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war effort in spite of feelings to the contrary on the part of many, [[/underline]] continued to roll out in sufficient quantity to meet the demand. [[/underline]] That, if it was due to my efforts in any part is [[/underline]] something for me to feel good about. Whatever I did, it apparently ^[[was]] good enough for Stevenson to want me to stay on as Deputy Director, and that indicates it wasn't too bad. [[/underline]] I hope I contributed something toward the winning of the [[underline]] war - if I didn't, [[/underline]] I never should have been there. [[underline]] And as I face the future, back in private industry, I must continue to do my best to contribute something toward the winning of that same war. That's the big job ahead of all of us. [[/underline]] 

Erie, Pa.
Thursday, Dec. 31, '42.

[[underline]] Woke up at 7 AM riding over a very strangely smooth [[/underline]] roadbed and looking out the window, saw us passing a strangely large town. I knew we were not on our regular route and had started to go around [[underline]] the flood area in Pennsylvania (it has been raining steadily for days). [[/underline]] Got up at 8 AM and found we were on the [[underline]] main line of the Erie between Howell and Olean. [[/underline]] At Olean we got the half-diner crew and at 11AM finally got breakfast - on the house. We ran through the beautiful hill country of southern New York, past flooded fields and marooned houses and barns, over bridges almost flush with rushing water. We left the [[underline]] Erie at Olean [[/underline]] and ran [[underline]] 60 miles over [[/underline]] a bumpy Pennsy line [[underline]] to Warren [[/underline]], then to Erie [[underline]] where we arrived at 3 PM, nearly 6 hours late! [[/underline]] It got pretty tiresome, full of smoking room conversation with Al Ohmer, a loquatious long haired travelling salesman from Philadelphia, Bob Graves, ex City Club bartender turned gob, and the cadaverous principal of Strong-  [[underline]] Vincent High who carried a pint of Old Grand Dad in his coat pocket [[/underline]]