Class Note 1943
Issue
March-April 2022
January 1, 1946: Happy New Year! Heartfelt salutations and greetings echoed from bow to stern on board the MS President Monroe. For the first time in 10 years no shots were fired in anger, no bombs were dropped, no torpedoes were launched. There was world peace on earth—finally! My thoughts were on buddies who gave up their lives in World War II. They will be forever young. Our ship kept plodding through the high seas, heading for landfall at the Golden Gate of San Francisco. All 4,000 troops were counting our blessings. We were the lucky ones, heading to be home forever.
It was the first morning after debarking from Leyte Gulf. I had just finished washing up when I heard a voice, “Want to go to chow together?” We were the earliest risers. I replied, “Sure, let’s go.” We introduced ourselves. His name was Sam, and he came from a small town on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River, 25 miles from Times Square. Sam’s dad had gone to Fordham, but he was choosing Rutgers and wanted to become a certified public accountant under the G.I. Bill. He was three years older than me. In the next 18 days Sam became one of my all-time favorite fun guys. Our bunks were close together, we ate meals together, and we had so much in common. A super buddy!
It was smooth sailing. What a bunch of slap-happy men. One morning Sam told me, “George, I think you’re on the wrong ship heading in the wrong direction.” “No, Sam,” I answered, “I was born in Long Beach, California. My wife is waiting for me in Los Angeles. I’m going home to Mary.” A few days later Sam said, “You know, George, I was wrong. You have a Japanese face. You have an American heart—and a big, genuine smile.” Nearing the Golden Gate, rumors were rife that a big card shark had won more than $10,000 in a high-stakes poker game. Gads, you could buy three houses for that kind of money. Were the losers set up? No one could guess. More later….
Attention fellow classmates: Please drop me a line on how you’re doing—or a member of your family can do the same, okay? Hope you enjoyed the past holidays. Have a healthy 2022. Take care, stay safe, and wear a mask.
—George Shimizu, 2140 Sepulveda Ave., Milpitas, CA 95035; (408) 930-2488; marymariko@comcast.net
It was the first morning after debarking from Leyte Gulf. I had just finished washing up when I heard a voice, “Want to go to chow together?” We were the earliest risers. I replied, “Sure, let’s go.” We introduced ourselves. His name was Sam, and he came from a small town on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River, 25 miles from Times Square. Sam’s dad had gone to Fordham, but he was choosing Rutgers and wanted to become a certified public accountant under the G.I. Bill. He was three years older than me. In the next 18 days Sam became one of my all-time favorite fun guys. Our bunks were close together, we ate meals together, and we had so much in common. A super buddy!
It was smooth sailing. What a bunch of slap-happy men. One morning Sam told me, “George, I think you’re on the wrong ship heading in the wrong direction.” “No, Sam,” I answered, “I was born in Long Beach, California. My wife is waiting for me in Los Angeles. I’m going home to Mary.” A few days later Sam said, “You know, George, I was wrong. You have a Japanese face. You have an American heart—and a big, genuine smile.” Nearing the Golden Gate, rumors were rife that a big card shark had won more than $10,000 in a high-stakes poker game. Gads, you could buy three houses for that kind of money. Were the losers set up? No one could guess. More later….
Attention fellow classmates: Please drop me a line on how you’re doing—or a member of your family can do the same, okay? Hope you enjoyed the past holidays. Have a healthy 2022. Take care, stay safe, and wear a mask.
—George Shimizu, 2140 Sepulveda Ave., Milpitas, CA 95035; (408) 930-2488; marymariko@comcast.net