July 22 and 24, 1945. Stanley is still home in Albany with “a little more than another week” on his 30 day R&R before it will be time to “go back to the same old grind.” He expects that when he gets back he “will have a lot of work” and “a lot of things to straighten out.” That said, he puts it all aside and gets to the news from home.
Most important is that the new baby, Judy, is home and everybody is getting used to having here there, especially her older sister. “Little Terry sure makes quite a fuss about little Judy. She kisses the baby, plays with her hands and toes and pats her on the head.” He continues, “The baby has been filling out pretty fast and now looks very nice. She hardly cries at all. Baby Terry is so excited over Judy she always wants to be there whenever anybody goes to Judy. I think Terry is a bit jealous now that her baby sister gets more attention than she does.” As far as plans for her christening, “Judith Ann will be baptized this coming Sunday, 29 Jul 45. I will be the God father and I guess Rita Lubinski the God mother.”
Stanley goes on to write about an article that he saw in the paper about B-29’s and the war in the Pacific. He quotes from the article, “At Guam, Lt. Gen James H. Doolittle, pioneer in the bombing of Tokyo, said his Eighth Air Force would be winging over Okinawa by August 1. Newly arrived in the Pacific from the European theater, Doolittle termed the superfortresses ‘the greatest airplane in the world.’ The General’s men will fly B-29’s and fighters.” Stanley writes that “They mentioned Gen. Curtis E. Lemay, commander of the 20th Air Force on the paper also. Pfc Erastus Corning 2nd, mayor of Albany, is at Ft. Dix N.J. He will be home for 30 days furlough. He just came back from Germany.” Stanley mentions that he is also enclosing “…a few cartoons from yesterday’s paper. I thought you would be interested in seeing them.”
One of the comics that Stanley included in his letter to Dad on July 24, 1945
Stanley notes that the Pacific is not the only place where the country’s air power is evident. “Here in Albany all kinds of planes are flying around. Piper cubs, trainers, C-47’s B-17s and what not are flying around. They all must be on routine flights either from New York to Albany and back or some other route.”
In other news from the home front, Stanley writes that “…mom’s victory garden is growing very good. Mom has a few cabbages growing and they are doing fine. It seems so funny to see cabbages growing in our yard after only seeing carrots, beets and tomatoes. Mom even has some potatoes growing in the back yard. They seem to be doing okay also.”
Before closing out, Stanley notes, “My other package which I sent home from England before we left our camp arrived yesterday in good shape. The package contained two small jars made of clay, souvenirs from Stratford on the Avon. They have a picture on them and also the name of the place on them.”
He closes, “God bless you brother and take good care of you. Am signing off for Mom, Dad, Anne, Ed, Terry, Judy and myself.”