| dc.description.transcription | Dear Mr. Carter: I wrote to you about seven weks ago just after I heard that Gary had been reporting missing, and am hoping my letter arrived safely. Not that I think I should have had a reply by now - it's much too soon for that - but in my letter I explained who I was and that I'd met Gary over here and we'd become great friends, and if you received it , it won't ocmplicate things so much., Anyway, just after I wrote you I read in the paper that Gary was officially reported a prisoner of wra, and I don't think I've ever felt so relieved, and gald in my whole life. I just felt as if life was worth living again. I'm sure you and your family were just as thankful that he's safe. I don't know whether you've had any word from him yet, but I had word from him indirectly that I thought you might like to know just in case he hadn't been able to get in touch with you yet. This is the only time that I've regretted that Gary is an American, because his parents live so far away from me and by the time you recieve this you'll proably have heard from him and this letter will sound rather silly. However, it was a post card I had from an unknown person (he sings himself MH Lynch) in Stalag VIII B Camp, Germany. He says that he recently met a firend of mine, Leiut. Carter, he is a prisoner of war camp who asked him to write and let me know that he was all right and in good health. he goes on to say that he would greatly appreciate it if I would reply to his card and also if I could persuade my friends to write. Evidently he has no next of kin or friends as he sounds very loely, and I expect he has no one to write to and Gary must have met him somewhere or other and asked im to do this for him. It seems to me that at the time of writing *(April 26) Gary can't have been allowd to write or else he was only permitted a few letter which naturally would go to you. At any rate, whatever the reaosn, I think it was very sweet of Gary to go to so much trouble to let me know he was safe and sound. Thought it's only what one would expect of such a fine fellow as he is. I needn't tell you that I nearly went wild with joy when I read the good news. It's been such a strain these last weeks not knowing where he was or whether he was ever all right. I kept wildly hoping and praying that when we took over in Tunsia he would be freed, but it seems as if he was moved to Germany right away. At least the suspense is finished now and I hope I'll be able to hear form him soon. But more than that, although I'm just longing for one of his letters, I do so want to be able to write to him. I'm sure life in a prison camp must be pretty trying at the best of times, and probably letters are the one bright shot in their lives. An I know how much Gary enjoyed getting my letters. That was the worst party of being in N. Africa. I wrote terribly after, and yet on account of our mail being so slow arriving there, he received bery few of them, and it seems to me there must be a whole pile of my letters waiting for him somewhere. I've been in touch with Mr. Kunde in the Yileld Director at our American Red Cross Club here where I am a volutary helper, to try and get Gary's address, but he told me that you , being his next of kind, would be the only one who could give it to me. So I'm wirint gto you to see if you have received it yet from teh War Department. the only thing that's worrying me is that, as in the case of some our British prisoners of war, he may only be allowed to receive a cretain number of letters per month which naturally you would wish to come from his family. It's going to be just too awful for words if that's the case. but if so, perhaps you would be kind enough to include a message from me. Tell him that i'm so glad he's safe and in good health, that I miss him an awful lot and send him all my love and think of him always. howeveer, perhaps you'll be able to send me his address so I can write to him myself and I shall be eagerly awaiting your reply. I must close now to my period of canteen durties at the American Red Cross Club. Goodbye for now, Majorie Love | |
