LaMorne (West) Miller Writes From New Guinea.
Dearest family:
We had a fairly good boat trip, tho crowded. We debarked in these amphibious jeeps. About 22 nurses in each one. As we pulled farther and farther away from the ship we had the funniest feeling because we knew that the next land we put foot on would not be the good old U. S. A. The jeeps came closer to land and when the wheels hit the beach about 30 ft. off shore he just put that little old baby in gear and up we went and into the jungle. Into the jungle is putting it mildly. Right on the edge of camp is the forest, trees and foliage of every size, shape and description. The cockatoos make the funniest racket but amuse me no end.

Every two feet is a coconut tree. We are not permitted in the jungle so all the wild life we will see will be what escapes and crawls into camp. Such as the big lizard that just went scooting across the tent.
We inspect our beds each nite before retiring for anything that may have gotten into them in the daytime.
Our tent is a small four cornered affair. Five cots --- Polly, Rita, (Boston), Lovey (Michigan), Helen (Chicago) and me. We've made it quite livable now that we've all, our junk arranged. The chow is wonderfully more than we expected and everyone is so nice and accommodating. We are not with the officers and enlisted men --- we were separated and we've no idea where they went. We will not be here long we hope, and will go on to our final destination.

You'll never know how big this army is until you've made a troop transport trip like we have and realize what immense preparations must go on, on each side before can In provided You can tell everyone for me that they have no idea what New Guinea is like, nor any conception of war.

Everyone has a peculiar yellow color about their faces because of the drug we take to control malaria. Guess you know we use Australian money.
Ever hear of rain? - You haven't seen anything yet!
We are not working yet---nor do we know when we will. We do our own detail work (K. P.) and can swing a pick and shovel as well as any G. I.
Every now & then around the area we find a brilliant colored flower which is very striking. Uniforms are a thing of the past. We wear field shoth and fatigues, pants and shirts, dirty, most of the time.

We are not allowed out of our area alone. We must have an escort always. We never walk, always a jeep. Mud up to our ankles. Makeup is a memory and my good Marshall Field shirt is now just another G. I. shirt of the past.
Movies entertain us three times a week - mass every nite at 6:30. The sides of our tent are always up and when it rains we get wet, and everything we possess. But such is life. Everything mildews, our shoes are a sight.
I don't know when I can write to everyone so please let them read this. I am well---as happy as a goofy lark but still know that the good old U. S. can't be beat!

The Red Cross held open house all day and there was a gift for each man. One of the ambulatory patients went up into the hills and cut down an ordinary tree. We so loaded it with home made decorations you couldn't tell it wasn't pine or evergreen.
We attended midnite mass out under the stars-the boys sang like angels; three of us girls practiced for weeks with them. Then we had our first alert in about two months that nite. Wouldn't you know the Nips would pull that on Christmas Eve?

Perhaps you know by this time that Cpl. Donald Struve and I met about six weeks ago. We really had a good old-fashioned gab-fest ---he dishing out most of the news for he saved the Monitors and Registers for me. He hasn't changed a bit, still the same old Struvie. Am now holding down the job of operating room supervisor of our 2250 bed hospital. It really is a job but have lots of very efficient nurses and corpsmen.
There is a boy named McGuire from Manilla who works for me also.
His father used to be a depot agent in Manning.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank my many friends for the lovely cards and a package that arrived here in the Dutch East Indies in good time.
My sincere wish at the present time is that Lt. Heinz Detlefsen is soon found and taken off the "missing" list. Heinz and I received our promotions on the same day.
Thanks again to the Monitor and the Legion, and closing now to go see a movie out on the canal under the stars.
Sincerely,
LaMorne West Miller,
1st Lt. Army Nurse Corps.

Manning Monitor article------ 1945

LT. LAMORNE MILLER HOME FROM PHILIPPINES
Guests in the Mrs. Mary West home Sunday were Mr. and Mrs. L. B. West, and daughter, Carol Jean, of Kingsley, and their daughter, Lt. LaMorne Miller of the army nurse corps, who has just returned from Luzon after spending nearly two years in the South Pacific area.

Her husband who has received a discharge from service, Lt. Joe Miller is attending the University of Illinois. Mrs. Miller also plans to enter college.
Mr. West and Carol Jean returned to Kingsley Sunday night and Mrs. West and Lt. Miller are remaining until Thursday.