1921

Here is Ed Luedke's V-Mail letter, the first one to be received by this department:

"Apparently in the rush of going overseas, I neglected to give you the dope. I finished at the Ft. Leavenworth Command 8c General Staff School early in April, then came home for ten days' leave and went on to the Staff Officer's Pool, Desert Training Center, in California. However, I was almost immediately selected, principally because I had been fortunate enough to graduate high up in the course, for this job over here—'Somewhere in North Africa' is the technical term—for more precise details see any issue of Time. On the way I spent ten days in Washington, getting final instructions at the Pentagon—incidentally I saw Jack and Ort there—got a little more leave, and finally left the States June 3, proceeding over here with so much speed that it took me a month to realize how far I was from home.

"I am in the big headquarters over here, which of course makes it most interesting. Apparently we haven't done too badly, as our section had a commendation from Patton, with an endorsement from Eisenhower, on the work we did in preparation for Sicily.

"So far, at least, this has been a war de luxe as far as I am concerned. We were billeted for six weeks or so in a very elegant villa, but were finally outranked by four generals, and have now returned to a very bourgeois, but even more comfortable, apartment belonging to a French gent whose family is still in France. We eat very well, we sleep very well—and it's only the drinking that is a problem, as the local wine is higher in alcoholic content than in quality. Every now and then we get a few reminders that there is a war on, but I am afraid I can't be pictured as in the midst of the battle.

"I was really very fortunate to get over here, as I had been marked 'Limited Service' because of my eyes when I went on duty, and only decent grades at Leavenworth managed to get me accepted for overseas. I spent the last war in the States, and I would have felt badly to miss this one completely, too.

"The only fly in the ointment for me is that due to the changing of commands that I have experienced, my promotion to lieutenant colonel fell by the wayside, and over here the prospects are far from bright, as the latest directive tells us that there will be no promotions to that grade over here —they are apprently saving the vacancies for the chaps back home.

"Give my best to everyone—and I have no doubt but that we will be seeing some of them over here one of these days. If you know of any '21ers over here, let me know —even though Africa is a big place. Yours, Ed."

The letter was dated August 20, and reached Rockville on September i, so our hats are off to V-Mail service News from the Washington "home front" includes Howie Heath's new connection as Efficiency Rating Officer, Civilian Personnel, Secretary of War's Office, Pentagon Bldg., and a telephone conversation with Alden (Ike) Chester during which it developed that his son was graduated from Exeter in June, and then, instead of hieing to Hanover, hooked up with Chemical Warfare in A-12 and is now in Texas..... A clipping from the Springfield Republican dating back to early summer says that Cory Litchard, of Litchard & Cook, general agents for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. at Springfield, is the new president of Massachusetts State Association of Life Underwriters Paul Nicholson writes that, "Mary, my oldest daughter, graduated from Stephens College this June, and having taken a course in airline work while there, was immediately able to get a job with American Export Airlines and seems to be tremendously enthusiastic about it."

Dave Trainer has been advanced to the rank of associate professor of geology at Colgate, where he has been teaching since 1931 Abe Weld crashes through with a message that he's now with the tax department of Western Electric Co., the White Aircraft Corp. being well on its feet. Abe hangs his hat at 2 Grace Court, Brooklyn, N. Y Kent McKinley, with Bell Aircraft in Buffalo, is now living at 1114 Delaware Ave. in that w.k. city Maj. Jack Hubbell has moved back to Rye, N. Y., after a spell of cliff-dwelling on 88th St. in Manhattan Carlton Van.Cleve reports a hook-up with Vapor Recovery Systems, Inc., 30 Church St., Manhattan. No change in status as a Staten Island commuter Your scribe, still scouting the Washington scene, has a new office address, the Service Equipment Div. of WPB having moved to Standard Oil Bldg., grd & Constitution, N.W., telephone REpublic 7500, Extension 74235, whenever or however you hit town.

Secretary, 201 W. Montgomery Ave., Rockville, Md Treasurer, 545 Hinman Ave., Evanston, Ill.