PFC Martin E Conlon
US 51 213 731
Co. D 34th INF. REGT. APO. 24
c/o P.M. SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.
Feb 20, 1954
Inchon, Korea
Dear Dot & Bill:
I haven’t written for quite a while because I have been on R&R in Japan for seven wonderful days. Really had a great time. There and I will try to tell you a little bit about it.
We left here the second of February and went by train down to Pusan where our base camp is located. We stayed here until the sixth of February and then we went to Regimental Headquarters to get our travel orders. From here by truck, we went to an Army replacement depot to await air transportation to Japan. We had to stay here overnight and then we went by train back up to Taegu where we got the plane to Japan. We wanted to go to Tokyo, but the R&R center there was filled up so we went to a city called Kyoto. I am just as well pleased that we went there because we had a wonderful time and it is cheaper there than in Tokyo. The first night we stayed at the Biwako Hotel, which is just outside the city limits. The next day we moved back to the city and a place called the Rakuyo Hotel. This place is controlled by the Army, but all of the employees are Japanese. It is a very modern building with eight large floors. On the first floor was a barber shop, gift shop, post office, P.X., photo service, shoeshine parlor, a gift wrapping service and the main offices. On the second to the sixth floors were the guest rooms and the dining rooms. The one on the 6th floor had meals for 15, 35, & 50 cents. On the seventh floor you had to pay regular prices for the meals, but the food was very good. On the eighth floor was the game room and theater, they had a dance every night on the seventh floor and you also had a bar service there. We had a Class A room which cost us 3.00 per night. That included two comfortable beds, room service, private bath, telephone service, laundry and other things you would find in stateside hotels.
While in Kyoto. We went on a guided tour of the city, went to several movies, including a three-dimensional movie, saw two stage shows, did some shopping, visited two of the largest department stores in Japan, went to the dances every night, ate good food, and in general had a great time. It sure was hard to come back to this place, but I may get a chance to go again in six or seven months I hope.
Most of our division, the 24th, is going to relieve the 45th div. up at the front, but our regiment is going to split up and take over various positions throughout Korea. We are supposed to go to Taegu which is between Pusan and Seoul. I don’t know how long we will be there, but it doesn’t make too much difference to me as the winter is almost over and it is the last one over here for me, I hope. Right now we are a company sized riot squad stationed at Inchon. Our job Is to be ready to take care of any trouble that Syngman Rhee might start while the Indian troops are moving out of Korea. So far his army hasn’t done anything and I don’t think they will start trouble, but you never can tell what will happen next. This job will be finished as soon as the last Indian troops have left, which should be in a few days.
Because the regimental headquarters is still in Pusan, the mail is about fouled up so we only have mail call once a week at the present time. That will be taken care of as soon as the regiment gets back together again.
I hope that everything is fine and that the weather hasn’t been too bad. We have had it pretty easy this winter and there hasn’t been much of any snow. I think it was warmer here than back home.
Well, it’s almost time for chow, so I will close for now, but we’ll write again when there is more news. Take it easy and give my regards to everyone.
Love
Eddie
(over)
P.S.
The “Time” magazine is coming to me regularly now. Thanks again for the nice gift
