HEADQUARTERS, 34TH INFANTRY DIVISION
OFFICE OF THE STAFF JUDGE ADVOCATE
A.P.O. 34 – U. S. ARMY
JHH/few
Italy
4 August 1944
Lt. Colonel FARRANT L. TURNER,
Box 2930, Honolulu, 2, Hawaii.
My dear Colonel:
Your letter reached me about twenty days ago, but opportunity to answer has been rendered almost impossible by reason of work and frequent and rapid moves to the wake of the nomadic Jerries – who, by the way, hare stopped their hasty retreat and intend to make another Cassino out of the Pisa, Florence, Rimini line.
You must have derived a lot of satisfaction from the news that your old 100th had been cited a unit. The Division is inordinately proud to have them with the old Red Bull’s head. My pride in them is accentuated too by the fact that no one of them as yet, had been charged with misbehavior before the enemy. They are a credit to America and a credit to a section of our kalaedoscopic society that the rest of the Nation is just now beginning to understand and appreciate.
I understand, I think, your feelings on leaving the outfit and upon your return to civil life. But you can find comfort in the fact that you were here and that you trained, and led in combat, one of the outstanding units in the American Army. I hope this finds you completely oriented in your civil roll. Somehow, I fear my re-enter into civil life more than I did leaving it. Perhaps the adjustment will not be as difficult as I anticipate. Still and all, I have been in this Array for almost four years.
General RIDER has gone home. The Chief of Staff follows soon. Only the Padre, Colonel WHITE, Colonel RITCHIE and I are left of the old, original group. And the picture changes every day.
I expect to visit Honolulu some day and shall anticipate your promised visit to Minnesota.
Sincerely and with best wishes from your old Staff of Hawaiian boys, among whom I passed your letter.
JOHN H. HOUGEN,
Lt. Colonel, J.A.G.D.,
Staff Judge Advocate.
