"Ensign. Russell J, Chitwood “0-8 * ore

,

On Friday, the 24th of "ee we were shocked and grieved when we learned.
of the ceath of Ensign Russell J, Chitwood, Navy Ferry Pilot and star end on the Kansag
‘Varsity Football team of '37, '38, and *39, Russell was killed Tuesday in the col-
lision of his plane and an Arny B-25 trai ning plano noar Rodeo, New Ilexico, the llth
Naval District announced. "Russ" was flying a Navy Fighter based at San Pedro, Cal.
dis witow lives in Long Beach, California, Russell was the sone of Re Aue Chitwood of
Conway Sprinjs, Lansas »

-—. oe = « we oo

%. We just received a letter ‘inion our Bob Allen this morning, Auge 27, stating
that he has left his hospital at San Franciscowith 263 paticnts for Camp Lejeune, New
River, North Carolina. He will fly back, and if possible, if he is lucky, and the
breaks come his way, he may be able to drop off a few hours to visit his wife, Jean
in Topeka. Wo are trying to make arrancements whereby we can pick him up and:all of
us meet at one central point for a short few hours" reunion, Bob thinks that it is
a cinch that he will be, in the service of the Navy from 18 to 24 PARTS from the presente

Sch August 29, 1945 - VWJe ah received a wire ‘Gens Bob from iashinrton, De Ce He
will fly to Kansas City tonight where we will meet him and drive him'to Topeka where
Jean, his wife, is not well. The good Dr. Pfuctze would not let Jean travel,

Mrs. Allen and I also recoived a letter fron one of our, and of our whole
fort alia very good friends, Lt. (jee) He C. "Cliff" McWilliams, USS Nehenta Bay,
(CVE-74) Fleet Post Office, San Francisco, California, dated June 13, Lonj; time no
Soe, Cliff. | aah eens

' Cliff says, "Where there is smoke there is firo, a you've probably heard
wie the grape vine that I was on my way to the Pacific. This I spoak of in the past
tense. I am now there, and have beon for over two months. In fact I am now salty
enough to have a slight bow in my legs. The passageways are much too low for « man of
my stature, (6ft. abn) I have a head that is slightly out of proportion due to the
numerous knocks on the noggine I have been seasick twice. And, like lark Twain, I
felt that if I lived through those periods it would be tragic. but now my equilibrium
spems more adapted to that of the roll and pitéh“idea. There have been many occasions
when I have muttered to myself - home was never like this - or - man's place is in the
aome beside woman - or such similar sweet sounding phrases. And incidentally this
brings up a subject which is so often discussed but never is a reality, Women! Iflost

o# the boys are married and they certainly do miss their wives. For us single men,

I believe we find solace in seeing ‘Lana Turner at the Cinema which has a time lag of
bout two years in current features, We have jscen the sane movies so many times we
anticipate the actors' lines. I have come to the point where I’ find Laurel and Hardy

vure acadeny award winners!" - oS eal | ;

“Well, I midi, close by ‘saying that in the tost cof stern reality there is
still.a sonse of humor that exists. The utter fantasy . of some of the events through
which we have, by God's grace survived, the fantasy of theso have on occasion some- -
what bewildered me, Through all the days and night's activity, however, there runs
a strain of mental reflection and a gradual formulation of a eortainty of purpose
and an awareness of just what is the better life."

"My hair should be turning gray, ut it isn't, However it has a tendency
to ‘stand up pretty straight at times. I would give up a weck's leave and Sunday de-
serts to see you poople now. I plan on darkening your door again so instruct the
local militia accordingly," :