PODCAST · history
From Maclay to Zama
by Karen Miller
History Podcast based on letters written home from Japan during the Korean War by two very different sisters.
Episodes
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Episode 66 Uncle Don
Betty tells some stories from her childhood. We find out how Don and Dan feel about John and Helen getting married.
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65- Kennedy, Muhammed Ali and Ava Gardner
Betty tells about the famous people she has seen and some more about Emmett's childhood and family.
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Episode 64- Ration Books
This episode contains information my grandmother (Bern and Peg's sister, Betty) wrote down in the 1990's in response to questions that I asked about her life. There is also one letter from their brother, Don to his father in 1926 when he was a freshman at Penn State.
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Episode 63-Home to Maclay!
This episode includes the final three letters that Bern and Peg wrote from Japan. There is also a letter from John asking about what kind of party they want to have for welcome home.
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Episode 62- Pine Tree Outside My Window
Bern has a car called The Green Hornet that apparently was in a near collision- she is looking forward to relearning her driving skills when she gets home! In this episode we learn everything there is to know about cormorant fishing. It is going on my bucket list!
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Episode 61- Arthur Murray
Peg gets to dance and have some fun. They are busy packing now for the trip home and buying last-minute presentos! They have a huge family and say that everyone will receive 3 or 4 items- which explains how so many items from their time in Japan have survived for 71 years!
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Episode 60-Standard Operating Procedure
TI&E has a big goodbye party and lots of fun is had by all. Passports have been obtained and social activities are winding down.
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Episode 59-Passports
Passports are being renewed and paperwork is getting processed. The best news is that Peg's birthday pretzels have arrived (a month late).
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Episode 58-Yada,Yada,Yada
Pretzels disappear, Easter arrives, more trips and shopping for Bern and Peg while they prepare to turn in their resignations and pack for home!
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Episode 57- Black Pearls
This episode let me on a field trip to the Bisanar's Company to learn all about pearls! It ended up with Peg celebrating her 27's birthday and them both planning on their trip home!
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Episode 56- Giggling Good Time
Some snow and rain has turned around the boredom that has dogged Camp Zama! Now Joe is back for some fun dates, Bern has a new job, several people are getting married and they might take a plane home in July!
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Episode 55- Angry Firemen
Bern gets a new job! Joe and Peg make up and Mieko and Jason get married (wonder if that was a good idea?)
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Episode 54- Yucata Robe
Apparently it is a boring January when all Bern and Peg can think about is getting home! John and Helen are planning to move from Maclay Street.
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Ep 53- Stuffing Pucks
Happy Thanksgiving! In this episode it is January in Japan and Peg's love-life has hit the skids again. Oh well! More shopping, another earthquake and talk of moving from Maclay Street!
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Ep 52 Six Months to Go!
Christmas sounds good. The new club opening was quite the event, but then New Years was a bust. Boring companions and a sick kid doesn't sound like much fun!
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Ep 51-The Keys of a Piano
In this first episode of season 4- it is all about Christmas. Sounds like every day in December they are receiving packages and gifts from PA. They both are enjoying their jobs and Peg is dating a new guy. The story about the puppet show is hilarious!
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Episode 50-EZ Pop
EZ pop popcorn must be a new invention, and the girls received some from their Aunt Pete. I can just picture them giggling while they figure out how it works! They have had their last Thanksgiving in Japan, received their Christmas box and Peg was introduced to a 4-star General. Great 50th Episode!
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Episode 49-Looking At A Typewriter
A Peg quote from this group of letters "I still feel that looking at a typewriter for 8 hours a day is 20,000 times better than looking at some silly man for 50 years!" Wow Peg- how did you really feal about marriage?
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Episode 48- Nikko
Bern visits a lovely resort (Kanaya) and the temples at Nikko. She sees the famous "See No Evil" monkeys, rants about cheating officers, Peg talks about "hush-hush" war games called "Texas Ranger" and their friend Kathy leaves for the States.
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Episode 47 San Francisco
Their friend, Kathy is breaking her contract and going home to San Francisco. Bern describes a typical Saturday at Zama in great detail. Their Christmas gifts are on their way to Pennsylvania and they include an article explaining how schools run in Japan.
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Episode 46 Metamorphosis
So the diet didn't provide the "metamorphosis" they wanted- just hallucinations. The typhoon season was harsh but they made it through and this episode contains one of Peg's funniest letters ever!
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Episode 45 Typhoon June
Peg downplays the effects of one of the most dangerous typhoons to ever hit Japan- "we are OK", MIGs shoot down a jet, and Labor Day festivities are a bust.
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Episode 44- Rigsby's Reckless Rush
Gladys provides us with a detailed description of the Mount Fuji climb, there is a spat of some sort going on back on Maclay Street, and Bern actually breaks the rules (sends home a picture taken at work)..
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Episode 43-Slimming
The Aunts go on a diet (which is very successful it seems)! Peg weighs in on the political climate and Bern describes a lovely night in Atama. There are two typhoons to deal with "Grace" and "Helen" (which Bern never mentions....).
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Episode 42- Climbing Mt. Fuji!
It is finally time to climb Mt. Fuji! How could Bern miss this adventure?
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Episode 41-Red Dog Goes Home
Peg goes into detail in this episode about her plans to climb Mt. Fuji! An event I have been eagerly anticipating! The podcast has brought me more treasures to go through as I have recently acquired many more letters- these from the late 1950's- early 2000's from Peg's Japanese friend, Sally.
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Episode 40: Helicopters and Jim
Bern and Helen both have birthdays which leads to me finding out the history of Scrabble. Peg's ex-husband allegedly remarries.
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Episode 39-Hibachi
Welcome to Season 3 of the podcast! It seems like Bern and Peg's social lives have ground to halt- but Peg's new job is going well! They are saving up to travel to Hong Kong, which may have resulted in less party time on weekends.
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Episode 38- GS-5
Peg gets a new job and it is a GS-5! They take their vacation trip to Kyoto and have a great time.
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Episode 37- Tanks
I was surprised to hear that Bern actually got to drive a tank in this episode! She also explained why they seldom see birds at Zama. Apparently, the population was forced to eat birds during the War, and they have re-populated yet. That is a sad thought.
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Episode 36-Japanese Bath
After a weekend at their friend's beach house, all Peg and talk about is taking a Japanese bath!
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Episode 35-Shoes
Knees, May Day, Decide to stay and the best blind date ever!
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Episode 34- Sauerbrauten
It is Easter Season and I certainly hope the flowers that they sent from Hawaii to Harrisburg arrived in good condition! I had to do some research for this episode on Setzer's Sweet Lebanon Bologna- it was tasty!
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Episode 33- Tickled Pink
Peg thanks a variety of folks for her birthday gifts, talks about a date with a jerk, and swears off men for a while. There is an earthquake that may or may not have been frightening!
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Episode 32-Sayonara Red Dog
Some mystery about why Peg and Red Dog broke up at her birthday party. I bet there is a lot more to it than she tells her parents! They are taking trips to view the gorgeous (and apparently, wonderful smelling cherry trees. German food (I guess us girls are going to need to have the occasional...
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Episode 31- Hurricane Helene
I wanted to describe my experiences with Hurricane Helene and a few others that have impacted my life.
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Episode 30-Bunny Hop
Peg's social life has picked up, Bern has been enjoying her job more and they have taken an interesting trip!
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Episode 29- Daisy's Demise
These letters cover tax problems, Daisy's illness and death, and their desire to get some new clothes for Spring and Summer.
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Episode 28- Drop Dead
Bern gets a promotion, Blondie is dying and I think something is up with Peg. We lean some military terms I didn't know from M.A.S.H.!
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Episode 27 Groundhog Day
Peg's new nickname is "Irish". She is happily back to work with the "Colonels". Marilyn and Joe make a big splash in Japan on their honeymoon and the weather is even colder, with snow.
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Episode 26-Argus C3-35
They finally buy the camera. There is a snow storm and Ann comes back to reclaim her job from Peg- who now has a new nick-name!
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Episode 25- Commendation
Peg gets this really flattering letter from the boss she didn't like. The weather is bad and everyone is getting sick.
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Episode 24-Kibitizing
Bern and Peg open their Christmas Presents, they speak to their parents back home, and the "Embassy Dress" gets worn to a New Year's Eve Party!
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Episode 23-Wowona Tree
I found a photo of Bern at the Wowona Tree. She is in white beside the driver. It is almost Christmas in Japan and most of the discussion in these letter revolve around the Holiday!
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Episode 22-Letters from Home
Bernice saved a couple of letters from her parents and also from my Mom. I will be reading these in the future where they fit in chronologically. These letters are from the summer they arrived in Japan.
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Episode 21- Murder at Zama
I got a big shock with these two letters! A strip tease and a murder! My cozy little podcast just took a turn.
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Episode 20- The Three Companions of Man
I love how Bern writes about the pine tree distracting her from her chores! She loved nature but I guess I thought of her as so responsible she would never let her herself be distracted. I love the side I see of her in these letters! So poetic!
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Episode 19- Japanesy
Peg is temporarily filling in for her friend, Ann who currently home in the US at work. She misses her favorite boss and seems reluctant to switch departments even if it is offered. Bern is having more fun now I think~
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Episode 18- Tokyo
The 1953 recession has hit. Some of the terms of employment have changed for the civilians working at Zama. They take a tour of Tokyo that they enjoy.
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Episode 17- Aunt Mae
We find the likely reason that Bern was ready travel. The weather has improved and I never knew that Bern was such a baseball fan!
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
History Podcast based on letters written home from Japan during the Korean War by two very different sisters.
HOSTED BY
Karen Miller
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does From Maclay to Zama have?
From Maclay to Zama currently has 66 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is From Maclay to Zama about?
History Podcast based on letters written home from Japan during the Korean War by two very different sisters.
How often does From Maclay to Zama release new episodes?
From Maclay to Zama has 66 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to From Maclay to Zama?
You can listen to From Maclay to Zama on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts From Maclay to Zama?
From Maclay to Zama is created and hosted by Karen Miller.
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