Christmas card

This was the Christmas card sent from Japan to Broad Channel, New York in December 1945. Anna Smith had been waiting to hear this news from her son Everett (Smitty) for over three years. On the back, it reads:

“Dear Mom:
This is the best Xmas card I’ve sent to you since getting in the army. I figured this would be what you have always been waiting to see, here it goes.

“I’m finally on my way, so don’t send any more mail.
Love, Everett
“P.S. I’ll keep you posted on my various stops.

Everett Smith, aka “Smitty” or “Pops”

CLICKAdvertisement from the era. At the bottom is an ad for George Burns & Gracie Allen

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Much can be said about General Joseph May Swing that I am very surprised no one had written his biography. He stood tall and…

Daniel Beck Guion in the field in Venezuela

It has occurred to me several times that I have never told you the details of camp life.  Just how much would prove to be interesting, I don’t know, but here is a partial story, at least.

There is a large canvas fly for the cocina (kitchen).  The cook has a small tent for sleeping.  There was a large tent with mosquito-bar sides for the office.  We use this tent for dining, also.  Our sleeping tents are two-man tents, containing our clothes, personal belongings and cots.  Under a second canvas fly are stored the extra supplies (tools, instruments, etc.)

Our camp personnel (at present we are short-he handed) includes  Simon, (the cook), Bill Rudolph (Chief of Party), Dick Wimberley (draftsman), Fred Chion (transit-man), Dr. Boshnakian (all-around engineer, College Prof., geologist, etc.) and myself.

We employ about 16 peons of varying intelligence &…