Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09620.143 Author/Creator: Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) Place Written: Mariana Islands Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 5 November 1944 Pagination: 1 p. : envelope ; 27.4 x 19.3 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s): Transcript of document
Addressed to "Dad + Bee." He just wrote his parents a long letter, but wanted to tell them that he and Barry had lunch. He took them for a bite to eat, and everyone ate better than they had in a while. He gave Barry and his friends a tour of a ship and drove them back to their base about twenty minutes away. He's going to try and take Barry up on a "local test hop" if he can.
The letter is dated "The Marianas, October 5th, 1944." "Letters in a Box" notes that this letter was probably written in November as GLC09620.142 is the first mention of the step-brothers visiting each other, and Bob was not in the Mariana Islands on October 5th.
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
October 5th, 1944
Dear Dad & Bee -
Even though I wrote you a long letter a day or so ago I thought I'd write a line or two to say that I had Barry over for lunch today. He came over with a couple of friends and I took them to the best chow we've had since we've been down here - believe me they really ate heartly [sic], as if they hadn't had a bite to eat in ages. Frankly I hadn't eaten that well in a long time myself.
This afternoon I took them all down to the line and we went through a ship and I showed [strikeout] [inserted:them] all around. Then later on I drove them back to their camp which is only about twenty minutes away.
As I said the other day, Barry is in swell shape and it was fun having him over today. Some time when we're not flying a strike I'm going to try to take him up on a local test hop, if I possibly can.
Must run now.
With all love -
Bobby
[envelope]
Lt. R.L. Stone 0-69041
431st Bomb Sqdn. 11th Group
AP0 246 ? Postmaster
San Francisco, Cal.
Mr. J. C. Stone
375 Park Avenue
New York City (22)
N.Y.
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