Box
272 Kent, Ohio
July 1, 1945
Dear Helen:
I put off writing you as I thought I might hear something
more definite from Dick, but I haven’t. He called
me Thurs. night from Hawaii but of course the call censored
and he couldn’t tell me any thing.
I told your mother about all I know and from things
Dick says it doesn’t sound good. He did say that
both you and Clarice had been notified. He said “If
one of the girls call you I don’t know what for
you to say but give them your sympathy”.
I just can’t believe such a terrible thing could
happen and since you haven’t been notified maybe
there is still hope. I know what you must be going through
and my heart aches for you.
Dicks
letters have been all rather confusing and he still
has to take pills to sleep nights.
Here
is how it all happened.
They led the 2nd squadron in and had 24 fighters attacks
in four minutes and six direct hits from the ground.
Two engines were shot out, radio, bomb-bay doors and
I don’t know what all, but I guess they might
have made it back until a third engine caught on fire.
They ditched about 200 miles off Japan and seven of
them drifted for two days in a four-man raft until they
were picked up. Some of them were wounded but I am not
sure which ones. Dick wrote “four men were lost,
we tried so hard to have them, but our attempts were
futile.”
I’m wondering if in all the excitement those four
might have gotten in another raft and maybe there is
still a chance. That might be the reason you haven’t
been notified. I certainly hope so.
I owe Clarice a letter and went to write her but she
hasn’t written and asked me anything and I hesitate
to write and tell her all this stuff when maybe there
is a chance they will be found. I worry about her because
of her condition and I just don’t know what would
be best for me to do. I wouldn’t have written
you until you wrote me, but it wasn’t because
I didn’t want to, I just didn’t want to
worry you if it wasn’t necessary.
Dick isn’t getting my letters and won’t
until he gets back from Hawaii, but I have asked him
to tell me anything he can. I just wish there was something
I could tell you that would help, but I have told you
all I know.
Let me know if you hear anything and I certainly hope
that you hear something good.
How is Bobby? I’ll bet he is growing. These two
of ours are getting into everything now. I put them
out in the sun everyday with practically nothing on
and they are getting so brown. I’ve fallen in
love with both of them and don’t know what I would
do without them.
Well Helen I must close. I am sorry I can give you any
reassuring news. You have my sympathy, but I know there
is really nothing than I can say that helps. Please
let me know if you hear anything.
