o7

Major Stith's victory ribbon of the’ first World War shows three battle |
stars, and his Mediterranean-European theatre ribbon of “orl War II, shows eight —
campaign stars. He'also wears a unit citation awarded to the wit for outstanding
work in close support of the: infantry in Tunisia and Sieilys; and an osk-leaf clus-
ter for sinking a Seana pte? ‘in’ La Spezia harbor. 3

Major Stith is now on: thirty. days leave and reports for duty at Santa
Ana, California. : ;

“Mrs. Hulteen just phoned and said not to mail George's Rebound to him;
and that looks to us as though he might be.coming home soont

The day that.you boys have been fighting for since Pearl Harbor is heres
I do not know how many more Rebounds will be necessary. Certainly I have made up
in bulk what I have lacked in promptness in getting this Rebound to you. I have
had a very difficult time getting it out, but I assure you that we will not let any
of you boys down, even though you do not return to the states for quite some time.
These communications, of neces sity, will ‘be more brief, but we will give you boys,
(on the various occupation areas) the news aS it comes to use

e

But, the home front is not all rosy. The peace, for which we are all’so -’
thenkful for, came so suddenly that it disjointed business in its kaleidoseopic
change. It is prodicted that eicht million men will be out of work by the time snow
flies. But, the phychology of business, by this time, is firm and optomistie. Your
Commander in Chief is doing a great job in dropping many controls and clearing the
track ina splendid reconversion program. In the next month, we will have millions
back for work, so you boys who are still in the service, don't race your motorSe |
I know how you feel, naturally you will say, "Who are these guys to give us this kind
of advice?"

 

When you do get back and take advantage of the educational angle of the
G. I, Bill of Rights, you doubtless will have tho "best go" so far as the benefits
to the servicenen aro concerned. That much talked of two thousand dollar loan is
largely a myth. It sounded good, but practically, you can't borrow two thousand
dollars from any bank, or anybody else, unless your individual credit is good for
two thousand dollars. Your service record may be good for some things, but these
bankers won't loan money on that. But the educational advantages will pay off.

The authorities say that we will have a deprassion, but the eall for much
mental anguish will not be»like the 1930-35 depression; not as had or as pessimistis,
but it will be plenty tough on people while it lasts. War orders were cancelled so
rapidly and so many factories were closed that naturally millions of people are out
of work. About nine months from now the authorities think that we will be on the
biggest upswing of prosperity that we have ever faced, and this prosperity will con-
tinue for ‘at least five years.

Howunlike the period following the last World War. The boys came back, they
were out of jobs, prices were high, and they had to pay twice as much for a suit of
clothes as when they entered the service, and there were no ar to be had. This
time it has got to be different.

New automobiles will be pegged at their 1942 prices. Of course, the black
market boys are posesss a bonanza now, because people are paying any price for a
care