denshopd-p155-00007

Sept. 16, 1944

Dear Mr. Merrill --

You must be extremely surprised to hear from me. I met Dorothy Itayaraka in Philadelphia last month and since she told me both you and Mr. Mann were still managing the Procurement end of Hunt, I thought I'd just drop a line and say "Hello!"

I've become a Chicagoan since February of this year. And since coming here I've also become a mother. Just to prove it, I'm enclosing couple snapshots of our pride and joy -- Thomas Asa.

Marian Sato [illegible] Nakamura is leaving in the [illegible] ride and sometime ago I heard she was expecting a delivery from Mr. Stork but I haven't as yet seen her.

Speaking of our former staff members, Mitsuko Murao is here in Chicago, too, but I

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haven't looked her up yet either.

Here in Chicago area friends have settled in as many different sections of the town it's an all-day affair to visit even one person.

Since I have relocated, I've seen quite a bit of this country of ours. In May I went down to Anniston, Alabama to present my baby to his Daddy for the first time and I stayed a week. The southern hospitality one years so much about I found was sadly lacking in Dixieland. Perhaps after living in a friendly Missouri city in Joplin for a year I was plum spoiled so I guess I expected too much.

Then last month I made a hurried trip to Philadelphia to spend a weekend with my husband. We had a glorious time sightseeing, eating at automats, visiting friends, eating. (I'm always talking about food.) delicious seafood, etc. I wasn't in Philly long but I liked what I saw and wouldn't mind living there. I think it's a better town to bring up a child than the Windy City.

One thing we're grateful for the evacuation

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is the opportunity it gave us to travel and the different perspective we got on our lives and ways of living.

Dorothy told me Miyako Tsubai with only one left of the staff I knew in the Procurement office. Would you please convey my best wishes to her? Oh, you, and also to Mr. Mann.

I think I've chattered enough for the time being. If when you are not too busy I would like to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Martha (Inouye) Oga