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October 8, 1942
Dear Mr. Barclay,
I was certainly pleased to receive your nice note several weeks ago and Jean and I were both delighted to think that you remembered our wedding aniversary.
A great deal has happened sicne I last talked to you - one day last spring on the Stanford campus. As you may remember I was working for a lumber company in Palo Alto at that time. However, it became apparent that the building industry would, sooner or later, be seriously curtailed so I took a leave of absence and attempted to secure a commission in the Navy. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, I was rejected because of color-blindness. After being rejected for the same reason by the Marines and Air Corps I accepted a position as an industrial engineer with the Aluminum Company of America in Los Angeles. I came down here in May and Jean followed a few weeks later. To date everything has turned out wonderfully for us. We bought a very nice little home in Alhambra and are now all settled in it waiting for a
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little addition to our family which is expected in December. My job has turned out exceptionally well and if it were not for the war we would be perfectly contented with our situation. However, with the world so upset its very hard to be pleased with your own insignificant accomplisments. Working in a defense plant seems to bring the war much closer to home than when we lived in Palo Alto. However, I imagine that it has had its effect upon Stanford this fall. I have not seen anyone from [there?] for some time but I've wondered how many of the fellows have returned and how many freshman entered this fall. With an 18 to 19 draft I've wondered if Stanford could continue another year. Certainly it is a terrible thought.
Jean and I both miss Palo Alto and all of our friends and we hope we'll be able to return for a visit soon. In the meantime we invite all of our friends, when in Los Angeles, to visit us and we certainly include you, Mr. Barclay, in this invitation.
Best regards, Hart Eastman
1718 So. Elm Alhambra, Calif.
