CEHBates_MarApr1919_055a

[Imprinted stationery:
H. L. A. BATES
277 PINE STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. ]
March 24th 1919
My dear old Snedward:

I have not written you for a long time
but dont think that it is because I am not
thinking of you. I have your photo framed
on my desk, so that I think of you almost all
day long. We have had fine letters from you from
Southern France and we are all very glad that
you have had the opportunity of seeing things. Your
last letter says that you have been put into Class A
which means back to Germany. I note by yesterdays
paper that the 127th is released to come home, and
some time ago it was said by Washington that the
32nd would leave early in May. Of course you may
be transferred to some other division which is to stay,
and then you wont come home so soon. We want
to see you Edward dear, but we dont want to
influence you against your own judgement. We rather
hoped that you would be assigned to a Medical
College such as Edinburg, as that would be in the
line of your proposed profession. I dont know
what to think of your going into the Marine Corps. Of course
at this time there are about 50,000 men + officers in
it but it will probably be reduced one half. Norman
figures that if they reduce to Marine Corps he will drop
back to Capt and be about 7th on the list. The University
has wanted a copy of your citation (Croix de Guerre) but
you have never sent it to us, or even a copy of it, and
of course we are hungry for a sight of it. What answer
did you get from the A.E.F. Decoration headquarters