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[KOREAN WAR] [LETTERS] [MANUSCRIPTS] [FAMILY ARCHIVE] [JAPAN] Lt. Commander Tom H. Bietsch. Group of eighty (80) letters, consisting of 239 pages, addressed to Ruth D. Bietsch of Carlisle, PA from her husband, Lt. Commander Tom H. Bietsch USNR who had been called back into active duty by the Navy at the beginning of the Korean War in 1951. All but two of the letters, most with covers, date between February 27, 1951 and August 19, 1951, many while Bietsch was stationed in Japan and detail his on-duty and off-duty activities there and his impressions of Japan and its people. The two other letters are written before and after his call to active duty (1948 and 1952). Twelve of his letters from Japan contain a combined total of 31 photographs and three real photo postcards. The collection is housed in eight folders, arranged by date. Letters and covers are in Fine condition. [M/JS] Tom H. Bietsch (1920-2013), an attorney, engineer and a Navy veteran of WW II and the Korean War, graduated in the class of 1941 from Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. He was married to Ruth Dillingham Bietsch (1922-2009) and resided in Carlisle, PA. They had one son, T. Allan Bietsch, born circa 1947. Tom H. Bietsch served over four years eight months on active duty in the United States Navy, at least 43 months of which were duty aboard ship. In January 1951, he was involuntarily ordered to active duty and reported to Commander Twelfth Naval District on February 27th for active duty. After arriving in San Francisco, his letter of February 28th details his reporting in, accommodations, getting shots, and the Navy?s plans to transport him to Japan by ship instead of plane. He also tells Ruth, who was several months pregnant, that ?Japan is a closed area for shipping dependents, and had been ever since the Korian invasion.? He also notes that he made a pay allotment to Ruth of $380 per month. His March 4th letter states ?I can?t begin to tell you how sorry I am that the baby was lost. Despite the fact that I was going to be away, I thought for Allan?s sake, the sooner the better for another one. Believe me, I know how you must feel too, and unfortunately, you must bear the brunt of it. I feel so helpless here? I just remembered, after talking with you, that a miscarriage is pretty serious, so promise me you?ll take the best of care.? The aftereffects of her miscarriage cause Tom to begin to think about a leave or a request to be relieved from active duty. Deciding to get his duty over with as soon as possible, he gets ready to leave for Japan and on March 8 writes, ?I?ve reached the point where I?m fed up with San Francisco. Don?t get me wrong. This is a wonderful city, but if it were heaven I?d be tired of it. I?ve done just about all the sight seeing I care to do, and sitting around doing nothing weighs heavily upon me.? His next several letters continue to express his concern for Ruth?s recovery and his anger at the doctor and nurse who treated her. Finally on March 16th, Tom is aboard the USS Anderson APA 111, ?an attack transport similar to the Calvert, on which I served (during WW II), but much more modern now in peacetime.? The transport was carrying ?over 2000 Army troops, and about 225 cabin passengers. The cabin passengers are made up of about 25 Navy officers, about 30 Air Force officers, about 70 Army officers, and ? hold your hat ? about 100 WACs!? The WAC quarters were policed by Marines. WACs could mix in the lounge and on the promenade deck, but were not allowed to even talk to the troops. His next several letters describe in some detail the voyage, who he met, and what he was doing to pass the time aboard ship. On March 27th Tom writes that he had arrived in Yokohama and was immediately dispatched to Tokyo where he was assigned quarters in the Bunka apartments. He was assigned on the 28th to Operations on the staff of Com Nav FE and will work in Tokyo. Email for complete collection description!
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