Huisman Writes From Ft. Lewis, Washington 1941

HUISMAN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/14/2012 at 07:17:33

Herbert Huisman Writes From Ft. Lewis, Wash.

Wellsburg Boy Moved To Camp Near Seattle, Washington; In Anti-Aircraft Regiment

Seattle, Washington
December 29, 1941

Dear Colonel:

As our regiment has been moved from the permanent station at Ft. Bliss into position in Seattle I have been getting The Herald via Fort Bliss, so I’m sending my new address and will tell you what I can about our new position.

I read “Chink” Geerdes’ article in The Herald, and will say that he voiced the sentiments of the whole army when he said “We’re looking for Japs.”

As you know the Boeing Aircraft factory, one of our vital factories, is located in Seattle and our regiment being an anti-aircraft regiment has taken up positions around the factory and airfield, as well as the city proper, to guard against a possible Japanese bombing attack.

Our platoon is in position about six blocks from the factory and we are all ready for action.

We have everything hooked up with ammunition in clips and a skeleton crew is always in position ready to go into action at the first sign of enemy aircraft. All men sleep with their clothes and shoes on so the instant the air raid sirens blow we can bail out of bed and start a warm reception for anything hostile that appears.

I haven’t seen many of the positions around here myself but all I can say is that any Jap that shows up here will be in hell before he figured on it.

I believe we could throw up a ring of tire around this area that would stop anything, so meantime we stand by with one eye and one ear cocked toward the sky and wish a few Japs would show up so we could get some souvenirs.

Yours truly,
Herbert L. Huisman
Btry H 63rd CAAA
A P O 309
Fort Lewis, Wash.

--Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 7 January 1942