Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09620.062 Author/Creator: Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) Place Written: Salt Lake City, Utah Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 23 November 1943 Pagination: 3 p. : envelope ; 21.7 x 13.9 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s): Transcript of document
Addressed to "Dad + Bee." Writes "Life is looking up!" as they are no longer restricted and can go into town as long as they report back in the morning. He and others are renting a room with a sitting room to avoid freezing in the barracks. Many groups have been shipped out, including many Childress fellows. He hopes he'll hear soon, but in any case they are hoping to see another Utah game and made reservations for a Thanksgiving dinner that night.
Letter is written on "The Belvedere Apartment Hotel" stationary and dated as "Tuesday." "Letters in a Box" notes the letter was written on November 23, 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]
Tuesday
Dear Dad & Bee -
Since I last wrote, life has taken on a much brighter outlook. At that time we were restricted to our area and really lived a miserable life. Starting last Saturday they again allowed us to stay off the post at night as long as we reported at 7:30 every morning for the reading of shipping orders etc.. They've called off school and so we're free almost all the time.
Rooms are so hard to get that as soon as we gave up our apartment (when we were restricted) it was taken and we couldn't get it back. There isn't a room to be had in town so two of us have taken a room with an
[2]
adjoining sitting room over in the transient BOQ. It's not the best but it's lots nicer than living over in the barracks where you freeze to death.
For the past few days a great many groups have shipped out. Yesterday a bunch of kids from our Childress group were alerted and they left today. There were some more read off today but they only got up as far as the m's. If I'm not read off tomorrow, I'll probably be stuck here until some time in December. They've shipped out alot of men but we've still got a large number left. You've never seen so many officers together at one time. It's really a mad-house.
Haven't done anything exciting. We do manage to have a good meal every night followed by a movie, bowling, or some such entertainment. On Thursday (if we're still here) we're going to
[3]
the Utah-St. Mary's football game. We've made reservations for our Thanksgiving dinner at 7:00 that night. It ought to be fun, although nothing like being at home.
No more news for now. I did want you to know that all goes well here. Keep up your letters. Let me know when the proofs arrived so I can throw away the insurance receipt.
All love -
Bobby
[envelope]
The Belvedere Apartment Hotel
29 South State Street
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
Lt. Comdr. J. C. Stone
375 Park Avenue
New York City
N. Y.
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