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Letter from Smith Green to grandma and grandpaShow simple item record

dc.creatorGreen, Smith Lowry
dc.date.accessioned2024-10-22T19:38:45Z
dc.date.available2024-10-22T19:38:45Z
dc.date.issued1940-02-08
dc.identifier.urihttps://repository.tcu.edu/handle/116099117/66451
dc.descriptionLetter from Smith Green to his grandparents, William and Mary Green, giving updates. (incorrectly dated 1939 instead of 1940)
dc.format.medium6.5x10 paper
dc.relationSmith Lowry Green Collection (MS 179)
dc.rightsPrior written permission from TCU Special Collections required to use any document or photograph
dc.sourceBox 002, Correspondence to Grandma & Grandpa 1939-41, 1945-46 (not POW) folder, Item 001
dc.subjectGreen, Smith L.
dc.subjectWorld War II
dc.subjectUnited States Army
dc.titleLetter from Smith Green to grandma and grandpa
dc.typeDocument
dc.description.transcription1 Hw. Co., 31st Infantry Manila, P.I February 8, 1939 Dear Grandma and Grandpa, I just received your most welcome letter yesterday and am taking this first opportunity to answer. It seems funny to hear about snow and cold weather because it was so different here. However at times a little cold weather would be welcome here. On January 2, the 31st Infantry started on maneuvers and we didn't return until February 6th. The various battalions went to different sectors and as I belong to the second battalion communications section, I went with the 2d Bn. to the north sector around the Lingayen Gulf. We were up there for ten days and returned. We were in the provinces of Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampamgas, and Rizal. Our command Post, were I stayed was in San Carlos, Pangasinan; Lennock Ferry, and Mangatarem all in Pangasinan. WE also stayed for a while in Camiling, Tarlac. I certainly saw plenty of the natives while on maneuvers. In fact I saw more of them than I wanted. Every time we 2 put up a radio station, the natives crowded around so thick that it was almost impossible to operate. And it is rare that you see a full grown man without his trusty bolo, a heavy, wicked looking knife. We crossed a river on night on a native ferry that was quite an experience, just like in the movies. Natives furnished the propelling power with long bamboo poles. I certainly saw plenty of coconuts as we usually set up camp in a grove. I ate so many that I got tired of them. It was very seldom that we got to take a bath. Only when we were camped near a river or small stream. There certainly is a big variety of insects in the Phillipines, especially ants. Some of them are half an inch long and all of them bite. The mosquitoes are every where also. We had to use a mosquito bar every night and we had to take quinine every day. After leaving the north sector we went south of Manila to the Province of Batangas. More coconut groves and sugar plantantations. And rice fields everywhere, we also camped in banana groves a time or two but 3 they were green yet. I rode in tiny taxis called calesas and big busses. They were hired by the army but in war they could be taken over by the army. Some of the places I was at were Malvar, Batangas, San Pablo and Los Banos, Laguna, and the immense Calamba sugar plantation also in Laguna Province. After staying there (in the south sector) we went to the west sector, across the bay from Manila in the Province of Bataan. It was in Bataan that Frank Buck caught the biggest python in the world. It is very mountainous and covered with jungles. The troops brought back monkeys, paraqueets and various other pets. While there the sector hq. where I was then was in a mango grove. I also got a nice sunburn and my face peeled. I guess you can tell that this is written in a hurry. You see, my correspondence piled up on me while in the field and I owe everyone a letter. I had no chance to write 4 at all in the field. In fact, I worked at least half the night every night. I'll write more soon, when I'm not pushed so much for time. We have a lot of work to do, now that maneuvers are over because all equipment has to be washed etc. I hope both of you are getting along fine. I'm in the bestof health as usual. I did sprain my ankle in Bataan while crossing some rice paddies and spent two days in the field hospital but its O.K. now. Tell everyone hello and write soon. Please don't worry about me. I'm sorry I didn't write sooner but it couldn't be helped. Again, write soon with all the news. Your loving grandson, Smith Lots of Love. S.L. Green Hq. Co. 31st Inf. Manila, P.I. Rec. MAr. 19 Mailed ans Mar. 26 Mr. W.M. Green Box 426 Broken Bow, Oklahoma U.S.A.


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  • Smith Lowry Green Collection [250]
    Smith L. Green fought in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. He was a prisoner of war from 1942 to 1945. He also fought in the Korean War. Green attended graduate school at Texas Christian University, graduating in 1961.

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