Letter from Fr. L. J. Calkins to Eva S. Moorefield, May 1, 1945

[letterhead: UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS]

IN REPLYING REFER TO NO.

May 1, 1945

Dear Mrs Moorefield:

As Catholic priest, Chaplain with the 27th Marines permit me to express my personal sympathy as well that of the officers and men of our organization at the loss of your brother Jewell Spears.

Certainly he was prepared to meet his Creator out there. En route and while in combat several of us priests were with our men, providing the comforts of our holy religion, administering the sacraments, giving the men every available opportunity to prepare for that final moment when each must meet his God.

Death comes unexpectedly. Every effort was rendered to save his life. His short span of years completed here on earth God called him to his eternal home. His sacrifice truly merits the martyrs crown.

Full military honors plus Catholic Burial ritual was given Jewell. Holy mass was celebrated at the time he was laid to rest in the consecrated grounds of our National Cemetery on Iwo Island.

Please try hard to accept the Cross now placed upon your shoulders and see the Hand of God working thruout all the surrounding gloom. As Jewell himself would have you do, please try to "carry on" accepting God's Holy Will.

Assuring you and Jewell our constant remembrance in our prayers and masses here. I remain

Sincerely

Father L. J. Calkins 27th Marines