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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) to Jacob Stone

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09620.023 Author/Creator: Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) Place Written: Ellington Field, Texas Type: Typed letter signed Date: 3 May 1943 Pagination: 1 p. : envelope ; 27.8 x 19.6 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s): Transcript of document

Addressed to "Dad." Thanks his father for the pictures he just received. Writes that he just got out of the hospital for treatments for his sun burn. Curses the Texas sun for burning him.

The date is written as "Monday Night" but "Letters in a Box" notes the letter was written on May 3, 1943. Letter is on U.S. Army Air Forces letterhead.

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]
Monday Night
Dear Dad:
Even though I wrote you last night, I want to thank you now for the pictures that arrived today. I really think the picture of the commander is the "nuts". As a matter of fact, I think it's the best picture you've ever had taken. That uniform certainly is impressive! It's funny being in the cadets and having a Dad in the navy. Needless to say it provokes untold comment among my friends when they know that I have a Dad wearing the blue and gold.
I just got out of the hospital a few minutes ago after being in since last night at about one o'clock. I had such a miserable sunburn that at about twelve-thirty last night the ambulance took me in. All night I was awake and they treated my burns, so that tonight I feel lots better although I'm still not wholly cured. This damn Texas sun is very disceptive [sic] and you don't know that you're being burned until it's too late.
Again thanks for the picture of both you and Don. Incidentally, this picture of him is lots better than the first one Bee sent me. I've got to get to bed now and try [struck: b] to make up for all the sleep I lost last night.
Lots of love,
Bob

[envelope]
A/C R. L. Stone 12120188
Bombardier Wing
Group 21 Squadron D
Ellington Field, Texas

Lt. Comdr. J. C. Stone
375 Park Avenue
New York City
N.Y.

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009
Stone, Jacob, fl. 1894-1985

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