Trumbull – R-113 (1) – Dear Lad – A Car For The Alaskans – February 2, 1941
Alfred Peabody Guion (Lad) in Venezuela
R-113 February 2, 1941
Dear Lad:
There are two big events in the offing. One is Dick’s leaving for Alaska next month and the other, your homecoming in June. Already in imagination I have met you several times as a Grace Line boat pulls in, and I hope it won’t be messed up as it was when Dan arrived home and we were not there on time.
I got your interesting letter last Wednesday at the office, the one written January 20 telling me of the interesting New Year’s party, and enclosing the draft of the letter to the F-M (Fairbanks-Morse) people and your comments on job opportunities in Venezuela. I have rewritten the letter of application as I would suggest your sending it and have also commented on it on a separate sheet enclosed in this envelope.
You saved the most interesting news to the last, I notice, that telling of the raise to $225 a month. I’ll bet I am more thrilled at this evidence of your material advancement and this recognition of your worth than you are. Even CONGRATULATIONS in capital letters doesn’t do proper justice to the occasion. And in this connection, you say that you would like to have me so arrange your funds that you may have cash on hand to (1) outfit yourself again and (2) for spending money. I will so arrange, but if you can give me some idea within $100 just what your idea is of these amounts it will make it a bit easier for me to arrange it without feeling I may be holding too much out that might otherwise be invested profitably for your advantage.
I will also take care of the McGraw bill for trade papers and in this connection I have filched about $30 from your account for Christmas gifts. I hope this will not seem too much.
The Alaskan branch of the family is quite insistent that Dick catch the first boat for Alaska in the spring which, according to Ced’s last letter, sails from Seattle on March 20. They base this on the fact, aside from the fact that they want their car to use as soon as possible, that the housing shortage up there even now is acute and with the influx of new folks in the spring, lured by the promise of jobs due to government building activity, the chances are that latecomers may not only find it difficult and expensive to find living quarters but may also miss out on jobs that will be available to the early comers. For this reason, now that the car has been bought, Dick plans to start somewhere around March 1, depending somewhat on what further dope we get from Anchorage. Dick is quite disappointed that he will not see you, so he “can really get acquainted with his big brother” and has been trying to talk me into taking a two or three months vacation when you get home so that you and Dave and myself can take a trip to Alaska. Of course, the time away from my business and the expense is my problem and is dismissed with a wave of the hand.
As to the reference to Sylvia. “Who is Sylvia?”, you ask, in the words of Olie Speaks song. Back last year sometime, I wrote that I had a visit from my two cousins, daughters of my father’s sister (another child in the same family is my lame cousin Guion Kilbourne of whom you have probably heard me speak. His father was an Army surgeon who knew Gen. Custer), one of whom had married an English army officer and had spent many years in India. Her husband had died, leaving her with one child, a daughter just about your age, named Sylvia. They were staying with an old sweetheart of hers that she didn’t marry, who lived in Norwalk and had driven up to see me. Later I wrote that Sylvia’s mother had died very suddenly and Dick and Dave and I went to the funeral. Later I wrote that Sylvia had landed a job taking care of too little English refugee children on a big estate on Long Island.
You are correct in assuming that it was Charlie Hall with whom Dick had gone riding. It was Dick who was driving when they sideswiped another car, doing about $5 worth of damage which Dick had to pay for.
Ted (Human, married to Helen (Peabody), Grandma Arla’s next younger sister, and who hired Lad and Dan for their original work on a road project from Caracas to Maracaibo)) at present is working on some engineering work for the US government at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Helen wrote me a week or so ago that they have moved to Brooklyn.
The letter B instead of R as a prefix to letter 106 is just a bit of temperament exhibited by my typewriter. It gets cranky at times and although I clearly pressed the R key, in a contrary spirit it has at times made a B impression. You’ll have to overlook these little peccadilloes, whatever they are. It is a variety of the same disease that affects your machine on the ½ character.
L to R: Arnold Gibson, Charlie Kurtz, Carl Wayne,
Ethel Bushey
Carl’s plans are up in the air again regarding his marriage plans (to Ethel Bushey). They had already decided to go through with their plans anyway and get hitched on February 22, and had made reservations on a boat sailing for Haiti a few days later. Early this week however, Carl got a summons from the Draft Board telling him he would be called for duty and was to report on the 19th. If the second physical exam at that time passed him he would not return to Trumbull but would immediately go on to camp for training. He saw the local Draft Board head, who told him that if he had gotten in touch with him and informed him of the circumstances within five days after his first notice some weeks ago, he might have been able to put Carl on the deferred list, in fact they considered him a borderline case anyway on account of his eyes and teeth, and that possibly the Dr. would reject him on the second exam on the 19th. Not to know definitely however until that time would make it very unwise for Carl to go through with his present marriage plans and he accordingly canceled his steamboat reservations. Today he tells me that three of the boys called for the 14th had been rejected and he is therefore to take the place of one of them and go up for his examination on the 14th. If he is accepted, he will not of course be married until later, if rejected he can be married but will have to wait two weeks for the next sailing on the cruise he wants to take. To complicate matters still further, his arrangement and lease with Kurtz (Carl had leased Kurtz’s Gas Station, pictured above) expires in June, and he has just received word from the Socony people that they will finance him if Kurtz will sell the station. The whole thing is quite a mess. I will of course keep you posted as to developments.
DAD
Tomorrow and Friday, I will post the rest of R-113, a letter written to Dan and Ced in Alaska.
Judy Guion
Trumbull – Report Of The Purchasing Agent – The Car – February 1, 1941
Purchase Agreement for Ced’s 1937 Buick
Report of Purchasing Agent
on Conn. Reg car TO-71
February 1, 1941
Bought Jan. 30th, 1941, a 1937 Buick sedan, black, model 37-47, serial # 3130614, Motor # 43304745, price $400 from A. L. Clark Co., salesman, Priestley. Purchased and registered in the name of Cedric D. Guion, Daniels Farm Road, Trumbull.
Car formerly owned by a man named Collins, used exclusively as family car and serviced by the A. L. Clark Co., mileage 38,400. At 23,000 miles it was thoroughly overhauled by the A. L. Clark Co., at which time the hydraulic brake system was thoroughly overhauled, pumps plungers etc., put in first class condition, brakes relined (this job alone cost $37), a valve and carbon job, new plugs and points, front end checkup, etc., which was all that was necessary to be done at the time to put it in A-1 running condition. It is equipped with four new Lee white sidewall tires and a spare tire on wheel, also in very good condition. It is equipped with an Arvin heater and built-in defroster and electric clock. The upholstery is said to be like new, owner having had slipcovers installed when purchased from the A. L. Clark Co., which have never been removed and are still in first class condition. The paint job looks like a new car. It is waxed and has evidently been driven carefully and kept up in excellent shape — not a scratch or dent on it, inside upholstery clean, unworn and unspotted. A trunk compartment in rear housing spare tire and tools. Double windshield wiper. It is a Buick special 8 cylinder. Drives beautifully, handles as well is my new Buick. Arnold’s comments: “I think this is just the car the boys want.” Price asked $475 with allowance of $50 for Arnold’s Packard, agreed to let me have it for $425 cash. Held out against all kinds of pressure for $400 although Arnold told me privately that from his knowledge of car values, if you could not get it for less than $425 to take it as it was worth that. However they finally consented to give it to me “as is” without customary 90-day guarantee, but with the private hint from the salesman that if anything was wrong to bring it in. The battery is not new and Arnold’s advice is, before starting for Alaska, to put in a first-class new battery of an approved make. My plan is to run it a few weeks and find out any weaknesses it might have and then have Arnold give it a thorough checkup before it starts on its western trip.
Brakes need to be taken up a bit. Does not burn oil, said to get from 15 to 17 miles per gallon. Registry fee $4.50 which expires April 1st. Two additional keys purchased for $.35. Will await instructions from you as to insurance. In the meantime Dick understands he is to use car in moderation. He may not drive it back and forth to work but does want to use it once or twice a week, nights for pleasure, subject to your consent. Due to the increase in employment in Bridgeport the market for used cars is quite active at the present time and Priestley says he could have sold this car to another fellow who was very anxious to buy it the same day. He had other cars he could’ve offered me at lower price but this was the cream of 1937 cars that they had come in for some time, so he says. Discounting the salesmanship in the remark it IS good value according to my amateur judgment and Arnold’s mechanical opinion. I feel satisfied I have carried out your instructions creditably and I hope you will feel the same, even though it is black and not some brighter color.
A.D. Guion P.A.
I’ll be finishing the week with one letter written by Grandpa to Lad, working in Venezuela and another, written to Dan and Ced in Anchorage, Alaska.
On Saturday and Sunday, the David Peabody Guion Photo Album and the Eleanor (Kintop) Guion Photo Album (I hope).
Judy Guion
– Dear Alfred and Laddie – Two Notes from Friends in Trumbull – January 26 and 30, 1941
Alfred Peabody Guion (Lad) is working for the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company (Mobil eventually) in Venezuela, Daniel Beck Guion and Cedric Duryee Guion are both working in Anchorage, Alaska, Dan as a surveyor and Ced as an airplane mechanic for the Army at Woodley’s Airfield . Grandpa’s three oldest boys are far from home but continue to help support their younger brothers and sister.
Alfred Peabody Guion at one of the Oil Camps in Venezuela
Sunday, January 26, ’41
Dear Alfred —-
Lova, such a lovely surprise – your card! You are coming home in May we hear, but can not wait that long to tell you we miss you, we’re looking forward to seeing you and it was good to hear from you! How’s that ?!?!?! So much must have been happening with you, Laddie, it’s been a long time you’ve been away. If you have a chance to write before you come home, please do, but otherwise, you are hereby invited for a “catching up” get together at the Bebee’s domicile when you return!
Let’s see what I can do in the way of news items, re: the Beebes in this epistle —- Edna and Peggy are entirely on their own and happily (and rather dashingly) keeping home for themselves in an apartment. Mother stays in Redding Ridge all the time now. She’s happier in the country and we are so seldom home. Edna was a student at Teacher’s College in New Haven until last month but left to enter the Library, too. We are both Librarians now, but on our honor, not stodgy ones!
Edna and a Yale Senior, of whom I heartily approve, are very devoted to each other. Laddie, you should see Edna — she is so lovely! After all the publicity she received when elected May Queen — our house was over run with males! Walter (the Yale Senior) is both our favorite, tho’. Is that sentence correct grammatically, I wonder !?!
Peggy broke her engagement about six months ago and is much happier! In fact, life, in general, is extra specially good! We have friends ‘n friends ‘n friends and they come often and stay long! Most of them help on our work here in the Village with the children on Saturday and after we finish, gather here for tea, music, conversation and fun. Most stay for dinner, too, and sometimes overnight. Walter usually comes for Saturday night dinner too —- and any friends of his! Last night, for instance, we were six when someone began to set the table (everyone helps) and nine when we finally sat down! Oh, Laddie — I love it! Good friends, good music (almost everyone plays some instrument) hospitality and general good will!
I don’t know what kind of picture all this paints for you, but come and join us when you get home!
Take care of yourself, Laddie ______
Love from all of us —-
Peggy
(NOTE – Edna and Peggy Beebe were part of “The Gang” that hung around at the Trumbull House for years and years.)
**************************
Arnold Gibson, Lad’s best friend in Trumbull
The Roamer
Trumbull, Ct.
Jan. 30, 1941
Dear Laddie,
Thanks for the birthday and Christmas letters which I certainly should have answered long ago. You see, I hear the news from you through your Dad, and am so darned careless that I don’t write myself. It seemed great to hear your ______ of Nomad and our good times toghether. I sure hope there will be more such trips.
As you must know, Dick is to buy a car for Ced and Dan and drive it to Seattle. Alta (Arnold’s wife) and I were all set to tow our trailer out with it and go to Anchorage, too (with the Roamer). I could do that by June but Dick must leave by March first, so I’ll be $200 short and as I don’t know where I could borrow it, I’m afraid a great opportunity is lost, as jobs there won’t last forever. I may go alone and send for Alta, and perhaps the trailer, later. I even thought that as you expect to be home in the spring, you might like to drive Alta and Roamer to Seattle in the summer, at my expense, of course. Or you might want to go to Alaska, too.
Of course my dream and wish is that, if you are not returning to S.A. (South America) or not going for several months, you might like to go to Alaska with me in the summer or fall as we planned before you went to Venezuela. I think that this would be wonderful, and that you would enjoy travelling with us in the trailer, which is pretty nifty, even after a marsh buggy. All this probably sounds wild to you, but I’m dead serious. You might let me know how crazy it sounds to you.
Nomad is still going strong and my canoe is all rebuilt.
I understand your sufferings to uphold the white man’s prestige with women, women everywhere, but not a one to ______, or is there perhaps one?
Please answer about Alaska,
Gibby
Tomorrow and for the rest of the week, I will post a four-page letter from “The Purchasing Agent” regarding the car Dick is driving to Alaska.
Judy Guion
The David Peabody Guion Photo Album – 1925 – 2005
Due to Technical Errors beyond my control right now, The David Peabody Guion and Elinor (Kintop) Guion Photo Albums will have to wait until next weekend.
On Monday I will begin posting letters written in 1941. Lad is working in Venezuela and Dan and Ced are working in Anchorage, Alaska.
Judy Guion
Trumbull – Dear Son (4) – Grandpa’s Local News And Some Advice – January 14, 1945
Marian (Irwin) Guion (Mrs. Lad)
Jean (Mortensen) Guion (Mrs. Dick)
There is a report that Ray Wang has been wounded although not seriously. Catherine Warden (who had been renting the apartment with her husband, Paul Warden, until he was drafted) is preparing to leave here somewhere around the first of the month for Oklahoma where Paul will be stationed for quite a while). I don’t expect there will be much difficulty in finding a new renter but it will leave us seriously handicapped regarding the laundry problem, which she has been doing for us every week on her washing machine. Jean and Marian are willing to tackle the job after I get our washing machine put in order (Ced fixed the electric ironer when he was home a year ago). I figured however, that with them both working all day, five days a week, they might not have the time, so I took our wash down to Crawford Laundry which used to do it and was told that, as a special favor to me, they would take it this week, but only the de-luxe expensive service was available, that they were not taking on any new customers in fairness to their old steady customers and that in any event, they could not promise the return of any wash inside of a month. That, coupled with the fact that it is impossible to buy any sheets (they had to call the police at a recent sheet sale at Read’s, one of the officials at the store was knocked down in the scramble and two women tore a sheet in half, each grabbing one end and claiming it was hers), sort of settles the matter for us. Either we wash our own stuff or go without, or wear dirty clothes. Reminds me of my cousin Dud’s (Dudley Duryee, childhood friend of Grandpa’s)test to determine whether his socks were dirty enough to go to the laundry. he threw them against the wall, and if they stuck, they were.
It’s been snowing here all afternoon, in spite of which fact, two young things journeyed up here in the bus to get married this afternoon, reminding me of another 14th only a month later, when I performed another marriage ceremony (referring to Dick and Jean’s marriage on February 14th, 1943) here in the house and then the groom shortly thereafter ran away to Brazil, and, personally speaking, hasn’t been heard from since, – – well, hardly ever.
I spoke forniest (? not my typo) in this letter, about your possibly inheriting some of your parents characteristics. There is one thing you did not inherit from me and that is a, what for the lack of a better term, I shall call “money sense”. I suppose it is largely my fault that most of you are not more thrifty. When you were born, I started for each of you a bank account but fell down somewhere along the line in inculcating the idea of saving for the rainy day that invariably comes with the change in life’s weather. Later, this fund was transferred (small as it was) to the Home Building & Loan here in Bridgeport, and none of you have added a cent to it, as far as I know, since that time. In Ced’s case I suppose the atmosphere of Anchorage makes it particularly difficult to develop the habit of laying by for future needs. I religiously saved for him the money he sent home from time to time, thinking he was paying me back for some fancied debt he owed me, and then when he came home last year, he spent it out of his generous heart. He gets a bonus from Woodley’s and immediately thinks about buying Christmas gifts in spite of the expense of fixing up his car. If you boys can’t save something from the small amount you are being paid, just for the mental discipline and good habit formation, then bolster your good intentions by sending me something REGULARLY to put aside for you. I speak out of the experience and observation of sixty years and know someday you are going to thank me for it, if you heed these words now, and it will make me face your future more confidently also. This is not something you married ones can push off onto your spouses. It’s your job. Sorry to end on so somber a note.
DAD
Trumbull – Dear Son (3) – News From Missouri And Southern France – January 14, 1945
David Peabody Guion (home on leave, December, 1944)
From Signalman Dave a “5 Jan. 45” letter says: “Naturally I just couldn’t break off at home and come back to camp without leaving a little something behind me to remind you all of the four days I spent with you, but now I find I must have the very article that I left at home. It seems that the G.I. procedure is that every soldier wears what is known commonly as dog tags. So if one of you good souls would be so kind as to locate the missing articles and send them to the address here before they Court Martial me, I sure would appreciate it.
My furlough ended Monday at midnight. The Jeffersonian was only eight hours late, forcing me to miss TWO connections out of St. Louis. Naturally I was slightly AWOL!! – – Only 12 hours late coming in. But in the eyes of the C.O. our reason was a good one (there were three of us on the Jeffersonian). It seems that all of the trains were late and most of the boys were AWOL for a few hours. Some even came later than I did. This week I’m working from 12 midnight until eight in the morning in the code room at shantytown (tar paper barracks in camp now being used as operations buildings). I “sleep” in my own bed during the day. Either Sunday or Monday we go into the field for a week’s training. Don’t be surprised if by the end of the end of next week I’m writing from the hospital.”
Alfred Peabody Guion (Lad) in Southern France
Through courtesy of the recipient we are privileged to hear now a few words from Ordnance in Southern France:
“Things are getting better here. The sun shone almost all day and practically dried out the high spots. We got a stove for our room, so I keep fairly comfortable. There were eight of us in this room, about the size of half of our kitchen and there are four double-decker beds made of unfinished wood with 6” to 8” slats spaced about an inch apart. A mattress filled with straw which, believe it or not, is fairly comfortable. On December 13 he writes “All of us are sitting around here in our warm room with a bottle of beer. We all feel better tonight since we got paid. Due to rationing of practically everything in the PX, a maximum of that 80 francs ($1.60) per week is about all you can spend. Every cent we had, excluding good luck pieces, had to be changed to francs and we are paid in francs as it is a military offense to have American money on your person here. For easy calculating one franc is worth approximately two cents but it is still a little funny to try to buy something.”
He is now very happy to be working on the diesel electric plant and is now on the night shift. He is also trying to get in touch with Dan and if there is any way of the latter letting him know where he is, by all means set the wheels in motion. On December 22nd: “A few of the boys went out the other day and brought back a big Christmas tree which has been decorated by a bunch of very ingenious men using practically nothing but discarded paper, tinfoil from cigarette packages, and by hanging evergreen bows from wire strung around the room, the day room has been quite nicely fixed up. We expect to have a company party there this week.”
Tomorrow, the conclusion of this letter with local news of family and friends.
Judy Guion
Trumbull – Dear Son (2) – News From Ced In Alaska – January 14, 1945
Cedric Duryee Guion
Ced, from up near the Arctic Circle, reports on December 29 as follows:
The Buick is again performing its long neglected duties and does pretty well at it. There are a few bugs to be chased out of it yet and the way it looks, I may have to take up on the bearings a little later on, but I think I’ll wait until warmer weather. It seems that somehow or other, either from incorrect fitting or by misuse in some way, one of the rods loosened up a tiny bit in the first 100 miles. I didn’t drive fast but I had the spark set a little late and it tended to overheat a little. That, added to the fact that we had nearly 2 feet of snow at just the time I started running it, made the going very tough for a new engine. There is nothing serious at all about it but it was very disappointing after doing the job so thoroughly. It still lacks 285 miles of being run in. I installed the Stuart Warner heater which I bought from Carl and it really is swell on these cold days.
We have had a couple of extremely cold snaps down to 25 below on a couple of days, but for two weeks preceding yesterday, weather and temperature have been extremely and unusually kind to the Arctic dwellers. For some time now the frost peculiar to this section has been building up each night and gradually, completely shrouding all that is exposed to the elements in a gorgeous a blanket of lacy white. Right now when the sun comes out to peek briefly at Anchorage in its hurried course across the southern section of sky, I am privileged to look upon what I believe to be the most beautiful formations of this frost which I have seen in my four odd years up here. Everything, however ugly in the nude, is now resplendent in its new white drapings. Later however, the wind came up and blew most of the frost away. Christmas Eve I spent at the Morgan’s open house and at the Church, singing a Christmas concert with the Presbyterian choir. Christmas dinner was at Jerry Keene’s. The shortest day of the year has finally come and gone and now the days are lengthening again, although I haven’t noticed it as yet. I figured on calling you on the phone from here on Christmas day, around five a.m., catching you at ten, but found there was no openings until Thursday, and again New Year’s Day with the same report. At the night rate of $20 for five minutes and four or five dollars more on day, I decided it wasn’t worth it unless I could get the right time.
Tomorrow, I will post the next section of this letter and continue it throughout the week.
Judy Guion
Trumbull – Dear Son (1) – A Christmas Poem From Dan – January 14, 1945
!945 has just begun and Grandpa has heard from four of his five sons – quite an improvement over last week.
Trumbull, Conn., January 14, 1945
Dear Son:
Table of Contents:
A Christmas Poem…Dan Guion
Alaskan Diary…Ced Guion
Report From So. France…Lad Guion
30 Seconds Over Camp Crowder…Dave Guion
Odds and Ends…by the Editor
Daniel Beck Guion
It is a blessing that you boys have acquired a sense of humor, or maybe, and I say it in all humility, you have inherited a bit from your parents. Anyway, amid the stress and storm of war and amid all the hardships of life at the front, lodged in abandoned German block houses, etc., it is mighty reassuring to know that you can see the funny side, as witness the following in a V-mail written on December 24th by Dan. It reminds me of a reply an old darkey, who in spite of having his share of life’s troubles, always remained cheerful, once made when asked how he managed to remain so cheerful and calm, “Well, ah’l tell yo’”, said Uncle Joe, “Ah’s jist learned to cooperate wid de inevitable”. Now for Dan’s contribution:
‘Twas the day before Christmas when all through the house
All the world was astir here, especially a mouse
And the flea bitten bastard with rodent-like gall
Dragged a bar of my chocolate out into the hall
And there in a corner with indecent haste
The candy became gastronomical paste
He was heard to remark as he slunk toward his nest
“Merry Christmas to all, and to you, boy, T.S.”
All of which is by way of meaning that, although Christmas is Christmas, it is not always possible to spend it as we wish – – because of the rats and lesser mice and sech like. However, (I said it last year and I’ll say it again) Next Christmas things will be different. Dan.
Tomorrow, Thursday and Friday, the rest of the letter.
Judy Guion
Trumbull – DEAR A S F (American Setrvice Field – News From Dick And Lad – January 7, 1945
Yesterday’s letter wrapped up 1944 and as 1945 begins, I’m sure Grandpa is praying fervently that this war will come to a conclusion and by Christmas of 1945, his boys will be home for good.
As 1945 begins, I’m sure Grandpa is praying fervently that this war will come to a conclusion and by Christmas of 1945, his boys will be home for good.
The Summer Porch at the Trumbull House
Trumbull, Conn., January 7, 1945.
Dear Members of the A S F: (American Service Force, of course, to all of you except Ced, who rates his own designation, as Art’s Stationery Flyer , possibly Anchorage’s Sinister Firebug, Alaska’s Skeeing Favorite, or it might even be Anyone’s Steadfast Friend – – write your own.
Well, here it is with 1945 one week old, the Christmas tree and decorations have been laid away in camphor balls, winter has returned with a steady snowfall, income tax is drawing near and we’re not yet in Berlin.
News this week is conspicuous by its absence on the Trumbull home front. About the only item of note is that Paul (Warden, who lived in the apartment with his wife and children) has definitely received his appointment permanently locating him in Oklahoma for the duration and has sent for Catherine and the children. She has already sold her car, but as he was not able to find living accommodations there until February 1st, they are planning to stay here throughout this month. Catherine prefers to leave her furniture here, so that I may rent the apartment furnished. She is taking her washing machine and sewing machine along with her, but at present she feels she would like to come back to Trumbull when things again come back to normal.
Marian (Mrs. Lad) and Jean (Mrs. Dick)
Both Marian and Jean have heard from their respective lords and masters, but the old man, being only a father, has not heard from any of his tribe this week. I suppose Dave got back to camp safely and that Ced is still percolating as usual, but those assumptions are but due to my vivid imagination. Special message to the Benedict’s of the family: isn’t there some he-man information you can write about once in a while to your paternal ancestor.
Of course I know your first obligation is to your wife but I figured once in every few months I might rate a few lines. Not that I would have you do so from a sense of duty, but merely on the basis that being still a member of the family, your other brothers and sister would enjoy hearing from you just as you, I hope, enjoy hearing from them through the medium of Trumbull headquarters, and this quite understandably is not possible in the letters you sent to your wives and sweethearts (one and the same thing, of course), because the letters they get from you are the one slender thread that unites you and they assume an importance and practically a sanctity which is not to be commercialized and spread, broadcast, for all eyes to see. I can quite appreciate this feeling and you will too, if you ponder it a moment and try to view it from the feminine viewpoint. The net consequence is that, while verbal comments of interesting news is passed on, it is not the same as having something down in black and white before one to quote in these weekly blurbs of mine. Save the love and kisses for your sweeties but get expansive once in a while and include the whole family in on your broadcasts. Lad, for instance, writes Marian, if we can read behind the few deleted words of the censor has destroyed, that he is evidently located on some old French castle and that Lad has something to do with running the diesels which supply the juice, enough at least to run his electric razor. The walls of the edifice in which they live our thick and their quarters are cold and damp. Jean reports that, for Dick, the rainy season has started and for about three months it will continue to rain harder each day and then will taper off again for another three months. Right now it is oppressively hot where he is.
Marian is “doing her bit” for the war and starts working tomorrow for Sikorsky, something to do with helicopters. We’ll know more about it later. And that’s about all right now. Meantime, keep your chin up.
DAD
Tomorrow,, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, I’ll be posting another letter from Grandpa to his five sons away from home.
Judy Guion
"Greatest Generation" Life Lessons 