Pacific Posts

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Arnold's Story: Photos of Korea and Japan in 1946

These are photos from Arnold's posting in Korea from February to October 1946. (Several may be from Japan, instead — the photos were a bit jumbled together.)

Arnold Nevis, Korea, winter 1946

Arnold Nevis, Korea, 1946

Fritz Fenlay, "Monty", and Itesser(?) in Korea, 1946

Ye Olde Ale and Quaile Clubbe officers' mess in Korea, 1946

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Arnold's Story: February 22, 1946

On arrival in Korea, Arnold cables his family with his new address. The telegram includes both the Korean name Seoul and the Japanese name Chōsen.

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Monday, January 18, 2021

Arnold's Story: February 1946 Japan and Korea

It appears they visited Tachikawa Airfield or departed from there for Korea for his next post. The primary defense of Tokyo, Tachikawa also produced fighters, troop carriers, and bombers, and was also the site of imperial technical schools. It was subjected to intense bombing by the U.S. Army Air Force near the end of World War II and ultimately rendered inoperable. The U.S. rehabilitated the airfield and designated it as a transport base, providing transportation for passengers and cargo in the Tokyo Area. It served as an air base for the U.S. through the Japanese occupation, the Korean War, the Cold War, and the Vietnam Conflict before being returned to the Japanese government in 1977.

Fritz Finley, February 1946, at a U.S. Army Air Force base in Korea

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Arnold's Story: February 1946 arrival in Japan

Arnold arrives in Japan in February 1946, probably by ship, given these harbor photos.

1946 photo by Arnold Nevis, for public use only with acknowledgement

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previous post October 16, 1945

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Sunday, January 17, 2021

Arnold's Story: October 16, 1945

Although World War II is technically over, Arnold is now posted to Camp Pinedale near Fresno, California. He mentions his stay at home (by which he certainly means Glendale), so perhaps that stay included the visit to Mount Wilson.

Suntan pants and shirts are trousers and shirts of lightweight tan or khaki fabric that make up the summer uniform of some branches of the military.

There are no more letters from 1945 — a gap in the record. The next information from Arnold shows him in Japan in early 1946, then moving on quickly to Korea, where he will spend several months.

I could not figure out the date of this black and white photo; it looks to be in a desert. Perhaps it is from the San Joaquin Valley, with the Sierra Nevada Mountain foothills in the background.

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Arnold's Story: 1945 Mount Wilson

Here is another set of undated photos, this time from Mount Wilson in the San Gabriel Mountains, California. It is the site of the Mount Wilson Observatory. It appears that Hazel, Dolly, Laura, and Arnold had a family outing around 1945 or perhaps later. Accompanying them are a friend of Laura's and Dolly's boyfriend Lee. There will be more about Lee in 1947 after Dolly and Lee marry.

Arnold might have been on leave from Camp Pinedale at this time, or it might after his military service in 1946, 1947 or even 1948 (though by June 1948 Lee was out of the picture).