Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009 to Jacob Stone, Beatrice Stone, Don Stone, Jim Stone, Barry Marks, and Ken Marks
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09620.113 Author/Creator: Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009 Place Written: at Sea Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 11 July 1944 Pagination: 3 p. : envelope ; 27.3 x 19.4 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s): Transcript of document
Addressed to "Dad, Bee, Don, Jim, Barry + Ken." Says this is a tough letter to write due to "rigid restrictions." The ship he is on is overcrowded, and the poor enlisted men are packed in like sardines. The first day was "really rugged" and 75% were sick. He's been lucky to keep everything down, but it was "dubious at times." Life is quite dull as they can either sit on the hurricane deck or play poker in the mess hall. He's had very little in the way of duties and so far has only had to censor the enlisted men's mail. He thanks his father for treating him to a "last fling in L.A." He asks that they continue sending regular mail instead of V-Mail and that his parents send around his letters.
The letter is marked as "Somewhere at sea" and the postmark is dated July 20, 1944. "Letters in a Box" notes the date as July 8, 1944, however two V-Mail letters, GLC09620.114-.115, are dated as July 11, 1944 and July 12, 1944 and reference this letter. As it is his second day at sea and GLC09620.114 is also marked as "Somewhere at Sea," this letter is most likely July 11.
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