Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09620.142 Author/Creator: Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) Place Written: Mariana Islands Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 4 November 1944 Pagination: 2 p. ; 27.4 x 19.3 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s): Transcript of document
Addressed to "Dad + Bee." Big news as he ran into Barry Marks' outfit and he's stationed only a few miles away. "If that doesn't prove it's a small world, I'll eat my hat." He visited with Barry and his tent-mates who all complained about the "rotten deal that marines get" but none of them would leave the service. He believes this life is doing Barry a "world of good." He went on another mission, which was tougher than the last, but everything worked out. Conditions are getting better as they build the site up. He closes out asking about Don as he hasn't heard from him in a while.
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]
The Marianas
November 4th
Dear Dad & Bee -
For a change I have some news that I'm sure you'll be interested to hear - yesterday after much searching I ran into Barry's outfit and believe it or not he's stationed only a few miles away. Of all the islands in the blue Pacific we ended up a few miles apart- if that doesn't prove it's a small world, I'll eat my hat.
Barry seemed in the best of spirits and none the worse for the life he's leading out here. I met all his tents-mates who seem to be good gents, all of them quite typical of the young kids in the marines. They all complain of the rotten [inserted: deal] that the marines get but none of them would swap places with anyone. If all goes well and I'm not out on a strike, Barry plans to come over to visit me, in a day or so. You should be at ease about the old marine Bee, because he really never seemed in better shape both physically and mentally. Frankly I think the life is doing him a world of good!
We got another strike under our belt since I last wrote you. It was a lots tougher mission than our first but everything worked out alight. Just keep the old fingers crossed for me and who knows I'll probably get through this mess alright.
[2]
Conditions here at the camp are getting better every day as the site becomes more and more built up. Our mess hall is lots better now although the rations still don't pass for food, in my opinion.
What's the latest news from Don? I haven't heard from him since I was back at AFO 953. I'm wondering if he's left for overseas yet.
That's about all for now - write often!
All love -
Bobby
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