如水会
実務英語研究会 |
如水会
実務英語研究会 |
| No.23 March 26,1995 | |
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Dear Yuichi: This has been a very busy month for me. After I send our the list of current addresses of former Omori POWs, I get swamped with correspondence. There have been many chnages. Answering the letters takes a great deal of time, but knowing the effort has brought many buddies back together, helped some widows get pensions and created new friendships has made it worthwhile. There are closer bonds ( friendships ) anong the X-POWs than they had with men in their old military units.That is why the X-POW associations are so unified. I do understand your position about attending the symposium. Perhaps it was best that you did not come to it; although your imput have been appreciated and needed. I have found that regardless of how important an event may seem to be at the time,it loses it's importance afterwards. I do know you had nothing to fear at the meeting. The symposium was interesting as there were different viewpoints presented. For me, the highpoints were the chance to see Gov.Stassen again. He was one of the two officers who came to release us at Omori. Commodore Simpson was the other one.Stassen brought some photos for me to look at. I also had a nice visit with Dr.Teller. I did not hear all of the speeches as I spent a lot of time visiting outside with different people. I was not interested in hearing some of them. I was somewhat disappointed in those given by the X-POWs. I did not feel they were factual enough. Several were what call "bleeding hearts" types( feel sorry for me ). This was especially true about Schwartz. Gavan Daws, Australian historian, made some general statements about POW Officers which irritated me as they may have been true about some of the officers in Java or on the ships transporting POWs, but not about most of us who took responsibles and suffered the consequences. Daws left the impression that most of the officers failed to take responsibilities, had more money than the men to buy additional food and were treated better by not having to work. At Omori, we did have better quarters (rooms) than the men, but it was the men who had more and better food which they stole from the work places. We did not have the money to buy it from the men. Also, if we did not work, we got half rations (same as the sick). But this is the purpose and value of such meetings as it presents various viewpoints. Helen did a good job in putting it together. She is now laid-up with a sprained ankle. I have not been able to speak to her since then as she has been at home and will take a short vacation. It will be awhile before I can get the address of the Buddhist Society. You may do as you think best about Ushio's statement. It was sent primarily for your information. Please tell me what dates would be best,or most convenient for you, to meet in London. I am fairly flexible. However, the first or second full week in September (5-17) would be the best for me. I will be going over by commercial aircraft and will come back by Air Force plane. I will be glad to show you aroud Texas afterwards. At thise time there will be only two of us meeting you there. Two others may be able to make our meeting. Have a good trip to " Down Under "and give may best regards to Plimer. Sincerely, Rob |
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如水会 実務英語研究会
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