Don Yates
- After spending some time here with her father, Herbert Rieke, and other relatives, Mrs. Don Yates returned to her home in Chicago last week. She informed us that she has just recently returned from a visit with her husband, who is in the navy and is now stationed in California.
The following June 7, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 4, column 3:
Don Yates in Philippines
Don Yates, SKD 3/c, stationed in the Philippines, writes the Tribune, as follows:
- Have just recently heard of a new regulation governing the mailing of publications overseas, which requires a written request from the subscriber, so had better get busy and let you know of my desire to continue to receive the Tribs. Until a few weeks ago, when I received my first copy, I had to rely on clippings that my wife sent me, so you see getting the paper in its entirety is much better.
Well, like so many others, a lot sure has happened to me since coming into the service. After training, school and a short period of temporary duty on the west coast, I was transferred overseas. Spent a few months at one of the islands, which, of course, I'm not permitted to mention, and then came on up here with a Naval Advanced Base Unit last December. Things were a little rugged when we first came in here, but haven't even had an alert here at this particular place for quite some time.
This place is growing every day and will eventually be one of our most important. As you probably can guess from my rate I am one of the disbursing staff here -- have been a little short-handed since receiving so many new men, and have been kept plenty busy! Chow has been fair, get three beer rations a week, and have movies every night. Have a softball league, too, so I've been playing a little ball. Must admit though, the old boy has slowed up a little. Ha! Ha! The weather has been pretty warm but the evenings usually are quite comfortable. Like all bases out this way, we have our share of mosquitoes, centipedes and various other specimens of crawling "creatures."
Enjoyed quite a thrill last Easter. Was able to spend a few days with my brother Dick. At that time, he was stationed in this vicinity. Hadn't seen each other in over two years, so you can imagine we had plenty to talk of. He's attached to a liaison squadron in the air corps. He does photography work and really gets around. Am enclosing a snap taken when I was down to their camp.
Best regards to everybody and here's hoping for a speedy victory over the Nips.
Don
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