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Dear
Shirley,
I
just hung up the phone with John Essig in Indiana
who gave me the sad news about Toms passing. I just
had to get a letter to you telling you how certain I am
that all remaining members of Crew 10 are solidly with
you in spirit & in prayers. There has been a bond
between us all ever since we became a crew back in 1944
& most especially that bond was strongest between
our airplane commander & the rest of us on his crew.
The fact that we did not often see one another in the
post-war years did not tessen the vitality of that bond.
It was inspired by Toms talents & abilities
as a pilot since we all soon realized how vital his inner
strength & discipline were to our welfare. The affection
of all of us spread like a familys concern &
care for one another, cememting that bond like few others
in human experience. I would have flown to the moon with
Tom Bell & I think all the other crew members felt
the same way. That strong belief lay at the foundation
of our profound respect & affection for him &
grew in the post-war years in all our minds. The world
is less gallant & strong without Tom Bell in it &
I am especially thankful that I had the opportunity to
see & know Tom better when I came out to visit you
both. Meeting his Shirley was getting to know the softer,
more beautiful part of Toms life & the experience
enriched my life further. Ill be forever grateful
you had the good sense to ask me to help in a small way
& today I am the one grateful for that opportunity.
My
prayers and thoughts are surely with Toms surviving
family. It was truly a privilege to meet you all at a
time when Tom was still with us. He will be mentioned
frequently in my prayers.
I am well & recovering nicely from open-heart surgery.
Will write soon & fill you in. Requiescat in pacem,
Dear Tom, You will be remembered forever by your crew
for whose survival & well-being we have you to thank!
With deepest condolences,
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