Evening star., 1943-04-08

N'-'aN " = -
Dorniers. ASH
Henry P. Mciemors. cans, Junkers
88s, torpedoes. life RATS, freezing
days and freezing nights. For, you
see, the kid is sailor and he is a
sailor on the toughest run in the
world.
At an age when boys In peace
times are still in high school, Billy
Williams is making the Russian
convoy run. He has been on 1t for
more than a year and enough has
happened to him in that time to
enable him to write book. But he
never will write a book because
Billy Williams can't write. Billy
Williams can't even read.
Tells of Sinkings.
Billy Williams isn't his real name.
OF course, I know his real name,
what town he comes from. his street
address and all about his sister
having a baby since he went to sea
and to war because Billy Williams
asked me to write a letter home
for him.
I may live TO be 100 but I'll
never forget that moment when
we were sitting In the lounge in the
Red Cross Club here and Billy was
making me feel the hell Of a con-
voy trip to Murmansk. Enemy
planes strafing and bombing. sub
marines trailing along like wolves
after lost hunter, the bitter cold
that made me remember Keats
opening verses of The Eve Of
Saint Agnes"
There were some laughs. too. Billy
told OF colored messbov who, after
making miraculous jump from a
sinking ship, was picked up and he
described how torpedo went right
between his legs and would have hit
him sure AS rabbits have tWitchv
noses If he hadn't been bowleeged.
Il seen the torpedo coming right
at me-" the messboy said. and I de-
cided to straddle 1t like mule. It
was a powerful close engagement,
that battle between me and the tor
pedo and the shrapnel was thicker'n
June bugs"
Asks to Have Letter Written.
Billy said he was lucky the last
time he jumped "I thought for 2
minute or two that the screws were
going to pull me under and chop me
up but I got clear and got on raft
| in about an hour" Billy was on
leave because as the result Of that
last Jump he missed pneumonia hv
an inch and was still suffering from
heavy cold
Then he asked me if I would do
him favor and If Id promise not TO
say anything about it. Sure. kid.
I'll do anything for you that I can"
I said. What is it?"
IF tell you my dad and mothers
address, will you write them a letter?
I can't read or write and I would
like them to know that I am still all
right. I'll tell you what to say and
then you 60 write it like it was your
letter"
He told me what to say: how
much he missed them: how good it
would be to get home again. how he
loved them; how he wondered how
his sisters baby looked and how
much he wanted to see it. Would
somebody call his girl friend and
tell her he hadn't seen any one as
pretty since he left home That he
was feeling fine and was glad he had
Joined the Navy and that he would
like to hear from home sometime:
that he had grown an inch or two
and had put on 10 pounds but he
would like To have some home cook.
ing again; that he had learned a lot
since he had Joined the Navy and
what was the baby's name.
Hears Letter Read.
If you Just sit over there at one
Of those desks no one will know
what you're doing, will they" Billy
said. They'll Just think you are
writing your own letter home" So
I went over to the desk and wrote
a long letter. Later, when the pic
tures had started and the lounge
was deserted I read Billy his letter
home.
Thanks lot" ne said. Mama
and Dad will like that. I think Ill
60 to bed. l don't feel so good"
As he went out the door, an unrr,lv
cowlick falling over his forehead
and his MILDLY blouse making him
look even bigger baby than he was,
7 honestly felt like going up with
him. rubbing his chest, tucking him
into bed and staying with him until
he was sound asleep and then saying,
Sweet dreams, Billy, and may you
be back with Mama and Daddy real
soon"
distributed By McNa ueht Syndicate, Incl