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Hollywood Marines
Billy Martens
My Diary Jack—Monday, August 17th, 1942 Tulagi
Okay, Jack, it’s Billy. I haven’t talked to you since my next-to-last elk hunt, the week-long one in November ‘41. So, here’s what’s what: I’m in the South Pacific, I’m carrying a Model 1903, but I’m not after elk or a stag; America’s at war with Japan, and I’m in the war—I’ve killed men, okay? It’s been eating at me. Me, the good Mennonite boy who thought he should defend his country and all his Mennonite people who wouldn’t defend themselves. So, I hung around the church parades yesterday, looking for answers. Any answers. Never really sat down, was just standing back of it all. I started with the Protestants. Chaplain Jackson was talking about a battle David fought. The faith he needed and the strengt
