Evening star., 1942-10-23
Jops Have Big Surprise Coming in So|omons,
Is Navy Mans Boast in Farewell to Parents
By the Associated Press.

CHICAGO, Oct. 23.-Henry H.
Glorch, machinist's mate, first class,
reported missing two days after the
Navy announced the loss of the u.
S. S. George F. Elliott, on which he
was stationed, wrote his parents
day or two before his death this is
one letter I hope you never get!"
The parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Henry
A. Glorch of Chicago, received their
sons last letter several days ago
from John Damarski whom Glorch
had asked to mail it in case he died.
Glorchs letter said:
Dear Mother and Dad: This is
one letter I hope you never get!
Funny way to start a letter, isn't it?
circumstances, because if you do get
it, that means have been very un-
fortunate.
Tomorrow I will have the great
honor to participate in Uncle Sans
first move of retaliation against the
Japs. And believe me, I can't wait!
Oh, boy, oh, boy, have they got
SUI Prise COiIllIlS W tIlcIu.
Practicing Long Time.
eve have been preparing for this
for long time and now the time has
come to quit practicing and start
doing! At dawn tomorrow we are
going in and land United States
Marines by the carload onto the
Jap-held Solomon Islands!!! And
hope the Jap fleet comes to the res
cue because We'll land all over them
too!
Il would like to say something
about what we have in the line OF
support, but censors forbid. Suffice
it to say, if the Jap's fleet comes
around they'll think we dug up a
dozen Pearl Harbors! They've got
the surprise of their lives coming to
them.
We've been cruising around the
Coral Sea here the last couple of
days just passing the time away
while few of our planes and de-
stroyers and cruisers and stuff are
dropping cold steel messages on the
SolomonS to sort of soften them up
a little. Boy, I'm sure glad I'm not
Jap. Especially the way some Of
our Marines are acting up! Serious
as h--l and making expert and
! tricky preparations.
And the bets! You should hear
them bet who is going to be the best
machine gun outfit, which rife COM
pany will pick off the most snipers,
etc. There's only one United States
Marines.
Cold, Calm, Confident.
Our job, of course, is to get them
to the beach as fast and as many
as we can. And We'll do it if we
have to swim ashore with the Ma
rines on our backs! Because I don't
think in history bunch of men
have gone into any engagement as
cold and calm and confident as this
group. There's only. one answer. 1t
will be successful
"As I write this, I want you to
know that am not writing because
I have any premonition of anything
happening to me. I'm just writing
e,
you'll know got it like man, with
clear conscience, and I am not
afraid to die for my country. Be-
lieve that and please don't grieve,
for this will all soon be over. /
have only one regret, and that Is I
could not see you once more. I
loved my mother and father and
family more than I ever said.
Il will put this letter in by locker
and in case it happens, my buddy
has instructions to mail this to you
first thing. hope he never gets
the chance.
I'll close this letter now and try
to catch a few hours snooze before
we get ready to make the Japs re-
member Pearl Harbor. So it's good
by and good sailing and my most
sincere love to all the family and my