Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-02
Note TO Eleanor:
Bill sHomeFronn
Him

couldn't swim, Of course, he was
so had and NJ was begging for "A
prc,erNcr. We'll. NC did the only
thing we could. put ours on him
and cot him into the water
Then over Nc went. The next
four hours were pretty bad. u
was four miles tO shore and there
we were. three of H. on ono life
prcserVer and no RATS. But that
burned hid was game, Never
pccp out of him although he was
suffering terribly and the oil on
( the water was awful.
MADE IT SOMEHOW
"Rut somehow we made II
ThOn We were SfuCk ON the beach
until morning
Next morning an anti -a!rcra.'
battery welcomed tho three >tIac
ClCI
That's where 7 first learned
about the army. Those guys gave
~ their last cigarct>, they cot
blankets Tor ~, We didn't have a
Stich ON bN then.
BY the way, Nom. YOU know
that hlnnd hank Aell that lid
had nine blood transfuSions be
fore ne was ont OF danger.
II went to WORK i'm the hoSpi-
tai. II was hectic, hut the French
sure made H. welcome.
GNEN SHIRT Or BACK
Somebody found me some
army shoes. size ~. and soma
old pants and ~ soldier took his
own. shirt OF his back 10 Clothc
me. That's the way everybody
was, The French Boy and Girl
scouts helped ~ in The hotel.
which had been turned into n
hospital. They know lot about
first aid. Every body seemed glad
we'd come.
"AftcrWard couldn't seem 10
ret warm and some soldiers got
some champagne and II helped
get the taste of oil ont Of me.
The soldiers shared their army
ratiOnS with rs, and II would
have given YOU thrill Ia see
rench officers visiting our
wounded ~ well ~ the French.
there I'm the hospital.
"ENcrNthing worried like silk.
With such cooperation, between
al branches Of our forces, we'll
there iHst isn't anything We
can't do. | want TO get back 10
Africa and then I hope I can 60
into the Pacific. | have a special
score To settle with the JerrNS
though We lest q doctor. one Of
The finest friends sailor over
had. He was lost trv,ng to rescue
men from the hold.
RUGGED BN OFFICER
"Nayhc YOU think navy Off
Gers are al discipline and form.
wish Won could have seen the
WCicnmn we got when we turned
mp safe at the hospital. One of
'em Rugged me he was 20 glad 10
500 mc. almost cried, II was
lust like getting home 90 YOU
here. Made me feel funny in my
throat
And my Christmas presents
-clnn--l-ith- Gllr-li mail. L
opened mine 49, Eleanor'S wallet
was handsome. ! looked fine, i'm
rags, with million dollar wallet.
And those letters guess lot
Ot ~ said some special prayers
ON Thanksgiving Day We meant
every word of them.
The French opened churches
and schools when sleeping quar-
tcrS ran short. and their padres
were very kind a hough We
couldn't talk 10 each other much
except with sign language.
~ was glad 10 have work 10
do because ! was kinda iumpN
after all we'd been through. We
liked looking after our own men,
too. II il beautiful over there on
the north coast When we headed
away Wc didn't know whether or
not we were coming home.
NAn WADE MI RIGHT
"BW when vc got mail every
thing seemed wonderful again.
Our skipper says we're going
81 hc kept together, and WIRE
an proud of that.
y lost swell suit Of hlucN in
that fraCae And tleauor'> pie
tUrc. ana my watch and Pen, hut
Drlc sam will see get the last
tvs" replaced
II want to visit the arsenal
with dad and 60 out TO Eastland
i''1h school. Chat rs where Bin
pt n5 fouth1Il Gee. I can't
believe I'm home for Christmas.
I've had two other leaves since
I've been ia the navy, hut This
ore I earned n gives you good
tr'lIne Ihcrc's nothing like tho
navy except prrhap, now I'll add
the army
NOTHfG'S CONFIDENCE
% Just had feeling Bill WAS
ban NrrtH if.ira when tho reports
began 10 come through Md