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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 and Beatrice Stone

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09620.121 Author/Creator: Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) Place Written: Oahu, Hawaii Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 29 July 1944 Pagination: 2 p. : envelope ; 27.4 x 19.4 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s): Transcript of document

Addressed to "Dad and Bee." The mail is coming through a little better and it takes about ten days for mail to get from the east coast. He sent a package home yesterday with his favorite sweaters, made by Pam, and a couple pairs of socks. He has the insurance slip and asks his parents to let him know the condition of the package. They've all been putting on an air-show for "some unknown dignitary" who they all believe to be President Roosevelt.

He's managed to get to the beach every other day and just received a letter from Pam that she dictated to a friend. He asks that they all keep writing as mail call is a big deal on base.

The letter is dated as "Saturday July 29th." "Letters in a Box" dates the letter as July 29, 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]
Sunday July 29th
Dear Dad & Bee -
The last few days the mail has been coming through a little better and I just received a letter from Dad yesterday. All of my mail takes about ten days from the East Coast. I'm wondering if my letters have been coming through alright since you haven't used my new APO as yet.
Yesterday I sent home a package with two woolen sweaters and some woolen socks, neither of which I have any use for out here. Please put the sweaters away carefully because they are two of my favorites, that Pam made for me. Also, be sure to let me know when and in what condition they arrive since I have the insurance slip.
The last few days we've all been adither putting on an air-show for some unknown dignitary - everyone suspects that it's Roosevelt although none of us have seen him. We really put on an aerial spectacle for whomever it is.
For the past week or so we've managed to find our way to the beach sometime

[2]
or other, every day. Slowly but surely I'm taking on the hue of a native.
Had my first letter from Pam yesterday which she dictated to a friend of hers. 'Twas swell to hear from her even though kinda second-hand. I hope by now she is able to write herself because I sure miss not hearing from her. Mail call is a big occasion here and it sure is a disappointment not to receive a few letters.
Cela suffit until another day.

My love to you all -
Bobby

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009
Stone, Jacob, fl. 1894-1985
Stone, Beatrice Hecht Marks, 1901-1962
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 1882-1945

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