January 17, 1954 USS Anderson Hi Darling, Finally getting back again, everything went off as they planned it for a change. We left Fiji at 1230 yesterday and got to Kobe about 3:00am this morning - sailed at 11: We will get there some time tomorrow, boy I bet it is really cold there as its around freezing here and we'll be going about 2 parallels north. I don't care I can take anything for a couple more months - then I'll have you to keep me warm. Honey all of this has happened so fast I can't actually believe it - I'll sure be glad when I catch the next boat - I'll probably be counting everytime the screws turn over because it will be just that much less time we'll have to wait. I still can't believe I'm coming home - it's just to good to be true. Baby these's not too much to gab about. I didn't get a stateroom this time - doesn't matter to much for just one nite guess after tonite we'll be living in tents. I hope I'm not assigned to a company thats on the line cause it might be my luck for those gooks to decide they wanted to play more games. I wanta come home - don't like to play games with them - they play too rough. I imagine by now most of the Marine units have been relieved of the line. -------------I'm crooked [on the page] Wanda I can't think of a darn thing to gab about so I may as well shut up and try to get some chow (1500 bodies on this tub) I'll write more later. 18th Back again and we still ain't there. Woke up this morning and we were sitting in Pusan, Korea, they picked up 600 doggies to take to states after they dump us off - think I'll just stay aboard, and come home a couple months earlier. I found out for sure that I'm going to 1st Tanks - guess that wasn't taking too much of a chance telling you that address, can't ever tell may be assigned to Hq. Co. I should know my new address by tomorrow nite. I jipped myself out of a few cents, I could have sent this letter free, but while I was in Japan I always put the stamps on envelope as soon as I got them. Also wont' have to pay taxes for a couple weeks. All of that goes out the 31st, both free postage and taxes. Honey I know this is a poor excuse for a letter especially when its taken 3 days. No excuse except I don't know anything to gab about, maybe it won't be long until I can just tell you everything I know - I doubt if we'll have anytime for talking though. Wanda, regardless what the outcome of all this is, for good or bad, I love you and need you more than ever before. I'll be home as soon as possible. I love you baby. Yours Forever, Dave P.S. See you soon Pat! Brad Tesh - transcribed 2005-01-02