1944 diary - Hoover Institution

Transcription

Hoover Institution Archives: The World War II Diaries of General Joseph W. Stilwell. Copyrighted Material 2005
The World War II Diaries of General Joseph W. Stilwell (1941–1945)
Introduction
The World War II diaries of General Joseph W. Stilwell, my grandfather, are a subset—albeit a
historically very significant subset—of his diaries that span the period from 1904 to 1946 and form
part of the Stilwell Papers at the Hoover Institution Archives. Stilwell wrote these private diaries
not intending them to be seen by anyone else. In fact, not even his family saw them until after his
death. As such, from time to time, and especially during World War II, he used the diaries to vent
his daily frustrations in sometimes very blunt language. As he put it, they were his outlet to “keep
from biting the radiator” in exasperation.
Over the years, some people have assumed that the language Stilwell used in his diaries
reflected his daily behavior. This, however, is not the case. As Eric Larrabee has written in his
book Commander in Chief, “An assumption is almost irresistible that what someone sets down at
nightfall in the privacy of the bedchamber is the 'real' person, the authentic individual concealed
from others during working hours. The assumption is quite unwarranted. Diaries, too, have their
distortions, especially when they are used—among World War II leaders, by Stilwell and, for
another, Brooke—as an emotional outlet, a dustbin for the psychological dreck that accumulates
during a day of putting up with ignorance and folly.”
My grandfather's World War II diaries were first transcribed several decades ago, when his
widow—my grandmother—and a daughter-in-law, Bettye Stilwell, manually typed them. The
diaries, along with the rest of Stilwell's papers, were deposited at the Hoover Institution in stages
from 1951 on. In 1998, my cousin Deborah Bunce started entering the manually typed
transcriptions into a computer database. Several years later, Elena Danielson (director of the
Hoover Library and Archives) came up with the idea of putting them on the Hoover Archives Web
site. With this goal in mind, I then began proofing the computer database text against the original
diaries. Deborah input the corrections I noted, and Stefanie Diaz (a Hoover Archives staff
member) rechecked the revised transcriptions. Janet Gardiner (an independent editor) compared
these updated transcriptions with the original diaries, in order to make final corrections. Heather
Wagner (audiovisual specialist, Hoover Archives) scanned Stilwell's maps of military maneuvers,
and Polina Ilieva (technical specialist, Hoover Archives) pulled everything together and created
this Web page. For their generous support and friendly encouragement, we are also indebted to
both Elena Danielson and Linda Bernard (associate archivist, Hoover Archives).
-John Easterbrook
Principles of Transcription
Every effort has been made to replicate accurately Stilwell's spelling and punctuation,
superscripting and dash length, underlining and abbreviations—however unconventional or
inconsistent in usage. Sometimes Stilwell deliberately used inventive spelling to poke fun at the
accents of British military top brass and diplomats and of the Australians or West Africans. At
other points, he wrote under such time pressure and preoccupation with the campaign that he
inadvertently omitted terminal quotation marks, periods, and parentheses. Whatever the reason
for the idiosyncrasies in the text, the transcribers have respected them.
That said, this online presentation of the World War II diaries uses larger text pages than those in
Stilwell's 2 ¾ x 4 ¾ inch spiral-bound notebooks. In addition, 1.5 spacing has replaced the single
spacing of the original text, and entries are separated by line spaces, rather than by terminal line
rules. Dates are in boldface and set off from the text with extra space, while preserving their
original format. Stilwell's miscellaneous and undated jottings at the beginnings and ends of some
of the volumes have been aggregated at the end of each year of entries, with their provenance
indicated.
-Janet Gardiner
Copyrighted Material
SYMBOLS USED IN THE TEXT
Roman characters denote Stilwell’s own word(s) and use of square brackets.
Italicized characters indicate an editorial note.
* denotes Stilwell’s use of either Chinese characters or military unit designations,
according to context, that are not reproducible online. On a very few occasions, Stilwell
himself used an asterisk to key an explanatory note to a text sentence; these cases are
clearly identified.
( ) or ( ) denotes Stilwell’s circling one or more initials or numbers in the text; an
editorial note alerts the reader to the first such usage in a series. Where one or more entire
words are circled, an editorial note so indicates.
|||
||
(superscript) is the standard military designation of a regiment; by the same token,
(superscript) denotes a battalion.
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(superscript) denotes a division
(superscript) denotes a corps
xxx
Select Bibliography
Dorn, Frank. Walkout with Stilwell in Burma. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1970.
Haith, Michael E. “Joseph W. Stilwell as Attaché, 1935–1939: Foundations for Command in the
CBI.” Thesis submitted to the Temple University Graduate Board, April 1985.
Larrabee, Eric. Commander in Chief. New York: Harper and Row, 1987.
Romanus, Charles F., and Riley Sunderland. Stilwell's Mission to China. Washington, D.C.: Office
of the Chief of Military History, Dept. of the Army, 1953.
Romanus, Charles F., and Riley Sunderland. Stilwell's Command Problems. Washington, D.C.:
Office of the Chief of Military History, Dept. of the Army, 1956.
Schaller, Michael. The U.S. Crusade in China, 1938–1945. New York: Columbia University Press,
1979.
Tuchman, Barbara. Stilwell and the American Experience in China, 1911–45. New York:
Macmillan Company, 1970.
White, Theodore H., ed. The Stilwell Papers. New York: William Sloane Associates, 1948.
Copyright Statement
Joseph W. Stilwell's diaries are covered by the copyright law of the United States.
Please refer all requests to publish excerpts or quotations to the Hoover Institution Archives,
Stanford University, Stanford, California, 94305-6010,or to [email protected]. Such
requests will be forwarded to the Stilwell family, who owns the rights to the diaries.
Maps Reproduced from the Diary
February 27, 1944
February 28, 1944
Maps Reproduced from the Diary (cont.)
February 29, 1944
March 1, 1944
March 2, 1944
March 3, 1944
March 4, 1944
March 5, 1944 (a.m.)
March 5, 1944 (p.m.)
March 6, 1944
March 7, 1944
March 8, 1944
March 9, 1944
March 10–12, 1944
1944.
SAT. JAN. 1. 1:00 A.M. met by Joe & Ferris. Joe’s toes O.K. now. – (Not a question on
operations.) – Drunks kept raising hell till 3:00 A.M. Up at 7:00 – Office 8:30. (Joe will write
Win & send Ben the sword.) – Saw Sultan, Covell, Merrill, Ferris on this and that. Saw Slim &
Giffard at 11:30 – Gave them the dope – Saw Louis at 2:00 – walla, walla. He won’t take
command & doesn’t know where he is. Saw Wedemeyer, Wheeler, Sultan, & Ferris at 3:30.
Got a hair cut. Slim in at 4:00. Saw Fenn. Cooper. (Shreveport dough! Gentry in it, too.)
Then Sultan, Ferris & Merrill again. Back to hotel at 7:00. Press conference at 8:00. Dinner at
8:30. Talked to Sultan To field at 12:00.
SUN. JAN. 2. Off at 12:30 – Slept. Chabua at 7:15. Breakfast at Polo Grounds – good chow.
They had a boxing meet on New Year’s. (14 yr old kid in mess – an Indian Ben. How about
taking him to U.S.?) Decided to try for Shing. Off at 9:10. Shut in over the hills in valley. Hide
& seek around the hills with two pursuits. Probably own patrol, but Theisen took no chances &
went back to Sook. Picked up 2 P-51’s & off at 10:50 – Over Ledo at 11:00. Clear at Shing.
Good landing. Cleveland & Young still at Nimgan. Stuck on road. – SUN not moving.
Preposterous demands for armor, air support, & art. – Sharaw cleared by fine attack by 113th on
31st. – After lunch went down Ningnoi trail with Willey about 7 mi. 2 dozers working. 1st Bn*
65 en route. Fu with them. Saw Liao & Li here. – Wingate coming to-morrow. Cleveland &
Young in at 5:00. Word from CKG. G-mo still bucking. FDR perhaps implied threat to divert
supply. (At last?)
MON. JAN. 3. Cold morning. Looked over field while waiting for Wingate, due at 10:30. He
came finally at 11:25 after I’d sent Young up to get him, & also wired Boatner. Talked over
LRP’s & he agreed to send U.S. LRP to me here soon. He will put in three more around Indaw
to draw off attention from us. After lunch waited till 2 for Young, then to Ningam by jeep. Arr.
at 4:00. Big dropping. More casualties from poor aim. 2 K & about 10 injured so far. Saw Sun
& squawked about his slowness & crabbed generally. Told him it would not do. He’s scared
now about the “regt.” of jap art. mentioned in the captured order. Told him to get going & he
ordered T’ang to attack the pocket tomorrow. Went back to Am. basha, & in came T’ang with a
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long poor-mouth about “no reserve” & heavy casualties, & could they have the 3d Bn. 112th right
away. Offered them a regt. of 22d to help them out. They did not appreciate the offer. Offered
them the Bn at once if they would take Taihpa in 2 days. (Not appreciated.) Sun is just timid &
fearful of imagined “counter-attacks” & big concentrations of japs beyond Taihpa & in the
jungle E. of the Tarung. He is hard to push. Chow with the US contingent.
TUES. JAN. 4. Off for Yupbang at 8:20. – Li’s CP for “lunch.” Then down to river. Quiet.
113th taking over. Big banyan tree strong point. Regular hotel & fort combined. Tarzan vine to
slide down from M.G. nest. Extensive jap trenches. (Li went behind them on 29 Dec.) Under
observation at river position. Went to forward O.P. through tunnel on river bank & had view of
river & jap side up & down. Wire across river for ease of crossing. Back at 5:00. 17 miles.
T.M. fire on pocket at 4:20. Japs have used a lot of land mines. Li gave me a flag taken from a
capt. on Xmas day. (Bryant & Berriger along.) Sun moving very slowly. 3d Bn.* 114 now
faced by a Bn well dug in, in depth. The damned fools. His timidity will now cost lives. No
contact yet from Sharaw gang. 3d Bn.* 114 attacked by 2 plats yesterday.
WED. JAN. 5. Saw Sun – Arrangements delayed. He was stalling as usual. Pinned him to
1/7/44 for holding attack & 1/8/44 for south of river. Told him he was responsible for probable
increased casualties. Also that I would not put Americans in with him at this rate. He was much
at a loss, & had no face left. Unworthy of his men. And Gen. T’ang is a bastard trouble-maker.
Decided not to go to Kantau but return to Shing & get Li. (Met him on trail & sent him on
down.) Bad going on trail. Dumb Chinese drivers had stalled jeeps on bridge & alongside. We
cut a trail & went round. Shing at 1:00 for lunch. Saw Boatner & arranged for CHP to come
down. Also N 1st A. Also Bennett’s relief; McNally to replace him. Bennett to IV Corps & that
Bennett to Hertz. – Went down new trail about 8 or 9 miles. Good job; tough conditions.
Moved to new HQ location. McNally in. Conditions at Ngajatzup confirmed. (Lost CKS’
letter.!!!)
THURS. JAN. 6. Up at 7:00. Waited for Brown. He came at 11:00. Talked tanks till 12:00.
He is sceptical but willing. 2d Bn. coming up. He has 40-odd extra at Nam Chik. Hell of a trip
on R.R., – delays everywhere. – Rumor that 38th took out the last pocket yesterday. Now they
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can get ready. – 1:30 down the trail again, & got to the river Met Cannon, crossed river, & went
to trail junction. Saw Fu & talked it over. He seems O.K. 65th did a good crossing, excellent
rafts & ferry. No fuss. Good discipline. No grenade fishing. Fu protests he will go after ‘em.
Usual hooey about the “tsung chih hui” being the guiding light. “First time in his time in the
army he ever saw an operation like this, – a real envelopment.” “Na ko shao chien.” Cannon
gives the 65th high praise. Their work at the river was high class. – Told Fu to leave the 2d Bn at
the river. Could give it to him in case of need. – Back in 1 hr. 50 min. Trail thro. We were 1st
jeep to cover it. Polidoro fixed us up a late chow. Polidoro’s helper was a beer bootlegger in
Milwaukee. – Jap plane over. Lights galore.
FRI. JAN. 7. Left Shing at 8:30, with Brown (Tanks). Arr. Ningam at 11:30. Tough going.
Dumb Chinese drivers stalled. We pulled them out, cut brush, built turnouts, & generally sweat
all the way down – Lunch with Sun, then took jeep to Kantau (45 min) & down to Jagun. First
jeep through. Saw Maj. P’eng, refreshing change from the 38th grouches. Back to Ningam in
one hour. Sun silent & sulky. Lost 20 K & 44 W. yesterday at the Yupbang pocket. Third wave
got in, but couldn’t stay. Our company cut to pieces. Co. comdr. got a rifle grenade in the
stomach. The men went right at it but were mowed down. Place now blockaded. — P’eng
found a pocket in his front on his side. Is going after it to-morrow. – Slow work by 38th
generally. No news from Tung Yang or E of river or Ningbyen. Readjustment slow. 6th Btry in
position, but 2d Bn.* 114 not yet moved. P’eng’s 1st Bn.* 114 in position. (Brown ran across a
tiger on Ningmoi trail.) Wiant & Berrigen came down with us. – Sun wrote official letter
squawking about reserves – Still delaying while protesting he is pushing. Very discouraging.
From lll C.O.’s up, the Chinese army is hopeless.
SAT. JAN. 8. 2d Bn.* 114 to Kantau & cross river. P’eng cleaning the pocket. 113th still
messing around at Ulup. 1st Bn.* 113 to pass thro. P’eng & attack. Maybe by 12th. Talked to
Sun about tanks on Taihpa & said No. He was O.K. on it, & prepared to do it himself, but
Christ, how slowly. Sent Brown back to bring tanks up to Shing. That will comfort Sun.
Flame-throwers due about 15th. – Bummed all day. Nothing else to do. Just hoping the japs will
be as slow as we are. – – McNally in to relieve Bennett. 2d Bn.* 114 at Kantau. – P’eng did not
finish the pocket. – No word from Ulup. – Radio from Sultan. Louis welshes on entire program.
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G-mo’s fault, of course. Sending Cleveland to CKG with word to Hearn to work on Peanut.
(Limie program – I. Stop road at Ledo. II. Do not attack Burma. III Go to Sumatra. IV. Include
Hong Kong in S.E.A.C.!!!
SUN. JAN. 9. Gave McNally the dope, & he took over from Bennett. Talked to Sun about
pushing. He is still scared of his shadow & now hesitates to attack without a third threat – Chao
& a Bn of the 113th from the N. east of the Tarung. Told him to jump off S. of Tanai as soon as
ready. Repeated warning about giving japs so much time. – Left at 10:30. – In at 1:30. – Mud is
bad, & several bridges unfinished. Met the insect – Davidson-Huston – on the way. The LRPG
is arriving at Ledo Jan. 20, & expect to jump off Feb. 15. My God. What speed. Snorted at him,
& he allowed they might better the time. Expect to ride in trucks to the river! Went to bed at
6:30! (Sent Cleveland to CKG.)
MON. JAN. 10. Johnson, the boat man here. Boats on the way. – Saw Darlington about trails.
Sent for Boatner. He came at noon. Got things settled with him. Flew down the Tanai almost to
Taro. Beautiful stretch of river. Trail along bank as per map. No sign of troops. Open & flat
around Taro. Back to Kantau trail & in to Shing. Changed plans & flew to Kumkidu looking for
Pick. Missed him. Back to Shing at 4:15. – Bull-dozers have done 6 miles on Ningam trail! –
Berrigan pulled out by Wright. – A lot of crap radios incl. Wedemeyer’s to Marshall. Brown to
get here 17th Also next regt. of 22d.
TUES. JAN. 11. Rode down 5 mi. on Ningam trail & back – Bull-dozers raising hell. – Then
down to river & crossed. Li T’ao about to leave for south. Found that 2d Bn had gone, & raised
hell with Li. Told him by God to get it back PDQ, & find out who had disobeyed orders – –
Then started out for Kantau across the peninsula. Hell of a trail. All kinds – up the river, over
the hog-backs – slip, stumble, struggle, curse & tumble. Bastardly. Finally hit the sand & got to
Kantau at 5:00. Tiger tracks. Met jeep & came in – 6 P.M. – No new developments here.
Soaked through. Ankle gave me hell all night.
WED. JAN. 12. Good breakfast. Got ankle bandaged, big improvement. Sun came over –
same old stuff. Rested all day – Slept in P.M. P.X. hand out from Red Cross. Cleveland back at
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6:00. Brought wrong shoes. Also bad news. G-mo now “demands” amph. op. on And. or E. of
R. Plus IV corps to Shwebo or Monywa, plus Akyab, plus cut of com. between Bhamo &
Lashio. Old Softy Roosevelt has given them the money. “No” on 200th Div. No replacements
in sight. We are out on a limb. Young left for hospital – Stewart reports stale-mate S. of river.
A pretty picture.
THURS. JAN. 13. Long talk with Sun. Again impressed on him extreme importance of this
op! & serious consequences of failure. He protests he means business & will take Taihpa.
Another change in plan. 1st Bn.* 114 now to cross at Kantau & back up rest of 114th. 1st Bn.*
112 goes to Jagun to replace him. Chao’s envelopment from N. moving slowly. Expects fight at
Tabawng. Det. going on around. – Shoved off for south front at 1:45. Crossed at Kantau – 3:15.
Up good trail to 114th HQ – 5:30. Li forward. Slept in his dug-out. Bummed blankets.
FRI. JAN. 14. Breakfast with U.S. radio crew – oat-meal, coffee, bacon, pears. ½ hour to 3d
Bn HQ. Trail good all the way, – mostly level. Stayed all day till action was over. Li sent 8th
Co vs jap southern pocket (1 plat.), first clearing a pocket that had developed on our right. By
5:00 position 4/5 taken. Good work by the troops. Small losses, – only about 12 or so in the 7th,
8th, & 9th Cos. Only 1 plat. of 9th engaged. East side of MAWNGYANG HKA. Li tickled; says
I bring him luck. He is set to continue. Action about 500 yds. from CP. Lot of jap shelling.
Back to K’uan pu for night. (Litter bearer on Ningam trail who dropped dead from exhaustion
without a word.) – P’eng is up with his outfit now.
SAT. JAN. 15. Breakfast with radio crew. Off at 8:30. Stopped at Gurney’s hospital west of
Kantau at 10:30 – Ningam at 12:15. – Phone from Fisher last night. 65th has sat on its ass for 4
days. Cleaned up & shoved for Shing at 4:15 & got in at 6:00. Trail being cut back & much
improved. – Boatner at Ningam; we came back together. Sun in to report. Chao doing all right.
Gets to Nchaw & jc east of there to-day.
SUN. JAN. 16. Talked with Boatner. Got the “C.G., C.T., Ledo Sector” business straight. –
Saw Li T’ao & laid down the law. Cannon reports 65th patrolling is good & Fu will go anywhere
if he has rations. 3d Bn.* 65 cutting E. & S.E. to Wantuck Trail. 1 Bn.* 65 moving on S. 2d
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Bn.* 65 returning to upper bend; for disciplinary purposes. May be this will teach them
something. – Sent for Ferris & J. Davies – delegation to Wash. to combat S.E.A.C. – Looked
over tank lay-out, air-field, etc. Off at 3:15 for Ningam. 3 or 4 trees in the road. Short delay.
Arr. 5:00 P.M. (Buttercup’s name is YÜ HUA T’ING.) (C.L.U.) – Good news – 113th at Kaduja
& at Brangbram Hka on road. 1st Bn.* 112 crossed river N. of Brangbram Hka & reached it. 3d
Bn.* 114 took right jap position, except for pocket near river, – and 9th Co. continued N.E. to
river, but in front of 2d jap position.
MON. JAN. 17. Good progress – 113th along Brangbram Hka – 2d Bn.* 114 pushing forward –
Jap dug-outs have signs “Beat us this time; we’ll get you next time.” “Your rifles are no good;
they are too short.” “Our command got caught; they didn’t handle the situation well.” — (112th
got water from the stumps of plantain trees.) – Saw Sun about tactics. He is still super-cautious,
but in general carrying out plans. – Stuck around to see Covell to-night. — Churchill
congratulates 14th A troops! He would. And of course, not the Chinese. COVELL &
FARRELL in, on this & that. Everything O.K.
TUES. JAN. 18. Left at 8:45 with 3 newsboys. Walked up to Li’s CP (114th) on south bank.
Arrived about 1:00. Left at 4:15 & hiked back, last hour & ½ in the dark. About 18 miles.
Cleveland back with papers which Young had taken. – 114th going slowly. Attack by 2d Bn took
one position. 5th & 9th Cos. held up at another after a hell of a blast of firing. They won’t take a
chance & go around.
WED. JAN. 19. Sun & McNally beat it to Yupbang just as I was going after them. Bummed all
day — 65th stalled. Fu petering out. Sad fizzle. – Slow work in 38th Div., too. – 3 food dropplanes shot down near Sumprabum yesterday. — Painful lot of news. – Off at 3:40. Shing at
5:30. Mud. The limie airman Baldwin had come AND GONE. To hell with me, apparently. –
Cannon in. Fu is a complete bust. Got Li T’ao in & alerted him for tomorrow to see Liao.
Showdown on obedience or disobedience.
[Vol. 10 starts here.]
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THURS. JAN. 20. Started off the new book by bumping off the Col. of the 65th, (Fu.) – A.M.
talked to Dr. Faller, & flew to Ledo. Long talk with Ferris, after having the scene with Liao, Li,
& Boatner. Laid down the law, had Fu summarily relieved, ordered investigation, threatened to
put Cannon in command. Told Liao this included div. comdrs, unless they watched their step.
Also that Fu should really be shot. Liao took it O.K., though it shook him up. – After lunch,
conference with J. Davies, Ferris, Creswell & Boatner on check-mating the limies. Decided to
send Boatner to U.S. with them on J. Davies’ recommendation. – Chiselled candy, oranges,
flashlight, Coleman lantern, etc. Goose here at Shing. Back at 3:35-4:15 – Pretty trip both ways.
– Road is a sight. – Some tanks in. Bn. of 66th in at 1:00 A.M. – Gave Cannon the dope. – Movie
in P.M. on airfield. Big attendance. Now 780 Americans at Shing.
FRI. JAN. 21. Schauer in. Good clean-looking kid. – Left Young at Shing. To Ningam; arr.
11:00. – Saw Brown at Shing. 87 Tks. in, remainder in to-day. 1 lost. A fine job under terrible
conditions. Brown says worse than anything he could imagine. Everybody performed. One
Chinese killed. Tried to jump out of tank. Gave them 3 days to rest & re-fit. – P.M. doped out
plan of advance to south. – Good news from 114th – jap position reduced – 80 corpses already
found. — 113th close to T’ai* Pa.*
SAT. JAN. 22. Sun in. I gave him general plan. He wanted his boys with the tanks. “We must
not mix the units.” Told him I would command this & he would run the 38th Div. Also, if we
couldn’t get coordination, I would send some div. comdrs. home. He was shocked about Col.
Fu, & much affected by the Yupbang banner. Will probably play ball, if I make him. → Chinese
soldier committed suicide yesterday, because he lost his horse. (Stuck in the belly with a sharp
stick after being scared by a jeep.) Felt so upset by loss of his friend that he shot himself! ← –
10:30 to Yupbang by jeep. Crossed to Nchaw Gha on bridge. Saw Chao – went over jap
position. Hell of a lot of digging. Deep dug-out under bamboo clump. M.G. emplacement
covered shallow water at ford. Well-camouflaged b.I.A. position. – Road to Taihpa in good
shape – cut back & easy for motors. Chao moving very slowly. Now within 1000 yds. of Tai*
Ba* on W. & 1500 yds. on N. Few casualties – <30. Col. Li turned up with his gang. Back at
4:30. The Yupbang field represents quite a respectable battle. — Li cleared the 7th Co. pocket
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yesterday – Jan 21 – 58 casualties. Jap dead, counted – 80 – A hard fight, & a good clean up. –
Sun in to talk after supper. Long confab. No requests!!
SUN. JAN. 23. Saw McNally about this & that. Off at 10:40 for Shing. In at 12:10 – Road
getting better. Cheng T’ung Kuo here. (Christ.) Also find that limie major from S.E.A.C. has
horned in & is interviewing the Chinese. Put a stopper on “visitors”. Sent Cleveland to Ledo
with radio for G.C.M. Visited the tanks. – Cannon here. – Cheng & Liao called. I agreed to hold
Cannon back for few days. – Saw Brown. O.K for Blitz.
MON. JAN. 24. Pick in. Limies want to withdraw Darjeeling labor. THEY HAVE TO GO
TO A FESTIVAL! – They tried to get Pick’s machinery to put in a RR cut-off to Margherita.
“He had a special train for it; which was given him to get the machinery up for Them”! By God,
the nerve of these bastards. – Bunches of them up “inspecting” the road, & telling him he has
done a “pretty good” job; then putting in reports saying the culverts are too small, & we will
have slides! (Defense for their own lack of enterprise.) – No change on the front. 65th just
crawling. — Rained last night. — Boatner & Smykall in. Supply will be O.K. Trucks will be
sent. Merrill & 66th can be hauled. Limie 16th x will be sent through. — Wingate & Ferguson
in. Made them wait. W. sent in a note. Everything O.K. Fergie the Monocle will take Lonkin.
And hold it! – They go in via Hkalak: – Still here from Galahad. G-3 complex. He’ll calm
down. Arranged for their air supply. (Tr. Carrier Sq.) – Brown in. O.K. on bull-dozers. O.K.
on gas. – Bn. Comdr. 66th, reported to Brown. O.K. Tanks pleased to have Inf. along. All set
now – Remainder of 66th comes to Shing. So does Liao, & Fwd. Ech. of C.H.P. – Cannon
arranging supply of food & ammo, boats & med. service. – We control & supply Galahad.
TUES. JAN. 25. Overcast. Find there is no air picture S. of Taihpa. – Saw Brown, his Bn
Comdr & Exec. (Chao & Shih?) & the Inf. Bn Comdr. Talked to them about importance of
mission. – Sent letter to Li T’a in Eng – & Ch. to get going, or else. – Sent radio to McCabe on
matter of squirters & failure to check equipment & send U.S. personnel. – Rain. Hell of a time
on the road. 2 ½ hours to Ningam. – Saw McNally. Little change. They are now crying about
105’s. They have delayed long enough to have 380’s in front of them. (Radioed Boatner to get a
G-2. Crabbed about lack of air photos.) Nothing new. Small advances.
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WED. JAN. 26. Dull A.M. Cleared at noon: – Session with SUN. Laid down law about 3d
Bn.* 112. Must attack at once towards Taro. Also crabbed on slowness here. Demanded
bridge-head quick. Released his dets. to 3d Bn.* 112 — Cleveland back at 1:00. Dorn wants
him back. Both Bennett & Lindsey gone. Sandy with broken arm. – 65th finally got off its tail &
cleaned up at Patzi Hka. 162 jap corpses. 3d Bn.* 65 patrols crossed Ahawk Hka. This was on
23d & 24th. Fu trying to make good, perhaps. Anything to get it done – — Maj. Tilt killed today by sniper near Nchaw Ga. In big clearing a mile east. Shot through the left eye. Was L.O.
with Chao, 113th Inf. (Besides Lt. Col. Gilbert, (prisoner) & Sgt. Stretti & Capt. Lutken,
(wounded.) There were three killed last fall – Brown, (Engrs.) Alwine &
THURS. JAN. 27. Talked with McNally on tank operation. He agrees. – Sent for Brown. —
Br. publicity – “American-trained Chinese troops, after crossing the Tanai River, have captured
the village of GUM GA.” The bastards. – Brown came at 5:30. Four hours en route. He’s all
set. Accepts the route, & will be ready by Feb 2. – Radio from Louis – “Come to Delhi on 31st.”
Sultan also urges it. Wired Boatner to alert Theisen. – Spartacus has ordered 900th Co. out,
without a word to me. Sent him a hot one. — Estimate I can go to Delhi & get back in time for
tank frolic. Sun won’t have bridge-head before that.
FRI. JAN. 28. Left Ningam at 9:45; after talk with Sun. He will attack Taihpa on Sunday, &
send P’eng on to the road south of the Tanai. – Have told Li to push for TARO. – Reached Shing
at 12:15 Road very bad. – Wright & Eldridge here. Saw Cannon. Order all ready, & will be
pushed out Sunday if Taihpa is taken & bridge-head secured. – Reports from Patzi Hka indicate
250 jap dead, 4 HMG, 6 LMG, 2 TMs, 6 Knee TM.s, & 1 75 in the river. Damn good clean-up.
– Radio from G.C.M. asking for dope on ops. & opinion on Chinese. Gave him good report on
them. – Movie. “Behind the Rising Sun.”
SAT. JAN. 29. Off at 7:00 down river. 9:00 at boat-head. 9:30 to 12:00 getting to 20 R.
Found them just moving to Patzi Hka. Went on & arrived there at 12:45 – Li T’ao, Thompson &
Fisher. Baggett, the medico (25 F.H.). Told Li & Co about plans for 65th. Went over jap
position. It was too small & the mortars gave them hell. Not well dug in, in spite of occ. from
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1/19 to 1/24 – Thompson claims probably 325 dead japs. They were all over the place, with
heads & feet sticking out. Rather hurried burial. Plenty in the river. They ran their guns into the
river; Chinese got one out. Li said 3d Bn.* 65 was heading for Lonkin trail, & 1st Bn.* 65 was
across Ahawk R. Told him to hurry to TARO. Left at 1:27. Boat-head at 3:32! Showery.
Beautiful ride. Then till 6:00 getting in. Shing a sea of mud. Heavy rain to-day: Goose for
supper. Dara Singh reported in yesterday & was on the job to-day. – 65th want raw meat. They
ambushed 50 japs on Wantuk trail (3d Bn.* 8) & got 23 –
SUN. JAN. 30. 65th got to TARO! – More rain during night. Very depressing. Mud 3 ft. deep.
Got off at 10:00 in the lone L-5. Left Young, much disappointed. At Sook at 11:00 & off at
11:20. New plane is all dolled up. – Delhi at 7:30. Long talk with Sultan & Ferris on the
situation here. Bed at 12:30 – The limies are welshing –
MON. JAN. 31. Got a hair-cut. Office. 10 A.M. to the big walla walla. The limies take me
more seriously now. But they won’t fight if they can help it. Blew off my head about the
“plan”, that “we global strategy” experts have evolved – Fancy charts, false figures, & dirty
intentions. Got nowhere, of course. Told them “To hell with logistics” & mentioned Clive & his
123 soldiers. Dead silence. – After lunch, Stratemeyer, Fenn, Creswell, Evans, Nixon, etc. etc.
At 5:00 news paper conference – till 5:30. Then Bowlin, Fenn, C.W.S. man, etc. etc. Decorated
Speck Wheeler, – D.S.M. — Sultan is going strong; excellent man. Davies, Boatner & Ferris &
Hill & Eckert off at 1:15. – After dinner, wrote up minority report. Shoved off at 11:30 with Joe.
He did all the errands & preparations.
TUES. FEB. 1. Sook at 6:30 – Breakfast at 1st Carrier Sq. – Rainy. Bad outlook. At 11:00
started for Shing. Had to sit down in Ledo. Sent for Joe by plane. After lunch, went to C.H.P.
& saw Kinnison. Kearns to go to Hertz & get Bowerman going on Sumprabum. 64th send a Bn
to Taro. Merrill came in. Made our tentative arrangements. He will march down, arr. about
19th. Shoved off at 3:30 for Shing. (Saw Ferguson at field. He was waiting for Gifford.) The
weather cleared, thank God. At Shing, got msg. that Taihpa was taken today. No progress on
south bank. Rotten movie. (Eased Welsh’s mind.)
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WED. FEB. 2. Overcast but hopeful. Eldridge, about P.R.O., etc. Welsh, about Q.M. &
general reorganization. LeMoyne, about tanks & possibilities. Got Darlington for him. Brown
due in. Tks. have 21,000 gals. of gas. He came at 2:00. Did a P.R. in a B-25. Everything looks
good. No indications of work or occupation. Just a matter now of weather. God give us a few
dry days, & we can go. – Joe blew in & got set. Brought a lot of supplies, eats, etc. – Radio from
Dorn. Two xx moving over there. He’s all hopped up.
THURS. FEB. 3. Off at 8:15 – Ningam at 10:30. Mud terrible. Heavy rain at N. yesterday. –
Radio from Cannon. London broadcast on tanks – “Took Maingkuan”!!! Some limie son of a
bitch has sabotaged us. – Long session with Sun on plans. – Later – it was old Potter who
reported the broad-cast. It was the Arakan & not Hukawng. The old fool — Japs pulling out
across Tanai. Taihpa clear. Sent for squirters. – Sun in after supper. Long spiel. Backed him
down on his plan. Showed him the set-up for crossing.
FRI. FEB. 4. Cannon popped in for breakfast. He had Sun’s bleat to Chêng for RELIEF.
“This colossal loss” etc. “prevents proper issuance of orders”, etc. It looked pretty bad. Sun
came in & we had a long talk. He gave me the opening & I jumped in. He asked for death
grants, & I told him I would do anything for the 38th & asked only one thing, – SINCERE COOPERATION. That got under his skin. He was emphatic about his sincerity, & the doubt of it
hurt him. Sun is really not a strong character, but I believe he is sincere within his limitations.
Cannon was present. – We went over the whole situation after lunch & decided to play safe, –
build up supply & com., bring 22d Div in to get the bridge-head, hold the tanks, & get ready for a
big jump when we really go. In this way, we don’t gamble on the weather & don’t stop for more
wrangling at Maingkuan. We can fight here instead of at M., & can maybe get behind the japs &
clean up. Brown will have more time. We will have a stronger force in the area, & Merrill &
Fergie can be counted in. — (22d to Lakyen – Yawngbang – 38th E of Tanai.) — Radio from
Hearn. Ho Y.C. insisting on reorg. (3 xx into 2) – The bastard. More delay. Told Hearn to buck
it. – Schmertz in with flame-throwers. Tryout to-morrow in 114th sector.
SAT. FEB. 5. Pick in. No worry about supply into Shing. Will gravel to Yupbang by 20th.
Will have field at Taihpa for transports by Feb. 8. (New trace 116 mi., Shing to Ningam.) – Left
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at noon for 114th – Newsboys along. They pooped out. The trail was terrible, – all cut up &
muddy. Schmertz in with the squirters. Rain.
SUN. FEB. 6. Attack on river pockets by 3d Co., 2d & 6th blocking off – on east side. 3d got in
& cleaned up. Occupied about ½ of position. Japs put down art. fire on friend & foe alike.
Small pocket vacant except for few corpses. 10 dead japs in front of 2d Co., 20 in front of 6th.
30 in the pocket. 2 L.M.G.s (with the J.W.S. magazine.) Good clean-up. 4 prisoners; only one
got to hospital alive. Wanted to shake hands, & quite ready to talk. Second dying on way
through. Third died before arriving. Fourth bumped off Li probably attacked because I went
over. It happens every time. – Supper with the California boys. – Squirters were a complete
bust. Badly packed. Leaky. Valves bent. Schmertz got lost & went back to Bn. C.P. FIASCO.
Told him to go back & re-fit. Q. Where is Sanford?
MON. FEB. 7. Breakfast with Brooklyn boys. Off at 9:00. Slow going. Muck. Met 2d Bn,
66th. Saw Lo T’ao, Ch’en, & Fu at 9181. Long belly-ache by Fu. Told him it was all forgotten
now. Ch’en apparently wants to go. Will jump off on 9th. Gave 1st Bn. to Ch’en. Back at 2:00
– Mass of mail, – Radios, etc. Worked on it till 5:00. Sun in after chow. No material change. –
3d Bn of 65th has 100 japs penned on Wantuk Bum. – Letters from home. – Xmas packages,
records from Nance; assortment from Ern. – Joe is here. Brought shoes, dumb-bells, etc.
Radioed Cannon to release 1st Bn to 66th. – Saw Brown. He goes to Taihpa in A.M. – Radioed
Sultan for Spartacus to rescind Matterhorn order. –
TUES. FEB. 8. Joe shoved off for Shing. Cleared up on correspondence, radios, etc. – Airfield
at Taihpa being shelled. Had to quit work. – Usual crap from CKG and Delhi. – Dull but clear.
Road drying out slowly. – Sanford the squirter man arrived – – Cleared up radios, etc. Wrote
Win. – Listened to nigger quartette. – Sun in for long confab.
WED. FEB. 9. 66th should jump off to-day. – Mason about med. supply trouble – Off for
Taihpa at 9:00. New air-field at 11:00. Mud very bad in places. False alarm at N chaw Ga.
Thought we were attacked. New airfield a dandy – 4600' & smooth. Built in 14 hrs. under art.
fire. – Walked over it & got to 3d Bn. L.O. (Pearson?) & with him to 113th C.P. Saw Boutz
184
(Yuma), Fitzgeral (N.Y.) and Dupuy. Talked to Chao. (He was publicly very “fu ts’ung-y.” “If
the C. in C. has any orders for me, I will carry them out to the letter.” etc. etc. Sung-ed us up the
road. At Yupbang, saw Leuendusky & Lester, of 25th F.H. Back at 3:45. Passed Brown’s
armored dozers. (Sgt Quinn, Colorado.) – Cannon & Bowerman in. They can’t do it. Japs dug
in deep; Kachins won’t attack. Only 5 cos. of Gurkhas. Will try north outpost. He is concerned
to do something for the “glory of the Empah.” – Trying to get 2 cos. from 14th Army.
[The letter below is enclosed by a single line and is on a separate page.]
WIN –
Just in case I get bumped off, let me tell you how free in my mind I have been lately. I was
wondering today why, and I believe it is because we have had everything worth while, including,
for me, a full realization of your grand character. I wouldn’t have fully realized it if it had not
been for this war, which has made plain to me what a wonderful girl I married. Why you
accepted a bum like me, I’ll never understand, but I can sure pass on without regret.
THURS. FEB. 10. Rain, damn it. Light, though. Dubbed around. Smith (22d) came in. Liao
down to-morrow – CP at 9181. — 38th C.P. to Nchaw Ga to-day. – Gave Sun the dope on grants.
Told him to hurry on 112th & hold 2 Bns. 113th ready. — Pocket cleaned by 114th yesterday had
80 dead japs in it. – P.M. squirter practice. Pretty sad. Told them to go to work & learn
something. Sanford knows how, but men are entirely untrained. – Wolfe on way. — Joe came in
at 5:00 after air reconn. down to Shaduzup. Couldn’t see a thing living. – Van Natta in with
supply worry. Sent radio to Strat. to get busy.
FRI. FEB. 11. THUNDERSTORM during night. Good God – As if we hadn’t had enough rain
– Xmas rains – Jan. rains – & now Feb. rains. The jap gets all the breaks – – Liao in. He is all
hopped up. Here’s his chance – – Wolfe came in. XX B.C. Long talk. Went over whole
business & believe we have solution. Direct command, as G.C.M.’s radio proposes, & use 10th
& 14th to help – This keeps G-mo out of picture – (Thro. Chennault & 14th AF.) – and MtBatten
as well (thro. his integration hold on Stratemayer.) Also it keeps command from the sheeny.
Credit will go where it belongs. I can push G-mo & Louis in the face. – “Orders from Marshall.”
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Rescind G.O. 13 & push out a new one – (115 corpses, 16 knee mortars, 6 L.M.G. & 2 HMG in
pocket in front of 114th) U.S. sergeant killed at Taihpa – (Congelton.)
SAT. FEB. 12. Wolfe left with dope for the air-boys. — Pick in, worried about diversions.
Says S.O.S. is building staffs but can’t operate. Sent for Covell to come up – – Off for 114th at
12:30. Kantau at 1:30. To 22d xx C.P. Saw Liao. Full of pep, but a cautious mover – Crabbing
about 38th xx art., & unexpected jap pocket near new trail. All of 66th up. 2d Bn facing jap
pocket, 1st & 3d near Yawng Bang. 3d Bn officers in. Had to make a speech.
SUN. FEB. 13. Cold night. Slept in Laney’s place with Smith. Maj Simmons, med. supply, in
Yeh Nan, The sap, is here visiting. Went up to see 114th 11:30 A.M. Li is at last pushing on,
full blast. 3d Bn. 113th, rel’d; 1st Bn 114th, & 3d Bn 114, coming up from “rest”. On the way
back we got in the middle of a concentration of 75’s. About 10 or 12 rounds. No damage –
Caught in the open till last few rounds, when we found a gully. Great stuff for the newsboys.
Back at 1:30. Plan for Yawng Bang – 1st Bn cut Lakyen road, 1 Co. 3d Bn go around S., 3d Bn
holding attack. 6th Co to cut Wantuk trail. – Small action by Fu at NW 8963 – Got 30 japs and 2
elephants! – 2d Bn 66th has surrounded jap pocket.
MON. FEB. 14. Waited all A.M. for news. Attack jumped off at 12:00. At 1:15 pocket
occupied. Very small loss. Little resistance. Jap losses not reported. Troops in position at Y.B.
Attack in A.M. probably. Lakyen road cut. Liao will push on toward Maingkwan as soon as he
gets Y.B. & Lakyen. Left at 3:00 – boat to jeep-head. Jeep to Kantau along beach. Back at 5:00
– Steele & Durdin here – A.M., Old, Egan, Burman, & Cannon appeared. Got everything ironed
out. Egan & Old are O.K., & putting up a battle for the U.S.A. — Saw Brown at Kantau,
arranged for move up.
TUES. FEB. 15. Long conference with newsboys. Steele and Durdin here. Merrill in; all set.
No problem there. He will concentrate north of Yupbang & stand by. – After lunch saw Corman,
& then shoved off for Nchaw Ga. Got after Sun on the two pockets and told him to clean up by
to-morrow night. He was peeved. Jap prisoner there – 56th Regt. Something screwy about
situation S. of Tanai. P’eng reports seeing Bn Cmdr of 1st Bn.* 66, who should have been 5 mi
186
away. YAWNGBANG reported taken at 7:00 A.M. & 1st Bn.* 66 near LAKYEN. Either P’eng
is away off his base, or the 1st Bn. 66 is. Couldn’t get 22d on phone. – Came back in less than an
hour. – Ponton bridge in at Yupbang. – Brown’s reconn. outfit going up. – McCabe here. Keen
about 30th Div. 88th will start up on Feb 22. Sultan has been to Ramgarh. – Radio from Evans.
Louis wants diversion from hump. Ans. NO.
WEB. FEB. 16. All day waiting for dope on mix-up. Is 66th in Y.B. or LOST? LI of 114
swears 2d Bn.* 66 is right behind him, & Col. Ch’en also. Liao swears that all units are as
reported. Trawick to Smith to Cannon says all O.K. Burns says 66th is way off course & that
114th has checked on Tanai. Christ. McNally repeated Burns’ dope. Cannon sure 66th can find
its way. I must go over in A.M. & find out. – Meanwhile 114th slowly moving towards road, –
Sun came in to renege on attack on pocket, but agreed to take it out the instant Li reaches
Tsumpawng. – McCabe went down to see Sun. – I sat around & went crazy.
THURS. FEB. 17. Waited all A.M. Still no dope. 66th is lost. Y.B. not taken. At noon
decided to go & see Liao. Got there about 3:00. No solution. He has checked course & is
positive they are right. Cannon, Strat & Wolfe in. Strat didn’t like my G.O. retaining direct
command – Got air business ironed out. — Cannon had plan for Maingkwan. O.K. Stayed for
night.
FRI. FEB. 18. Blew up at breakfast & bawled Liao out. Dumb performance has bitched up our
chance to catch japs. Told him he & 22d had lost face – Decided to go & get 66th placed. Liao
went along – he had to. Checked march & came out way north of estimate. 4 ½ hrs. to C.P. 66th.
When they heard I was coming, they hurried the troops off. 1st Bn.* 66, 2d Bn.* 66 3d Bn.* 66,
3d Bn. 65 still at C.P. Li T’ao apparently got there late in P.M. Contact. Found main road, Y.B.
to Lakyen. Captured jap document for withdrawal to Y.B. – Lakyen line. We’re too late by the
time Col. Ch’en lost. What a performance. Went over & saw Li. He is pushing them along.
Went 7 mi. before contact. – Fu has japs surrounded again on Wantuk Bum. — 3d Bn. 113
battling away about 1000 yds. north. Heavy firing just east at dark. – Liao now anxious to make
amends. – Officer patrol got to Y.B. expecting to find chow. Ran into a jap with a moustache &
beat it.
187
SAT. FEB. 19. Liao & Smith went S. I allowed them to persuade me to stay with 114th. They
had disappeared so we hiked back to 22d C.P. 4 hours. Tough as hell. McCabe had hard time.
So did I. The climbing took it out of me. Rest at C.P. then back to Ningam. – Saw Covell, Pick,
& Farrell. Everything O.K. Covell has canned Brown (Q.M.) & Lansing (C of S.) Good. –
Sun’s pocket empty. The son of a bitch. He guaranteed he could get them.
SUN. FEB. 20. Louis asking for hump planes. Also for 30,000 of our parachutes. The bastard.
Arakan situation SNAFU. – McCabe pulled out. – Sprinkle of rain. – Line to 22d out. Of course;
just when we want it. – Squirters flopped at Taihpa. Japs gone. – Went to Nchaw Ga at 10 – Sun
& McN. gone. Went on to tank lay-out, got lunch & then went to Taihpa. Tankers had the bank
covered, & reconnoitered ford. IT’S THERE. Relief. No jap activity on S. bank. Back to 38th
TSUMPANG taken. “Many” japs killed. No details. – Back to Ningam at 7:00 – 66th has Y.B.
surrounded & will attack in A.M. – No more from Fu on Wantuk Bum. Louis has gone to C.C.S.
for 38 planes from hump.
MON. FEB. 21. It RAINED last night from 11 to 1 & I lay there cursing till long after it finally
stopped. About one more day of that & I’ll be a raving maniac. – Sun out at 10:00 Went to
Ningbyen & saw Merrill’s gang. 1st & 2d Bns. 3d coming in – passed them en route back.
Tough-looking lot of babies. Told M. what his job would be. Had to wade river to see 1st Bn. –
With M. ready & Brown ready, we can go now.
TUES. FEB. 22. – Tsumpawng cleared. Jap pack train ambushed just south. Fu made contact.
YB attacked this A.M. — To Shing – 9:40-11:30. Road so changed, hard to recognize. Met
Cannon & Cairns. – On up & saw Joe, – full of it as usual. Ellis at Chabua. Got junk out. Flew
to Taihpa in L-5 – 20 minutes. To HQ at 2:30 – (400 planes in at Shing in 6 days.) (Japs say 18
xx have lost more men here than at Singapore. One Co. had 1 man left.) Meeting – Cannon,
Brown, Merrill. All set to move. Brown has bridge in. – Tanks came down at night.
WED. FEB. 23. Crossed river & watched bull-dozer work. Bridge in. Clever concealment in
jap positions. – Back & met Sun. Went to his H.Q. & laid out line between him & Merrill. – On
188
to Ningam. Got stuff. Back to Taihpa – 47 min. – To river to see tanks cross. Poorly
supervised. Me — the Eskimo & Paul at airfield. Long talk – Sultan did not come –
THURS. FEB. 24. Merrill starts. 38th on the way. 114th comes out. – Sultan blew in. Spent
the morning going over things with him. He left at 1:30. Then Ellis & Paul & I gabbed till 3:00
when they left. Young went to 38th to get dope – No news. – Conference with newsboys. Covell
had talked about Washington.
FRI. FEB. 25. Joe arrived, Stone & Ludecke in – Arranged for Sumprabum attack by air. –
News about Wingate’s intentions. – Last night, first word of appreciation from Peanut. – Rodes
went to Lakyen & Y. B. 22d cleaned up on a co. Well down – toward Mungwan tonight. M’s
patrols at Tawang Hka. – Ultra says 56th preparing position – Worked on air map. – N.Y. Times
man in. Panned by G.F. Elliot for statement on B-29’s.
SAT. FEB. 26. (M) [Here and hereafter, circled.] at Lanem – – To 22d C.P. near Lakyen. New
ponton bridge in at Taihpa. Road rough. Found Liao at road jc. & went to Yawng Bang. Saw
Thompson & Fu. Gave them the banner. Jap position 2 mi S.E. 2d & 3d Bns 65th at Y.B. 25th
F.H. on move. Back to Lakyen & up to Mungwan. 1 hour behind japs. 1st Bn 64th leading,
reached river at Mungwan at night. Back to old C.P. Rain – Christ again.
SUN. FEB. 27. Joe in. Dozers in; went on up. 4.2’s here. 64th cut road S. of Mungwan. 66th
reconnoitering. After lunch moved to new C.P. 1 mi beyond Lakyen. Newsboys all came down.
Joe back at 6:00. Brown here. Husman & 4.2s. – he in command.
[See map27feb44]
MON. FEB. 28. Needled Liao. His enthusiasm is oozing. Bum radio communications. In
camp all A.M. writing – Little progress. Got after Liao to speed up. Went up with him to see
Hsuing, 64th 2 Bn passing thro. 1 of 2 2 mi. S of Mungwan. 3 dead japs. Back at 4:00. Our
planes strafed our troops. 3 K. 5 W. – one co comdr. Missed me by 5 minutes. Cannon in.
Merrill delayed. WHY? Theisen & Young in. MAIL. 66th about 1 ½ mi. from Maingkuan.
64th going slowly. 65th cutting trail without opposition. 38 xx at the Tawang Hka.
189
[See map28feb44]
TUES. FEB. 29. Laying off of Liao today. Movies at Hqrs. (M) crossed Tawang last night.
Estimates Mar. 3 at Walawbum. 65th 2 mi from Pungnye. 66th no move. 64th very slow. 38 xx S
of Tawang. 1st U.S. action near LANEM. 2 killed. – Newsboys back – 64th had a fight. Japs
counter-attacked.
[See map29feb44]
WED. MAR. 1. Husman & four 4.2’s in. Brown ready. Tanks due to-night. Liao wants them
on the road. Tried to get Brown’s man to recommend this – Moved to Mungwan in P.M. Japs
fired 100 rds at road jc. about 2 P.M. (Apparently they are still in Maingkuan). Msg from air –
all villages S to Kamaing burning. – Msg from (M). At Ntem at noon & will arrive on 3d sure. –
Chow at 7:00 P.M. CRASH. (1.) Hsuing reported 2 counter attacks from east near road jc. – 80
men. Repulsed, C.O. 64th says “Situation critical.” Units mixed. Hsuing sent Bachellor back.
xx hqrs. begins to worry. Hsuing stops advance. Liao screams over the phone. This at 4 P.M.
(2) Patrol from Mashi Daru in at 7:00. Much excited. Disaster. 2 K. 4 missing. Only 2 back.
Japs “attacked” from ferry. Now the xx begins to buzz & eyes protrude. Liao stutters worse
than usual. (3) Tank man in, in a panic. Brown & Rodes gone. Ran into jap fire. No word from
them since 2 P.M. 1 pl. with dozer, 2 pl. behind along road. Brown & Rodes went to river &
japs came down the road. KEE-RIST! Chatter & consternation. Big jap attack on our flank.
Everybody buzzing and jumping up & down. – Took Bachelor & Smith back to talk it over, &
ordered tank patrol of ferry road so Brown & Rodes could rally, if in bushes. (Picture of tank
Bn. without Americans!) (4) Moore in. Had seen Brown, who was coming in. (Relief!) My
theory was that jap stragglers from Taring were coming down ferry road. – Brown came in. The
real dope. 1st Co. 66th, had shot itself up, nearly killed Brown, wounded a sgt. & three Chinese,
& generally went into a panic. Co. Cmdr. not visible. What a performance. Gave Liao the hard
eye, & made remarks about the great jap counterattack. — Tanks came in at 9:00. Send Young
to put air on Shingtan to-morrow. A bad evening. Decided to hold attack till 3d, & get
everybody in. Liao agreed to have all units attack seriously.
[See map1mar44]
190
THURS. MAR. 2. Japs fired a lot of stuff last night. 150’s in action. – Sent for squirters. –
Dull morning. Planes over at 8:30. – To Taihpa 10:30–11:45. Met Slim & Bowerman. Talked
till 4:30 – (Plans for 16th, 77th, & 111th Brigs. Stay in & fight. “All to help us”! Slim jubilant
over Arakan. Estimates 4500 dead japs (!!!) Saw Joe. Saw Pick. He is confident of 60,000 tons
over the road, & is on our tails again. Back at 6:00. Dull day on front. The boys are dogging, –
waiting for the tanks. Little change.
[See map2mar44]
FRI. MAR. 3. The Big Day. Ominous quiet. No jap art. Up at 5:30 & over to see tanks move
out. Not well done. Jam on road. Truck stuck. Start one hour late. 8:00 A.M. leading elements
at Iai Hka. 11:00 A.M. at Ngam Ga. Msg from (M). Will reach Walawbum at noon. Road
block 5 mi. S. of W. – Gave Liao the dirty smack about the Y-force at lunch. “Why don’t Br.
attack?” – – “Why don’t Chinese attack?” No answer “It must have been arranged!” – P.M.
Went up to see the 121 corpses. – – No soap. But they had 3, anyway. Sit. Confused. Snipers
making trouble for 64th & 66th. Found Batchelor, who thinks Hsuing too pessimistic. Back to
C.P. – 66th says road cut S. of Maingkuan. 8 P.M. msg. from (M) – hit japs at Wesu & Lagang.
No U.S. casualties – Blocking at Sana Ga. Jubilation. Chinese all pepped up. – 10 P.M. Bad
news. Brown sent “trap” message. Many casualties from 150’s. (How come?) Asks for a Bn.
in early A.M. Liao readily promised it, & started to alert 1st Bn.* 64. Brown says one jap Bn in
front of him; can’t withdraw. Ominous. Hell of a lot of firing by 64th. Liao himself finally
stopped it. Nothing to do for Brown, but he should be safe enough for the night.
[See map3mar44]
SAT. MAR. 4. Sequence of msg. 8 P.M. last night. (M) arrives. Jubilation. 10 P.M. Brown’s
first msg. “enemy trap” and “heavy casualties.” Gloom. At midnight Brown’s garbled msg,
repeated, & rec’d at 9 A.M. “Will attack NGAM GA at dawn.” Brown’s 5 A.M. msg., rec’d at
7:00 A.M., “Do not need Bn. Want air to keep art. down.” Brown’s 7 A.M. msg., rec’d at 9:15
A.M. “Proceeding via U- A- B to Kumnyen road.” I sent okay on this & told him to contact (M)
at NINGH-KU, & get under his command. Also notified (M) about his move & told him to take
command. – – 66th (5th Co.) cut road S. of Maingkuan, ambushed japs – claim 100, – maybe 25.
66th had bad day yesterday from snipers and art. – No news from 65th – – 38 xx nearing
191
SAINTAWNG. This makes the net fairly good, from Hpungnye around to Walawbum. – Got
our four P-40’s over twice, & called for more air for two days. – Joe in; he went back with Liao’s
gun. – J. Liu in last night. Ho Y.C. said for me to “take it easy”!! G-mo laying back on F.D.R.’s
break about “now OR next fall.”! The old fool, – both of them. – Japs using engineers, art. &
cooks as Inf. – Entire 56th is here, all right, & art. too. Now if (M) can do his stuff! – 3 P.M.
Chinese reported in Maingkuan. – (M) at 11:00 was 1 ½ mi S.E. of W. & attacking. So he didn’t
get in yesterday, apparently. – Brown really got in a trap last night. T.M. & art. fell on him.
Moore killed. 3 Am. K, 9 wd. 10 Ch. K. 20 wd. Japs set fire to grass, put in road blocks, & then
got busy. – 3 P.M. Young went up to see S.A.C.’s aides – 5:45 Frank is in Walawbum. – 1 k, 7
wd. Says japs lost at least 25 times as much. – Brown hopes to reach B to-morrow! Good God.
Hard going. Jungle dense & wet. – Stiff fighting to-day at Maingkwan. 13 dead at 64 C.P. 57 in
front of 5th Co.* 66, & 80 japs cornered W. of Maingkwan. It’s looking better. Liao pepped up
over going to Jambu Bum. (He knows all about tanks.) 38 xx coming slowly – (SAINTAWNG.)
[See map4mar44]
SUN. MAR. 5. Fu at last got to HPUNGNYE. As suspected he was on wrong river line. In
contact to-day. 66th doing well. Claim 100 dead in one pocket. Counted 59. 30 bodies in
another at expense of 1 man wd. 5th Co. patrol shot up 2 art. pieces, – claim 25 men & 12 horses.
4.2’s knocked out N.W. & N.E. corners of Maingkuan yesterday. To-day, 66th reached town
from S. – 64th coming in from N.E. – Their co at NGAMGA say 100 jap dead in position.
Brown says they were camping in middle of jap Bn. What a story. Both sides completely
surprised. Tanks come out of jungle & sit down. Japs suddenly aware of visitors. Hell to pay.
Our 50 cas. not bad if the count on japs is true. — Better air support today. 113th at Sana tonight. Brown hopes to reach B to-morrow! – Christ. – Young back with radio from George
about discord & suspicion. I am to be the goat, of course. The SUP.REMO is due at Taihpa tomorrow. – Joe & Cannon down. Talked over future plans. – Tonight is jump-off for L.R.P.G.’S
– – 4:30 – 3rd Bn.* 66 has occupied Maingkwan. – (We think.) 7 P.M. The news of the tapped
phone conversation & (M)’s dispositions. japs to withdraw at midnight via Ninghku, assemble N
of Walawbum & attack to go down the road. (Msg. from Cannon – Wms had been down there.) –
Told Liao, got off msg. to Brown & (M) – Q. Is this a phony? In clear over line through us?
192
Warned Cannon about possible stall to get us to mass at Ninghku & bust out via Kumnyen.
Quiet up to midnight.
[See map5mar44am]
[See map5mar44pm]
MON. MAR. 6. Joe is 32. Quiet night. The japs are gone. (4 Z from Hearn – F.D.R. accepted
the G-mo’s exception of Com. area for observer visits. The soft old fool.) – Joe reports carts at
Lalawng. Japs gone to Tasu Bum? – Brown at Ninghku last night. Contacted Frank. Moves to
Wesu & attacks Walawbum this P.M. – Young to Chabua to meet S.A.C. – 65 lll in Shingban at
noon – 64 lll slow starting. Missed trail. – To Taihpa at 2:15. Louis in at 2:45. 16 fighters
escorted him. (We had 4 fighters working on the battle.) – Went to Hq. & he made a dumb
speech. Then we talked till 4:45. Usual attempt to get me to commit myself. – Back to 22 xx CP.
at dark. Chow. Talk. Newsboys in. – Brown did not attack – Due in morning. “Urgent” msg at
2 A.M. was 4 trucks on the road S. of W.!!
Jap msg. intercepted –
1. Previous plans cancelled. Send men to bridge. Casualties very large. We cannot protect
river crossing.
2. To 55 lll. Enemy NE crossing point very strong. We have 50% casualties. Cancel all
previous plans & send all men except those at K to bridge.
3. 18 xx to all units. Every man in next few days must fight hard. Enemy is very strong & we
must destroy him at all costs.
4. 18 xx to all units. Div. crosses river at 2400 hrs. Forced march. The fight will be hard.
5. Cannot hold much longer if help does not come.
6. No help available. Fight to the end.
7. 18 xx – All wd. must be over river by midnight.
[See map6mar44]
TUES. MAR. 7. Up at 5:30 & in to Maingkuan & S, a mile or so to ambush location. Plenty of
dead japs, horses & junk. Good killing. 65 or 66 opposed at Shingban. Cleared it and went on.
64 due at Ninghku at noon. Brown to attack this A.M. – Japs probably oozing out up the
Nambyu & around Walawbum. Louis much impressed. Doesn’t like corpses. Left at 9:00. Had
193
accident to eye on way. – Orders for 1st Bn.* 65 South from Taro to Tasin Bum. Liao did not
like it, but went right to it. Fu pushing – 3 P.M. No news from Walawbum – – Answered
George’s blast. – Brown’s msg. all garbled. Tanks reported in Kumyen – Nganraw Road. –
Night. – 65th at Nganraw Ga. 64th near Kumnyen. No word from (M), except “withdrawal”!?!
[See map7mar44]
FRI. MAR. 8. Decided to fly to see (M). Cannon on way. Waited for him. He had all the
dope from (M.) – Mar. 6. jap attack, 1 co., beaten down. Later, truck convoy from S. caught by
his men & murdered – Phosphorus bombs & s.m.a. Remnants attacked & beaten back. Then, in
moonlight, a mass attack which was murdered. – No jap crossed river 300 killed. Merrill then
got pessimistic over “possible extra division” coming up, & further attack, & pulled back to
Hwangkang. He turned Brown loose & went. Meanwhile 113th arr. Wesu Ga. Mar. 7. Merrill
back., 1 Bn 113 at Wesu, 1 Bn with (M) & 1 at Chanmoi. No jap action. Brown went to
Kumnyen & west running into jap column which he tore up. 5 tanks left to cover a sunk one;
attacked at night. Result not known. Brown back at Ninghku. Mar. 8 1 co tanks to S.W. of
Kumnyen cleaning up. → After getting this dope, ordered 64th to attack E from Uga Ga &
Kumnyen, 66th to follow east towards Kumnyen, 1 co tanks to help 64th → Walawbum, Brown
secure Ninghku & attack S., 1 Bn. 113 attack S.W. from Wesu Ga. Apparently, jap remnants are
mostly in their assembly area, & we must squeeze them in. — Med. maj. from tanks in. First
night was a grand piece of luck. There were 2 jap Bns. in the Ngam Ga area, ready for counterattack → Mungwan. They could have ruined us. And if we had sent tanks down road thro.
Maingkwan, they might have given us merry hell. The tanks jumped right into the middle of
them & disrupted their plans completely.
((M) – 100, 300, 300, 100 say 800. LOW Japs admit 138 Tks. 100, 100 say 200. 22d
100, 57, 80, 50, 25, etc etc etc. – 500 say 1500 Wounded – at least 1500. Total 3,000)
jap broadcast “Fighting in Hukawng may not be on large scale, but it is probably fiercest
in Asia.”
Sent Husman with T.M.s to 64th. CP. to Maingkwan. Went down at 2:00. Airfield ready
to-night. 9 hrs. Several cos. of jap 114th have been identified. – 6 P.M. Brown says he has shot
his wad & must do repairs. 64th met resistance just E of Kumnyen. – The “big squeeze” play was
a flop. 1 Bn of 64th attacked behind tanks, – got 1 ½ mi. east towards Walawbum – Tanks pulled
194
out & left them. Inf. were counter-attacked, but held on & protected two damaged tanks.
Hsuing very sore. Uga Bn. did not attack, – 66th already there. Wesu Bn of 113th, – no news.
And (M) –! At 3 P.M. he was a mi. E. of WESU, packing up & shoving off to circle in at 3232!
(According to report to Cannon by air man who saw Merrill. I learned this after getting all set
for co-ordinated action by 64th, 113th, (M), art., T.M., tanks, & what have you. Q. What is Frank
thinking of? “Use your discretion” phrase in previous instructions to close in on Walawbum?
The idea was not to risk heavy losses, – that was the discretion allowed, & not to go roaming. –
Christ. Another jam. Only cure will be success in morning from west side. – Decided to sit
tight, say nothing, & if necessary plead misunderstanding. Which is bad enough. (M) went off
half-cock, but I didn’t make it plain enough. (Rule I.) – Later, – report that air, about 6:00, saw
“friendly troops” entering Walawbum from E.&N. I hope to God it’s true. If so, then Frank
knew & got going. If not, the japs may have come in by the trail he’s going out on. No way of
knowing. – 38th was told to close on W. at full speed. Emergency. They may do it. – 65th is
tangled with 2d Bn.* 56. Hsuing also has 56th in front of him.
[See map8mar44]
THURS. MAR. 9. Few heavy shots early. Then quiet. Attack all set. 11 A.M. Hsuing
reported that he was a mi. from Walawbum with heavy entrenchments in front of him. – Then
Brown came in & we got the real dope. He had cleaned the road, E. to W., & W. to E. between
Tahung & Kumnyen, also the woods to the south. He had supported Hsuing yesterday, & it was
the 64th that dogged, – not the tanks. Brown had to go back & get a platoon to protect his tanks.
They went through to W. & stayed there till 11 P.M – Nobody came in. – They worked all night
to get ready for this A.M., & then Hsuing sent them back. (64th in W. at 1:30). – Moraes worked
on me. Joe in. Pick in, very optimistic about everything. Road & supply, O.K. — Cannon in.
Merrill is at Pashung Aung (!) For Christ’s sake. Lost his nerve? Sent for him. Decided to
push on with next phase – (SHAD.) Lushington wants to come up.
[See map9mar44]
FRI. MAR. 10. (Radio from Win) Liao howling for 1st Bn.* 66 back. Feeling his oats. (“22d
Div. beat the best div. of jap army at Kun Lung Kuan. Now it has beaten the 2d best div. of the
jap army”. – The 1942 interlude is forgotten.) Cannon in – orders out. — Transports landing on
195
M. field. Merrill not in yet. – Merrill in at noon. Long talk. Newsboys got after him. (Taunting
japs, – “Tojo eats shit! The emperor eats shit!” Out they come.) (One guy howled back
“Eleanor eats powdered eggs!”) Everybody ready to go. – Sun in. At departure, he told me, with
tears in his eyes, what a shock the orders (#11) were. He expected to pass through & go down
the road. Told him he’d get plenty to do farther south. – Tank crowd presented 2 armored cars to
me. Gave first one to Liao who was much pleased. Brown had the commanders up – Tank Bn &
Ex., Bn Comdr Inf. & a Co. comdr, & interp. Good-looking crowd. — Moved over to CHP plant
west of Maingkwan, in buffalo grass. – It develops now that Inf. Co. Comdr. went to Walawbum
& stayed all night with the tanks. – Moved over to CHP camp.
[See map101112mar44]
SAT. MAR. 11. Down thro. Shingbau to Kumnyen & tank park. Nobody there. No
information. Hell of a mess. On down to Walawbum. Met LeMoyne. Brown at Walawbum,
waiting with tanks. Went with him down road to 64th, 3 miles down. Talked to Hsuing – Little
opposition. Going along O.K. 1 Bn 66th came across thro jungle. Other following by road. Lot
of jap ammo., cattle, & junk. – Tank upside down at Nambyu bridge. Left at 12:00 – looked
around the Walawbum position. Then back. Late lunch. Ernie reported in. Lushington here.
Gave him the dope he wanted. – Hunter in with new plan for (M). 2 Bns farther east, & one
down near trail. Finally ordered it that way. (Got mad.) (Chased Eldridge out of mess tent.)
SUN. MAR. 12. Theissen in at 3 A.M.!! Obeyed orders to come at once. Sat around all
morning waiting for Brown & his list, which he failed to turn in last night. – Got some stuff off
to Sultan for planning. Our boys held in Washington, to get something workable. Ernie goes to
work. Flew to Ledo at 1:00 P.M. After seeing P. Goddard & Co. went to 20th Gen. Decorated
Geary & Wooten. Visited the 5307 lads. Saw Louis, who is having a good time. He has heard
from George. Saw Chinese wounded. Saw Larson, Simmons & Tu with Ernie on procedure for
grants. Saw Pick at field. Stopped for bread at Hq. Co. mess & had fish & coffee. – Flew along
road on way back. — Letter from G-mo (radio) to halt advance till British advance in the
Arakan! O, Jesus. – Now that starts. Message from Joe Stalin in answer to congrats. on 26th
birthday of Red Army – G-mo’s blast to troops – And the “brilliant leadership of the C-in-C!”
What a howl – – Fly eggs in my blanket. Like cheesy candle-grease. Boiled them out.
196
MON. MAR. 13. At CP on this & that. Begins to look like Shaduzup for the rainy season
anchorage – We will make it strong, & go on as far as we can, hoping that LRP’s help & that the
Peanut lets Y do something. (65th reld. by 114th) (M), 2d day, – should be at PABUM to-night. –
After lunch went to 22 xx C.P. nothing new. Squawk on japs’ “chung p’ao’s” – They want some
“counter-battery”, with 105’s, of course. I shut them up, & left. Li T’ao had a good idea about
going for a second objective at same time as first. No point in going forward. – 64 & 66 doing
O.K. Back to C.P. Kucter’s gang of round-the-world sight-seers were there, waiting. Talked for
an hour on this & that. (They now want to cut in on Yoke tonnage in favor of 14 A.F. I told
them they were crazy.) – Wingate’s man Howell reported. Dope on Herring over on Bhamo
road. — Had a good time reading a book.
TUES. MAR. 14. Went down to 22d & hung the L. of M. on Liao. Then up to 64th Leading
elements about 2 mi from Tingkawk at noon. No fighting to-day. Brisk fight yesterday at 7c –
(9 K 25 W japs ? Ch. claim 20). Few signs of fight. Poor art. & T.M. support. Stopped & saw
the T.M. boys. Saw Hargrove. Smith to tell Liao the Inf. art. liaison is very poor. Road mined.
One US lieut. wounded yesterday. Bull-dozers working S. of Walawbum. Few dead japs here &
there. Back at 5:00 Caught in thunderstorm. J. Liu back. Went over his report; Brown in.
Went over decorations. Rained again at 7:00. – 64th 1000 yds N. of Tingkawk. 66th cut road 1
mi beyond Tingkawk ambushed the japs, & killed 8. (Jambu Bum by Mar 15?!?)
WED. MAR. 15. More rain in night. Thunder-storms. Wired Dorn to needle WEI. – Ernie
went to Ledo to arrange grants. – Spent A.M. on plans & b-ache. – Fisher says 64th reached
Tingkawk at 3:45 yesterday. 66th now attacking at JAMBU BUM & sending one Bn. around to
Hkawnglawyang.(!!) Item: – It pays to go up & push. At least it’s a coincidence that every time
I do, they spurt a bit. – J. Liu left for CKG, to prepare the G-mo. – 200 japs loose near SABAW
GA. 2 Bns of 112th after them. Remnants from Makaw area – 56th Inf. 65th near Tasu Bum, – 2
miles. – Left at 3:00 for new C.P. – 9 miles below Walawbum. – 66th now leading. 3d Bn – 2d
Bn – 3d Bn 64 – 2d Bn 64 – 65 lll. 1st Bn 64 off to E. to cut in at Hkawnglawyang. Road bad S. of
Walawbum. Had chow with Smith & Laney. (Doves.)
197
THURS. MAR. 16. (Wrestling match with jap, – patrol looking on.) (Two japs asleep in a hole.
Discussion. Finally shot one. Other played dead. Discussion. Shoot him, too? While they
talked, he beat it. The casual side of war.) – Rained again. Clear at 9:00. – 66th just at Jambu
Bum. – Worked out plan for Peanut. After lunch, – Bad news from Imphal. Limies have wind
up. Flying in 5th Div. from Arakan, & looking for more troops. This about ruins everything. –
Col. Li, 10th Engrs. & the windbag 6th – M. T. Regt. guy, “visiting”. Shoved off for 38th. Caught
in thunderstorm. Backed & filled, & then went on & made it, Decorated Sun. – 112th still
looking for the stray japs. Got a few stragglers. – Slow work on all fronts, – Jambu Bum, 1st
Bn.* 64, W. & E. cols. of (G) [Here and elsewhere, circled.] Janpan concentration on Mar. 18.
About same time in at Shaduzup. – Met Arnold at Kumnyen. On way back got chow at 1905
Engrs. More rain coming home. The road is a mess. Made it about 8:00. – Land mine went off
in C.P. today. Two wd. – Mine detectors are here.
FRI. MAR. 17. Didn’t wake up till 8:20. Sun out thank God. – 66th had opposition yesterday.
3 k. 25 wd. Getting set to take out Jambu Bum, with tanks – 1st Bn.* 64 below TALANG –
Brown in. 60 tks. ready to go. – Ten used to-day with 66th – Part of Jambu Bum position broken
in, just S. of road bend. 1st Bn* to go on to Kawnglawyang. Est. maybe 1000 japs at Jambu. –
(M) at TATE GA. Osborne is frigged up at KUMSHAN GA. Only explanation is that he took
wrong trail. This puts it up to 113th to go to Shaduzup – Or else (M) will have to come over.
Christ how things get bitched up. – Sliney arrived to-day with Cannon. He will be a help. Art.
doing better. 4.2’s fired 300 rds. to-day. Tanks reported to have over-run some M.G.’s. –
Impertinent radio from SEAC asking for entire dope on Chinese communications. – Clear about
4:00 and then at 7:00 the God damn rain came down again. God is mad at me. – Arnold gave me
the dope he picked up. Did a good job.
SAT. MAR. 18. Cleared in A.M. Road in a hell of a mess. Sliney went up to look over the art.
Williams, of (M), in. Osborne only at SHA-U GA, in contact. 113th only abreast. – Jap straggler
group eluded 112th, who went up to tail of 113th. They now go back to Walawbum. – (M) in
TATE GA with outposts at Kanlum and Maipaw. — Bad news from Chindwin. Japs crossed on
16th at Homalin, Tonhe and Tannguh. Imphal threatened. This ties a can to us & finishes up the
glorious 1944 spring campaign: Cannon in at 4:00. Gave him the orders, & the general scheme
198
for sitting down. – Sun in. Told him to hurry the 113th – Decorated the tank boys & passed out
some dough in 50 rupee lots. Brown surprised at his star – — Report says 500 japs or a Bn., at
Jambu and 300 at Shaduzup. – 77th & 111th working on the R.R. Imphal bombed by japs!! – 64th
got 1 mi. S.W. of Manlungkawng. 2d Bn 66 got 2 cos close to jap rt. flank. 3d Bn 66 did
nothing. Attack in A.M. Ident. of 114, 56, 55, & transport unit of 33d Div.
SUN. MAR. 19. 61 to-day. Waited & waited for courier till 11:00. Then shoved off for front.
Road in good shape forward. Met Sanford, who said there was no attack. Last night was so
quiet I had hunch japs had pulled out. I was all hepped up to burn Ch’en – Then we found that
66th had jumped off at 8:00, found japs gone & had moved a couple of miles forward. Went up
to jap position & looked around. Hastily built. Units of 55th, 56th & 114th – Even transport unit
of 33d Div. Tanks did well yesterday, – went in & got 2 M.G. positions. 66th going on down
road
→ Kawnglawyang. 64th got forward about 1 ½ mi. → K. also. Should be there to-
morrow. – 113th & 1st Bn.* G still farting around at Shiyen. — Stopped at Tingkawk to eat &
look over lay-out with Trailkill. Then back to C.P. – Joe & Peers in. Gave Peers the dope for
the Kachin army. He is a solid citizen. – Birthday cake by Polidori. Newsreel took pictures
while we ate. MAIL – (Jan & Feb) from Home. (They hold it in CKG apparently.) — Well, we
got Jambu Bum on my birth-day, anyway.
MON. MAR. 20. Inspected road & air field. Left note for Lewis to follow his orders. Back to
Tingkawk at 1:30. Eldridge to go to Seac on P.R.O. staff as special rep. for C.B.I. – Cannon in.
WE ARE IN SUMPRABUM! What a relief. Bowerman to go S. after them. Cannon to jack up
Egan; send McNally here, send orders to Bowerman. Monsoon plan ready. Wms. in from (M).
KAURI to-night. 1st Bn* G was at SAOLA 3/19! Things are looking up! Jambu & Sumpra
both on 3/19!
[Vol. 10½ starts here.]
“Achieve the essential Working accord uncomplicated by stiffness & suspicion.” (Memo for
Louis)
_____
199
Mission to Wash. was to inform W.D. of my plans and arguments, report on situation, and
attempt to put China in proper perspective.
I am C/S for CKS.
I command CBI Theater.
I have a mission.
My orders ref. SEAC are to use U.S. forces to best purpose. And I have done so.
I am serving under Slim.
I diverted hump tonnage.
I am following orders –
I have never been in as Dep.
Opinions differ. I have stated mine frankly. P.E.
“Ledo road cannot be built, or held, nor could it carry any tonnage.” It is being built. It
can be held – not of course if Br. leave the whole job to 2 Ch. xx. It will carry tonnage. It is
now carrying 20,000 a mo. without trying.
Burma can be taken. The japs can be licked. (Slim’s job. Our job.) The road can be opened.
All we need is pressure on C.K.S. which I have struggled to get. The problem in front of us is
Burma. That’s what I am working on.
What are the objections to me? I have answered you that once a decision is made, I will play
ball. Am I supposed to sink my opinions before that time? And help to put over a point of view
I do not believe in? Why should I take the opinions of your staff and not my own?
Have I covered up to you on the Chinese? Have I withheld any possible help? Do you
believe now what your experts have said of the L.O.C. Have I squawked about my status? Have
I talked for publication? (Indian press.) Have I meddled in politics? (Mr. Churchill told me last
May he understood my pos. & wanted to help.)
Trident, Quad, & Sex. all bore down on opening up China. Why should I be panned for
trying to do it?
200
Have I mentioned publicity? (Show him the road article – Does that tend to create
suspicion or not? Constant belittling of Am. effort here with Chinese. Don’t you want to
substitute Ch. casualties for ours?
Army Comdr. did not have any remarks on mil. effort. I have no desire to mix in
political matters. What is it?
_
___________
Do you want me to resign? I have never been appointed, so that is easy.
Do you want me relieved entirely from this theater? Or do you want the CBI abolished?
((Have you political reasons for your attitude?))
_______________
You ask me to be frank. I should like you also to be frank. I can stand it.
__________________________________________________
TUES. MAR. 21. Started to take Liao & go up after Ch’en. Took Brown & Doran over to 22d
C.P. & tore the face off Liao. Practically proved Ch’en to be a God-damn liar, & the 66th a pack
of tramps. It all worked out O.K. Now they realize it’s better to use the 1st Bn* 66 with Brown’s
gang. It developed that the 66th was already on the way with the tanks. Obj. Shaduzup! They
may go a mile or so. – Back to C.P. Talked to McNally. Sun & Liao in, & I told them the plans,
cautioning them to shut up. Then I gave them the next step, & they both agreed readily. (Three
phase lines to near Kamaing.) – Newsreel took pictures. — 1st Bn* G near Ukruhkawng last
night. 113th 8 mi behind. — Van Natta replaces McNally. – Doran is new man in tank Bn. Japs
not using solid A.P. on tanks. – O, no? Well, they did to-day. Bad luck. 66th took two positions
& started S. Tanks out. At once 2 Cos C. att. along road. Knife & grenade boys. Stopped. But
the tanks went too far & caught hell from ambushed AT guns. At first Brown said 7 lost. Went
to see Liao. Li T’ao said 4 lost, & a pl. went up to cover the others. 64th at last near or on road.
Japs may withdraw to-night. 1st Bn G is somewhere, but no one knows. (M) will come fast
now. He’s on the ball. Maybe it will jell. I hope to Christ it does. New unit in – W. 46. –
Tough. Plenty of strength to take them. Liao says not “to disquiet myself”. He will do the job.
McDonald blew in. 66th didn’t give an inch to-day. 8 men killed by knives. Stephenson did well
at the tank mêlée.
201
WED. MAR. 22. A.M. waited for news of 1st Bn G.* Off on new trail. (M) says his moves
will look cock-eyed, but never mind. He’s bluffing → Kamaing & going by at night. – Went up
to Tank & looked over air photos. Stephenson up front. – On to 66th – & got story of yesterday
& last night. Heavy art. but no c. art. Back to check on 64th. Positively on road. Suggested
extension to W. O.K. (McDonald left in A.M.) – Conference on chance of japs coming up Tanga
Ga trail. – Warned 22d. They put a co. of 65th on it. (M) says we’ll get effect on 23d. Expects a
“big fight”. – Radios from G.C.M. & Hearn, re 19 Mar. Have had hunch of trouble stirring.
Believe smarter man now opposite.
THURS. MAR. 23. (65th rarin’ to go!!)? No word from OSBORNE. Now reported at
HKAHKU as of last night. 113th close up. Hope it’s true. No progress on 66th or 64th front. 64th
reports a Bn “surrounded” on road. 1:30 P.M. Brown recommends 1 pl. tks. for 66th O.K. –
105’s coming up. – (This waiting & uncertainty is killing.) – Smith was half tight last night. –
Liao executed a pai chang for not carrying out orders. Cloudy – sprinkle. – P.M. Relief.
Osborne in Shaduzup since 10 A.M. – 3 C.T.s at Inkangahtawng at 4 P.M. ready to block road at
dusk, when traffic starts. Hunter there. Thinks he is not observed. Christ, the pressure has been
terrible. – Dog fight all day by 66th – bayonet & grenade. Took two positions, started forward, &
Bang, we lost 3 more tanks. A bad business. 66th sent 7th Co to get contact with 64th & made it
at dusk. 64th was attacked on road yesterday & today. Rear Bn. cut off, but reduced a strong
point, got contact & went on to attack japs on the road. – japs in UKRUHL! My God. Slim
getting 2 divs. from S. & hopes to smack them. Wired me to get Yoke in. Hair-cut.
FRI. MAR. 24. Still hot in the pocket. 1st Bn G did NOT get to SHADAZUP last night. Fight
N.W. of HKAHKU. This A.M. 113th going S.W. into SHAD. Call from Hunter for air help at
2:30. Art. just N. of Inkangahtawng. (Q. Going out, or sent to blast Hunter?) – Japs at Kamaing,
1000, also activity just south. Japs in front of M’s screen. He has a good screen all across his
front. – (My nerves are taking a beating.) – Fight in pocket now crystallizing a little on W. & S.
line along & W. of road. Looks like a suicide stand by the japs. – Wire from May – birthday
greetings. — Part of jap pocket reduced by 66th – about 60 jap dead –
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SAT. MAR. 25. A.M. sweat it out. Lack of reports is bad handicap. Finally heard 113 & 1st
Bn G* were still 3–4 mi. NE of Shad. in bad country & with strong opposition. Merrill getting
worried. Magee hammering at Inkan. “Heavy” fighting, acc. to (M) No report of casualties. 2
cols. of japs from K. → Manpin. P-40’s did not come over, – bad weather. (64 of them) Only
our 4 went down, & Hunter sent them back! Saw Liao. He is full of beans. Attack to clean
pocket set up. Went down road. – (bad shape) & saw Sun. Told him to boot 113 along. 2 Bns
along stream. 1st Bn.* G & 1 Bn 113 S.E. & then S.W. → Shad. Sun will push. Back at 6:30.
Rain had nearly ruined road. Lewis in. Getting help from Pick, 66th to-day cleared the pocket!
180 japs killed. Grand. 66th & 64th together. Now, maybe it will clear. Sent (M) a long radio,
leaving him discretion, but telling him to hold block if possible. Long talk with Joe. Japs just
can’t have much left. Told Watkins to get the P-40’s over, or else. Wired King about communications. – Feeling better to-night and high time. I was fit to be tied.
SUN. MAR. 26. All A.M. figuring how to help (M) Saw Brown about pushing tanks S. It
depends on our getting in to Shaduzup. No report from 1st Bn. G* or 113 up to noon. Planes
coming over hump to-day. – Saw Watkins about glider reinforcements. – Sent insult to Strat. on
air diversion. – Timberman & Davies in area. Also Pownall & Co. Tim & John got in at 6:00.
The limies turned back! – Our hunch that (M) had pulled the block was true. Long radio
explaining, & saying he would get back at first opportunity – He can still cavort around & maybe
knock off the separate jap columns – – Slow day here – rearranging. 65th jumps off in A.M. –
64th did nothing. Claims one small pocket. They are all waiting for 113th & Osborne, who do
not report. Long talk with John & Tim. Arnold in. Churchill tried to get me. G.C.M. prevented
it. – F.D.R. has gone his limit. If I can’t move Peanut, jig is up for the season. (M) giving up his
mission lets me loose for CKG. – Sent for Sultan to bring G.C.M.’s msg. up.
MON. MAR. 27. Still no news of 113 & 1st Bn* G. Sent for Brown. Instructions to Cannon.
Off at 12:00 Met Old on road. Came all way up on acc’t. my 42 glider msg. No got gliders. –
Wingate reported lost in crash. – Met Pick on road. – At Maingkuan, met Sultan. Talked till
4:00. Off for K.M. In at 7:00. – Sandy very cool & offish –
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TUES. MAR. 28. CKG at 9:30. To house & slept till 2:00. Date with G-mo at 5:00. – Got a
xx to fly in. To see War gang in A.M. Possibly we can keep it going. – Madame called for Dorn
& me after dinner – usual blah. Saw Mme. Kung. Kung was there & didn’t come in. Nobody
particularly interested in the Campaign!
WED. MAR. 29. Walla-walla with HO, LIU FEI, PAI – 2 hrs. P.M. Shang Chen, Tseng Hsi
Kwei, Van Denberg, Gauss, Ho & Lin Wei. G-mo at 9:00. Yenan – can’t go. Matterhorn, he
must command. 50th Div. can go, filled up. Other div., no decision. – Merrill has had heart
attack. Drew pay ($2,500) – K.C. Wu & Mrs. in – de Wiart in. – Radios to G.C.M. Mail.
THURS. MAR. 30. Saw Peanut last night. O.K. for 50 xx – To be filled. Htawgaw div. not
definite. Probable – Off at 9:00. Lin Wei at field. Told me to get more & more to India. Only
way to make them fight. Saw Chennault & Tate at K.M. Off at 1:00. Hell of a trip. Terrible
weather. Pitched around like a leaf. Made Sook at 6:00 and Maingkuan about 7:00. Four hours
to get back to C.P. Rain for 5 days out of last 6. Saw Merrill at Maingkuan. Medicos say he is
out of the picture. – Bad news from Imphal. Bad. Got to bed at 1:00.
FRI. MAR. 31. We are below Shaduzup. 65th attacking Laban against light opposition. 22d
C.P. moves to-day to Kawnglawyang. Radio to Louis for a date – Situation at Imphal worse than
ever. – 12:30 to 22d C.P. Saw Liao. 65th close to Laban. 3d Bn* 65, 2d Bn* 65, 1st Bn* 66, 2d
Bn.* 64 – – 22d Div. total cas. 456 K., 740 W (1196.) – After fight at Kawnglawyang, little opp.
to Laban. (jap order, – hold Shad. till Apr. 2, & Laban till Apr. 5. No luck for the japs. Back at
5:00. Pick for chow. He’ll be ready for the 50th. Saw Sliney at 22d. 105’s in Shaduzup. – 65th
got into LABAN at 6:00
SAT. APR. 1. RAIN. Has the monsoon started? Dubby day. Radios back & forth to Louis &
Sultan. Arranged to see Louis at Jorhat, Apr. 3. Japs astride Imphal road in two places. Very
serious now. – Slim wants help – “Am. engr. units!?” – 10:30 P.M. Sultan asks where 89th is.
(Oh, oh. Here they come.) – Williams leaving for G. – Dupuy in. 113th DID cut the road at
Laban. – Had a nap –
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SUN. APR. 2. Boatner got in. He suspects Wheeler and of course knows about Wedemeyer.
“Axiom” was licked before arrival – All A.M. talking to him – – Newsboys in for few minutes.
News of Wingate is out. 2 P.M. Boatner, Young & I left for Maingkuan. Road in hell of a
shape. Made Maingkuan at dusk & went on to Ledo. Overnight, with hot bath.
MON. APR. 3. Off at 9:00 Jorhat at 10:00. Big gang gathering. SAC, Slim, Baldwin,
Stopford, Lentaigne, Lushy, Cobb, Egan, Old, etc. etc. Talked to Slim. After chow Louis came.
“Conference” usual slop. Review of the situation. Much to my surprise, no question of help
from us. On contrary, Slim & SAC said to go ahead. Gave Egan the 89th, tanks & T.M. units to
play it safe. – Slim nervous & concerned, but says they can stop it. 27 Div. extricated. 20th Div
O.K. Just a little matter of halting the jap 31st & only one “brigade” (regt.) at Dinapur to do it.
Critical period from now till 9th. This is the time Louis chooses to come up to our front & make
speeches. Christ. He’s an amateur. – They have a new plan now – air-borne stuff to reduce
Rangoon. Anything to avoid the fight that faces them. They talk about how they will “exploit
the success.”!!! Reinforcements won’t be there till 14th except in driblets. – Left at 5:00 for
Maingkuan. Back at Tingkawk at 10:30.
TUES. APR. 4. Sweat it out & decided to bring 114 up, keep 65 in & go on. Put rest of 112 in
at Janpan; later bring up 88, – & if, as & when, go for Myitkyina. Meanwhile, push S. & hope
for best at Dinapur. – Sun came in; he’s amenable. Col Li with him from G. Good egg.
Disturbing msg. from Hunter last night. Then this noon “correspondents fly in for big story.”
What the hell? First it’s critical, then it’s a Big Story. – Sun for lunch. Told him to meet Louis.
2:30 P.M. went up to see Liao. Road blocked by dozers & in bad shape. Chow with Smith,
Laney, Schmertz, Gorilla & Campbell. Saw Liao & pepped him up. He’s sound; a bit low & a
little tired. Ready to push ahead.
WED. APR. 5. Another fine day. Waited for Brown to come down. We must organize a push
& break in to K. in a hurry. – No report from Galahad. – Brown in for talk. 62 tanks ready to go.
Move up to Shaduzup on 6th. Thunderstorm. (Christ again.) Went down to Shad. & beyond to
65th H.Q. Fu out with 3d Bn. Slow progress. 113th doing nothing. Back to Tingkawk. (G) is
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O.K. Closing in on japs at Npum Ga. – Paper work. – Limies now say I promised 500 rifles at
Jorhat. Also that I agreed to change of boundary. Wired Slim, Sultan & Boatner that I had not. –
THURS. APR. 6. Guerrillas at Hpinaw yesterday (?) (G) got 2-300 japs at Npum on 4th.
Ought to clean up now. – Kinnison over to see Hunter. – G-mo may turn Yoke loose. – Got off
answers to “Enterprise” & “Airborne vs. R.” last night. Cloudy day. Kachins predict early
monsoon. At noon, moved up to Shaduzup. Camp not ready. Walked down to river. Met
Cannon. To dropping ground & back to C.P. (Full of jap dug-outs & bashas – & crap – ) At
6:00 went to 22 xx C.P. for conference. Liao, Sun, Brown, Cannon, Smith, Van Natta, Ernie & I.
Back & forth, pro & con. – Told them this was our chance – our only chance, & we would all
have to make a big effort. Div. comdrs. push cols. & break through this crust. “Speed to
Kamaing.” – Let Sun have 112th. Brown lent 30 trucks. 114th march. We concentrate on
Kamaing & Sun promises to go to Myitkyina, rain or no rain. Called on us to witness – Brown
will be ready to go to-morrow P.M. via Wakawng, if Fu gets in. Otherwise from the N.W. Back
at 8:00 for coffee. — (Now to keep pressure on.)
FRI. APR. 7. This was to be The Day. Too quick. Postponed till 8th, with better plan. Go
deep behind Warazup from new road, well to jap flank. 50-odd tanks ought to do something. –
Saw Brown & Sliney about plans & support. 38 xx C.P. not up yet. Of course not. (Liao gave
them a long lecture on tank & Inf. co-operation. Thinks he’s an expert.) – P.M. Took a hike
along the hog-back. Excellent trail, which we followed almost to Hkahku. 113th or G could
have come right in on it. — P.M. Lemoyne in. – Carnes in – Thraillkill & Lewis about liaison
strip & road. – Emissary from Stratemeyer – “Let Sultan choose missions for XX”. Ans, No.
SAT. APR. 8. Rained last night, but not much. Shoved out at 9:00. To Sliney’s C.P. near
Laban. Thought Hargrove was lost, but he finally got going. Tanks appeared at 10:30, but
progress very slow. (By 3:50 they quit & turned back) – Joe & Boatner in. Went down & saw
Chao, 113th, who had been obviously needled & was cutting deep on jap rear from W. of river.
(Sun had rushed down & told him to put on a show.) Back to Sliney’s place. No news. To tank
C.P. Nothing. To 22d Div. Brown not with Fu. To our C.P. Young had msg. @ tanks going
NORTH. (Christ.) Smith in with the dope from Denaux – Tanks’ gas ran out & they pulled
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back to fill & start again to-morrow. No surprise now. – The show is petering out. Liao roaring
that He’ll take Warazup. Just a roar –
SUN. APR. 9. Started out by Liao’s announcing “success” of 65th at Wakawng. “Practically
wiped out!” 400 dead japs. etc. etc. (Just a lot of wind from Fu, who is going to do it). I did not
know it then, & felt more hopeful. – Went & saw Sliney. He said Wakawng was very quiet.
Went & found Fu at 65th, full of words & froth – Actually, 1 Bn. moved forward a little. The
“TRAP” is still wide open. 1st Bn.* 66 on north, 3d Bn.* 65, 2d Bn.* 65 & 3d Bn.* 64 on west
from N. to S. – (We were suckers for a hitch-hiker who took us up to the Ying pu.) – Over to
look up tanks. Went to rendezvous across Namsang. Confusing tales from this one & that one.
Then Brown and Lemoyne came in. Jesus. Just a god damn PANIC. Tanks rolled into the
grass, 2 or 3 japs fired at them, & away they went. Shot each other up – Brown discouraged &
exhausted. He passed out after I left. – 64th went to the Waru, anyway, so maybe in A.M. we can
resume the sad story. Back at 8:00 for cool corn & cold coffee.
MON. APR. 10. Felt like hell. Sent Young & Ernie out & went to bed. 30 grains of aspirin.
P.M. Sun in. Gave him some nasty remarks about Chao & the 113th – Also the 112th –
Thunderstorm, – now a daily affair – – Npum has been cleaned up. – Wakawng taken this A.M.
– – Joe, Stuart & Peers in after chow – Brown & Lemoyne later. Tanks are all set, if 64th gets
over the Waru Hka. (They did not move to-day.) – Presumably, 112th started to-day. The inertia
is tremendous. – Radio from Hearn on FDR’s latest. “Inconceivable that the Y-force should not
attack, after all our efforts to equip & train it.
MON. APR. 11. 9 A.M. saw Liao & threatened & pushed & suffered & was “patient.” (Christ,
how I hate that word!) On down to look for 112th. Found Sun, Ch’en & Chao at 113th C.P.
Insulted the 112th & yelled & stamped around, & made it plain they had better get going. 113th
at Tingring, “surrounding”. 112th goes by. 114 follows 112. (“On to Warong!” MAYBE.) At
least it looks like a start. The piled-up inertia is terrible. Nobody will do anything. – Took Sun
down to see Fu. Still not in Wakawng. About ½ the position taken. Jap orders say hold to the
last. Jap wounded found killed by cuts on neck & belly. Some Japs hung themselves in dugouts.
70 corpses claimed counted. Back thro. heavy traffic. Met 2d Tank Co. going to Wakawng.
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They went in 1000 yds ahead of 1st Bn* 66 & had 2 tanks knocked out. 2 killed, 6 w. Wd. got
out. 47 AT guns. Co. came back without pushing in further. Brown reached road at ½ way
mark & went N. & S. No further report. – Back at 2:00. Had chow. Saw Kinnison. (G) is O.K.
Hard fight at Npum. Cleaned out japs & hooked up. – Good job. No worry there. – I hope 38th
is on its way & can clear the way for 22d. – Slept till 6:00. – Old & Cannon in. Old will help on
air deliveries. Told Cannon to move 88, & replace by 50 xx units. Radio from Louis, squawking
about the 14 xx. Ho Y. C. short changing us on fillers. – Sent Theisen to CKG to help out. —
Brown & Lemoyne in. It now develops we are all lost. Tu up on Numsai & Panglu. Decided to
locate by plane in A.M. Find out where 1st Bn.* 64 is, lead them out to road, & start over again.
TUES. APR. 12. To landing field with Brown. He checked Numsai & Hpalu. As we thought,
– they were a mile off, & in wrong slot. – To 22d CP & had a session. I took the blame for
yesterday, in pushing them off too fast. Arranged to go to-morrow, by short chops off road &
back on. 22d to get a L of D south of Wakawng. (Tanks shot up Chinese troops yesterday. Bn.
Comdr. 66th did not know where next unit was. He was ‘way behind.) – WAKAWNG line broke
up to-day. Three or four pockets left, but it should all be clear by night. A tough fight. 22d lost
4 co. comdrs. killed & 2 w. Japs sticking it out to bitter end. — Saw Sun. 112th is actually
started. Objective, – WARONG. Maybe we’ll get going. Back to C.P. Carnes in, Sheeny
getting fresh again. He must tell the G-mo all about it. – Ho Y.C. still obstructing. Hsiao
working on him. – Radio from Hearn – 734 ton cut on Yoke, C.D.S., etc. unless Yoke moves. –
CHP here. – Arnold back with tons of loot. – – – !! – – – (Lin Wei says maybe Y will go, so
Hearn is holding the tonnage cut.) – Van Natta in, & we all decided that SUN is an S.O.B. &
double-crosser – .
THURS. APR. 13. Good news from (G) – 210 dead japs found in clean-up at NPUM on onehalf the perimeter. — Wakawng not yet completely cleared. One pocket W. & few groups E. of
river. Chinese at bridge. — Ambush of retiring japs S of Wakawng produced 100, (acc. to Ch.
report.) Talked with Boatner, & went forward at 1:30. Saw Sanford & Hargrove. Went to 65th
HQ. Saw Fu. Wakawng not yet clear. Probably by to-morrow noon. – Looked over the Palu
Hka position. Good work of 4.2’s. Plenty of japs still lying around. Typical jungle position.
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Must have been a Bn on it. – Japs welcomed us with 4 rounds of 75. – Back at 5:00. Better
feeling at Imphal to-day. – Joe in & we talked till 10:00.
FRI. APR. 14. A.M. saw Boatner & arranged @ 14 xx & 50 xx etc. air reconn. down to Mataing
Sakan – Fine day & good view down to Pakhren. Warazup position has no depth, – all burned
off. Nothing visible at Tingring. Ernie came along – – Wakawng clear at last. After lunch felt
rotten & lay down. 3:30 saw Liao & told him to make air reconn. & send his colonels. He is
low and all out of energy. Wants somebody else to carry the ball. – 112th actually moving – –
Ernie attended the meeting with Fu, Sliney, & Lemoyne. Brown to Ledo to get replacements &
see @ mediums. – – Feeling rotten – cold.
SAT. APR. 15. (Apr 4 – 11, 360 cas. in 42d, 43d, 46th Hosps & 13th Med. Bn.) – Groggy. – 12
jap zeros came over. 15 more at Ledo. (Smack at Imphal?) We smack Kamaing & Mogaung
to-day, & for 4 days more – Pick in. @ Lap. N. of Shing now about 4 ½ mi! Shortened ½ mi
daily. – Cannon in from seeing (G.) Hunter O.K. McGee to stay. Beach out. — Flew along the
road up to incl. the gap. Bridges, grade, & drainage O.K., but surfacing looks hopeless. – In at
Shing & Maingkuan. (1:37-3:50). Circled the Shaduzup hill. Good position. Thunderstorm, as
usual. – Progress slow. 113th in Tingring & south. 112th location uncertain. 114th just starting
Typical 38 xx show.
SUN. APR. 16. Br. in better shape at Mawlu. 22 xx static. 38 xx piddling – Boatner cancelled
the bombing missions. Sent for him. (Slim wants him to go over and talk. Suspicious.) Boatner
came in & I bawled him out, & he was all cut up, & realized everything etc. etc. So everything
is O.K., & Egan was told to get K. & M. bombed as I had directed. – Sun in & I told him what I
wanted once more. In P.M. put it in writing to get going full speed. – Yang (asst. cmdr. 50 xx) in
with Brown. Usual protestations of obedience. – Sent Ernie down to locate 114th – They are
piddling, too. – Carl in. – Young back – Lentaigne in. He will “devastate” Indaw, & then
withdraw by echelon. The L.R.P.G. stuff is a bust. – O.W.I. wants an “endorsement.” Mr. Block
says he is supporting Gen. Boatner’s operations! I gave him one.
209
MON. APR. 17. Lentaigne first – Then talked to Merrill about Mitch. plan. A Bn of (G) to 88th
– & 150th. – Close at Tate Ga on 26th. Hit Mitch. May 12. God grant it doesn’t rain. – Joe went
looking for 112th. – To 22d, Liao out. Lunch. Then the avalanche – Fenn in with G.C.M. cases.
– Godfrey, Davison & Asensio in on their God damn fool’s errand. Sent for Pick. He came &
we went to it. Construction of fields left as is with Pick. Exit Godfrey & Co. – Stratemeyer &
Wolfe on targets for VLRs. Chennault’s objections all over-ruled. They begin to see through the
Sheeny. – “Enterprise” will be answered by Strat. – Fenn brought Cossea 80 & Louis’ reply.
“Out of step with global strategy.” Of course. Louis is a fatuous ass. – LIMIES wanted Pick to
pay for trees cut down in making Ledo road! Tie that. – Session with Liao. He says G-mo has
not interfered with operations, but frequently writes to him. Has told him to obey me, “even if
I’m wrong.” — Pick here for supper. Kept him over-night, so he could sleep. – A long day –
TUES. APR. 18. Hunter got 400 at NPUM. Joe’s total to date – 6,042 japs killed – (G) losses
419 – (58 k, 300 odd w.) – A.M. to 38 xx and on to 114 H.Q. Saw Li Hung & gave him the
banner. He was much pleased. – Over to Wakawng & half way to Warazup. Ran into 9th Co.*
66 who stopped us. Japs ahead – Back to camp 1:30. Took a nap. – Bowerman in. No soap.
His force is a mess. “Tired” – “Can’t attack,” etc. 3 Co. Comdrs. already in one Co.” They are
on a sit-down strike, apparently. – Limies still hold Kohima. — Liao in, quite agreeable to plan
to go on thro. Warazup if practicable. Tanks ready. – Sun in, apparently ready to carry on. 38 xx
is moving, & Burns says Sun insisted on more speed. In general, it looks as if they are off their
back sides at last. Our planes bombed Chinese in Kawnan – 3 k. several wd. – Ho Y.C. suggests
1 guerrilla regt. for the offensive –
WED. APR. 19. Young promoted yesterday. – G-mo sent pep radio to xx comdrs – – Another
U.S. bombing of 112th – – – Sent for Egan. – We are across the WARU HKA. – Hearn is out.
Must go back to U.S. at once – Now what? No one available – Kinnison is sick. Now who for
END RUN? Christ. One thing after another. – Br. still in Kohima. That looks better – – Joe
found 112th from air. — 114th, 9th Co. had 57 casualties yesterday. No. Those were japs. 9th
Co.* 114 had 5 K & 8 W. Att., counter-att., & art. from S.W. A bad knock. – P.M. went down
to 38 xx C.P. Cheng & Hu & Sun & Liao all there. On to Sliney’s C.P. & then saw Fu. Brown
could not get tanks in to-day. Troops all mixed at Warazup. But 65th already a mile S. of bridge.
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May not be necessary to use tanks. Back at 5:00. Call by Cheng, Hu, & Li. No impudence, no
curiosity. Surprise. Got shots for cholera, typhoid, typhus & pox –
THURS. APR. 20. Papers. – (Egan came up & the staff got him straightened out. Air people
protest they are 100% for us.) Down to see Sliney, Brown, Hu & Co. 2 Cos. (– 2 pl.) of tanks
jumped off at 10:00. Below Warazup, ran into japs close to Laseng Hka. Had a fight; claimed
30 japs & 2 M.G. Brown got them back. Miller & Doran had thought they were shooting up the
Chinese. They were sunk – Hu & came in, & said “Good work for tanks.” 30 japs & 3 M.G. So
everybody felt better. Then got ready for new start. Delay. Delay. Delay. 5 tks reconnoitered.
Laseng Hka. At hills one got stuck in mud. No soap. No attack. Tk. Engrs to cut a X-ing on
Laseng Hka & resume in A.M. O, Christ. (Lesson – Get a dependable American, spear-head for
this kind of business.) Felt rotten all day. The shots.
FRI. APR. 21. Papers. Talked to Boatner @ C/S & rains. — Tks. now can’t go till noon! (O,
Christ again.) Bank cut in wrong place. – At 12:30 decided to watch it in plane. 12:40, pilot
found eating here at H.Q. Then he had to go back to Maingkuan & get gas. (Joe had used up
most of gas in A.M. looking for the 112th in Warong area. So I went up to the new field at
Kawnglawyang – & waited. – Finally, at 2:23 we got off. Of course, it was all over. Tracks
showed attack to PANGYU HKA. Tanks were on way back – Christ, was I burned up. – Well,
tanks had a field day. Flushed a jap outfit with pack animals. Shot hell out of it Claimed 100
japs & most of animals. Good break for Brown. – Rest of day, papers.
SAT. APR. 22. A.M. papers. P.M. with Cannon & Boatner to Warazup, looking for Fu. Met
Sliney. No one knew where 65th C.P. was. Back to 22d CP. Saw Li T’ao. Left word for Liao to
report. He was out with Cheng, showing the bastard around – To 38th C.P. at Marangahtawng.
Saw Sun – That bastard. Told him he would have to be in Hkindukawng area by 26th, & no
foolin’. (Gish knew all the time where the 65th CP was. The dumb jerk.) Dust terrible. Back to
Shaduzup. More papers & what not. Saw movie in P.M. Big crowd – Arnold doing fine job. —
(In A.M. Gen. CH’ÜEH of 14th Div. in. Big, bluff type. Seems amenable. Usual protestations.
Willey with him.)
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SUN. APR. 23. Papers. Radios. Crap. Bullock in on signal business. Moynihan sick again.
King in hospital at Karachi Teeth to come out. Bullock thinks he’s a psychopathic case. Told
Bullock our troubles. He promised, like all of them, to put it straight. — Got out positive,
written orders to 22d & 38th to be in Pakhren & Lawa areas by Apr. 27. Now I’ve shot my wad.
— Merrill left for Dinjan & Tate Ga. Will jump on 27th. – Our last effort. – (Limies definitely
coming to Mogaung. Trouble for us. No command, just care for them.) – Told George about the
state of affairs. – Ernie is still doing too much suggesting & pushing – Pape in, loquacious as
ever. Pop-Eye Williams in – – SUN & LIAO in to buck the order. It took 1 hr 55 min. before
they got their nerve up. And after they did, it did them no good – A lot of bunk & “can’t” &
obstacles & crap. P-tui!
MON. APR. 24. Papers again. Stone in about bringing Chinese into A.A.F. in India. Told him
No. – Williams in. – Peers in; we made movies. – Squawked to Sultan @ Lentaign “accord” over
B.B.C. – G.C.M. about Sun & Liao. – P’an & Yang, of 50 xx in. – Boatner took orders down for
reports of progress. Warm. Little doing. The boys are dogging it.
TUES. APR. 25. A.M. with Joe by air to Taikri, via Tanaiyang (Tate Ga) & down river. Saw
Scherdenak, Williams, Father Stuart, etc. (Kachin, in ambush, shot 2 japs, then got some slugs
thro. his knapsack, felt for his harmonica, tried it out, & jumped for the bushes. Kachins bring in
jap right ears to prove killing.) (“It ain’t right to send an old man like you up in this country”)
(Stuart – You Chinese? P’ TVI – You English? P’TUI.) (G) boys all grow whiskers. Merrill
not there. Back via Pabum (limestone cliff) to Maingkuan & new air field. Pick & Farrell in.
WED. APR. 26. Waited till 11:00 last night for Sun. Came to-day. Battle royal. Disapproved
his plan, verbally & in writing. Bawled him out. No smiling anymore. Usual protestations of
sincere co-operation. That stung the bastard. — Egan & Davidson in. Nothing. Stayed for
lunch. – Papers, papers, papers. – Radioed G-mo about div. comdrs. — No advance, of course. –
Brown getting mediums ready. – Joe has news that japs are building up on us at Myit. Uh. – Had
Liao in. He impressed me as sincere. They were attacked last night, but put some dents in the
japs to-day – Cleared N. bank of Panghin Hka, ex. for 1 pocket. Got across by river. 64th headed
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for Malakawag.(!) Thinks he has broken it up. Next stop, Mataing – maybe. Anyway, it looks
much better in his front. – (Wired Hearn to hold radio.)
THURS. APR. 27. To Taikri in A.M. Dropping going on. We dodged in under the C-47s &
between a couple of cubs & swooped around safely. Merrill all set to go on 28th. We will keep
in touch by plane. – Back via Pabum. — P.M. Sun’s new plan in. Disapproved again – Wants to
bring 112 up to help attack the jap platoon in front of him. Li took out small pocket at Manao
Gahtawng. (25 japs.) No other action. – 22d had trouble at Inkangahtawng. Japs held them off.
– (Chinese wounded man calling for water. Finally got it. “Give it to him!,” pointing to patient
beside him.) – Boatner checked on 38th. Dilly-dally. Nothing at Tigrawmyang –
FRI. APR. 28. Peddled with papers. Early lunch. To 22d C.P. south of Wakawng. Arranged
for tank attack. W. of Inkangahtawng to-morrow. Decorated some of Liao’s boys. Back to 38
CP & saw Van Natta. On across river to Tingring. Met Sun on road. He is putting 2 Bns of
113th on right of 114th. Cheng with him. To CP 114 near Tigrawmyang. Saw Pape there. Li
went over the pit. All clear N. of Tig. except P’eng’s pocket & Lahkraw pocket. 114th may
move now. On way back, stopped at 43d Surg. Hosp. Two bad ones there – one leg amputation
& gangrene, one bad belly wound. To C.P. – 5:40. Road graded all way to Laban. 7:00 P.M.
Cheng in. Gave him the works on Chinese command. He’s a child.
SAT. APR. 29. 8:30 – flew over the field. Tanks slow – Off at 9:00 Over Inkangahtawng, jap
A.A. got after us & nearly turned the plane over twice. We ducked out – but quick. Circled
south of Warazup during action. Cloudy. Hard to see. Tanks ran into heavy A.T. fire. Three
mediums hit. Two lights. All out. One casualty. japs are obstinate as hell. Back at 10:30.
Hard to see action from topside. – Papers. – Old in. Ready with 40 gliders –about 1 Bn’s worth.
(Joe says maybe 5 Bns. in End Run area.) P.M. Australian (Johnson) correspondent in. Is he
down on Br. high command? Yes. – Got heavy air blow ready for Inkangahtawng to-morrow.
(Rotten movie)
SUN. APR. 30. A.M. PAPERS. Rainy. Off to Maingkuan at 11:30. Cloudy in at 12:00.
Bummed till 4:00, when Slim & Co. came in. Talked till 5:50. Got command of L.R.P.G.s after
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Hopin is set. 2 brigs. for attack on Mogaung – Slim ready to help – (Saw Lt Col Denniston,
Australian. He says Aus. want to come up here.) Brought Stone back to Shad, & chewed over a
lot of stuff. This & that. Air support & supply. O.K.’d 1 sq. of P-51’s to go S. (Egan has 165
planes to help us here.) Inkangahtawng showed postponed till to-morrow.
MON. MAY 1. (Last month) Rain. Air attack washed out, again. No luck. (G) having lot of
rain, – 5 days. Trails bad. And this P.M. jap 150’s opened up with at least a battery. 50 rds.
Stone was down front, & indignant over absence of air cover! Ha. Ha. What a difference it
makes who gets it. Sun out at 3:00, – too late to do anything. – Newsboys in – gave them a
statement. 2-yr. anniversary of getting thrown out. – (Rotten movie – Jane Eyre – ) Pick in;
field at Tingkawk ready in 5 days! Even better than Godfrey. – (Depression days. Commander’s
worries. I start them off for M. It rains. The japs send a regt. to Kazu. The resistance grows
here. Why didn’t I use them on our front? Is the gap too big? Will they meet a reinforced
garrison? Does it mean we’ll fail on both sides, instead of only one? Can I get them out? Are
the japs being sucked toward Mogaung, or is the new unit staying in Mitch? etc. etc. And
nothing can be done about it. The die is cast, & its sink or swim – But the nervous wear & tear is
terrible – Pity the poor K.O.)
TUES. MAY 2. Another cloudy day. Planes could not work. We sat & gloomed. (22 xx has
had 57 co. officers killed.) Can’t push the 22 xx under the circs. & can’t help them. It’s hell.
And Sun continues to play his snide game of delay. He’s a bastard. – Sent Ernie to 38 xx to get
dope – Williams in from (G). Shekerjian & Stone left. Joe up for supper & checkers. Christ,
but I feel helpless. — (G) will be at Ritpong about May 5.
WED. MAY 3. Sun out! It looks O.K. to-day. – At first no luck. Later they at last got off, &
were on the target at 1:00. Watched it from over Warazup. A pretty good shellacking. At 2:00
went over the hill to Taikri & saw Merrill. Everything O.K. Gave him the news & arrangements
for reinforcing. He figures now on the 15th. Back at 3:30. Peers in. Told him to start his show
on the 10th. He has 800 on east side & 170 to work on road N. from Mitch. – The show was
pretty good. 32 planes came in. The tanks got over & went down the road. 2 cos. of the 65th got
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over. jap pocket on N. bank isolated. Boatner reports Sun & Liao not at all interested in
presence of air support. The Ikangahtawng episode may be over –
THURS. MAY 4. 9:15 – Off to Maingkuan via Tingkawk. Clouds thick. Met Sultan, Ferris,
Dorn, Strat., & McCammon, & Rusk. Chewed over everything. Got squared away. Louis’ latest
is proposal to withdraw X-force so as to save planes, presumably to use in Imphal. – Back at
3:00 Brought McC. up. – Smith in from 22d. Liao is now making all the known excuses for not
moving. He & Sun have been hobnobbing for three days. He’s going to lie down & dig in.
FRI. MAY 5. Papers again. Endless radios etc. Sent for Sun & Liao. Ready to bust, but
restrained myself. 38th ordered to get Warong & close gap at Tarongyang. – Liao in at 1:30.
Long talk. He is affected by losses particularly co. officers. Gave him the 149th. Explained
consequences to both of them. — (G) at Salawng ran through a jap co. & got to Nyangyang. No
details. — Cleveland here. — Pick in. Long talk on constr. – Mitch airfield, etc. – Brown (INS)
back –
SAT. MAY 6. Good weather! 3/23 letter from Win. – (Yoke replacements, 55,000 needed.
26,000 arr. 5,000 monthly attrition.) – Ordered Timberman to CKG & Wessels to Kandy. –
McCammon left for (G). He’s still weak from flu. – Sultan asking for 105,000 ceiling. — Louis
offers alternative of withdrawing X force to save planes to feed rats at Imphal! – Bennett says
70,000 “surrounded” by 8,000 japs (?) – – (Our casualties to 15 Apr. 5000, of which 1500 K:
22d xx – 800 K. 2000 W; 38th xx 650 K 1450 W. Down to 113th & saw Chao & Boutz. Van
Natta says that Boutz says that Chao says that Sun told him not to fight. Boutz says that Pine in
1st Bn. thinks they have been told not to fight. (Usual bull-shit.) – C.P. 114th four mi. ahead. No
time. Back at 4:30. Rain
SUN. MAY 7. Rainy again. Paper shuffling. Egan in. Talked over his part of show, new
fields, gliders, etc. – No progress on our front. – (G) to Jum last night, maybe. Hard going over
there. – Limies have run into 3000 japs at Kadu, dug in. Oh, oh. – No progress at Imphal. The
monsoon may save the situation – G-mo howling for 1000 extra tons of gas, – for Chennault, of
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course. Dorn suddenly finds no alcohol at Yunnanyi, so unless we fly it in quick, they bog
down! — Joe says only 3 Bns at Mitch (!)
MON. MAY 8. Papers. Shoved off at 11:30. Picked up Sun at 38th C.P. & went up to 113th.
Hot. 1:30-3:30 hike up to 114th C.P. near Nawngmikawng – (Hill 2000.) Damn near killed me.
All out of shape. No wind. No legs. Swore off smoking then & there. Felt like an old, old man
when I staggered in. Li there. Went over the dope, & there was the usual bustle & stir & fake
activity by Sun. He is a prize two-timing son of a bitch. Over night at 114th. Sun went back.
Too much for him.
TUES. MAY 9. Li went up to Bn C.P. (I let him go to give him chance to push the boys)
After I had orated at length on his slowness, & need for haste. Told him to get going. Period. –
We left at 1:00. Down 1500' to river, then up 1000' to C.P. (The God-damn shoes were killing
my feet. Skin off toes. No others with me, – pretty dumb.) Fell up the hill & into C.P.
exhausted. Li & P’eng there. P’eng advancing. Again told them what I wanted. – Japs fired art.
all night long, all over the lot. Hlagyi taken & a mile beyond.
WED. MAY 10. Lay around all A.M. waiting for news of attack on Hkataugkawng. 3d Co
going to Samlan around left flank. 1st Co straight in. (They did & lost a plat. comdr & six cas.
from fire from flank.) 2d Bn should now be on way from Wala. About 1:30 Li went to see
P’eng. Horrified that I should go, too. Too much loss of face. Told them to fight or I would go
& stand in the trail up front. This makes them move, & is the only thing that does. (Ernie came
at 11:00 with papers & left at 1:00. He had left CP at 2:00 A.M. Long day.) – We bombed &
strafed at Malakawng. Pretty heavy. No jap art afterward. Maybe the air has at last hit
something. – Down the hill to regtl. C.P. & spent night there. Lt. Col. Bunker held forth on what
is wrong with training. Chinese troops staggering uphill as we came down. All cheerful. They
deserve better C.O.s.
THURS. MAY 11. Again impressed on LI importance of speed. Left at 8:45. Struggled up the
“Hill 2000” & then down to the 113th C.P. Feet killing me. Hot & no air in jungle. Just about
all in. Met Ernie just at end of trail. He had fruit cocktail & oranges. (Braud had sent my hat
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back to Shad. Brilliant move.) To 38th & gave Sun orders for 112th & 114th Back & had a wash
& change of clothes, & orange juice. Gus fixed up a grand salad for supper. Got some moisture
back in me. (The shoe-bag – Full of moldy bread, & two battered cans!
FRI. MAY 12. – Good breakfast. Papers all day. Pick in. Will have Tingkawk ready by
Sunday. — Egan not here. Sent for him at once. – – J. Liu in last night & this A.M. I must send
msg. to Ho & G-mo at once. So I did. To hell with them all. – Yoke jumped off yesterday, –
(Maybe) – – Limie brig. Tullock in to see what I was going to do. Told him in plain words I
would command, or else. And no bargains with anybody. Afraid I got sarcastic about people
getting tired. They know where we stand, anyway. — Joe says we’re in, with the japs – caught
off balance. Again, maybe. (146 lll is over here now. – 2 Bns.)
SAT. MAY 13. Flew to Tingkawk & looked over new field. O.K. for to-morrow. Ernie had a
tooth pulled. – Godfrey in, – & out – Creswell & Pick & Sliney in for supper. (155’s on way.
Told Sliney to put them right to work). – Egan not here. Habacker didn’t know anything. I blew
off again. Radio to Egan to get down here. – Blew off on G-3 lay-out of Salween operation –
“No map!” “No dope.” etc. Found Boatner had kept it from them – & Br. L.O. (The snoopers.)
— Sun sent his doctor to ask about special food. I blew up for fair on that. Christ! The crust of
that squirt! — Sent Strat. a couple of nasty radios – Asked him to spare me the lecture, & tell the
boy that writes that crap to pipe down. – Joe now thinks 53d Div. is coming in. We will probably
run into something strong at Myitkyina – Depressing day – take it by & large. – (114th in
Tarongyang.)
SUN. MAY 14. Tried to fly over to Taikri. Failed; on acct. bad weather. Merrill, however,
made it at noon. He wanted to do what I had decided on, – i.e. (M) close up on (H), followed by
Bn. 88. (K) contain japs at Tingkrukawng & slide by, closing on Bn. 88. (We can slam in with 8
Bns.) – Egan came in. Told him what we wanted. And when. He’s afraid of the weather.
Planes for Tingkawk not here. Can’t get over the hill. (O, Christ, again.) You keep after them
& after them, & still you don’t get anywhere. – Cleared a bit late in the P.M. – Hunter expected
to give us the 48-hr signal to-night. I told Merrill to roll on in, & swing on ‘em. – (48 HOUR
NOTICE.)
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MON. MAY 15. Sun in at 9:00. Just more belly-ache. Told him to go to Tumboughka. – Jap
air raid on Kawnglawyang. Strafed at Shaduzup. Bombed dropping ground. About 15
casualties — RAIN early. Heavy RAIN on (G.) (O, Christ, again.) Cleared here around noon.
May be a chance to get fighters over the hill. – 2 P.M. – 24 hour notice!! (Old & Bell here. All
set for move to Mitch.) (Creswell left.) – Took a walk
→ Hkhaku Ga – Moynihan & Hoover
for dinner, – Rotten movie. (H) set by night of 16th. Hiding out till 17th or 18th. What’s up now?
TUES. MAY 16. Weather – A.M. RAIN. P.M. CLEAR. Went to Tingkawk. 16 fighters there.
(and only because we pushed & shoved.) Hunter hiding out. Kinnison moving up. Magee also.
– Got desperate on 22d block to-day, & sent for (G) replacements, about 90 men, now at
Margherita – Detaching 149th from 22d xx putting C. Brown in command & running around right
end from Pakhren Sakan. — Willey in. He goes to Hertz to replace Bowerman – (sick). If we
get to Mitch, we can ditch that gang. (Joe still says maximum of 3 Bns.) – Saw a good movie,
for a change.
WED. MAY 17. CLEAR, by God! A break. Japs bombed new field at Warazup at 8:00. No
damage – Q. Where were our boys? – (Br. strength – 73 Bns, of which 25 are all-British. Jap –
24 Bns total. And Slim says odds are less than anywhere else in world!) – Ellis came in with C.
Brown. Put him to work with Joe – Got C.O. 149th up & told him about the job, except
destination. (G) det. coming by air; had to turn back at Tingkawk, acct of alert. This costs
another day, at least. – At 10:50 msg. “In the Ring” came in. That meant – “AT THE FIELD.”
Old flew over at 12:00 & saw nothing. (Hunter getting in place, probably.) We’ll just have to
sweat it out, – Joe & Ellis for lunch. — MERRILL in at 2:50. Had been over field, which was
clear. He saw T.M. fire well to N.E. – About 3:30 we got MERCHANT of VENICE (i.e.
transports can land.) WHOOPS! Enormous relief to get Merrill’s report – At once ordered
machinery & reinforcements started. About 3:30 two transports landed. At 4:00, we saw
transports and gliders going over. Thereafter, a stream of planes both ways. Told them to keep
going all night. We may have 89th in by morning. . . WILL THIS BURN UP THE LIMIES! . . .
[Radio from Slim, telling me how to run the 3d Ind. Div. Answered politely that he could stick
the 3d Ind. Div up his ass.] [Copy to Louis.] – Sent for SUN and LIAO to try one last time to get
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some pep into them. – Monsoon coming in on So. Burma. – NOW. Myitkyina – due June 1. –
Troop move stopped for some reason, after only 6 cos. had been put in – Not much return on the
investment.
THURS. MAY 18. Not much sleep. Ants & worry. – 8 A.M., off to Tingkawk by jeep – 9:30 –
Theissen took us in to Myitkyina (About 12 correspondents.) Heavy clouds. We let down &
got in O.K. About 10:00. Saw Hunter & McCammon. 89th coming in. 150th had not started
attack. 1st Bn* G had gone to the Zigyun ferry. 89th was being disposed for protection of field.
Kinnson due at line Charpati – Namkwin at 10:20. No word from him. No jap reaction. Japs
not yet located. Planes bombing the town & Maingnaw. I got after a major in 89th & got him
started forward. Hunter knows what he’s about. McCammon not so certain. Shoved off at noon
& came back around the Mogaung corner, over Lawa, Maupin, etc. Got at L-1 & flew back to
Shaduzup. Sultan & Strat. here. After lunch had long session with them. (Saw C. Brown out
yesterday, 17th to go to Pakhren. Report today is that he has the 149th around a C.P. back of
Inkangaktawng & has the (G) det. over in the valley to the West! Christ again. The dumb cluck.
Someone told him there was a trail over there.) Ellis & Joe in with dope on situation.
FRI. MAY 19. Flock of visitors continues. At noon, Godfrey and stooge. And the Great
Wedemeyer, full of himself as usual. He is the world’s most Pompous Prick. O’Connor also in
for lunch. (Took a nap in P.M.) – Cooper in. Milani in. – Merrill in. He has had another attack
– Peterson gave him morphine & put him to bed. He will be out of the picture. Progress terribly
slow at Mitch. I am worried about jap reaction. 150th moved this A.M., & over-ran 2 jap
positions. A jap group up by N. field, has not moved. Counter-attack last night at Zigyun ferry.
89th has taken over from (G). Kinnison in, held till 150 gets farther ahead. Jap air-raid
yesterday, just after we left. They got 1 transport & damaged two. A.A. shot down 2 Zeros. –
Told Merrill to clean up. Combat patrol came over toward Mogaung. – Fracas with
correspondents. Got Joe & Moynihan & Boatner and had meeting to get it straight. – SLIM
refuses to take Willey, & is sending his own man in. Contrary to agreement. MtBatten sent
“Order of Day”, & included Lentaigne’s crowd, because they had cut the jap communications!
Timberman protested. So did I. Louis had radioed Dill already, to tell him it was a proof of the
“perfect unity” in S.E.A.C. They must horn in & get all the credit. – Reaction to G-mo msg.
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“draw them off from Imphal” was a scream. – O, not at all. In fact, they do not want the japs
“drawn off” from Imphal. Childish Louis – publicity crazy. – All this bellyache about my having
command, – told Wedemyer to tell Louis either it was real command or nothing. – The more I
see of limies, the worse I hate them. – Cairns sent out to contact C. Brown. Not back at 10 P.M.
Report is that Brown is right where he was yesterday. Christ again.
SAT. MAY 20. Last night Sun in with plan to take Kamaing. O.K. by me. I kidded him along
& then agreed. Anything to get the 38th moving. If we get to Kamaing, we tell the limies to go
to hell. And how! — A.M. G-3 sent up yesterday’s crap by Greenspan. So I went down & blew
the roof off of Boatner’s place. Told him to get Cannon to Mitch at once, relieve Beiser, & get
information. A proper blow-off. – No word from C. Brown. Cairns not back – Merrill passed by
medicos I let him go back. – They are to finish the job. – Lentaigne & Co. in. They have been
told to obey orders apparently. Anyway, they are at least taking them. – 42d Inf sent in by
Breidster. Bawled out Boatner for that, too. – At noon, Williams came in. THANK GOD. 150th
has C.P. in RR. station. Japs backed into bazaar section. Resistance now localised, & we are
reasonably sure of the place. (150’s fired yesterday. One knocked out.) japs apparently all in
confusion & trying to pull out. Dug in along river bank – Chinese casualties heavy. Kinnison
not used. – One co. all the way to 542, – almost to Mogaung. [ — I am now slipping back to
normal] – Sent radio to fire Wright. – King here. Must tell him he’s fired. – Cooper & Milani for
lunch. – 1:30 no word yet from Brown. – (M) in at 4:00. Situation better. japs in tail-spin. 89th
cleaned their pocket in 30 min. (1 Co.) 150th shot themselves up. Too many casualties. Now
steadied down. – Japs in geisha house, & in bazars. – WILLEY in. Sad story of Tiangzup. W.
had them lined up. But Slim could not allow an American to command! The poor fish. – 5 P.M.
Still no word from Cairns. – He & Hoover arrived at 8:00. Had seen Brown. Not yet at river
(Lasi Hka.)
SUN. MAY 21. Willey out to look up Purple. No luck. Joe located them in P.M. ’Way short
of the river. Asinine report from Brown – “On route agreed upon. 2 mi from OBJECTIVE! (He
meant the river, as his first objective, I suppose.) – Sent for him to come in, with entire force, &
get bumped off. — In A.M. told King I would have to change Sig. Off. Terrible fracas with him.
Said it would kill him. “Reduce me”, etc. So wired Sultan to reduce him, & let him go to work,
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if he so elected. – 6 P.M. Cannon in from Mitch. Bad news. Panic in 150th They ran away &
had to be taken out. Attack by 88th & 2d Bn (G) was moving ahead at 4:00. Later Johnson says
2 (G) stopped because out of ammo.(!) Good God. What goes on at Mitch? – Sliney in for
supper. – (A bad day, mentally. Good deal of strain & worry. If the troops are undependable,
where are we? I’m looking forward to a full stop on this business. Wish it would pour right
now.) – Joe got food dropped to (G) & 149th.
MON. MAY 22. Black Monday. Bad news from Mitch. Now they saw 800 japs got into
Charpati last night. And 200 crossed river from east. McC says “situation is critical.” Not a
thing I can do. It has rained heavily all A.M. We can’t get troops in. Also, the field is in bad
shape at Mitch. Radioed McC. to take out Charpati if info. news was true. Later message said
japs both in front of & behind 3d Bn. (G.) – General air of discouragement down there. And of
course corresponding worry here. We’ve got to sweat it out but it’s no fun. [Q. Ask of 36th Br.
Div? No. Get Pick’s engineers? Yes. At least alert them, & use as replacements for Galahad.
Meanwhile, push 42d in. And follow with 41st if necessary.] If the God-damn rain will only let
us use the field for a few days. If we can’t land planes, we can’t land troops. — Gen Hu, and
Gen P’an in at 7:00 – Told them what was up & what to do. They are to go in the morning. Hu
takes 88 & 89 – Pan takes 150 & 42. McC. on top. That should help some. After that, – U.S.
Engrs. — Told newsboys what had happened at Myit. & to “Purple”. – (This is one of those
terrible worry-days when you wish you were dead.) – 10 P.M. Still raining heavily.
TUES. MAY 23. Cleared up at 11:00 – Mitch field closed to C-47’s. Sent Boatner in with Hu
& P’an etc. – 1 (G) is making reconn. to Charpati area this A.M. 88th counter-attacked last night.
– The 800 japs at Charpati went down to 200 in later report. – – Slim in for lunch. Talked till
4:00. He had the usual prick admin. officer with him. All very affable. Offers me the 36th Div.
No discussion about 3 Ind. Div. The SEAC planners got out a 37-page plan on “HOW TO
TAKE MYITKYINA”!!! – Old here. Will get the boys lined up & kept field open. Gen. Lung,
14th Div., in. Usual crap. – Boatner back at 7:00 – Matters fairly satisfactory. Attack on 25th.
To-morrow to get lined up. McC. had wind up. Nervous type. Wants U.S. units. Yeah, so do I.
– Told Boatner to send in the 209th Eng. to-morrow. – Late radio from Mitch says local actions
only. Things should go better now, with Hu & Pan in. Clear all day till 6 P.M.
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WED. MAY 24. Fenn in. Had lunch with him, & put him on the Sheeny matter. More wild
rumors from Mitch. 600–300–1000 etc. etc. 111th is in Kazu. Reconn. det. near Mogaung. 22
xx
moving. 38 xx creeping. 22d has cleaned several pockets. Papers all A.M. In P.M. saw
Merrill at 25th Hosp. Looks O.K. Sent him to Ledo. – Down to 22 xx CP. Bridge out at
Wakawng. Muck & mud beyond Warazup. Saw Liao, gave him banners, – also 149th Inf. – He
appears anxious to get to Kamaing. Q. Why didn’t the dumb Col. C. Brown do it? – Paul Jones
in after supper. (Had Doc Williams & Peterson in for supper.) I (G) got 52 japs this A.M. – 22d
Div. has been knocking them off, 10 & 20 – at a crack. Tough going.
THURS. MAY 25. Monsoon delayed – is now the dope. A.M. “Plan x for taking Mitch.” My
God! 3 Divs, 1 L.R.P.G, 1 parabrig., plus C.A.I., Yoke, etc. – are they peeved! And now they
can’t ask for so many transports! – 2 P.M. Lentaigne wants to give up the Blackpool block! 1
jap Bn attacking! (“The art. is killing us. L.R.P.G.s can’t hold a place where art. can be brought
in.”) Gave him the home truth about it. Will let him out if he sticks in the general area. 77 has
not yet reported about Mogaung. — Disturbing news from Mitch. McCammon gloomy.
Decided to go down. Took Young & J. Liu. Rain. Off from Tingkawk at 4:00. In at Mitch
O.K. Runway very wet. – Got the dope on the attack. Just frontal with 88 & 89. Put in 1st Bn*
89 – and a Bn of 150 – and a threat by 3d Bn* G. Lined up Hu & P’an & bawled them out. All
night – firing all along line. Very little sleep. Rain.
FRI. MAY 26. Japs coming in from Mogaung. Beach’s narrow shave. 1st Bn* 89 got well up
on flank. 150th got to 1000 yds of objective, after bad, slow start. Huang asleep – could not see
Combs! Sent for Pan & had Huang relieved. Got Hu again & told him to push. They did & got
up on south flank fairly well. (100 wounded.) – Magee pulled back to old bivouac area. 42d
between Magee & Beach. – Japs attacked at night, & there were fire-works by the half-hour –
Chinese stuck it out. But the ammo! My God. – Gist of it is, McC has no confidence in Chinese
troops. (since panic in 150th) And not much in himself – Hunter, Osborne, Magee, Beach, – all
fine soldiers. Guts , Calm. Confidence – They ooze it. – 111th cols. not up. Wired about them –
Also for extra engr. Bn.
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SAT. MAY 27. Rain again. Discouraging. No air support. Worry – worry – worry. (Off at
9:30 – ) Hu & Willey in. Told Hu O.K. to pivot on left. Not much progress to be expected
there. Hope for 111th, 150th & 1st Bn* 89 to do something. Back to Tingkawk. Saw Arnold &
Paul. Wedemeyer not coming! Tim sick. (Col. Li, C/S, sick. Kinnison sick. Galahad shot. 1
Bn Engrs in to bolster them up.) Lot of radios waiting for me. Worked all day. – 112th across
road S. of Kamaing! 112th cut in two by flood! 112th all across except 1 co.! Good news,
anyway. – Morris force off the beam. Called in Lentaigne & gave him hell. – Disobedience by
Morris. (“Move N.W. & attack W. from S.”) So he moves EAST. More orders, urgent, sent
him. – Bitched about giving up. Hopin block. Ordered 77 x to attack Mogaung at once. E.T.A.
is June 1st. – Session with Fenn on Chennault affair. – Sweat it out till midnight. – Rain, be-jesus.
Will we ever get a break?
SUN. MAY 28. Alerted (G) replacements. Fly in 1000 on May 30. – Weather GOOD. Planes
flying. Thank Christ. – (RELIEF). We now find japs have been running trains on RR thro. the
block for 3 days. No Br. report. — H.A. Wedemeyer & Timmie came in. Usual horse-shit by
W. (Tim says he is now a Christian.) – No improvement last night at Myit (Joe cheerful. He
keeps on an even keel – ) Nap. J. Liu, Carl, & Young for supper. No word from 38th or 22d.
Sun’s radio about going to Mogaung! (“Last second of ¼ mile race.”) – Air got a lot of freight
cars down the line.
MON. MAY 29. CLEAR! Thank God. Got the Engrs. in yesterday, & the air will start on “G”
replacements to-day. One more day & we are set. Cannon down to find out what McC is doing.
He won’t do – too slow & timid & undecided. Must try Wessels or Boatner. — 112th picked up
4-75’s, 60 horses, & what not. It begins to look good. And the 65th is at 1970, due west of
Nanyaseik! We should get Kamaing now. — Change on (G) fillers. Can’t move till the 31st.
Christ again. The Q. is “Will God give me one more day of clear weather?” – – Peers in – –
Took a swim with Joe, in the Shadu – Milani & McNerney for supper. – Clouding up – Looks
ominous. 71 sorties by transports to-day. 42d starts in morning. – Movie.
TUES. MAY 30. – CLEAR! Another break! God is good! (Sometimes.) To-day we move 42d
& begin on (G) fillers from Ramgarh. No word from Morris cols., or from Mogaung attack.
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(The Yellow Bellies are dogging it again.) – Decided to take Boatner to Mitch. Off at 4:00.
Flew over Kamaing & road south. No life. Located 22d dropping-ground. Mitch at 5:15 – – Just
as I left it, only not so good. 12 men left in 2d Bn* G. Beach & Magee sick. Shudmak
discouraged (G) is just shot. – Called in Hu & P’an & got reports, & told them under no circs.
would they retreat one step. Made general plan for to-morrow. Put Boatner in command. He
took hold at once. – Cas. in 88-89 – 300 K 700 W. In 150th, unknown, but strength is about 600.
More wild shooting in night.
WED. MAY 31. Clear. P-51’s in at 6:00 Transports about 7:30. 20 in first hour. By 9:00, the
42d was nearly complete. (236th rel’d. 3d Bn* 42.) Boatner taking hold in good shape. Attack
set up for noon. – [4th CLEAR DAY] – Japs shot up the field with 75s. About 6 hits, but no
damage. Good air support all day. – About 400 (G) fillers arrived. Radioed for another 1000. –
Hot sunny day. – Boatner getting things straight. – – Attack, as usual, was piddly. 42 & 150 late
starting & slow going. 88 & 89 no move. [Vol. 12 starts here.] Magee & Beach got tied up. Magee
ran into japs. No news up to 6 P.M. – Good news from Kamaing. 112th got 2 150’s. 149th
attacking S. of Malakawng. 65, & att., in position to attack June 1. (77 x also due to attack tomorrow.) No news from Morris force. Jap col. of 300 got in from S. Said to have hit Br. force,
which fled, leaving much equipment behind. Maybe this is why Morris does not show up! A
limie food ship landed for them to-day, here! – Later. 49 col. in contact with 2 jap cos. dug in at
Wanigmaw. (At last.) Magee got tangled in Charpati with a jap outfit with T.M.’s. Still there.
Beach is on the objective. This helps with 88th left flank. If 42 & 150 have moved up, it’s much
better. (Rumor – 2d Front has started.)
THURS. JUNE 1. Two sessions of art. fire. Antics by Boatner when plane engine started.
Ostrich in slit-trench. Rain in night. Chinese much better on fire discipline last night. Bad
weather from dawn on, although transports came in. Took McCammon & shoved off at 9:00.
Beach has knocked off about 40 last night, & was in on jap motor park. Magee held up. Told
Boatner to push, & he will. Even Morris force now arriving. (3 mi N.E. Waingmaw.) 149th
putting on a private attack S. from Malakawng. 65th beyond Pakhren! – Tingkawk & Shaduzup
at 10:00. McCammon to Ledo in P.M. – Got caught up on papers. – Sent for G-3. Greenspan
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came. Sent for Cairns & bawled him out. He knew nothing @ sit., of course. – Got some more
(G) into Camel.
FRI. JUNE 2. Good news from Camel. 42d at R.R. station! Boatner reports “it’s about in the
bag.” And speaks of foot-ball, which is code for A-1 performance. Both 150 & 42 had made
modest gains yesterday. – Got Lentaigne in. His drips have not gone into Mogaung. Just as
soon as they saw “bunkers”, they quit. Attack due to-day. – No report up to 4 P.M. – Morris due
to attack to-day. No report there, either. – Casualties in 88 & 89 – 300 K, 700 W (approx.) In
150, about 800, K & W., mostly self-inflicted. – Cannon & McNerney for lunch. – – 114th still
around LAWA. Too slow. 112th attacked on N. & S. No news from 22d. 9 P.M Late Camel
report is still Excellent. 112th being hit N. & S. 22d in Pakhren area & south. 114th at Lawa.
Carl, Ellis & Joe for chow. Coon-can. Rain.
SAT. JUNE 3. – Rain all morning. Part P.M. clear, with sun out. Silly radio from Louis ref
Coward. – Pushed papers all day. No word from Mitch or Mogaung or Waingmaw. Air recon.
showed 65th & 112th where they should be. 114th near Tumbonghka. Kinnison about to pass out,
– mite typhus. – Egan in. No change. – Evening. Word from Boatner. Got bumped yesterday
hard – 42d had 240; 150th had 80 cas. Attack stopped. Boatner now taking “2 or 3 days” to get
organized. One Co. of 236th Engrs made “shameful” performance against a jap platoon (acc. to
Boatner.) Day began nicely, but went to hell after lunch. – At Waingmaw, the 111th was stopped
& then counter-attacked. B. now tells them to “maintain pressure,” but not to attack seriously.
(Christ.) – No word from Mogaung.
SUN. JUNE 4. Sweat it out again. Boatner up & down. Now he’s up. “Gen. attack on 5th –
Indications of withdrawal, etc.” – Kuo, 38th, in to announce capture of Tumbonghka. That’s
grand – and Liao has told Fu to get in to Kamaing to-morrow. They hope to beat 38 xx to it. Old
& Stratemeyer in for lunch. Talked till 3:00. Decided to give XX B.’s 1500 to 14th A.F. & ask
J.C.S. for permission to use 7 Bomb. Gp. as transports. That’s all for now. – C.K.S. says “Come
up, for Christ’s sake.” – So shoved off at 4:00 for Tingkawk. K.M. at 7:00. Middleton met us.
No one else around. Went to No 1 for chow.
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MON. JUNE 5. Up at 5:15. Off at 6:30 – CKG at 9:00 Ferris met us. To No. 3 – Spent A.M.
packing & sorting. J. Liu in. Date with Peanut at 3:30. Ferris & Liu & Tim. As expected,
chiselling gas for the 14th A.F. All he wants is the world & nothing in return. – Saw Ho Ying
Ch’in & Liu Fei. Liu gave me the dope & the plans. 9 chün to stop 5 divs. with 2 back of them.
Chinese are sunk. Movie. T’seng Hsi Kwei in. – Peanut much surprised over No. Burma
success. Told him about 150th –
TUES. JUNE 6. Pai in at 8:00. Saw G-mo at 9:00. Nothing new. To office. Decorated Tim.
Off at 11:00. Took off at 11:35. Kunming at 2:00. Saw Sheeny & his staff & told them what
would be done. Off again at 3:00. Yunnan Yi at 4:15. Met by Dorn & Condon. Talked till
5:15. Yoke in Lung ling to-day. Japs sent their reserve N. to Chiaoton apparently. Over the
Mekong gorge at the bridge, over the Salween above Mamien, over Irrawaddy at Tiangzup & in
Tingkawk at 7:15, (Indian time.) Hot & humid. Left junk on plane. – Slim here. Had a talk.
O.K. by me, just so they know. Slim will wire Louis & ease it up. I told him if they wouldn’t
obey, I did not want them. – Joe up – & played the accordion till midnight.
WED. JUNE 7. Conditions at Camel seem better, but B. is so up & down it is hard to know. –
– Slim in to say adios & show me his wire. Showed him latest blast from Boat. (He has said he
wished to God I was in command.) New ord. off. in for lunch. Barroll, 1917. – Heavy rain. (Jap
art. was flushed S. of Pakhren.) 77th Brig. has the hills S. of Mogaung. – – P.M. papers & crap.
Clear. Lentaigne at 8:00. He is to go to Mitch & get Morris started straight to-morrow. – (B. is
sending a lot of horse’s ass messages. He’s just a staff man.) Coon-can. Pick in this P.M. Got
the dope straight on 36 xx.
THURS. JUNE 8. Quiet at Camel. Morris claimed 100 japs at Maingna. – 2 75s & 2 150’s
picked up by 65th — 77th x attacks Mogaung to-day. – V.L.R.’s not to be used by Sheeny. –
Merrill in. Ravdin in. Decided to send (M) to S.E.A.C. & McCammon to Ramgarh. Latter not
yet released by medicos. Kinnison died of typhus. Mortality high – 30% in 14th Evac – (16% in
20th Gen.) — Joe & Ellis for supper. (Cooncan.). Good news from Mogaung. Limies actually
going in. Rumor of jap retirement down Mogaung River.
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FRI. JUNE 9. – 1867 Ch. cas. evac. from Mitch – May 18–June 7. (With K., prob. 2500.)
Sliney & Joe for lunch. Mogaung looks good. Japs pulling out. We got more jap art. yesterday.
Total 11 pcs. 75 & 150 & 3 A.T. guns. – 200 japs killed at 65th road block. 100 at KADON. –
Limies have 4 cols. going into Mogaung. – Jap reaction at Mitch weak. (Word from McNarney
about Sheeny. Geo. & Arnold in U.K. Told him to send papers back.) – Joe believes we’ve got
japs on run. – Bum movie, with sound all jimmed up – Blew up on poor Arnold. Squirt from
Wash. here – (Evert.) “Making a survey of our needs.” More shit.
SAT. JUNE 10. This is to be the day Napoleon cleans up. – Went down to check up. No
change from last time except northern area cleared. Hunter to close in from N. 88th to get a “chü
tien” out before attacking barracks area. Sun out. Saw Hu & P’an. (Hu no good, according to
Willey & Boatner.) Back at 3:00 & over at 4:00 to Shaduzup. Wheeler, Krimmins, Lamplough,
& Festing in. Arranged with Festing for 36 xx & then saw Speck. More crap from Louis about
Coward. Stupid. Coon-can. Coughlin in and Peers in. Talked about O.S.S.
SUN. JUNE 11. Japs at Pidaung? 4th Regt. of 22 xx at Kamaing. — Showers early. – Sun at
noon. Wheeler back. S.A.C. going to U.K. & deputy to take over. Louis wants to know what
about it. Hell, what about it? Speck for lunch, with Joe & Stuart. – No news up to 2:00. Owen
of SEAC here with McKie (Austrylian.) Good talk for an hour. Owen is a savvy guy. Married
to a N. Eng. woman. – Straws from captured documents & prisoners; looks like no
reinforcements for this area. – The wear & tear on the nerves continues. Are we attempting too
much? Can they hold us? Is there a surprise ready? Counter-attack? Will our people stick it
out? (Br. 77th calling for help. Sun sitting down again; – 114th not moving.) Casualties too
heavy? etc. etc. I can tell that I’ve had nearly enough of this. It looks easy to an outsider to
command, but it’s rough as hell on a worrier. – Beat Joe at checkers!
MON. JUNE 12. By L-4 to TUMBONGHKA. 45 min. Got in O.K. Saw Sun & Van Natta.
Latter claims between 50 & 100 dead japs daily on the 112th’s block – They are positive about
the count. (Cook who got the major with a static hand grenade.) (9 japs attack the dropping
ground.) (5 japs invade 113 C.P. All killed except a 6 ft jap whose ammo gave out. Chinese
shot at his feet. Then mobbed him.) Had lunch. Hair cut & shampoo. – 114th is moving. They
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are already beyond Padawngyang. We are too ready to crab & criticise [Three lines of text struck
out by J.W.S.] get tiresome. Everybody is a liar. “They weren’t there yesterday” etc. etc.) –
Back at 1:30. Kamaing being pounded. (This L-4 got shot up yesterday at Seton.) – Pick in at 5
& stayed for supper. He can lick the road business with plank & corduroy.
TUES. JUN. 13. Nothing new at Camel yesterday. Just belly-ache from Boatner. “He’s
pushing – But—” etc. etc. – RAIN – and overdue. – Lentaigne up for lunch. I O.K.’d the plan
for Calvert to go slow till 114 shows up. 77th is up against a strong position. This also will let
38th in on “capture of Mogaung.” (IF we get it.) – Now planning on putting 149th & tanks over
to work on Camel – – Merrill still at Ledo!! Sent for Wessels, (4Z.) – Jones in, full of B.S. as
usual. Takes the new job very seriously, & will do a good job.
WED. JUN. 14. Gloomy report from Boatner. Everybody running away & hell to pay
generally & japs about to take the offensive. – Hard rain early A.M. – (Dreamed Win had
platinum blond hair.) – Sultan & Hill in at 12:45. Long session on this & that. Org. of (G) &
Chinese divs. & armies, tanks, etc. Louis’ aims. etc. etc. – Paul & Co. for supper (Allberg &
Farr.) Movies. Usual report from Boatner. He evidently feels stymied & all he can do is yell
“attack”. – Van Deusen in. Saw Chinese near Manywet, & no enemy activity. Evidently 114th.
Also saw 112th moving S. – Dupuy phoned Sliney, 22d going in to Kamaing at 8:30 to-morrow.
THURS. JUNE 15. Rain all night. Still raining all A.M. Paul in on P.R.O. stuff. Struggled
with papers. – Terrible letter from Boatner. Bad news from Myitkyina. U.S. troops shaky. Hard
to believe. 12,000 vs 1,000 – Either our officers are all rotten, or else B. is getting hysterical.
I’ll have to go down. (Wessels left Kandy to-day.) (Ashes in the mouth.) Cummings in from
77th. They are shot. 500 left, & one scrap in them – We should make the contact O.K. with the
114th. Van Deusen got three A.A. guns to-day & is going after the 150 to-morrow. – Had Young
phone Smith for Liao to pat him on the back a bit. – Sent for Theisen to go into Myitkyina. –
Combs killed yesterday. Terrible loss. He was a real leader. – Rain again tonight. Gloom is
thick.
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FRI. JUNE 16. Sweating it out. Wessels left Kandy yesterday A.T.C. Not in yet. Decided to
wait & see about Kamaing & Mogaung. Good news at last. 22d in K. and having a hell of a
time. Before noon. That should have been a killing. – Col. Roome in from 77th in A.M. Only
one shot left in them. 500 combat effectives. Fearful of counter-attack. Reassured him. 114th
coming. etc. etc. Left it to Calvert to back up to hills. – P.M. 114th has taken Parentu & is still
going. Stiff opposition. Li will go to river. That should do the trick. And with 111th coming in,
we should have them bottled. Q. Where is 151st? They coming too? 128th will have to be all
killed. – Took a nap. I needed it – Just about pooped with this constant worry. We are just
making the grade, every time and by an eye-lash. It’s too wearing. — Limies & 114 made
contact at Gurkha-Ywa in P.M. That does it. – (Hpimaw garrison turned south. I hope.) – Paul
made a family record for us, & I got my recording done. Coon-can till midnight. – Tension has
eased to-day.
SAT. JUNE 17. Rain – Wessels came in. Took him down to Mitch after Joe gave him the
works. P.M. at strip. Very little improvement. Napoleon is very much the staff autocrat, but has
never gone out to visit the front. Had the nerve to say he thought I wanted him to stay at HQ!
Rain
SUN. JUNE 18. With Capt. Johnson & 2 squads, I & R plat., to So. Charpate, Sitapur &
Mankrin. About 6 mi. of hard going, in mud & rain, in 2 hrs & 10 min. No japs. Saw Hunter &
talked it over. Not so bad as painted. Got about 8 of the boys decorated, incl. Blair, – 6 days in
& 10 japs already. – On to Mankrin & saw Still. 6 more decorations. The men look good.
Hunter is too exacting & has gloomed everybody. So many neurotics, so many S.I.W., so many
panics, etc. Not nearly that bad. – Our jeep stuck. Hiked both ways. Jap sniper laid one in as
we left Still’s Bn. No one hit. Back at dusk. Good chow & coffee. Good sleep, ex. for the
damn mosquitoes. Wessels snored all night.
MON. JUN. 19. Two jeeps came out & saved us a weary hike. Back in at 10:00, soaked
through. – More showers. – P-51’s caught train at Hopin. – Theisen hauling boodle. – (Nap.) –
Sent radio to Egan to put fighters on Camel field. Tired of monkey business – Japs on rafts
going down river – Tiangzup evacuated. – 114th joined British at Mog.
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TUES. JUNE 20. Rain. Off at 10:00 & in at Warazup. Streams all up. Paper work at C.P.
Berman & Terry in. (Egan sick.) B-ache about transports. The jew objected to writing
endorsements, & I jumped down his throat. Coon-can, – Joe, Ellis, Toothsucker & Stuart.
WED. JUNE 21. Attack on Mog. to-morrow. 113 lll from N. 114 lll from S. – [THE SUN IS
OUT THIS A.M.!] Paperwork. J. Liu here. – Sun in. Wants to move 112th back across river, &
via Tumbonghka to Mogaung. Told him O.K. — Saw J. Liu. – Saw Wright & went over his job
with him. — C. de Wiart in – and out. He at least does not waste time. – Sunshine almost all
day. Punk movie. – In GENERAL, situation seems pretty good. Japs chopped up & starving.
Easy killings in large numbers, with no casualties on our side. If we had fresh units, we could
topple them. (Wright said if Louis goes to London, I’ll be sent for by George. To keep me out
of Imphal.)
THURS. JUNE 22. CLEAR. Creswell in on Galahad squawk & publicity. C. is a garrulous
old woman. Sent for Griswold (now at Ledo) & he came at 4:00 Put him on it at once. – japs
got two C-47’s at Namti – 8 zeros came in. – Rumors, – attacks & jap concentrations, etc. etc.
Remnants of 18 Div. cooped up S.W. of Kamaing. THE END. (For them.) Limies are near
Sahmaw. – – Radio from Merrill. Louis wants me relieved at D.S.A.C. & has approached
Marshall. Sub to be Wedemeyer or Sultan. Good God. To be ousted in favor of Wedemeyer!
That would be a disgrace. — Just a feeling of relief, if it’s done.
FRI. JUNE 23. jap counterattack near Namti caught in flank & 200 knocked off. That worry is
now alleviated. – MORRIS “attack” on Maingna stopped after 4 K & 17 W — Yesterday was a
field day – 24, 80, 94, 142, & 200 around & about. God knows how many more here & there.
Paperwork. Off at 4:00 with Griswold & newsboys. In at 4:30 Doleful news from Boatner.
Little firing. Decided to switch II & III G.
SAT. JUNE 24. Boatner – – “I don’t know what to do, and neither does anyone else.” “The
Americans refuse to obey. They will not follow their officers. They will not attack.” – (He got
this from Still. Did not investigate. Did not go out. Did not send any one out. Just threw the
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whole thing in my lap & walked off. He’s not a Commander. He’s just a pompous staff
“orderer” Big director at H.Q. But he does not itch to get down with the troops & sweat it out.)
Took Wessels out to see Hunter. Jeep to RR. Then hike. 209 & 236 got forward about 300 yds.
Hunter hopeful, by slow steps. Stayed the night. Mosquitoes bad.
SUN. JUNE 25. A.M. to Greenly’s C.P. till noon, during action. About 20 casualties. No
material progress. Attack stopped by knee mortars. The cos. are down to 40–50 men. – Hot
P.M. Left at 5:00 by jeep. III/G coming in. II/G going out. III/G looked like Coxey’s Army.
Still is to work on them at the strip. Boatner has malaria. Luckily. Can save his face. Sent for
90th Inf., 41st (1 Bn), 300 G feelers, & 50 U.S. officers. Mogaung taken. (?)
MON. JUNE 26. Called on HU and P’AN. Chased Boatner to showers. He cried & protested.
Told him no argument. He was a staff officer & not a Commander. Clear day. Good air
support. STRAT and OLD in. Sent off letter to Arnold. “Give us the 2 air com. groups & we
will go. But get us 2 US divisions.” LENTAIGNE in. “77th is SHOT. Take us out. Let the
Chinese fight.” etc. etc. The old poor mouth. We can stay & fight. They have to go home.
Haswill not obeying orders. Morris doing nothing. “Opposed by greater numbers”. Painful
situation. japs threw whiz bangs at us three times. Rain. Plan – take out 1 Bn. 42d, put it in
Rhadapur & cut deep to Sitapur. Bn out. P’an co-operative.
TUES. JUNE 27. Early bath. Good news from Mogaung. We have it. Now Calvert can go to
the hills. Hunter wants extra day for Osborne to work in. Attack 29th. O.K. – 41st coming in.
Very small cos. (100-120) P.M. Maj. Stuart, string bean limie, in from Mogaung. Great British
victory No mention of Chinese. He says 1400 left, – 700 effective.
WED. JUNE 28. Cloudy. Jap art busy early. (400 japs K. at Mog.) NAMTI captured. Egan
& Davidson in for lunch. Egan to U.S. with Kidney stone. Left bottle of champagne to celebrate
Myitkyina, – if, as & when. Took Young & Liu to Rhadapur. Rainy. Osborne working on
Mankrin pill-boxes. Tough job. 42d in position opposite swamps. All set.
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THURS. JUNE 29. This may be the turning point here. 42d got off at 5:00 & began crossing.
No word of them till 11:30. Then that they were at M-O, 20-7. Grand news. They are in. Now
if they can just stay there. Osborne worked hard all day. Hell of a fight. By 4:00 P.M. eng. co.
had gotten forward to road! Much improved situation there. 42d had to dig in just north of point
reported. Got a drop for them. Arranged to back them up by passing II/G around & replacing by
new 300 from Ramgarh. Still working on shoe-string – – Patrol action 22 miles north. About 15
japs hit & dispersed. Each had 1 round of 75! Sneaking it in to Mitch. We had 1 W. Japs 7 or 8
K & W – Zeros shot down transport over Maingna. Crew parachuted. – japs shelled the G art.
just back of C.P. — Left at 4:30. Muddy ride. Saw Wessels & Arms. Off at 6:00. Tingkawk at
7:00. C.P. at 7:30. Spent evening on papers till 12:30.
FRI. JUNE 30. Hard rain in night. Bath. MtBatten’s day. Papers till 11:00. Met him at airfield. He talked to our rabble. We had lunch. (Cannon, Lushington & Lentaigne.) Went over
the dope – Let him have his way on the little points. He’s going to London. It’s me for Kandy.
He went on to Mitch. I stayed, & slept. (Weather & jap planes kept Louis out of Mitch! Good.
No photos of the SAC at the front.) – japs got 2 more transports, is rumor. Coon-can with the
kids.
SAT. JULY 1, 1944. Rain, of course. – Kadgin & Andregg here. Had them for supper with
Slater & Greenspan. – Papers all day. – Chêng T’ung Kuo in. Told him to go to Mitch & then to
Salween front & pep up the boys. – Lentaigne crying about 77th. Told him to arrange a radio
with Cannon. Then he came again to complain it wasn’t right. So we sent another one. He
claims immediate evac. necessary for 77th Brig. – 111th to attack Pyindaw on July 5. – Terrible
news from Mitch. A co. of II/G ambushed. 50 back out of 170. Wessels pulling 42d back to
swamp. One co. of II/G sent to block off on north. This is a shock. Just a mile to go & they get
lost & ambushed. Just as we thought things were looking up. – Another air alert to-day. Cooncan.
SUN. JULY 2. Rain. No further news from Mitch. – Lentaigne plans attack at Pinbaw-Pinlon
on Jul. 3 with 6 cols. 14 x and at Taungni with 2 Bns. 111 x on Jul. 3., & towards Pyindaw with
2000 W. Efrikans on Jul. 5. Well, well. So he’s off his ass at last. (Prod by S.A.C.?) This
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promises much better – Maybe we can still get them – – Nap. – Answer from Wessels. 53 out of
142 missing. Hell of a mess. Apparently they pulled 1st Bn* 42 north of the swamp – (Christ
again). – Coon-can. Msg from G.C.M. “How about going to China & fixing things up?” !!!
MON. JUL. 3. Limies are to attack to-day – – Peers in, long-winded but earnest. – Got radio
off to G.C.M. on China crisis. — Drysdale here – Nap – Movie terrible. – No dope from 3d Ind.
Div. at Pinbaw & Taungni. – Nothing new at Mitch. Rain.
TUES. JULY 4. Lentaigne in again, crying. Got answer from Louis, confirming my
contention. Still he wants to get 77 x out RIGHT NOW. I refused, till we have Taungni. –
Tonight, Lentaigne put in another bleat. Now we must bring in fresh troops to take Taungni, &
he must discuss that. O, Christ, again, — Old Drysdale left – Reeder in for supper with
Moynihan. – Sunshine nearly all day.
WED. JULY 5. Rain again. Radio from Van Natta. “Our God damned allies are pulling out.”
Query to Lentaigne about this. They are quitters, & without shame. 111th in contact W. of
MLA. Japs trickling out? – B-25’s on Naungtalaw due to-day. – (This makes a week’s dead-beat
for me.) — Big air day. About 100 fighter sorties & 60 B-25’s over Mitch. Socko – if they hit
anything. – Report from SAHMAW indicates japs are pulling out. And of course our G.D. allies
will stand aside & let them go – The bastards. – Van Deusen & Clifford & Joe for supper. –
Promise of good weather to-morrow. – Peers thinks east bank at Mitch pretty well cleared. We
have Seniku, Washawng, Sadon. Pidaung thought deserted. Saunghka surrounded. Nobody at
Nsopzup. – Maingna, Naungtalaw, & Waingmaw all plastered –
THURS. JULY 6. Sent letter to Lentaigne to explain non-compliance with orders. RAIN.
Stuck around till 2:00 & then shoved for Mitch. via Tingkawk. Trekked with Wessels about
pulling out 42d He’s just an old Grandma – & garrulous at that.
FRI. JULY 7. A.M. at C.P. After lunch went to see Hunter. Japs attacked strip just after we
left. Hanley phoned & said they got 7 out of 8 P-40’s – Hunter has just been shelled. – He
cleaned up on 60 japs yesterday. Osborne out, sick. Still has II/G. Back at 5:00 – Very little
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damage at strip. Jap cluster bombs – 17 wounded. – – (Before leaving, told Wessels to put Arms
in charge of training, get demonstrations set up, & go to work. Arms tore right into it, & had
III/G out in P.M. getting rehearsed. Ordered 8 hrs for reserves & 4 hrs for front-line units every
day.)
SAT. JULY 8. 9 A.M. Alert. No action. Arms put on demonstration. Very good. I gave the
platoon a pat on the back, & later they insisted that they give the show to the rest of the Bn! – 2
P.M. B 25s began to come in. About 30 of them plastered the town. We shoved off at 3:30.
Tingkawk & vicinity is a lake. Tough flight to Kawnglawyang through clouds & rain. – Radio
from president to CKS. And from G.C.M. to me. They have been pouring it into him about me.
Pres. told CKS to give me full authority to run the show. Promotion to full gen. – Haslett of 36
Div. in. Good looking egg. Boatner back. Worked on radios & crap –
SUN. JULY 9. Woke up at 8:30! Feeling rotten – cold. Worked on papers till noon. –
Lentaigne in at 1:00. Told him to take his – – 77th Brig. & get the hell out of here with it. – Had
a good nap & did some more papers. Coon-can. Sunshine.
MON. JULY 10. Rain early, then clear. Quiet day. Orders for N.C.A.C. with Slater. Cold
better. Movie.
TUES. JULY 11. Ben’s birthday – 17 – Sore throat. Papers all day. – Lentaigne & Calvert in.
Long talk, all very polite. — Sun & T’ang in. All about the limies. The Chinese shine by
contrast. I am sure for them. Sun wants to go to Mitch. O.K.’d it. — Slept. – Davidson &
Ludecke. Long talk on air matters. Moving their people in here with us.
WED. JULY 12. RAIN. Sore throat. Sulfadiozole – aspirin, – gargle etc. etc. Sent not to
Wessels to bear down on HU. – O’Connor here about Tengchung road. Dorn’s recommend. (Of
course, but bargain about it.) Cleared. Letters (3) from Win. – Slept. Coon-can. Little progress
at Mitch.
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THURS. JULY 13. Saw O’Connor, Boatner, Cannon. Off at 11:00. Met Festing at
Kawnglawyang. Mitch at 12:30. (4 51’s escort) Yesterday small gains, but everywhere.
Today, 89 & 88 moving. To-morrow, attack at 8:00, 10:00, 11:30, & 1:00, N. to S. Talked to
Arms about training. Hu unsatisfactory. Clear. Quiet night.
FRI. JULY 14. Bastille Day. Clear. jap K. yesterday – 75. Our cas. 100.) A.M. at C.P.
Talked with air, G-2, G-3, Arms etc. Chêng T.K. in. Sending him to CKG for fillers. P.M. to
89th C.O. (Wang) at O.P. Cheerful & confident. Gave him the old baloney. Back at 3:00
Festing in. This & that. 5:30 Arms in. One house bombed to-day had 40 dead japs in it.
Alldeed’s target. jap K to date over 2000, av. 35 a day since start. This is count of bodies. 150th
made gains. 88 towards Sumprabrum road. 89 edged up. (G) 2d Bn got 26 + 3 pill boxes. jap
counter-attacked, after dark, & (G) got 50. (6 cas. for us.)
SAT. JULY 15. No rain yet. Two good days. No B-25’s. Quiet night. No M.B.’s today.
SUN in. Lentaigne also, crying about Morris & his babies. Sun is highly vocal about Br.
perfidy. Note to Ch’en on withdrawal was lost. “Relieve us. If you don’t come, we’ll go
anyway.” Went out & saw P’an at Rampur. Caplinger, Ln. O. Tails are up. Joe here. Took
him to Namkwi to see limies. Good-looking lot. (Aslett, Creswell, Oliver, Bannister) – B-25’s
came in to bomb Sitapur. One flight hit II/G. 6 K. 3 W. Missed target by one mile. Terrible.
SUN. JULY 16. Overcast. Rain. Told Moore to investigate bombing. Sent for 149th. Told
Arms he would have (G). – To 30 xx CP & out to 88th with Hu. Saw Col. LO, good looking egg,
& Fleming, Ln. O. Tails are up there, too. B-25’s put W.P. on Maingna. Shoved off at 5:00
after talk with Grandma about attack. Disapproved his “plan” & tentatively approved Arms!
Main effort down RR. – 149 – & secondary down Sump. road. – 30th div. Tingkawk, – left jap
prisoner. In at 6:00. Paper work till 10:30.
MON. JULY 17. Papers. More crap from Louis. Sneak play with Moddocks. Lentaigne
getting nasty. He now “resents” slurs on the troops. – Long session with Hill, Cannon &
Boatner. – P.M. to Tingkawk & Dinjan. Talked to 2d Carrier Sq. at Dinjan – (To Gregory house
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with Davidson first.) Then flew to Sookerating, Capt. Bloomstrand 1st Car. Sq. Made a speech
& left at dark for Ledo. To H.Q. for chow & night.
TUES. JULY 18. To 20th Gen. at 9:00. Ravdin – scrub typhus, etc. Sayen to go to Mitch &
survey. Went through four wards & one Chinese ward, – the 42-femur-ward. Back to H.Q.
1:00 to 3:30 Maddox & Hazeltine with Louis’ crap. – Louis’ fight with Somerville. Asked for
Giffard’s relief. (That “great gentleman”). Dissatisfied with Peirse. That makes it unanimous,
for he sure does not love me. Americans & British now in opposite camps. The Gt. Wedemeyer
now refuses to be a stooge. [Louis is trying to abolish the C.B.I.] Won’t I send Gurkhas to W.
Braud, “for him personally”!! NO. – Up to Rehabilitation Camp. Going fine. Made a speech, &
off at 5:00. Back at 8:00. Paper work till 11:30.
WED. JULY 19. Papers. Wyant, B.O. man in. – Lentaigne in on disobedience of orders. –
Usual poor mouth. Got off radio to SAC about it. Heavy rain in night. – P.M. Ernie off to
Mitch. – Bergin & Benson in. For supper with Stuart & Wyant. Bill as happy as ever. – Japs at
Mitch shoving off on rafts. Three groups yesterday. Picked up or killed 47. –
THURS. JULY 20. A.M. tank session – Brown, Bergin, Benson, Boatner, Cannon – All set.
P.M. papers – Read. – More slop from Lentaigne – now 3700 + effectives. – Rain all day. – Ellis,
Joe & Carl & Young for supper. Movie in the rain.
FRI. JULY 21. Rain. Continued skullduggery by Br. Orders to Haswell’s L.O at Camel to get
Morris gang out. – Hu (65) & Lin (C/S-22d) in on way to China. – Last night, Benson gave his
lecture on the Chinese language! – Bawled out Hearn yesterday for taking too much on his own
shoulders. – No word from G-mo. — S.A.C. leaving Aug 2. He is working to abolish the C.B.I.
– P.M. Bergin & Benson for supper. Movie.
SAT. JULY 22. Rain. Cleared in P.M. Ernie not back. Bergin & Benson left. All A.M.
papers. 149th getting to Mitch. 72d around Mogaung. S.A.C. pissed off about 3 Ind. Div. sick.
Nothing about disob. of orders. – Hunter got 50-odd from Saunghka. – Kids for supper.
Cribbage with Joe. – Big news from Germany. Riots & what have you. Opposition to Nazis has
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broken out. – Rommel pouring it on & pushing us back. (The Russkies are pouring it on, too.
On to Warsaw. And they must be in E. Prussia. Ernie still A.W.O.L.
SUN. JULY 23. Sunshine! Joe says 119th is around Sahmaw – Ominous move from Bhamo.
120 trucks. – Ernie back. – Tige Phillips here – G-3. — Hot. Left for Mitch at 5:00. Arr. 7 P.M.
No progress by 30 xx. On Sumprabum road, Engrs. advanced 500 yds. 150th ahead ½ block. Hu
is dogging. Called him in to C.P. & bawled him out. He pleaded long lines. Got Arms,
Wessels, and Willey & blocked out a readjustment & attack for Wed, 26th. Rainbow.
MON. JULY 24. Meeting at 9:00. All comdrs. for re-disposition. Speech by Grandma
Wessels. Chinese comdrs. satisfied. Hunter in. Slow progress. About 2 jap plats are holding
the Mankrin position. Haswell in. His rabble here at last & crossing to E. bank: Asked Hunter if
he wanted 475th. No, it did not appeal to him. To hell with him. Arms saw Osborne & liked
him. We’ll give him the 475th Aslett & Festing in. Sliney in. Davidson – Randall – Hayne –
Tack. 40 B-25s on Sitapur. Small gains to-day. 65 japs killed. Two cos. of 90th arrived. Jap
suicides in three pill-boxes. Jap P.O.W. says 350 left. Incl 150 sk. & w. Probably a bit low.
Clear.
TUES. JULY 25. Heavy rain in night. Went to Shaduzup to meet the Kandy kids, – Merrill,
Playfair & Wedemeyer. Usual cockeyed conference. No mention of disobedience of orders –
Just “when can the 111th come out?” etc. Lentaigne there, bleating & squawking. Festing came
in. He is apparently O.K. Talked with Merrill. Back to Mitch at 7:00 P.M. Engrs, 30 xx, &
150th gained. Had Hu in & got him straight.
WED. JULY 26. Gave them an extra day to readjust. 30 xx attacked anyway, to get part way to
objective. III/G ready to cross the slough. All units moved except Bn of 90th. They move this
A.M. – Threat of jap force coming up Bhamo road has not materialised. P.O.W. says conditions
very bad. Morale low. Wounded kept in line. Short rations, – ½ bowl of rice daily. Maruyama
rumored killed by bomb. About 400 left. Promised reinforcements & air supply. B-25’s
bombed Naungtalaw instead of Sitapur as ordered!! – Went to 50 xx C.P. Then to 149th and 150th
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(LO & T’ANG). Ln. O. speak highly of all units. Div. ready to jump off on 27th Jap wounded
left in trenches on this front.
THURS. JULY 27. Rain. III/G got over at 6:00 A.M. Only 4 casualties. Three cos over &
have bridge-head. Little resistance. II/G moved at 8:00 & are at 1st jap line. 30 xx to go at 8:45.
50 xx at 10:30. – Disappointing – III/G just sat. Only scattered rifle fire in front of them. 88th &
89th ran into the “house” & stopped. Finally got 100 yds. 149 & 150 very small gains. Orders
for 28th – “Push” – Sultan in. Then Miles & his trailers. Long talk with the little liar. – Later:
II/G got 45 japs in counter-attack Total for to-day, over 100.
FRI. JULY 28. A.M. papers. Joe in last night. (Cribbage) II/G found japs gone & went
through the position to the road junction. 88th and 89th made progress. 149 got up. 150 got
another street. Bitter fighting, hand to hand. Bayonet & grenade. – Talked to Sultan. – Giles,
Hull, Bissell & Co. in. Long confab. Hull says G.C.M. is for me. – To-day’s count, about 150.
(We have been over-counting).
SAT. JULY 29. 1000 japs coming up Bhamo Road. (Baloney.) B-25’s bombed Waingmaw.
Paper-work. (Cribbage with Joe.) – 3 to 4 P.M. flew with Randall all over Mitch & up & down
river. Watched fire bombs, which were not very effective. Looks from air as if we should finish
it off soon. Took off with Joe for Tingkawk & Shaduzup at 5:45. CP at 7:00. Chow. Worked
till I nearly fell asleep. Cleaned up papers & packed.
SUN. JULY 30. Good-bye to Shauer [Schauer -- Eds.], Braud, & Gish. Left CP at 9:30. Tingkawk at 10:45.
Calcutta at 3:15. Cheeves took me all over docks and shipping, to hospital, rest camp, etc.
Dinner at 7:00. Stratemeyer in. Then Creasy came with the DOUBLE CROSS papers from the
air corps, recommending abolition of C.B.I. Sort of a bomb shell. Strat swore he did not know
about it. I think he’s a liar. He sent a radio repudiating the plans, but I believe he must have
known. How could Luedecke dare do it otherwise? The son of a bitch. Strat was in a fix; he
stalled by over-emphasis on mention of Br. co-operation, & did not approach the main subject
till I told him it was unthinkable that a subordinate section of his staff should put in an official
recommendation for the abolition of the Theater – (I held the letter about Strat’s promotion.)
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MON. JULY 31. Up at 4:00. Off at 5:15 – Bumpy & dull. Head winds. Down for gas.
(Scratchy looking R.A.F. specimens. Sickly runts.) Bangalore at 2:30. Talked to Col. Robbins.
Off at 3:00 – Ratmalana at 5:45. Merrill there. By car to Kandy. Ceylon’s Isle is just like that.
To bungalow, chow & bed.
TUES. AUG. 1. 5:00 A.M. messenger crashes through front door. Hair-cut at HQ Co. To H.Q.
Saw Louis, 10:45 – 11 to 1:30 a cock-eyed conference. They came to the conclusion that they
had better get a directive somehow. They are just fumbling trying to guess what the P.M. wants.
A dead give-away on the function of SEAC – Lunch at King’s Pavilion – Louis, Beebe, & Prick
Wedemeyer. – 3:00 P.M. a very sad G-2 meeting – Saw Louis & Pownall. Good-bye to the
Supremo. Back to bungalow & read. Wrote up diary & notes.
WED. AUG. 2. Theisen & Burb. in last night. – TO office at 9:15. B.B.C. broadcast
promotion. Wires from Sultan & MacArthur. Just the same as before. No thrill. – Saw Pownall
& told him to run the show. Went through the crap and beat it. P.M. to Temple of the Tooth.
No tooth. And nothing to see. “Shopping”. Sad. (Silver, & ebony elephants.) Saw the
museum. Now I’ve done all the sights. Read. Had a nap. Radioed Boatner to bump HU off.
(Radioed G-mo to same effect.) – Giles party in at 8:30 – Giles, Styler, Hull, Bissell, Hunter,
McKee, etc. etc. etc. Maddocks, Merrill, Beebe, Pape, J.W.S – – Talked till midnight. Good
dinner. – Radio from MacArthur.
THURS. AUG. 3. Office at 9:00. Radios & stuff. Conference with Giles, Hull, & Co.
Introduced Pownall. – More on the HU matter. Lunch at K. Pavilion by Pownall for Giles gang.
– Read. Had a nap. 6:45 to Swiss Hotel for cocktail party. Merrill was introducing me to
Kandy society. Mob of about 300. Good news from Myitkyina. Big gains. – Davies in. Wright
& Wheeler. Farrell, etc.
FRI. AUG. 4. Radio about Myitkyina. Over at last. Han pushed up & (G) pushed down, &
30th walked through barrack area. 42d went through Waingmaw and even Haswell had a fight in
Maingna. Thank God. Not a worry in the world this A.M. For 5 min., anyway. – HU relieved
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yesterday. Went like a lamb. – Another prowler at 6:00 A.M. A jerk looking for Heppner. —
B.B.C. dragged in the God damn chindits on Mitch. India radio said LENTAIGNE had taken the
field in May. Christ again – A.M. office – Radios from Eisenhower, Strat., G-mo, Ho, Cheng,
Hanley, Cooper, etc. etc. P.M. 3:30 – meeting – Polished it off in about 10 minutes. – Pownall is
working O.K. Dinner for Davies-es & Merrill.
SAT. AUG. 5. Office. Press conference: P.M. read. G.C.M. radio on Hurley. (“Oil &
vinegar.”) O.K.’d it. 3 P.M. another on XX Bomb. The Sheeny is trying to get it. Said “no.” —
Bummed & read all P.M.
SUN. AUG. 6. Up at 6:00. Pitch black. It turns out we are 18° (1260 mi.) W of Mitch. No
wonder the sun doesn’t come up. – 7:30 by car to Nurawa Eliya – This island is a park all the
way. 48 mi. up there – Tea & rubber all the way. One estate after another. Everything trim &
clean. Waterfalls everywhere. Deep & distant views. At Nurawa Eliya – 7000 feet – is a
Baguio. The air took me back to 1906 at Yellowstone. Clean & bracing. Big cypress trees. A
lake. Golf course surrounded by town. What a place to bum in. Crowds of limies there, though.
(Higgins, Arnold, Young & I with Cpl. Raithel & Sgt. Raynaud.) We walked around & breathed
it in. Left at 1:00 after lunch along the road, & came back the long way. 2 ½ hrs. up. 4-20 down
– Raynaud got vegetables. Easter lilies grow wild. Ceylon exceeds the advertising. Hot bath.
MON. AUG. 7. To office by jeep. Usual papers. Pownall sick. Ducked P.M. meeting. Read
& slept. Newsboy rumor about new assignment. They are fishing. Merrill gave me the 4-star
pins. Joe left Shaduzup. He’s slow. – Ensign Caunter & Lieut. Edwards for dinner. (WAC &
limie – )
TUES. AUG. 8. Office – Just radios. Louis has been told that Culverin will not go on. –
Theissen back – P.M. went over old papers. Dinner with Merrill & the Davies at Queens’ Hotel.
Punk chow. Joe arr. Colombo – & came on up – arr. at 10:00. Talked till 12:30 –
WED. AUG. 9. Office. Radios. P.M. Cribbage – 5 to 4. Worked with Young clearing out old
papers. Found the operational sketches. (Young was much relieved.) These God-damn limies.
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Playfair & the fuss over two Gurkhas we hired at Mitch. A five-pound “paper” on the subject,
alleging bad practice by Americans! He’s a bastard, that Playfair! (What a name!) – The Japs
are our enemies; we expect them to try & trick us. – The limies are our allies; we expect them to
play fair. And the bastardly hypocrites do their best to cut our throats on all occasions. The
pigfuckers. They get my goat – More cribbage. Joe murdered me. Now it’s 8 to 5.
THURS. AUG. 10. The news ! from China. Kwangtung, Kwangsi, Fukhien, Anhui, Hunan,
Szechuan, Yunnan & Sikang all after the Peanut. Hooray for crime! About to spring a circular
telegram telling him to get off the pot. Sent Tien to see Pai. (Lucky I prepared the ground
months ago. – Joubert The Prick tried to make a case out of Hpimaw. Ho said I sent a div. up
there! – Four-star cake for lunch. – – Photos outside office. – John & Merrill for lunch. Went
over U.S.A. business with them. – Cribbage. Score now 9 to 7 – Nap. Letter from Win. – 7:45
Speck Wheeler’s dinner, a big 20-place banquet at Swiss Hotel, followed by bum movie. Got
away at 11:30 – Cribbage till 12:30. (Score – 9 to 9)
FRI. AUG. 11. Sat next to Playfair last night. The Snake in the Grass. – Up at 4:15 to go to
China Bay, – acc. to Merrill, right by Colombo. Actually all the way across the island – Left at
5:30, in dark. Four hours to make it. 9:30 the B-29s were coming in. Saw Saunders & Upston.
Apparently a good raid. Only one plane lost at sea, & the crew was picked up. (Palembang oil
fields & refinery.) – Went out to “Renown” – Vice Adm. Power. The big dry-dock sank
recently. (Lend lease, of course). There was a ship on it – 39,000 tons dead weight, & the dock
cracked up & sank. – “Richelieu” here. – E.F. does not look like much; old junk. And nothing to
do, anyway. Started back at 2:00. In at 6:00. – Too tired for Eldridge party. Crib. Score now
11-10.
SAT. AUG. 12. Went over the dope with (M). – Wright concerned about my standing before
the world. Staff at Delhi needs re-vamping. Crib. Score now 14-10! P.M. Berman did
caricature. (Arnold & Young to Colombo with (M) & Wright & Higgins.) – P.M. session. Now
16-11. – Burman caricatured us. Excellent likeness of me. Joe’s is fair. Young’s most life-like.
– Crib. Now 18-13.
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SUN. AUG. 13. Bummed all day. Cribbage. Score now 23-16. Sun-bath in P.M. Young,
Arnold & Higgins back. Cracked crab! (M) off at 9:30 to-day. – MacArthur in a sweat over
Sheeny trying to bomb Manila. – Powell in hospital with kidney stone.
MON. AUG. 14. Office. Lamplough. Fairy Lushington. Wired Sad-Sac my objections to
Vanguard. – Crib. Score now 24-16. Joe shoves in morning. P.M. Crib. Final score 27-16. Joe
busy in P.M. with G-2 stuff & out for dinner. Talked till 1:00 A.M. Joe off at 2:00.
TUES. AUG. 15. Last night B.B.C. broadcast “Headlines of the News.” To wit: – “A British
patrol moving down the Tiddim road, has crossed the frontier of Burma.” And right after it, –
“The Russians have isolated the German Armies in the Baltic States.” – – Colossal, Watson,
Colossal!” – A.M. Office. This & that. Sgt. Meeker for lunch. 3:30 – S.A.C. meeting. Radio
to Louis, endorsing Gifford – – News of Anvil came in. Read till midnight.
WED. AUG. 16. A.M. Office. Wire off to SadSac. Wheeler, Maddocks. – Sun-bath. Read.
Dinner 2 WACS. (Dead beat day)
THURS. AUG. 17. Showers. Office. Pansy Lushington – He’s all bowing & scraping. –
Lunch at junior off. mess (Eldridge & Hazeltine.) Back for a hair-cut & then out to Kutagastota
to see Pownall. He gets cut to-morrow. (Kidney stone.) Remarked on how happy GHQ had
been for past two weeks! To office. Petro in. Talked about Serbia, where had had 10 months
tough service. – Rusk arrived. Sent a radio to G.C.M. backing “Champion” – Somerville in. He
said he’d had a fine rest for 2 weeks from the flood of papers that had been hurled at him.
FRI. AUG. 18. Win’s birthday. Overcast – Usual office crap – Rusk for lunch. SAC meeting,
crappier than usual. I never feel at ease in such piddling make-believe acts. – 7:30 to WACS’
place for a “speech”. Just nonsense back & forth – Then dinner with Lt. Edwards & Young.
Met new WAC Capt. at station –
SAT. AUG. 19. Louis due on 23d. Fraser on 22d. Usual office crap. Talk with Wessels.
Radioed about Li Hung & U.S. colonels – P.M. sun-bath. Read.
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SUN. AUG. 20. To Nuwara Eliyeh. 7:00-10:00. Walked around lake. Young & Raynaud
froze in the jeep. Lunch outdoors. Left at 1:00. Back at 3:15. Bright day here. Sun bath.
Papers. – Rotten movie.
MON. AUG. 21. Office. Usual paper crap. – Eldridge & Oppenheim on movie. – Hurley &
Nelson on way out. – Called off S.A.C. meeting. – Sun-bath – 7:30 to A-1 for speech to off. &
e.m. – Speck went overboard on introduction. Dinner – Speck, Petro, Rusk & Wessels.
TUES. AUG. 22. Office. Woodall in, on C.A. stuff. – Wheeler in to get Keating promoted. – –
Lushie to tell me S.A.C. is delayed. Now due on Thurs. – 12.30–2:00 movie. Hell of a soirée. I
tied it up twenty times. Very crude. – Paul here. Got in last night. – He & Farr in at 6:00 with
their radio proposal. – Kids had the WACS in after dinner.
WED. AUG. 23. Louis due to-morrow – Pinned silver star on Wessels – much to his surprise. –
Msg. from G.C.M. – CKS thro. Kung has agreed to do it. Nelson & Pat are leaving to-day. –
Copy of F.D.R. to Peanut came in later. – Sunbath. Dead beat. – Paul went to China Bay.
Turned in early.
THURS. AUG. 24. Got started at 8:30 for Colombo. In there at 11:00. Ordered crabs, & went
to the field. E.T.A. now 1:30. Went to Mt. Lavinia beach, & to White House for lunch. (Red
Cross.) Back to Ratmalana. E.T.A. now 3:30. (Christ again.) Went & got ice, picked up the
crabs & went to the zoo. Good selection of monkeys, – one with a bright red dink at least 6"
long. One gibbon. Highly colored macaws – Back to the field. Piss-pot finally came at 3:30.
Farted around &, then I shoved. He was not at ease with me. Adms. – Fraser & Layton there.
Fraser has a rep, but I reserve judgment. Back home at 6:30. Dumb day, but now I am all
through with Colombo. – Paul back from China Bay.
FRI. AUG. 25. Office. Blahblah meeting with SAC telling how he put it over. Lunch at 1:15
at King’s pavilion. SAC asked about the “mutiny” in Galahad! 3:00 P.M. “G-2 meeting”.
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Terrible. 3:45 C in C meeting – till 5:00. One day – 3 meetings. Net result – zero. Dinner for
Beebe, Maddocks, Blizzard, Pape, Keith, Wessels – Usual topic – The dumb limies.
SAT. AUG. 26. Office as usual. No meetings.! Just papers. P.M. Partial sun-bath, & read “A
Bell for Adano.” – Party – buffet for the kids. – Did the radio speech for Paul at noon. – CKS
wants me to go up for “important conference.”
SUN. AUG. 27. A.M. looked over the gardens – Mr. Parsons caught up & gave us too much
help. Looked over radios. Nap. Film of Soldiers’ Club – Mostly Nance’s kids. Read till
midnight.
MON. AUG. 28. Office. This & that. 11:45, meeting – just CRAP. Lunch with Sad Sac,
Giffard & Pearse – 3:00 PM, G-2 meeting. TERRIBLE. 3:30 SAC meeting. More CRAP. On
& on till 5:30 or later. Paul left. Exhausting day.
TUES. AUG. 29. Last day in Ceylon. Papers all A.M. – Garuous – Wms in with China S.I.S.
crap. – Went to say goodbye to Pownall. – 3:30 – SAC meeting. SAD. Blew up about civil
affairs stuff. – Movie. – Packed till midnight.
WED. AUG. 30. Up at 3:30 Off at 4:30 – Ratmalana, 7:30. Off at 7:40. Bangalore, 10:20.
Lunch. Off at 11:40. Slept. Delhi at 6:00. Sultan, Evans, Sliney, Reeder, Drysdale. Nothing
new.
THURS. AUG. 31. All day at the office – with Hill, Rusk, Thompson, Creswell, Drysdale,
Sultan, etc. etc. Eldridge to LT. COL. – Heavy day.
FRI. SEPT. 1. All day in office. More like yesterday. Hair-cut. Lunch at Taj – (Farrell, Rose,
etc. etc.) – Radio from G.C.M. on split of theater, Wheeler as C.G. etc. (? Did Wedemeyer write
it?) – McCabe here –
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SAT. SEPT. 2. Office all A.M. To Curzon Road mess for lunch. Called on the Auk at 4:30.
Back for a nap. Drysdale & McCabe & Sultan for dinner. Drysdale left for U.S. (Works his
face like a weazened monkey)
SUN. SEPT. 3. A.M. office. Back at 3:30. Long session with Stratemeyer and his “smart
boys.” Long talk with Wms (medico.) Yesterday saw the Douglas-Sheridan party. – Indian press
printing the Phillips story. I’m in it, of course. (Christ again) – Carl, Young & D.I. for dinner.
MON. SEPT. 4. Office. To airfield at 10:00 & met Hurley, Nelson, McNally, Bill Bergin, etc.
Talked with Pat & Nelson till lunch & afterward till 4:30 – Barroll in. Lane in (limie) about
Kachins. – McNally. – Crowd met in Sultan’s room. Dinner. More talk on Russia (MtBatten
tried to ditch me at Cairo. FDR said NO. Pat says George is for me, & realizes difficulties.)
Phillips letter still making a stink.
TUES. SEPT. 5. Up early & off at 9:00. Pat, Sultan, Bergin, Hill, Young, Arnold – Nelson to
Agra in other plane. – Chabua at 4:00 – Conference till 6:00 – Arms, McCabe, Cannon, Sultan,
Bergin, Cranston, Sun, Liao, etc. Ironed out a lot of doubts. Stayed at McDonald’s.
WED. SEPT. 6. Off at 9:20 in C-54 with Hurley & Nelson. Over K.M. at noon – Pei Shih Yi
at 2:00 & at the house at 3:00. All as usual – Big mail. Hurley & Nelson in. Worked till 11:15.
THURS. SEPT. 7. The G-mo calls. Date at 9:30. Hurley & Nelson at 11:00. Why me ahead
of them? – Love-feast. Peanut went right into it, & told me that up to now my work had been
100% military; now, as Commander of the Chinese Army, it would be 60% military & 40%
political. Said I would take orders from him through the Natl. Mil. Council. Said that if I used
the Reds, they would have to acknowledge the authority of the Natl. Mil. Council. He would
advise me from time to time. He wanted no “K’ô ch’i” between us. He had full confidence in
me. Kidded about my saying Chinese commanders were no good. Asked about comdrs. & divs.
in Burma. – Hurley & Nelson saw him at 11:00. – Chu came at noon to say the Peanut wants
suggestions for reform of S.O.S. – conference at 3:00 with Gauss. At 4:00 with press. – Hurley
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saw Peanut at 5:00 – Movie. Worked on Hurley’s radio till 11:30. – (Saw Lung at 10:30, to tip
off Hurley on my 9:30 visit.) – Well, here it is. Christ again. Now what do I do?
FRI. SEPT. 8. This is Book 13. I hope that’s not prophetic. Told Bill Bergin & Arnold.
Worked on papers. – Yü Ta Wei in. – As usual, – am., LMGs, Boys, 37s, 75s, rifles, etc. – 3d
CWS regt. to go down & train as a unit. – G-mo wants us to go to Bhamo & relieve Lung-ling!
(Christ again.) – 3:30 to N.M.C. with Pat & Nelson. (P.P.C. in session.) Dumb party with Ho &
his stooges. Ho Chien, Ch’eng Ch’ien, Ho Kuo Kwang, Hsü Yung Ch’ang, Chou Chih Jou,
Ch’en Shao Kwan, Yang, Pai Ch’ung Hsi, & Ch’ien Ta Chen. etc. I had to do all the talking.
The Burma campaign has sure changed the attitude of these dodos. No patronizing airs any
more. – Talked to Pat about backing away from “re-organization.” – 7:00 buffet for a crowd of
our people & Chinese. Talked to Liu Fei & Pai; briefly to Ho. Had the party on the roof. – Pat
saw T.V. at 5:00. T.V. is climbing back. He tried to get a lot of conditions agreed to. And then
let the cat out, – the G-mo must control lend-lease! Pat told him to write down “DISAGREED”
in capital letters. The bastards. We can’t even control the stuff we make ourselves! What a
nerve. That’s what the G-mo is after. – just a blank check. Now we come to the showdown.
And thank God for a couple of tough guys. – Wu Tieh Ch’en & most of the Chinese are very
complimentary about Burma. I seem to have a nick-name in China – “K’U KAN” – the “Hard
Worker”!
SAT. SEPT. 9. Disaster approaching at Kwelin. Nothing to stop japs. About 50,000
demoralized Chinese in the area against 9 jap divs. Chinese have had no replacements. Jap units
are filled up. It’s a mess, & of course all they think of is what we can give them. Sun Fo wants
us to fly in American troops!!! Yü Ta Wei wants weapons. So does Pai. What they ought to do
is shoot the G-mo & Ho and the rest of the gang. – Shuffled papers all morning. – Newsboys in
at 3:00 for an hour. – G-mo’s “party” at 8:00. (Christ again.) These gloomy gatherings are more
funereal than festive, & endured rather than enjoyed. – This was mixed, – Ho, Pai, etc. & the
civil heads of ministries. Gauss as usual.
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SUN. SEPT. 10. Papers. Covell in. He & I & Pat & Sultan crashed in on Ho at 11:00. Ho was
expecting me alone. I attacked at once & got him on the spot. He was at a decided disadvantage
all through the session. Stalled & floundered. We pinned him on the “organization” item, he
promised 10,000 men for Dorn, & I gave him some Canadian Brens. Hsi Kuti translated. – Pat
says all allies are as bad as or worse than the Chinese. The “Beggar Nations” – Russia gave
Persia tanks & rifles, while we were busting ourselves to give them to Russia! All on lend lease.
Christ again. — The limie reverse lend lease is a racket. They refuse cost figures, & are
purposely gumming up the accounts so the snarl can never be untangled. – There is now a
campaign on in India to discredit me & belittle our fight. (I am bucking the Br. Empiah!) – P.M.
Nap – Ho said, “We should have done this last year!” Also, “C/S & Min. of War is too much for
one man.” It sure is for him. – Movie “Back Door to Tokyo.” (All about Gen. Stilwell) –
MON. SEPT. 11. A.M. Wang of C.W.S. in, briefly. Cheng T’ung Kuo in, not briefly. 11:00
A.M. to G-mo’s with Sultan & Covell. – Sultan took exam & passed, but not brilliantly. G-mo
expects a feint south towards Bhamo. – We put in for no change in organization. – — Gauss in
about civil affairs, on G-mo’s 3-power Conference – Hurley in for lunch. – P.M. radios & stuff.
Short nap.
TUES. SEPT. 12. T.V. is back in the game – Hurley has agenda ready, so maybe we can get
down to cases now. – Papers again. – Chu in about MacArthur’s 50,000. – No other
developments. Slow as usual. Covell working with Yü Fei P’eng. – Pat in in P.M., rather
discouraged. G-mo very difficult – says he must control lend-lease, & that I have more real
control in China than he has. Wants to dicker about powers for me. “Thinking” about a diagram
to show my authority. – Bad news from Timberman. Collapse. Decided to go to Kweilin to see
about it. Tim. feels out on a limb. Wired him to use his discretion.
WED. SEPT. 13. Lin (head of Communist party delegation & sec. gen. of party) & Wang
(delegate to P.P.C.) in to bring greetings from Chu Teh & Mao. Told them I would go to Yenan.
They were much pleased. Another date after return from Kweilin – Off at 10:00. K.M. at 12:30
– Saw Dorn & Lindsey & Chennault at 14th H.Q. Went over whole situation. 2:00 P.M. no radio
working at Kweilin. Weather bad. Decided to go to-morrow to Lin Chow & have Tim fly down.
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– To bungalow & talked to Lindsey & Middleton. (Glenn acknowledged to Lindsey that I had
told them what was going to happen.
THURS. SEPT. 14. Dorn’s situation not so desperate. 36 xx & 200 xx + 10,000 fillers may save
it. – Up at 5:30. – Off at 7:20. Kweilin at 11:00 – Met by Tim, Boye, Bowman, Vincent, etc.
Walla-walla. (Trouble in staff due to Lindsey. Prussian, fly-specking, saluting in office, “We
have three enemies, – japs, Chungking, & Air Force.” – Harsh & intolerant. Did not push out
orders from CKG about pulling our T.I.G.’s when org. resistance was over. Boye & Bowman &
Tim, all same.) – Jap cav. 5 mi. S. of Chuan hsien, & Ch. troops, marching south, about 10 mi.
beyond. Noon – 14th. – Sent for Chang Fa Kwei. He came out. He says, – plan to fight in
Kweilin due to orders of G-mo, against his judgment. Three divs. in town, 2 of 31 xxx, & 1 of 46
xxx
. Only 2 regts. left at Liuchow, one a student regt. – Nothing else available ex. 93 xxx of 2
divs. now retiring. Orders: put 2 regts. in position at Hsing-an, & fight delaying action with
remainder. If pushed back, go around Kweilin on west & back to Liuchow road. One other
position behind Hsing-an to be held. (G-mo said three months at Ch’uan Hsien; – actually, 3
days. Chang says he can hold Kweilin for 2 months. Cannot protect air-field, ex. with 93 xxx,
which is not reliable. 20 xxx A instead of moving, has sat for 2 days at Sinning. Remnants of
37A presumably moving toward Kweilin. Chang cannot estimate strength or time of arrival. He
hoped to extend the Hsing-an line with them, to the east. No jap tanks yet. (Chang does not
know location of 97 xxx.) – Junk all out of K. to-day. Demolitions on 2 fields to-night. Our Zpersonnel start for Liuchow, one group to-day. All our forward group’s coming out. – Shoved
off at 1:30. K.M. at 4:30. – (Command – No connection between Chang & Hsüeh Yüeh. – 9th
W.Z units did not cross into Kwangsi. CKG still giving orders.) — Middleton says 200 xx had a
Bn of 9 Fr. 75’s hidden away with 4000 rds. of am. 5 of these guns went to the Salween. The
damn fools had concealed the existence of these guns.) Met Neyland at field & came to
bungalow. Talked for an hour with him. More trouble getting land from Lung Yün. – Middleton
also says NO fillers have reached any unit west of the Salween. Grabbed off by 5th A &
nondescript “Bureau” organizations along the road! (Bed at 9:00)
FRI. SEPT. 15. TENCHUNG was finally taken yesterday. – Off at 8:10 A.M. Chennault
reports Chow Chih Jou as not co-operating. Refused gas to U.S. plane from common stock!
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(Maybe they are learning – at last – in the 14th A.F.) – 10:30 – CKG. – G-mo calling for me.
Took Hurley down at 12:00. 1 ½ hrs of crap & nonsense. Wants to withdraw from Lungling;
the crazy little bastard. So either X attacks in 1 week, or he pulls out. Usual cock-eyed reasons
& idiotic tactical & strategical conceptions. He is impossible. P.M. Sun-bath – papers – talk
with Dorn & Sultan. (Sultan, Cheeves & Merrill promoted.) Dr. Chiang in at 9:00 P.M. Got
dope ready for Soong.
SAT. SEPT. 16. Palau & Halmahera yesterday. – Papers – Radios – & other crap. Conference
with Ho Ying Ch’in at 11:00. Surprise. He agreed with me! Stay & fight at Lungling. Asked
about reinforcements; he promises 15,000 instead of 10,000. 96 xx & 49 xx probably not
available. (200 xx now all in at Lungling. Some progress yesterday. On south side, japs took an
important hill. Report to-day of move toward Kunlong). (Manila rumor – japs to shorten lines.)
– Sun-bath. 4:00 P.M. with Pat & Sultan to see T.V. Plain talk. All about the situation &
possible plans. He is appalled at gap between our conception of field comdr. & the G-mo’s. – I
proposed Ch’en Ch’eng and Pai Chung Hsi for Min. of war & C/S. – Gave T.V. the works in
plain words. I do not want the God-awful job, but if I take it, I must have full authority. Bad
effect in U.S. of failure of Ch. to play ball. Two hour bellyache –
SUN. SEPT. 17. Sultan left. Covell left. Talk with Dorn. – – Surprise news of jap withdrawal
at LUNGLING. What’s up? The Manila dope true? Re-disposition for envelopment?
Kunlong? – If the japs pull, the Peanut will be unmanageable. – Bummed all day. – Hurley down
for movie, – Frank Sinatra. O, Christ.
MON. SEPT. 18. Long talk with Pai. He knows about command proposal. He came clean on
G-mo & his cock-eyed handling of sit. With phone to CKG, command impossible. I clamped
down on hand-outs. Told him in view of rotten performance, all stuff had been wasted. Art.
improperly used. Proposed defense plan stupid. He agreed. Suggested I get after Peanut again –
– Cat came out of the bag. “Hold for 2 months at Kweilin, till the Americans can get a decision
in the Pacific.” There you are – coast, boys.
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TUES. SEPT. 19. A.M. talk with Bergin & Dorn on futures. – President’s msg. arrived. Hot as
a fire-cracker. “Get busy, boy, or else.” “Do it now.” The Peanut will have a red neck on this
one. – (Another one coming for Gauss & the limie to hand the G-mo together. Two shocks in
one day.) Peanut at Huang Shan. Got the letter translated and took it across the river – 5:40
P.M. handed it to him. The harpoon hit him right in the solar plexus, but, although he turned
green, he never batted an eye. He just turned to me & said “I understand.” What! No teapots?
No, just a calm silence. I got out promptly & came home – Pretty sight crossing the river; lights
all on in CKG. – The other letter from F.D.R. & Churchill for Gauss & Seymour (Horace Horse
Collar) to give Peanut, I delivered to Gauss at 2:00. – G.I. movie.
WED. SEPT. 20. Dorn left. To office. Eye exam, (Shei). Ho sent a stooge about ammo for
Kweilin. – Ho stirring up a fuss about wire line along Burma Road. The little fart. – Hanley &
Tunner in – (A.S.C.) Pai Chung Hsi in with his tail up. Going to Kweilin to put my plan into
effect! Feels grateful; this put him back in the running.
THURS. SEPT. 21. To office to P.X. etc. Sun-bath – Nap. – Rodney Gilbert in. Pat Hurley
in at 6:00 – Movie, – terrible. Then a session re-vamping Pat’s radio to the president. – (The Gmo is frothing at the mouth.)
FRI. SEPT. 22. Wedemeyer suggested to Louis use of U.S. “Z” officers with African troops.
The bright young man is throwing his weight about. – A.M. Papers. – Sun-bath – Bad news from
Salween: Further attacks stopped by CKG till X & Br. move. The Peanut again. – Japs on move
towards Kweilin again.
SAT. SEPT. 23. Session with Ho Ying Chin. (Lo & the I.T.C. at CKG. The boys are setting
up an S.S. corps, & “royal army” – Luke-warm on Kweiyang & hot on CKG. It looks very
fishy.) – Then Ho took me inside for very private talk. Peanut has told him nothing. He was hot
for dope; I gave him general terms. Then he said that in his opinion it was the Lend-Lease angle
that was holding us up. As C/S, I could make “recommendations”, even if CKS were in control.
I believe Ho is right. The Peanut’s face aches. Russia & Gt Britain have no strings on them. He
has, & it hurts him. – Decided to try & break the dead-lock. — Sunbath. – Nap—Movies—
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Showed Pat my agenda, and he leaped at it. “This will knock the persimmons off the tree” was
his remark.
SUN. SEPT. 24. Read & bummed all day. Sun-bath. 7:00 P.M. had dinner with Mme. Sun.
Tete-a-tete – Good Cantonese chow. She votes for me to represent China at peace conference.
Says I would do more for China than the Chinese. Also that I have a rep among the Chinese
people for standing up for them. They were all much impressed by the Burma campaign. Made
them feel respectable again.
MON. SEPT. 25. A.M. Papers. 12:30 Pat in with BAD NEWS. The Peanut reversed the field
yesterday. Pat put in 5 hrs. talking, but you might just as well talk to a blank wall. The Peanut
lied about me, & made astounding statements to effect that I was bucking him. I “peremptorily
refused” to make a feint from Mitch on Bhamo. No other claim; said he wouldn’t specify
further. His face is gone over the president’s message, & he is afraid of my influence in the
army. Had the nerve to say he would have a mutiny on his hands! The little bastard. Pat saw
him again at 4 P.M. More walla-walla. At 9:30 the “aide memoire” came in. “Throw out Gen.
S. He’s a non-cooperative S.O.B. He has broken his promises.” etc. etc. N.B. the decision was
made after I handed him the president’s message. That, according to the Peanut, made him my
subordinate. It was then impossible for him to direct me. – T.V. undoubtedly wrote the thing,
which was just a personal attack on me. (“Gen. S. has more power in China than I have.”)
TUES. SEPT. 26. 2 yrs. 8 mos. of struggle & then a slap in the puss as reward. – Jap broadcast
said I was plotting to oust CKS & make myself Czar of China! Clever. Just what would make
CKS suspicious. (Or was it manufactured in CKG to make his action plausible?) – Decided to
tell G.C.M. – Saw Pat at 3:00. Nothing new there. Got radio off to Geo. giving him the
lowdown. Judd, Hurley & McNally for dinner. Dr. Chiang Mon Lin here; kept him for dinner &
movie. He blames war min. for 20 million deaths. Good movie. Judd kept the floor vs. Pat, &
that’s going some. I went to sleep.
WED. SEPT. 27. Just dubbed all day. Sun-bath. – Grover in to talk. – McNally. Nothing new.
Hot. Ducked dinner at Pat’s – Played records – at least Brewster did.
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THURS. SEPT. 28. J. Liu saw Lin Wei. He does not know. Thinks the trouble is on account
of the Reds. Thinks that Peanut believes I insist on arming them & that if I drop it, he will agree
on other points. – Therefore the Peanut has not told them about the aide memoire. No word from
Washington yet. – Pat says G-mo indicated conciliatory attitude towards Reds. Sun-bath – Nap.
K.C.Wu’s in for movie,– “Mr. Winkle.”
FRI. SEP. 29. Hsü T’ing Yao in. Stalled him off on formation of big staff for armored force.
Miles, Barrow & sub man in. Long bellyache on this & that. They want tonnage, of course.
Saw Pat. T.V. had been there, close to nervous prostration. It looks like worry over a bluff that
may not work. T.V. asked if I had gotten the president to send the ultimatum. Pat refused to ask
me. – A-ha! Maybe this is the low-down. It fits in. The G-mo thinks I had it done & then tore
his face off with it. So he has to tear me down – I wired George about this. – The delay in
answering the G-mo’s blast has them worried sick. But the G-mo has not informed anybody, so
perhaps he is holding on to an out for himself. J. Liu again sounded out Ho & Lin, & they both
say there is no question over command. – Mail – one from Nance, one from Win. Ching-pao.
No planes.
SAT. SEPT. 30. Nothing new. Told Pat to throw the hooks into T.V. about the squawk I may
make over this. – They are frothing over Churchill’s speech, boosting Louis & putting the hard
wood on us. T.V. is getting out an answer — Office in A.M. Isaacs in to get dope. Teddy
White & Miss Jacoby. Lunch at No. 6. P.M. bummed. – Pat says that in Nov ’43, Louis asked
him why he didn’t get me out of here – – Louis reportedly in London. If so, why didn’t he notify
the D.S.A.C.? Eden billed him as the “beloved” commander of S.E.A.C. O, shit.
SUN. OCT. 1. Radio to G.C.M. to start bluff of withdrawal. Pat O.K.’d it. Peanut out of town.
– Griswold coming up to investigate the Manila raid. — Bummed. Pat in with news of K’ung to
G-mo – FDR “delighted” that U.S. comdr. will be appointed, & other point is a matter of
sovereignty. Old Rubber-legs proceeds to cut my throat & throw me out. Pat feels very low
about it. I don’t. They just can’t hurt me. I’ve done my best, & stood up for American interests.
To hell with them.
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MON. OCT. 2. Caught up on correspondence at last – – Saw Odendahl – (Miles, Barlow) – @
Manila affair – ATTACK WAS TO BE ON DOCKS & HARBOR. – Read & wrote: Pat in. He
had hanged Horace Horse-collar at his dinner. Horace says “O, Stilwell is all right for a combat
comdr. but for the big stuff – – – ” & Pat jumped down his throat. The limies feel the criticism
of their flops keenly, & are struggling to get right.
TUES. OCT. 3. Told Bergin yesterday, to stop uneasiness about preparations. He wants to go
along. – Bummed. Wrote ADIOSRADIOS – All caught up on correspondence. – McNally in.
Gauss told Hurley that at meeting of C.E.C. G-mo said he would refuse demands of U.S., that I
must go, that he would not appoint an American comdr., that Nelson had promised him control
of L-L. – Percy Ch’en told McN. that Sun Fo objected to my relief, saying we could not find
anyone better. G-mo said I had refused to obey his orders to move on Bhamo after Myitkyina &
I had to go. Wang Chung Hui sided with G-mo. Percy said real reason of course was that I
knew too much about conditions. So now it will all come out. — GRISWOLD arrived, & I put
him on the 14th A.F. affair. — Movie & dinner – Red Cross – (Sweetland & Pagenkoff.)
WED. OCT. 4. Merrill in last night – Brought candy & cakes – Photos from home – letter from
Win. – W.D. is with me, apparently, but this Theater is written off, & nothing expected from us.
No troops will be sent. Stiffening attitude towards the Peanut, incl. president. No decision of
splitting Theater. One day yes, next day No. In general, nothing new. – Strat is not generally
highly thought of, ex. by Arnold. Arnold agreed to send Eaker out ultimately. – Conditions
pretty well known. – Wedemeyer is passing dope to Embick & so to J.P.S. OPD knows this & is
against it. – (Diaphragm hung up for lack of 4 btrys of 240’s!!) – Japan down 18 mos. after
Germany. Keep out of involvement in a land-effort on Asiatic mainland. – (10 xx on K. & 14 on
H. Dec ’45 & after.) – – – Griswold saw Odendahl – Sheeny will have trouble wrigging out of
this one. – – – Bergin & McNally went to Yenan yesterday. – – – Eldridge’s letter in, with
Galahad dirt. Will probably have to go down & see them. – LOUIS had a tantrum over report
that I’d gone to Quebec. Also over Command at Mitch. Threatened to put Festing in command
up there – – – Galahad mess up again. Going down to talk to that gang. – McNally in with dope
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on msg. from Kung to Soong. “President wants to appoint Chennault C. of S.” CHRIST
AGAIN. – I wired G.C.M. about it, – and the investigation now under way.
THUR. OCT. 5 – Letter from Eldridge. Bergin back from Yenan. Sold on Reds. Rotten
movie, “The Falcon in Mexico.”
FRI. OCT. 6. Off at 9:00 for K.M. Tail wheel broke going in. Saw Sheeny, briefly – To
hospital; saw Timberman. Stomach ulcer, bleeding – Must go home, – 4 to 6 mos. rest. So he’s
gone. – (One by one the pansies fade.) – Out at 1:00. Mitch at 4:00. Met Sultan. Out to
Mankrin. Talked to 475th en masse – Then to unit delegates, – off. & e.m., by Bn. After that,
Osborne’s staff. Then Arms. Eldridge. Joe about sit. in Burma. Ellis. Ernie – At 2:00 A.M. in
to Sultan’s office at Mitch. Then to G-2 in the Pentagon Bldg – Champion called for 3:00 A.M.
take-off. Bad weather. He came in at 4:00. Heavy rain. Joe & Ellis to air field – – Off at 4:30 –
Went to sleep.
SAT. OCT. 7. K.M. about 7:30. Off again at once. Woke at 9:00. Breakfast – In at 10:15.
Bergin there with the “important msg” that called me back from Mitch. (It never fails, – as soon
as I move, the dope breaks.) – This was FDR’s answer to Peanut’s aide memoire. Regrets at
reversal. – No mention of tirade vs. me. But hints about 14th A.F. won’t appoint all-China K.O;
situation too bad to justify. And “consequences of relief of S. more serious than you apparently
understand.” Fairly strong msg. CKS is to leave Yunnan, Y-force, & Ledo force to me, – with
supply & fillers. FDR wants prompt reply. – This is far better than I expected. Won’t appoint
any other all-China officer. Won’t accept CKS demand for me to leave the area. Insists on my
having X – Y – & Yunnan – Veiled threat of withdrawal. – (Pat at Huang Shan.) – – K.C. Wu’s
dinner. Reneged. Nap all P.M.
SUN. OCT. 8. Bummed – Usual rain & fog. Nap. P.M. “Home in Indiana.” Terrible horse
picture. Navy came down to see it.
MON. OCT. 9. Bummed. Pat coming at noon, but T.V. went there & they both went to see Gmo. Now what’s up? Ans. Nothin’. Pat came in & acknowledged that all he’d done was to
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keep CKS from sending a bum answer. He got them to finally send a message that can’t be
handled well. Some diplomat. So we’re sunk. Got off a wire to Geo. to tell him so. – 7 P.M.
Red Cross – with Merrill & Bergin. Speeches. Movie. “Mr. Skeffington.”
TUES. OCT. 10 – Office – Chennault in on use of tonnage now in pipe-line to Liuchow. – (2
A.M. before Hurley went home last night.) P.M. McNally in with Hurley’s come-down message
to FDR, cutting my throat with a dull knife. Got off our proposal for joint policy board – – Pat
in. I gave him my slant and he pulled a few of the barbs out of his message.
WED. OCT. 11. To Chengtu to watch B-29’s come in. Raid had been postponed on acct. of
weather. LeMay sent word at noon on 10th. It never came in. – Back again. – Told Hearn about
relief. – Griswold here. He is satisfied, but says we can’t prove false official. Ordered Sheeny to
be in K.M. Friday so Griswold can question him – 8 P.M. U.S.O. show. Excellent. Russian
accordion man.
THURS. OCT. 12. Office – Hair-cut. Bummed – No word from Wash. – P.M. movies. Color
pix of Kandy & Ord club.
FRI. OCT. 13. Griswold to K.M. to get Sheeny on the false official. – Shove-off for
LIUCHOW called off on acct. of bad weather. Special courier from Wash.! Excitement. – Just a
letter from Arnold about Chinese A.F.!! Formosa, Amami, Luzon, Balikpapan all hit within 2
days.
SAT. OCT. 14. Off for LIUCHOW* at 9:30. 2 ½ hour trip – Saw Bowman & Vincent at field.
– Called on Chang Fa Kwei, & Pai came in later. – Went over plan of concentration & attack.
Set for Oct. 20. They were fairly optimistic. – Shoved off for Chengtu at 5:00. Arr. 8:30. Saw
LeMay & Mr. Col. SOL. ROSENBLATT, special represent. for Arnold. 129 B-29’s off for
Okayama. 9 back. 120 over target. 4 lost. No AA., no interception. 650 tons dropped (400,000
gals of gas!) Talked till 11:30.
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SUN. OCT. 15. Cold & sore throat. Poor sleeping. Up at 7:00. Breakfast. Saw 1st photos.
Poor bombing. Off at 9:00 for CKG. In at 10:15. Bergin at field. Nothing in during absence. –
Rotten throat. – Nap. – Navy in at 11:45 P.M. with request from Nimitz to scout for jap fleet. –
Mail from Win. – – K.C. Wa’s & the Chu’s in for movie. (Hearn’s twot.)
MON. OCT. 16. A.M. Pinned badge on Miss Lee, Chinese nurse. – Saw T. White & Atkinson,
& told them some home truths. – P.M. Nap. – Papers – Griswold in with report on Sheeny. It
was certainly a false official, but can’t be proved. The record shows pretty well the intent, &
will go to the I.G., attention of Arnold. – Victrola music. – Rumor that jap fleet is out is not
confirmed.
TUES. OCT. 17. Dumb day. Hurley has dope from F.D.R. Names to be submitted to him for
my successor. (“Remember, no decision has yet been made; I am probing the G-mo’s mind.”)
G-mo suggests Eisenhower, Handy, & Patch. Krueger also a candidate. The poor bastards. I
suspect F.D.R. of delaying till after election. Believe his mind is made up. (He sent his last
radio to Hurley via navy radio.) Also, Hurley did not show it to me. First time he has failed to
do so. The thing begins to stink badly. John Davies arrived & I enlightened him. – Hurley in for
dinner & movies.
WED. OCT. 18. 34th anniversary. Bergin had radio from Win for me at breakfast. – Decorated
the air boys at the office. – Enlightened Wright. – Merrill saw McNally, but not the wire. T.V.
says G-mo will be adamant on getting rid of me. (So T.V. says, – perhaps for reasons of his
own.) Dubbed around. A hell of an anniversary. Raining.
THURS. OCT. 19. THE AXE FALLS. Radio from George. I am “recalled”. Sultan in
temporary command. Later C.B.I. to split. Sultan in India. Wedemeyer to command U.S.
troops in China & be C/S to Peanut. No over-all commander of Chinese. – So Rubberlegs has
quit – Everybody is horrified about Wedemeyer. – Told White and Atkinson. They also are
horrified & disgusted. Atkinson is going home to blow the works. – Did some packing etc. –
(Lubell in to get dope. Had been inoculated by the 14th A.F.) – Movies. Pat & McNally in. Pat
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feels very badly. Told me he had lost me the command – Sees his mistakes now, – too late.
Says Peanut accepts Wedemeyer. Everything will now be lovely.
FRI. OCT. 20. Rush & hurry. Adios radios. Brooks & White in. White has written a hot
article. Down with the bastard. – Pat in with “roses”. The Peanut offers me China’s highest
decoration. Told him to stick it up his arse. – Pat says Hurley accepts Sultan & Wedemeyer.
Hooray. – Saw Mme. Sun [Circled.]. She cried & was generally broken up. Said she expected a
public demonstration. Itching to go to U.S. & tell F.D.R. the facts, but won’t run out, (like her
sisters) during the war. Wants me to tell F.D.R. the real character of CKS. “He is a paper tiger”
– “Why* [Stilwell’s asterisk—see note below.] doesn’t the U.S. put him in his place? They have
the power and should not listen to him”. “I wish you had not been so accommodating with him.”
She thinks he will see the light in a few months, & expects me back, “to lead us.” – Asked about
Al W. Had heard he was pro-British & anti-Chinese – Gave me some presents for Win. – – 5:00
P.M. date with the G-mo. – Lin Wei came. Also Hurley. T.V. interpreted.
*Also “He must be treated like a child.” (spanked.) [This note is a footnote, inserted
below the last line of text on the page.]
Peanut said he regretted all this very much; I had done a great deal for China, – training troops,
leading them, etc. etc. It was only because of the difference in our make-ups that he was asking
for my relief – Hoped I would correspond with him and continue to be China’s friend. Asked
questions about personnel (Ch’en Ch’eng, Hsüeh Yüeh) – Asked who were most trusty of the
Americans, & what good Chinese prospects there were. Told him Hsiao I Hsü. Asked for
criticisms & suggestions about org., particularly in higher echelons. Asked about situation in
Liuchow. Surprised that I had gone down. Told him Sultan was O.K. He said I was to continue
in Command in Burma until president made decision. I told him, whatever he thought of me, to
remember my motive was only China’s good. Gave him the old “Tsui Hon Sheng Li” & beat it.
Soong, Wei Kuo, Lin Wei & the little Col. sunged me. The G-mo even came to the door. —
Back to No. 3 at 5:45. Staff all there – Met them all & they beat it. Practically 100% turnover. –
6:30. Dinner for Lin Wei, Yu Ta Wei, Tsung Yang Fu, J. Liu, Tseng – – movies – – Lin Wei got
me aside & expressed deep regret. Hoped I would look on him as a good friend. (Yü & Tseng
apparently did not know.) (“Hurly-Burly and a cloud of Horse-Shit; That’s War in China.” J.
Davies.)
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SAT. OCT. 21. McNally released by Hurley.(!) “You are no use to me.” Mac has not seen
recent exchange of radios between Hurley & F.D.R. – Fisher in (He knew.) – Called on Gauss.
He is going to resign. – Said good-bye to Hurley – 20 minutes of blah. – Called on Ho Ying
Ch’in. Amicable, – also BLAH. – Said adios to the staff at 2:00 & shoved off at 2:30. Ho, Lin
Wei, Hurley & T.V. Soong at field. Rough trip. K.M. at 5:00 – To No. 1. After dinner, saw Pat
O’Brien’s show. Excellent. Had them all over for a drink. Tom Brown’s father, Pat, red-head
guitar player, Jinx, Yeaton, Carrol – (contortionist & singer.) Jinx is very attractive, – poise &
breeding. She said Paulette wanted to be remembered.
SUN. OCT. 22. Saw Glenn & Chennault at field. (They knew.) (Glenn has recommended the
Sheeny for the L. of M.) Off at 7:15. Paoshan at 9:00. Out to Dorn’s C.P. and talked. Lunch.
Met the officers. Called on Wei & Hsiao. Back to field. Decorated 7 liaison pilots. Good-bye
& off. Circled Tengchung – Myitkyina at 5:00. Played Joe cribbage.
MON. OCT. 23. Finished up with Sultan. Sun in. Long talk. Joe & I played cribbage. Bath –
Rode around town & saw the sights. Big sectional mortar bomb – 50th Div. monument. – Ernie
& Ellis in. Supper at Cannon’s mess. Pick in. – Morale good here. Ernie say Mars is 6 wks
ahead due to my visit. Sun in good spirits. – 13,000 Americans in Mitch. 1,000,000 sq ft of
storage to be built (50' x 4 mi.) – Road coming fine. Shortage of trucks.
TUES. OCT. 24. Told Cannon. Off at 8:00. Beautiful weather. 230 loaded C-47’s landed
yesterday. Letter from Dorn. The boys are shocked. — Ranchi at 1 P.M. Saw McCabe.
Boatner not back. Off at 2:00. Delhi at 6:00. Milani & Evans there. – Radio in during night for
Wedemeyer to go to CKG and take over.
WED. OCT. 25. Office. Evans. Eff. reports. G-1 on decorations. Milani — Fenn. B.
Atkinson – P.M. more of same – Paul Jones in. Thompson sent us birds for dinner. Excellent.
Sultan in from Mitch. Al Wedemeyer is calling “important conference.” He must have some
dope.
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THURS. OCT. 26. 32 months of this – Last day in the C.B.I. – A.M. in office. Hair-cut.
Fooled Young & Arnold with B.S.M. – Eldridge in to ask for assignment. – Radio about split of
theater arrived – – (Paul Jones knows). – Saw Weber about accounts. – Shoved off at 1:00 P.M.
(Bergin, McNally, Arnold, Young & I; Theisen & Burberich – Hunt the navigator; Bowles &
Smith. Felt like hell. Rotten cold. Karachi at 5:00. Went to Warden’s. Cool & pleasant.
Turned in early.
FRI. OCT. 27. Left the field at daylight, – 8:00 A.M. Out of the C.B.I. – To the Arabian coast
at Solalla. Stop for gas. They warned us against ADEN, but we went on. Aden at 6:00 (Karachi
time.) Good accommodations. Ali drove us all over town – Crater. The tanks. Business
section. Gardens (Artesian water.) To Steamer Point & signal station. R.A.F. hospital K.O.
gave us the history archaeology & ethnology of the coast. Snappy salutors here. (20 million
gals. tank capacity.) Chow at 6:00. (9:30 Indian time. Made it a long day.) – Good mess here.
Maj. Farquhar is the C.O. Very cordial crowd.
SAT. OCT. 28. Up at 5:00. Off at 6:00 – 5 hours to Khartum. Flew over Omdurman &
Khartum, then to field. Col. EDSON (swagger stick) met us. The dumb, commanding type —
An hour & ¼ there for lunch, etc. Then on our way. Bumpy. 8-hour flight to Maiduguri.
Arrived 8:45. Local time 5:45 – Capt. Leng gave us his house. Cool & pleasant. Tiresome day.
Gas tank leaked badly. Bath & turned in.
SUN. OCT. 29. Cool morning. Up at 5:30 & walked around. Fine mess. Off at 8:15 after
taking a look at the town from outside. Uneventful 5 ½ hrs. to ACCRA. Met by Col. Nelson.
Good egg. Hates the limies. (They wanted $25 a day to rent us lend-lease trucks.) Drove all
thro. town – market, beach, etc. Coons affect gaudy colors. Fine physical specimens. Looked
over the mahogany officers’ club & WAC qrs. To P.X. – (a beauty) – & bought a gold bracelet.
Big crowd of men hanging around to get autographs & chew the rag. Fine looking crowd. –
Nelson says rule is to put high rankers on C-87 for ocean hop, so Ty goes by himself. – Movies
at Nelson’s house –
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MON. OCT. 30. Off in C-87 at 8:15 (Theisen left at midnight.) Good-by, Africa. In at
Ascension at 2:30 P.M. Took a walk. Club at 3:20. In NATAL at 9:20 – Fast trip. Chariot
already here. Saw Benny Holderness & his crew about to shove for Accra. – Gen. Wooten met
us. Nice quarters. Saw Barboso, about to go to Algiers. (Velloso was the guy’s name in
Peking.) Mrs. Barboso has left him & married a Firestone man.
TUES. OCT. 31. Good sleeping. Breakfast with Wooten, Johnson, Young – To P.X. & got
stockings & silver pins. Off at 9:20. Uneventful run to Belem – Same type of lay-out as Natal.
Drove in to Casa Crocodilo for bags. Then around town & to zoo. Monkeys – Back to camp &
shower. – Belem is better on second look. Very clean. No smell of piss as on first visit. Big &
prosperous looking. (Bags $26 & $17.50)
WED. NOV. 1. Off at 8:00 – Smooth trip. Trinidad, Waller Field at 2:30 – Watches back to
1:30 – Good lunch. Limie governor’s aides reported! Off at 2:15. Decided to stop at San Juan
on Harding’s invitation. Local paper had some dope on “Stilwell & CKS did not agree.” FDR is
dogging it. He will let me take the rap. – Sticks to CKS’ right as “head of sovereign state to ask
for my removal. – Off at 2:15. At San Juan after dark. With Harding to Casa Blanca (1530).
Steak again. Everybody feeds us STEAK. Restless, sticky night. Harding still has trouble
getting a complete sentence out.
THURS. NOV. 2. Breakfast on porch. Off at 8:10. Coon-can. Pretty views of P.R. coast to
Borinquen. Non-stop to Palm Beach. Sent to HOMESTEAD instead, about 2 hrs. out. Now
what? Arrived at 2:15 – Orders from Washington to put us up here. Customs formalities, zero.
Col. Dunlap rode us around. Sat in the sun. – Articles are coming out. Berrigan had one. Drew
Pearson pushed out most of the dope. It makes me look like a brawler. FDR will let me serve
the ultimatum & pull me on account of it. — One article says MtBatten may go, & emphasizes
our squabble. On the face of it I fought everybody – – Bergin phoned Mrs. B. – Win is at Fort
Myer. They meet us at 3:00 to-morrow –
FRI. NOV. 3. Dark at 7:00. Had good breakfast & shoved off at 8:10 Rainbow at field.
Another at Miami, another at Palm Beach. More cracks in morning paper. GAUSS coming
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home. WELLES cracks about China situation. It will all come out. – Good trip above the
clouds. Arr. 3:00 on the dot. Hush-hush reception. Handy, Surles, etc. Henry Stimson was
going to be there! To Fort Myer club. Handy & Surles came out. I am to hide out & shut up.
Talked & talked. KARACHI ADEN MAIDUGURI ACCRA NATAL BELEM SAN JUAN
HOMESTEAD
SAT. NOV. 4. To Pentagon at 9:00. Saw Handy & Arnold. Latter concerned over Chennault,
but fears repercussions. Sat in on daily report, all theaters. – [G. C. M. came in last night. Has in
mind the A.G.F. & indefinitely something in Pacific or Europe. There is really no job for me.
Told him to bust me & give me a division. He laughed & said to take a month off. Go at once if
I wanted to. Obviously, the W.D. want to get me out of the way & muzzled till after election.]
So after lunch we shoved off. 2 P.M. Dallas at 7:30 – (6:30 local) – Col. HIGGINS (1915) took
charge – We were in protective custody. Girls with the W.A.S.P’s. Men in transient barracks.
M.P. guard. Hush. Hush. Orders for extreme secrecy.
SUN. NOV. 5. Bad weather. Good breakfast. Mrs. Welling, Wasps – Miller & Bailey. Used
Higgins room to bum in till 11:00 A.M., when they let us go – Nonstop to L.A. Rough from El
Paso. Very bad entering L.A. Could not make Glendale. Back to municipal field. In to
Ambassador. Met Easterbrook & wife there. Carl’s plans for dinner all shot. Had chow in our
room. Everybody tired out.
MON. NOV. 6. Off at 10:00. Del Monte at noon. Met by girls. To house. Ben came down at
7:20. Met him. He is as expected – quiet, poised, same old stand-by.
TUES. NOV. 7. To Presidio. Saw Meredith. Worked on trees. Girls voted. No use. The
Jackass won –
WED. NOV. 8. Took Ben to Moffett Field. Girls went along. – Call in P.M. from Pvts. Moore
& Sanchez, & S. Sgt Burleson all of 17th Inf. Dinner at Normandie Inn. Movies
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THURS. NOV. 9. Called on Mrs. Hearn. Looked over Soldiers’ Club. Girls out for dinner.
Rain – heavy.
FRI. NOV. 10. Worked on the trees. Ben came home. Met him after talk to Meredith’s boys.
SAT. NOV. 11. More tree-trimming. Ben helped – Florita Botts in. – O’Connors butted in.
Were we annoyed. – Three sailors called. We had a good visit.
SUN. NOV. 12. Ben left on 8:10 train. We took him over. Worked on trees.
MON. NOV. 13. Errands in town. Saw Abernethy, R.S. Pratt, etc. Fixed door on Ben’s bird
cage. Jean Caldwell for dinner.
TUES. NOV. 14. Worked on trees. Young due Thurs. Tea in P.M. for 7th Div. wives &
Carmel people. About 75 – P.M. movie.
WED. NOV. 15. Press & photographers in P.M. Gang of 25 – Carl in a dither. Kept my mouth
shut.
THURS. NOV. 16. Trees again. Dick Young arrived. Carl left.
FRI. NOV. 17. Dick left for Hawaii. Cluster at Sacramento. Chinese chow.
SAT. NOV. 18. Saw Meredith about Gillis woman. Rain. P.M. on beach for walk, (Win &
Garry) – Arms at Miami. (C.H. Brown in town.) – Japs apparently going for Kweiyang.
Wedemeyer doing a lot of talking. – BHAMO cut off.
SUN. NOV. 19. Worked on mail & trees. Theisen back.
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MON. NOV. 20. To Ord & saw Sloat & White about Mrs. Gillis. Lunch there. Then
Gonzales, the A.R.C. man, & threw the case at him. Gilberts out. Stainford out. Bergins back.
Carl to stay in L.A. for Thanksgiving. Bergins for dinner.
TUES. NOV. 21. Win & Al to S.F. (Becker.) Engine broke down at Gilroy. – Back at 10:20 at
Salinas. Met them there. – The seance was a success – (Mrs. B’s adventure, – midnight at St.
Louis. Special plane to Wash.) Trees.
WED. NOV. 22. Decided to go to Oakland Thurs. Had our Thanksgiving dinner at 7:00.
Bergins, Theisens & all, incl. Jessica. Worked on trees – Ty picked up Ben & Bob & brought
them down.
THURS. NOV. 23. At 4:00 to airport. 4:30 off for Oakland; arr. 5:15. Met by Hortons; motor
cop escort to Claremont Hotel. – Mr. Gillum (mgr.) sent up about 8 qts of assorted booze. To
Scottish Rite Temple for 8 P.M. dinner. 300 wounded men had dinner. Terrible speeches. Blah
entertainment. We had a good time with the men. Gorgeous view from hotel over bay area.
FRI. NOV. 24. Shoved off at 9:00. Monterey at 9:35. Off at 10:00. L.A. at 11:40. Picked up
Carl, Berrigan & Soong. S.D. & dropped Loomis. Non-stop back to Monterey. Arr. 4:40. (2 ½
hrs. flight each way.) Berrigan & Soong for supper. — Special messenger from Wash. with
personal letter from Louis. My God. What stupidity. [Drew Pearson had prediction that I would
head China invasion.]
SAT. NOV. 25. Hell to pay with “child training”. God save the mark. – Picnic at Lobos. Kids
all out at night. Win & I had supper in kitchen.
SUN. NOV. 26. Breakfast with Ben. Saw him off on 8 o’clock train. (Al bought Bob’s car.)
Rainy. Gang in for lunch; we ate Berberick’s venison. – 4:30 off for S.F. Met by “de Griks” –
George, Boudowres, Christopher. Wild ride to the Clift. Dinner with Boudowreses & George. –
– Pageant at Civic auditorium. – Speeches broadcast. Escaped at 10:30. – Win was pleased –
flowers, ovation, etc. She dominated the performance.
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MON. NOV. 27. Shopped with Win. 11:30 – hotel, 12:00 air-field. 12:30, Monterey. – P.M.
worked around place.
TUES. NOV. 28. A.M. worked. P.M. to Monterey – income tax man – O.P.A. – pigeon food. –
Wick’s dinner at Asia Inn.
WED. NOV. 29. Rain. Checked securities, etc. No work. Girls to movie. – Bergin’s
decoration formation washed out.
THURS. NOV. 30. Rainy. Cleared. P.M. Bergin’s decoration. Parade at Ord. A regt. of
trainees – (Lockwood ran it.)
FRI. DEC. 1. Off at 9:00 to get Ben. Garry went, too. Quiet & relaxing. Hallinan ran into a
red light at San Jose. Met Ben, saw Mrs. Shatz & Bunn – Lunch at St. Claire Hotel – Home at
4:00. Ty’s birthday – We did not go.
SAT. DEC. 2. Breakfast with Bergin at Pine Inn – Army – Navy game 23-7 – Radio from
G.C.M. (“Special Necessity.”) ?? – Soong – Berrigan – Chinese food & movies. – Ben & I
walked on the beach.
SUN. DEC. 3. Win & I saw Ben off at 8:10. Soong – Berrigan lunch. – Calls, Arms, Hand,
Higley, Powell, Daly.
MON. DEC. 4. Saw Sammons (Anderson cottage) – artist. Good stuff. – Bergin in.
TUES. DEC. 5. T.V. Soong is act’g pres. of Ex. Yuan. CKS can now devote his full energy to
directing military operations. GOD HELP CHINA. Packed up for trip. – Washed the dog, cut
grass, etc. – Bergins in.
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WED. DEC. 6. Up early. Off at 8:00 – L.A. 10:00. Phoenix 12:00; El Paso 2:00; Abilene 4:30
(6:30 local.) Hilton Hotel. Photos, etc., fuss and feathers – Crowded hotel, (Reedy, mgr.). No
pay.
THURS. DEC. 7. Off at 8:00. Cloudy all way. Benning at 2:15 – Crowd to meet us. Hobson,
Schneider, Walker, Wyman, Gaither, etc. To club – To Columbus with Mira. Saw the kids.
Fine impression. Went to see Lilienthals. Supper with McPhersons. Paul is in N.Y! Back to
Benning. Phoned N.Y. No luck, – Paul out. (Holman Hoover has a training regt. of
paratroopers. My God!) – Scot Fulton here. Manages club. – Paul phoned at 11 P.M.
FRI. DEC. 8. Off at 9:00. Wash. at noon. Dumped Mabel and Bergins. On to N.Y. Circled
La Guardia for an hour. Very bad weather. Win & Loomis sick. Down at 4:15. Nobody there.
– In to Biltmore & Win got to bed. John in. Search for Paul started. Turned N.Y. inside out.
Not a trace.
SAT. DEC. 9. 4 A.M. Carl brought Paul in from L.I. – Everything O.K. – Paul misinformed on
plane. Visitors all day – Georgia, J. Goette, John, etc. – P.M. The party for Mabel. Ghastly
affair at Harriet’s house. Ghastly dinner at Lafayette. Over at midnight. God.
SUN. DEC. 10. Told John to go ahead. We drove up to Ardenwold at noon. Chauncey and
Marguerite there. Good talk. – Got away at 3:15. Fine ride to Newton. Saw Jack Wheeler on
way. Found Bub at 6 P.M., way out on Bethel road.
MON. DEC. 11. Harry Hillhouse over. Off at 10:00. Recognized in drugstore at Danbury.
Fine day & nice ride. Old Chatham – Ern not there. (Free lunch at Pittsfield. Girl photographer
had trouble.) Saratoga at 5:00. Evening with Aunt Kate. Reed Osborne in. (Stimson called.)
TUES. DEC. 12. Snow. 10:00 – shoved off. (Agnes Smedley in.) Albany airport. No luck.
Off at 11:30 by car. 450 miles to Wash. Police escort all the way. 60 m.p.h. Blizzard near
Wash. Reached Henry’s at 9:20. Dinner – Stimsons and McCloys. Bed at 11:30.
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WED. DEC. 13. Pentagon at 9:15. Dope on situation. Talk with Handy, then Stimson. Lunch
with Handy. George in Chicago. Saw Tillie and Jo Tenney. Hair-cut. Back to Ft. Myer. Early
to bed, after talking it all over. (5-star bill has passed.)
THURS. DEC. 14. A.M. to Pentagon – Saw Slats, McNally, got photographed, then to Mun.
Bldg. Saw Shang Chen (“CKS is crazy” – “When I heard the news, I wanted to become an Am.
citizen” – CKS told him nothing.) Saw Somerville, who promised to block the limey decoration.
Back to Myer for lunch. Bill Bergin off to-night. Told me to sit tight. – At 4:00 went to see Jo
Tenney. Then to call on Slats at his house. Dinner with Paul & Loomis, Carl & Cpl. Bird at
Roger Smith Hotel. Punk chow. “Home” at 8:30.
FRI. DEC. 15. George is back. Win went to the hotel to wait. To Pentagon* at 10:45. Saw
Somervell @ finishing Ledo Road. Saw G.C.M. at 11:40 – At 12:15 meeting in Sec.’s office to
toast 5-star generals – (Geo. and Hap.) Then to hotel to pick up Win & Joneses. At airport met
Bowles’ family. Off at 1:12 – Maxwell field for coffee and sandwiches at 6:00. On to
Shreveport, 9:00 P.M. Washington –Youru Hotel.
SAT. DEC. 16. Up at 5:00. Off at 6:00. 11:30 at TUCSON (10:30 local). Monterey at 4:00 –
Picked up Garry, – all plucked & washed. Win & the girls talked till 11:30.
SUN. DEC. 17. Late breakfast. (Katans with kids.) Strachan and Inman in for lunch, and most
of P.M.
MON. DEC. 18. More Katans. Dentist from 11 to 12. Lunch at dairy. Phone from Wright in
Wash. Report finished. – Eifler in about future operations. Lights off in P.M. – German
counter-offensive gaining.
TUES. DEC. 19. Joneses left. Nance and Al flew down to S.D. with them. Win lined up the
kids without any trouble – – Doot told us we should jump in and help on the “system” but I
demurred, emphatically. Agreed to stick it out till after Christmas. — The Crapper has partial
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club foot, and must wear casts, but will be O.K. in a year. Doot used up about it. – John E. has
empetigo on his head.
WED. DEC. 20. Kids all day long, – after school – Nance and Al back about 5:30 – Good trip.
(Burned trash.)
THURS. DEC. 21. Xmas preparations all day. I worked on the back yard. (Jane’s friend’s
brother called. Gob from Del Monte, Creary. Jane should mind her own business.) Win
shopped. Berrigan in with 2 kid neices. H.S. to-morrow.
FRI. DEC. 22. At the H.S. 10 to 11 talking to the kids. Then to Miss Jay’s to see the Xmas
setup. P.M. flew to Moffett and got Ben. Doot went along. (Also Bill Wms – ) Back at 5:30
Chinese delegation waiting. Li Dai-ming – Constitutionalist party and about six others. Talked
over the situation. He is going to Wash. to stir it up. (Down with C.K.S.) Told him to go to it. –
Berrigan & kids here again.
SAT. DEC. 23. A.M. up-town. Ben got hair-cut. Got him a coat. P.M. Cleaves here. Sam
Young called. (Sailor at Del Monte.) Arms-es called just as we were leaving. Errands – Eggnog at Neilsons! P.M. Dead-tired. Ben and Al went to the school hop.
SUN. DEC. 24. Worked in backyard all A.M. Beautiful day. Met Mr. Newell (next door.) –
Worked on Xmas preparations till midnight. H.S. kids serenaded us.
MON. DEC. 25. Clear day for Xmas – A.M. opening presents (Cap, axe, a “Lee’s lts”., knife,
maple sugar) – Called on by Neilsens, – Cornellsons, – etc. – Called at U.S.O. Called at Wilsons
(Highlands) Dinner at 6:30 – (John and Nancy present.)
TUES. DEC. 26. Worked on the yard. Young arrived. Bergin arrived. Rooster fight. Pierces
& Anderson over –
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WED. DEC. 27. – Heavy rain – Worked on letters in A.M. & on the yard in the rain in P.M.
Phoned Capra. Bawled out Carl for ordering plane around – Ben snuffling.
THURS. DEC. 28. Nance sick. Katans over the kids & their training. Rain. Worked in the
yard. P.M. worked on correspondence.
FRI. DEC. 29. Letters. Capra came up about S.E.A.C. movie. Carl went down with him.
Worked on the yard. Called on Nance with Wright & Bergin – (Wright in with the report.)
SAT. DEC. 30. Read the report. Worked on the yard. Dinner with Bill & Wright at
Normandie Inn.
SUN. DEC. 31. New Year’s Eve. Girls had a date for the evening. Win and I cleaned up the
house. Al & Ben have been sick for three days. Wolfson in on Saturday – (Friday?)
[Notes]
[Mid-entry, Feb. 24, 1944; vol. 10.]
Transformer limies ruin Yoke. Cudgel – ACK. [Other words deleted.] Axiomatic that they run
to Washington.
268

1944 diary - Hoover Institution

Transcription

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