Kenneth Dole to Dad | Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections

Kenneth Dole to Dad

1945-nd-1

To: Dad 1945_nd_1 From: Kenney [5 page letter] Date: 1945-nd-1 Phillipines [sic] Cebu, Cebu Dear Dad: Don’t have a lot to say except that I am feeling just fine and getting along OK, hoping this finds you all well and happy, I still haven’t heard any new ways of getting home and they are not sending these old men home very fast either, and I sincerely believe I can tell you the score about when I am expecting to come home. I suppose that mom expects to see me on my way in the next few months as they are doing a lot of talking on getting all of the boys back and truthfully I don’t believe any of it as I am over here and I can tell you truthfully there are a very damn few that are going home, =Page 2= I would like to come home even if I could only stay a week and then return as I think I could help Bob a lot, by just letting him see that I am OK and I know he would rest a lot easier if he only knew, they tell us over here that if you have less than 45 pts as of May-12-45 you can go home on “T.D” “Temporary Duty” or really a furlough you know the same thing as Bob Parker had, well I was seriously thinking about talking a crack at it, but no soap they almost laughed in my face when I asked about it, so it looks as though I will be stuck for at least a full year more and a good chance of being here longer than that. Really I am undecided as to what to do, the only thing that I can see to do is to wait =Page 3= for about 3 more months and see what happens, by that time they should have something started. As I am single and only 21 I am a wonderful prospect for A.M.G. (Allied Military Government” [sic] or occupation of Japan. I am telling you how I think I stand so someone at home will know the truth I wouldn’t want mom to know any of this nor Bob as they would only worry too much and there really isn’t anything anyone can do except wait, not that you don’t worry about me Dad, but I know I can explain it to you as you know the Army, as well as I do, and also you know that everything they do takes just so much time. I feel a lot better knowing that someone at home will know just how I stand on going home so =Page 4= everyone will not build up too much hope on my coming home too soon. Here is exactly the way I stand on pts 8 mo. in the States- 8 pts 18 mo. overseas- 36 pts 2 Campaign stars- 10 pts Total 54 pts You know that as of today the critical score is 80 pts, so you see where I stand, it will take 13 mo. overseas times to make me 80 pts unless they lower the pt system and that doesn’t seem possible for at least 6 more mo. as we have more here now with 90 pts and a few with more. As I said I am telling you this so you will know just how I stand and how long before I expect to be home. Please don’t say anything to mom it would really worry her if she thought -Page 5- for a minute that I still had to stay over here for another year. It is possible that I may be able to get home six months from now, and again as I say it might be a year but now you know just where I stand so you can make a guess for yourself on when you think I will be home. Well Dad I hope that you understand all of this nonsense, as I do want you to know just where I stand in case the rest of the family start false hopes of my returning too soon. So Long for Now. Love Kenney

np_1945_nd_1

Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections

Nancy [Dole] Poche Collection (Old Finding Aid - For Reference Only), 1938-1963 [information restricted]