McGarrahan_March_1945

20 March 1945

Philippines

Dear Mrs. King,

Amidst confusion and noise I'll try to get a letter of to you. Yes, once again I have moved andthis time it is to civilization--that is what is left of it. I have reached one of the cities of importance in this campaign. I also saw Batan and Coregidor fromthe air. Some day when the fighting ceases in this area I hope to be able to visit those two islands.

I have been here a little over a week. I flew up from Hollandia on a C-47 -- quite a ride. I can now tell you where I was stationed for those 3 months in New Guinea. I imagine you knowwhere I am now but censorship won't permit us to write it on our letters.

I see General MacArthur almost every day--his office is located right near ours. He always returns our salute and gives us a big smile. Filipinos line up outside the office and wait for hours to catch a glimpse of him.

I can tell you about our living conditions and also about our office. We (WAC'S) live in what is left of a Catholic college. At the present time we are all quartered in one wing. They are still cleaning out the rest of the building--blood stains, dead Japs etc. When we came into the building there was Jap blood all over the place and the smell of dead bodies was awful. We finally got it cleaned up and moved in. We are living under pretty crowded conditions--10 of us quartered in one school room. We have no runningwater or electricity--Japs took out all that. We wash from our helmets and write by candlelight. We eat from our mess gear--regular line soldiers. This is the closest I've cometo the front line and I am pretty close.

We are still wearing trousers but hope that in the near future we'll be allowed to wear skirts off duty.

We have a curfew here--EW have to be on the grounds by 7:30 P.M. and officers must be in by 10 PM. We had to have an armed escort at all times but now that the

Jap snipers are pretty well cleared out our restrictions will be lifted.

My eyes are still bothering me--continually itching. I am hoping that once the dust and such are cleared that it will improve--if not, I'll check in the hospital and get a thorough examination.

I have visited Chinatown and have seen some beautifiul pieces of hand work but they want 50 or 60 pesos for a tablecloth and napkins and we just refuse to pay it. Guess they're trying to make enough money for 2 years of Jap occupation. I did get some nice perfume for 10 persos. the real stuff.

Our social life is one whirlwind--we are the first WAC's some of the infantry combat men have seen and they are doing everything possible to make our stay here pleasant. Fixing up clubs, swimming pools etc. They seem so glad to have an American girl to talk to.

I looked up my Filipino captain's family yesterday and found that they survived the occupation and they were very glad to hear Carlos was still alive. At onetime they must have been pretty wealthy but now they haven't got much left.

Our laundry is done by the Filipino girls and they really do a grand job and give us 24 hour service.

There are no restuarants for us to eat at so we mess with the government. No shows opened so we see rather old pictures shown on homemade screenes. In a few months I hope things will be cleared up and business resumed.

I could go on writing about things here but I'm afraid for the present I must cut my letters short and get my work done.

Our mail iscoming thru very good now so my packages and letters should c atch up with me real soon.

Give my regards to everyone at school.

Sincerely,

Mar