Phil Wood's Letters
Letter #27
This Really Is A Rugged Life
To Margretta & Gretchen
June 1943
Sunday night[1]
Dear Girls,
This is really a rugged life. We have absolutely no time off, even to sleep. The men are getting worn out, quite overworked – going at least 8 and often 12 & sometimes 16 hours a day – more than half of it at night, all running & crawling miles and miles…
But of course we’re all getting healthier, and we’re really enjoying it, though you wouldn’t know it to hear the moaning. Colonel Hart’s reception was a lulu, and Ed and I made a big stir with our Torch Singers. We sang a couple of numbers with the band and wowed him.[2]
Mother, it sure was wonderful to have you here. You know how much I wanted you to come. It was only a couple of months that I was out here but it seemed like years. I only hope now that we do go back through the East so that I can see you again, Gretch – write often, though I can’t. It’s getting dark now, so I can’t write more, and must go to bed.
All love,
Phil
Footnotes
[1] Either 19 or 26 June 1943, between Colonel Franklin Hart’s arrival and Lieutenant Ed Keyes’ departure.
[2] “Torch Singers” is capitalized in the original letter and might be a reference to a singing group (perhaps a precursor to Phil’s “Agony Quartette”). “Torch songs” are sentimental songs about unrequited love (as in “carrying the torch” for someone).
Colonel Franklin Augustus Hart arrived at Camp Pendleton on 12 June 1943 to take command of the 24th Marines. A highly experienced officer, Hart’s campaign ribbons detailed his service in the Great War, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Haiti. More recently, he taught British troops the art of amphibious warfare; his performance in the Dieppe raid was specially commended by Lord Louis Mountbatten. Hart had “an aura of command and leadership about him,” Phil Wood later wrote.
The arrival of such an impressive personage called for a celebration. The 24th Marines had a full military band, and plucked talented musicians to play popular tunes. Although modest about his abilities, Phil loved to sing and knew many old standards by heart. He probably sang the “torch songs” with feeling after his recent troubles with Rusty.
Margretta’s visit did Phil a world of good, and he made sure to show her the sights of California along with life in uniform – she dined at the officer’s mess, met several of his enlisted men, and got to know the friends he mentioned in his letters home. Unfortunately, no photos of her trip are known to survive.