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266

Washington, D.C.
Thursday, Dec. 10, '42.

It took considerable will power to get up at 7 AM but I made it and went to the office on time. Ed did not appear until 11 AM."Aw, t' hell with 'em!" as he says. I was weary and depressed all day, and wished I were at home in Erie with my wife and children and mother. I felt like I was [[underline]] hanging to all the past I love by a thread [[/underline]] and soon I might plunge into a future that would be strange and lead I know not where. Actually, when I rationalize the thing, I know the job here is a bigger job than the one in Erie, that probably Willie and the children would get a great thrill out of living here, that I would be a bigger man when it was over and it would be a great experience. But I'm still a boy at heart, I guess; I can't bear to think of cutting loose from the old ties even under these well justified circumstances. Well in a few days I'll have the answer. [[underline]] Stevenson is writing Whitey a strong [[/underline]] appeal for me and Whitey will be here tomorrow. Earl Bill came in this afternoon and I had a session with him and Capt. Harris over 65 tonners the Captain needs direly for Ordnance Depots. 

My Mexican friend, [[underline]] Manuel Noreiga [[/underline]] of Monterrey Iron & Steel, whom I have helped occasionally in connection with a Whitcomb order of his, came in and presented me with a [[underline]] beautiful hand tooled leather brief case [[/underline]] he brought back from Mexico last week. I was overcome - didn't know if I should accept it but was afraid I would hurt his feelings if I didn't. So I took it and thanked him profusely. I have done nothing for him I wouldn't do for anyone but he evidently appreciated it more than I

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