This is the second half of the letter I posted yesterday. Grandpa has quite a bit of news to report, both worldwide and within the family.
To come back to Lad. He has 30 days home and then reports back with his outfit to Aberdeen what will happen after that is just another of those things. We’ll know a lot more a month from now as to how things are going in Japan, so we can hope.
I have just mailed to about 75 relatives and friends the attached American addition of Dan’s marriage announcement and have just received from Mr. Burnham the following: “It was a great pleasure to get your unique announcement of Dan’s acquisition of a French bride, and I congratulate you and him. If he comes to Trumbull be sure to let me know, for after seeing her picture, I shall want to get up there on the first train. An article in the Sept. Reader’s Digest says one international marriage is worth half a dozen exchange scholarships. I meant to write when you sent me Dan’s letter about his war experiences and hope you
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will accept these tardy thanks. We all enjoyed the letter very much. Well, the good news in the Pacific leads us to hope Brad may be back for Christmas. He is in fine health apparently, but thin — 140. Dave, at Fisher’s Island, weighs 170. Helen has finished her first year at Beirut and is traveling in Turkey this summer. Eleanor is studying for a degree in library science at the University of Michigan, so the Burnham family are scattered almost as much as yours. If you have another of those announcements I know Helen would be delighted to get one but I don’t want to spare the one you sent me. The address is Helen S. Burnham, American Community School, Beirut, Lebanon.
And last we come to little Okinawa Dave. Under date of August 10th he writes: “At 9:50 tonight we were all at the show. Lieut. Bartz came out of his tent and said, “Japan has just surrendered!” I never saw any theater empty so fast. The guys yelled and screamed and jumped around. It seemed as if in only a few minutes every gun on the island that had tracer bullets in the chamber started. 10:30 right now — just got confirmation of acceptance of the U.S. I’m very happy for myself and everyone else— but I don’t guess there are many as happy as you. I’m too excited to write much of a letter. I can’t see that I’ll be over here much more than six months now.” And the next day, “I don’t even know what I wrote to you last night. I was so excited that now I can’t remember. Today things go on as usual except that were tense and anxious, waiting to hear that the allies and Nippons have come to an agreement. If they do, it looks to me like we should be home sometime next summer, but I won’t know ‘til I’ve stepped into the kitchen and find the whole family there. The news of Dan’s wedding was really something, but I’m afraid in my own mind it took a backseat last night. It’s really wonderful that Lad could be there. If all has gone well, Jean should be with her hubby to celebrate the victory. I sure hope so.
I’m waiting for Alaskan Ced’s reaction also. If any development can do more to bring about a world union, such as Ced is so interested in seeing, than the atomic bomb discovery, I can’t imagine what it could be. This terrible force is so menacing to the largest and most powerful, even in the hands of the tiniest and most insignificant country, but it seems to me as a weapon of war it must have to be controlled by one centralized authority, lest one lunatic like Hitler again runs amok. And when this idea sinks through the minds of the individuals in the whole world it may start the first movement in the union idea which may well expand into other fields. It is childish to think one country can hold a monopoly or even keep the secret of this new discovery. It has never yet been done in the world history. History is full of instances where two scientists, working independently, have simultaneously run across some great discovery. We are kidding ourselves if we think otherwise.
Sunday morning, Lad and I worked together to get more wood sawed and chopped up from the fallen trees than I have been able to accomplish in the year alone. It’s certainly good in more ways than one having one of my stalwarts around again.
So, my bally lads, come one and all back to the old stamping ground. I’d even be willing to lose another pair of pajamas apiece if it would do any good, well, at least one leg anyway. Too bad you’re not here for the Trumbull Carnival. They have extended it to next Sat. Want I should take a chance for you on a washing machine? It isn’t the same without Bob Peterson, or Mack, or you boys, but will try to carry on.
DAD.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, I’ll post a 5-page letter from Grandpa covering all sorts of news and including quotes from Dave, Doug Chandler and a long letter from Ced.
Judy Guion
"Greatest Generation" Life Lessons 