First Into Nagasaki (18 page)

Dec. 25 Christmas

We made it on hands and knees, lying in depressions when clouds went off the moon. Went to beach and south
[east]
along beach in edge of
breakers. Got wet but got around sentries and made the brush. Ran into one big gun where twenty Japs were sleeping but did not wake up and went another way lying by road in brush till moon got out and clouds came and then crossed over to large brush patch. If I were not so ill
[Scotty was suffering with severe diarrhea]
I would enjoy the trip as I got a kick out of every close call and this trip was full of them. I am getting better today. We found dugout at 11 PM and got a bed for night. Am all in. Woke at daybreak and wished Fred Merry Christmas. We believe there is a Santa Claus. Spent the day in brush lying low—and how low!—but feel better tonight.

Dec. 26

Found another bed last night and crawled back in brush this AM. Foliage is thick and ground is wet, and flies about bad as Japs. We are getting set for months here. Found water enough last night to last us a month. U.S. should have this place back by then. We will try be here when they do. Jap sentries patrol constantly on lookout. Trucks are working fast all day and night. Am getting much better. Made the lagoon last night and found some clean clothes. Japs will soon have all camps looted and then will be easier for us. They loot through everything and throw it out on ground just like monkeys. Found a dollar bill and some silver they threw away. They tore the bill into bits first.
[These camps were in patches of brush where company men had hidden during the day in order to avoid being strafed by Japanese planes. There are only about one hundred acres of such brush in Wake’s entire area of twenty-four-hundred acres. These hundred acres were Scotty’s and Stevens’ hideout for the coming weeks, during which the Japanese continually looted and relooted.]
Lots of food everywhere and we are burying some each night, but not too much so it won’t show or be missed.

Dec. 27

Slept in deserted camp last night. Buried much canned food and four gallons water in glass jars, forgot two containers and will get them tonight. Did a little looting behind the Japs. Sat by lagoon and watched lights signalling at sea.
[The fugitives used to watch a Japanese submarine surface in what had been planned as an American base, and wink signal lights to warships on the surface.]
Rose at 5 AM and moved back into the jungle and had apricot juice for breakfast and then a can boneless chicken each. Camouflaged our hideout but must move soon as it is getting too wilted. We are as snug as two rabbits with four thousand hounds after us. We are not afraid; just careful. We have coffee for breakfast, tea for lunch, beer for dinner—all from the same canteen. It’s now 3 PM—we will set out again in about 2½ hours.

Dec. 28

Heard Japs looting all around last evening between 4 and 5, talking and breaking open trunks, the brush being full of loot. Over 500 men carried their stuff out here and there are probably one half that many foxholes to be looked into and torn apart. We found one $2.50 gold piece they overlooked and 81¢ in silver. I carry a hatchet and knife, Fred a hammer and knife. Wish we had revolvers. At 2:15 today Sunday three Japs walked right over the edge of our nest, one carrying a suitcase over his shoulder on a stick, two following behind him. They were off the trail looking for more camps to loot and walked right onto our doorstep. Fred and I sat tight and they did not see us though were less than ten feet away. They were close, too close. I just sat still and crossed my fingers. Fred did the same.

Dec. 29

(I found a fountain pen and here we go from pencil to ink.) Now 2:15 PM and we are hugging turf. Have heard Japs two times today within a hundred feet of our apartment. Thought we heard siren short while ago but birds do so much screaming one is not certain. Seaplane just took off and passed over at low altitude going very fast. We were looking for Japs starting to pick up all food around camps soon so we hide some each night. Did not venture out until 11.30 last night and came in at 5 this AM but crawled under a bush and slept three hours. What a life! We stayed in bed for breakfast this AM, had the morning paper first, then coffee and ham and eggs. Coffee was weak. It will be tea for
supper, all out of the same water canister. Laundryman has not called today; must change laundry.

Dec. 30

Well, here we are at 2:15 again and going strong.
[Scotty often wrote at this hour because the Japanese were resting in the heat after luncheon, instead of scouring the brush.]
Found more water last night and brought in one big can chili beans, sardines, and cheese crackers. Also found drafts and cashier’s checks for $400, $200, $100 and $18 cash. Total for night $718.11. Put it in kitty. Getting so can smell money in dark. Brought in a can of powdered milk and milk our own cow now. One more day of this year left, and soon Congress will come back from their vacation and do some more talking about fighting. What a bunch of boys we have been paying all these years. We two do not know what is going on in the world, but we can bet that in Washington it is mostly talk.

Dec. 31

Last day of 1941 and what a year. Enough happenings to make some people a lifetime. No Japs within alarming limits today. Rained and we had to take cover in adjacent dugout. Maybe safe while raining, but in sunshine looters are often snooping.

Jan. 1

Happy New Year everybody. Started out lucky for me for found check for $150 and 20¢ cash. Check was wet but will put it by to dry.
[Scotty is very Scottish, though born at Bridgeville, California.]
This swells our potential pot to more than $800. Went to dugout to escape rain and Fred heard Japs coming. They missed us by inches. Our closest call to date. Moving today to drier hideout.

Jan. 2

Fixed up dry shelter further away from camp. Spent day undisturbed there but once heard Japs looting camp. We will only be found by accident here if they search for us, but we now can tell there are probably
three thousand on this little island and only about hundred acres of brush
[for hiding]
. When not busy the Japs often prowl through it to kill birds and look for new camps to loot—well, here’s hoping.

Jan. 3

Day passed quickly. We fixed one brush fence to keep Japs out of trails near camp. Ate salad and shrimp with mayonnaise. We have half gallon of this stuff left. Now getting sundown and moon will be right up. Going out at dusk to get some exercise.

Jan. 4

Found a real food cache last night. Got ten cans sausage and six chipped beef also twelve tuna and gal cranberries and one gal Bartlett pears. Good food ahead except crackers or bread. But will make cereals do. We do not dare light a fire; maybe later when it gets stormy. Cloudy tonight, will set paper
[tarpaper roofing]
to catch rainwater. Stayed quiet but heard looters frequently.

Jan. 5

Found 6 gals water. Fourteenth day since we became fugitives from monkey gang. We slept at Palace Hotel last night because of rain. Two Japs went by very near but not so close as before. Have blocked most of near trails with dead trees but they must have climbed over. I think they were lost. Would like to know what the U.S. is doing about getting back this place. Guess they know by now that we are at war. Christmas holidays are over and Congress must have about finished its bicarbonate of soda. The Japs here are working every minute to make it harder and cost more lives to take back Wake but our navy don’t seem to be showing up yet. We know they can’t let the Japs keep this place as it would be a base to bomb shipping and the Pacific must be kept open for supplies if we are to win this war. Seems we are not so ready as Knox says we are. We need a revision of our whole defense setup with some young brains. Weather is broken today into some sunshine and a little rain. Spring looking in on us. Quails are mating around us and little lizards hatching out. Birds are nesting and days getting noticeably longer. Jap trucks are very busy strengthening positions. All buildings
are being mined no doubt and will be destroyed as soon as looks like the island would be retaken. Fred and I are sitting tight but days are getting awful long and flies are very bad. Am better but not well yet. Very weak and dizzy and do not have the right food, also very thin. Some days the stomach is fairly normal but next day not so good. I cannot get over seeing the other boys stripped to their shorts by Japs and wonder if they were put on boat or was it a brick wall for them. We will probably find out some day if we are not caught. If caught we will surely find out.

Jan. 6

Got up early and camouflaged camp. This is our first work at daybreak each AM. One scout and three bombers went out northeast at 6. Scout returned twice and bombers returned about 3–4 in afternoon. Four alarms from sirens seem to have the Jap boys on their toes. We hope Uncle Sam starts knocking at the door soon. Eleven-inch guns will be music to us.

Jan. 7

Up at 5:30 and more camou. Read a story in Reader’s Digest and started a novel. Went back to old camp and found it had been looted yesterday—another close call. We are still one move ahead of the Japs. Sat a long time on our front porch and finally to bed with lima beans for lunch and plums for dessert.

Jan. 8

Went to Chinese labor camp and brought in some cornflakes. Bomber #13 just passed over on way out . . . . a large four-motored job. #20 followed going south. Little scout plane left at 6:15. Third bomber now going out. Lunch was new potatoes, corn, sardines, seedless grapes (good).

Jan. 9

Slid out at 4:30 AM and lone wolfed for sugar and books while Fred camouflaged camp. Near visit from one Jap who at 11:30 came within thirty feet of camp. We are going to screen some getaway so that we can
crawl off unseen if they climb in on us. All three bombers went out today as usual.

Jan. 10

Mary’s birthday . . . happy birthday, sister. Arose at 3:30 AM and went out for food—moon was light as day. Camouflaged at 5. At 11:30 a Jap knocked on the door. Thought we were finally caught. He looked right at us then turned and walked away. Must have had his eyes on something nearer to him. We moved into deeper brush and lay low the rest of the day thinking perhaps Jap had gone for help. Now about dark think we will move camp.

Jan. 11

35 days since war started. About 20 since island was captured. Japs came back raided us and we lost what few trinkets we had gathered. But we are still at large thanks to our lucky star. We have moved a half mile southeast along edge lagoon. By one o’clock four Japs have already passed near. There are just too many people on Wake for so small a spot. Probably 3,500 Japs or more. They are very nervous today. Think they expect U.S. soon. It’s about time, we think.

Jan. 12

Yesterday was a nightmare from noon on. Japs all afternoon almost stepping on us. Seems we picked a group of trees that reached to the lagoon’s edge. At high tide Japs could not get by on the lagoon side so they either went around us or crawled through. At least three were twenty feet from us in brush and five more passed nearby just outside. This is not good for our nerves—we moved back near the old camp.

Jan. 13

Slept at Waldorf Astoria.
^*
Had good bed and overslept until it was too late for safe traveling. Am jittery and wish uncle would start knocking
on the door with some eleven-inch guns. That will be sweet music to us and we will find a hole while it is going on.

Jan. 14

Well, we got by the 13th just by a hair and hope for better as we are getting jittery. We slept on coral. Wish we had some outside news and knew how our folks are and when uncle is coming to get us.

Jan. 15

It is now approaching midafternoon when looting is heaviest. We may get by with little or no alarm as the near camps have been pretty well combed over and hence Japs work farther away. But by the same token they creep into all likely trails looking for more loot. We have camouflaged trails to our camp as much as possible. We expect American help about Sunday if not before.

Jan. 16

We almost had callers—missed us by fifteen feet. They were probably lost while looting and trying to find road. They did it, but almost stepped on us doing it. Guess we will have to put up signs. Private property, keep out. Lots of noise today, trucks and tractors going all day. We were out two hours last night and got a little exercise. We really need it. Have been lying down so long we get dizzy when we stand up, and are very weak. Made another day by the grace of God and fifteen feet of brush. Something is sure taking care of us as we couldn’t be this lucky.

Jan. 17

Son’s birthday—25 years old. Well, it doesn’t matter much what happens to me. I have the comfort of knowing that my son will carry on and that our little mother will be provided for and this makes it easier to face the hazard of each succeeding day. We have been within the Valley of the Shadow now for 41 days and we have had a lot of close calls. But we are being as careful as we know how to be. If I don’t get back I will have had what few folks have had—25 years with two of the best scouts on earth. Nips were busy at big gun practice all day.