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Show MARINES USE NEW KIND OF CURRENCY By Sgt. Wood, Combat Corres. Okinawa First sale of Japanese Japa-nese goods in exchange for new American occupational yen and sen notes was made by Seig, a Spanish-speaking Okinawan storekeeper store-keeper to two Marines, members of the force which invaded and captured Taka Benare Island, six miles off the Pacific coast of this enemy base. Seig, 56, who said he worked 15 years in Peru, made the sale to souvenior-seeking Pfc. George W. Poppe of Stahhuck, Okla., and Lt. Carroll R. Wilson of Dubuque, la. Buy Sandals Crayons, Paint . . The Marines bought several pairs of straw sandals, at one yen (a dime) a pair; a dozen or more sets of crayons, for 50 sen (a nickel) a box; and a number of water color paints, for 75 sen (TVs cents) per set. With the U. S. military currency curren-cy in his pocket and a goodwill gift of a package of American cigarettes and a box of safety matches, Seig was a big man In Miyagusuku, his home town. The transaction caused a stir in this town where there had been no fighting and, where except for the absence of the few Jap troops who left when the Marines arrived, ar-rived, the villagers were going about their lives as usual. When the Leathernecks came upon Seig's street-corner store, they found it closed and secured with a crude iron lock. A clock ticked inside and a desk, littered table and almost empty shelves were seen through a side window. Native "Catches On" . . . One resident of Miyagusuku finally fi-nally caught on to what the Marines Ma-rines wanted. He pointed to a red tile-roofed house behind a wall of stones. And there, sitting cross-legged on the floor of his front room, was Seig himself, eating sweet potatoes for his noon-day meal. The native made them understand under-stand he spoke Spanish and he was surprised when one of the Marines, standing on his doorstep, greeted him with a Buenos dias, senor." The storekeeper returned the salutation to Staff Sgt. Paul Peters, Pet-ers, Marine Corps combat photographer photo-grapher of Houston, Tex., except for whose presence and knowledge of Spanish the deal might not have been made that day. Business In School Supplies . . . Seig led the Marines back to the store, opened it and displayed his wares with apologies. Business was not so good, he said. He had little to offer because nothing had come to the island from Japan for many months. The Oinawans had no money, anyway, and his only business had been trading them school supplies needed by their children. These he had some of and since nobody was going to school anymore he would be happy hap-py to sell them. While the purchases were being made a crowd of Okinawans. gathered gath-ered around the store. They spoke excitedly among themselves and obviously failed to comprehend why the "soldiers'' wanted crayons cray-ons and paints and moreover why they hadn't just stormed in and taken them. Seig was visibly pleased with the whole thing and told Peters some of his history. He has five children three, sons at Peru and two daughters a t home. After spending 15 years in Peru, where he owned and operated operat-ed a small general store, he returned re-turned to Okinawa in 1925. |