Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) to Jacob Stone, Beatrice Stone, Don Stone, and Jim Stone
Order a pdf of this item here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09620.118 Author/Creator: Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) Place Written: Oahu, Hawaii Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 July 1944 Pagination: 2 p. : envelope ; 27.3 x 19.4 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s): Transcript of document
Addressed to "Dad, Bee, Don, + Jim." All goes well at "Pineapple Paradise." He's flown several times, only short missions so far. Life isn't too bad, except there's very little entertainment. They get a pass every two weeks or so, and most people go to the beach at Waikiki. As of yet, he's gotten no mail, and hopes his new address will reach his family soon. He also made a "mighty fine table" for his tent.
The letter is dated as "Thursday July 20th." "Letters in a Box" dates the letter as July 20, 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]
Thursday July 20th
Dear Dad, Bee, Don, & Jim -
I haven't any particular news to write but I do have a few spare minutes just to say that all goes well at "Pineapple Paradise."
We've flown several times since I last wrote, getting our bearings around the Islands. This morning we went on a three hour bombing mission on one of the small islands. As yet we haven't flown any real long missions but before long I guess we'll be making some lengthy hauls.
Life here at the base isn't too bad but there isn't a darn thing to do in the way of entertainment. We have a crude officers club where you can get all kinds of mixed drinks. There is quite a bit of gambling due to the lack of other diversion. Our main complaint here is the food which is pretty poor. Even in Honolulu there aren't very good places to eat although the food is a real treat after eating at the base. We're supposed to get a pass every two weeks and I imagine
[2]
we'll spend most of them at the beach at Waikiki. I was so lucky that our first pass came on the 14th and 15th so I was able to call you.
Still no mail for any of us so you can imagine what a disheartened bunch we are. I'm afraid that the APO we got at Seattle (16280 AS (19)) is no darn good or else they've held up all our mail. I hope by now [struck: they've] [inserted: that] you've received my new address from here. Did you get two letters from me written from "somewhere at sea".
Yesterday we got our tent fixed with home-made tables and improvised chairs. I never was much as a carpenter but I surprised myself by turning out a mighty fine table.
Can't think of anything else so I'll close here. Please be sure to write often and maybe eventually one of them will catch up to me.
All love -
Bobby
[envelope]
Lt. R. L. Stone 0-696041
7th Bomber Command (Heavy Training Detachment)
APO 953 c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, Cal.
Lt. Comdr. J. C. Stone
375 Park Avenue
New York City
N.Y.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.