The home journal. [volume], September 20, 1952, Image 4

About The home journal. [volume] (Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, V.I.) 1951-1973

Image provided by: University of the Virgin Islands

                
V.I. Soldiers 1
continued from page 1
In letters to his parents
he reveals that several
hundred troops left San
Juan, Puerto Rico, by boat
over two months ago - in
cluding Virgin Islanders
and Puerto égans. Their
first stop was at a Fort in
the Republic of Columbia;
then Panama, San Fran
cisco, and Honolulu. At
these ports other mmdg
soldiers were taken agoar =
“It was a peculiar yoy
‘age”, writes Hector. “Al
though we were all-tickled
at the opporfunity to see
Beveral countries, we were
not exactly thrilled as the
average tourist, for we
knew that we had no con
trol over-eur visiting sche
“dule;and as the trip pro
‘gressed our loved ones
were getting farther and
farther from us& not know
-ing for how long our ab
‘sence from our dear Puer
to Rico, St. Thomas, St.
Croix, and St. John would
e
*'Thinking of Home
“We.tried to screen our
thoughts regarding our
mothers, fathers, sisters
brothers, wives, sweet
‘hearts, 8 nd friends, by
improvising now and then,
club reunions to sing,
crack jokes, play musical
instruments, and even to
dance in the floor-show
manner... but our thoughts
were always stronger than
the improvised stag par- ‘
ties... |
“I was fortunate to trav
el with my brother Julio
and several other pals from
the Virgin Islands. After
we left. Hawaii to cross the
big Pacific we were sever
al days on our floating
house. Now and then we
would see another ship or
a large trans Pacific air
ship Like an:iracle, we be-
Came resigned to our lot
and there was less and less
brooding. Those from the
Virgin Islands and Puerto
Rico became more eager to
see Japan than the others;
and showed less concern
about our goal, Korea.
. Friendly Japanese
After almost 18 days of
traveling ‘'we = became ac
quainted- with a new land.
Most of us were surprised
to hear many Japanese ad
dress us in English. Many
houses and people there are
strange looking. Someone
said they are funny. They
all seem very friendly. The
U.S. Army must have done
a good job of friendliness
From Japan we boarded
another ship towards Korea.
This was the time that most
of us were thinking when
will we be coming back to
our homes; yet we were more
curicus than anything else, It
took ou r ship about 11 days
to get to-its destination. , .
The place looks a shambles;
of course the war- ‘has devas
tatéd its towns, and the peo
ple are, funnier Jooking than
the Japanese and act unhappy;
but now and then you wouldl
'meet someone that smiles and
acts contented, especially chil
dren. I think children all over
the world are the same. Ig
norance of things issometimes,
away to happiness.
We have seen near J: pan
and in this neigborhood srme
strange flowers and birds.
They are pretty inaway...
For the first time-sinte-we got|
into First Grade together, my
brother Julio and I were sepa
rated:. I was sent to-a differ
ent division and I have had to
ask my father to send me his
address. .- It isa funny thing;-
Asking someore in Puerto Rico
to get comeone else’s ‘address
(who 1s supposed to be near to
us). : ‘
l In general the hoys are con
tented and we are doing our
best to work the best we. can.
After afew days I was re-as
signed to the 66th: Infantry.
[Ma’ny of those who :have been
‘here with the unit “have been
going home .a.nd we are re:
placement. . .} ' ol
The Home Journal
Write to the Boys
We are O.X. up to now. We
have everything we need; but
like to hear from our folks of
ten® Every day if thiswas
possible and did not look sel
fish. You see, letters, no mat
ter how short from our rela
tives.and friends nourish us
even more than food; and we
like toread newspapers.
*‘l was happy as Christmas
the day I received a large en
velope from my father with
one of his five-mile letters and
a bunch of newspaper clippings
from Puerto Rico and St. Tho
mas. We hope to hear from
P '
% ALCOA STEAMSHIP COO., INC.
S /J[»h N
SAILINGS FROM NEW YORK
GE o gails New York. Jie St. Thomas
Alcoa Pegasus = Sept. 19th Sept. 27th
A Steamer (via P.R.) " . Oct. Brd, Oct. 11th
ot SAILING FROM GULF PORTS'
o : ~ New Orleans Mobile Due St. Thomas
S.s._ Sappho Sept. 10th Sept. 13th Sept. 23rd
i SAILING TO NEW YORK :
S.s. Folke Bernadotte About October 6th
Above vessels and ”gg:a'mww hd:fl tslands ond British
! wflWMd‘wlmovflm .
; em‘ , '»"AMAUE e 14 QUEEN STREET -
B »CHAR\.OTT‘E‘““HONQ, SO, MY 0
- Public Notice
" Electric power lines erected by individuals
will not be accepted for operation by this Au
thority unless they have been approved,in ad
- vance, in ‘writing,and buiit in conformity with
- our standard specifications. |
.+ .. THE POWER AUTHORITY"
our friends besides our fami
lies. Here are soldiers from
every nation and if we had
time we could learn to. speak
mary languages. ‘‘Hello
Everybody!”’
Hector Rafael Francis
refers to his brother
Julio Herbert. The youngest
brother. Austin, recently gra
duated from the CAHS, re
sides with his mother and sis
ters Milagres and Iris. Ano her
sister, Ruth, is in. New York.
FOR SALE
Cumplete Household
~ Furnishings. (CALL 208