ALLMARAS, HAROLD DEAN, F2c
784 58 48 V-6 USNR

October 24, 1945
Newell, Calif

Dear Captain McVay III,

We received your letter some time ago and thought it was very nice of you to write to use about our son. It was a great shock to us indeed as well as a great loss.

I want to know if it would be possible to get the campaign bars and battle stars he was entitled to and a picture of his ship the cruiser Indianapolis. I am making a scrap book of his things and surely would like those things to put in it.

May boy had a buddy whose last names was Walker (his mothers name was Mrs. U. B. Walker 1331 6th St, box 3474). I'd very much like to write this woman, but I don't know the name of the city, but it is in California. She invited my boy to her home several times while the Indianapolis was at Mare Island for repair. I wanted to find out if her boy lost his life too. Another thing I'd like to know as long as I'm asking questions, are we entitled to our sons [sic] muster out pay? Some people tell us we are, and again some tell us we aren't.

I hope you don't mind my writing this kind of a letter but didn't know where else I could get the information.

Thank you very much, and hope to hear from you again.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Frank Allmaras

Pers-8249-LK
November 19,1995

My dear Mrs. Allmaras,

I am sorry I have not been able to answer your letter sooner and will endeavor now to give you the information you wish.

Your son Harold Dean Allmaras is entitled to the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Services Ribbons with three stars and the American Area Campaign Service Ribbon with no stars, while serving aboard the INDIANAPOLIS operating with the FIFTH fleet.
(Note: No instructions were provided)

In compliance with your request, a picture of the Cruiser INDIANAPOLIS which was taken at Mare Island just before she left on her last cruise is enclosed herewith.

After a careful check of the crew of the INDIANAPOLIS, I am sorry to inform you that I am unable to identify any one with the name and address you mentioned in your letter.

You wrote of muster out pay - I believe you refer to six months' gratuity pay to which you are entitled and which should reach you shortly. You are not entitled to the muster out pay which is payed [sic]only to men discharge from the service.

Trusting this is the information you desire, I remain,

Very sincerely,
CHAS B. McVay, III
Captain, U. S. Navy

Mrs. Frank Allmaras
Newell, California