Cover: red and blue stripes around edge, “Via Air Mail” in blue [don’t recognize the font]
From: Lt(jg) CR Cummins
USS LST 661
FPO San Fran Cal
To: The Cummins
6109 Greenwood Ave.
Chicago, 37, Illinois
Postmark: U.S. NAVY 22 DEC 1945
Stamp: 6¢ red airmail
reverse: some names in pencil, not CRC’s handwriting
5.5” x 9” paper, plain
21 Dec
2300
Salutations,
And a Happy New Year!
We arrived in Tokyo Bay around 1000. Tokyo Bay, of course, is an enormous body of water. Actually we are in a place called Uraga—on the left-hand side of the bay near its entrance—you’ll never find it on a map.
Nothing worthy of note occurred—other than continuous rough weather. After arriving here we learned that it was part of a cyclone that his the home islands—we just can’t seem to avoid them.
The Japs were well-behaved. The sailors really enjoyed keeping them under control—putting them on work details, making certain they toed the mark, et al.
The Japs had the tank deck. All exits from the tank deck were locked except the truck ramp to the main deck—up which they could come to the head and a breath of fresh air. We carefully rationed fresh water to them. For food we cook three 50 gal. cans of rice for them in the morning, 3 cans of beans in the afternoon. This food and other foodstuffs that did not require cooking were given us by the beach—all American food, naturally.
We had almost no contact with the Japs at all—mainly because we were concerned about disease—disentery especially.
6 of the almost 800 died—from effects of malnutrition. Many others were just specters of human beings.
We unloaded them this afternoon, so maybe all of them will make it home by Christmas.
800 doesn’t make much of dent in the millions that have to be transported—but they have a surprising number of ships that are not too apropo for transporting our own men.
Most likely we’ll be here tomorrow, then move a few miles farther down the day to a large naval base—and two or three days there. There might be mail in Yokahama for us—let’s hope so.
There is an actual possibility of snow for Christmas. Snow is predicted tomorrow for northern Honshu—so you know what a drastic temperature we have had in the last ten days.
Again—Happy New Year!
Sweet dreams, much love and even kisses –Bob