Truax Field

Tuesday August 22 [1944]

My darling Paddy:

I have had one night here at the Field but spent Sunday night with the Williams since young Linus could not get leave enough to meet my train. The Williams met me and were very sweet. Linus came at four yesterday and we came out here to the Field.

This morning I wakened at 9.30 or so because of a lot of singing, band playing, etc. and looked out of my window to see company I marching by in fatigues — each group singing a different song and the band playing, too, in its own independent way.

Linus spends what free time he can get with me which isn't much. He is the same moody, antagonistic towards his environment, morose boy who looks awfully tender and young. His hair has grown very much redder and he says he is even called "Red"!!

If I could only help that boy! Two people, strangers, have asked me "Is that your son? He sure looks like you."

I had a dreadful time getting on the train. The worst experience I think I've ever had. Still I learned a good bit and everything was interesting. However my red cap never reached the train or me, with my bags and so they were put in the lost and found and I didn't get them until yesterday — Luggage Trouble Lulu!! Now you'll say I shouldn't have given my checks to a Red Cap — but I would never have even gotten them out of the parcel room if I hadn't because although I was there at 5:00 there were already 200 [star] (hundred) ahead of me in line to get bags. Moreover, I went up to stand in line at gate 6 for my train at 5:20. My Red Cap told me to go then and there were 300 people already there and 500 more were soon behind me pushing - So - [star] - That extra hundred was the way the crowd appeared to me to be in size.

What an experience! We must never arrive in Chicago on Sunday again. We should have known better.

I have our return seats. I got them yesterday when I went for the bags.

Young Linus no longer has Tuesday off but has Saturday instead. He took kindly to my idea of a day with us in Chicago although I offered it (after my experience) without enthusiasm, but it isn't possible now. I wish you could be here Saturday which is his free day.

I shall go to the Daniels on Thursday and then on Friday we will get Linus and all go to dinner. I will be hostess and Linus will stay overnight Friday at the Williams and we'll have Saturday. Then we'll get you on Sunday and we'll go to the Williams. I wish you could stay here at the Camp for you'll not see Linus I'm afraid. Perhaps a bit on Sunday.

I must write to the children at home now.

How are you and are you getting along well? I hope everything is going along well.

I love you very much.

Your wife,

Ava Helen

P.S. The news yesterday was to the effect that Patton had crossed the Seine and was moving north and west to the robot [?] platforms. Good! I haven't heard any today. Linus looks well. His face is clear but his lips are chapped and sore. He said they were one of the things he'd inherited from me!!! Instead of saying and thinking "Thy will be done" this coming generation says and thinks — "I am Inheritance." Perhaps some such explanation is necessary. Linus is awfully sweet and tender and quiet and genuinely happy to see his Mother, I believe. These poor helpless bits of humanity.

AP.

Monday night

Dearest love:

I hope that my telegram hasn't surprised you too much.

Did you get along all right in Chicago and on the train? I walked fast the Dearborn station; then I was hot, and afraid that perhaps the remaining time (14 minutes) was too small, so I took a taxi to the B&O station, and thus arrived with nearly 10 minutes to spare. I got to Washington on time (8:45 AM ), went to the hotel (Lee Sheraton), and then to the British Liaison Office and to Chadwell's office (fiv [?] .19 of the NDRC). He wants me to think about a special problem, one which Lamb is working. If we about go to Cambridge I might have to come back East again in a month or two - I'm not sure that I can be helpful. We shouldn't mention to anyone that this new problem has come up, nor that Lamb is involved.

Then Gus Hamar and Reuben Wood took me out in the country to their place, which was very interesting. Pitzer was there, and Reuben, Pitzer, Mrs P and the three little P's and I went to dinner together. The Pitzers are going back to Berkeley in a month or so.

Then Reuben and I called on Sterling and Edith. E's mother is there. I saw some pictures of the baby - she looks cute. Then I came back to the hotel.

I might have some trouble keeping things going in the lab if we were to stay in the East for a whole month (several days in Cambridge, and then several in New York). Also I'm worried about the Cranshaw melons and other things in the garden. Perhaps we shouldn't try to stay.

Give my love to Linny

Your

Paddy

August 22, 1944

Dearest love:

Your telegram has arrived. I am just as happy as if your decision had been for us to stay — and I think that this may be better. I wanted, however, to give you the chance of attending the New York meeting.

I may have to come East again in a couple of months to handle this new & ultrasecret job.

I didn't get much done today — Tohman, Keefer, and Wearn were all out of town, but I talked to some other people at CMR. Tomorrow will be a full day for me. I went back to see Sterling and Edith tonight — I had forgotten my brief case there last night. I saw their baby — a cute little 6-months old! She wouldn't drink her milk while I was there, but drank it when Edith took her back to her room. Edith's mother is there — she is a smart old girl.

Well, I'll be seeing you in a few days. Love to Liny. [?]

Your own

Paddy