9.

action off Formosa. Thoy wont’ into Lingayon Gulf on S-Day. Prior to that, thoy
wore a member of the cosobratod Task Force 58, Ho will have mony. bronze battle
stars on his Thoator sibbon whon he comos homoe . . «-Thore isn't much else that

I can toll you. I've triad to report this in detail, but there is much emotion and
fecling which aro difficuit to oxpross anc which, I am sure. you will detect botwoen
‘the lines, ‘If ono wore to think too *nuch about the tragedy of this war and the
separations it envails, ono could boeone very unhappy indeed. I think that we had
ali better xenembor that this will be ovex some day, and we will be able to rest
easiczy with ow conseiences for having triod. to do a job. whethor oy not it is cbout
anytaings, nd most of us out horo think it is about something, Some clenents at
home think Wo're sucess, and mAybe wo are; rt would be easy to bo sent home with
& diagnosis of psychoneurosis, and pienty of men oro doing it every day, But I
profer os & person one who is able to make the best of a bad situation and who can
preserve equanimity end hunor whilo evorything within hin cries to roturn to the
things he loves but’ has always beforo taken more or less ror granted, .Pecple who
have never beon oversoas cannot possibiy imagine tho values which avtach to ovory=
thing ond anything back homo. Your i/illic is one of those who can toke At ‘and keep

all of the little sensitive qualities we all love so woll,

"My meeting with Bill will be one of those things we will always remombor.
You may be disappointed in the brevity of ny stay with him, But you cen'* visuclize,
bécause I cannot deseribe the cifficulty of obtaining even that 20 minutes. There
is no sentinent about that, Vital shipping isn't used for porsonnl visits: Bra..
and I know that’ and are appreciativo. « «.» Whon you don't hear from B1li, remonber
there aro dog-tiring watches to keep, heavy, seas to bounce you around, rigid black.
outs to meintoin, Little spnce of one's cm -= and a nillion othor things, Bill
Will be bask with you. ono of these days, and before the war is over, I am sure.
Just keep your cye on thot dato and don't let. oxtraneous factors insrude upon your
serenity and happiness." | :

ae _dmother pair of brothors ore ifilton P, anc Robort Be Allen, Milton volunteered
for soa duty and is now doing his second hitch at Harvard University. He is a Lt.

(jg)» Isabel, his wife, and their floming-hairod 7-yoar-old Judy, are with hin:

in Boston, They were fortunato to find an apartment for the noxt three months,

then Iit will report for activo sca duty sonewhore.

Only today Bob reccived o communication from the Vor Department stating that
‘becauso of on immediate need of medical officers in tho Navy, an agreemont has
been ontered into whereby a numbor of doctors in the uirmy modisal’ corps wili be
honorably discharged from their commissions in the Army in ordor to serve in the
U.S. Navy medical corps as lieutenants (jc). Bobby is accepting and waiting for
his appiication to fill out. Theso medical officors will be with the landirg
craft, landing with ossault troops. I an told that in somo cases the medival
. officers, after 7 minutes from the time they hit the beach, have their medical
. , Unit sot up and aro. receiving casualties. a ae

So maybe lit snd Bob. will be sceing cach othor in their parsings Had this
communication from the Var Dopartmont not boon received, Rob wovld have gone into
active service with the Army medical corps us a first Jfeutenants the first of
‘idully.. ais 1t. fs-now,. we. have. throo. sone. in. the Navy, dano'’s nusband, Lt. E.R,
Nons,; a Navy pilot, is now in the Carolinos. He said, wher he wai writing to
dane anc the rest of us at hone, “If you notice any unstondiness in the nandwriting
it might be due to the vibration of the big guns.” Somecne suggested it might te
target pravtico! In the next Rebounds wo will give you Bob‘s addross. but he can
be reached nav at the University of Kansas Hospitals at Kansas City, Kansas, ond —
his mail will to forwarded,