11 May, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

11 May, 1944       1040

Dearest darling Wilma –

I’m back at the Castle now – a little bit earlier than usual but I have a few things to take care of before tomorrow and I wanted to get an early start.

Yesterday, dearest, I got your letter postmarked May 3 and 4th – and really when you asked me if I were in England, I really had to stop to think. Your getting a letter of mine in 4 days time is really amazing. The best in this direction has been 5 days – and that was once. But where I used to hear regularly in 2½ to 3 weeks – now it is usually 7-10 days. It certainly does help to make things easier, darling, and it’s a pity I can’t call you as easily as I can write you. I haven’t left this place – and it is impossible to make a call from here – and as I wrote before, my chances of getting to London – are very, very slim. But I love you very much, anyway, sweetheart – even if I can’t call you now – and that is really what matters most.

So you thought my eye incident was funny, huh?? Well you wouldn’t have thought so had you seen it! Anyway – it really was funny and did have to do with the Reverend.

Darling I’m glad you went over to visit Ruth and I’m glad you like her. I know she does you – as do all my family. Irv must really be busy from what I hear. I don’t suppose I was ever that busy. And as for planning whether to do general medicine or surgery exclusively – I guess many factors will enter into that and what medicine will have to offer post-war – is still a question to be answered. I’m not too concerned, though – and whatever comes, I won’t let it run me or you into the ground. We’ll both love life too much for that.

Yes, dear, I remember the Cohens. They seemed like a jolly couple – he rather slim and she – shall I say, heavy set? Say you really ran off a list of liquor that your Dad has. What a brawl that would make! I guess it’s getting quite difficult to get it all over the world. I’m the proud possessor of ½ a bottle of Haig and Haig – and I’m treasuring it.

Yesterday – in addition to your two letters, I got one from Barbara – written all over the page – and urging me to hurry up and come home so that I could marry Auntie Wilma. I also got one from Mrs. Gardner – who is now back in Salem, Dr. Gardner – by coincidence on the same day – who is back at San Francisco, and finally one from Barbara Tucker. The latter told me about your visit to Salem which she said she enjoyed. She thought you very O.K. and that’s a lot from her, dear. The Gardners just had local news etc. – but it was nice hearing from them. Gosh – darling – I have a bunch of letters to answer – and I just feel too lazy to or don’t get the time. I’ll get around to it, though.

Well – sweetheart – I’ll stop now. It’s so wonderful to hear from you regularly and to know that you still loved me only 5-6 days ago! It makes me love you even more than I do already. Altogether – it’s a satisfying feeling and I know darling that we’re going to be very, very happy. Love to the folks and

All my love forever, dear

Greg

CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE

10 May, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

10 May, 1944       0930

My dearest Sweetheart,

I got 3 very sweet letters from you last night – dated April 28, May 1 and 2nd. You seem to have had a heat wave in Boston, dear, and I’m glad to read that you’re getting out into the sun and getting some vitamins in nature’s form. Our weather here seems to be more even – just pleasantly warm days, with not much variation.

I’m sorry to read about your mother’s ‘nerves’ – but no matter how much you think you’re being irritated, darling, you still have to excuse it. Even the most even-tempered woman in the world becomes a mental wreck during the menopause – not all of them, of course. But when they are affected, it hits them bad. I hope her doctor can do something for her – but at any rate – bear with her, dear.

Talking about doctors – reminds me of your question about neo-hombreal. That product – it seems to me – was just hitting the market when I was leaving practice, so I have had no practical experience with it. But more and more we were beginning to use various extracts and in some cases the hormones did help. This product sounds very expensive. You write, dear, that you have to take 2 a day. The directions must include more than that, by that I mean – 2 a day for how long? Probably for several days before the next expected period, I should say for a guess. I suppose it’s worth trying – although that’s a rather expensive sounding tablet.

By the way, sweetheart, it seems to me I’ve gotten my dates all mixed up about Mother’s day. I was certain it was last Sunday, the 7th – but I’ve been informed otherwise. I wrote your mother and mine a V mail on that day – but I don’t suppose it makes much difference. The sentiment is the same, one week or the other.

And before I forget it, darling, I wish you’d tell the folks to forget about a gift for me. The only gift I wanted, dear, from them, was you – and I have you and I’m thankful for that. There’s nothing else I want or need. Will you tell them that for me, dear?

I was interested in your reaction to your change in feeling about things you used to think your own and which now seem mutual. That’s the way I feel, too, of course, and I often think of how natural it is now to consider that something is not mine – but ours. I’ve been fairly independent for the past few years. What I earned, I earned alone; what I banked was solely mine and what I spent was entirely on my own. And do you know, darling, it will be a hell of a lot more fun and satisfaction doing everything like that for someone else other than myself, someone who will derive the same enjoyments, concerns and who will be able to share my problems. It will be wonderful to have a partner – for that’s what it will be like. Sweetheart – loving you and marrying you – will make me the happiest guy in the world, and don’t think I don’t know it. It will be wonderful and we’ll do our darndest to make the most of it! Got to close now – darling. Love to the folks and to you.

My deepest love for always

Greg

P.S. Enclosed snaps I’ve been waiting to have enlarged. I got tired of waiting and decided to send them anyway. I’ll send the others along and you can give either set to my mother.

Love

Greg

Major General Lawton Collins - VII Corps
Speaking to 438th at Sherborne Castle
England - May, 1944


Baker Battery in review before Major General Collins
in front to Sherborne Castle
England - May, 1944

* TIDBIT *

about The Menopause and The Nerves, 1944

This extract is from a reprint from Vol. 2, No. 3; July, 1944 of the Permanente Foundation Medical Bulletin, edited by Dr. Morris Collen from 1943 to 1953, entitled "Management of the Menopause," by Dr. David James. The full reprint can be read by clicking here.

Some of the more distressing and serious manifestations of the menopause are expressed through the nervous system. These vary from increased nervousness and irritability to a definite psychosis or involutional melancholia. Such changes may result in transforming a placid, well controlled and well adjusted woman into one who is excitable, irritable, and emotionally unstable. As a result, she may be easily angered, argumentative, suspicious, apprehensive, tending to worry over trivial things, and frequently confused and frightened by the changes taking place. These symptoms may be so mild that the patient is able to conceal them entirely. On the other hand, the symptoms may be so marked that unless their significance is understood by her family and friends, there may be disruption of domestic and social ties. Headaches, pressure sensations, and occipitocervical pain are frequently the symptoms responsible for the patient seeking medical attention.

Personality changes may occur and these may be either minor or approach a true psychosis. That involutional melancholia is part of the syndrome and is produced by the same endocrine dysfunction which is the apparent causative factor responsible for the rest of the menopausal state is not completely accepted..However, the divergent views held in regards to this point seems to rest largely on definition or diagnosis. The consensus seems to be that estrogenic therapy in involutional melancholia of the milder type is of value and is indicated certainly in those cases presenting many of the other symptoms of the syndrome.

Just a few years ago, before the availability of potent estrogenic preparations made the treatment of menopausal symptoms more certain, some clinicians doubted the real existence of the menopausal syndrome. At the present time nearly everyone agrees that such a syndrome does exist and that estrogens provide dependable therapy. There is disagreement as to the exact percentage of women that experience menopausal symptoms severe enough to require treatment. Unquestionably there are many patients suffering from manifestations of the menopause who deserve the relief which accompanies properly administered estrogen therapy.

09 May, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

9 May, 1944        0930

Wilma, darling –

The early morning’s work is just about over right now and I thought I’d start the day off right by writing you. Yesterday p.m. when I finished writing I called my men and had them meet me at the playground near the Castle. We had a pretty good game of scrub soft-ball. In the evening we had some visiting officers to entertain – a nice bunch of fellows. One of them, a Lt. Colonel, slept in my room. He’s from N. Dakota and a regular fellow. I’ll be seeing him again.

Today is just another day in the schedule, with perhaps a B.C. meeting later in the day.

Last night I got a letter from you dated April 29th and one from Doc. Finnegan and Lil Zetlan in Salem. Dr. Finnegan’s letter made no mention of our Engagement – it was written some time ago and he probably didn’t know it. Lil gave me the local news of some of the doctors in town, stuff about the hospital, recent golf scores at Tedesco etc.

Lil’s letter was one of congratulations, dear. It was very sweet. She said she was tickled about it and so pleased that she had already had the opportunity of meeting you – and looked forward to our return together – to Salem. I also got some news about the Kerrs – and as usual – it has to do with trouble. It seems that Joe Levine, son-in-law to the elder Mrs. Kerr – has had a “nervous breakdown”, has been treated by Myerson and is now living with his wife, Arlene, at the Sheraton – in Boston – upon advice of Myerson. There has apparently been some ugly talk about his cracking up because he was due to be called soon, and Lil writes that gossip has gone so far as to say that Mrs. Kerr allegedly gave Mr. Myerson $20,000 to keep Joe out of the Army – not that she couldn’t afford that much, but the whole thing is vicious. The fact is, darling, that knowing the family back-ground – it is easy to understand that Joe would eventually crack-up. There’s been constant conflict, sometimes subdued – other times not – between Ray Kerr, his mother, Joe, Ethel, separately and together. I don’t remember whether I told you much about it, dear, but altogether it makes a long story. As family physician – I was often in the middle of it – and believe me, it was a problem at times to stay friendly with all of them. Anyway, dear, Lil implies that all is mixed up for them right now. In addition – Ethel’s kids (Ethel Kerr – Ray’s wife) have scarlet fever and the house is quarantined – with Ray now living at the Hawthorne. It’s really a mess – but typical of the Kerrs, in a way.

Well, sweetheart, I’ve gossiped along and not told you how much I love and miss you.

But I want you to keep pace with what’s going on back in Salem – so that when we go back there to live – you’ll not feel as if you don’t know what or whom I’m talking about. Darling I love you very very much – remember? The moon was terrific last night, too, and that didn’t help either – but there’ll be others and we’ll enjoy them all – even, darling, on cloudy nights! Love to the folks dear – and Pete was asking for you, yesterday, and sent his love.

All my love for always – dear

Greg

* TIDBIT *

How the wreck of the Ship Tedesco
gave its name to a Country Club


The Bark Tedesco

When Greg mentioned golf scores at Tedesco, he was referring to the Country Club in Swampscott. Here is how it got its name.

The most famous shipwreck in Swampscott was the Tedesco. On January 18, 1857, the bark Tedesco of Portland, Maine wrecked in waters close to the Swampscott shore, after the ship struck a boulder when a blizzard swept the coast after an unusually calm day. The boat's cargo was sherry wine, salt and raisins. All 12 aboard, the crew and captain, were lost. Their bodies came ashore at Whale Beach and were buried at the Swampscott Cemetery. According to the book Storms and Shipwrecks of New England

"The day had been so clam that fisherman returning to shore had left their dories only a little above the high water mark. In the morning splinters remained."

Today, you can find what is believed to be one of two Tedesco anchors near Fisherman's beach. The anchor is a memorial to Swampscott mariners who lost their lives at sea and is in the park above Fisherman's Beach near the boulder dedicated to Marine Corps Lieutenant General John C. Chaisson.

An article in "Golf Course Trades" magazine tells of the sinking of the Tedesco, and this story of the naming of the Country Club.

—Swampscott, Massachusetts, 1899 The summer home of Mr. H. O. Houghton, Jr.—

The three were in splendid agreement. The two ladies from Cambridge and their gentleman friend would commission a few holes of golf along the Swampscott shore, 65 acres between Little’s Point and Puran Road. 15 local residents had pledged the princely sum of $500.00 apiece, and construction would soon begin on a clubhouse, a bathhouse for beachgoers, and a shed for the members’ horses.

“What shall we call it?” asked Mrs. Arthur Little.

Henry Oscar Houghton, Jr. scratched his aquiline nose. He looked around the drawing-room. On one wall hung a portrait of his father, the founder of Houghton-Mifflin Publishing, and later, the Mayor of Cambridge. Across the room, the wall was dominated by an enormous map of eastern Massachusetts. On another wall hung an oil painting of a three-masted ship floating on the waves, its sails full and billowing.

“Tedesco,” Houghton said, nodding. “We’ll name it after the ship that wrecked upon Long Rock.”

“Tedesco Rock,” corrected Mrs. Little.

“Tedesco Rock,” repeated Houghton, ignoring the minor social faux pas. Correcting a gentleman was a lady’s privilege. “In memory of those who lost their lives,” he concluded.

The ladies agreed, it was a glowing tribute and a worthy foundation upon which to build the club. It was done and handsomely done at that.

08 May, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

8 May, 1944

My dearest sweetheart –

Well, another day and I feel a little better than I did yesterday. You may or may not have received my V-mail I wrote yesterday. If not I’ll explain again that Charlie is no longer with us. Darling – it was a tough thing and even more difficult to write about. I can’t tell you exactly what was wrong – but some of Freud’s theories were certainly involved. I’ve known about it for about 18 months, and a few others also – but it was one of those things that you don’t like to bring up, and nothing was done about it. But since our arrival in England – matters became worse and worse and things finally came to a head this week-end. You’re probably very surprised at all this, dear, because I never mentioned it before – but I saw no point in bringing it up before.

Well – enough of that. We’ve got a requisition in for another man to take his place. I hope we get someone nice. Yesterday evening I cleaned my room and stayed in it all night. I just didn’t feel like going downstairs – although they were putting on a movie. But everything’s O.K. today, darling.

I re-read you letter about your trip to Salem – this morning. I’m glad you went along and met Barbara and Mrs. T. You can’t really imagine how swell they were to me, in the early days of my practice, particularly. They were both so darned helpful and helped chase away many a lonesome spell I had. Just thinking about Salem, sweetheart, makes my mouth water. It was so stimulating to start a practice alone, dear – imagine what fun we’ll have together. Oh – there’ll be worries and problems no doubt. You know – there’s no fun for a doctor – sitting around waiting for someone to call him and you never know how long the wait can be. But somehow I can’t seem to let that worry me one bit – and with you around me all the time – it will be easy to wait.

I can’t understand, sweetheart, what Mrs. Tucker meant when she said I liked the ladies and liked to have lots of them around. I think more likely than not she was trying to tease you. I did have a good many women patients, but honey – that wasn’t my fault, was it? As long as I could help them – I didn’t care who my patients were. Anyway – it will be so wonderful to have you as a wife – to tell you about things that come up during a day. I never had anyone like that and the fact is I missed it. Gosh I get so nostalgic when I start writing like that – I’d better stop – but not before I remind you again that it’s you and only you that I love, darling. Always remember that! When I get home, dear, you won’t have to be reminded – you’ll know!

That’s all for now, dear. Love to the folks and darling, you have

All my love –

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about the Countdown to D-Day

On 8 May General Eisenhower set D-Day for Y plus 4, or 5 June. The plans were made (though changes would be introduced up to the last minute), the troops were trained, the preparatory softening up of the enemy was well under way. What remained was to get the men on ships and give the order to go. The vastly complicated process of organizing and equipping the assault units for embarkation began in April. It followed, in general, the pattern worked out in British exercises in the fall of 1943 which broke down the mounting into a series of movements bringing the troops successively nearer embarkation and at the same time providing for their equipment and assault organization.

Unless the troops were already stationed near the south coast of England, they were moved first to concentration areas where they received special equipment, waterproofed their vehicles, and lost certain administrative overhead considered unessential during the assault. The second move would bring the troops to marshaling areas located close to the embarkation points. There, final supplies were to be issued for the voyage, maps distributed, briefing for the operation accomplished, and the units broken down into boatloads to await the final move down to the ships.

The 438th AAA AW BN was already stationed near the south coast of England, and therefore did not participate in the first move to concentration areas.

CLICK ON MAP TO ENLARGE

Location of Sherborne, Dorset, UK
Near the South Coast

07 May, 1944 (to her Mother)

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

Sunday, 7 May, 1944

Happy Mother’s Day – Mother!

I do wish I could be home to say that to you in person. I always enjoyed saying it to Mother and I would have a double pleasure now. Well – maybe next year.

I enjoyed your last letter very much, as I do all the letters I receive from you – and believe me – I do appreciate them. I’ll show you how much when I get back. Meanwhile I do feel that I’m getting to know and love my new set of parents for their thoughtfulness and sincerity towards me. I couldn’t wish for anything better!

Best regards to the family – and to you – again – my sincerest wishes for a pleasant Mothers’ day with many more to come.

Love

Greg

07 May, 1944

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

7 May, 1944       2000

Dearest sweetheart –

I’ve had a long, hard day – mentally hard, at any rate – and I just didn’t feel like writing a letter right now. I suppose I’d have to tell you sometime so I might as well now. It concerns Charlie. He is no longer with us, having been transferred as of today. I can’t tell you exactly why except to say for psychiatric reasons. The whole thing was messy, and frankly has been for some time – but it came to a head this week-end and has finally been taken care of – for the good of the outfit I think. Anyway it has been upsetting because we were together for 20 months and I was sorry to lose him. All else is O.K. darling and I sure could stand some of your love and affection right now, dear. Best regards to the folks. Will write tomorrow.

All my love for now

Greg

06 May, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

6 May, 1944       0900

Good morning, Sweetheart –

Another early start in the day to tell you I love you and miss you dearly. Now that is not a very newsy way to start a letter, darling, but you’ll excuse it I know – especially when you realize how true it is. Gosh, dear, I’ve missed you these past few days and nights, and with this moon approaching fullness – well you know what I mean. The longer you are my fiancée the more I want to be married to you – so gather for yourself, sweetheart, how I’m going to feel when I get home. I’m just going to love you so hard, so continuously and so exhaustingly that one or both of us will yell “uncle” and have to rest – i.e. for about 10 minutes. Well this is early in the day to be thinking about such things, dear – but it’s really good anytime of the day.

Yesterday – no letter from you and just one from Eleanor. Every now and then I ask Eleanor for a periodic report on my bank balance. I never know what it is because I don’t get my bank statements mailed to me. I was pleased to see I still had a checking account, dear – so what would you like that I could get for you? I haven’t bought you a thing since I’ve been in England – although the fact is that I have looked. But if I had some idea of what you’d like, I might have more success.

By the way, I finally got the colored etchings I wrote you about. They’re all packed – but I’m waiting for some wrapping paper which is rather scarce around here. I’m sending them to you – and it’s a set of six, horse and gig scenes and the set is about 100 years old. They’ll go well in a den or a cocktail room – or anywhere else you might want to put them, and the size – with frame – is about the size of this page. Anyway, dear, I hope you like them, but if not, we can think later – what we’ll do with them.

Say, darling, were you kidding when you said you thought the Castle was a hospital, and when you asked if I were doing any surgery? The Castle is a castle and is being used only to live in. As for surgery, dear, I don’t even know what the word means any longer. When I left practice – I was doing my share of assisting and by this time, had I stayed in practice – I’d probably be doing pretty well at it. I haven’t done a thing to further it in 22 months – and there’s no question, dear, that when I came back I’ll have to decide whether to open up immediately and take my chances on how much surgery I will eventually be allowed to do at the Hospital, or to arbitrarily spend some time at a teaching clinic, freshen up and then insist that I be put on the Junior Surgical Staff again – because I know that there will be problem along those lines when we all get back – but hell – I’m not going to worry about that now.

Well, sweetheart, I’ll stop now. I hope your throat is completely cured by now and stay well. Love to the folks and

All my love to you, darling

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about Canadian Airmen Successes and
Flight Lieutenant Robert "Bob" Kipp

This report was printed in Ottawa on May 6, 1944 by the Canadian Press:

CANADIAN AIRMEN HAD A GREAT WEEK, SUMMARY SHOWS

Aircraft of the R.C.A.F. bomber group pounded targets in three countries in the last week, while Spitfire and Typhoon fighter-bombers made slashing attacks on pinpoint targets and Canadian airmen participated in combined air-sea operations against enemy naval units, the R.C.A.F. said last night in its weekly summary of overseas operations.

Canadian-built Lancaster heavy bombers made their initial operational appearance during the week. Wednesday other aircraft of the R.C.A.F. bomber group pounded Friedrichshafen in Germany and railway yards at Montzen, Belgium, and Aulmoye, France. Aulmoye, was the principal R.C.A.F. target for the night, and attracted Canadian-built Lancasters.

Halifaxes mined enemy waters meantime and an R.C.A.F. Mosquito about to attack an aircraft as it prepared to land at Crois Demetz airfield in France saw the enemy pilot lose control of his aircraft, ground-loop and burst into flames.

Two R.C.A.F. Spitfires on patrol over northern France Monday attacked a transport flying close to the ground, and saw it crash aflame.

But news of the famed City of Edmonton Intruder Squadron took the limelight during the week, with Sqdn. Ldr. Robert Allen "Bob" Kipp, of Kamloops, B.C., and his navigator, F/O P. Huletsky, of Montreal, blasting four of Germany's front-line aircraft out of the sky during an offensive patrol deep into the heart of the Reich Wednesday, establishing a new mark for the number of aircraft destroyed in a single night's patrol.

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Black Rufe - Kipp and Huletsky's Mosquito
shows off it's score

Bob Kipp had already accomplished quite a bit in the skies. In London, on February 19, 1944 it was reported that:

R.C.A.F. Mosquito bombers on an intruder patrolling operation last night destroyed two Messerschmitt 410's over an enemy base in northern France, R.C.A.F. headquarters here announced today. All Canadian planes returned safely from the patrol. Both enemy planes were credited to Flight-Lieut. Bob Kipp, of Kamloops, B.C. His pilot (Navigator - ed) was F/O (Peter) Huletsky, of Montreal.

On April 14th, 1944 it was reported that:

S/L R. Kipp of Kamloops, B.C., and F/O J. Caine, Edmonton, kept up the blazing hot pace of the City of Edmonton Mosquito squadron today, destroying four enemy aircraft in the air and leaving three others aflame on the ground in patrol of more than 1,000 miles to Copenhagen and back.

On May 3rd, 1944 it was reported that:

While the swift Mosquitoes visited Germany for the first time this month, Allied intruders, including the R.C.A.F. City of Edmonton Squadron, swept over the Continent as far as Munch and shot down five German planes. Four of them were downed by one Canadian Mosquito crew, Squadron-Ldr. Bob Kipp, of Kamloops, B.C., and his navigator, F/O Peter Huletsky, of Montreal, setting a record for this type of night operation.

Here is a list of Kipp's victories in the skies throughout the war:

12 December 1943   - 15/15 January 1944 18/19 February 1944    22/23 March 1944 14 April 1944   -   - 28 April 1944 3 May 1944 15 May 1944 14 June 1944 23 March 1945   -   -   - 12 April 1945   -   -

1/2 He.111 1/2 He.111 one Me.210 two Me.410s one unIDd e/a two Ju.52s two Do.217s one Do.217 one unID e/a four FW.190s one He.177 one He.111 two Ju.88s one FW.190 three unIDd e/a    one Ju.290 one Me.410 one Ju.88 one Ju.88

destroyed probable damaged destroyed damaged destroyed destroyed damaged damaged destroyed damaged destroyed destroyed destroyed damaged damaged destroyed destroyed damaged

(He=Heinkel; Me=Messerschmitt; unID=unidentified;
JU=Junkers; Do=Dornier; FW=Fock-Wulf)


14 July 1949 - Kipp, a proud member of the Blue Devils,
poses in front of a Vampire.

Eleven days later, on the 25th, he would die
while practicing aerobatics in one.