Maurice H. Gist

April 13, 1944

A letter received this week by Mr. and Mrs Will Richardson from M. H. GIST, who once was the carrier on rural route one, stated that he is in the Seabees and by the time you receive this I wi1l probably be on my way." He told of many interesting trips he had made to points in California.

September 14, 1944

Mr. and Mrs. Will Richardson here heard from Navy Storekeeper, former resident and rural mail carrier here, MAURICE GIST that he is in Hawaii "going strong," but that his son, Doyle, was wounded in the Normandy invasion and is being sent home to Scottsboro, Alabama.

May 3, 1945

Here's a letter from Storekeeper M. H. GIST, formerly rural mail carrier here. He is with a Seabee unit and wrote the letter from the Mariana Islands. He says:

"Have intended to write you for a long time but just didn't get around to it. First I want to thank you so much for sending me The Tribune. I appreciate it more than I can express. Will try to repay you sometime in the future. I get most of the papers but sometimes they are two months old but still they are news. After all, that is pretty good time to make the 10,000 miles.

My heart bleeds for the parents of boys we are losing. We are paying an awful price for the victory ahead. Will we forget so quickly as we did after the last war? I just wonder.

Will you convey to members of the lodge there my heartfelt appreciation for their donation of my dues. My wife sent the check but it was returned by the secretary stating they were donating dues to members of the armed forces.

Have been out here in the Pacific more than a year and, here at this particular place, about eight months. The first few months, as you know, was front line against Tokyo. We withstood a lot of Jap bombings but now all is quiet. Haven't had an air raid since New Year's. Our camp was strafed once by machine guns from one of their 'Betties' at night. Not much danger here now except from a few Jap soldiers in caves.

I work at A.G. D. office. Get to drive over most of the island in a jeep.

Fuller, this would be a news reporter's paradise. So much human interest. Am sending you our battalion newspaper. Of course I want you to notice the little write up about myself. As you know, there is no false modesty about me.

Fuller, give my best regards to all."

(So glad to get your letter and, for an "old-timer" you see to be doing pretty well. I certainly hope the people of the USA don't forget after this war as they did after the other. However, all of us, veterans especially, must take the lead in keeping it fresh in memory)