Here Comes the Judge
Okinawa, 1947 - The Letters of Leon and Mary Grayson
Free Spirits
Our beloved maternal grandparents Leon and Mary Grayson were incredibly generous, that generosity symptomatic of an overall carelessness with money. The couple only briefly owned a car, and they never owned a home. Leon and Mary’s preserved letters and documents attest to their financial free spirits. Their only child Ann was three months old when in November 1942 Leon left for the Army, serving stateside at a series of East Coast camps. Money challenges were a common theme in the letters they exchanged as was their desire to be together again. The family was reunited in September 1944, when Leon resumed his career as a Justice Department lawyer in Washington, D.C.
Overseas Transfer Application and Approval
It was thus mildly surprising that Leon applied for an overseas civil service assignment two years later. The stated reason on his undated 1946 application was “Interested in Foreign service,” though “increased salary” would likely have been a more honest answer. The lateral transfer position, “Attorney - War Crimes, Military Government, Claims, or Civil Affairs - Europe or Orient,” promised a 25% overseas pay bump. A November 18, 1946 letter on War Department stationery reads, “after careful consideration the [war crimes evaluation and selection] Board has recommended offering you a position as defense attorney with station in Manila.”
The letter continued, “Dependents cannot accompany you abroad. They may, however, join you after your arrival in the theater when availability of quarters has been established.” Conditions included, “You are required to remain in service with this command at least 2 years [crossed out from 1 year] from arrival to be entitled to return transportation unless separated sooner for reasons acceptable to the Government.”
San Francisco by Rail
Forty year-old Leon said goodbye to Mary and 4-year-old Ann at Washington, D.C.’s Union Station on January 7, 1947. He arrived in San Francisco on Saturday, January 11. On January 14 Leon embarked aboard the U.S. Army Transport General W.F. Hase toward the Far East.
Small World Coincidence
Leon’s younger brother Bill Grayson, a B-17 waist gunner stationed near Manila, Philippines in 1941, fought under siege as an infantryman before being surrendered in April 1942. Bill endured the Bataan Death March and 3-1/2 years as a prisoner of war before being repatriated in 1945. Though they did not know one another, our paternal grandfather Santiago Guevara underwent those same horrors. After liberation Santiago served on the Manila war crimes commission and was subsequently transferred to the United States. In March 1949 the Guevara family, including our 10-year old future father Nicky, coincidentally sailed to San Francisco aboard the same USAT General W.F. Hase. Nicky met Ann Grayson and her parents eleven years later in Washington D.C.
February 2 memorandum: “U.S.A.T. ‘General W.F. Hase’ Office of the Transport Commander. The following men will be interviewed at Okinawa by Lt Col Skinrood. Be prepared to debark at Okinawa. Leon H. Grayson, Leonard D. Corwin, Charles H. Struback, James A. Jones. [signed] Carlos L. Ramires for TC.”
“At Sea - February 3, 1947” letter from Leon to Mary on stationery embossed Hotel Whitcomb San Francisco at the Civic Center: “We dock at Okinawa early in the morning. As I wrote from Okinawa [a letter we do not have], there is a possibility I may be stationed there…. The day I spent in Japan was most interesting. Three of us walked around Yokohama in the morning then took the train to Tokyo. The average person looked very miserable and poverty stricken. It is a very beautiful country, the trip thru Tokyo Bay and Yokohama with all the native fishing ships, passenger and cargo vessels, Australian destroyer - American Battleships in the distance at Yokosuka Naval station. I hope to be paid in a few days and will immediately forward most of it to you. P.S. Things look good and we will be together again soon. P.P.S. Okinawa is much cleaner, prettier, and a better climate than Manila. We will like it better if stationed there.” It is unclear if Leon actually visited Manila.
Okinawa, 1945
The Philippines shares the same approximate latitude with Hawaii. Okinawa lies 900 miles north and slightly east, with Japan a similar distance beyond Okinawa. The protracted 82-day 1945 Battle of Okinawa, which followed hard upon bloody and brutal battles at Iwo Jima and Manila, led to the decision to use the atomic bomb six weeks later. In addition to tens of thousands of American and Japanese casualties, nearly half of about 300,000 Okinawan civilians were killed, starved, or coerced into suicide. When the battle concluded on June 22, the occupying American military inherited a staggering humanitarian crisis, a crippled economy, and an infrastructure in ruins.
February 1947
Less than twenty months after the battle of Okinawa concluded, Mary Grayson, a clerk in the Veteran’s Administration, wrote to Leon on February 17, 1947: “I still am trying to decide whether you are staying on Okinawa or have gone on to Manila. Ann talks about you all the time. We still haven’t moved the office but I hate to go back to the Munitions building. Maybe it won’t be too bad. [Ann] wrote the Valentine in this letter for you herself and is quite proud of it.”
February 24 from Mary: “Well honey, good luck in your new assignment. So you are a ‘Judge’ at last. We have been having a terrible snow storm 8.2 inches. No school. We built a snow man. Was surely glad to get your wire Saturday as things are getting to be pretty pressing. I had no idea mail would take so long.”
February 27 documents: Leon was appointed “Summary Provost Court for the Islands of Nansei Shoto and adjacent waters south of 30 degrees north latitude.” In a separate document Leon requested permission for Mary and Ann to come as soon as possible with an acknowledgment that the family would be expected to stay for 24 months after arrival.
March 1947
March 3 from Mary: “Well we are snowbound again this week. We finally moved back to the Munitions Building. It certainly isn’t as convenient as 15th and Eye streets. Ann and I both miss you so much. Ann talks about you all the time and all the things you are going to do for her when we get to Okinawa. Are [you] close to any beaches? Ann is really planning on [it]. I haven’t heard from you since the letter written on the Eighth. Please let us hear a little more often.”
March 9 from Mary: “You don’t know how glad I was to hear from you on Friday - the first letter in almost a month. Do you think some might have gotten lost? The money orders came and I was certainly relieved. We are having real winter weather. Snow again yesterday. Ann still loves her school. Miss Leila says that she is a little magpie, that she talks continuously. She seems to miss you so much - looked at your picture today and said, ‘Just look at my Daddy - he’s smiling at me.’ The office is in a stir, half the people transferred out and all kinds or rumors going around. Don’t know what to expect. The tests for permanent ratings are supposed to be given soon. I don’t think I’ll have any trouble passing them.”
March 10, 1947 Savannah [Georgia] Evening Press: “LEON GRAYSON ON OKINAWA. Describes Ravages of War in Beautiful Resort. Leon H. Grayson, former Savannah attorney, is now connected with the military government at Okinawa, where he is acting as assistant director of the legal department. The department’s work deals with claims, operation of local civilian courts, prisons, and exceptional military courts. Mr. Grayson had been assigned as a defense attorney with the War Crimes Commission in Manila1 but he accepted an opportunity to transfer to Okinawa. [Leon] writes that it was quite a thrill to sail up the bay at Naha [Okinawa] and see the American battleships as the ship docked to be greeted by a U.S. army band. ‘The war certainly destroyed this place,’ Mr. Grayson stated, ‘but rehabilitation and reconstruction are now taking place. The capital, Naha, a formerly beautiful city, is now a harbor surrounded by the ruins of war. Yet the country is still beautiful.’”
March 14 from Leon: “I certainly enjoy your letters. It takes about 8 or 10 days for them to get here though. The legal department has presided over about 60 cases this month and I acted as Judge in more than 40 so I have been very busy. The days have been very beautiful and I was outdoors quite a bit driving to the various districts. Worked in Shuri City, Chinen, Koza, Itoman and Rycom principally. They are located in the central part of island, except Itoman which is on the China Sea, a big fisherman village district. Had lunch at the Military police headquarter on top of a mountain overlooking everything. The island is only five miles wide at this point and you can see the Pacific on one side with all its shipping and on the other the China Sea. It was most beautiful. I’ll attempt to draw a map.
Leon continued in his March 14 letter: “Tell my baby girlfriend there are plenty of beautiful beaches and that they serve ice cream every day and each helping looks like two giant scoops from ‘Highs’ - And that [we] will go somewhere every weekend in a jeep - to the ocean or to the mountains, picnics and that the water is a beautiful blue…. I went with a friend to look over the quonset huts he and his wife will have and it looks very nice - much more room than in Washington. Not a modern apartment but they will be fine…. I hope the Munitions Bldg. move works out - Otherwise ‘Mummie’ take a leave of absence or resign as you don’t have to work…. [There] was a delay in getting my pay - Anyway we are on the regular payroll now so everything will be fine. Remember you and Ann are in my thoughts and heart at all times and life wouldn’t be worth anything without you - So live well, get anything you want and pay the creditors a little. We will be in a much better position soon. I love my ‘Mummie’ and Ann - ‘Puppie’ (‘the judge’)”
March 24 from Mary: “Have you heard any more about our time of arrival? Ann is so excited about the idea of going to school over there and of course so am I…. Keep up the good work out there. I am so glad that you have such an interesting job, ‘Judge’. Just show them what you really can do.”
March 30 from Mary: “Ann and I are so anxious to be with you again. [Ann] is really growing up - had quite a ‘temper flare up’ at school and when I asked her about it she told me, ‘Well, Mother, we had two new twin boys at school to-day and I was so excited that my mouth just wouldn’t stop talking.’ I just don’t know what she’ll say next…. love- Do you know that I dream about you almost every nite?”
April 1947
April 7 from Mary: “We had a perfectly gorgeous day for Easter. I fixed a little package for Ann ‘to my little Queen from her Daddy Boy’ and she was so thrilled. We took a ride over to Virginia and she was telling everyone on the bus that her daddy had sent her a Easter present all the way from Okinawa and even what the card said. We went to Saint Patrick’s for Church in the morning. Guess you haven’t heard any more about when we can come over - would surely love to see you. Darling I’m so glad you are enjoying your work - you got your ambition much sooner than you hoped to didn’t you ‘Judge’?”
April 9 from Mary: “This was cherry blossom week. Catherine Gast drove [us] around the basin and it was really lovely. The Shriners had a circus parade in the afternoon. Ann and I took Thursday off and we went to the zoo. We had a grand day - had lunch at the restaurant and I even had a bottle of beer with mine. I can almost see Ann growing. You won’t recognize her she’ll be so big. She seems to miss you so much. She is always talking about when she goes to Okinawa. Have you heard anything about when we are coming? School will close for the whole month of June. I haven’t decided yet what I’ll do. I don’t have much leave but something will turn up…. Got the “extra” on Saturday - you didn’t tell me how much you had lost before you won that.”
April 22 from Mary: “Have you had any pictures taken in your new robe, surely wish you would send us one. Your little girl resembles a leopard. She has chicken pox. We have to stay in the house 10 days as it is very contagious. The schools are about 1/4 empty with that and the mumps…. I am very undecided about work - I’m having to stay out about two weeks now - and then school closes for the whole month of June. So what I think I’ll do is rent the apartment for May June & July and go down to [Mary’s parents in] Savannah for the summer. I just can’t seem to make up my mind as to what is best. Do you think that we really will be able to go about August? We’ll be so happy to see you. I am going to take the Civil Service test for permanency on Saturday. Never can tell when we might need it. Did Collier’s magazine take your picture? Let me know when they are published.”
May and June 1947
May 12 document that Leon sent to Mary [Leon’s handwritten notations in brackets]: “Headquarters Ryukyus Command Military Government. Special Orders Number 79. Mr. Leon Grayson, Civ, this hqs, placed on TDY [temporary duty] with Mil Govt Northern Ryukyus for Indef period. WP [will report] first avail water T [transportation]. Upon compl of TDY ret to proper sta dir [direct]. No Perdiem Auth. By Order of Colonel Craig. [Enclosed copy of Order, ‘Puppie’]”
June 6 from Leon: “I’m still on duty up at Amami Oshima [an island 175 miles northeast of Okinawa]. It looks like I’ll be up here for several more months any way. Living conditions and everything is better than on Okinawa so I would just as soon stay here until its time for my girls to come over. As I told you it looks like it will be later than I first thought. Probably late fall or winter. The time will pass in a hurry and we’ll be together again soon. At times I’m sorry I came over here because I didn’t think we’d be separated for so long…. Colonel Craig came up from Okinawa for a three day trip and there was a pleasant time each night - Rooster fights, Oriental dinners, singing, dancing, etc…. The mail situation is terrible here. The mail ship comes in once a week on Sundays and the last two Sundays I didn’t hear from my sweetheart.”
Jun 10 two separate letters from Leon in the same envelope: “Received your letter dated June 3rd [missing] and Ann’s pretty Father’s day card and they made me very happy as I hadn’t heard from you in several weeks. I didn’t know that you had gone to Savannah but am very happy that you did. Will forward the money orders Thursday or Friday. I love you.”
“Well to show you how things go I was transferred back to Okinawa over the weekend so things appear indefinite. To tell you the truth I would just as soon come back to Washington because it looks as if it will be several months before you and Ann come over. Had a pleasant trip back on the boat. The best part about being on Okinawa is you get paid regularly so I will get some money this Thursday or Friday and immediately forward the money orders. Then the allotment should start the first part of July…. Being without you and Ann makes everything so monotonous. However, I’m trying to make the best of it. Of course my mail was forwarded to Oshima so I haven’t heard from you for more than three weeks…. Everything will work out in time.”
July 1947
We have an empty envelope from Leon postmarked July 7, but no further letters from either of our grandparents. A document headed “Headquarters Ryukyus Command Military Government” dated July 3, 1947 reads: “Letter of Commendation. 1. For approximately five months Mr. Leon Grayson served as Court Officer in the Legal Department, Military Government. During that time as Superior Provost Court and Summary Provost Court he tried over three hundred (300) criminal cases in Okinawa. Mr. Grayson was stern but just, and considerate in all cases in which extenuating circumstances were present. 2. I have been impressed with Mr. Grayson’s keen intelligence, tact and courtesy. I have found him to be efficient, conscientious and trustworthy. Mr. Grayson has won the respect of Americans and Okinawans. He is a man of the highest integrity and moral rectitude. I have come to admire in him the qualities of frankness, even temper and sound judgment. 3. Mr Grayson is also a man of excellent appearance and splendid personality which enables him to win friends easily. 4. My recommendation of Mr. Grayson, therefore, is without reservation. [signed] L.H. Rubenstein, Acting Director, Legal Department.
In addition to postcards and portions of a number of English-language Okinawan newspapers, Leon preserved two mimeographed issues of “The Greely Bugle” dated July 15 and 27. The USAT General A. W. Greely, a sister ship of the General W. F. Hase, began its eastbound voyage at Inchon, Korea with stops at Okinawa, Midway Island, and Hawaii before arriving in San Francisco around July 28.
Here Comes the Judge
We have no further documentation until Leon’s reappointment to the U.S. Justice Department Claims Bureau dated October 19, 1947. Though Leon never again wore judicial robes, friends addressed him as “judge” even years later. The TV variety series “Laugh-In” had a recurring character in robe and wig who would bop onto the stage singing, “Here Comes the Judge.” I remember Leon wearing a t-shirt with those words repeated in three rows. He liked to growl like a bear and sing silly songs to us. My sister Teresa reminded me of Leon’s chant when he’d bounce us on his knee: “I love you, I love you, I’ll never let you go. I just got back from Buf-fa-lo,” sometimes changing the last word to Chi-ca-go, San Fran-cis-co, or, often, “Ok-i-na-wo.”
Leon had a great sense of humor but was undoubtedly emotionally impacted by his time overseas. He stated more than once that sentencing a man to prison in Okinawa was like sentencing him to death. Another story he unabashedly related found him stumbling around Honolulu during his return trip. A passerby berating him as a drunken bum was stunned to silence when a nearby acquaintance addressed Leon as “Your Honor.”
Leon, Mary, and Ann were separated for about seven months in 1947, but never again - even after Ann married Nicky in 1961. Our grandparents lived in the same two-bedroom apartment one block away from us for the rest of their lives, and their home was our home. Leon and Mary continued to be overly generous, and always seemed to live from check to check. Regardless, their liberal generosity was far exceeded by their extravagant love and affection for Ann and for us. How fortunate were we that, despite our failings, were so loved, so well, and for so long.
There is little documentation beyond his February 3 comment on Manila’s climate that our maternal grandfather Leon was ever in that city; nevertheless, I can’t help but imagine Leon meeting our paternal grandfather Santiago there, who was serving on that very War Crimes Commission. That and the USAT General W.F. Hase coincidence gives one pause to ponder God’s hand in our everyday affairs.
I had no idea all this detail existed from his time in Okinawa. Just incredible. Thanks so much for all the effort you put into this .
can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading these. all brand new to me. just wonderful. you brought them back.