Episode 35: San Luis Obispo

Episode 35: Donald arrives in California, and immediately hates it. He tells Feloma about his new living situation and about Morro Bay. 

Letters start 2/22/44

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:13

Reading from California, baby. Hi. 500 letters to Nana here.

SPEAKER_00 0:19

That's right.

SPEAKER_01 0:20

We are not actually in California, but Donald is.

SPEAKER_00 0:23

Donald is. He has arrived at his new camp for now. For now.

SPEAKER_01 0:28

I don't know how long he's gonna be here.

SPEAKER_00 0:30

Me neither. We'll find out. We will find out.

SPEAKER_01 0:33

I'm excited for a change of scenery.

SPEAKER_00 0:35

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 0:36

And new types of training, perhaps. Well, yes. And also a new part of the country for Donald. Yes. He did enjoy the Troy the Troy, the train ride out from Pennsylvania to Oregon.

SPEAKER_00 0:50

This is true.

SPEAKER_01 0:51

He did talk about it in a letter or two. And I wonder if he'll talk about his train ride to California.

SPEAKER_00 0:58

Yeah, we'll see. He's probably got a lot on his brain. He's he's going through it because everything is new again. He's going through some upheaval.

SPEAKER_01 1:06

I mean, to be fair, we all go through upheaval when something's new.

SPEAKER_00 1:10

Yeah, no, absolutely. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 1:12

So I'm interested to hear about his adventures in California.

SPEAKER_00 1:16

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 1:16

I am.

SPEAKER_00 1:17

Yes. Shall we get started? We'll get right into it. Okay, let's do it. So this is February 22nd. So it's been a few days. Okay. Okay. And this is 10 p.m.

SPEAKER_01 1:29

He must have just gotten there.

SPEAKER_00 1:32

My dear Philoma, well, I arrived in my new camp today, which is San Luis Obispo. The town. The town San Luis Obispo is located about six miles from here. So just as a side note, whenever I hear San Luis Obispo now, I th and this is terrible, and I'm sorry for people that live there, but now I just think about the Golden State killer. Because that's who like found him, is the San Luis Obispo police. Yeah. Yeah. So anyway, sorry. Uh true crime caveat there.

SPEAKER_01 2:06

Thanks, Katie.

SPEAKER_00 2:07

You're welcome. I okay, so back to the letter, sorry. I believe I went from bad to worse when I got shipped here.

SPEAKER_02 2:16

Nobody has it as bad as me.

SPEAKER_00 2:18

Nope. It's an awful looking place, and it's been raining ever since I got here. Oh no. Yep. We are living in huts which hold six men, but I've seen quite a few fellows from my old outfit here.

SPEAKER_02 2:33

Oh, that's good.

SPEAKER_00 2:34

Yeah. So I found some examples of these huts. Okay. So they're called six man's. Um, and I found examples of them set up without sort of a little wooden foundation and with a little wooden foundation. So here's some pictures of what they would look like.

SPEAKER_01 2:53

I don't. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 2:55

So that's an example of one without yes.

SPEAKER_01 2:59

That's crazy. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 3:01

And then the ones that are more um permanent look like that. So it's that looks like a McMansion.

SPEAKER_01 3:11

Compared to the first one.

SPEAKER_00 3:12

I know, but it's basically that canvas goes over that wooden foundation thing. Yeah. Those are not the same. And then that would look like 12 people.

SPEAKER_01 3:22

Like you can see bunks in there.

SPEAKER_00 3:24

Right. So there's bunks to one side, one side, and then the back. So six.

SPEAKER_01 3:28

So maybe that's what he was in.

SPEAKER_00 3:30

I'm because they're like more setup there. Donald and his stuff would fill that tent. Right. So if you there's one more picture. So that's what they look like altogether.

SPEAKER_01 3:48

Okay. That looks like it looks like a summer camp. I know it does.

SPEAKER_00 3:54

It does. Yeah, so I'll post these pictures.

SPEAKER_01 3:57

I'm not living there.

SPEAKER_00 3:58

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 3:59

But it's not so post all three of those.

SPEAKER_00 4:02

I will. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's relatively austere.

SPEAKER_01 4:05

The second one looks like a museum setup.

SPEAKER_00 4:08

It is. It's at a museum.

SPEAKER_01 4:09

Yeah, that looks that looks way nicer than probably what Donald had.

SPEAKER_00 4:14

Yes. And I was reading, so the museum is that I stole these pictures from uh Camp Shelby. Um is that where he was? No, but that's where I stole the pictures from. Okay. Is their museum?

SPEAKER_01 4:29

Oh, where is Camp Shelby?

SPEAKER_00 4:32

Oh, I want to say Mississippi.

SPEAKER_01 4:35

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_00 4:37

But don't let me tell you wrong. Yeah, Mississippi. Okay. Um, and some people that had commented said that they have like a radio playing 1940s music, and it's all set up with people's road trip to like personal stuff. I mean, I could. It'd take us a couple days, it'd take us a couple days, but to get kind of the atmosphere of it, I think that's cool. Okay. Yeah, so go them. Um all right. So I was surprised when I was over at the PX buying some cigarettes, of course. And a fella walked up and tapped me on the shoulder. And when I turned around, it was Wallish.

SPEAKER_02 5:21

Oh, how funny! They both made it there. And I'm so happy.

SPEAKER_00 5:25

I know, and I was glad to see him. He's going to call Amelia tonight, and he's going to tell her to tell you that I landed here. So that will save me a telegram.

SPEAKER_01 5:36

Oh, that's wonderful.

SPEAKER_00 5:38

I know.

SPEAKER_01 5:39

At least they're gonna pay for the phone call.

SPEAKER_00 5:41

There you go. And anyway, I haven't any return address here. But keep writing, and my mail will come down from Adair. It will be a little while before we can get in contact again. I would have liked to call, but that wouldn't do any good because I couldn't give you my return address. And I lost 25 bucks besides coming down on the train.

SPEAKER_01 6:05

How'd you do that, Donald?

SPEAKER_00 6:06

I can't imagine.

SPEAKER_01 6:08

I have a feeling that Donald is going to find a mailing address real soon. Oh, yeah. Because I know Donald.

SPEAKER_00 6:17

I know because so listen to me, I know Donald. Well, we're going to go through a little period again, like when he was first in the army, where they don't hear from each other for a little bit.

SPEAKER_01 6:27

Because you know even the mail getting to him even now, having your mail forwarded takes time. Takes time. So that mail's gonna have to collect there, they're gonna have to figure out where he is, and then they're gonna have to send it, which I imagine would take a couple of weeks. Right. So he is going to be fast and frantic, right? Because you know how he gets. And he's also gonna be like, gosh, uh there's nothing for me to write to you about because I'm not hearing from you, Philoma. Right. Meanwhile, she's writing two letters a day. Correct. Exactly. He's gonna get like 20 at once, exactly.

SPEAKER_00 7:02

Yep. It costs too much money to call anyway. We're going to take 14 days of the toughest training that the army has. Our sergeant was telling us we have to run the Japanese and the jungle course, the German village course, and the infiltration course all over again. We are only seven miles from the coast, and we're going to take a course on amphibious training, to which I'm not going to like. So I don't know if I've said this or not on the podcast. Donald couldn't swim.

SPEAKER_01 7:36

It's crazy.

SPEAKER_00 7:37

So he's gonna be doing amphibious training and and has no idea how to swim. So just wanted to that would be throw that out there.

SPEAKER_01 7:47

And he's a little man.

unknown 7:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:49

How tall is he?

unknown 7:50

Five.

SPEAKER_00 7:51

He was like five's seven-ish.

SPEAKER_01 7:52

I mean, not very tall.

SPEAKER_00 7:54

Yeah. Sink like a stone.

SPEAKER_01 7:56

I mean, when you don't know how to swim, you're sinking fast.

SPEAKER_00 7:59

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_01 8:00

That'd be so scary. Plus, all the um equipment.

SPEAKER_00 8:04

That's what I'm thinking. Like it's one thing to thrash around by yourself, but you got a hundred pounds of equipment on you and I'm not sure I could swim, and I don't know that I could swim with all that equipment.

SPEAKER_01 8:14

Exactly. I can barely swim with anyway. Crazy.

SPEAKER_00 8:19

The sergeant told us to put lots of dubbing on our shoes because the salt water was bad on them. Because in this course, you have to wade in swamps up to your chest, and you have to practice landing on and off LST boats, and you have to wade out in the ocean a little ways. So, first of all, I don't know that dub one is gonna help if you're up to your chest and water, number one. Um, but then so number two, LST boats are landing ship tank, is what they're called, LST.

SPEAKER_01 8:51

I think I know what they look like.

SPEAKER_00 8:53

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_01 8:54

I say that I act like I know. Okay. What I'm envisioning is what they stormed the beaches of Normandy with.

SPEAKER_00 9:03

No, no, so those are totally wrong. No, that's okay. That's okay. I didn't know either.

SPEAKER_01 9:07

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 9:08

So what they stormed Normandy with was the Higgins boats, okay, which are personnel carriers.

SPEAKER_01 9:14

Those are like shoebox, floating shoebox.

SPEAKER_00 9:16

Correct. So, but your head is in the right place. Okay, because these are giant versions of that where the bay doors open and a ramp comes down so vehicles can go on. But it's the same idea where they like open straight onto the beach.

SPEAKER_01 9:33

Okay, I would much rather go on the beach in that than what they did in Normandy. Yeah, so that's what it looks like.

SPEAKER_00 9:40

It is, but instead of a boat, it's a ship. Exactly. So instead of the bay and ramp coming down and it being people coming out, it's vehicles. Okay. Yeah. Personnel too, but you know. Wow. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 9:54

Would that be like a big barge? It must have a flat bottom on it. It does to get that to the coast. Exactly. On the beach.

SPEAKER_00 10:01

Yes. So I have a little information.

SPEAKER_01 10:04

Okay. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 10:04

What's that boat called?

SPEAKER_00 10:06

An LST or a landing ship tank. It's a ship developed during World War II to support amphibious operation by carrying tanks, vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto a low slope beach with no docker piers. The shallow draft and bow doors and ramps enable amphibious assaults on almost any beach. It had a highly specialized design that enabled ocean crossings as well as shore groundings. The bow had a large door that could open and deploy a ramp. It also had a flat keel that allowed the ship to be beached and stay upright. Very good. Yeah. Yes, girl.

SPEAKER_01 10:48

Look at me. And like that's a pretty big ramp because there's a vehicle on that ramp. I know. It's big.

SPEAKER_00 10:54

It's like deceivingly big.

SPEAKER_01 10:55

It is. Oh, I would feel much better on the beach than that, than those little shoeboxes. Yeah. Like, that's crazy. So, silly me.

SPEAKER_03 11:08

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 11:09

I don't know what I thought Donald would be doing, but I think I thought he would like go somewhere and then he would ship out. It didn't really dawn on me that he would be doing more training. I mean, I'm grateful that he's doing more training.

SPEAKER_00 11:24

Well, right. Well, the thing is, if you're going to Europe, you don't necessarily need this training, right?

SPEAKER_01 11:29

Clearly not. That's what I was gonna say. At this point, Donald must know he's going to the Pacific.

SPEAKER_00 11:33

Yeah. So this is extra. Yeah, that's correct.

SPEAKER_01 11:36

Okay. Yeah. Because what they're doing, I mean, first of all, neither place sounds like a good place to go.

SPEAKER_00 11:45

No.

SPEAKER_01 11:47

In my silly little brain, I would be like, oh, the Pacific is better than Europe. But hearing about knowing that there are all these different battles that take place for months in the Pacific.

SPEAKER_00 11:59

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 12:00

That to me doesn't sound better than being in the European front.

SPEAKER_00 12:04

No, yeah. Neither is neither is a great option.

SPEAKER_01 12:07

No, neither is a great option. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 12:09

No.

SPEAKER_01 12:09

So does he know at this point, did he say, I'm sorry, did he say uh how long he was gonna be here for training?

SPEAKER_00 12:16

14 days.

SPEAKER_01 12:18

Only they're doing a lot in 14 days.

SPEAKER_00 12:20

They're doing a lot in 14 days, and then we'll see where he ends up.

SPEAKER_01 12:23

Oh my goodness, only 14 days.

SPEAKER_00 12:25

Yeah, we're gonna be bouncing around a bit.

SPEAKER_01 12:27

Okay. Wow. That's not very long for all this amphibious.

SPEAKER_00 12:32

No.

SPEAKER_01 12:33

I guess that's him um getting ready to be in and out of the the ocean.

SPEAKER_00 12:41

Part of it at least. Yeah. This is this is them easing into it.

SPEAKER_01 12:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:45

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 12:46

Okay. I'm sorry. What did Wallish do? Was he he wasn't just in the infantry, was he?

SPEAKER_00 12:53

No, he was part of the engineers, I think.

SPEAKER_01 12:55

Oh, the engineers. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 12:56

Yeah, just wait. Um he was in the 270th engineers. So it's like a branch of the infantry. Okay. But he's doing other stuff.

SPEAKER_01 13:05

Okay, that's fine. Do you know if he goes to the Pacific?

SPEAKER_00 13:09

I don't know off the top of my head. I know he sees battle. I want to say he goes to Europe, but I'm not entirely certain.

SPEAKER_01 13:17

Okay, it doesn't matter. I think I was just curious.

SPEAKER_00 13:19

Yeah, I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 13:20

I mean, it's a real crapshoot where you end up, right?

SPEAKER_00 13:23

Really and truly.

SPEAKER_01 13:24

Like, I mean, if you're a replacement, you're a replacement. So you go where you're needed, which is a horrible thought.

SPEAKER_00 13:31

I know.

SPEAKER_01 13:32

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 13:34

Okay, he goes on. I don't want you to worry, dear, because I'll take care of myself and whatever happens, I'll let you know what's going on. Even if the news gets to you a week or two late. I imagine it's gonna be quite a little while before I hear from you because I have to write to my old company and tell them where to send my mail and where I'm at now. I'll be here for 14 days and I won't have any address until I'm sent to my company. Philoma, I was never so disgusted in all my life as I am right now. It just seems there is nothing to look forward to. Well, kid, take it easy. It's maybe a few days before I can write again. I remain as ever yours. I love you ever so much. Love and kisses, Don.

SPEAKER_01 14:24

Well, I do think knowing that he's gonna be doing this training for 14 days, they're gonna keep them very busy. Oh yeah. I mean, and he was busy at Adair. This is a different kind of busy.

SPEAKER_00 14:34

It's a different kind of busy, and it's all different stuff.

SPEAKER_01 14:37

Yes. Yes. And um I think he needs to have his head in the game for somebody who can't swim. Right. He needs his head in the game. For sure. You know? It's like I got a wife to go home to. I'm making it out a lot.

SPEAKER_00 14:54

Yeah, he's I can't be playing around with you fools. I gotta get out of here. Yeah, I'm trying to make it home. So I will absorb everything you tell me.

SPEAKER_01 15:01

Everything, I will absorb everything but the water. Exactly 100%. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 15:06

Okay. February 23rd. My dear Philoma, another day has passed, so it's just one more day less for whatever's coming. Oh, Donald.

SPEAKER_01 15:18

He is down in the job.

SPEAKER_00 15:20

I know. It's kind of close quarters in these huts, and there is one little bulb to light the place, and it's not very good. This place looks like a city of huts, and they are built something like a tourist cabin, only they're not painted, and they're covered with tar paper, just like them hunting cabins over by Leicester's gas station. They're certainly a mess. We have to carry water in our helmets to scrub the floor with for about a city block, and the latrine is just as far away. Every morning you have to go down and wash, and if you have to go to the latrine in the night, it's a son of a gun. I know.

SPEAKER_01 16:02

I mean, looking at the face. Like I he he's right.

SPEAKER_00 16:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:09

There's no bathroom.

SPEAKER_00 16:10

No.

SPEAKER_01 16:11

Which is is hard. And I mean, as a dude, he does have another option. I'm just saying.

SPEAKER_00 16:18

I know. What are you honestly? Give me a break.

SPEAKER_01 16:21

I mean, come on, you know they're doing that in the middle of the night. Even before bed.

SPEAKER_00 16:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:27

These are animals. Yeah. These animals.

SPEAKER_00 16:30

The sidewalks are built out of old chunks of concrete that they got off an old road, and they're laid edgeways, and you're always stubbing.

SPEAKER_01 16:41

Just see him just tripping. I love the idea of people laying broken concrete.

SPEAKER_00 16:47

Yeah, of course. Why wouldn't they?

SPEAKER_01 16:49

Why would they want to put any money into this camp? Oh, right, exactly.

SPEAKER_00 16:52

Forget it.

SPEAKER_01 16:53

Forget gravel.

SPEAKER_00 16:54

Yeah. Each hut has an oil stove in it, and it has an awful smell of oil in the huts. I even have a little headache from it, and it's the first headache I've had since I've been in the army. Now that's not true because he had a headache a few episodes ago.

SPEAKER_01 17:10

Also, I want to say, remember he was like, I've heard, you know, hopefully it doesn't go from bad to worse.

SPEAKER_00 17:17

Right.

SPEAKER_01 17:18

Remarkably, it did. Right. I have to say, I thought he was like, well, kind of like, I don't think I want to say he was telling a tall tale, but he was spinning a web of like, oh, it's gonna be so hard. Well, I actually think it is.

SPEAKER_00 17:33

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 17:34

I really do.

SPEAKER_00 17:35

Exactly. And that's the thing. Like, it can always be worse. So let's not will it into Right. Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 17:42

For sure.

SPEAKER_00 17:43

I only hope I never get a sick headache like I used to get at home. If that would happen, I believe I would die because nobody takes care of you here. They don't care if you live or die. So a sick headache. I wonder if he's talking about a migraine.

SPEAKER_02 17:58

Oh, I bet he is.

SPEAKER_00 18:00

Yeah. Like he needs to be taken care of. Yeah, and I didn't know he got migraines.

SPEAKER_02 18:05

Well, now you know.

SPEAKER_00 18:06

Yeah, now I know. My hands are awful sore tonight from rope burns because we were climbing cargo ropes all afternoon up the side of a simulated ship. There's a certain way. I know. There's a certain way that you have to climb up and down to get in the LST boats. I believe this outfit will take off about April. I don't know for sure though. This outfit is the only division that can wear their shoulder insignia overseas. The reason for that is the two battles they've won in the last year, they lost 52% of their men. They made a oh go ahead.

SPEAKER_01 18:45

They lost okay. First of all, they lost 52% of their men. Yeah. That's pretty devastating. It is. And Donald's a replacement.

SPEAKER_03 18:53

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 18:54

Stop and think about that.

SPEAKER_00 18:56

Well, that was in the last war.

SPEAKER_01 18:57

Oh, that was in the last war. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:59

Yeah, yeah. But still. I was thinking this this division has seen some things. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Okay. They made us tear our insignia of the 70th division off, and they're going to give us patches of the 81st. I kind of hate that.

SPEAKER_01 19:15

Well, I mean, it's been his identity. I know exactly. He's I don't think it even occurred to him that he would be going to another unit.

SPEAKER_00 19:22

Yeah, his blood, sweat, and tears are on that patch, literally.

SPEAKER_01 19:26

His blood, sweat, and tears are on that patch.

SPEAKER_00 19:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:29

And now he has to give it up. Yep. That would be hard. Yep. And he, I mean, it's only the second, I mean, he's he's only been in the army six months. I know. He doesn't understand patches. And apparently neither do we.

SPEAKER_00 19:41

No, yeah, we don't. So one, I'm gonna read one more sentence and then we'll okay, we'll get into it. When I get some, I'll send you one home. I sort of hated to tear my insignia off, but we had to. So he says, you know, this outfit is the only division that can wear their shoulder insignia overseas. And then he says the reason, you know, but he's kind of wrong. So so I'm gonna kind of give you a highlight. So the 81st Infantry Division, um, they're known as the Wildcats.

SPEAKER_02 20:15

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 20:16

Okay. Originally they were based in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and they had a creek called Wildcat Creek go through that. Okay. Yes, and so they are the Wildcats. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 20:31

And they migrated all the way to California.

SPEAKER_00 20:35

At some point, okay, in the First World War, they were deployed to France, and the commander, Major General Charles Bailey, um saw that Allied soldiers all wore kind of insignia. And at the time, U.S. troops didn't wear any patches whatsoever.

SPEAKER_01 20:56

So in World War I, nobody was wearing patches. Correct. On the US forces, nobody's wearing patches. Correct. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 21:02

But he saw that other countries were doing it, and he's like, that's a great idea because it helps not only identify people, but it also gives you a kind of like camaraderie. Like these are my this this is my people. Yeah. You know?

SPEAKER_01 21:15

Um it's a it's a trusted ally because you're part of the same unit, right?

SPEAKER_00 21:20

Absolutely. So he kind of asked around and thought of, you know, what should we make our patch be? And they came up with a black cat on a green background. Okay. And he had them made for everybody in the division. And they were all excited and they sewed them all in their uniforms. And when they shipped out of the New York port, the portmaster there was like, you can't have that. That's out of regulation. Like, what are you doing?

SPEAKER_01 21:47

And so random that the harbor master would know that.

SPEAKER_00 21:50

Exactly. And so they had to cut them all off their uniforms. Um, but then as soon as they were at sea, uh General Bailey was like, put them back on.

unknown 21:58

And so

SPEAKER_00 22:00

They're off. They're on. Yeah. And so they did. Um, and then when they got to France, they got in trouble again. And somebody had like wired the army and was like, hey, they're out of regulation. And they're like, you cannot do that. You cannot do that. Um yeah. So it says, so this article we found, determined to win the argument, Bailey obtained permission to personally defend his decision. Um, as the story goes, he touted the advantages of a shoulder patch in boosting the morale of the soldiers. General Pershing, who was like the main main guy that would approve it, approved the use of the patch, reportedly saying, All right, go ahead and wear it and see that you live up to it.

SPEAKER_01 22:44

Oh.

SPEAKER_00 22:45

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 22:46

I'll tell you what, that would motivate me.

SPEAKER_00 22:48

Yes. So the 81st Infantry Division Wildcat Patch was the first official authorized shoulder sleeve insignia for the U.S. Army.

SPEAKER_01 22:58

That to me is crazy.

SPEAKER_00 22:59

I know.

SPEAKER_01 23:00

And that started in World War One.

SPEAKER_00 23:02

World War I. Little does Donald know the whole history of it. And maybe he learns as I mean, maybe he does.

SPEAKER_01 23:09

Okay. But what's I mean, a lot of pride there.

SPEAKER_00 23:12

Isn't that crazy?

SPEAKER_01 23:13

That's really kind of cool.

SPEAKER_00 23:14

And to be completely honest, when you see the patch, you're like, that's ugly. Like, no offense. But like this was absolutely hand drawn by somebody somewhere. And they were like, yeah, that looks good. After three beers. Yeah, print it. Like, send it.

SPEAKER_01 23:30

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it does look like a woozy.

SPEAKER_00 23:34

It's a little, yes, it's a little rudimentary.

SPEAKER_01 23:36

It is. Uh-huh. But when you think about the the roots of it, it's amazing.

SPEAKER_00 23:42

Oh, yeah, it's amazing.

SPEAKER_01 23:43

It is kind of amazing. That's really kind of a cool story. And I didn't know that. I think I just thought patches had been around forever.

SPEAKER_00 23:49

I assume that was part of it from the beginning. How else would you know who's who? Like, how do you know who's a medic? How do you know who has ammo? You know, all the things.

SPEAKER_01 23:57

And now patches are everything.

SPEAKER_00 23:59

Everything.

SPEAKER_01 24:00

That's interesting.

SPEAKER_00 24:01

I know. Very cool.

SPEAKER_01 24:02

That's actually very cool. Okay. I think Donald will come around to these wildcat patches. I think he may. I think he will. I feel. I feel it.

SPEAKER_00 24:13

So back to the letter.

SPEAKER_01 24:15

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 24:16

You keep writing to my old address, and when I get my new address, I'll write to Camp Adair and give them my address. It's going to be a long time until I read one of your letters. It's only three days now, and I'm so lonesome to read one that I don't know what to do.

SPEAKER_01 24:32

I mean, it is hard. I know. I mean, I feel like he's just sending these random letters out and hopefully Philoma gets them. I mean, like, I feel certain she's getting her letters, a little less certain Donald's getting his. You know, because you know she's writing them.

SPEAKER_00 24:50

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 24:51

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 24:52

It's rained both days I was here so far, and I guess this place is just as bad as a dare for mud. Oh. Maybe in a few weeks I'll be able to take some pictures of the place and then you can get an idea.

SPEAKER_01 25:06

Did he take pictures?

SPEAKER_00 25:07

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 25:08

You have pictures from there? Oh, fascinating.

SPEAKER_00 25:11

It sets down in a valley, and the mountains are very steep and rocky with very little growth on them. They are way steeper than Red Rock Mountain. I have a few pictures that I took at a dare, and I'll send a few in each letter to you. I hope everything is alright at home and everybody as well. I have been praying every night myself for the last few weeks, and I say a prayer for you every night. I'm only hoping that this thing will be over shortly, but it doesn't look that way. Well, kid, I'll keep writing even though I don't hear from you, and you do the same. I remain as ever yours. Love and kisses Don. P.S. Don't use the address on the letter to write to me.

SPEAKER_01 25:56

I think that's funny.

SPEAKER_00 25:57

Yeah. Well, because it's he's in a temporary camp. Like he's temporary to the camp. You know, it's they just kind of cycle people.

SPEAKER_01 26:06

So you think I mean you may or may not want to tell me this. I don't know. Does he do more training after this?

SPEAKER_00 26:13

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 26:14

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 26:15

He goes to a couple more places after this.

SPEAKER_03 26:19

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 26:20

All that mail's gonna have to find him at some point.

SPEAKER_00 26:26

All right. All right. You ready for the last one today? Yeah. Okay. February 24th, my dear Philoma, another day has gone past and still the same old stuff. I don't know if you remember about this happening or not, but do you remember when the Japanese shelled the Moro Bay? Oh, sorry. But do you remember when the Japanese shelled Moro Bay quite a while ago when they hit them oil tanks? Well, that's where we're riding in landing boats today. So I didn't know anything about this. Have you heard of this?

SPEAKER_02 27:04

No.

SPEAKER_00 27:05

Okay. So in December 1941, so this is a couple weeks after Pearl Harbor, uh-huh. A Japanese sub was hanging out off the coast of California. I know. No share pearls, ladies. Pearl, I didn't know anything about this. Yes. So hanging out. Yes. And there was an oil tanker called the SS Montebello. It was going from their area in California to Vancouver.

SPEAKER_01 27:35

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 27:35

Okay. So before they left, they got a report that there were Japanese subs in the water. And the captain actually like just quit. He was like, I'm not going out there. Peace. And and bailed. Okay. Wow. Yes. So the first mate took over as captain.

SPEAKER_01 27:51

He's like, deal.

SPEAKER_00 27:53

Yeah, he's like, okay, I guess.

SPEAKER_01 27:54

Jumped into the captain's seat.

SPEAKER_00 27:56

Yeah. Um, so he and the crew knew there were Japanese submarines off the California coast, but they voted to ship out anyway, and they were headed to Vancouver.

SPEAKER_03 28:07

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 28:08

Okay. So they go out at one in the morning, and then around five in the morning, a couple crew members alerted the captain that they were being stalked by a sub.

unknown 28:19

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 28:20

Yeah. And then they saw, like, as they're watching it, they start to see the rising sun on like the side of it. So they realized it was an I-21 Japanese submarine. Um, and then the sub repositioned itself to the other side. So it was between them and the coast. Perpendicular. Yes. And so it shot um a missile.

SPEAKER_01 28:44

A missile.

SPEAKER_00 28:45

Yeah, I'm doing bad.

SPEAKER_01 28:46

A bomb.

SPEAKER_00 28:46

A torpedo.

SPEAKER_01 28:48

A torpedo.

SPEAKER_00 28:50

Yes. The sub repositioned between the tanker and mainland and fired a single torpedo into the Montebello. Incredibly, the torpedo hit the only compartment not loaded with oil or gasoline. The men wouldn't have had a chance if any other hold was hit, said the fur said the captain. But it did knock out the radio. So 20 minutes later, the captain gave the order to abandon ship. Recalling the captain's demeanor during those chaotic moments, the crew said he was cool as a snowdrift.

SPEAKER_01 29:28

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 29:29

All 38 crewmen left the tanker in four lifeboats as the sub opened fire with its deck gun. No one was hit by gunfire, but the lifeboat carrying the captain was hit and began leaking. The lifeboats pulled away safely as the sub descended below the surface because it wanted to like avoid detection by planes flying above. And the crew watched the boat just sink.

SPEAKER_01 29:54

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 29:56

And then they just rode to shore. But they all survived.

SPEAKER_01 30:01

I had no idea.

SPEAKER_00 30:02

I know. So the only the only story I knew about what's the name of this boat?

SPEAKER_01 30:09

The Montebello. The Montebello.

SPEAKER_00 30:12

Yeah. So I knew the story of um when the Japanese, there was a submarine off the coast of Oregon, and it had sent in like incendiary balloons and started a forest fire. Like I knew that story, but I didn't know any other story of coastal attacks from the Japanese.

SPEAKER_01 30:33

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 30:34

But there's a few of them.

SPEAKER_01 30:35

That's crazy.

SPEAKER_00 30:36

I know.

SPEAKER_01 30:37

I had no idea.

SPEAKER_00 30:38

Me neither.

SPEAKER_01 30:39

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 30:40

Yeah. So anyway, that's kind of scary. Well, here's the thing Pearl Harbor was a couple weeks before this. So now it's like they're coming for us. Yeah. Like they're gonna bomb our cities.

SPEAKER_01 30:53

That's crazy.

SPEAKER_00 30:54

You know, like that would be so scary.

SPEAKER_01 30:56

I had no idea.

SPEAKER_00 30:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:58

We were probably closer to being invaded by Japan than we realized.

SPEAKER_00 31:03

Well, and so unfortunately, I mean, obviously, unfortunately being attacked, but also unfortunately, because of all this fear that people had and how like things were heightened and everything and like war nerves, yeah, that's how they got to like internment caps.

SPEAKER_01 31:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 31:19

Because they were so freaked out. Of course. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:22

So I mean, I'm kind of freaked out hearing all this. So I kind of I I'm not saying internal camps are okay.

SPEAKER_00 31:27

Right.

SPEAKER_01 31:27

Period. Yeah. Full stop. Yeah. I'm just like, wow. Yeah. I just didn't know. Yeah. I mean, if I had a nickel for every time I said I just didn't know.

SPEAKER_00 31:39

I know. I was like, man, they sunk an oil tanker. I was like, what? Wow. That's crazy. The vessel is now in federal waters, approximately six miles off the coast of Moonstone Beach in Cambria, 900 feet below the water surface. And it's still there.

SPEAKER_01 31:58

I gotta say, that's really close.

SPEAKER_00 32:00

Yeah. Thank goodness. Because they had to row.

SPEAKER_01 32:03

Oh, they had to row.

SPEAKER_00 32:07

But they all survived.

SPEAKER_01 32:09

That's crazy.

SPEAKER_00 32:10

I know. I can't imagine being in a lifeboat and having a submarine fire deck guns at me. Like, no.

SPEAKER_01 32:17

So this was just a civilian boat.

SPEAKER_00 32:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 32:19

Like these aren't soldiers.

SPEAKER_00 32:21

No, no. They're just oil tanker people.

SPEAKER_01 32:24

These are oil tanker people.

SPEAKER_00 32:25

Obviously, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 32:26

No, these are people from private sector.

SPEAKER_00 32:29

Yeah. They're and they may be doing like the war effort because they're transferring fuel and all that.

SPEAKER_01 32:34

I mean, there are oil tankers everywhere and we don't know about it. Right. But like this was just this is a civilian boat that the Japanese sunk.

SPEAKER_00 32:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 32:43

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 32:44

Yeah. And it had something like three million gallons of oil on it.

SPEAKER_01 32:49

It's just crazy to me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Never heard the story. Wow. Thanks for the history lesson.

SPEAKER_00 32:55

Oh, my pleasure, of course.

SPEAKER_01 32:58

A little lesson for both of us.

SPEAKER_00 33:00

One, I was like, what are you talking about? Okay. He goes on. That's where we're going to take our amphibious training in Morrow Bay. It was really beautiful here today, and the ocean was beautiful. We were working at what's called the Little Rock of Gibraltar. We were standing at the bottom of it. It stands up out of the ocean about 500 to 600 feet, and it's about a mile or maybe two miles around. It's really nice out on the coast. The seagulls flying around and orange trees growing everywhere here and there.

SPEAKER_01 33:33

That's quite an image.

SPEAKER_00 33:35

I know. So he's talking about something called Morrow Rock, which is a 576-foot-tall volcanic plug. And it's part of like, I know, plug, and it's part of a chain. It's the last one in the chain. And it's the biggest. So here's a picture of it.

SPEAKER_01 33:53

Oh wow.

SPEAKER_00 33:54

I know, isn't that pretty?

SPEAKER_01 33:55

That's really cool. Quite a change. It actually looks like one of the scenes from um White Lotus.

SPEAKER_00 34:02

It's beautiful. It is. It really is. Um, and I was looking, they have like, you know, obviously a touristy website and all this stuff, and people like get married there.

SPEAKER_01 34:11

I'm sure they do. It's gorgeous. It's gorgeous I mean he did paint the picture. It is beautiful.

SPEAKER_00 34:17

I know.

SPEAKER_01 34:18

That would be something for a guy from the middle of nowhere. Pennsylvania, correct? It's kind of cool.

SPEAKER_00 34:26

I never seen such an outfit. Every time you fall out of your hut, you have to run on the double. Even if you're going to chow, they make you run. Everything you do around here is on the double. These fellows that are left in this division are really tough because they were in Tennessee, Louisiana, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and California. And they were out in the field for 10 months. That's why they need so many dang replacements to fill it up again. They must have lost three to four thousand men.

unknown 35:00

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 35:01

Yes. So they have been doing training all over the country, just one after another.

SPEAKER_01 35:06

That's crazy.

SPEAKER_00 35:07

I know.

SPEAKER_01 35:07

I had no idea.

SPEAKER_00 35:09

It's it's nuts. I didn't know like that was a thing. Yeah. Yeah. I've been trying to locate Wallish, but I can't find him. I've been wondering if he called Amelia and she told you I was here. We're restricted to our area for 14 days, and you can't send a telegram from where I'm at because the telegraph office is way up to the other end of camp. When they call for mail call, I go down to listen to hear if I can hear my name called, but it isn't. I'm not expecting any letters anyway because I have no address as of yet, but I still like to go to mail call.

SPEAKER_01 35:45

Oh my gosh, that's so sad.

SPEAKER_00 35:47

There's always hope, you know. I know.

SPEAKER_01 35:51

Yeah. Oh gosh, Donald. I know I mean a wake in a prayer.

SPEAKER_00 35:56

I know.

SPEAKER_01 35:57

Oh, that's terrible, Katie. Poor Donald.

SPEAKER_00 36:01

I'm very lonesome when I don't receive any letters and sort of disgusted because I know when I come in nights that there isn't going to be any letters waiting for me. I bought a paper tonight and the news looks very good at the present. I only hope it soon gets over. I don't know why I have to go through all of this. In one way I wish we would get shipped over right away and get this damn mess over with. Sometimes I get so dang nervous and disgusted I wish I were dead. As yet, I don't know what I'm going to be put into, but you can almost be sure that it will be a rifle company like I was before. I believe tomorrow night we're going through the infiltration course again, so I probably won't be able to write. We're also going to have a 24-hour hike. Maybe that will put the finishing touches on my feet.

SPEAKER_01 36:56

Oh, Donald, put your feet in the salt water. Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_00 37:01

For real. Oh Donald. Soak those puppies. Well, kid, I sent two more pictures in these letters of some of the fellows. Take good care of yourself for me. I remain as ever yours. As always, loving and missing you very much. Love and kisses. Don.

SPEAKER_01 37:21

Oh my goodness. This, I mean, I think these letters are tough.

SPEAKER_00 37:25

I know.

SPEAKER_01 37:26

It's that upheaving. Everything is new. It's upheaval. He's not getting mail. He lives and breathes through Philoma's letters. And he's in a he's in a tight spot right now.

SPEAKER_00 37:39

It's really, it's super similar when he first gets gets in the army and he's like, Do you believe this? We have to do this, and I'm not hearing from you. And I'm disgusted. And it's like it's just give it a little give it a little bit of time. You'll get used to it. Yeah. You'll make some friends.

SPEAKER_01 37:57

New places, new experiences, new everything. Yeah. He's and at least you're by the coast. He doesn't care.

SPEAKER_00 38:05

Something to look at.

SPEAKER_01 38:06

Um, except this man can't swim. So being by the coast. That's true.

SPEAKER_00 38:09

You know what? That's true. Put him in the woods.

SPEAKER_01 38:12

He's a happy man. He doesn't want to be by the water. 100%. For somebody who can't swim, he doesn't want to be by the water.

SPEAKER_00 38:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 38:19

That's crazy.

SPEAKER_00 38:20

I know. Yeah. Tough times for Donald. Tough lots of upheaval. He will get his head around it.

SPEAKER_01 38:29

He needs a little time.

SPEAKER_00 38:30

He just needs a little bit more.

SPEAKER_01 38:31

And he needs to hear from his mama mama.

SPEAKER_00 38:34

That's right. His woman.

SPEAKER_01 38:36

His woman. Then I think he'll be better.

SPEAKER_00 38:38

His bullhead.

SPEAKER_01 38:39

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 38:39

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 38:40

His sweet little hurricane.

SPEAKER_00 38:42

Oh, so cute. I forgot about that. Oh, I love that. Oh my god. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 38:48

They they really they're they're very in tune with one another, I have to say. They are. And you know, he isn't in the midst of a lot of turmoil and change.

SPEAKER_00 38:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:00

So, you know, I think he will persevere. I think he'll persevere and he'll probably enjoy the training once he gets through it. He's gonna look back and be glad he did it. Exactly. And it's different than what he's done. Now, I would not be looking forward to a 24-hour hike. No. No. No. No. I'm looking forward to a 24-hour vacation.

SPEAKER_00 39:22

Yeah, I love that he's like, well, and that'll just end my feat. And then that'll be the end of it.

SPEAKER_01 39:28

That'll put the scales. We're all done from here. I'll be heading home soon.

SPEAKER_00 39:31

Oh my gosh, what a mess.

SPEAKER_01 39:32

He is a mess.

SPEAKER_00 39:33

All right.

SPEAKER_01 39:34

Okay, so interesting. We're signing off from.

SPEAKER_00 39:37

We are signing off. Well, first of all, thank you so much for listening. You can continue to follow us at 500letters to Nana.com and at 500 Letters to Nana on Instagram. And we are signing off for the first time from San Luis Obispo, California. And actually, we are only a hundred extra miles from Feloma. So we are 2,400 miles from Faloma.

SPEAKER_01 40:04

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 40:04

Almost exactly. Perfect. All right. We'll see you next week. Thanks. Bye.

SPEAKER_01 40:22

500 letters to Nana. Woohoo.