Charles E. H. Bates Family Correspondence, 1899-1930 - 2

June 29th 1918

Dearest Edward Your long letter was much enjoyed and I am glad you think [underlined] that a little [underlined] delay wont be extremely dangerous for Lesley "Edward"[crossed out].

Its hard to know what [underlined] to do. If I knew the Drs at March Field were really careful I could perhaps rest easily but a friend of Lesleys (classmate at March Field) rang us up yesterday a.m. He had gotten leave to come up & see his father in Fabiola hospital just for the day & Les asked him to ring us up

[written vertically on left side and top:] Did you get a pair of socks from Helen. She sent a pair to you two weeks or more ago – She hopes they did not go astray – How many pairs have you? And how many should you have please let me know? Mother.

no attention to his physical condition then I think as you say we must [underlined] do something we cannot let him go on much [underlined] longer under the medics at March Field contradict absolutely the diagnosis of the former men –

We want very [double underlined] much to come down to see you dearest. And I will try to come as soon as I can get away from here –

Your Father does not know how [underlined] he can [underlined] get the Dodge down to you, it is too far for him to drive he feels – & and Jocelyn is not here now. He may have to come down in a few days to answer his "questionnaire" which are to be sent out tomorrow we hear. I wish he could drive us down – but I doubt it as I suppose he has to keep at his work

which he did – but he said he did not think Les had been physically examined said he was feeling finely & enjoying himself since he arrived at that Field! If this is so it seems like dangerous work for Les to be still flying every day for an hour as he says he does. It seems high time the Drs. at least looked him over –

I have done nothing about it yet, and will try to maintain my patience – But what did these Drs. at Rockwell mean by saying it would be "up to us" to stop him" if the March Field Drs. did not?

Of course dear I know you did not mean to "reprove" me because no boy should

or can [underlined] properly reprove [underlined] his mother. He may correct [underlined] her but not reprove – I did not suppose that you would not know how to address a senior officer in speaking to them. I am sure of course that you are drilled [underlined] in that [underlined], but as you are unaccustomed, no doubt, to telephoning officers I thought you might forget for the moment & fall back into old familiar habits of speaking over the phone unconsciously [inserted] & that was my reason for warning you.

Lesley writes that he hopes [underlined] to get his wings before having to stop flying – wings come before a commission the latter later. I hope he can [underlined] but if the delay is greater than 3 or 4 weeks at outside the one Dr. pay no

if he is to hold his position which he thinks or did [underlined] think a valuable one – It is [underlined] a good opportunity if they keep their word to him because they promised he need not work hard & would be given a chance to study the theory of rice growing etc – other places he would be expected of course to do whatever [underlined] he was put to do – but these people claim that they will consider his condition & not expect more than he feels he can safely do –

I expected [underlined] Mr. L up there on Sat – we must ring up tonight & find out if he saw J. who was transferred last week to a