Winsor War Notes-Luther Snow Winsor's WW II experiences

Nov 26, 1945 Luzon Dear Leona: Well here I am still but not for long. No kidding a dream. A long worn out Dream is coming nearer to reality. I will be home some time in January. Unless orders change. But up to now we sail or get on a boat on the 10th of December. I'm about going Nuts for that is only 15 Days away. All the 70 bomber have gone to Manila last week & we are the first to go as a Unit. with 60 to 69 pointers exclusive. So you know what that means from now on there is no use in writing for the Post Office readdresses to my home address. so here I am. and not a darn thing to write about. Our old Outfit Broke up and so I'm in the 736th AAA Gun Bn. which is second on the list. for shipment. 43,000 men are going to shipped from the AAA this December on 147 Troop Transports. So I'll see you after I walk out of the Gates of Fort Douglas or should I call you up for Instruction on how to get around Salt Lake. Well that's too far ahead to think clear...

The large tractor trailer troop movers were described by Cliff Hope: "Getting up at 5 am, we loaded into huge trailer trucks to got to the port."

Not sure when most of these photos were taken, but the last looks like arrival. The others are just so the photos are spread out over the On the Ship posts. 

Lu's binoculars

Watch for Lu's binoculars in many of his photos. They might be his best used acquisition from the war.  This mimeographed newsletter is an interesting view into the voyage home. 

We can see by this envelope that the letter didn't catch up with Lu until he was back at home in Utah.  Teheran Nov. 4 1945 It is probable that you are already on your way home so this will not reach you-Anyway I'm sending a few lines just to say that I have returned safely from a long and somewhat hazardous trip. I find 3 letters from you-one written in July one in Aug and one on Oct. 15- Last one came thru in good time- Anyway I'm surely glad to get your letters even tho they have been on way so long-and I appreciate more than I can tell your expressions of affection and confidence- It is this love and faith that keeps me going when otherwise I should be discouraged and maybe give up- All being well I may see you before this reaches you-so I'll just stop here- If by any chance you are still there you can try again to reach me thru APO 523 c/o American Embassy--- Mean time my boy please avoid thinking about army problems, brass hat maneuvers etc.- I know ...

What do you do with thousands of service men all day-the army answer-set them to digging ditches!

Chow time instructions and line up. Those may be some wash stands out in the open too, with puddles around them and an extra layer of gravel laid down to keep the mud in check.  Marilu: This looks like a big camp set up to handle large numbers of troops to house and feed until the time comes to load them onto their ships. The mood must have been relaxed and elated as the wheels were now in motion for a return to civilian life and loved ones at home. According to a letter posted earlier in this blog, This was probably Camp Boston and Lu and many others were here for over a month waiting to move to an area to board a ship. Cliff Hope in his book talks about his returning home experience:"20 November: Then began a dismal, four-day ride in a truck convoy to the Calas Staging Area near Marseilles. The stops were few and far between. We arrived at the Calas staging area, a desolate-looking place....We were in unlighted, winterized tents. The 13 days we spent waiting were the u...