Don't Go!

Dear JP,

I learned about you last night.

You are my 3rd cousin 3x removed.

Absolom Carr is our common ancestor.

I read about your military training from articles your mother placed in the paper.

In July 1943 you wrote about joining the 25th Regimental Choir and how young men need the discipline and training they receive in the Navy.

I chuckled when you talked about how the food is served by 'some very attractive WAVES' which apparently makes the food there the best there is in September of 1943.

You received the third class petty officer's rating as aviation radioman in Jan of 1944.

Your mother and sister visited you in Florida in February of 1944.  This is when I first knew about you.  I had already been told about your sister, but I didn't know about you.  It was exciting to learn. I love finding new cousins!

In June of 1944 you left Indiana for San Diego, California.

Your military training reminds me of my own brother and oldest son.  Neither learned the skill you trained for, however, boot camp in Chicago -that's the same, school in Florida -my oldest, and then stationed in San Diego like my brother.  Yea for the Navy!

 I read where you became engaged in 1945.  How exciting!

I've given you the timeline that I have of your military life.  You lived it.  However, before I found some of the articles posted above, I discovered you were missing in action over the Pacific Ocean during a bombing mission.  My heart sank to learn about your tragic fate.

This turned me into Sandra Bullock's character in The Lake House where she was able to send letters back in time.  Every article from before the tragedy I found myself thinking, 'don't go' and, of course, there isn't any realistic way to change history.

I want you to know you are remembered.  You are much more than a statistic from the war. 

Your cousin.