WW2 Chapter 28 - Deployment to the Pacific, Part 2

In a second letter to his mother from early October, Franklin again underlines certain letters to get a message though the censors:

October 1944 (undated)

Dear Mother,

     Where did you find the time to be making peach marmalade? However, I share Dave's opinion of same -- only worse!!

     Those cookies were most delicious -- but unfortunately they arrived at a most unfavorable moment -- and I was unable to appreciate them to the fullest extent. Don't hesitate to again send them -- (whenever possible).

     When did Frank [a cousin] return home? Quite recently I saw an excellent cartoon -- there were two infantrymen -- and it was the officer who spoke -- "Well, Joe, you've just completed your 50th combat patrol -- you'll be assigned to the machine guns for a while."

     That was quite high (the feed bill), but I don't guess you figured in the egg returns -- especially those at 65¢ a dozen. And birds that are thoroughly "broken", will not continue to set.

     Especially enjoyed those "lake pictures" that Dad enclosed in his most recent letter. And then those large sunflowers -- didn't realize that they were so tremendous!

     Would like to answer some of the many questions that are in your mind, -- but unfortunately ---

     Have before me Nancy's letter telling of her visit with Mary Ann -- it must have been quite an experience.

Much love, Franklin

The underlined letters spell out “Marshall” to indicate that their ship was heading to the Marshall Islands, located about halfway between Hawaii and New Guinea.




Pacific Theater (click to enlarge)



U.S. forces had taken the Marshall Islands back from the Japanese earlier that year and had established bases there for upcoming operations throughout the Pacific. Because Franklin's 7th Division was instrumental in the success of that previous campaign, they must have been particularly proud to stop there.