CEHBates_MarApr1919_074a

Stationery: H. L. A. BATES
277 PINE STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
April 16th- 1919

My dear old Sned:

I suppose youwill think your old Dad has
forgotten all about you, since he has not written you
for so long a time. I have been very busy in
the office for two months as this is assessment time
when all of the Companies are assessed for the maintenance
of the Bureau, and the annual meeting will take
place next Wednesday which has required a pile
of statistics to be computed. We were all delighted
at your having received the D.S.C., and promotion. We
knew about the D.S.C. on April 1st as it was published
in the papers. Your cable telling us about it reached
us last Monday, the 14th, but I suppose it had been
two weeks on the way. We cabled you back at
once, but the Lord only knows when you will get
it. We said "First Lieut Bates A.P.O. 734? (I dont
remember now the number) 126th Infantry Coblenz "Hurrah.
Congratulations. Love. Well. Bates". Every one seems
very glad of your deserved recognition, and Mother
and I, and your two brothers at home are all very
proud, and very chesty about it all. I saw a
young officer on the street to day with three medals
on and they looked very fine. We are now hoping
to see you in yours at an early date. Last Sat
Jos & Les, Mother & I went to the Marina on
the old Exposition Grounds to see a flight of nine
planes led by Colonel Shaw. There was a
heavy wind blowing, but it did not bother them
and they did some real battle stunts. Lesley