December 9, 2001

Dear Sue,
My music playing equipment consists of CD only, both portable and cabinet, so it would be very nice if you would send a CD/ROM of Jack's renditions. (Oh, I do have an LP turntable and a couple of dozen old vinyl discs in storage. No 78 shellac ones, however). Anyway, my collection is entirely classical, and there are about 300 of them, with only occasional additions nowadays. The mp3 format is entirely unfamiliar to me except for its use by the younger set to trade free music.

Just before composing this reply I was watching a two hour history of the attack on Pearl Harbor and recalling my family's stunned reaction on that fateful Sunday. My dad had been a captain of infantry in WWI, and known what was coming with the resulting worry about what might happen to me. As I recall, Jack's father was also a vet and likewise apprehensive. Sadly, his worries were fulfilled.

My military history in training got extended to the point that I finally set out overseas after Jack had already been shot down. First they assigned me to Rome, NY, but before even going on duty there I was on my way overseas, beginning about June 1, 1944. I flew all the way to Kumming, China from Miami Beach, FL. Lucky me! No troop ship! It took about a dozen hops on four different planes with many waits and a total of about a month to get there.

From Kumming one of my radio schoolmates and I rode the back end of a truck to a little place called Yunnanyi, where I finally began operating, copying Morse code messages encrypted in five letter or number groups. It's different from plain text because there are no words to tie things together. Like ASDFG HJKLP or 38560 21675. After six months it was off to a more remote place called Mangshin very near to Burma (now Myanmar). Both places were right on the fabled Burma Road. I could see it out the window of our barracks built of bamboo with a thatched roof. Then the A-bombs were dropped in August and after winding up operations I flew back to Kunming, then to Calcutta, India. After several days we got on a Victory class cargo vessel made into a troop ship and after about a month, via the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea and a stormy Atlantic Ocean. (I was one of a few who didn't get seasick) we arrived at New York, saw the Statue of Liberty, and set foot on the USA on January 2, 1946, a nice birthday present for my little sister.

I seem to be making a habit of rambling on and on but perhaps that's what you want, anyway. Actually I enjoy it, if truth be told.

Well that will have to do for now. Keep taking care,
Dick Dickerson S/Sgt USAAF

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