The
Philippines
Dear
Dad:
I
will write this letter this morning and hardly know what to say. I'm
hoping you will receive this letter before you get the notification
from the War Department. I know this will be quite a blow to you and
everyone at home. I had hoped that I would never have to write a letter
such as this to you or any of my brothers or sisters. Our brother
Bernard has been killed. It like to have knocked me off my feet and
still is hard for me to believe that he is gone. He was killed March
31st about six o'clock in the evening. His company commander
was thoughtful enough to notify me as soon as possible. However he
could not get through on the line until morning. I couldn't get much
information on the telephone so I rushed right down there and here
is the complete story:
At
about six o'clock Saturday evening, Bernard's company was shelled
by Japs. They had never been shelled before and there is no warning
as to when you are going to be shelled. Bernard, as you know, was
a radio operator. He was sitting on the tailgate of his truck
when the first shell came over and it burst in a tree about fifty
yards from where he was sitting and he was hit with a piece of shrapnel
in the back. He was knocked unconscious and lived about five minutes.
It is at least comforting to know that he did not suffer long. It
is nobody's fault, it is one of the misfortunes of war. I know that
Bernard took every precaution and tried to keep safe. There were men
sitting right beside him. It must be the will of God that he should
go. There seems to be no explanation as to why a man must die. I went
to the scene of the accident and saw all his friends and officers.
They were all swell to me and were taking it almost as hard as myself.
Some of his closest friends were even crying. It was needless to say
that he was well-liked by all the men in his company.
I
was down to see Bernard about five days before the accident. We had
a couple of cans of beer and had a nice visit. I tired to see him
as often as I could, which was nearly every week. I'm happy to have
visited him as often as I did. I went to the funeral, which was held
in the cemetery at Manila. Father Orwerery had the services and it
was very nice. I am going down today as I think they are going to
have memorial services this afternoon.
Dad,
it is very hard for me to write and tell you folks this but I'm hoping
this will reach you so that you will have complete details
from someone in the family rather than the War Department. I realize
that this is not a very comforting letter, but it is best to know
the true facts; anyway, it was to me. You will probably receive a
letter from Captain Camp and Father Orwerery. Please answer their
letters for they were both swell to Bernard and to me. Bernard went
to mass often and had received communion. I regret that this had to
happen but there is nothing we can do about it. The memory I will
always have of Bernard will remain the joking, good-spirited person
he was, and the love he had for you at home. Dad, please try not to
take this too hard. God knows you have worry enough as it is. Please
do not worry about me, as I'm safe and well. I'll try to write later
and maybe it will not be so confusing as this letter.
Hoping
this finds all of you at home well.
Son,
Frank
