Dear Yuichi:

Your very long and interesting letter of the 3rd. was received yesterday after I had been in Fredericksburg and San Antonio for the night with my daughter.

I took some photos and other materials over to Helen McDonald so that they could be used in a permanent X-POW exhibit which will be opened about February 1st of next year. She would like to include a copy of the photo of Watanabe 8( photo-copy is enclosed ). I told her that I would want your consent ( approval ) before it could be used. May I have your approval ? It would be given in your name.

Afterwards, I drove to San Antonio and spent Wednesday night with my oldest daughter and her family. I always enjoy seeing them, but it is sometimes difficult to get used to all of the noise and activity of a family, including two boys in contrast to my normal quiet life.

I have received a news-letter from the British X-POWs in Plymouth, England, which contained an item which will be of interest to you. I am enclosing a copy of it. I did not know that Tojo had visited other POW camps.

Your detailed description of the buildings on the south end of the island was most interesting. I do not recall when they were put there, but I would have guessed it was early in 1945. I do remember Capt.Nemoto.
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I had to stop writing because it was time for me to get ready for an appointment. It is now 5am Saturday morning. There is some light rain and the morning air smells very good. The storm in the Gulf of Mexico came ashore early yesterday morning and has caused very heavy rains along the coast. My train gauge shows 3.3 inches. Hopefully,the very hot and dry weather is at an end. It has been a very had summer for most of the farmers and ranchers. It was the second warmest summer on record.

I agree with your comments about admirals, generals and other leaders being like other men. They have the same weakness and strength as all men have to various degrees; but how they make use of these human traits is what is important. I was taught to respect rank, but not to be afraid of it. A major problem with recorded history is that it tends to be one-sided and does not give a complete view or understanding of an individuals. It creates heroes ( or demos ) and forgets the individual as a human.

Helen McDonald will be interested in knowing about your comments concerning Sakamaki. The Nimits Museum has the one-man submarine captured at Pearl Harbor. Perhaps it is the same one. There was a big argument between the Nimitz and Pearl Harbor about which should have it. The Nimitz won.

Your plans to visit the Scandinavian countries next Spring sounds interesting. I would like to see the northern parts of those countries because they are so different and unusual. I am still sad that I was not able to see Bergen and other parts of Norway while I was there. Oslo seemed dull and uninteresting as a city; in spite of its beautiful location. There are a few interesting sights to see there. I do not know where I will go on my next overseas trip. The two areas I would like to visit are the Austria area and Miditerrannean coasts of Southern France and Northern Italy. I will just have to wait to see what time available and the Air Force flights determine.

Tuesday morning I leave for my Bomb Group meeting in Richmond, Virginia, and then to Charlotte, North Carolina, to see my daughter. I would prefer gong to Europe instead of attending a meeting.

Thanks again for the interesting letter.

Sincerely
Bob
Robert R. Martindale