in the field
july 26, 1945


my dear fely,

i promised to write you as soon as we took mankayan. we took mankayan several days ago but i wasn't able to write immediately because after mankayan fell things happened so fast that we have advanced many kilometers beyond it to capture a very important highway junction. in doing so, we drove the japs into what i believe to be the last pocket in the whole of luzon. it may take only a few more days to finish the campaign once and for all. of course this fills me with joy knowing that i can come to you when the war is over but this happy thought is somehow mared by the memory of my comrades and buddies who weren't as fortunate as i was. i salute them and i am extremely grateful to God for seeing me thru until now. darling, please help me in my thanksgiving prayers even as you prayed Him for my safety. i know He has answered your prayers and mine and it has to be the two of us too to thank Him. and let us pray for one more thing - that God may grant us more of His grace, even just a little, and allow us to fulfill our dreams and give us a chance to help build and live in a world of peace and justice.

this is the first time in a long while that i can afford to let my mind wander off from the grim business of fighting and killing, and i have an urge to talk and talk about so many things - serious things. you see, i'm no longer the crazy fool that you knew me to be. this war and the circumstances of my life have sobered me up a lot and now it seems to me that i've gone quite too far on the other and serious side of the fence. how i wish we were together now so i could talk and talk and know that there is someone who'll listen and understand.

i think i better end here before i get carried away. as it is, there isn't any paper to write on where i am aside from these 3 sheets that i've been saving specially for this letter. may God be with you always. my best regards to your parents. i end as usual saying: i love you, i love you and i love you.

always,
ely









to be continued...