1945

On 27 January, he is transferred to the 112th Cavalry Regimental Combat Team in Leyte. He serves in General MacArthur's Luzon campaign in the Philippines as a clerk, a wire lineman, and several other positions, and in April volunteers to be a rifleman in a reconnaissance platoon, where he experiences combat, a few firefights and skirmishes. After the war ends he becomes a cook in occupied Japan. He is promoted to Tech 5 and becomes head cook, but is then demoted to private for insubordination shortly before being rotated home in April 1946. Meets Francis Irby "Fig" Gwaltney (same outfit) from Arkansas, who in 1975 will introduce him to his sixth wife, Norris Church. Celia Mailer dies.

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  In Japan, 1945.