Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) to Edward Greenbaum
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09620.169 Author/Creator: Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) Place Written: Mariana Islands Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 29 March 1945 Pagination: 2 p. : 27.5 x 19.5 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s): Transcript of document
Addressed to "Eddie." He writes it was good to hear from Eddie via his official report. He's completed thirty-five missions, and is "sweating out those last five raids as if they were fifty-five." The strain and tension are hell. The big news is that Barry got into the V-12 college program.
It's offically the rainy season and he experiences ten to twelve downpours a day. He is upset over those who write how lucky he is to be in the "Sunny Pacific" and writes "you can have it all, any time!!" He gives his best to Dotsie and the boys.
Post-Script: He thanks him for the box of chocolates and says that Mr. Peterson must've thought he was on another island. It would've been great to see Eddie.
Edward Greenbaum is his unlcle, brother of his mother Isabel.
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 Marinas
March 29th, 1945
Dear Eddie -
'Twas good to hear from you via your official report, which I received a few days ago. All's well out this way and slowly but surely we're making it more and more unpleasant for the Nips.
Our missions have been coming along same as ever and I'm now down to where I can count them (that is those left to fly) on one hand. Am now at the thirty-five mark, sweating out those last five raids as if they were fifty-five. As you near the end, the strain and tension plays hell with you mentally. Every little thing is magnified way out of proportion, and it's just as if we were a new crew flying our first few missions over again.
The big news from out here is that Barry is back from the Iwo Campaign and is headed for the states to enter the V-12 college program. His luck in returning to the states is fantastic because he's only been overseas a very short while.
The rainy season in the Marianas has started with a gusto and it's not uncommon to ten or twelve downpours a day. When it rains here it does it with a vengeance, and so we wallow around in nothing but mud. How it burns me
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when people write how lucky I am being in the "sunny" Pacific! You can have it all, any time!!
That just about covers it for now. Give my best to Dotsie and the boys.
Fondly -
Bobby
P.S I was just away from my tent at a squadron meeting and I was called out to see some Captain! He gave me a box with a note on it from [inserted: Mr.] Peterson. It seems he thought I was on another island and so he didn't get to see me. However, I want to thank you a million for the chocolates and the enclosed note. What a trill it would have been had you delivered them in person! 'Twas awfully thoughtful of you to have sent the candies, Eddy.
It was a coincidence that I had written you this morning and hadn't mailed the letter, and this afternoon the package arrived. Again many thanks.
Bobby
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