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1944
“Believe it or not they are going to send me to airplane and engine mechanic school after I finish my last day of training here.”
“I still like this army a lot. you learn a lot you keep clean the barracks is spotless. you keep in good health you don’t have to worry about what to do next because the sargent takes care of that. you never think of meals. you just go eat.”
September 21
“Just a few lines to let you know I’m OK. A famous doctor who has been all over the world in the past 2 years and has written several books examined me an diagnosed my trouble, now under a new treament and coming along fine. It seems I have a rare disease not very well known to medical science. The treatment isn’t so pleasant, I have to take 2 shots a day along with other medicine, and blood tests. So I’m getting to know what a pin cushion feels like.”
September 28
“Pretty tired, just had my hair all cut off…”
“Mom I have to send my camera home also my flashlight. The day we was supposed to turn them in (we had to check them just to get on the boat) I was on K.P. and didn’t get to…. I didn’t even know about it until today and the Captain bawled me out and said I can’t take them.”
1945
January 1 1945
“I may get home in ’46 if all the present leaders die or something but I can’t see getting home soon. I’d sure like to though.”
November 12
“What a life. Hot water. Why when you turn the handles marked hot, hot water actually comes out. Good butter. And good coffee. Just a small taste of what the States is going to be…”
Nov 21
“I quit trying to figure out when I would get home.”
1946
February 7 (Red Cross Letterhead)
“I sure would like to learn the cattle and farming business from someone tho. After I learned a little I could go to college then try my own luck after I got out.”
February 13 1946
“There is a riot on in Calcutta now. All vehicles and personnel are restricted to their area. A boy driving the bus to town last night picked up his passengers in town and started back and the Indians were lined up all over the road and tried to stop him. He had several officers and enlisted men and two Red Cross girls in the bus. But he never stopped. He shoved the gas down and barreled through. They throwed bricks and hit him twice.”
“I move every where but home. Well I must stop now. Goodbye Love Clyde”
“My eye is okay. I have a good pair of colored glasses and that helps. When it gets to hurting I ride the sickbook till it stops.”
May 12 (Army Letterhead)
“This country is no good and if and when I say I’m in the hospital don’t worry. It’s usually someone who ? disease or bad irritation from the dirt and heat… And everyone has to go sometime or other. It’s a relief anyways to go.”
“I heard also that the Indian government told Truman to get us out of here quick or they wouldn’t be responsible for what happened after January 1st. This country is going to bust wide open before long and I don’t want to be here.”
1955
“This language is rough to learn. I find it hard to foll my r’s like the Scotchmen. The alphabet has 38 figures plus some other things thrown in…”
“I got a nice motorcycle…an English cycle, 3.5 H.P. single cylinder. I need a pair of goggles bad though, as the wind and dust make my eyes so sore when I ride it.”
“I would like some of my old slides sent out to me. All of the farm and harvest and everything… particularly those around home and J.C., etc.”
“I took and passed my second language progressive. I may learn another dialect or two… there are so many languages here.”
“Here in Murree, we are more separated from the people and we study langauge all the time… We are just finishing our Murree Convention of three days here.”
“I opened that large jar of coffee on July 31st and it’s almost gone. We have had so many guests and they love American coffee…”
“Please send another flyswatter, they are the best things I get.”
1956
“I can’t say I enjoyed the jar of coffee you sent though. It was caffeine-free. What do you think I drink coffee for anyway?”
“Last night I went out and sold 410 booklets and distributed 400 tracts and I hope to do it more often. It’s really getting cold tho for a motorcycle.”
1957
“I get 100 miles to a gallon of gas on my motorcycle. That’s the English Imperial gallon though and its equal to 1.2 of our gallons. The kerosene though is sold in half gallon tins and is not English.”
Clyde’s Recipe for “Very Yellow” Bread
“Today I baked some bread. I used:
two packs of yeast
12 cups of flour,
2 eggs,
salt,
milk,
half tablespoon of shortening
1958
March 20
“I have grass growing in the courtyard and roses blooming now. I have the place all screened and painted so I can get out and do more work now. We are going to Multan in the morning for a day of fellowship with all the missionaries. Mary has to see the doctor too. My motorcycle is there and needs a new piston, etc.”
“After being here two and a half years I’ve worn out a lot of things, and they get so dirty that I can’t get them clean any more…”
“Mary is a business girl and is very good at keeping books and running things in general. She has been the bookkeeper at the hospital the last three years. She pays all the bills and servants and missionaries etc. She won’t remain in that job any longer though.”
“Good news! We bought a gasoline washer from a couple home on furlough for $100.00 It works quite well and really saves us a lot of work. We just couldn’t keep our clothes washed…”
“We are just beginning to get beets, carrots, tomatoes, peas in now. I am so sick of squash, cauliflower, eggplant that I couldn’t hardly eat them boiled anymore. I have to have them cooked in a curry with lots of spices. They are the hot weather vegetables. Oranges and grapefruit are coming in now too.”
1959
“I received a nice letter from Aunt Laura yesterday. She told me all about the man she expects to marry and their plans etc. She sounds very happy…”
“I’m sorry to hear about Rich, but I knew he would start slowing down one of these days. I hope he will take it easy now. He should quit farming and to go to raising cattle only. I see the grain surpluses are terribly large in America. It seems funny to live in a country where the greatest need is plain wheat. These people practically live on wheat alone.”
1960
1961-63
1964
1965-66
unknown year
Letter Home from Clyde’s Brother Phil: WWII
10.17.1945 (Japan: Penned by Phil Priddy)
“Believe it or not Mom not “one” shot has been fired and the only and best way to describe our present situation here in Japan is that it is a huge success. I have been wondering how many people in America realized such a landing here in Japan could be possible. I mean with such good cooperation from the people.”
“Incidently, I have no lady friend anymore. It’s all my fault and I do regret telling her not to write anymore. I can honestly say that she was a swell girl. Just being able to write her instead of seeing her once in a while got tiresome I guess and now I truly regret being so foolish with her. Men are foolish creatures aren’t they Mom? If I ever get the chance to make up with her, my pride or stubbornness won’t stop me from asking her forgiveness…”
keith fields 
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