"My dear Mrs. Wood...."

[i_was_like_this_once]

WESTERN
UNION

1944 JUL 22 PM 8 02

MRS. MARGRETTA R WOOD
120 EAST 19 ST NYK

DEEPLY REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR SON FIRST LIEUTENANT PHILIP E WOOD JR USMCR WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTY AND SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY. NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT PRESENT REGARDING DISPOSITION OF REMAINS. TEMPORARY BURIAL IN LOCALITY WHERE DEATH OCCURRED PROBABLE. YOU WILL BE PROMPTLY FURNISHED ANY ADDIITONAL INFORMATION RECEIVED. TO PREVENT POSSIBLE AID TO OUR ENEMIES DO NOT DIVULGE THE NAME OF HIS SHIP OR STATION. PLEASE ACCEPT MY HEARTFELT SYMPATHY. LETTER FOLLOWS =

A A VANDERGRIFT LIEUT GENERAL USMC COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.


***

HEADQUARTERS U.S. MARINE CORPS
COMMANDANT’S OFFICE
WASHINGTON
25 July, 1944

My dear Mrs. Wood:

It is a source of profound regret to me and to his brother officers of the Corps that your son, First Lieutenant Philip Emerson Wood, Jr., U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, lost his life in action against the enemies of his country and I wish to express my deepest sympathy to you and members of your family in your great loss.

There is little I can say to lessen your grief, but it is my earnest hope that the knowledge of your son’s splendid record in the service and the thought that he nobly gave his life in the performance of his duty may in some measure comfort you in this sad hour.

Sincerely yours
[signed]
A. A. VANDERGRIFT
Lieutenant General, U.S.M.C.
Commandant of the Marine Corps