10/26/44: The U.S. defeats the Japanese in the battle of Leyte Gulf, leaving the Japanese navy powerless, clearing the way for the U.S. to prepare for an assault on Japan.
10/28/44 Italy
Hi Honey:
This is just like old times. Here I sit at the ops office waiting for the weather to clear so I can take-off. We came down here yesterday for a little business trip, chiefly to acquaint me with all of the people I shall have to work with in other headquarters.
The boss is a hell of a lot of fun on a trip. The ANC contributed a lot of beer last night, and Davis had a bottle of bourbon. Boilermakers are good in small quantities, but I have long since learned that they are potent as hell. Strangely, I had very little to drink, and feel wonderful this morning as a result. It is comforting to learn that I am getting old enough to say “no” before developing a first rate hang-over.
It certainly does seem natural to be reading tech orders, and deciding which gadget shall be put on what type of airplane. The past six months have not been wasted though, for I have learned how an Air Force operates (and it is a complicated political system if I ever saw one), have learned a lot too about the people in the various headquarters, and have apparently done something to re-establish the Stafford reputation.
I talked to Biv for a few seconds. He was on his way to another place for a few days. He has some cute pictures of Liz and the brat. Liz has put on some weight, and the kid is bigger than hell.
That is about all I can think of for now, and this is another one of those damn screwball makes of machine. It makes more noise than a teletype machine, and it is impossible to type faster than about 30 words per minute, at the best.
I love you, Toots. Your one and only , Cy.
Enclosures are for scrap book—Stuff on back bought for other officers. As you can see, we are well taken care of. C.