Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09620.032 Author/Creator: Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) Place Written: Dallas, Texas Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 June 1943 Pagination: 3 p. : envelope ; 22.4 x 15.2 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s): Transcript of document
Addressed to "Folks." He is very annoyed. He and Don were supposed to meet in Dallas, but Don never showed up. He risked being picked up by an M.P. [Military Police] as he couldn't get a pass to travel outside the 50 mile radius. There were no rooms to rent, and the next morning Don's train came late, with no Don. He felt stood up, grabbed lunch, and waited for another train from Missouri, before hopping on a train back to Houston.
Wishes his father a Happy Father's Day, and hopes to call him later in the day. Closes with "the next time you hear from me I'll be at Advanced."
The letter is not dated, except for "Sunday aft." in the top right corner. "Letters in a Box" notes it was written on June 20, 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]
Sunday Aft.
Dear Folks -
Right now I'm so annoyed that I shouldn't be writing you but I have several hours to kill with nothing to do.
As you can see I'm in Dallas writing from the USO in the railroad station. Spoke to Don earlier in the week and we agreed to meet here in Dallas for a few hours today.
I arrived here about 9:00 last night after taking a heck of a chance of being picked up by my M. P. because I couldn't get a pass to travel out of our 50 mile radius. I didn't want to let Don down and so I risked it and so far so good although
[2]
I'm not back home yet.
On arriving here last night I was amazed when there wasn't a room to be had from the largest to the smallest hotel- the town was packed. 'Twas a a [sic] long funny story and I'll tell you sometime how I got a bed with the nicest people - really worked out swell. Came to the station at about 9:30 [inserted: morning] [then] where I waited for Don's train that didn't come in until 11:00 and oddly [inserted: enough] Don wasn't on it. I can't imagine why he didn't come and I hope he has a good reason because I gave up going to our graduation party to come all this way only to be stood up. After I had lunch today, I came back here to meet another train from Missouri but still no Don. Now I've got to wait till 5:00 to get my train back to Houston. Not what I'd call a successful weekend!!!
[3]
page 3
Placed a call to you this morning for fathers day, Dad, but I was disappointed on that too when I found you out. The maid (of rather dubious intelligence) got your number all bawled up and so I had no idea of where you were. I'm going to try the call again at 4:00 before I leave hoping you'll be home by then. If not here's wishing a very happy father's day to the greatest Dad in the world!!
Don't know any more about when I'll be pulling out but I have hopes that the next time you hear from me I'll be at Advanced. Cross your fingers for me. Lots of love -
Bobby
[envelope]
A/C R. L. Stone 12120188
Bombardier Wing
Ellington Field, Texas
Lt. Comdr. J. C. Stone
375 Park Avenue
New York City
N.Y.
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