We’re all terribly busy here. The children miss you dreadfully and they’re hard for me to handle alone. Your mother will interfere. I don’t know what she writes you, but I can’t help feeling from your letters that she tries to turn you against me. I think she’s a little jealous and always has been. We mustn’t let her come between us, Bob!
I have to stop now, but will write again tomorrow.
Remember, darling, I love you more than anything in the world —
Verne
April 29, 1945
Corporal Robert Chandler 3ххххххх
APO #xx, c/o Postmaster
Darling—
Your letters worry me so. I know you’re going through hell, and I try not to think of any thing but how wonderful it will be when you come home. You know, I never doubt for a second that everything will turn out all right for us. But, dear, be careful.
You can imagine my reaction to that mission! I hate to say this about Lee, but it seems to me he could have sent someone else — or gone himself. After all, he has no family dependent on him. Well, thank God you got back safely!
Speaking of dependents, I’m afraid I’m having a little trouble making ends meet. Prices are simply fantastic and the children are growing out of their clothes every other day. I do try to manage, but I just can’t seem to make things go around on what you send home. I know you’ll hate the idea of touching our savings, Bob, but I honestly don’t see anything else to do. What do you think?
Please, darling, don’t listen to the things your mother says against me! You’re very gullible, you know — though I suppose it’s one of the things I love about you, the way you see good in people. But after all, Bob, I am your wife, and you must trust me. Just because we’re different kinds of people, she imagines things about me. I can’t so much as go to the movies without making her suspicious, and of course she can’t begin to understand why everything costs so much more now.
Write me as often as you can, dear, and please give what I’ve said about the money some serious thought.
All my love,
Verne
May 15, 1945
Corporal Robert Chandler 3ххххххх
APO #xx c/o Postmaster
Bob darling—
You don’t know what it does tome to hear what you’re going through, and not be able to do anything to help! I look at your picture for a long time every night, and you look so young — it’s hard to imagine that this awful war could separate us. The one of you in uniform looks so determined — and helpless, somehow — but I know how brave you are, and I’m terribly proud.
Please try not to worry about things, Bob. The children and I will manage somehow. And you simply mustn’t believe your mother. When you get home, the three of us can talk everything over, but the important thing is for you not to worry.
Sometimes I feel that if the war doesn’t end soon, we’ll all go out of our minds. I thought I might try to go spend a few days with my family and leave the children here with your mother — the change would do everybody good. But we just can’t afford it. I went down to the bank today to ask about taking some money from our savings account, but they said I must have your permission in writing. Darling, I hate to add to your troubles, but we have to have money right away or I don’t know what will become of us. Your mother doesn’t seem to understand, but I know you wouldn’t sacrifice the children’s health even if it seemed to threaten our security as you say in your letter. Please, dear, write the bank immediately.
It’s sweet of you to share my letters with Lee. Mrs. Graham says she writes him every day, but she’s such an hysterical woman it might be better if she didn’t. She worries so it puts us all on edge and it must upset him, too. That’s probably what makes him act so strangely. War does funny things to people — things they aren’t really responsible for.
Take care of yourself, darling, and pray the war ends soon.
All my love,
Verne
May 30, 1945
Corporal Robert Chandler 3ххххххх
APO #xx, c/o Postmaster
Dear Bob—
I’m in a great hurry, so this will just be a note. The bank tells me you still haven’t written about the money. It hardly seems possible that you are doing this deliberately, but knowing the way your mother feels about me and the lies she tells you, I suppose I might have expected it. Things are getting desperate, Bob. And it breaks my heart to think you don’t trust me or care enough about me to do something about it. I never would have believed you were stingy or cruel — or even just indifferent — but you leave me no choice in thinking that now!
I still love you —
Verne
Sept. 8, 1945
Corporal Robert Chandler 3ххххххх
APO #xx, c/o Postmaster
My dearest boy—
The whole world seems to have gone mad since this awful war. Lee Graham’s death was a terrible shock to us all, but that you should be held responsible is the most horrible thing of all! The army must be insane to accuse you of a thing like that. What dreadful mistake has been made?
I wrote to the President of the United States the minute I got your letter — I know he’ll see what’s right and take action. Bob, dear, write me all the details of what happened and I’ll move heaven and earth to help you. A great country like this will surely not stand for such a travesty of justice! My dearest son, have courage.
Verne left a few days ago to go visit her family and I haven’t been able to get in touch with her yet to tell her of this tragic business. No, the bank didn’t give her the money. She’s so extravagant, I think you acted wisely. Of course all our little misunderstandings seem insignificant now— Don’t give up hope, son. God will hear our prayers and not fail us!
Mother
SUBJECT: The case of Cpl. Robert Chandler 3ххххххх
TO: Secretary of War
Attached is the case of Cpl. Robert Chandler charged with murder under the 86th Article of War and sentenced to death subject to your approval.
In view of the publicity accorded this case, I am bringing to your attention a possible mitigating circumstance: i.e., insufficient proof of motive.
X. X. Xxxxxxxx
Major General
Judge Advocate General
20 Sept 45
SUBJECT: The case of Cpl. Robert Chandler 3ххххххх
TO: The President of the United States
Attached is a transcript of pertinent excerpts from the trial of Corporal Robert Chandler as per your request.
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Secretary of War
22 Sept 45
Enclosure:
On 10 Sept 45 at 1000, the court was called to order for the purpose of trying Cpl. Robert Chandler for the murder of Lt. Lee Graham, under the 86th Article of War. Members of the court were (names omitted for brevity). The Trial Judge Advocate, the Defense Counsel, and their assistants being sworn in... the Trial Judge Advocate swore in the court.
President of the Court: The Trial Judge Advocate will read the charges.
TJA:... Cpl. Robert Chandler 3ххххххх is hereby charged with the murder of Lt. Lee Graham O-xxxxxxx. On 6 June 45, when the platoon of which he was a member was engaged in a fire fight with the Japanese troops at Xxxxx Ridge on the island of Okinawa, Cpl. Chandler deliberately aimed his M-1 rifle, and fired two shots into the head of Lt. Graham, who was directing his platoon at a position approximately ten yards ahead of Cpl. Chandler. Cpl. Chandler’s act was both deliberate and wilful.