Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09620.081 Author/Creator: Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) Place Written: March Field, California Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 22 February 1944 Pagination: 2 p. : envelope ; 25.0 x 16.7 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s): Transcript of document
Addressed to "Dad + Bee." He apologizes for upsetting them after they hadn't recieved his letter. He's "up and about on crutches" and the incision is healing "just fine." There's a lot of delay in the mail, hence why he recieved their telegram two days late. The weather has been very unusual with snow and hail.
Post Script: Asks that they write to the 607th instead of the 604th now.
The letter is dated "Tuesday 22nd." "Letters in a Box," notes the letter was sent on February 22, 1944.
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 22nd
Dear Dad & Bee -
'Twas good to talk to you the other day although I was really sorry to hear that you were so upset and hadn't received my letter, which I hope has arrived by now.
Everything goes well here and I'm feeling just swell now. Up and around on crutches which I'll be discarding in a very few days. They've already removed the stitches and the incision is healing just fine. It won't be long before I'm out of here altogether.
Speaking of mail, there seems to be a great delay these days. I had a letter (airmail) from Pam that took ten days, and Dad's last letter took a full week. Perhaps that's why you didn't receive mine on time. Incidentally, thanks for your telegram that I got a few minutes ago. I should have gotten it two days ago but you
[2]
see they don't deliver telegrams but instead they're put in with our mail. That's why I got your telegram to call you just exactly two days late.
The last few days we've really had unusual weather - hail and snow, believe it or not, in Los Angeles. And to think that they call this "Sunny California"!
'Nuff for now until I have something more interesting to write.
All love -
Bobby
P.S. Please continue to write to the same address because the kids bring my mail up every day. Also, don't put Sdqn. 604 because I never go to that mail room but continue to pick mine up at the 607th. We changed squadrons about six weeks ago but it was too much trouble to tell everybody a change of address.
[envelope]
Lt. R. L. Stone 0-696041
399th Bomb Group
Squadron 607
March Field, California
Lt. Comdr. J. C. Stone
375 Park Avenue
New York City
717
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