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110

Washington, D.C.
Friday, Sept 4, '42.

The whole gang except Mat Tate and me had made their exodus for home over the Labor Day weekend by this evening. I finished the GE Kardex file today and know to the letter the status of every locomotive as to authorization, the thing that worried me most because of the big stock program, which is not as easy to keep track of as a bunch of special jobs that are released job by job.

[[underline]] Frank Headley [[/underline]] was in town today and [[underline]] invited Charlie "Jerry", his wife, and me to dinner. Jack Casey also accompanied us and it was a delightful evening; [[/underline]] I was really proud of my company. We met at the Carlton [[downward pointing arrow]] at 7 PM, had a drink in the lounge amid much atmosphere including a British officer in kilts sitting next to me. Then we went to the New Orleans for a perfectly delicious dinner down stairs amid the candle light and the negro music including magnificent singing of "Ol' Man River" and "The Road to Mandalay" by the big, black baritone piano player. It was a very high grade evening, full of good fellowship, poise, taste, in fact everything that strikes me just right. I know Charlie and Jerry enjoyed it - it was just the kind they would enjoy. Jack Casey was a distinct asset to the party too - very attentive and polite to Jerry and adding considerable with [[underline]] his Irish wit.[[/underline]]  

[[underline]] The war in a crucial phase but we [[/underline]] think and talk little about it - we're too busy working most of the time. The Germans are smashing close to Stalingrad on the Volga. Rommel has attacked again in Egypt and been hurled back for the moment. We are moving in on the Japs at last in the Pacific - only a start but successful so far. Germany and occupied Europe is taking a terrible pasting from the sky. But Lt. Gen. Somewell says "We are losing the war!"