| OCR Text |
Show Letter Box . . Philippine Islands, Apr. 20, '45 Dearest Mother: Y'our letter of Apr. 7 came a couple cou-ple of days ago but I got it just this evening as I have been on a 4-day pass to Manilla. The Japs sure left that place in ruins. The whole business section is completely complete-ly destroyed. I did have a wonderful wonder-ful time up there. The group has a large house rented there for follows fol-lows going there on pass or rest leave. It is a nice modern house with nice easy chairs, lots of shade and they have hired Chinese cooks and Philippine house boys. The , cooks can really cook, too. It's the best I've eaten since I was home. I walked all over the city, and the so-called taxis, which are 2-wheel-ed carts pulled by a horse about the size of a Shetland pony or a tricycle with a seat for two in the front, and pedalled by a man sitting sit-ting in the roar, and there are the taxis run by an engine they look like a station wagon except they are only about one-quarter the size of the ones you see back in the U. S. I rode in the front seat of one and believe me. I was really cramped cramp-ed up in it. I couldn't put my feet on the floor boards as the dashboard dash-board was in the way of my knees. I also got to see Manilla from the air as we flew up there and back. I could see it might have been a real beautiful city at one time. but it's sure a mess now. I came back today with a few blisters on my feet, but other than that I think I gained a lot by the experience. That is all there is to write about now. With all my love. Billy Faris |
