Saturday
15 December 1944

Merry Christmas, Students!!

You all sure helped to make mine a Merry Christmas by sending me such a lovely box of candy and following it up with a most informative news-letter. Thanks, loads, for all you are doing for just plain me. The helluvit all is just that you do so much for me in a personal way and I've no way of expressing my appreciation to each of you as an individual. For all this, I'd like to heartly [sic] shake the hand of each male student and give (perhaps receive?) a great big hug and kiss. Gosh, guess I'm in favor of this anyway!

Seriously, I sure was please[d] to receive this wonderful box of candies from my alma mater at this time of year. Holding the gift for a few days just to show that I've not been completely forgotten. With the passing of time, my mail has dwindled down to a letter a week, sometimes two. It looked for a while as though I have more of a barren than a white Christmas. All this has changed.

About six months ago I met a graduate from Bryant, a 1st Lt Babcock, '37, who hails from Westerly, R.I. To the best of my knowledge, he was en route overseas.

For myself, I'm stationed here in the Statistical Control Office calculating charts, graphs, and reports. Interesting and exacting work.

Once again, thank you, and------
-----A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS,
Herbert Allen Bonn
[Transcription ends]

Thursday
December 16, 1943

The Bryant Service Club
Bryant College
Hope Street
Providence, R. I.

Seasons Greetings, Students!

Mail Call in the Army is the most exciting and important event in the life of a soldier miles away from his home and those he holds dear to him. There is nothing for sale that will ever match in true value a note or letter from one of those he has left behind. In a very personal way, it lets him know what little he is doing is not in vain nor is it forgotten.

The few letters a soldier does receive are almost invariable from his home. Occasionally, a welcome letter appears from someone the soldier thought had forgotten him. These are read and re-read dozens of times.

Such was the letter from THE BRYANT SERVICE CLUB giving the latest news of Bryant and announcing that a gift of candy was on its way. Boy, was I glad to get that letter!

Last night at mail call the fellow yelled, "Bonn, you have an insured package upstairs." I did not dare get it at that time for, if I did, I would have had all the candy eaten before I got any myself. So I picked it up later and took it to work with me this morning.

It arrived in excellent condition and will be doled out to a chosen few over a long period of time. You can rest assured that it was more than appreciated.

Just a word about myself. I am assigned as a skilled statistician in the Personnel Department here at the Miami Biltmore Hotel (Hospital). Work six days a week with time for swimming, fishing, sailing, golfing, and just loads of other forms of entertainment available in the tropics. (Seems strange to read of freezing temperatures in the North when it is well over 70° here)

Thank you, again,
Herbert A. Bonn
Herbert A. Bonn '38
[Transcription ends]

Friday
April 14, 1944

THE BRYANT SERVICE CLUB
Bryant College
Hope Street
Providence, R. I.

Dear Future Alumni,

I sure was very, very pleased last night when I received a very delicious box of candy from you-all (Southern dialect!). Of course, it goes without saying that I took it to the office today and shared it with everyone, telling them that it was tangible proof that I hadn’t been forgotten by those back home. Bryant College is gaining quite a reputation amongst the folks down here.

As a matter of very slight interest, you may note that I have advanced just one small peg in the army scale of things.

Henry L. Babcock, Bryant ’38, was down here for a spell and shipped to some camp in California. Westerly is his home town.

Please, as an addition [sic] favor to me, keep a sharp eye on my brother Norman who is now a student at your college.

Thank you again,
H. Allen Bonn
[Transcription ends]