Calisthenics held this morning at 8330: The instructor was more concerned with form than with giving fifteen minutes of good exercise. There should be less talk and more of it. I am really eager to take strenous exercises. But unfortunately the system of a new instructor daily defeats this as each one is more interested in making a good front then in putting over exercise. Father Kennedy recommences his school in Philosophy in our quarters this morning. We are short two pupils. Cols Dalton and Thompson. Nelson didn’t show up either. I wonder if he intends to give us up now. At noon I gave in to my weakness, a big plate of potatoe chips. It is quite a job fixing them but it is more than worth it. Got a hair cut this morning. The barber has moved inside an end of the headquarters shack. This soldier amuses me I believe he is from Arkansas and his comments in hi. slow drawl are quaint and witty. He was doing his best to sell me a straight edge razor for ten pesos. .Of course, according to him, it was most unusual how well this one was honing up and he hadn’t hardly worked on it. The war situation is quiet. No further activity in the south Pacific, The Chinese are pushing the Nip back to the sea, the Russians are counterattacking the Germans, and the reports are favorable from Africa. I am still confident that when we really start, the Nips wont stand up. Sharp history appears to be a justification of his actions to the detriment of the combat troops.
Calesthenics this morning was a flop. The instructor was an emaciated looking young officer who showed by his lack of coordination that he of all persons needed exercises. I was so disgusted that I went to Lewis and recommend that he appoint someone in charge of calisthenics who really knows how to handle the period. He has appointed Goldtrap with this in mind. Missed dinner today as McGee and I went to the market to be there early and get the chow for tonight’s spread. Actually I didn’t miss anything as it was sure to be rice. All I get at noon usually is companionship of my messmates. Higgins and I were the cooks though Hig did most of the work. We had some white beans boiled and they became he piece de resistance. The Nips are drilling the PA and it is amusing the see the manner in which the PA snap to for them. There is no foolishness there. The Japs certainly have the Indian sign on them. One of the lieutenants brought in the history of the Division Special Unit which had been written up by the sergeant major of that unit. It reads, to the point of disgust, like an eulogy for Coale. It is so distorted that, fearing it might become made of record, I went down to see Nelson. He also became insensed and is sure it will never get into the files. He also turned over to Lewis the History that sharp took north with him. I will see it later. It