Jan 5, 2015

Fri, Jan 5, 1945: stumped

"The Language school will fold up in September according to the navy.  It's being whittled down right now.  All but 8 of the 30 Japanese instructors have received notice of dismissal in March.  That's right after our class of 22 goes out (half the school.)  Some of the teachers are giving up their jobs with regrets.  $3000 to $3500 per year seems to be an average salary.  It'll be a blow to go back to running grocery stores, being chauffeurs, or underpaid college instructors as some were before the war....
"My ex-roommate Jim Allen who transferred out in September has a high sounding job now.  He's head of the department of welfare and labor in Jinazu Province of Okinawa.  (Knowing Jim as I do and his immature attitude toward life I'm just a little worried about the laboring class over in Jinazu Prefecture).  He says the chances to use Japanese are limitless.  The second day the island commander used him as an interpreter - with 'horrifying results'.  Things like 'When did the pump break down' and "Do you have a lock for the jail' stumped him."

-- Letter from my father, Boulder, Colo., to his family, Bloomington, Kans., Friday, January 5, 1945.

No comments:

Post a Comment