Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09620.015 Author/Creator: Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) Place Written: Nashville, Tennessee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 24 March 1943 Pagination: 2 p. : envelope ; 27.8 x 19.6 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s): Transcript of document
Addressed to "Dad and Bee." Mentions a phone call they had earlier that day. He apologizes for the late letter he wrote "last Saturday" (GLC9620.014). He hopes it will arrive shortly. Complains that he is one of twenty-five men left in this "god-forsaken place." Predicts that when they are shipped out, it "will either be to Santa Ana, CA or Elington Field, Texas." Both are large bombardier schools, and there's a rumor of a new school in Georgia that would be perfect because he can go home if he has a "few days pass." Chances are slim that he'll stay in the east. The camp is keeping them very busy between "drilling, calisthenics, lectures, gas-mask drills, and various other equally dull things." He closes the letter stating that the next letter they get in a week or so will hopefully be from a place other than Nashville.
Post-Script: Checks in on his brothers, Don and Jim, asking if they are in the army or the marines, or if Jim is going to college first.
The letter is written on stationary with "U.S. Army Air Forces" written in blue at the top of the letter, with the blue U.S. Army Air Forces logo. The date is written as "Wednesday Nite" but "Letters in a Box" notes the letter was written on March 24, 1943.
Robert "Bob" Stone was a Bombardier in World War II and served in the Pacific Front. These letters, were compiled by Bob's wife, Sheila M. Stone, and Ali Adair into a book named Letters in a Box. This book details Bob's service to his country, and his life after the war. Bob's letters were donated to the collection by his wife, Sheila M. Stone, in 2017. It contains a variety of letters, postcards, patches, pins, photographs, and scrapbooks that relate to Bob's training and combat missions.
[Draft Created by Crowdsourcing]
Wednesday Nite
Dear Dad & Bee -
'Twas good to talk with you tonight, Dad, after missing you the other times. I'm sorry you didn't get the letter I mailed Saturday because I explained that I'd been in the hospital and why I hadn't written etc. I hope by now that it has arrived.
As I said tonight I've only got a few more days to spend in this god-forsaken place. Out of our original squadron of 210 there are only about twenty-five of us left. Why I had to be one of the forgotten few, I will never know!
I honestly don't know where we'll be sent although I imagine it will either be Santa Ana, California or Elington [sic] Field, Texas as there are two large bombardier schools there. Heard a rumor that there's a new school in Georgia that we might be sent to - god, I hope so cause then I'd have a chance to get home if I got a few days pass while if I went west my chances would be nil. Cross your fingers I stay in the East although my chances are slim.
[2]
The past week they've kept us very busy with a full schedule of activities - drilling, calisthenics, lectures, gas-mask drills, and various other equally dull things. After seven weeks of the monotony of this place you certainly get a cynical outlook on life in general.
No more now except that I hope you've received my other letter by now and the next time you hear from me in about a week or ten days I hope it will be from some place other than Nashville.
Lots of love-
Bobby
P.S. Has Don gone into the army yet, and if so where, why, and how etc? Is Jimmy going to college or right into the marines?
[envelope]
A/C R. L. Stone 12120188
Squadron D-4
Nashville Army Air Center
Nashville, Tenn.
Lt. Comdr. J. C. Stone
375 Park Avenue
New York City
N. Y.
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