Because my message disappeared off the old message board from in between two other messages (odd), I'm posting it again. I hope that someone will be able to help me:
My father, B.H. Gibson, a lieutenant in combat intelligence during WWII and a captain during the Korean conflict, dictated his life story for me to write a book. There are 4 cassette tapes. In addition, I have found correspondence he wrote. The letters were in two separate bundles, found in different locations in the house. One was tied with string, the other bound with rubber bands. The letters contained a code that my father used to communicate his location to Mary Wylene Allison Gibson, his wife. His 1944 letters are postmarked "free" though according to his military record he was still stateside. His 1945 letters were sent with postage though according to his military record, he was on Okinawa in June 1945. One letter after the war ended contained the code but he also just wrote out where he had been:
"Just in case you wonder why I did not write the past three days, I have been to Tokyo on a mission of which I cannot tell you about now. I will tell you that it was a meeting of Intelligence Departments. I know I have arroused your curiosity, but I wanted you to know I had been to Japan...." My father never mentioned that he had been to Japan, only described a patrol that he led which resulted in the death of the Japanese commanding general of the Ryukyu Islands (a different account than found in history books). "I think I sent you a picture of French and I but I'm not sure. I surely do miss him. I'm sending a shoulder patch for my green blouse. If you're not sure where it goes...." Mention of French would mean that he was in Japan, according to the code. "I don't go very many places. I'm scared." Why would he be scared after the war? He never once mentioned being scared in any of the previous letters, even while on Okinawa when there were still skirmishes going on.
Some of the letters have a notation which I cannot make with the fonts available here. It is a small "c" with a double line under it. Does anyone know what that might mean?
My father was involved in something during the war that, I believe, effected the family directly. Any Marine or anyone who can shed any light on this please help. I would be so very grateful.
Carolyn Sparks
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