• Denise Frisino

    World War II

    Victory Mail

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    Victory Mail

    Keeping Loved Ones Connected During WWII

    In this modern day of instant connectivity via email, text, twitter, Tik Tok, Facebook, Facetime, etc. it is hard to envision what it would have been like to wait weeks, even months, to hear from your loved ones or to receive news from back home.

    WWII had many challenges, keeping positive morale among the troops was paramount. Communication between loved ones and those fighting to protect us often provided them with the fortitude to persevere though the horrors of war. One can imagine that men and women overseas would anxiously stand in line to hear their names called out – that a letter had arrived for them – a bit of home on a small slip of paper.

     “The Post Office, War and Navy departments realize fully that frequent and rapid communication with parents, associates and other loved ones strengthens fortitude, enlivens patriotism, makes loneliness endurable and inspires to even greater devotion the men and women who are carrying on our fight far from home and from friends.”

    Postmaster General 1942 Annual Report

    Risk of Waylaid Mail

    However, receiving mail was not easy. Transferring vital information was risky. In some instances, messages – if delivered to the wrong hands – incited wars.
    In November of 1940, Churchill’s British War Cabinet’s Planning Division, entrusted 6 officers aboard the SS Automedon, a passenger and cargo steamer, with a small green bag marked “Highly Confidential.” This bag was purposely punctured with holes and weighted. In the event the ship was under attack, the officers were to toss the sack into the water, confident it would quickly sink.

    SS Automedon

    Unfortunately, when the German Auxiliary Cruiser, Atlantis, a merchant raider, spotted the Automedon off Sumatra on November 11th of that year, the German captain raised his colors and opened fire. All six British officers were killed on the first strike before they could fulfill their orders to destroy the top secret information. The 28 pages prepared by MI6, along with Naval Intelligence reports, Fleet orders, decoding tables and other sensitive information, was recovered by the Germans who promptly gave a copy of these reports to their Axis ally, the Japanese.

    German Auxiliary Cruiser, Atlantis

    England was not aware the documents had fallen into the enemy hands until March 1, 1941, almost four months later, an astonishing amount of time during any war.
    Some say the discovery of this intelligence, which claimed Britain could not afford to continue a large presence in the South Pacific, provided Admiral Yamamoto, commander-in-chief of the Japanese Combined Fleet, the vital information needed to help make the decision to enter the Second World War with the United States and bomb Pearl Harbor.
    In the ever changing tide of war there were many incidents when mail or transmissions were uncovered by the opposing side.

    The Australian Coastwatchers positioned throughout New Guinea and the Solomon Islands during the WWII, were a band of brave men who constantly observed the waterways and skies for the enemy. They not only reported movement and helped rescue Allies, but also recovered a tin filled with pages listing the names of all the Japanese naval officers and where they were stationed. This important information was delivered to the US and Allies at a very crucial point in the war in the Pacific.

    V Mail to the Rescue

    For WWII US soldiers, rules were established for letter writing. When penning words to send home, servicemen could not divulge their whereabouts or movement. All letters were read and censored. Handwritten good tiding from the front often arrived with holes in the pages where the censor considered the information too descriptive if read by a spy. Also, the amount of mail filling cargo ships took up far too much space, precious space better used for ammunitions, food, or medical supplies, etc.
    America quickly undertook the solution, one that Britain had been employing for years. Microphotography, microfilming, dated back to 1850 when used primarily by banks and businesses. Photographing the message then sending the film to be processed, printed, and delivered, dated back to the Franco-Prussian War when the primitive microfilm was transported by carrier pigeon.

    V Mail was adopted and encouraged in May of 1942 when the US entered into a contract with Kodak. Instructed to use dark ink, you wrote on a purchased, V Mail sheet which would be photographed then the film shipped overseas. This method also prevented espionage tactics such as invisible ink to be utilized. Over 1 billion V Mail letters were processed between June of 1942 and November of 1945. This space saving venture meant that about 37 mailbags were reduced to one bag, as 1,600 letters could fit on a single 100-foot roll of 16mm film.

    Sealed with a Kiss

    The drawback, of course, was the one page of the V Mail did not allow for long exchanges. Also, and to some more importantly, you could not use lip stick on the V Mail to “seal it with a kiss.” That distinguishable mark of color on the envelope, an imprint of love and promise boosting moral and encouraging the men in fox holes, would gum up the printing press and was not allowed.

    On this Valentines Day, when communicating in real time exchanges with friends and family, think of those who served and continue to do so. Consider sending a letter to a soldier overseas to thank them for their service.

     Link to Doing Good Together’s Write Letters to a Soldier project page

    https://www.doinggoodtogether.org/bhf/write-letters-to-a-soldier.

    And remember how fortunate we are to be free to seal our letters with a kiss.

    P.S.
    The WWII letters my father, First Lieutenant Joseph Frisino, sent to my mother while in the Signal Corps, first from Alaska while building the Alcan Highway and then from the jungles of Burma when defending the Burma Road, are priceless.

    The Day of Infamy Touched Many Shores

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    Remembering “a date which will live in infamy,” the Land of the Rising Sun’s attack on Pearl Harbor in the early morning hours of December 7, 1941, many only equate that horrific event to Hawaii. However, Japan’s far reaching goal for a “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere” went far beyond the shores of the Hawaiian Islands.
    The well-organized Nippon forces positioned themselves across the Pacific in an attempt to block American transports to reach their allies in Australia and other South Pacific areas, and to assure complete and utter control of that region. Thus, benefiting from this area rich with raw materials needed for their continued expansion.

    During President Franklin D Roosevelt’s “Day of Infamy” 6-minute, riveting speech before the joint session of congress and on national radio, he listed the numerous aggressions by the enemy that took place within hours of each other.

    “Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.
    Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
    Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.
    Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
    Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.
    And this morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.”

    Emperor Hirohito, who was viewed throughout Japan as a God, gathered the power of millions of indoctrinated troops willing to never surrender but to sacrifice their lives for his cause. Influenced by the aggressive Prime Minister and general of the Imperial Japanese Army, Hideki Tojo, the Japanese were able to stage simultaneous attacks. Imagine the vast undertaking and planning that went into mounting aggressions on 6 islands plus striking the United States of America.
    Due to the International Date Line the attack on the Philippines is recorded as December 8, 1941, when in truth, it was only a matter of hours after the attack on Pearl.

    The first US ship to encounter enemy fire, and life lost, occurred in Davao Bay in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. The USS William B. Preston, a destroyer sea plane tender, had heard of the attack on Pearl and was told “Japan has commenced hostilities. Govern yourselves accordingly.” The tender sent some PBY’s, patrol bombers – “Catalina’s”, out to search for incoming enemy aircraft. Two of the Cat’s remained moored to their buoys and became easy targets for the incoming Japanese “Vals” and “Claudes”. The two PBY’s were destroyed and sunk in the bay as their crew, along with one dead and one injured, swam toward a small boat lowered by the Preston. Under fire, the tender zigzagged to open water and remained unscathed, only to return later for the small boat of survivors.

    Inexplicitly, at that time Lieutenant General Douglas MacArthur, commander of the US Army Forces in the Far East, having hosted a wild party the night before in his grand hotel, did not appear to take command of his troops. He ignored his orders to follow Rainbow Five, codename for the plan to initiate US planes to attack Japanese airbases within reach after Japan had made the first strike.

    MacArthur’s failure to act left his airplanes and personnel exposed and directly in harms way. He did little to prevent the ensuing damage that the enemy would deliver to American bases and, over a matter of weeks, to the entirety of the Philippines. On the 21st of December MacArthur retreated to the island fortress of Corregidor. Then on the 26th, at Philippine President Manuel Quezon’s urging, MacArthur would declare Manila an “open city.” Thus, in a short eighteen day span, Manila would be left as an “open city” in the hopes the Japanese would respect the Laws of War, which state an “open city” was not to be attacked. However, the Japanese ignored the declaration, claiming the islands as their own, killing not only US soldiers but several of the Philippine Scouts, civilians and taking thousands as prisoners to be placed in camps. This was a precursor to the devastating Bataan Death March.

    Their “Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere” concept had no one fooled. It was an obvious ploy for Japan to rule the Pacific Rim. Sadly, it took over three years, mass destruction of the city and over a hundred thousand lives to evict them from our Pearl of the Orient. It was to change the landscape and the minds of Filipinos and Manila residents forever.

    A Day in Infamy | Manila Nostalgia (lougopal.com)

    The Japanese had prepared well. Over the years their spies positioned around the world, including in America, had provided them with maps, photos, and intelligence to stage the resounding call to war that echoed across oceans and continents.
    So, we should always remember and cherish not only those who died at Pearl Harbor, but all the souls throughout the South Pacific who were lost on this notorious Day of Infamy, whose lives marked the beginning of the global battle, World War Two. And give thanks to those who fought so bravely over the following five years for our cherished freedom.

    Highly Recommended Reading

    Kemp Tolley was commander of the Lanikiai, stationed in Manila, when the Japanese attacked the Philippines on December 8, 1941.  The Cruise of the Lanikai recounts Tolley’s escape and adventures as he sails south to Australia through Japanese waters. An exceptional book of survival.

    For more on Pearl Harbor please read my other blogs:
    December 7th 1941 and interview with Dr. Raleigh who was at Pearl Harbor aboard the USS Maryland during the bombing.

    The Japanese Spy Who Predestined the Fate of Pearl Harbor

    Captain Richard McNees who was stationed at Kaneohe during the attack.

    Where Is Pearl Harbor?

    Rationing – a Fair Share for All of Us

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    Rationing goes back centuries, especially in times of war, strife and shortage. The concept is simple and established to prevent hoarding of any items deemed necessary for survival or to overcome the source of infliction. This action is usually enforced by the government in an attempt to direct the needed supplies to those on the front lines first, then to establish a system for distribution to the masses.
    In troubling times, learning to share and be responsible for limited access to certain products can be life changing. The Great Depression left a scar on many of my parents’ generation as every scrap was used, saved or converted into something practicable.

    Even before the Japanese attacked the United States on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor, blasting us into World War Two, rationing in Britain had been established. The British Ministry of Food issued Ration Stamps, while imploring America to consider rationing of vital aluminum, gasoline, steel, food and materials necessary for battle.

    The ‘Sugar Book’ – War Ration Book Number 1 – arrived on the U.S. civilians’ doorsteps on May 4, 1942, five months after we joined the Allies in global combat. Coffee was rationed by November 27, 1942 with households limited to one pound every five weeks. Before the end of that year nine other essential items were added to the ration coupons.

    By November of 1943 the list expanded to include: gasoline, bicycles, fuel oil, firewood, stoves, rubber, typewriters, (items directly needed by the military) nylon, silk, (for Parachutes etc.) meat, flour, lard, oils, shortening, cheese, butter, margarine, plus canned, bottled or frozen processed foods, including canned milk, dried fruits, jellies, jams and fruit butters

    Remembering that women of all ages wore dresses during the 1940’s, only to have nylons become scarce during wartime, is a prime example of American ingenuity. The ladies got creative. They rubbed their legs with a coloring then drew lines up the back of their calves imitating the line of the nylons to give the appearance they wore stockings.
    When I asked my mother about this, she pointed out how the leg coloring wore off on her white dental assistant uniform. In her early twenties, she scrubbed her uniform nightly keeping it as spotless as possible while attempting to maintain a sense of fashion.

    Shoes were rationed as the materials were needed for boots to hit the ground overseas. One woman I interviewed, Barbara Bradford, told me when she was about to be married, as a gift, a family friend gave her a precious coupon to purchase new shoes. Her father became angry when she came home with sandals, not a pair of practical shoes she could wear year-round.
    Gas masks were not only issued to those in battle, but also to civilians in the event of an attack. Children to grandparents wore them. The masks offered hope, survival, not shame or ridicule.

    In 1966 I was lucky enough to spend a summer with a girlfriend while she visited her grandmother in Hawaii. Returning, I brought with me what I thought to be an item our family need to add to our menu. Spam.
    The can didn’t even make it to the shelf. My father, Second Lieutenant Joseph Frisino, having survived two years in the jungle of Burma during WWII, serving in the Signal Corps, turned beet red with anger.

    “Get that out of here.” He instructed me.

    Shocked by his reaction to a food item, I looked to my mother for help. She just shook her head in warning. The canned good was never opened but was escorted out the back door by Dad.

    Years later in my research I came to realize that during the China, Burma, India conflict, the CBI, food was airdropped into the jungle to the troops. If the Americans made it to the packages that floated on parachutes toward them–before the enemy–aside from the K-Rations, they found Spam. Their diet consisted on what could be scavenged or the limited availability of canned foods.

    Gas rationing happened again here in the United States as a result of the 1973 Oil Crisis. Depending on your license plate ending in an odd or even number determined which day you could go and sit in a long line at the gas station in the hopes the pump did not run dry before you put some in your tank. Even then, nurses and doctors were given priority so they could make it to their demanding jobs. At that time, I was living in Los Angeles and would trade cars with my cousin, a nurse, so I could sit in line to fill her car for her.

    In WW2 the rationing lasted from 1941-1946 when the men and women from all services became the main focus as they fought for our freedom and our future.

    During the 1973 Crisis, a time of shortage and rationing, American Know-How jumped into action to prevent hoarding to be certain gas was made available rationally, not emotionally.

    Today the front line has shifted. Those in the trenches are the care givers, nurses, doctors, ambulance drivers, police firefighter and now some of our military who lead in the battle for lives against the Coronavirus, COVID-19.

    Yes, we are in this together. However, sheltering in place, curfews, wearing masks and rationing are not new concepts but proven safeguards.

    Following these simple rules issued for this drastic time is essential to regaining our health so we can gather when the bans are lifted and for the regrowth of our economy.

    The ‘America Way’ still exists. There are countless reminders of those reaching across aisles, fences and diversities to help. In fact, it has become stronger of late, prominent in every action of those who listen to the Public Health officials and Governors, such as mine, Jay Inslee, who are acting to halt the unseen and unforgiving threat of this virus.

    Thank you to all of those throughout our great country who wear the new uniform of the soldier, unrecognizable with faces shielded, who fight night and day to save lives. You are our heroes.

    Stay safe, Stay inside, Share.