First Into Nagasaki (19 page)

Jan. 18

Went out early and found a two by six tongue-and-groove to make body of a crossbow. Will hunt some nails for ammunition tonight.
[Scotty made the bent part of the bow from cocowood and eventually was able to kill rats at twenty yards.]
Flies are terrible today—about twenty on my hands as I write.

Jan. 19

Japs are collecting all mattresses in camps around us. They were here today at 11:30 and got truckload. Now is zero hour. Japs moving all around us. Some talk English to each other.
[Scotty later learned that the voices talking English belonged to parties of American prisoners whom the Japanese brought back under guard to reveal hidden supplies.]

Jan. 20

One alarm at 10:30 when three Japs walked past back of our camp. We could see them but they could not see us. Tractor working near us makes a lot of noise. I slept out at Mark Hopkins last night and Fred stayed in camp. I had the bridal suite but no blanket and no rat trap but I slept better—no snoring by Fred to listen to. Another alarm this afternoon but the trail drew them away.

Jan. 21

Up at 5:30 and looked for new home. More we looked the better we liked what we have. Morning passed without alarm except for some rocks thrown at birds by Japs. Only one plane took off this morning. I guess Japs have given up expecting Uncle Sam to try to take back Wake.

Jan. 22

We went out last night and looked after our water supply and found two gallons missing. We feel there may be some other Americans still on the island. Although we are not sure we keep close to our dugouts. Found four company contracts and am picking up all I can.

Jan. 23

Bad news last night Japs found two-thirds of all our food supply and took it away. Now we are crowded for thirty days supply food even if we cut down on eats. We caught no water last night as we had only one shower and it was too light. We are moving all our food to what we hope are safer places but these Japs are regular bloodhounds.

Jan. 24

We caught eleven gallons water last night, enough for three weeks. We also buried twenty cans of food that we brought in from another cache where the Japs are combing the brush harder. Today is 48 days since war started and 32 days we have been in brush dodging Japs. They should soon get tired.

Jan. 25

Two mild alarms this morning but they went by. Some news of home folks would be welcome but we don’t dwell too much on that because it gets us down. We do wonder why uncle doesn’t get going but guess he just wasn’t ready when this thing started. If he had seen as much of the navy as we have here on Wake he would know he wasn’t ready.

Jan. 26

Jap construction dragline moved up to our place at nine this morning and there has been heavy blasting at times so near that small rocks fell around us. These boys have a lot of efficiency and don’t seem to mess around. We would do well to send some of our boys to their school especially Knox who was telling the world he was ready months ago. Fifty days since war started and we are not ready yet.

Jan. 27

Blasting today. We got rocked at noon but not hit. We have looked for new hotel but can’t find one so well hid, so will stay here. Our jitters are better.

Jan. 28

Just at twelve we heard brush crack and looked up to see three Japs going by the trail just fifty feet from camp. Suddenly one turned back and then started in over the brush directly toward us. When he got within twenty feet we faded out the other way making as little noise as possible. We crawled on hands and knees for seven hundred feet and ran across a road and dived into brush on the other side. Went into camp and crawled into a place right under doormat and stayed all night and day without food and water then went back to see if could salvage anything and found camp intact. God is still looking after us but why I don’t know.

Jan. 29

Spent day in hideout #4: no light no food no flies no room no air but no Japs. Felt lucky we were alive. These Japs have done more actual work on this island in 37 days than the U.S. did in nine months, work that we should have been doing and we would not have lost Wake. Of course there was no war on when we started but everything for the service should be built first, not for beauty. Came home at 10 last night and found hideout #3 okay, our gift from God. Arrived on island three months ago—my $30 bonus will start Sunday.

Jan. 30

Fred discovered this morning that the last Jap who went after us had found his little bag of treasures and that is evidently why he stopped and did not find the camp as he was all excited about the bag. Planes patrolling all day and trucks busy. Gosh but we are glad to be in this home again after thinking we had lost it. I have been very weak of late and get so tired—no starch food and not enough exercise. Am losing weight but putting on whiskers. I begin to look like Christ.

Jan. 31

Feel better today but still weak and tired. Three planes overhead all afternoon. I am burying this book tonight and will start a new one, so as not to lose my record if anything slips.

Feb. 1

I went for a walk and ran into two Japs but they turned away in time. Hard rain came and Fred had uncovered our bed before he left and it got wet through. We feel the Japs may get out a detail to hunt us down soon. We will have to be on the watch for sentries at night on the trails. My $30 monthly bonus from the company begins today my fourth month on Wake.

Feb. 2

We are two groundhogs and today is groundhog day. Planes up at 6:30 seem to be expecting company I hope it’s uncle. Sun is shining so guess we will stay in our holes for six weeks more unless Japs smoke us out. There’s a cold northeast wind and we have nothing to wear except shirt, shorts and pants—no undershirts, sox or coats. It’s hard to keep warm. Planes have been lazy; not much doing in war business. Good-night, dear mother and son.

Feb. 3

Showers and cold, breakers rolling high. We took stock and can go about three weeks on food we have; then we must raid the main camp. However, if we get the right kind of windy dark night in the next week or two we will go in to ease our worries. It’s like pulling a tooth; we will get it over.

Feb. 4

Fred has a hunch help is coming soon—first time he has been optimistic about it. With planes up all morning half the day is licked, which is something to us as we are living from hour to hour now. Little lizards crawl over us catching flies. They are so tame now we have to brush them off while writing. Their heads and bodies are just 2 in. long and tails about 3 in., dark brown with three gold stripes from end to end of body. There are six on me as I write and I love them. One has a purple tail and one little fellow is speckled and has no stripes—I guess he’s just a private.

Feb. 5

According to my figures it should take Uncle Sam about sixty days to get organized, equipped and supplied to start steaming up the Pacific. So he should be on his way here any day now with plenty of planes, boats & subs to take care of the situation. One Jap plane is still out. We can only speculate as we are in the dark, on the underside of the war. We only know that for uncle to control the Pacific he has to occupy all the islands that can be used as bombing bases and that includes Wake. Yesterday I think would have been Grandpa Kay’s birthday—am hoping soon to hear some sweet music like 1000 lb. bombs dropping on our roof.

Feb. 6

Put a layer under our bed on the ground raising it up from dampness two inches which is too much altitude for safety. I guess we’ll get used to it as the new leaves are coming to help our camouflage. We now lie down all day and are really getting soft. You should see our hair and whiskers. Japs are putting in crops around us as though they intend to stay. Soon they may move out families and maybe even dogs. Then we will have real trouble.

Feb. 7

Time going past today more slowly than ever before. Birds are sitting in trees along our back trail and sun beating down very hot. We are getting soft we can hardly get around after lying flat so much.

Feb. 8

Now two months since war on Wake started and we are still okay but with our fingers crossed. Have not tasted bread for six weeks and won’t, I guess. I read most of the day. My eyes are okay. Lost my glasses with my bag when the Japs landed but found a good enough pair.

Feb. 9

Fred and I wish nights were longer, they are so restful. When one has to be alert every minute of the day it is very fatiguing. Fred and I agree that we are more tired after a day of watching than after a day of hard
work. Try lying flat just one day watching constantly for Japs with guns who are looking for you and probably will shoot you on sight.

Feb. 10

Went to old barracks to see if any food was still there. Found the place boarded up and it looks as though Japs are using it for a warehouse. Coming back I ran into a trap in the dark but luckily I was going very slowly and found it before making any alarm. We detoured and got no food. I’m getting corns on my seat from lying down so much. The Japs have a large garden right near us with a well but their water is too brackish to drink and so we will have to continue to catch ours from the rain. We have been going very light on food—about half what we should have. I feel very weak and tired but a few good events will cure that.

Feb. 11

Morning moon is just a sickle and two patrol planes were up at 6. We figure we can get by three weeks more by being careful with our food and if we don’t get help then it will be tough. We hope it rains bombs soon. How sweet they will sound on our roof. Each one that lands will be as welcome as money dropping in the cash register. Fifty days since occupation and sixty-six since bombing; uncle must be on his way by now.

Feb. 12

Lincoln’s birthday. Well, Abe, we found ten days supply of food this morning. I got up early and took a crawl through the brush for exercise and found a sack with seven cans artichokes five cans milk and gallon can lima beans also one gal water. We are safe now for four or five weeks if we get rain for water. My corns on my seat from lying down are getting larger and my whiskers are sixty days long.

Feb. 13

I breakfasted off lima beans and feel full for the first time in months. I feel bloated, just right. You got us through this day, Fritzi, sweetheart.
[Fritzi is Scotty’s wife.]

Feb. 14

Valentine’s greetings to my wife and pal. Well, Fred and I have it all fixed for uncle to be here about tomorrow the 15th and if he doesn’t come we will still think he should. We set roofing paper last night for water but only a small shower fell and we got only one quart. This is the hardest 53 days Fred and I can remember in our lifetimes, we agree. Am about fifteen pounds lighter and waistline is 24 inches by measure.

Feb. 15

Daylight falls on Logan Crusoe and Fred Friday or the other way around and we feel and look like the original pictures of Robinson C. This is the day we picked and we still stick to it that help is on the way to us somewhere in the Pacific.
[Actually this was the day that Singapore fell to the Japanese.]
We are getting along much better than a month ago as there is less traffic in the woods. I keep planning what I am going to do when I get back to the States, so I must be going to get back okay. Had bad Jap dreams, tho. A large four-motor bomber came over and circled the island about 11 and the little scout went up high at once. The Japs fired at the bomber which we think was one of ours taking observations. Maybe our hunch is right and today is the day.

Feb. 16

Birds being disturbed indicates Japs coming through trail en route to work in garden. Water shortage still haunts us. Japs seem to be getting ready for something. Much machine gun practice. After sixty days the American fleet must surely be provisioned and equipped to go into action. The fleet should now be working on the Marshall Islands, Palmyra and Johnson and Midway.

Feb. 17

All work has been stopped from 11 until 2 these last two days. We think the Japs may be afraid of air raids at these hours and stop work to use listening device.

Feb. 18

The Japs seem to have ants in their pants this morning. Planes took off at sunrise and went up high instead of going outward. We are ready for
our part and hope it won’t be long now. I dreamed of Aunt Renée so she must have been thinking of me. Am hoping to get home soon now so that Fritzi can stop worrying.

Feb. 19

I got up at midnight. You can feel excitement in the wind. Planes are coming and going, only staying out one hour. I can almost feel help is on the way. We are all set to hear the Star-Spangled Banner played on fourteen-inch guns; we will stand up and cheer or even climb a tree as soon as they start.

Feb. 20

Things seem to be shaping up. No machinery moving except trucks. No tractors draglines or heavy equipment like yesterday. Ants gave me hell all night. I keep planning on all the things I’ll do at the ranch when I get back.