如水会
実務英語研究会 |
如水会
実務英語研究会 |
| Septmeber 28,1993 | |
|
Dear Yuuichi: Another nice and informative letter from you was awaiting me when I got back from Europe last week***9/19Sun-9/25Sat***. The demensions of the camp are very close to what I had calculated(594ft.by 330ft.),which I believe are more accurate.I used the standard size of a tatami to calculate the size of the barracks.I knew the sleeping deck for the men was at least 81 feet long.I had to measure the length when there was a heavy influx of POWs in Omori.Arguments broke out among the men as to how much sleeping room each man had available.As Barrack's C.O. of No.5, I used a 12 inch ruler to hurriedly measure the deck.It was 81 feet long. This provided each man assigned to the deck only 11 inche of sleeping space.Now,my figure is 82.5ft. After I had determined the over all dimensions for the barrack's roof line,it was relatively easy to determine the other dimensions of the camp by using an overhead aerial photo of the camp. The one thing I have never been sure about was the height of the compound wall. I have always thought it was about 10 feet. It was interesting to see how the U.S. Army renumbered the barracks.I have made a rough outline of the barracks and their munbers as they were when I was there (see separate page). As Barracks'sC.O. of No.5(from early summer 1944 until the Fall) and then as the Camp Work Officer until the end of the war, I di room with Commander Maher. I now remember you coming to our room for a visit. I called a friend in Canada to ask about Capt.Reid. He said the Captain died about 10 years ago. The Canadian X-POW Association has received a letter about Capt. Reid and it is being answered.I must warn you that many Canadians and some British are still very resentfully towards the Japanese.Therefore ,the letter may be be rather curt. I can understand why Sam is reluctanto to release control of the insert picture of Watanabe for publication.However, it is your picture to use as you wish. I believe Sam's attitude is based more on legal grounds rather than being protective of Watanabe's personal image (how he is portrayed or represented ). Any references to, or about ,Watanabe made by a former X-POW who was beaten by him will not be flattering nor complimentary.A number of men are still suffering from the damage done by Watanabe. Sedgie Hinson has lost the hearing in one ear and almost all hearing in the other ear due to nerve damage caused by blows from Watanabe.Other individuals suffered similar injuries.Dwight Pendleberry is in a wheel chair as a result of Watanabe's beating. I refer to these cases only to show that there is still a lot of evidence of his mistreamtment of POW's. I was lucky in not receiving any permanent injuries from the three severe beatings he gave to me. I also appreciate your feelings and desire of not wanting the picture misured or used untruthfully.As a historian (I used to teach History in college),I am also interested in being as accurate and truthfully as possible.It is true that wherever you allow a publisher or news organization to use your materials,you have no assurances as to how they will bend or twist it to suit their story lines.When I allowed Sam to use my photographs and other material,I did so with the hope they would be used in an honest and accurate manner. I did noticed in the video of the documentary (Christmas in Omori) a photo of drawing of Watanabe was used from a book written by Tom Wade. I feel sure it was used without his permission. I want to reassure you I will not use nor publish your photos without your permission/ I have shown the photos to some individuals and they have appreciated in seeing how Watanabe looked in Omori,I have not given copies of the pictures to anyone. The copy of the abstract from about the dragonfly was most welcomed. I enjoyed reading it. Congratulation upon your expertise of the subject. It would be very nice if your daughter movesto the U.S.A. and provides me the opporutunity to see you again. Hopefully, you will be able to make it to Texas. The Air Force had three planes leaving from Kelly AFB in San Antonio. I was tempted to take anyone of them. I decided against the flight to Australia as being too long just to see one or two friends in Sydney. I was there during the war. The flight to Japan was tempting as it would give me an opportunity to see you and other, plus seeing more of the country. I had to reject that one due to the expensive cost of travel in Japan.I got on the third one which went to Frankfurt,Germany.I thought I would make another attempt to get to Spain. I left on the 3rd. There were no AF flights from Frankfurt to Spain for at least two days, so I took the train along the Rhine River to Amsterdam.Spent four nights there,before going by ferry to England. I stayed five nights in London and had a nice visit with Tom Wade. He was the Barrack's C.O.of No.6 until he was sent to Naoetsu, where Watanabe had been sent.Watanabe had come back to Omori in March of 1945 to get some officers for his camp.He wanted me to be his Camp Work Officer,but at the time I was suffering from a tropical ear infection and could not hear.When he came by to see me he thought he had broken my ear drums and he apologized for doing so.Wade was sent in my place. I have always been thankful. I then went to Edinburgh,Scotland to visit with three Royal Scots.I returned to London for one nights before going to Mildenhall AFB on Monday.I intended to try to get to Germany on Tuesday where I would goof-off for a few days. I hoped to get on a C-5 scheduled to arrive there that week-end and return to Kelly AFB.When I arrived at Mildenhall AFB, there was a C-5 from Kelly ready to leave for Kelly in five hours.It had unexpectedly been diverted to England to pick-up cargo for Charleston,South Carolina.I got on it and was home in my own bed on Tuesday night . I was lucky. It done not cost me anything to travel on Air Force planes on a Space Available basis.Just terms and luck. Now I am busy trying to catch up on my correspondence and all the other things which accummulate during a three weeks absence. I must close now.This letter became much longer than I intended. Sincerely Bob Thanks for the information about Tojo. |
|
如水会 実務英語研究会
|