Arnold's Story: October 2, 1944 Mrs Hall

A letter from Mrs. Elmer Hall with news of her son Elmer Hall, Barbara Painter, and others. 

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first post in Arnold's Story  July 1943

first post in blog  Leonard's Story: May 29, 1943

Leonard's Story: Epilogue – January 1975

If you want to read from the first letter, click here.

Leonard, Dolly, Laura, and Arnold during World War II

Arnold, Bill and Leonard Nevis, World War II

Dolly, Bill, Leonard, Laura, Hazel, and Arnold in the front yard of 501 East Mountain Street, Glendale

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Arnold writes an addendum in January 1975:

     As I recall, Leonard di[d] come home by December, 1945 -- on a
hospital ship to Letterman Hospital in San Francisco.  He was very
sick (below 130 pounds -- some fifty pounds lighter than his usual
weight).  A less sick Major and friend said to my parents that
apparently the doctors and other patients were afraid Len might now
make it during those weeks they steamed across the Pacific -- but
he did!  (HOME ALIVE IN '45) -- and wonders of wonders!  He was well
enough to get a 5-day pass from the Hospital in San Francisco to
be with the family for Christmas, and I got a 5-day pass at Salt
Lake City Air Base (I was on my way to Japan and Korea), so I too
got to see him and be with the family for Christmas!  Len was dis-
charged from the hospital and out of active duty a few months later,
and I returned from Korea late in August, 1946  The war was over
for both of us!

_____________________________________________

 

 

 

Leonard's Story: November 6, 1945

Letterman Hospital was in El Presidio in San Francisco. 

______________________________________________________________________

                                    OSAKA, HONSHU, JAPAN

                                    6th Nov 45

Dear Arnold,

     I'm sorry I haven't written for such

a long time -  but first I was busy then

I became ill. I had a relapse of yellow

jaundice caused by change of climate, fatigue,

and drinking. For about three weeks I was

sicker than hell - lots of stomach trouble, and

I was getting fed intervaneously for a while. I

still don't feel in the pink of condition, but I am getting

along pretty good now. Tomorrow I am being evacuated

to a General Hospital in Tokyo (if the plane comes in).

I stand a good chance of being evacuated to the

States in the very near future.  If so, I will

probably be sent to Letterman Hospital, San Francisco.

According to one doctor, it will take me quite a while

to completely recover my health - months.

However, I think I may be in the States by Christmas

and if so, I am going to try and get a 30 or

45 day Temporary Duty Rest leave to recuperate. I

should be in condition to do this so that it will

include Christmas and New Years - I can dream

can't I?  So don't get yourself shipped overseas -

maybe we can all be home at christmastime.

                      -1-

[page 2]

     Don't tell the folks about this - I don't

want to raise their hopes or have them

disappointed.

     There is nothing to worry about in this yellow

jaundice - the thing that makes it bad for me is

the severity of the first attack and then this relapse.

It just means that I have to get lots of rest

and stay on a fat-free, non-alcoholic diet. Also

my resistance is low - six months of steady combat

left me run-down and in poor shape. By summer

I should be back there really pitching. I am

thinking of starting school in the fall (I don't

know which one yet - maybe back east).

     Well Bud, whats new with you? - you haven't

written, yourself, for quite a while - or is the mail

system just bad. What are you going to do when 

you get out? By the way I now have 73 points,

how are you doing? By the way I Say I hear

you boys were awarded the American Defense

Ribbon the other day - congratulations! Well

I hope I will see you soon -

                           love

                           Leonard

P.S. Please write but don't send

       anything.

               "BACK ALIVE IN 45"

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Leonard's Story: July 21, 1944

[July 21, 1944, page 1]

U.S.ARMY

                             July 21

Dear Folks,

     I am now somewhere

in California (thats all I can

say). The trip out here was

uneventful, execpt for the filthy

condition of the car. We came

out "Tourist" in an old pullman

car. They finally got the air

conditioning working the day before

we reached Calif., at least

we were cool crossing the desert

of Nevada.

     I have been into San

Francisco a couple of times,

its rather an expensive place

these days. The weather up

in this area has been rather

[page 2]

cool. However I like it here.

     I have been censoring mail

all morning, it gets quite boring

after a while, everybody says about

the same thing. There isn't much

that I can write about.

Except that I am fine and

everything is going well.

     You now send air mail

to me for 6¢. Please drop

me a line, I don't know

how long I'll be around this

area, I don't think it will long.

If I get any time off 3-4 days

I come home. However this

is very doubtful.

             Love to all

               Leonard

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