Dear Yuichi;

It is early Sunday morning and a "red letter' (important ) day for all of us who were in Omori. The CBS Special about Lou is to be shown tonight . Now I am beginning to have mixed feelings about watching it. Although I am anxious to see it, I wonder how I will react to it. I will be glad when the eight months of waiting to see it is over. The uncertainty about when it would be shown has caused me a lot of extra work. It started when I was preparing to send out the list to over 200 peopl. Draggan called me just as I was ready to seal the envelopes and he told me the showing would be on the 17th I was able to insert a slip of paper into each envelope. Then I found out from a telephone call from Linda Holmes in New York and an article in the New York that the date had been changed to the 19th. I wrote and telephoned over 40 people about the change. Draggan called me at noon on the 19th to say that it had been changed again until the 22nd. Again I had to call nearly 50 people that afternoon and evening about the change. Yesterday I received some calls from individuals whom I had forgotten to call. They wanted to know why I had not been shown on the 17th. I expect I will receive more letters and telephone calls later tonight and next week. I decided to start this letter this morning while I have some free time and then finish it after the show whenever I can do so.

I was interesting to read about your being embraced by Cynthia and Mrs. McGrew. Regardless of cultural differences, my advice to you is to always enjoy being hugged or embraced by a lovely lady, especially at our age in life. It is a common practice in America for daughters and sons to be named after their parents. My wife was named Elizabeth Dandridge Martindale. My daughters are named Elizabeth Anne and Mary Elizabeth. My son is named Robert Dandridge. Some sons are given the full name of their fathers, which is then followed by the word "Junior or Jr." or by a Roman number (2,3,4). For example;
Yuichi Hatto
Yuichi Hatto, Jr. or
Yuichi Hatto, 2
I do not like the use of either of these designations for sons.

I have not heard about Lou's dedication of flowers at the Peace Garden. Perhaps it will be mentioned during the show. I will send you a copy of the broadcast. I have asked a number of people to copy the show so that I can send them to the men overseas.

I will stop writing now because I want to get some rest today and I will finish it later.

Finally, the Zamperini show is over after eight months of waiting for it. It is a relief for me because I can get back to my regular routine after I get the copies made and sent to some of the overseas X-POWs. You will get the first one. I am having ten copies made now and I expect that I will have to order more if some of the men do not send me enough. I had asked some people to make copies and send them to me so that I could forward them overseas.

The Zamperini show was excelletn. Simon and Dragggan are to be commended for the fine production. Some friends said that it was the best thing they saw during the Olympics. CBS's coverage of the games have received low ratings. The show did generate a lot of interest. I received many calls before, during and after it was shown. I was very unhappy when the calls came during the show. I had to return my tape in order to see all of it.

I was reminded about how fortunate I was when Wade was sent to Naoetsu in my place. Watanabe had requested I be sent there as his Camp Work Officer, but since I was sick at the time , Tom was sent instead of me. I was very fortunate all during the war. I was surprised at the number of still photographs from my book which were used. You looked very good in the show. It made me feel that I was having another visit with you. Mr.and Mrs.Ishizuka are to be commended for establishing the Peace Garden. Linda Holmes called me right after the show and asked me if that was where the largest cemetary for POWs in Japan was located.

Tony Montanari called me from San Francisco and said that he had met a lady whose father was POW in Japan and that she had his diaries. She did not know the name of the camp where he was held. Tony is trying to find out more about the diaries and if we can see them. They should be interesting to read. Tony did the documentary about "Tokyo Rose".

I did get some telephone calls from men who had not contacted me before. One of them was of special interest and I will try to see him soon as his story seemed interesting.

I am looking forward to hearing more about Lou's visit.

Sincerely
Bob