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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

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09620.151 Author/Creator: Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) Place Written: Mariana Islands Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 19 December 1944 Pagination: 2 p. : envelope ; 27.4 x 19.4 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s): Transcript of document

Addressed to "Dad." He wrote this letter on his birthday, and it's just another day closer to coming home. He thanks his father for the "swell birthday letter" and generous war bonds. He hopes to be home soon so they can catch up. He's still at twelve missions as he's been grounded with a sore wisdom tooth. Barry is doing great and he'll see him in the next few days. He asks his father to tell Bee that her letters have not come yet, but they will be forwarded eventually. It takes the mail between two-four weeks to arrive. He thanks him for the package of cookies. He writes that his father hears more from the news at home than he is allowed to write.

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]
The Marianas
December 19th, 1944
Dear Dad-
Well here 'tis another year and December 19th has rolled around again but somehow this year it has less meaning than years in the past-right now it's just another day nearer to returning home. I don't know how you timed it so perfectly, but your letter arrived yesterday. I want to thank you for your swell birthday letter Dad, and also for the overgenerous present of war bonds you got for me. I too hope and pray that it won't be too long before I'm home and we can catch up on alot of lost time together. I hate to think that I'm spending these years away from home but that's the way it goes. You're a swell gent Dad, and I wish there was some way I could express my love and admiration [struck: of] [inserted: for] you-perhaps I can when this whole mess is over.
Everything is about the same as ever out this way. I still only have twelve missions due to the fact I haven't flown lately because of a sore wisdom tooth. It's all fixed up now and I'll be back up there again on the next raid. I saw Barry again a few days ago and he's in fine shape I believe he'll be over again tomorrow or the next day. [2]
Before I forget, please tell Bee that as yet I haven't gotten the letters she thought she'd sent to APO 244 in error. If she did, they will be forwarded to me eventually. The box of cookies you sent arrived in good shape. Many thanks for the sweets that R.L.S and many other hungry birdmen enjoyed. As yet the packages sent to APO 953 haven't arrived but I still have hopes. I have received quite a number of packages sent to APO 241 and forwarded alright. All packages seem to take about two months. Mail generally takes from a little over two weeks to a month. Speaking of mail wasn't that funny I should have written that I had a friend writing to APO 316 and it was in England and a few days later I got your letter saying that Don was somewhere in England.
I've just about exhausted all the recent news from out here. You read alot more in the papers than we're allowed to write in letters. Please continue to send the various clippings as you spot them in the papers re the 7th AAF Liberators in the Pacific area.
Again many thanks for your swell birthday letter and the war bonds, Dad.
With all love-
Bobby

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009
Stone, Jacob, fl. 1894-1985
Stone, Beatrice Hecht Marks, 1901-1962
Marks, Barry, 1926-1983

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