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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, Beatrice Stone, and Bunny Marks.

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09620.181 Author/Creator: Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) Place Written: Oahu, Hawaii Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 15 May 1945 Pagination: 2 p. : envelope ; 26.7 x 19.4 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s): Transcript of document

Addressed to "Dad, Bee, + Bunny." A friend of his brought a big stack of mail from the Mariana Islands and he was surprised to find they heard about his fortieth mission indirectly. He wrote about ten letters at the same time, so hopefully his parents will receive their letter shortly. He thanks Bunny for her sweet letter.

All goes well, and he's gaining weight with every meal. Milk is a real treat after a year of only water and GI coffee. He should be home in about ten days if all goes well. Most of them are sent to the mainland by boat rather than plane.

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]
Oahu, Hawaii
May 15th, 1945
Dear Dad, Bee, & Bunny -
This morning one of my friends brought up a batch of mail from the Matinas and so a few lines are in order, even though I wrote you a few days ago. I was terribly surprised to learn that you'd heard of the completion of my 40th indirectly because I wrote you a long letter when I finished. I trust by now you've received it because I mailed about ten letters at the same time, and I can't understand you're not receiving it. Many Thanks for all your letters of this morning! 'Twas swell of you to have written such a sweet letter, Bunny.
All goes well with this loafer, and I'm gaining weight each meal. We're living here at the rest camp eating colossal meals of nothing but fresh food and quarts of cold milk. No c-rations!!! The milk is a real treat after liquid refreshment of nothing but water or GI coffee for about a year now. To see us eat you'd think we were part of the starving Armenians.
Went in to see Mr. Kellett the other day and he asked after you, Dad. He's

[2]
an awfully nice gent.
If all goes as I think it will, I ought to be on my way home in about ten days or so. Most of the boys have had to go by boat rather than air. Of course, we'd rather fly but for some reason they've cut out our air travel.
Well folks, that's about all for the moment but I'll write again if anything new comes up. Thanks for your various letters that I received this morning. If I don't write again from Oahu, you can expect a phone call from the west coast in about two weeks or so.
Best love -
Bobby

[envelope]
Lt. Robert L. Stone 0-696041
431st Bomb Sqdn. 11th Group
APO 246 ? Postmaster
San Francisco, Cal.

Mr. J. C Stone
375 Park Ave
New York City (22)
NY

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009
Stone, Jacob, fl. 1894-1985
Stone, Beatrice Hecht Marks, 1901-1962
Marks, Bunny, fl. 1922

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