Paul Dozier Forsyth

May 11, 1944

Also spending a furlough here with relatives are PAUL FORSYTH and Bobby Moody who are in the Navy and have just completed their boot training.

August 3, 1944

We received a postcard from D. P. (DOZIER) FORSYTH this week requesting us to send The Tribune to him "as" he said, " I have a permanent address and would like to get The Tribune." (OK Dozier, we're putting your name on the mailing list, and the other readers of this column will be glad to hear from you at any time.)

August 17, 1944

Also a nice letter from PAUL FORSYTH one of the Navy's LSM’s. Paul said: "I got The Tribune today and I surely did enjoy it. I certainly am sorry to learn about Joy Deen.

You can tell all the great fishermen around there that they should be out here. Lots of good fishing but no better than dear old Flagler Beach. I surely would like to be home for a while. I suppose, however, that we will be leaving soon for the (censored by Editor).

It certainly is hot out here and this little old tub we are on is about like a row boat. One can never know which way it will roll next. I spend half of my time trying to get some place and the other half trying to stay there.

We don't have much overhead to spare in the engine room and my head feels like a sack of onions and, of course, looks like a big one. Well, I'll sign off for now. Tell everybody hello, for me. I certainly appreciate The Tribune. All the fellows read, it and ask me who is who." (Thanks Paul, for the letter. A lot of the fellows from this county haven't heard of you for some time. Sorry we had to censor a word or two of your letter. We newspapers operate under a voluntary code of censorship and the code wouldn't allow a couple of words.)

September 7, 1944

And an excellent letter from PAUL (DOZIER) FORSYTH, in the Navy and aboard an LSM. Paul says:

"I received two Tribunes today and surely did enjoy them. I saw where Bobbie Moody got a medical discharge. I was glad to hear that. I was stationed at the same place with Bobbie for a short while and enjoyed it.

I suppose we will be leaving in a few days but will have the same address and will be looking for The Tribune. I like to read about the boys in service and, too, all the local news. All of the boys on my ship like to read The Tribune and ask me who and what about everybody mentioned in it. I saw an article in one of the papers from Claude Deen. I certainly would like to hear from him.

You can tell all the boys to look for me as I am hoping to see some of them soon. From the news in the paper, they are on every front, but some of them should be coming home soon and let some of us who have not yet been over have a crack at the enemy.

I am not "crazy" to go but a lot must, therefore I may as well go as anyone else. A lot have already given their lives for us and I am no better than they. If we do not fight for ourselves, we can't expect somebody else to do it for us. Therefore, Dozier is on his way to try and do his part.

Give my best regards to all in Flagler county, and again accept my thanks for the paper. It surely is a help in boosting my morale to read about old school chums over there fighting. So long, and good luck" (Good luck to you, Paul-and take it easy.)

November 16, 1944

From down in the Southwest Pacific comes a letter from our old friend DOZIER FORSYTH who is with the Navy in that area He said:

"I received The Tribune of the 21st (Sept.) today. Certainly regret to learn about Hub Frier and Jack Dupont, but am glad they are better.

I haven't been lucky enough to see anyone from home yet but I may, and I surely would like too. I am down here near where Brady Wadsworth was. We are having some Bunnell weather; it rains every day. However, I would like to be back in Bunnell and go bass fishing.

Give my best regards to all the folks at home and all the boys in service. I don't know when I will be home again but hope it will be soon.

I suppose the election is getting hot now and would like to be there and talk with Mr. Byrd. He always has a good lecture for all candidates. Will close now, hoping to be home soon."

March 29, 1945

On the other side things are still hot. So the first letter this week is from D. P. (DOZIER) FORSYTH who writes us from the Philippines, dated Feb. 21. He says:

"I'll take time out and write to let you know I got two papers yesterday and I surely did enjoy them. Am so sorry to learn about Mr. Ed Johnson's death. I know he will be missed and long remembered in Flagler county.

I have been in the Philippines for some time now. I got ashore the other day for a few days. A person can't realize how really good, good old America is unless he can get around and see some of the world. These people are satisfied with much less than we Americans are. They take life as it comes - slow and easy.

The Filipinos are very nice to our boys.

I see where some boys from home are out this way. Would like their addresses. I may meet up with them.

Guess I will close for now. So keep the home fires burning and don't forget the slogan 'On to Tokyo or Bust.’ Thanks again for the best paper ever printed." (Thank you Dozier for the kind words. It is not the largest or best looking paper in the world but it is the only home town paper, and we're glad you are getting it).

May 31, 1945

Well, some of the army men are coming home - so they say, but the Navy men go on forever it seems. Anyway, here's a letter from PAUL "DOZIER" FORSYTH, written from Dutch East Indies and dated May 23. Dozier says:

"I received three Tribunes today and I surely did enjoy reading them.

I have been on the lookout for some of the boys from home but haven't, as yet, been lucky enough to see any of them. I saw in the Tribune that several are out here in the Pacific and I hope to run across some of them while I am out here.

When I get a paper and read about the fishing, it surely makes me homesick. I am just waiting for the day when I can get back and enjoy some of it.

We haven't been doing much lately. I suppose you read about Fort Drum (near Manila)? We were there and as it has been published I can tell you about it.

Fort Drum was built by the United States and it once had two twin 12-inch gun turrets on it and some 5-inchers also. It was constructed of concrete out in the mouth of the entrance to Manila Bay, near Corregidor, and was designed to stand lots of shelling and bombing.

Our planes dropped bombs on it but were not successful in destroying it. Our job was to carry some men up to it so they could put a charge in one of the passageways leading down from the top. It is (or was) quite large and about 40 feet high. We also had another small boat, an L.C. T., with a tank of fuel and with a hose they pumped fuel in while the others were fixing the charge. We were there only a short time but it seemed like forever to me. I didn't know what to expect (incidentally, one of our antiaircraft gunners was wounded by a sniper but he is doing fine, although he is in a hospital) while we were there but we finally got everything all set and pulled away and stood by to watch the explosion. It exploded several times. Well, I guess that about covers the news for that.

The weather here is terribly hot, although we have had some rain - not much, however. We get off and onto the beach in the afternoon and play ball and go swimming - but it's not like Flagler Beach; no beach is like it, so far as I am concerned. And I certainly expect to go fishing there when I get back.

I don't see how these Japs can last much longer because, according to the news, they are losing on every front. They know they are beaten and I believe, they will have to give up soon - tomorrow, I hope.

Suppose you people at home get as much news as we do, or more. I can write only what has been published and it is probably old when you get my letters but that's war.

I had a letter from Claude Deen and answered it but haven't heard from him anymore.

I would like to have the address of any of the boys out this way. It might help me to locate them.

Well, thanks for The Tribune and keep them coming; keep the home fires burning and I'll do my best out here.”

July 12, 1945

We have a letter this week from D. P. (DOZIER) FORSYTH who is aboard an LSM in the Pacific area:

"I will take time to thank you again for the "Tribune" (The Biggest little paper ever printed). I received 6 of them the other day and I surely did enjoy them.

I saw in one where they were trying to get a good road from Bunnell to Flagler Beach. I surely hope you all the best of luck.

Well I don't have any news for this time except that I was down where the Wild Men come from (if you know what I mean) and expect to go back. I really get a kick out of listening to those Australians talk. Every other word is "bloody." They use the word "Bloke" for fellow, or guy, as we would say. They are a nice bunch of (fellows) Blokes though. They pronounce ‘I a’ as ‘I.’

I see where Ralph Harbert was in the Philippines. Wish I could see some of the Bunnell 'Blokes. We haven't heard much news lately except that these Japs are getting what they deserve now, and I don't think they can stand it for long. They are losing on every front now. Guess Tojo would like to dictate peace just anyplace now except Washington. There can't be much left in Tokyo - thanks to the Superforts.

I was in on the invasion of Ornac and the pilots in the P38s stole the show from the Zeros. We saw several planes that day I but didn't see any go back. I will take off my hat to every P38 pilot I meet after this war and buy him a drink. They are a flying bunch of Hell to the Japs. With all due respect to all other pilots, they are really good. After all, everyone has his or her particular job to do and are doing it fine.

I hope to be home soon with all this over so I can relax and go fishing and hunting. Give my best regards to all the home town folks and keep the Tribunes coming., I surely enjoy them.

Well, I guess I will close for now. Will write again when I can dig up some news to write about. Will try to get you a souvenir if I possibly can. I don't get on the beach much. Well so long for now and keep the home fires burning. Hope to see you all soon."

November 22, 1945

PAUL (DOZIER) FORSYTH, first motor machinist mate in the Navy and who has been doing duty in the Pacific theater for 10 of these many months, is discharged and was here visiting relatives a few days ago.