Camp Pendleton, California
September 27, 1943
Dear girls,
This has really been shameful of me – not even to have written you a note, just to tell you that I got back safely and on time, which I did – the trip was relatively uneventful, except that I met a cute little girl who helped pass the time. Of course, compared with the plane the time seemed to pass very slowly – and somehow the scenery wasn’t anywhere near so exciting as the southwestern route. I actually don’t remember very much about it – being engrossed in “How Green Was My Valley” most of the time – you were right, Gretch, for all the kidding about it; it is a fine, sensitively written book, with an unusually simple, masculine flavor.
A lot has been happening here. An uncanny amount of work is being required of us platoon leaders by a stepped-up training schedule, and by a new high of exactitude in things military. Difficult to describe this last to a civilian, but the result is the multiplication of the minutia of the duty – and a doubling of the hours. Actually, for the last ten days, though we haven’t been out in the field but a few days, I’ve been at it from six thirty in the morning till ten every night. My mortars fired the range Thursday, and acquitted themselves with credit – especially so when the brass showed up – Lieutenant Colonel Dyess, the Battalion C.O., Colonel Hart, Commanding Officer of the 24th Marines, and Major General Schmidt, C.O. of the 4th Division. They stayed for about an hour, and I had to explain every detail of the mortar techniques we were using. The General is quite a boy – there are only two men in the Corps who outrank him – Holcomb the Commandant, and Vandergrift of Guadalcanal. He wasn’t exactly chatty – he asked one question, and cleared his throat twice. Col. Hart, though, I like very much. He reminds me very much of Daddy in his looks, though a somewhat older and slighter man, very distinguished looking with an aura of command and leadership about him. Lt. Col. Dyess is also a good man. The men call him “Big Red,” both respect and fear him. He rules with an iron hand, though he is human in individual cases.
Yesterday, the 24th formally came of age – at a Regimental parade, which is a very involved and precise sort of a military square dance. The regiment was presented with its colors. It really was a tremendously impressive ceremony, which I wish that both of you could have seen – everything was out there, all our artillery, vehicles, all our weapons, men in greens, plus full field equipment – helmets, leggings, packs and so forth – four thousand men passing in review, the 24th Band, an excellent 25 piece band, playing the 24th Marines’ March. A 21-gun salute from the 75 millimeter Howitzers, quite the most impressive thing of its kind that I have yet seen. All the visiting Potentates were very enthusiastic too – pronounced it one of the finest parades they’d ever seen, with not a man out of line or step – no mistakes, etcetera.
And then after, the party the Regiment threw and caught, a great big reception; everyone who was of any importance in Marine circles here on the coast, and a lot of Naval and British personnel were there. The champagne punch, composed of champagne fortified with Gin and Brandy. At all these military parties and receptions it is quite au fait [meaning socially correct - ed.]; in fact, the accepted thing to get thoroughly stinko, and of course your son and brother was no backslider. To such an extent that I tottered into bed at 2:30 PM, not even waking until 7:00 this morning. Military parties are really very interesting, for the first half-dozen; quite uninhibited, a very heavy emphasis on liquor and other men’s wives, primitive in spirit, with no complexities requiring witty conversation or intelligent exchange of ideas. I can see some excuse for it, and enjoy it from time to time, but with it the goal instead of the relief, I should imagine that it would get very boring.
Starting Wednesday, we go out in the field for two weeks, moving all the time, never sleeping two nights in the same place; we will cover about 175 miles in the time, do a good bit of firing; I will be an umpire for Battalion problems for several days. Then on to maneuvers on a larger scale, and actually things do seem to be underway for us to move in the next couple of months. Of course, I’ve been saying that for quite some time now, but I really think we are getting close to it now. I only wish, however, that we had gotten a hold of these new men three or four months ago; they need a lot of work; not only on knowledge, but on the even more important matter of discipline and attitude. Getting these new men in has made me realize just how good a working team we had built up with the old men. It does take time, and we will have to take that time either here or out of the States, for we have about half the outfit which is still somewhat of an unknown quantity.
It seems almost months already since I saw you; it really was a wonderful break, though you did give us a bit of a scare, Gretch. I don’t like to think of those four days before I got there – good to hear that you have gained back a little weight.
Amazingly enough I’m sleepy again; I’ve had a heavy cold which I can’t seem to shake, so haven’t been feeling too sharp all week, and on top of it yesterday noon…
Love,
Phil
The 24th Marines Band, on the set of the 1943 film "The Song Of Bernadette." Lester Spangler, one of Able Company's field musics, played drums in the band.
The "unknown quantity" of which Phil speaks are Marines who received their training at Camp Elliott, California. George Smith wrote that "It was during this early period at Pendleton that we were brought up to strength, and the pick wasn't always the top of the heap. Of course you should realize we on the east coast thought those Hollywood marines were all pose and little substance." Most, however, would prove the equal of the Parris Island men.
In addition to the intense training schedule, the 24th Marines appeared in several films. Their most notable exploit on the silver screen was the 1943 production of Richard Tregaskis' "Guadalcanal Diary." First Battalion were used as extras in the fight scenes, putting their training to the test in what was essentially a reenactment of the fighting a year ago.
Officers of First Battalion on the set. Phil Wood drew up the key below. Note #25.
They used us for the troops. I'm almost sure these palm trees were all phony, they were on platforms and they were wired, and they used Marine flyers for the strafing, and they came down and knocked half of them down. The movie guy was really pissed! I guess they did it on purpose but he didn't like it too much. William Bendix, Lloyd Knoll, I'm trying to think who else... they were all pretty nice people.