12 July 1944

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone

Addressed to "Dad." A brief note to send his new permanent address. The V-mail letter is dated as "July 12, 1944."

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13 July 1944

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone, Beatrice Stone, Don Stone, Jim Stone, Ken Marks, and Barry Marks

Addressed to "All." He finally arrived in the "beautiful Hawaiian Islands." He stayed aboard the ship the first night and they were taken to base by trucks the following morning. The base is a small landing strip surrounded by mountains and jungles on one side and the ocean on the other. They'll be in flying training and patrol missions before going "down under." Everything is "hush hush" and Honolulu is filled with "Navy." He saw the "famous Pearl Harbor" and writes that he'll be able to get letters out to his parents and Pam, but they will be minimal, just like his free time. He includes…

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16 July 1944

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone

Addressed to "Dad." A brief note stating that he forgot to ask about his watch that he sent home before he left Seattle. He would like his father to have it fixed for him. He still hasn't received any mail, so he hopes they've gotten his many letters. The V-mail letter is dated as "Sunday July 16th." "Letters in a Box" dates the letter as July 16, 1944.

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20 July 1944

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone, Beatrice Stone, Don Stone, and Jim Stone

Addressed to "Dad, Bee, Don, + Jim." All goes well at "Pineapple Paradise." He's flown several times, only short missions so far. Life isn't too bad, except there's very little entertainment. They get a pass every two weeks or so, and most people go to the beach at Waikiki. As of yet, he's gotten no mail, and hopes his new address will reach his family soon. He also made a "mighty fine table" for his tent. The letter is dated as "Thursday July 20th." "Letters in a Box" dates the letter as July 20, 1944.

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22 July 1944

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad and Bee." Everyone's mail came through and they each received fifteen to twenty letters. He was disappointed when he didn't have one from Pam, but found out that she had a "brain concussion" and can't write quite yet. He was able to call her and she's hoping to write soon. He asks his parents to keep an eye on her until she can write again. The letter is dated as "July 22nd." "Letters in a Box" dates the letter as July 22, 1944.

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24 July 1944

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad and Bee." He hasn't received any letters to his new APO, so he's wondering if his parents have received his letters. He is worried about Pam, but asks that his parents keep him posted on her health. They've flown a lot and his plane led a formation on a simulated bombing mission. He's getting "excellent training here -- far better than in the states." He asks his parents to send him Ken's address, and he plans to head to the beach and tan after concluding this letter. The letter is dated as "Monday July 24th." "Letters in a Box" dates the letter as July 24, 1944.

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29 July 1944

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad and Bee." The mail is coming through a little better and it takes about ten days for mail to get from the east coast. He sent a package home yesterday with his favorite sweaters, made by Pam, and a couple pairs of socks. He has the insurance slip and asks his parents to let him know the condition of the package. They've all been putting on an air-show for "some unknown dignitary" who they all believe to be President Roosevelt. He's managed to get to the beach every other day and just received a letter from Pam that she dictated to a friend. He asks that they all keep…

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2 August 1944

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Folks." Everything is fine with him. He just started the 7th Air Force Gunnery School, which lasts about a month. They go to classes from 7:45AM-5PM, with a break for lunch. The classes are a little boring, but it's "good cheap life insurance." They went to Honolulu to see the 7th AAF baseball team play, and when they left at the beginning of the game, the "fliers" were up 13 to 1. Says it's like a pro-team as they have Joe Dimagio and Joe Gordon. The mail is messed up, but hopes it'll straighten out in a day or so. The letter is dated as "Wednesday Aug. 2nd." "Letters…

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6 August 1944

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone.

Addressed to "Dad + Bee." The first week of classes is over and they have a day off to spend at the beach. There's a "lovely officers club" right on the beach with an "attractive snack bar" and other perks. He found a college register as well and recognizes a few other names based in Hawaii. Mail is still jumbled, but he's getting the ones with his new APO. He asks for them to continue writing. Post-Script: Asks his parents to send him some 620 film by taking this letter to Eastman Kodak. The letter is dated as "Sunday Aug. 6th." "Letters in a Box" dates the letter as August 6,…

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10 August 1944

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad + Bee." There's litttle news from their "wayward son." The work is well worth it for the schooling, even if it's boring. Life is better here than the base they were at. The food is excellent and they have a beautiful officers club that hosts open air movies. He's glad his father enjoyed his trip to Canada and thanks him for the contact in Hawaii. He writes that getting money is tough unless you know someone with a Hawaiian bank account, otherwise a check has to go to the mainland. The Roosevelts did visit Hawaii two weeks ago and everyone was excited for a good week…

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17 August 1944

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Dad + Bee." Life is very routine as they finished classwork and have been on the range. Next week will be a course in "air to air firing." He's been living and eating like a king, but he knows it will come to end soon enough. He writes that they'll probably go to the "Bonins" next. He thanks Bee for sending him magazines and talks about how weird the mail system is. He's hoping to bump into Ken if he should ever come this way. He also asks if Bunny got his letter and to tell her she owes him one! The letter is dated as "Thursday 17th." "Letters in a Box" dates the letter…

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22 August 1944

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Addressed to "Folks." He thanks them for keeping their "pens in action," as he received a lot of mail from his family. He doesn't want to stop living like a human being. He keeps bumping into friends from college and from school. He received a letter from his best friend from Childress who completed his fiftith mission in Italy and is going home. If he hadn't gotten his plate taken out, he would be finished too. He did a little shopping but Honolulu "ranks high among the biggest dumps" he's ever visited. The letter is dated as "Tuesday Aug. 22nd." "Letters in a Box" dates the letter…

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1 September 1944

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Stone, Beatrice Stone, Don Stone, James Stone, Barry Marks, and Ken Marks

Addressed to "Dad, Bee, Don, Jim, Barry, + Ken." He apologizes for the lapse of mail, but he is now the "proud possessor of a very impressive diploma" as school sped up massively, but he's done. He is now flying all the time, and the next time he writes he might not be in Hawaii. He can't write about it, but tells his family to follow the "7th AAF Liberators." He tried locating Barry, but with no luck. He hopes to bump into him soon. The letter is dated as "September 1, 1944." "Letters in a Box" dates the letter as September 1, 1944.

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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…

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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…

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10 January 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.

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11 January 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.

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1 February 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.

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2 February 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…

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3 February 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."

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4 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 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."

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5 February 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.

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7 February 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…

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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…

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June 1969

Photograph

Title: Richard J. DiChristina in uniform

A photograph of Richard J. DiChristina in uniform with a flag and globe in the background. On the back is the date June 1969 and the note says Dad, Rich.

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