February 12, 1943

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Don Stone

Addressed to "Don." Wanted to write a quick letter before he "leaves to help win the war." Thanks him for the "St. Cris" (St. Christopher Medal) on a nylon chain. Describes life in the barracks as "funnier than a musical comedy on broadway." Explains he hasn't had any classification tests yet, but will probably start on Monday. Moves on to talk about the rampant gambling, and the seven-hand poker games that Don would love. Complains about the tough grind of "K.P." [Kitchen Patrol] briefly and thanks Don again for his long letter and the "St. Cris" and the inscription on it.

GLC09620.006

February 16, 1943

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Postcard

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Folks." Writes a brief note following a call they had last night. He sent his parents both his watch to be repaired and his "civies," and asks that they let him know when they arrive. He asks them to send the things he asked for by phone as soon as they can, as well as any extra candy or cookies that he would gratefully receive. Postcard has a picture of a silver plane flying on a light blue background with clouds and the words "Keep 'Em Flying!" in red lettering. Same image as GLC09620.001 and .004.

GLC09620.007

February 17, 1943

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Postcard

Title: to Jacob Stone

Addressed to "Dad." Writes a brief note bemoaning the fact that his group of fifty won't be able to take their "pyschs" until the 23rd at the earliest while the rest of the squadron will be classified and shipped out. Postcard has a picture of a silver plane flying over the sea on a dark blue background with a yellow moon reflecting on the clouds and water. There is a small blue and red Air Force logo on the bottom left corner and "KEEP 'EM FLYING" is on the top of the postcard in small, black print.

GLC09620.008

18 February 1943

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Postcard

Title: to Jacob Stone, Beatrice Stone, Don Stone, and other family and friends

Addressed to "All." Hasty card to say he is off of quarantine and went into Nashville to meet Lois and Phil for cocktails and expects to see them for dinner later in the week. Postcard has a picture of a silver B-24 bomber plane called the "Flying Fortress" flying on a light blue background with "Keep 'Em Flying" in red lettering.

GLC09620.009

19 February 1943

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Postcard

Title: to Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Bee." A brief note asking for all of his "underwear shorts" and the pair of "high black sneakers," in addition to a few things he asked for by phone. Postcard has a picture of rows of planes, with servicemen in uniform standing in front of the planes at attention. The sky is still dark, and there is a bar of green at the bottom edge of the card.

GLC09620.010

20 February 1943

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad and Bee." He is on detail as a runner in the section headquarters and writing this letter when he is sitting around. No word on when he will start his "psychs" but could start next week. Mentions that many fellows are getting their classifications and disqualifications, thirty-five men have "washed out," and many more are waiting to hear back. Writes briefly about being out of quarantine and meeting Lois and Phil for dinner at the Andrew Jackson. He and the other men now have Wednesdays and Fridays off. Details rigorous training program of two lectures, drilling, and mass…

GLC09620.011

February 22, 1943

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Postcard

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad and Bee." A brief note explaining that he and forty-seven others are going to start their "psychs" tomorrow and he won't be able to write during the week as it will be a long and tough one. Says he'll get in touch with them at the end of the week. Postcard has a picture of a silver B-24 bomber plane called the "Flying Fortress" flying on a light blue background with "Keep 'Em Flying" in red lettering.

GLC09620.012

5 March 1943

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad and Bee." Finished up his "pyschs" this week, but has not written to anyone for a week. The first day was an eight-hour multiple choice test to determine placement, followed by "penny arcade day" where his coordination was tested with a variety of contraptions, the next day was "ARMA" or "adaptability relative to military aeronautics," followed by an interview with a psychiatrist. He mentions that most of the fellows "wash out" at this point. The following day he had a "complete going-over" and they thoroughly tested the eyes by looking at depth perception and prism…

GLC09620.013

21 March 1943

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone and brothers

Addressed to "Dad and Bee (also the freres [brothers] if home)." Hasn't written lately because he was sick "with a temp of 102 and a very bad sore throat," and just got out of the hospital after being there for five days. He was disappointed earlier in the week as he and others received shipping orders, but were taken off said orders. Their numbers started at two hundred and ten and been narrowed down to thirty "poor souls." He mentions that today is the first day of Spring, but it is snowing. He blames the weather for making everyone sick. He has nothing much to report, as the duties rotate…

GLC09620.014

24 March 1943

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad and Bee." Mentions a phone call they had earlier that day. He apologizes for the late letter he wrote "last Saturday" (GLC9620.014). He hopes it will arrive shortly. Complains that he is one of twenty-five men left in this "god-forsaken place." Predicts that when they are shipped out, it "will either be to Santa Ana, CA or Elington Field, Texas." Both are large bombardier schools, and there's a rumor of a new school in Georgia that would be perfect because he can go home if he has a "few days pass." Chances are slim that he'll stay in the east. The camp is keeping them very…

GLC09620.015

3 April 1943

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad and Bee." Now at Ellington Field, Texas, the men are kept to a strict routine starting at 5:30AM. They eat breakfast, go to calisthenics, and then go to classes with a lunch break. There is one more hour of drills, supper, and lights are out at 10:00PM. Talks briefly about the tough classes he must take now, even though he has avoided them in college and prep school. The weather is brutally hot, and asks for salt tablets to be sent. It's even tougher as he came from a cold climate. The food is terrific, and rivals that of restaurants in New York City. Warns that he won't be…

GLC09620.016

4 April 1943

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad and Bee." Remembered a few things he forgot to include in a previous letter. Asks for a shaving bowl, shaving talcum, wooden hangers, and some salt tablets. He hates to bother them with these, but he can't get them anywhere. Asks about his subscriptions to three magazines and asks that they be forwarded as well. The letter is written on stationary with "U.S. Army Air Forces" printed in dark blue at the top of the letter, with their logo. The date is written as "Sunday" but "Letters in a Box" notes the letter was written on April 4, 1943.

GLC09620.017

12 April 1943

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad and Bee." The class work is very difficult, physics and math are college courses taught in a very short amount of time. His squadron was surpised with an "open-post" where they could leave the base and many people left to go to Houston while he stayed to study and keep up in his classes. He recieved many of the things he asked for, and the letters that were sent. The weather is still very warm, and bearable now. The fellows in the barracks are great, and the food continues to be fantastic. Asks that they continue writing. The date is written as "Monday Nite" but "Letters…

GLC09620.018

18 April 1943

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gella Hecht

Addressed to "O'ma," his step-grandmother. Thanks her for a generous check. Writes briefly about the difficult classes, and drills that last from 5 AM to 5:30PM. Compares the weather to New York City in the middle of the season. Tells her the food is the best, even better than back home. The fellows in his squadron range from twenty to twenty-six in age and are from any area from Maine to California. The date is written as "Sunday" but "Letters in a Box" notes the letter was written on April 18, 1943.

GLC09620.019

15 July 1969

Robinson, Joyce, 1957-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard J. DiChristina

Joyce starts by addressing the letter to "Dear Someday Husband" and writes throughout how much she loves Richard. She mentions that her parents went to the Melody Fair and that she and Greg are home. She also mentions a school friend Jim who came over to get pictures of prom. Joyce updates him on her classes and asks how Richard is doing, mentioning that there are only 23 days left of basic training. She asks about his health and how he is doing after a cold. Joyce also mentions that the next day "the guys are leaving for the moon." Referencing the Apollo 11 mission. Joyce closes the letter…

GLC09626.13

9 January 1970

DiChristina, Richard J., 1949-2016

Autograph letter

Title: to Joyce Robinson

Richard writes Joyce how much he misses her, and loves her. He mentions that he and his group walked into a valley and were shot at. He reports that nobody was hit, but it scared all the men. It took about an hour to walk through the valley and about 2000 meters out they camped for the night. Richard complains that it rained during the night and now all his stuff is wet, but that it might get a chance to dry because the sun is out now. He is not sure if they are moving, but it turns out that they stay in place all day. Richard asks after family and says he will be writing to his sisters and…

GLC09626.14

January 10 1970

DiChristina, Richard J., 1949-2016

Autograph letter

Title: to Joyce Robinson

Richard writes to Joyce how much he loves and misses her. He mentions that they will be supplied and he will be able to send a bunch of letters he had written her and other family members. He writes they are leaving for the landing zone (LZ) in about an hour so it will be a short letter. Richard says they have to walk for 1000 meters and they will stop for the night and mentions that this morning's breakfast is a pork slice, and pound cake.

GLC09626.15

January 11, 1970

DiChristina, Richard J., 1949-2016

Autograph letter

Title: to Joyce Robinson

Richard writes how much he loves and misses Joyce. He also mentions that it had rained all night and he is once again all wet. However he is hopeful that in 6 or 7 days they will be out of the field and going to a "Fries Bacise" (fire base) where he can shave as he hasn't been able to in 3 weeks. There is a missing page as it skips to a page marked 3. At which point Richard is at a fires bacise (fire base) for the next few days and is complaining about rain.

GLC09626.16

February 1, 1970

DiChristina, Richard J., 1949-2016

Autograph letter

Title: to Joyce Robinson

Richard writes how much he loves and misses Joyce. He mentions that they are going to get paid today and that he plans to send her $100. He later mentions that something was wrong with his pay so he is only sending $65 but will work it out and send her the right amount as soon as he can. He mentions getting a letter from Joyce about her skiing trip and receiving 3 other letters from home as well. He mentions getting his CIB (combat infantry badge) orders and that he was going to send her one. This letter is written on pink paper.

GLC09626.17

February 2, 1970

DiChristina, Richard J., 1949-2016

Autograph letter

Title: to Joyce Robinson

Richard writes how much he loves and misses Joyce. He mentions that colored troops of the 4th division would be going home in about 2 months, and the rest will be going home within his 10 months, which means he would leave with them and be home in 6 or 7 months. He mentions his mother writing letters to senators and his hope that they would work and he could come home. Richard also mentions that "all we do is walk around looking for a fight Darling and I am sick of it Darling sick very very sick of looking for the VC and NVA all I am doing is looking out for me and my babby and not the VC and…

GLC09626.18

February 3, 1970

DiChristina, Richard J., 1949-2016

Autograph letter

Title: to Joyce Robinson

Richard writes how much he loves and misses Joyce. He mentions that they moved 3000 meters but that it went fast because he was thinking of walking to her. Richard also mentions letters he is expecting to get from his mother in a few days, and that there is some plan to hopefully get him home early in just a few months. Richard mentions what he ate for dinner saying "I have truck loaf in a can and peahes in a can and peanut Butter and Blackberry Jam in a can Darling and one vanilla cream Bar and all the food was made in 1966 and we eat it all."

GLC09626.19

February 4, 1970

DiChristina, Richard J., 1949-2016

Autograph letter

Title: to Joyce Robinson

Richard writes how much he loves and misses Joyce. He writes that he wishes he could send a long letter but is running out of paper and asks Joyce to put in some when next she writes. They should be going into a fire base soon and he can't wait because everyone's going crazy out there. He also mentions what they are having for lunch, "for lunch I have Boned turkey again and Peanut Butter and Jam again and Peaches again boy I can wait until I come home to you and you make me dinner."

GLC09626.20

February 5, 1970

DiChristina, Richard J., 1949-2016

Autograph letter

Title: to Joyce Robinson

Richard writes how much he loves and misses Joyce. He asks her for a number of food items including Hostess donuts, cinnamon rolls, cinnamon bread, a variety pack of cereal, sliced bread and mounds bars. He says his platoon is still out in the field even though all of the 3rd platoon went in. They are heading up a mountain and should be in a landing zone the next morning.

GLC09626.21

February 7, 1970

DiChristina, Richard J., 1949-2016

Autograph letter

Title: to Joyce Robinson

Richard writes how much he loves and misses Joyce. He says that they are on the mountain and it looks like they won't be going in for 3 or 4 days, but while they sit around the guys are making things up. One thing was, "The grunts have windows, the lifers have wifes, They sit Each day and play with our lifes, Making Mistakes that cost us our men going out the Next Day and Doing it again and when its all over They'll make it a story turning all the senseless Deaths into Glory. This is what we live for, This is why we Die." The second is, "you have never lived until you've nearly died for those…

GLC09626.22

9 February 1970

DiChristina, Richard J., 1949-2016

Autograph letter

Title: to Joyce Robinson

Richard writes how much he loves and misses Joyce. He writes that they are at the firebase (LZ) Hardtimes, and he recieved a letter from her and might get a package from his sister. They started for the base at 7 in the morning and arrived around 3 in the afternoon. He was so happy to have hot food. He asks Joyce to send him a photo of her and to make sure she pays for it out of the money he sent her. He writes that the 4th colored division is going home and he hopes he will be able to go home in April. He also writes he will send a clipping from Stars and Stripes on a soldier who was in…

GLC09626.23