Bates_B2278_F1_263

contain ourselves --- However whether the rewards
ever materialize or not the fact that you were
so highly commended by four [underlined] Senior offices especially
the Genaral [General] is distinction enough [underlined] & we will be
as proud of you for that, whether the other
even "comes through" or not! ---

It seems incredible almost that you could
have gotten out the thick of things & accomplished
so much already! We did not dream that you
were in the St Mihiel affair -- It must have
been a thrilling experience altogether -- a more
joyful, & less trying one than the later time when
you had to fight all "alone that was" [underlined] a test