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Show Letters Come From Men In Japan, Germany . Pfc. Ted Kindred With First Marines Which Landed In Japan, Aug. 30 An interesting letter received by Mr. and Mrs. John Kindred of this city last Wednesday after noon from their son Ted, indicated indica-ted his was the first and only Marine unit to land in Yckosuka, Japan. He landed there about August 30. -The letter written on Japanese stationery, arrived here by airmail in 12 days. Ted has had many interseting experiences with the Marine unit in the South Pacific, Pa-cific, having been in the thickest of the Okinawa battle as well as others. His letter from Japan follows: fol-lows: September 1, 1945 Japan, Honshu Dear Folks: Well believe it or not here I am in Japan with the first troops that landed. We left our last base in a plenty quick hurry and then spent 10 days sailing around in a circle waiting for things to get fixed up so we could land here. We came in without any opposition op-position and landed at the Yoko-suka Yoko-suka naval airbase and because of the arrangements it was vacated va-cated so we just took over and this is as far as I have gone as we can't get out of the base. One of these days we will get out and look around a bit I hope. They were apparently ready to quit as near as I can figure it out, (Continued on Page Four) Sgt. Burton Johnson Gives Interesting Account Of Conditions In German Prisons Burton Johnson, whose parents are Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Johnson John-son give some first hand information infor-mation of goings on at the Germany Ger-many prison camps at present which is very interesting in view of the fact that the tables are now changed. His letter follows: Hammelburg, Germany August 25, 1945 Dear Folks: A letter from both of you has come since I have written, but we have been busy moving and I've had little time for anything but the necessary things. For once we moved where we were told we would and are now comfortably com-fortably settled in Hammelburg. It's only 30 miles from where we were but it seems like there is a drastic change in the climate, maybe it's because it was so dismal dis-mal living in tents and being knee-deep in mud, but it was unusually cold there. Perhaps you have read about this place in the paper, 'The Hammelburg Lager or Hammelburg Hammel-burg Prison camp. Although it isn't as notorious as Dachau it is somewhat similar. During peacetime and while the war was in Germany's favor this was one of the finest garrison training centers in Europe, and was later used as it is now to harbor (Continued on Page Four) Letters Come From Men In Japan, Germany Pfc. Ted Kindred With First Marines Which Landed In Japan, Aug. 30 (Continued from Page One) and it surely makes me glad to know that it is all over and we didn't have any trouble getting in. If we had had to fight for it, they could have stood us off for a long time because the country looks just plenty rugged what we have seen of it. Sgt. Burton Johnson Gives Interesting Account Of Conditions In German Prisons (Continued from Page One) I prisoners of war. Some of the I German prisoners we have now ( were the same one that guarded ! allied soldiers only a few months I ago. Our company is quartered in i 3 large two-story buildings and distributed 3 or 4 to a room. All states and today all those with 65 to 75 were leaving for the same purpose. Maybe before too long they will get down to the 35 to 45 bracket the way they are going. Telling you that this is a prison camp probably will worry you so I'll tell you all I know about it hoping that it will remove whatever what-ever fear you will dream up. There are four different types of prisoners here: Plain German soldiers who do all the work around the place, skilled and unskilled. un-skilled. Of course there is a guard on them at all times and they are returned to the stockade at 5:00 We are about 35 or 40 miles south of Tokyo which I hope also to get to see. We are living in barracks which have a typical nip smell about them with the flys, rats, mosquitoes and fleas its nice and comfortable. I am glad we had them as its rained since yesterday and a pup tent wouldn t be so nice in a rain storm. We found out what that was like on Okinawa. As they had vacated this base, I haven't seen any Nips as yet. I imagine I'll get my fill soon. I think we were the only Marine unit to hit so I am -glad I was in on it. More stories for my grandchildren? We've been only two days here so you can see I can't have been able to get far from here, and besides be-sides it's pretty hard anyway. As for my coming home soon, we are still in the dark and probably prob-ably won't know anything for sure until we get off the boat so don't get excited about my getting get-ting there for a while. However, I can think lots more about it the rooms have a stove and washbowl wash-bowl (as usual no hot running water) and are spacious enough that we are very comfortable. There are four showers in each building and only a block away a large shower house that will accomodate ac-comodate 100 men. Close to it is I a beautiful swimming pool, one of the nicest I have ever been in Next to it is a theatre as large as the Paramount. There is a Red Cross unit here where we can get all the doughnuts, coffee and Coco - Cola We want, also toilet articles, stationary, etc. In many regards it is very much like the training I had in the States, except under better circumstances as far as work is concerned. Days that we aren't on guard we have training from 8:00 to 10:00 in the morning and sports in the afternoon. after-noon. We are all very happy about the setup, never expected anything so good as this. I told Rell in the last letter that our orders had been changed from shipping home in October to army of occupation so I sup-nose sup-nose he has alreadv told vmi about it. It's very disappointing but it's also very good to know that we won't have to go to the Paific. I really think that before June I will be home for good and in the long run it's a Tot better than what I was looking forward to a month ago. The 30 day furlough was very attractive but what came after had me scared. A week ago all the men in the division di-vision who had betwen 75 and 85 points were transferred to another an-other division scheduled for the ! i overnight where they don't have a ghost of a chance to escape: There are war criminals who are awaiting trial. These aren't allowed al-lowed out of their stockade anytime, any-time, and it would be impossible to get out with the amount of guards and machine guns surrounding sur-rounding the place, not to mention men-tion double 14 foot prison fences. The famous SS Troopers are in another stockade, heavily guarded same as the war criminals. Last are the hospitalized cases, which, too, are under guard. Our company com-pany is assigned to the German soldiers and we think it is the best of all because they are the least dangerous and are at our disposal to do anything for us that we wish, and they seem happy hap-py to do anything we ask. Yesterday Yes-terday they turned 50 of them loose to go home and nearly all of them spent an hour or so of freedom then returned to the stockade. The only reason they are kept here is to do the little bit of work that has to be done and they would rather remain here where they have a roof over their head and assurance of 3 meals a day than to risk what all of Europe is faced with so little to eat and no living quarters. quart-ers. Burton now the war is ended. ' I haven't had any mail for three weeks so will be glad to get some. I hope you are sending me all the news as on operation all you know is what you happen to hear. So far I am in good health in spite of all the colds the guys have here. We had a rather miserable miser-able trip up because the captain of the ship was an old walrus and I was glad to get off. At the best a trip on a troop ship isn't anything wonderful. Just a way to get there. Tell all hello. Don't worry. Ted |