so I was happy. Your letters have been getting through just fine the past few days. For some reason they look like they have had a water bath. One was all unsealed & the address blurred so it was hardly readable. We enjoyed the article about the two Jap Officers committing Hari Kari. Or I should say we were very interested. It would have been the first time we had heard it if it hadn’t been that Gilbert Smith–one of the home boys who just returned the last of Sept from Okinawa–stopped in Monday night to visit us. (Gilbert told the story quite different. He said they had two nurses who they killed first. I was glad to hear the official account of it. It just goes to show how a story can be changed). He looked at a lot of the pictures you sent & told me a lot about them. He was in the 7th Army Infantry & stationed at the far southern tip. He said that I shouldn’t worry about you because he didn’t think that where you were the typhoon would hit as hard. I surely hope it didn’t. If mail gets through I should get some news from you about the storm in about three days. I was glad you saw Delbert. I called Aunt Anna right up & told her about it. She was glad about it too. She said Delbert had said in one letter that he had been over to see you but you were to Mutual & he wasn’t dressed up so he went back to camp. Your trip to Tokuno sounded so interesting. You must have been flying low to get such nice pictures. Did you get elected as one of those to gather up amunition? Did the man come to replace the Colonel on the 15th as they were suppose to? Dad & the same gang that went last year, plus two more, are all getting ready to leave for the hunt Friday. Dad doesn’t like the idea of so many going but he is hoping this will be the last year you will be away & then of course he plans that you will take him along. I too am hoping & I’m sure that next year will see us all out there bringing home the bacon. I’m afraid Cheryl is still small for carrying a gun, but she can do plenty of root-toot-tootin on the home front. Mom, Dad & the rest have been running around like they didn’t have good sense. I guess Mom will get the milking job again. Now Honey, I’m not putting up a lot of fruit & even if the strawberries are ripe it will be awhile until the peaches are on & I’ll bet they’ll taste mighty good anyway. I just feel so–so deeply hurt to think you didn’t appreciate my efforts & say “You are a darling little wifey to go to all that bother.” I shall probably go in deep morning for days–because it’s all done now & just can’t dump it out–but you just watch & see. I’ll bet you’ll be even glad to eat the tomatoes when I start pinching pennies for our new store. I hope you don’t take the things I say seriously because I’m clucking – can’t you hear me honey? It is now after 12 o’clock. I have been sitting up waiting for the last boiler of fruit mix to finish boiling. These are for Mom, but when Audrey & I came home from the show tonight I just told Mom to go to bed–she looked so tired. I have just taken the last of them out now so I think I will go to bed too. We went to the early show so got home at 10 o’clock. We saw “Christmas in Conneticut.” It was pretty good. I’ll be glad when we can go again together to a show or just sit at home. Yesterday was our work & business day at Relief Soc., so I went over at 10 o’clock in the morning & came home at 4 o’clock in the Afternoon. Then I went to mutual at night. I am really thankful for my work in the Church & our sweet baby. If it wasn’t for them I would probably be in the dumps continually instead of a “ray of sunshine” as Charlie Walton told Dad I was the other day. I was surprised that Charlie would say anything like that – but then I think that when a girl has such a darn good husband to wait for & when she knows he loves her it doesn’t take much to make her beam. (That dream you 433 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - October 1945 It started by my having a lot of 45 amunition that I didn’t know what to do with so after dinner we decided to go up in the gravel pit and do some target practice. We had each fired about two clips each when the MPs stopped us. If you hear of my being in jail you will know what it is about. The past storm realy played rough with the navy. I know for sure that at least 52 ships were lost and I don’t know how many more. I have also heard said that they lost 3000 men, but I can’t say this is true. In any case it was bad enough so that the commanding officers out here have made recommendations to Washington to move all troops from the island except those needed for what little work there is to be done here. I don’t know if I mentioned it but I mailed the Jap binoculars home yesterday. Our APO number is suposed to change, but so far they haven’t told what it is to be. APO 357 is closing down right away so if some of your letters come back to you it isn’t because I am on my way home, but just because they have no place here to send our mail. I haven’t done a thing today except go to church this afternoon. Ray & Swensen went down to Naha with Chaplain Jones tonight but I thot I had better stay here and get a letter written or my Sweetheart wouldn’t be very happy. I am going to keep sending stuff home now and then because when I leave here I [don’t] want anything to carry but my Val Pack & bed roll. All my love to you Sweetheart, Reinhart Okinawa 15 October 1945 Dearest Norma, After today 10th Army is no more, but so far as I know our address is the same until we get further orders. We are expecting deactivation orders any day. When they come through we will be broken up as teams. Some of us will be sent home, if we have enough points, while others will be reassigned to other units. I still have hopes of getting out of here before the 1st of the year. I haven’t done a thing today but make a necklace which I’ll send home one of these days. How is that first necklace I sent you standing up? Are the shells all fading out and turing dull or does it still look all right? Just before supper Ray and I walked out along the hill and picked some tangerines. They are not quite ripe yet, but I eat them just the same because it’s the only fresh fruit we can get. We also found one little bunch of bananas that was ripe enough to pick. There are only about 8 little bananas on it. The other day I found a couple of Persimons to. There is more stuff around here than I thot there was. We could have had quite a few Persimons if the storm had not blown them all down. The storm even blew the leaves off of a lot of the trees. Here are a couple more can openers. Maybe you will be able to use them when I get home. Also, I am sending a few pictures of our area after the last storm. Keep the home fires burning because sooner or later I’ll be coming. I can hardly wait to see Cheryl. All my love, Reinhart Okinawa 18 October 1945 Dearest Norma, Last night I got in at 1:00 AM and the night before it was almost 12:00 o’clock so I didn’t feel much like writing. Believe it or not we have been put back to work again for a few days. The task groups that brought back the Jap arms are out in the bay waiting to be unloaded so they put us to work checking the stuff as it comes off the ship. What a mess of junk they have to. The ship we are unloading now has over 14,000 rifles on pluss a lot of other stuff. I have a rifle here I was going to send home to your Dad (I wonder where I got it) but I think I will let one of the boys have it and get a new one out of the bunch we have to unload yet. I also have another 434 Letters to the Paciic Norma - October 1945 had I hope it soon come true) I’ll be waiting for you & lovin you as always. Write me a nice big long letter when you have lots of time. You don’t have to stick to facts. I love to hear your pipe dreams or nonsense or anything you have to offer. Love you Always, Norma P.S. The kids will be tickled to get those small pins. I’ll see Phyllis & tell her as soon as I can. Pleasant View, Utah 18 October 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Mom has been down to the store house all day making jakets to send to the members over seas. They were sending out 400 jakets tonight just from our storehouse. I have been taking care of the two wild Indians while she was away so about all I accomplished was keeping them under control & seeing that they put back all the kettles, books, magazines & toys that they carried from one room to another. It has turned cool again so it was almost to cold for them to be outdoors. They got out two or three times in spite of the cold wind outdoors. Karla holds the door for Cheryl & together they make their escape. As soon as they get out they head for the prunes, apples, or pears. When they hear the door open, Karla throws hers as hard as she can & Cheryl runs & puts hers back, but there is usually one or two bites out of the fruit. Last night Audrey was teaching Cheryl to throw a kiss. Tonight when I took her to bed, I said, “Give Mother a kiss” & instead of the usual juicey kiss she threw me a kiss & then laughed & laughed. I tried & tried to get her to give me a real kiss, but she just kept throwing me kisses & laughing. There were some pictures in the paper tonight of the typhoon damage on Okinawa. One was of a big ship turned up on end. Another was of the post office or where the post office was. It surely looks terrible. I surely hope word will come through from you soon, but I imagine it will slow up mail deliveries quite a bit. That fellow Margaret had out to the Country store has been taking Ruth out. The folks don’t like him & he isn’t religous, but I think Ruth will use her good sense. He took her to dinner & a show tonight. Dad is leaving for the big hunt tomorrow. Wish you were here so we could join them, but I’ll bet I don’t wish it any more than you do. I hope you have a tent at least to keep you dry or else I hope they have decided to send you all home & you are on your way this very moment. Of course you will say I’m a pipe dreamer or a castle builder, but then I enjoy them. Just hope you’ll be comin’ home soon. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 19 October 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, Today three of the nicest letters came from you. Two were written after the storm. I could hardly wait to read them. I was so tickled to know that you were safe. Maybe the hill was what kept the wind from you but I have a feeling that God was watching over you too. I know I certainly prayed that he would. I can’t see how you could just lie there in bed while a storm was raging outside & those rats sound terrible (I don’t believe it jumped on your stomach though). Was all your photo equipment ruined? I’m so glad you sent those copies of the “Buccineer.” I wish I could have that article “We Wonder Why” printed in the paper. I wish some of the politicians could read it. I do hope they hurry & make up their minds. It is surely a shame to keep you over in that place. Aunt Anna has been worrying about Delbert. I hope he is O.K. too. Are you getting enough to eat? I guess there is plenty of K rations if there isn’t anything else. So you are sending Binoculars & a sword home. I’ll probably have the creeps every time I look at them, but a sword that is 300 years old is really a souvenir & the Binoculars will come in handy for hunting. Dad & the gang left at 8 o’clock this morning. After they left they came back to get Dad’s pillow. He just couldn’t go if he didn’t have a good pillow to sleep on. 435 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - October 1945 pair of binoculars. The only thing wrong with them is you can’t see through them, but then if I use them on dark nights it will be all the same. I thot I knew something about chiseling but I am not even in the runing with some of these other guys. We drove over to a ration dump this morning and Lt. Bauer walked in to see if he could get some oranges for us to eat. He saw a couple of GI’s trying to sneak a couple into their pockets so he goes over and says “What’s the matter boys, do you want a couple of oranges to eat?” and then he reaches into a case and pulls a couple out for them, picks up the case and carries it out to the jeep and we drove off. Boy, were those oranges good. It was the first we had had for at least two months so I, along with a couple of the others proceeded to make pigs of ourselves and all got the belly ache. I thot of the good old days in the cherries. It has been sort of fun on this unloading job ridding these ducks out to the ship, and coming back with a load. Now and then one tips over coming out of the ship (an LST) and then the occupants go for a dip in the drink, but it’s all in the days work. I about ate myself sick at supper tonight. It was the first time for I don’t remember how long, that we have had fresh food, and right off the bat they give us fried chicken so you can understand what happened to me. But it realy tasted good. I hope you won’t think me bad for doing myself some good. Other than the two items already mentioned I also got me a Jap pistol, and double barrel shotgun. I only got the stuff I wanted for myself. Some of the other fellows have several of some items and plan on selling them. I certainly hope I can make it home by the first of the year, but from the way things are moving here I have no idea how long it will be. We are suposed to have a change of address, but so far we haven’t been given it. I don’t know what is going to happen to our mail. Here’s loving you my Darling, Reinhart Okinawa 20 October 1945 Dearest Norma, Yes today is the 20th of Oct, the day I should be home hunting deer with my Dear. I certainly hope we can go next year. I am glad you had such a nice time at conference. I would like to have been there with you. In fact, I would like to get together with the German missionaries once again and talk over old times. Gee, I guess it is to bad I have a sweet wife already because if I didn’t I could court Ruth myself. Some guy should get wise and take her while he can. I don’t know where anyone could find a better girl than Ruth. I think a lot of your letters must not have got through to me of late because I have never heard whether you got the pictures I sent or any of the other stuff. I got two letters today. One was written Oct 3rd & Oct 8th. The last letter before that was on Sept 28th and it seems you must have written more than that. This morning I stayed here and did my laundry so of course it would have to rain all afternoon. Guess I’ll have to go to bed with wet P-jays, but then that isn’t as bad as getting up with wet ones. I fooled around this afternoon trying to clean my shotgun, but I didn’t get very far on account of I didn’t have the right kind of screw driver. The chain you sent came today so as soon as I find time I will make up another necklace. I miss you more every day. If only the time will soon come when I can set sail for home. Love, Reinhart 436 Letters to the Paciic Norma - October 1945 Oh – it would be wonderful to have a home. If only we had a place. I could be fixing it up & we could be paying on it just like we would pay rent. Mom & Dad would give us all their old furniture. I could cover the Davenport & chair with some pretty material & make curtains & have it all ready for when you came home. If only Mr. Christenson would sell us that place with the house on it. I almost feel like I would give him what he asks if we could only have a place for you to come home to. We could sell the other lot as I don’t think we need anymore than the house & lot. But Mr. Christenson isn’t in the selling mood just now, I don’t think. How much did he ask for it any way? I don’t believe I like the 5 points idea as well as the Brigham City one, but it may have it’s possibilities. It is so close to Ogden & it is quite a wild section. Yes, I am personally quite sold on the idea of starting in Brigham City. Now I don’t know how these business deals are arranged, but if we could buy a place for about $3,000 or $4,000 & then pay $35 a month, why we could have it paid for in about 10 years. This afternoon I have been down to Amelia Dickamores all afternoon planning our Relief Soc. Conference. I walked as far as Sr. Williams & she took us in their old rattle trap the rest of the way. She can’t drive as good as I can so you can imagine what kind of a ride I had. Amelia gave us some hot, home made bread. This next is a deep dark secret, but I guess I can trust you to keep it. Francis Pearl told Glena that her dad & mother (Reuben & Thelma) & Uncle Walt had just made a trip to Oregon to find Reuben a farm. His job at Hill Field will soon terminate & I guess since he & Earl had the trouble over houses he has decided to move. They haven’t come back yet. It will be a loss to our ward to have them go. Where did you get so many men to attend your Conference? Were they all members? Our Stake Relief Soc. President says her son in on Okinawa. He knows Paul Gilgen. Her last name is McFarland. I can’t remember his first name. She told me to ask if you knew him. He assists the Caplin at Naha. Cheryl has been climbing up on top of the wash bowl & plays in the water. Then she climbs out of her high chair & stands on the table part of it. She just scares me. I don’t know what to think of her. I used to call you a rat & a wolf, but are you sure there weren’t any monkeys in your family? By the time she is two years old she will be climbing on top of the house. When she wets her panties she shakes her head & says “tah tah,” then heads for the bath room to get a rag to wipe it up. Then she just laughs cause she thinks she has redeemed herself. She got a nose bleed today when she climbed up to the wash bowl & then fell over on the tile floor. When she sees me going any place she just yells “Ma, Ma, Ma” as loud as she can & she an yell plenty loud & the way she says it you know she means for you to stop & wait. She brings everything to me to examine that she finds – even to a speck of dirt & I hear her calling “ma ma” half of the day. Then when she is near me she is loving my legs or pulling my dress. Then she likes to climb under my dress – of course, I’ll have to teach her that it isn’t the lady like thing to do. I’m so thankful Sweetheart, that you are well. Hope you come home real soon. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 22 October 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Another wash day & it would be a rainy one. I’ll bet down where Dad is they have several inches of snow. I hope they all get their deer. Dad says he hopes at least they will let him get his own deer. They have a crack shot along & Dad’s afraid he will try to get all the deer for them. I didn’t go to Sunday School yesterday morning but stayed home with the kids so Mom could go. After dinner Cheryl & I went for a walk. We got started when Mitzie chased a chicken & Cheryl was determined she was going after the chicken so I told her we would go up by the barn & see the chickens. I showed her the Mother Hen with her 8 tiny chicks & she thought they were great & of course the Rooster’s crowing always hold her spell bound. She can’t understand why they won’t stand still & let her pet them. After having the barn we went up through the orchard. Just above the barn Mitzie scared up a beautiful Rooster pheasant. It came out squawking or crowing. Wish you had been there. We stopped at the old grape vine. While there, Cheryl stopped to play in a pile of cow manure so I had to bring her back to the barn & wash her hands. Then we came on home. Sunday Morning everything was really covered with a white glistening coat of frost. It seemed rather sad to see most of the 437 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - October 1945 438 Letters to the Paciic Norma - October 1945 flowers turned brown. They have been so very pretty. I just hope they decide to send you all home. Maybe this typhoon will start them thinking. The pictures of myself & Cheryl & also the surrender papers came Saturday. Did Gen. Stillwell actually sign it for you? The other pictures I imagine were taken at the place w[h]ere the Jap envoys landed on their way to sign the Jap Surrender. Your Gun Digest came Saturday too. I almost have a feeling you will be on your way home before it reaches you but I’ll send it just the same. Just about half of our home boys are home now. Donald Rhees, who has been over for 3 years now has just arrived in the states. He was in Okinawa at one time. Glen Christofferson, who was in Gwam with you & is on one of the pictures you took there, is home too. Cheryl is sitting on the throne calling “done done” as loud as she can & I know she isn’t. She starts calling done as soon as she gets on. She thinks she can fool me but I’m getting smart. She tells me she has to go to the “Tol Tol” & then she says she is done as soon as she hits the seat. She is learning a lesson now. She has been sitting there for almost 20 min. Boy am I ever a strict mother (at times any way), but she loves me just the same. Even when I spank her & she is crying she wants me to hold her & she puts her arms around me & crys. Oh dear, it just breaks my heart to be firm with her. Just Hoping you’ll be here with us soon. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 22 October 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, About 5 P.M. we heard a car drive up & someone said, “Dad’s here!” We all made a dash outside. I took Cheryl without a coat. Dad wasn’t beaming & he wasn’t sad. “Yes,” he said, “I got a deer but it isn’t much.” He opened the trunk & there it was a small buck without points, but it was a nice one. It turned out that the fellow that was such a crack shot that went with them was an old boy friend of mine, Jack Way. He always did brag & Dad says he hasn’t changed. He kept telling how good he was, but all he gat was a doe. You remember I went with him when I lost the first watch you gave me. I wonder why I ever wanted to go with him. A person surely gets smart when they get married. I would tell you more about the hunt but Dad may write to you so I’ll wait & see if he does. He has talked about it but he may get busy with his union meeting & not be able to so I’ll wait awhile & see. Phyllis, Jay, David, & Lynette were out tonight. They got some grapes. Cheryl would pet Lynette on the hair & say “nice nice.” Then she would stoop down on her haunches & look up into Lynetts’s face, as if to say, “Well, what kind of duck are you?” Then she would poke her fingers in Lynette’s ears. I just don’t know what Cheryl & Karla are going to do without each other. I put Cheryl to sleep & first thing I know Karla is around at Cheryl’s window calling her. Today after Karla had succeeded in waking Cheryl up, she came around where I was hanging up clothes & said, “Nor Nor – daughters crying.” I don’t know where she picked up that daughter business but I surely had to laugh at her although I should have spanked her for waking Cheryl up. Cheryl was cross all afternoon because she didn’t get her sleep. She eats so good. She drinks on glass of milk & then shakes her head & says, “gone.” Then she immediately says, “More More.” As soon as she finishes eating she goes to the bread drawer, pulls it open & says, “bread, butter.” She can always eat more even after she is all through. Then when I sit down to eat, she comes up & starts crying, “Yum, yum.” Then if I give her some she says, “Thank you.” Tonight I was just telling her that I would have to give her a spanking for wetting her panties & she turned up her little sweet face & started smacking her lips for me to kiss her. I didn’t even look at her but just gave her the spanking. Mom says its the only way to get them trained, but darn it breaks my heart. Mom says today while I was down stairs she had her on the toilet. Cheryl had tried some of her monkey shines & when she came in Cheryl had one leg down in the toilet & the rest of her was on its way but she was hanging on for all she was worth. I guess she had decided to stand up on the seat & it didn’t work out so well. This morning I awoke with a start. Cheryl was pulling my hair & calling, “Ma Ma.” She has her own bed, but she won’t stay under the covers & I take pity on her & snuggle her up to me. Then I have another motif in mind. I figure that if I get used to sleeping with her bucking around, why it will be a sinch sleeping with you & I won’t be so used to sleeping alone that I’ll lay awake for a month. Then Cheryl doesn’t sleep with one enough that it will be a habit with her. I can 439 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - October 1945 Okinawa 23 October 1945 Dearest Norma, Tonight it is almost cold back here. I am sitting here with my field jacket on and am not any too warm, but I would much rather it be a little cold than so warm as it was. Yesterday one of the fellows got hold of 50 lbs of steak so we got all the P.I. boys together and realy had a steak fry. We used half of a 50 gal drum for a fire place and did the cooking right out in front of the tent. I ate two big steaks and that was all I could do. Guess I’m not as good as I used to be. This morning I went down to Naha to help unload the ships again but the water was so rough that they stayed out to sea. I hope they can get in tomorrow so we can get the job finished up. Oh yes, the package you sent me with the prunes and raisins in came today. I didn’t expect to ever see them. As far as I can see they are perfectly good, some thing else which I did not expect. If I thot I was going to be here for Christmas, I would have you send me another fruit cake, but it’s no telling where I will be by that time. I think you had better start using a new address for me. My New APO is 902. P.I. Team 151, G-2, 10th Army A.P.O. 902, San Francisco Reinhart’s photo-interpretation group having a steak fry on 22 October 1945 outside their tent in the 10th Army encampment on Okinawa. 440 Letters to the Paciic Norma - October 1945 just see you two romping together. They still refer to her as “little Reinhart,” so I guess there must be some resemblance. It’s the funniest thing about how crazy she is over your picture. If she is crying & I’ll let her take it she stops right away & says, “Da Da” & then kisses it. The minute she sees me taking your letter to the mail she heads for the door & reaches up for the letter. She knows that is her priviledge to carry “Da Da’s” letter. I think she tried pulling the stamp off today. I hope it hangs on until it gets there. I almost believe she’ll know you when you come, but if she doesn’t it won’t take long for her to find out what a crazy, sweet Dad she has. We will both be so happy when our soldier come home & he can just be plain civilian Reinhart “Daddy” Kowallis. God Bless & Keep you for us Always Norma & Cheryl Pleasant View, Utah 25 October 1945 Dearest Reinhart, The pictures came yesterday of the typhoon. It really looks like things are a mess over there. It looks like you were really lucky that your tent remained standing. I’ll bet you all had a time cleaning up your work rooms. I hope the negatives of the pictures I sent didn’t get ruined. I sent off a letter to Carmen yesterday so I inclosed the small picture of Cheryl in her play pen, like the one you enlarges. Maybe you can do another small one like that for me. By now I guess the 10th Army is no more. How many points do you need now to be able to come home & how many do you have? I surely hope you are one of those who are sent home. It just seems to good to be true, but I can always hope. I was glad to see the picture of Sgt. Gill & know that he is feeling so much better. I believe he does look a little thinner. I still wish you would send me some more pictures of you though. I hope that just because I said you looked solomn in some of your pictures that you didn’t stop sending them to me ‘cause I like the solomn one’s & stern one & jolly one. In fact, I wish you could send me pictures of you every day. Golly, I would never get tired of looking at you. I wish to I could drop in on one of your Church services. It’s hard to imagine over 400 of your fellows all meeting together on that island. I just don’t see where they all came from. Are you still teaching any of the lessons? It’s pretty nice–you being ask out of all those fellows. We are so busy now getting ready for our Relief Soc. Conference. It will be the 1st Sun in Nov. & I am taking the part of the Spirit of Relief Soc. in the play we are giving. It wouldn’t be so bad if the play were all written out but it isn’t–we are composing the play ourselves. Last night we had Leadership meeting at the 7th ward. Yesterday Dad just stepped out the back door & he saw a beautiful bird with a long tail. In a few minutes I heard him coming up from the basement & in a few more minutes “bang” & then in a few more minutes here he came quietly in with the bird with the long tail. Guess What it was? Of course you have never done anything like that. I have an idea that when you get home–if the weather is right–you will probably be out there before I hardly get a chance to see you–but I have an idea I’ll be right there with you–if you’ll let me. I hope you’ll be with us soon. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 25 October 1945 Dearest Reinhart, You know it won’t be too long before Jan 1st–why it’s just a little over two months. I do think many of the boys that arn’t should have been long ago & it’s just too bad that some of the men in our Gov. are the way they are but if you will be here in two months I will try to overlook the fact that they have left you there so long. Now Pres. Truman is advocating Universal Military training. That is one thing several of our leaders warned against at our last Conference. They said that if we every became a military Government it would mean the decay of our Gov. I think the future is a very uncertain thing but to those who are living right I doubt that it will make much difference. I believe people can be happy & yet not have a great deal. 441 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - October 1945 Be sure and put the P.I. Team 151 on because the new post office doesn’t know us the way the last one did. At church tonight I met another fellow from Brigham City and he thinks a sports shop should go over big there. We’ll find out next Spring. Here’s lovin’ you, Reinhart Okinawa 24 October 1945 Dearest Norma, I received your letter asking for some more prints off your neg and I’ll get at them just as soon as I can. When they are finished I’ll send them to you along with a bunch of other pictures I have piled up. I was looking through Pic magazine today and ran accross this house plan which I thot was quit nice. We may not be able to build us a home for some time to come, but it’s nice to think about. When we do get around to it we can drag out all these old plans we have picked up and realy build a supper house. We went to Naha again today expecting to unload the ship, but when we got there the boat dock was bare and so we came on back home. For some unknown reason I have had a bad case of eczema for the past week so I haven’t eaten anything for two days to see if I can’t clear it up some. I would go and see a doctor but they have never given me any satisfaction with it yet. Out here I don’t think they would even try to do anything. If I could once get away from Army rations I think I would be pretty much all right. Anyhow I am getting pretty hungry so I think I will eat supper tonight. Sitting here in camp, I don’t find much to talk about so I’ll just say goodby till tomorrow. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 25 October 1945 Dearest Norma, Paul Gilgan was just here to say goodby to us. He is leaving for the States in the morning by air. He should be in Ogden about Monday. He said he would call you for me so I expect he will have done that by the time this letter gets to you. Did I ever have a good bath this evening. You see the weather is rather chill out here now, and you know how I dislike taking cold baths, so I built a fire under our old wash bowl where we do our laundry and climed in. Boy did that hot water feel good. The first I have been in since I left Oahu. Every one came out to watch me. They thot it was better than a one ring circus. I went over to the hospital this morning to see if something could be done for my eczema. The Doctor looked me over and then asked me how long I had had it. When I told him since 1932, he asked me how in the world I ever got into the Army, so I told him at the time I came in all you had to be was warm. Anyhow, he asked me if I were holding down any important position at the present, and when I told him that we were doing nothing, he told me to get my affairs settled and then enter the hospital with expectations of being sent back to the States very soon. I don’t particularly like to go out on a medical discharge, but on the other hand I won’t turn down any chance to get out. If things work out as I think they will I should then be home in a few weeks. In fact, I expect it to be by Dec 1st. Now don’t get your hopes up, but don’t be to surprised if I show up. I am going over to the hospital next week. They no doubt will give me a good once over before any final decision is reached. I’ll let you know as soon as I can how I come out. I am going to turn in all my property in the next few days, and send home all my excess personal stuff, so I will be all ready to push off if they give me the word. Here’s wishing for the best. All my love, Reinhart 442 Letters to the Paciic Norma - October 1945 Jensen family in October 1945: (left to right) Jay Butler, Audrey (Jensen) Garner, Norma (Jensen) Kowallis, Joseph Moroni Jensen, Ethel Jane (Chamberlain) Jensen, Glena Jensen, David Butler, and in the wagon in front, Cheryl Kowallis and Karla Garner. I have been out with Grace making a few calls on some of the people that are helping with our Conference. It is time right now for the mail man. Mom & Dad are just leaving for town now so maybe I can send it with them. Today is such a lovely fall day. It is just the sort of Day that would be ideal for a walk up in the hill. Wouldn’t you like to come & go for a hike with me? I’m just hoping you can be here for Christmas. Maybe if I hope hard enough it will really come true. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 29 October 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Again I haven’t written for two days. Saturday morning we cleaned & in the afternoon I had to visit Sr. Wade & help her with her talk for conference. Friday night Audrey & I went down to the Singer Sewing Machine Co. We are starting to take a sewing course. It lasts 8 weeks & it is every Friday night. You get the course free when you buy a sewing machine. I have never taken advantage of mine so now that Audrey is buying one we decided to go down together & take the course. I will need to know all I can about sewing if we have any sized family at all & it is really a money saver if you can do it. Sunday afternoon I spent at the church practicing songs for our Singing Mother’s Chorus for Conference & then practicing for our play. We then received word that Mrs. Harris our neighbor had died, So we had to visit the family & make arrangements to fix lunch for them to eat on their way to Snowville–as the buriel was to take place there. They surely decided to have the funeral in a hurry–it was today. This morning I went down to Grace’s at 9 o’clock. She wasn’t ready so I started making her sandwiches. Mary Case came & helped me. Then Amelia Dickamore came & we packed six boxes of lunch. Amelia left & then Sr. Roylance came & we rode down to the Malan Mortuary with her. The funeral was held there. They wanted us to take care of the flowers & be the flower girls so we had that job too. Sr. Roylance had to go to the Doctor after the funeral so Grace & I shopped around, On the way home I had them stop at the Paramount Ice Cream & I treated them to malts. They won’t ever let me help with the gas so I repay this way. We got home about 4:30 this afternoon. We stopped & visited Mrs. Tennis. She has been sick. She is a Catholic, but we visit her just the same. She says if she wasn’t so old she would join our church. 443 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - October 1945 Okinawa 26 October 1945 Dearest Norma, Another day is about gone and we didn’t do much of anything but finish unloading one of the ships in the morning, and then wait around until 3:00 for the other one to dock, which it never did. In fact they didn’t even have it found yet when I got tired of waiting and left. I hope it is in by morning so we can get this job finished. I am having Jack make up the pictures you wanted tonight. I was walking around on the beach today and found a whole case of canned pineapple. I guess it had been washed up by the storm some time back. I found a couple cases of canned lunch meat & a case of spinach to, but no one ever picks that stuff up because we get all we can do of it right here in camp. Anyhow, the Pineapple is good. We ate some tonight. Last night I dreamed I was starting our sport shop, but I wasn’t doing so good. Every one that came in wanted to trade an old shotgun for a new one and I was sure it wasn’t good business. Right now I hope my eczema doesn’t get better so I can go home. I don’t know what I’ll do when I see you & Cheryl again. Here’s hoping for the best. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 28 October 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, Five letters came for me today. They were dated all the way from the 3rd to the 18th of Oct. so I just read them by dates so as not to get the news mixed up. When I read about Spence calling Audry, I was hoping all along that he was in N. J. and then I find out that he isn’t. I never did find out if the call came through and if she could hear anything. Maybe it won’t be to long until I will be able to call you, but not from over seas. I went to Naha again this morning to unload the ship that wasn’t there so we turned around and came back, almost. I say all most because the MP’s had all the roads blocked and were checking every vehicle for trip tickets, seareal numbers, and driver’s license. As luck would have it I had neither license or trip ticket, and the number on the jeep was not in white paint as it should have been. I had to leave the jeep in a big lot by the side of the road. But I was not alone. Only about half the vehicles were able to get through. By noon there must have been 500 of them parked in the lot. We had to thum our way back to camp where I could pick up what papers I needed to prove the jeep was mine. Just before we got back to our area the MP’s had another road block and as I passed by the MP’s were just taking my truck with Sgt. Newman into another yard so both my vehicles were in jail. We waited until after dinner and then went back down and bailed them out. It never fails. I meet some one almost every Sunday at Church. Today I met a Lt Tuft. He said he had a cousin by the name of Ruel Jensen, who married a Kowallis and wanted to know if I knew her. Who knows? One of these days I might walk over to church and meet your husband. It would be much nicer meeting you. When are you going to start gaining a few pounds? All these years I wanted a fat wife and you keep getting thiner and thiner. Guess I’ll just have to love the thin woman, but who wouldn’t? Love, Reinhart Okinawa 30 October 1945 Dearest Norma, I should have gone to mutual tonight but instead I stayed home and did a little packing. Yes, I am starting to send stuff home again. In about 3 or 4 months when the stuff starts coming home you will think I must have had about half the island by my self. I have already sent one box of clothing and I have another one ready to go. The rifle for your Dad and my shotgun I mailed the other day. I hope they get home without being all rusty. 444 Letters to the Paciic Norma - October 1945 When I got home a package had just arrived from you. It was the neclace & the pins & turtles. Oh honey, I’m just so happy about this neclace. I like it even better than the other one. It is just so dainty with all of them the same color. Mom was glad to get the turtle too. She has is sitting on her little nick-nack shelf. I think it tickled her to have you remember her. I am not going to give the kids theres until Christmas. LaMar is sending three chains. They should be here about tomorrow & then I’ll send them on to you. I hope they will get there before you intirely give up hope of receiving them. Thanks so much for making them. Already the kids have started Halloweening. They are busing soaping windows & doing the usual pranks. But Mitzie has them buffaloed–they don’t dare come up here. Today we have also been busy gathering up as many articles of clothing as we can spare. The Church has sent out an urgent call from the people. Our Saints in Europe are going with only rags to cover them. Some only have rags that they put around them when they come to the door. If we do not help them, they will starve this winter. It is really wonderful the way everyone is responding. Dad was over at the Church tonight & they have all kinds of stuff. We sent two huge boxes of stuff. I put in that old brown fur coat that I used to wear so long ago. We put in sweaters, dresses, two men’s suits. About 4 old coats, several pairs of shoes & all kinds of stuff. The telegram came to the Church Saturday morning & they sent out the call Sunday & then stuff had to be in to the store house tonight. That’s fast work isn’t it–but they say it’s imperitive that they get it at once. Sunday night 4 of our returned Soldiers spoke. I can truthfully say I was a little disappointed. They just gave that old – “On such & such a date I was here & then we moved here & so forth.” They didn’t even end with “In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen” but just sat down without bearing a testimony or anything. One fellow, Glen Christofferson, who was on Gwam when you were & was on one of the pictures you sent home told about the Church services on Gwam & told how much the Church had ment to him. Everyone was thrilled over his humble & sincere testimony & he was the least active when he was home, but while he was away he tried to learn more about the church. Maybe it’s just that we are tired of the war & all we want to know is that our boys still have that faith in God & a testimony of the Gospel. Don’t think I don’t want to hear every little detail of what you are doing & so will the people here at home. I know you wouldn’t give a talk like they did but I couldn’t help but think how I would feel if I was the wife of one of those fellows. For instance, the one fellow said, “I guess it was luck or something else that brought me home, but I ain’t talking.” That was Howard Berrett. [Here there is a crossed out and scribbled over line] I’ll be so glad when you can be up there giving you welcome home talk. Nearly everyone is coming home now but you. I keep thinking every day a letter will come saying “kill the fatted calf–put on the glad rags–your one & only is coming home.” Maybe I’ll get that letter tomorrow–I hope. Here are a couple of snow Goose feathers from the goose Wayne got when he went hunting Friday. He gave us two ducks he also got. I thought you could sort of imagine you were duck hunting if you saw these feathers. [See photo of feathers on previous page] LaMar has started taking his R. T. training now & he’s plenty happy. Mr. Seely’s boy has his bunk right across from LaMar. When I got home today, Mom had some more tales to tell me about Cheryl. David & Jay have been staying out over the week end & David of course loves the water. He had turned it on & let it run down the road. Cheryl, who followed him around, thought the mud & water was especially for her benifit. When Mom found her she was black from head to toe. Her shoes were mud inside & out. Her dress was black & her sweater was black. Her hair had mud all over & through it. Then her big eyes looked up at Mom through the blackest face you ever saw. Mom had to strip her & put her in the tub. Her shoes had to be washed inside & out. When I came home she was so sweet & clean. I went in the house & in a few minutes I dashed out. She & David were at the back of the house & over in the young peach orchard. A pile of rotten peaches had been thrown over there. Cheryl was sitting in the middle of them. She was squeasing them with her hands & then rubbing her hands on her dress. David had the hose sprinkling her hair & I think he was trying to get her clean. What a mess! She’s in bed now & sweet & clean, but about five minutes after she gets up she’ll be black as coal. Goodnight my Sweetheart. Love, Norma 445 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - October 1945 This morning I mailed a pair of binoculars home as well as all the pictures I had laying around here. Yesterday and most of today I spent turning in my team equipment. We didn’t have a great deal of it but it takes so much time runing down all the depots we have to deliver it to. Yes, I am doing all this because I plan on going to the hospital in a couple of days now, and if they decide to send me home, I won’t have to come back over here and take care of everything there. Do you think you will still love me even if I do come home with a good case of exzema? I am sure I can get rid of it if I am home where I can get the kind of foods I need pluss a good hot bath now and then. Here’s loving you my Darling, and wishing to be home soon. Love, Reinhart Norma’s letter dated 29 October 1945 inclosed two feathers from a snow goose shot by her brother-in-law, Wayne Butler on a hunting trip. She discusses their significance in her letter. 446 Letters to the Paciic Norma - October 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 30 October 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, Just think–today I received two letters from you–dated the 20th of Oct & the 21st. You say you arn’t getting many letters from me & I’m not getting many from you. Here is one way you can tell if you are getting all my letters. If a day goes by & I don’t write, I always mention it in my letter. I usually say, “I didn’t get to write yesterday,” or something to that effect. I am wondering if you received the letter where I listed all of the pictures the family wanted printed up from those you developed & printed for me. So–you are thinking of trading me off for Ruth. Tsk Tsk! I never thought it would come to that. Ruth is still going with that friend of Margaret’s–much to the families displeasure. I do wish she could find a good man with a fine disposition like yours–butthen there’s only one like you in the world & I just won’t give you up–no sirree. Glena is the bell of the ball. About five fellows call her every night. She is going with a Lee Lollie (who is a Catholic) but he goes to our church & he says he is going to join it. Then of course she is still writting every day to Alma. Spence doesn’t expect to get home until February. He has just been writting about his experiences in Switzerland. They could only spend so much while there & he saw something he wanted for Audrey for Christmas so he spent what he had & then sold his shirt, two shaffer life time pens & his eversharp pencil, his rain coat, socks, candy, gum & his insignias. Then he sold some of his American money. He was broke & he had five days left to stay in Switzerland & he didn’t know what he was going to eat. I think Spence will find a way though–he usually does. Why couldn’t it have been you coming home–I guess I hadn’t better say “instead of Paul,” because I’m glad he is going to get home, but I just wish you could get a break like that. That is pretty nice–you get to go to Church twice in a day & then get pie alamod & ice cream. They must have some pretty good meals down where Paul is. Have you seen any more of Delbert? Aunt Anna hadn’t heard from him the last I saw her. Maybe she has by now. He isn’t very sociable, but maybe you could help him a little. I went to Relief Society this afternoon. We practiced our play after meeting. Just as we were about to leave it just started blowing & pouring down. I was glad Amelia had her car. As soon as I came in the door at home Cheryl came dashing in the front room from the kitchen & calling “Ma Ma.” She triped & went flat but scrambled up & kept coming. I surely have to laugh at her. She thinks those beads you sent are for her & she just about had a fit when I took them. She wants to take all the letters she finds down to the mail box. They are all for “Da Da.” I tell her to pull her pants up if they sort of hang down & she reaches down & tugs away to get them up & just looks so funny. Audrey is going down to Sing for a barn dance at the 6th ward & Dad & Mom are going too. I think I’ll just go to bed & try to get some rest. Cheryl gets me up at 6 o’clock in the morning calling “toe toe” & jumping on my head & pulling my hair. Then she plants three or four juicey kisses on my mouth. Then I usually open my eyes & give her a grin. She is always so tickled when she finally gets me to open my eyes. We’ll be looking for you for Christmas so don’t dissapoint us. We are so sure that when Santa comes prancing in with his reindeers it will be you that he will have in that big black bag–so don’t dissapoint us. Of course if you come earlier why you can just skip the black bag. All My Love & then some Norma P.S. The check arrived for $198. 447 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - October 1945 Below: Hunter Joe (Joseph M. Jensen) with his spoils and gun and with his granddaughter Karla Garner standing in front. Photo likely taken in fall 1945. Above: Sisters, Phyllis (Jensen) Butler and Norma (Jensen) Kowallis on a hike. The dog in the photo is unknown. 448 Letters to the Paciic Norma - October 1945 Hunting party with Joseph M. Jensen and his two daughters, Audrey (Jensen) Garner and Norma (Jensen) Kowallis about 1945. Norma holds the little black dog, Mitzie. Jensen family children about 1936-37. From left to right: Wayne S. Butler, Phyllis (Jensen) Butler, Norma Jensen, Ruth Jensen, Audrey Jensen, LaMar Jensen, and Glena Jensen. 449 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - October 1945 Two more photos of Japanese from the roll of film Reinhart developed that was found in a cave/tunnel associated with Shuri Castle. 450 Post-War November/December 1945 Post-war America has its high points and low points. America continues to develop its military prowess. On November 6th the first jet airplane lands successfully on an aircraft carrier and on the 23rd most war time rationing ends. Life seems to be returning to normal as the cadets of Army, with the best the nation has to provide, crush Notre Dame 48-0 and are crowned the national champions. In early December, the U.S. Senate approves America’s participation in the United Nations. But on the low side, November 1945 seems to mark a change in the investigation of citizens by the House Committee on Un-American Activities from looking for those with Nazi tendencies to those who sympathize with the communists, a trend that leads to the witch hunts of the late 1940’s and 1950’s. As people return to work, those who have been willing to give their all for the cause are now starting once more to worry about their families and wages. For example, General Motors workers go on strike on the 21st of November. Reinhart’s letters are filled with speculation on when he might get home, on his continuing health problems that could possibly help him get home earlier, and on the tedious life around camp now that the war is over. He starts the month in the camp hospital and spends most of his remaining time in Okinawa in that facility. The doctors try all sorts of diet changes to see if they can cure his rash and eczema, all to no avail. At home in Pleasant View, the pheasant hunt comes and goes without Reinhart. So does Thanksgiving. Norma tries to keep up hope that he will return before Christmas. It seems likely that he did. Norma’s letters end abruptly at the end of November and the last letter she saved of his is dated December 5th. The homecoming must have been a happy occasion, but the plans that Reinhart and Norma had laid out for themselves of opening a sporting goods store in Brigham City never came to fruition. Reinhart takes work as a school teacher in a junior high school.1 He and Norma built a home on 900 West 1 Author’s note: I recently met a former student of my father, who took classes from him while he was teaching. He indicated that he really enjoyed Dad’s class. his was a surprise to me because Dad had always said that he didn’t enjoy the teaching experience very much. Cheryl helping at the construction site of the Kowallis home on 900 West in Pleasant View in the summer of 1946. 451 November/December 1945 Street in Pleasant View and there raised their five children. He never talked much about his experiences in the war. But as children, we often got out the items he had brought back from the war: a Japanese sword, gun, and bugle stored in a hallway drawer, as well as the many boxes full of sea shells that were kept up high in a cupboard in the kitchen. Once or twice as a child I remember old war-time friends stopping at the house. On at least one of those occasions, Norma had to go to the store and buy coffee for the visitors, not something that she was very happy about. The one dream that did come true for both of them was that over the years they were able to spend many days camping in the mountains, and although Norma did not do a lot of hunting like Reinhart did, they both enjoyed many days fishing along the streams and in the lakes of Utah. Those days camping and fishing as a family in the mountains are among my most cherished childhood memories. 452 November/December 1945 453 November/December 1945 Reinhart’s calculation sheet to determine how many points a he had for getting into the queue to return home. 454 November/December 1945 Kowallis children in family photo taken by Reinhart in about 1961. Bart and Jill in back, Kent and Cheryl in middle, and Kim in front. 455 Reinhart - November 1945 Okinawa 1 November 1945 Hello Darling, Well here I am in the hospital but I have no idea what they are going to do with me. The Doc hasn’t got to me yet but he is at the other end of the hall now and may tell me something when he reaches this far. I came in this afternoon about 2:00. Right after supper the nurse made me get into pajamas and get into bed. That is I am sitting on the bed. The two beds to the left of me both have malaria cases. Neither of them are sick right now. The one fellow (a Lt. Smith) is from California, but has spent some time in Idaho & the N. W. so we have been talking about several things in common. We talked about an hour about skiing. He is quite a ski fan as well as a hunter & fisherman. He used to prospect for a mining Co in Idaho so he told me a lot about that. I certainly hope they don’t keep me here for very long. I can’t even find anything to read. I wish I had a few good sports magazines & the gun digest. They better make up their minds to either send me home or let [me] right back out of here. I would much rather be over at camp than here. At least over there I can get out and do something. I would certainly like to hear how Pop came out on his deer hunt. I hope he got two great big deer. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 2 November 1945 Dearest Norma, Ray droped in this evening and brought me two very nice letters from you. I can see I have just got to get home and take care of Cheryl for you. I dream of she or you nearly every night. Even in my dreams she is cute. Sometimes she even kisses me. So Pop got a little spike buck. Well I have been trying to get one for years & never did. They are not large but they are realy good eating. I thot he also had a doe permit, or didn’t they sell any this year? But then they must have done if some of the others brought does back. I have been thinking (or I should say dreaming) that if by any chance I got home in Nov. I might be able to go out after Elk. I don’t realy think there is any such chance. These days are going by very long just sitting around on the bed day after day. This morning three of us were sent over for a blood test. The blood was only taken from the end of a finger. Only they had to stick two of my fingers on account of the first wouldn’t bleed. Yes, and I am on a diet. I haven’t had anything all day. Tomorrow I can start eating only pears. At least it is a fruit that I like. I am keeping my fingers crossed in hopes they will send me home. If I were doing anything useful I wouldn’t mind so bad, but as it is we only waist time. I have one friend three huts down the road. It is Major Smith with whom I worked over at 10th Army. He had an operation on his shoulder. He had to have a cyst taken out. All my love, Reinhart Okinawa 4 November 1945 Dearest Norma, I am so weak from eating nothing but canned pears I don’t even feel like getting out of bed. And still I have to eat nothing but pears. It wouldn’t be so bad if I could have all I wanted, but all I get is two little halves at a meal. I told the Doc this morning that I thot we were just banging our heads against a wall by feeding me cooked pears that have sugar in them. I can’t see that I am getting any better on them. I told them about the tests that 456 Norma - November 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 1 November 1945 Dearest Reinhart, It hardly seems possible that November is here. That should mean that you will be home in about two months. When I think back over the past two months it just seems like no time at all. If the next two will go as fast, why you’ll be back here in no time. This stationary I am using today is some that I purchased at the Church “Country Store.” Last night was Halloween. They were having a dance & party over in the church but I decided to stay home & work on my speech for Sunday & make some of the things we are going to pin on each mother. I stayed home all right, but I didn’t get anything done. Jay & David were out here (Phyllis had gone to Salt Lake Airport to meet Wayne. He has been to Calif. on business.) Jay & David were so dissappointed that it was raining & they couldn’t go Halloweening. They had their costumes on & I hated to see them dissapointed so I had a party for them. Everyone else had gone over to the Church. We played pinning the tail on the cat. David was the winner. I purposely strayed all over the house, giving them a good laugh. Then we had apple tied to a string & tried to eat it. Then we had a contest pushing apples across the floor with our tongues. Jay won that game. Then I hid peanuts all around the room & let them hunt for them. Jay found the most. I rewarded the winner of each game with a stick of gum. I had just got the two of them to bed when the rain stopped & all the halloweeners came out. I had the kids put their trousers on & come up & see them. We had so many callers that I finally let Mitzi outdoors so I could get something done. Mitzi seems to frighten them away. Then my peanuts were nearly gone & if you don’t treat them, they soap your windows or something. I see on the outside of our screen door this morning “I love you Norma” written with wax. I thought it was a very nice sentiment for some halloweeners to leave. This afternoon I am going down to Grace’s to make decorations for our Conference. I’ll be glad when Sunday is over, but I do hope it turns out all right. Dad is trying to get his gun fixed up so he can go duck hunting & David & Karla are just about driving him to distraction – running around him & sliding into him. Cheryl is asleep. She has been following David around & every time he lays his pop-corn ball down she would run off with it & start eating. He was quite disgusted with her. Ruth has been fired or layed off – anyway she’s out of a job. A soldier came back & claimed his old job. She is quite discouraged & can’t decide just what to do. LaMar has started his radio course. Yesterday he sent us a hamock, a matress, & a blanket that he got when he was working in the ship’s store. All My Love, Norma 457 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - November/December 1945 were run on me at Bliss, but they don’t take my word for anything. I hope they find out I can’t eat army chow and send me home. The fellow next to me is realy mad this morning. He is getting out of the hospital in the morning so while he was at church this morning we put a note on his bed stating that he would have to remain in the hospital for an additional five days. When he read it he realy hit the roof. He is going up and see the Doc to have it out. Jack was just in to see me. He and Stu went up north yesterday to get me some pictures on that roll of color film you sent me. I don’t know if I will even be able to get up there so I thot I better have some one take them for me. I certainly wish I knew how long they will keep me here. I think it will be at least three weeks if not more, I hope not. Here is hoping I’ll be with you soon. Officers points have droped to 70, but that still doesn’t get me so I am still placing my hope in the hospital getting me home. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 8 November 1945 Dearest Norma, One week has gone by since I entered the hospital. About two more & I will have had all the hospital I want. Oh, they treat me all right, but the days are certainly long. They fed me beets two nights in a row and I itched all night so they think that is one food that bothers me. Just wait till they start feeding me potatoes and things like that again and they’ll have a list of non-eatables that will look like a grade school roll call. I certainly ate plenty today. For breakfast I had four boiled eggs, 3 oranges, two pears, a glass of milk, and an apple. I ate like that all day so I am pretty full. I feel sure they will send me home but I don’t know how soon. It won’t be for a couple of weeks at least. I will give you a blow by blow account of all events as they progress. Just after I mailed your letter last night, one of the boys brought me a couple of letters from you. Your letters are the only spark of joy I get around here. I don’t mean to say that I go around with a long face. We have a little fun here now and then. I sure never got to hear much about the deer hunt. Where did your Dad go to get that big monster? You know, I wish Mr. Christensen would come down to $2500 for that place of his and I think maybe we would take it. At least it would give us a home until we could get a better one. If we could get it for that price we could pay $1000 and borrow another $1500 from the bank on a G.I. loan. That way it would still leave us enough to start our business. I would like to have the full acre because it would give us enough room to grow most of our own stuff. Do you know if he still has the place? I don’t realy think he could sell it for the price he was asking. At $2500 it is still high but it might be better than paying rent. Of course, before we did anything like that we would have to be sure we could st up our business in Brigham City. If you get up that way you might look around and find out if any one has moved in on our business idea. I don’t think there is a chance of my being released from the Army before the first of the year. As I recall the last bank statement had about $3000 on it with still three months to go. We should be able to save $200 a month. When I get out we will have a month & a half leave coming which will bring us $450 pluss the $300 mustering out pay that we can use to ride on for a couple of months. With good luck we should be OK. All My Love, Reinhart 458 Letters to the Paciic Norma - November/December 1945 459 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - November/December 1945 Okinawa 10 November 1945 Dearest Norma, The days are still draging on and from the looks of things, it will be another couple of weeks before they come to any verdict in my case. The doctor said they wanted to clear my skin completely before they start giving me a new diet. So far I have been given only beef, pork, beans, peas, pears, milk, cheese, and oranges. I am always hungry in spit of the fact that I am not being under fed. I wish I had a bushel of apples & a crate of oranges under my bed all the time. I go over and talk with Maj. Smith once or twice a day and he always drops in here at least once. About all we talk about is fishing and the boats we are going to build when we get home. He has never done much hunting but is a great fisherman. He is a Math Prof. from back around Pittsburgh. He doesn’t smoke or drink and is a real nice guy. Of course he is quite a little older than I am. As I recall he said he was 48, but he is a lot of fun talking to. He has never asked me anything about the church. I wish he would some time. Ray came over to see me last night and told me he was on orders to go back to the States. He was going down to be processed today, but then it will still be a month or more before he leaves. At that he may be home by Christmas. That reminds me. I just don’t know what I am going to get you for Christmas. There is no chance of getting anything out here, and by the time I get back to the States I don’t think there will be anything left in the stores worth having. It may not be a very good Christmas for you. There is a chance that I might be there to cheer you up. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 11 November 1945 Dearest Norma, Jack brought me two letters over to me this morning. One was dated 30th Sept & the other the 30th Oct. Maybe some of your old letters will catch up with me yet. Anyway the goose feathers made me think a lot of home. A goose is something I have never yet killed and I have always wanted to get one. Are you sure it wasn’t a swan? I didn’t think we had any snow geese in our section of the country. Anyhow, how did Wayne happen to hit it? He must have reached up and caught it by the legs. If only I could make it home by Christmas we could go hunting every day during the hollidays. Of course, most of it would be hunting for a home, but even that would be fun. I was talking to some of the medics here this morning & they seemed to think that even if I did go home through the hospital it will take about 3 months before I would be turned loose. But I probably wouldn’t be kept in the hospital all that time. They would no doubt give me a sick leave. And then to they usually try to send you to a hospital nearest your home. In which case I might be sent to Salt Lake or Brigham which would be all right with me. Other than my skin, I am healthy as I ever was so I could do most anything I wanted. Here is hoping! Love, Reinhart P.S. I am going to the show therefore the short letter. Okinawa 12 November 1945 Dearest Norma, If Paul’s wife can faint at the sight of a letter from him, why I guess it will be all right if you swoon a little when I come through the door. But if you pass out, I will kiss only Cheryl and maybe Ruth if I can catch her. Anyhow, from now until I get home you should have plenty of time to work up a good swoon act. Try it out on 460 Letters to the Paciic Norma - November/December 1945 461 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - November/December 1945 Glena’s boy friends a couple of times. If it works on them its bound to on me. Today was very profitable for me. I got a pass this morning and went over to camp where I finished packing all my stuff just in case. When mail call rolled around I got three letters pluss Field & Stream and Reader’s Digest. Then I got some other magazines from the boys around camp including an Outdoor Life so I feel pretty good about the well spent day. I haven’t seen or heard anything from Delbert since that one time he came up to see me. He seemed to be quite busy. I don’t know if he is still around here or not, but I am sure he is all right. I knew Mitzie would grow up to be a great bird dog. How could she help it with all the good training I gave her in and out of season? You know I had planed on walking the straight & narrow when I got home, but I fear if I get home on the 1st of the year that on the 2nd of the year the state will be short a couple of long tailed birds. I am glad the $198 got home and glad to see our bank account growing each month. We have got to save at least $200 a month to make it. Ray is already down at the center waiting to be shiped out. I suspect he will be there for two or three weeks, but he may get a break & get out sooner. I think I have received most of your letters although at times they are slow reaching me. The pictures you ordered are on the way now for a couple of weeks. They should be getting to you any day now. I sent them 1st Class along with some other pictures. Spence must be having himself a real time in Europe. I often wish I could have gone over there myself, but realy I think this has been best for us because we have been able to save more this way. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was out of the Army as soon as I am at that. But I do think I will be back in the States first. Maybe I’ll make it for Christmas. I hope. Love, Reinhart P.S. Have you started using my new address yet? APO-902 Okinawa 13 November 1945 Dearest Norma, Most of today I spent reading Outdoor Life, & Field & Stream. They just make me want to get home all the more. Maj. Smith was just here and we held a little bull session on the fishing we were going to do next summer. He wants me to come out and go fishing with him up on Clear Lake, Indiana. He is going to build himself a summer cottage on the lake shore as soon as he gets back. He is getting out of the hospital in the morning and will be leaving for Manila in a couple of days. Swenson was over to see me this afternoon. He is going to Korea in a couple of days. We talked about home & what we were going to do when we got back. Also the question of Christmas came up. He is in the same fix as I am, and doesn’t know what to do about getting his wife some thing. I have come to the conclusion that I should not worry about it any longer. If I get back to the States I will get something for you & if I don’t you will have to dream old Santa came around. Also, do not try and send anything out here because I will never get it, and chances are I couldn’t use it anyhow. The nurse told me today that they were going to start giving me some other foods right soon now to see how I will react to them. I hope I break out all over so they will have to send me home right away. I have eaten enough pears in the past week to hold me for a couple years, but I still get them, along with the rest of my meal, morning, noon, & night, pluss between meals, and then again after supper about 9:00. Please don’t give me pears for my first meal at home. Love, Reinhart 462 Letters to the Paciic Norma - November/December 1945 Pleasant View, Utah 3 November 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, The Pheasant Hunters have just returned. Dad went out before sunrise & returned about 2 hrs ago with his limit – 3 birds – and proud as a peacock. Mitzie had scared them out down in the meadows. Wayne had come out later & had gone up on the hill. He saw one but got to excited. He came back just as Dad arrived so he & Ruth took Mitzie & went to the meadows. Donny Cragun realizing Mitzie’s importance asked if he couldn’t go too, so he went with them. They just got back without a bird. Mom has ask Dad if he couldn’t go with him this afternoon. They are all hearing about Mitzie’s ability. They are going out to Williard this afternoon – out where Alma’s folks live. I just wish you had been here so we could have got in on a few of those birds. Maybe Audrey shouldn’t have done this, but she was telling one of the girls who is a friend of Paul Gilgen’s wife that Paul was coming home. The girl coaxed Audrey to go down to Brittian’s shop where Donna works & tell her the news, so together they went to see her. She was working & when they told her she got all excited. “I can’t believe it” she said. “Oh I must call my mother.” She called. A Special Delivery letter had just arrived. It was from Paul. “Don’t read it,” she said. “Go ahead & read it – I just can’t wait.” Her mother started reading. “This is the letter you have been waiting for” & etc. Donna grabbed a chair. “Let me sit down quick. I’m going to faint. I know I’m going to faint. Now mother don’t read any more of my letter. I don’t want you to read any more. I’m coming right home. I just can’t work.” & etc. That was two days after your letter arrived telling that he was coming. His Special Delivery letter didn’t arrive until 2 463 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - November/December 1945 Okinawa 15 November 1945 Dearest Norma, I got a letter from Phyllis this afternoon and from the sound of it I must be expected home by the 1st of Dec. I certainly must have built that one up. From the looks of things I will be here in the hospital for at least another two or three weeks, and then there is still the chance I will be sent back to duty. They are just starting to feed me some of the foods to which I am supposed allergic. In fact, they are starting on it tomorrow. They feed me one food and if it breaks out they put me back on the protine diet until the itching stops before they try another one so you can get some idea how long it will take yet. Phyllis sent me a chain to make a necklace for her and mentioned that she would like one the same as the one I sent you last. I don’t have enough of the green shells that good to make another one and all but a few of my other shells are packed up ready to be sent home so I don’t know if I will get around to making another necklace or not. I have one made up from the chain you sent me before. I will send it home to you & if Phyllis wants it she can do so. It may be that when I get home I can gather up enough of the other shells to make a green one for her. Yesterday afternoon I made a bracelet out of some brown shells. I have a few green shells picked out that I am going to use to make a bracelet to match your necklace. One of the boys brought me a lot of magazines over this afternoon so we have been having a hay-day with our new reading material. Rather than go to the show tonight I have just been sitting here reading to my hearts content. Here’s to seeing you before long I hope. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 16 November 1945 Dearest Norma, I have been working all afternoon on your bracelet and a necklace for Phyllis. It isn’t just what she wanted, but it is quite nice I think. I will finish it up tomorrow. Yesterday I had a little cold in my head so I stayed in bed most of this morning. This afternoon I have felt realy chipper. They started feeding me some new foods at noon and tonight. Bread, cake, & noodles. So far I haven’t itched any on account of it. Boy, will I be disappointed if I don’t break out over night. However, I am starting to itch on my face & chest a little now so there is hope. After all I told them about carbohydrates bothering me they have just got to do it or I will be made out a real gold-brick. All the boys here in the ward who are going home soon are drawing winter clothing. A person can’t get out of here any more unless he has it. We were suposed to have drawn it yesterday for the team but Jack said he hadn’t heard anything about it. They are issuing us a new Jacket that looks pretty nice. I want to be sure and get mine before long so I can get a fit on it. Here’s hoping I come home soon. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 17 November 1945 Dearest Norma, I hope that my more recent letters have brought you back down out of the clouds because I don’t want you to catch cold up there in the dampness. Anyhow, my chances of being home for Christmas are still remote, but I am still holding out with my hopes. The diet they gave me yesterday broke out on me over night like a rose. If other things react the same way I should go before the medical board within a couple of weeks, and then it will just be a matter of waiting for 464 Letters to the Paciic Norma - November/December 1945 days after yours. This is just an example of how one wife reacted to her husband coming home. I’ll probably be just as excited, but I don’t think I’ll faint. Our bank statement came. We have $3,200 in the bank. This month has been a bad one for expense what with a coat, dress & shoes, but we have $200 more than last month. Joe Sardo came last night & got all our pears & some apples. About $90 worth of stuff. This is his first trip this year. He slept out in his sleeping bag. We took our sewing course last night. We are really enjoying it. They really teach you some wonderful things. Little Cheryl has a cold this morning. She won’t let me put mentholatum in her nose but she loves to, then she pulls the funniest face. Do you hear any more about coming home? All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 4 or 5 November 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Saturday a letter came from you that has sent me away up in the cloud. Oh, I hope it is true that you are coming home so I won’t have to fall off of these clouds. Why I’ll even be thankful for your exema if it will only bring you back a little sooner. Just think – you home for Christmas. What nicer Christmas present could come to me, I do not know. If only we had a house now that I could be fixing up. Mom & Dad say we can have their old furniture & if we only had a place to put it. I’m sure I could fix it up quite homey. Of course, it wouldn’t be like the plans you sent. I have never seen a more convenient arrangement. Audrey says she thinks she & Spence will try it out & then if it works out we can have it. Someday I just hope we can have one like it but for the time being & a few years at least I believe we had better consentrate on getting our business going, then we will have all these wonderful ideas when we do build. There are so many things I want to do before you get here. I am just going to plan every day so I can get all my Christmas sewing & shopping done & I want to make a coat for Cheryl & finish the dress for myself. I think I will just make the few gifts I want to give from the material I have. Then we can give Dad that gun you are sending for him & maybe a shirt. Then for ourselves if we just get some little things just so we will feel it is Christmas & yet not be too extravagant. Then just a couple things for Cheryl. Then we can keep Christmas down to a minimum because we don’t want to break into those savings of ours any more than possible. As soon as you get here we will want to get you a complete new outfit. That will probably amount to at least $100. Audrey thinks it’s a shame that you can’t go on wearing your uniform all your life, because you look so handsome in it, but I’ll just be so glad when you can be a plain civilian again. I think you are just as handsome that way. Of course, I like you in you uniform too. In fact, I have known you longer with a uniform than without, so it will seem sort of funny at first. I am sorry your exema is so bad, but we can soon fix that up with some good home cooked food & with my eaglle eye watching you. But as I recall when a delicious cake looked you in the face, it didn’t seem to matter what I said – you just couldn’t resist. This morning I am washing. Yesterday it was our relief Soc. Conference. I was over at the Church most of the day. We swept & decorated the chaple & practiced our play. I went up in the grainery & got my wedding Dress out of one of those boxes. I wore it as the Spirit of Relief Soc. Everyone said I did so good. All my kids came up & said I looked just like a Movie Star, but then I am so skinny I don’t know weather to believe them or not. I feel so good. I just can’t understand why I don’t get fat. We surely had a lot of compliments on our conference. Everyone said it was really super. It made me feel good because we have work hard on it. I was just so glad to have it over so I could really rest, but then the Bishop called us into a meeting & said that Monday or today we were to go out & collect the Budget money. Then Friday we clean the chaple for Ward Conference, so there you are – just no rest it seems. I told Grace if I found out for sure that you were coming by the 1st of Dec., I wanted to be released by the time you came because we would likely be looking for a place & I don’t want anything to interfere with my being with you when you come. When we get settled, then they can put me to work again. Dad is out hunting Pheasant again today. He didn’t get any this morning but he & Mitzie are out again. Dad wanted me to read your letter twice to make sure you didn’t say something about getting home for duck hunting. Oh I hope they don’t keep you in the Hospital very long. I just hope they send you right home. 465 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - November/December 1945 transportation. Some times that takes only a few days and then again it may take two or three weeks. And don’t worry, if I do come home it will be by water and not by air. The only ones who go by air are the class one & two patients. I would be a class four. We had a rather nasty incident out here last night. Just about a mile down the road six niggers way laid an officer & his date, who was a red cross girl. They cracked the officers skull, and then for two hours they raped the red cross girl. So far none of the niggers have been caught. The two fugitives are in the hospital but still living. Of course bad feeling is runing pretty high. For myself, I still have no use for the niggers. I knew the red cross girl. In fact she was in here yesterday afternoon and brought us some peanuts. I finished Phyllis necklace this afternoon. As soon as I make another couple of bracelets I’ll send them all home. Boy wouldn’t I like to get home in time to do a little duck hunting before the close of the season. As slow as the mails are I don’t think the rifle I sent home will be there until Feb. or March. In any case, don’t plan on its getting there by Christmas. Now don’t you worry about a new outfit for me when I get home. I have a new suit put away some where that I only wore a few times, and as I recall my overcoat is still in pretty good condition. As for work clothes, I can wear out all my military pants & shirts. I wish I knew for sure if we were going to be able to set up in Brigham & then you could go ahead and start looking for a place. If we could just find some thing that didn’t cost too much we could start to buy it. I have thot some too about going to Logan for a few weeks to take a short course in welding. I could certainly use it in the business. It could be done too without a great deal of hardship. I would be able to draw $90 a month on the G.I. bill of rights. It’s only a thot and I doubt that I will even take advantage of it. Here’s to being with you soon. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 18 November 1945 Dearest Norma, I just have time for a short note before I go to the show. I wasn’t feeling so good throughout the day so I just stayed in bed until after supper when I got up and went for a walk. I found me a little hill and climbed up & down it a couple of times. After I got back I felt a lot better. Martin had been up to see me while I was out walking around and had left just before I came back. I guess he will be back again in a couple of days. I haven’t seen Ray since he went down to the replacement center. However, he is still here acording to the other fellows. They fed me potatoes for two meals today so I am hoping I break out right good again. Every time I break out it means that much sooner I will get sent home, I hope. All my love to you, Reinhart Okinawa 19 November 1945 Dearest Norma, Another day is just about gone so I had better get my daily note off to you before I turn in for the night. The dietitian came around this morning on her daily call and told me she had only two or three more foods to try on me, and it will only take 5 or 6 days to do that the way things are going. They want to try rice, cocoa, & sugar yet. Yesterday I was given potatoes and broke out again so the reaction is just what I expected it would be. The Nurse said she didn’t see how they could keep me over here if I can’t eat the regular army meals without breaking out, but of course the decision is in the hands of the Doctor. Even then I must still go before the board, but if that happens I am just as good as on my way. At least that has been the case in the past. However, some of the boys have been waiting for over two weeks now for a ship. The latest news over at camp is that the P. I. [photo interpretation] teams are being deactivated right away, 466 Letters to the Paciic Norma - November/December 1945 Paul should arrive today. Dad says you just tell Reinhart to come by ship. We want him to get here. There have been a lot of boys who have come by plane who never got here, but I’m sure that whichever way you choose you will get here O.K. I will just be counting the days until you get here. I’m afraid this would really put me in the dumps if you didn’t get to come this time. I’ll just be hoping & praying. I pray that God will watch over you & bring you speedily & safely home. I Love You So Very Much. Norma Pleasant View, Utah 7 November 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, I just wish you could see out of doors this morning. Everything is covered with a heavy blanket of snow. Every little branch is weighted down with soft fluffy snow. It started last night just as I was going to bed so I had to dash upstairs & tell everyone. Mom made Cheryl a snow suit yesterday out of an old bath robe so I took she & Karla out & let the snow, snow on them. Cheryl was just amazed. She just looked & looked & she didn’t want to come back in. I took a few pictures of them. Everyone thinks we are going to have a hard winter this year so it looks like we will get some skiing in. Golly I can hardly wait to see how things turn out when you go over to the hospital. I surely hope your exema is bad enough to get to come home. I suppose you will want to wear your dress uniform when you get home. I’ll have to get it out and let it air, because it smells like a moth ball. I wish now I had had Dad save me a bushel of pears to bottle. I was going to & then when you discouraged me I just let him sell the pears. Ruth is trying to get me to help her compose a letter to that missionary friend of mine. He wrote to her the other day & I rather think she likes him. Anyway she wants to say the right thing & for some reason she thinks I can help her there. I can’t Joe Jensen out hunting, one of his favorite pastimes, in the fall of 1946. 467 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - November/December 1945 and will have to move from the area they are in. The fellows will no doubt be reassigned to other units. We will have to turn all the rest of our equipment in which is not going to be so good because we then won’t have any Jeep to run around in. For my part, I don’t think it will be to bad because I have an idea I won’t be needing it much anyhow. That is if I make the boat. Jack & St[??] came over to see me tonight and brought me a 10 in 1 ration. Every night we have a little party out in the back room. Every one brings a can of some thing out, we open them up and go to work on it. Tonight I think we are having tuna, lobster, and boned turkey, pluss crackers. Of course I don’t eat the crackers because they are bad for me. Gee, I certainly hope & pray I get sent home before Christmas. All my love, Reinhart Okinawa 20 November 1945 Dearest Norma, Here I sit on top of my bed waiting for show time to come around. I have no idea what I want to say nor do I know how to say it. I just wish all these stories about getting the boys home, that keep coming out on the radio, were true. Anyhow, I am still bucking for a hospital trip home. It would be much quicker than waiting for the points. On points or service I could not possibly get away from here before around the 1st of Feb. Lt. Tufft was in to see me yesterday. He is from Murry and during the course of our conversation he said he didn’t think there was a sports shop in Murry. If that is so it would be another place to think about in case Brigham City shouldn’t pan out. I think, however, that he is mistaken, because as I recall I looked into the situation down there before and was told they had a shop there. I certainly hope we can get started in Brigham. I like it around Ogden & north a lot better than farther South, and I believe you do to. I about go nuts siting here during the day thinking about you & Cheryl. I just can’t wait to see you again and to play with Cheryl. No doubt she will be spoiled a week after I get home. Oh well, we will have another one and bring her up right. I hope all our kids are as sweet as Cheryl or just half as sweet as you. I would certainly like to back the Doc up in a corner some where and find out what is going to be done with me. If they are going to send me out I want to get on the next ship. If I don’t make it I will no doubt have to wait a month or so for another one. Here I am three weeks in the hospital now. Another month is more than I could stand just sitting around. All my love, Reinhart Okinawa 21 November 1945 Dearest Norma, Don’t let the stationary throw you just because it has Camp Callan on it. I am still in the hospital on Okinawa and I have no idea how long I will be here. Sometimes I even think they will send me back to duty. Just think, tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I had thot that I might even be home for that day. Looks like I will eat my turkey while sitting here on the bed. They don’t even let me go over to the mess hall because I have to eat only certain foods. The dietitian is going to let me eat pie tomorrow. Boy, wouldn’t I like to be home in the snow. I have never yet been home when the sleigh riding was real good. Maybe I will make it this year. We had to move into a new ward today so the day has passed quite fast, getting moved and we are now just across from the Red Cross & where they have there work shop so I expect I will spend a little time over there each afternoon. The fellow next to me made a ring our of a fifty cent piece this afternoon, and I started making a bracelet out of brass, but I don’t think I am so good at it but if I do get one made that is any good I will keep 468 Letters to the Paciic Norma - November/December 1945 even write like I would like to write to you. Yesterday was Relief Soc. So I spent half of my day over there. I didn’t go to Mutual because it was my turn to do dishes & I didn’t get done in time. Cheryl didn’t want me to put her to bed last night so she just loved me & kissed me & then she would say “I love you,” “I love you.” Of course not so plain but I understood. That is the first three words she has said. Yesterday Dad had her petting Mitzie. She was so excited, she called as loud as she could “MaMa, Mitzie.” She wanted me to come & see. She is always chasing Mitzie but can never catch her so she thought it was quite a treat to have Dad hold Mitzie & let her pet the dog. Today I am making her a dress out of some material Phyllis gave me. I want to have a new thing or two for her to show off in when you get home. If you are going to be in Calif. for awhile or wherever you land, call me so I will know when to expect you. I want to meet you because that is half the fun of your home coming. I don’t like surprises nearly so well because then I miss all the fun of planning. I’m just about ready to burst. I’m so happy just thinking of you coming home. Just think it’s been nearly a year since you left. I was so sure I would see you again before you were sent over. If I had known I would probably have wept for days. It’s getting harder every day to wait, so don’t be surprised if you meet me halfway. I guess I’ll be dreaming about you coming home until you get here. I just think my husband’s the best in the world. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 8 November 1945 Dearest Reinhart, I haven’t had any letters for the past three days. I guess you are busy getting all you affairs in readiness to come home. I wonder how long it will take you to get here? I hope it won’t take too long, but I would rather you would take it a little slower & get here safely. I am going into town today to get a few patterns to make up those aprons & things I am making for Christmas. By making these things I can save quite a bit of money (I hope). It just seems that everything is getting more expensive than ever. You can’t even go to town and just buy two or three things without spending $10. That’s why I try to stay home as much as possible. They are killing about 25 Roosters & dressing them to put into the lockers. Dad says he doesn’t want to feed them any more. Mom & Ruth are cutting 10 of them now & Dad has gone up for 10 more. I’ll have to get busy & help. I am just on needles & pins waiting to hear if you really get to come home. I just hope the letter comes today telling me that you are going to get home. It is really cold out. It turned cold in the night & this morning everything is white & frosty. All My Love Sweetheart Hurry Home, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 17 November 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Two letters came yesterday. I was so glad to hear that they are feeding you better. I surely hope the army chow doesn’t fail us this time. I am just hoping that when they start feeding it to you that you just get the nicest case of exema that you have ever had. Isn’t that awful to wish such a thing on you but I want you home so very much & I want you to see Cheryl while she is still a little girl. The Sword came yesterday too & it really looks vicious. It almost scares me to even look at it. Dad has been flourishing it around & acting so crazy. Dad said he was going to take it to Church, but I said he had better wait until you get here & let you show it to a few people. Yesterday I went to town with Dad. I had an appointment at 11:30 to get a permanent. It took me from 11:30 until 5 o’clock to get it finished so it should be done. I then went out to Phyllis & Wayne’s. I had supper with them. Then I helped 469 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - November/December 1945 it for you. Maybe I will even try making a silver ring for Cheryl. It’s show time so I’ll be see’in ya tomorrow again. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 22 November 1945 Dearest Norma, Thanksgiving has come and almost gone. As I think back over the few years we have been together, I can see many blessings we have received, and on the strength of them I can’t help but believe that the future holds many more in store for us. I believe the Lord has been as good to us as we could ever expect. Cheryl alone has been blessing enough to fill both of us with joy. Although even now, the time seems long in getting me back home, yet I can’t help but feel that the powers of heaven have watched over me on many and all occasions, and will bring me back when the right time has come. I was kept pretty much on a diet through the day so my dinner was not elaborate, but I did have turkey with cranberries, beans, soup, peas, nuts, & pie. This evening we just had a cold lunch. I ate a couple of cookies & some candy so I can fully expect to itch all night. Martin and Jack came over to see me this afternoon so we chewed the fat for a couple of hours, talking mostly about the hunting & fishing back home. Another thing I am going to do next chance I get is go elk hunting. Here are a few more pictures Jack took the other day. I certainly hope all the souvenirs I sent get home all right. The last pair of binoculars I sent should be there by this time. I sent them first class, registered, as I remember. I still have one box to send home that is full of clothes & stuff. When that is on its way I won’t have much of anything left but a shirt & pair of pants. They are suposed to issue winter clothing on the first of Dec so I will be able to keep warm. Did you even received the Jap mess kit with the little cups that I sent you last June? I never have heard anything about it from you. Here’s hoping I make the board before long. And here’s loving you ever, Reinhart Okinawa 25 November 1945 Dearest Norma, I meant to write you before the show tonight and then just as I was about to start Jack came in and I never got started. Well, right now I have just a few minutes before the lights go out. They turn them out every night at 10:00. Tomorrow they are going to run another glucose test on me. When I first came into the hospital they told me they would not have to run this test on me because I had had it done once at Bliss. I guess they changed their minds about it. It is the test where they feed me a lot of sugar after taking about a pint of blood out of me. Then they take another gob of blood every half hour for two hours following. I will probably look like a ghosts wardrobe. I hope it’s the last they are going to do with me. It won’t be long now and I will have spent a month in the hospital. That’s the longest I have even stuck around a bed when I wasn’t sick. I only hope I am not here for another month. They haven’t yet told me what is to become of my case. I am begining to think it will be back to duty for me. At that I guess things could be worse. I just can’t see myself getting down to work in the Army any more even if they do find a job for me again. Anyhow, if they try putting me in an office I am just no good there and as far as the Army goes I never will be. I have got to be getting my bed ready to crawl in, but gosh I love you a lot. Nearly every night I dream about you & home. All my Love, Reinhart 470 Letters to the Paciic Norma - November/December 1945 with dishes & fed Lynette & put David to bed. They were going out to see Wayne’s Grandmother who died so I rode down to the Singer Sewing Co. with them & took my sewing course. Everyone at home was going away so Audrey had to stay with the kids. I had to go to a show afterward because the bus doesn’t go out until 11:30 P.M. I saw “Rapsody in Blue.” It was pretty good. Dad is leaving to go to town so I’d better send this with him. I hope they send you home quick. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 21 November 1945 Dearest Reinhart, Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and again you are unable to be with us – it will surely be the last Thanksgiving we will be separated. Last year you were in Maryland & had Thanksgiving out with those Mormon kids. Phyllis & Jay & David were the only ones we had out for Dinner. Wayne was on the road. This year we will have Phyllis, Wayne & family & we are just hoping that LaMar will be here. He has finished his Primary school & he past his Math by 1/5 of one percent & got an average for everything of 70%. All that was necessary was 62%. But they were having one big final test which would cull out some more. If he passed that he had put in a preferance of either going to Del Monte, Calif. or to someplace in Mississippi. If he goes to Calif. he will come through this way & may get to stop off. They were to leave yesterday so if he gets to go to Calif. he should arrive tomorrow. I think he has done very well when you consider that he had the least education of any. 400 out of 800 have already flunked out. Spence is still in France. I think he is going to set up a perfumery when he gets home. Every day or so Audrey gets another bottle of perfume. I don’t know what Audrey will ever do with it. He has spent over $50 for perfume. I am glad you are able to get around a little now. I’ll bet it seemed good to take that trip over to 10th Army. I am surely in a state of suspense waiting to know how that exema turns out. Honey I don’t want you to worry another minute about anything for Christmas. The only thing I want you to think about is getting home. If you find any more of those pretty vases or cups laying around you can send me some of those. I’m so crazy about China ware, but I don’t suppose you will be able to get around enough to find anything like that. I surely think those you sent are so pretty. Where in the world did you get them? If you happen to see anything on the way that would be nice for our home to keep as a souvenir or remembrance why it would be nice, but if not just forget the whole thing. The main thing is for you to get here. Oh it would be such fun to have you here to watch Cheryl on Christmas. Maybe if you got the Doc talking about hunting he would relent. But if he likes painting instead of hunting why you be sure & be interested in painting. You’ve just got to get home. I dreamed last night that everyone was ploting to keep you away from me. You were home & they wouldn’t let me see you. It was really awful. Oh I miss you & Oh I hope you can come home & Oh I love you. All My Love, Norma Pleasant View, Utah 28 November 1945 Dearest Sweetheart, I’ll bet the bracelet & beads you are making will be so pretty & I know Phyllis will like whatever you make. They have all been so pretty that I don’t see how she could help liking it. It really sounds wonderful the way your exema is reacting. If only you can get transportation home as soon as you get out then I can just climb up in the clouds again. Oh I hope, I hope, I hope. I’d just get the biggest thrill out of having you here. We’d have such fun watching Cheryl & Karla on Christmas & sitting around popping corn & skiing & just so many other things that I get such a kick out of doing with you. That was really terrible about the nurse & the negroes. Did they finally find the negroes? 471 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - November/December 1945 Okinawa 25 November 1945 Dearest Norma, Yesterday evening I never got around to writing because I got a shot in the arm that sort of put me down. They put about 8 ounces of glucose into my blood stream. That part of it didn’t bother me but when they first started to give it to me the Doc shoved the needle all the way through the vein and the serum was coming out the other side. Before I knew what had happened, a lump about the size of a base ball appeared and it realy hurt. When that happened, he pulled the needle out and put it into my other arm. Anyhow, with my arm swelled up I didn’t feel like writing. Then after an hour or so the glucose broke out in a right good itch that kept up until this afternoon. Anyhow, now they are sure that sugar affects me so that is one more step toward getting home. All day long I have been reading a book called “We Farm for a Hobby.” It just makes me want to get home and start digging around and start planting things. It will be a lot of fun growing our own garden, and chickens, & stuff. We have never realy had a chance to do anything like that yet. How is Lamar getting along? Do you know if he is coming home for Christmas? What does Audrey hear from Spence? He must be having quite a time over his way. I wish there was something to do here. A lot of the boys here in the ward who are waiting for a ship so they can be sent home are realy gripped. There is a Navy hospital ship here but the island surgeon won’t let any Army personnel on it for no reason at all. It’s a pain in the neck the way the Army does things. Boy will I be glad to get out. It’s show time now and I want to see it so here’s lovin you, Reinhart Okinawa 26 November 1945 Dearest Norma, So the Sword finally came. Well I am glad of that. Now if the rest of the stuff I sent will just get there to. Did the sword have any rust on it when it came? I had a pretty good coat of grease on it so it should have been all right. I think it would be a good idea for Pop to show it to every one. It would save me a lot of time and I am sure the story he would tell about it would be better than any I could dream up. It rained all morning so I spent part of the time trying to keep my bed dry. This place leaks in a million places. Jack came over tonight all upset because he had heard he was being transfered to the finance department of island command. I don’t blame him for not wanting it, but for my part it will sort of be a relief when he is reassigned some place. He is a good man, but at times I have felt him rather a trial. As long as every thing goes the way he wants it he is all right but as soon as anything backs up on him he blows up. It’s to bad he can’t be sent home on points, although he only has another month or so to wait. I guess Ray is still down at the center waiting for transportation. There is one thing about it. I at least have a good bed to sleep in up here & the meals they give me are not bad at all. If only they would tell me what they were going to do with me now. The Dietitian has only one more test to run on me & she is going to do that tomorrow. Corn is the only thing she hasn’t tried on me. I surely do want to get home to see you & I am still holding out with my hopes, but the time is getting a little late to expect to make it by Christmas. Love, Reinhart 472 Letters to the Paciic Norma - November/December 1945 LaMar is now in Gulf Port, Miss. He says the food isn’t so good there, but he is happy to have passed & now he is in Primary school. Sr. Williams boy came home last Sunday & Orlan Wilkinson (Aunt Lottie’s boy) came home last week. It looks like most of them are getting home – all but you & Spence & LaMar. Of course I guess there are a few others. I just went outside to check on those two wild indians & that Cheryl was just covered with mud. She just heads for the mud first thing. Here lately, she just starts hollering for her snow suit as soon as we get out of bed. If she can’t be outside she wants to play with her snowsuit. She just pesters me until I let her out. Oh me – I’ll never get this written. Karla just called & Cheryl was around at the back sitting in a puddle of water. Karla had turned the focet on & let it pond up, then Cheryl sat in it. I just don’t know what I’ll do with that girl. She must have inherited the love of the out of doors from someone – I wonder who? Maybe it’s your association with the ducks that makes her like water so well. You will just love her. I don’t know how you could help it. She’s just your type. We’ll be looking for you for Christmas so don’t disappoint us. All My Love Norma 473 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - November/December 1945 Okinawa 27 November 1945 Dearest Norma, Guess I’ll write you a note before show time tonight so I’ll be sure and get it done. I don’t know what the show is yet but if I haven’t seen it I will go. It always breaks the monotony of the day to go to the show a couple of hours at night. Jack & Steve were here to give me all the latest news. Orders are out on us all and they tell me I am reassigned to an artillery outfit, that is if I get out of the hospital which I don’t think I will, I hope. Jack is assigned to Island Command Finance which he didn’t want but can’t do anything about. Steve is going to some Engineer outfit. Yes, it looks as if we are finally being broken up, but I guess it is just as well. We haven’t done anything worth while since last summer. This afternoon I went over to the red cross work shop and from a dime I pounded out a ring for Cheryl. It is no doubt to large but then she can wear it later on. If it looks dull when you get it just use some kind of silver polish on it. I will enclose the ring in this letter. I’ll make one for you next. Of course it won’t fit either, but you can always give it to some one else if you don’t want it. I can’t think of anything more to tell you except that I love you more & more. Reinhart Okinawa 29 November 1945 Dearest Norma, I don’t remember why I didn’t write you last night, but in any case it was not a very good reason. I remember, I went to the show, and then afterwards we had a big bull session out in back as we ate tunna fish & stuff. Oh yes, before the show, Jack was here so I had to talk to him. How do you like the ring I sent Cheryl? Anyhow I got ambitious in the afternoon and made one for you out of a 25¢ piece. Hope it will fit one of your ten fingers. I haven’t done a thing today except eat, sleep, read sport magazines, and take a bath. Don’t I smell nice after it? Jack was in just a little while ago and brought my winter issue of clothing. Now I have two pair of wool pants, shirts, a sweater, an all weather suit & two more jackets so now I am all fixed up for cold weather such as we may have out here. Jack brought an order over to me last night assigning me to the 282 CA-Bn. I don’t even know where the place is and I am not interested in finding out. In fact I am not even going to try and find out because I will be on the next hospital ship going back to the states. At least that is what the Doc told me last night. The board is to pass on me tomorrow. I thot you might be interested in getting this bit of information because now you can stop going around with that other guy or I might be walking in on you one of these months. I don’t know when a ship will be in. It might be a week or it might be 4 weeks, but when it comes it’s goodbye Okinawa. I very much doubt that I will make it by Christmas, but it shouldn’t be long afterward. Gosh, it will be great to put my arms around you again. I could hardly sleep last night after the Doc told me I was going home. All my love, Reinhart Okinawa 30 November 1945 Dearest Norma, I certainly wish the mail would come through more regular so I would know what you are doing, but then if a hospital ship comes in I’ll be home within a couple of weeks after we board. That reminds me. I went before the medical board this afternoon and after the Col. found out where I was from the only thing he asked was that I call Doctor Budge and tell him hello and that the Col. would be home 474 Letters to the Paciic Norma - November/December 1945 475 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - November/December 1945 before long himself. Gosh, if only a ship would show up. Jack tells me that Ray & Martin boarded ship yesterday and are on their way home. They’ll make it for Christmas without a doubt. It will be just my luck not to even make it by New Year’s. But at that I’ll be getting home sooner than I would on points. Now if Cheryl had just been twins then my points would have been good first. I have had a headache most of the day so I have just sort of lounged around. The boys that are left over at the old 10th Army area will be going to their new units some time the first part of next week. As I stop to think about it, I don’t think there will be any need for you to write to me after the 5th of Dec. because I just have a feeling that any mail sent after that date won’t get to me anyhow, unless we are here until after Christmas, and I doubt that will be the case. If I am, I will be sick in a much different way than I am now. Here’s to being with you very soon. Love, Reinhart Okinawa 2 December 1945 Dearest Norma, I would be a very happy lad if only I could climb aboard a ship and start for home. It would realy be wonderfull to be home for Christmas, and it would be more than wonderfull to see Cheryl on Christmas morning. I’ll bet her eyes will open up big as dishes. Chaplain Jones has been over to see me the last couple of days. I am making some of those little turtles out of shells for him. In turn he is making something for me. It just seems as though the nearer I come to going home the less I can find to say. All day long I think of home, and then at night I dream about it. I went over to the show tonight but it was one I had already seen just the other night. I am itching again tonight. I guess it is because I was hungry last night so when Jack brought me a fresh loaf of bread it was more than I could resist so we broke out a can of tuna and made sandwiches. I also ate a can of pears. Then at breakfast this morning I ate some cookies, at noon I ate a piece of bread and a piece of pie so at present my diet for the day is well broken down and I am well itched up. Oh well, once in a while it is worth it. It will be great to get back to the states where I can get all the fresh fruit I want to eat. Gee, if there were only some big water mellons & cantalopes still in the garden. Here’s to seeing you soon, Love, Reinhart Okinawa 5 December 1945 Dearest Norma, I guess it has been two or three days since I last wrote you, but I have been so disgusted the last few days that I just haven’t felt like writing. Now don’t get me wrong, because my ill feelings were no fault of yours. It was just that I thot I would sure make it home by Christmas & then I got fooled. If only I had gone before the board two days earlier, I would have been on the ship this morning and on my way by tonight. Over half of the fellows in this ward left this morning. Boy am I home sick. Of course I will get on the next hospital ship that comes in but that won’t be for another two or three weeks, which won’t put me home until after the first of the year. Anyhow, you can expect me home sometime shortly after the first of the year. All my love, Reinhart 476 Letters to the Paciic Norma - November/December 1945 477 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - November/December 1945 Above: Lt. Martin Martinsen talking to a couple of native boys on Okinawa. Below: Sgt. Jack Gill at his tent on Okinawa in October of 1945. 478 Letters to the Paciic Norma - November/December 1945 Author’s Note: I have been unable to find among the letters and papers the exact date that Reinhart and Norma were reunited, but it is believed to have been shortly before Christmas in 1945. 479 Letters from the Paciic Reinhart - November/December 1945 480 Urth Books