Stauffer, Edward Henry 263

W D Pers Center
Fort Sam Houston, Texas
16 October 1945

Chas. B. McVay. III
Captain, U. S. Navy

Dear Captain McVay:

Your good letter of sympathy concerning the death of our son, Lt. Edward H. Stauffer, USMC, was received with gratification.
May we say that we understand something of your own sorrow. We want you to know that we are very proud of the service you and your ship have rendered, and of our Son's part in it.
One survivor who knew our son has stated that Lt. Stauffer was alive in the water three days and then they "Lost track of him".
It seems to us that it would help a little if we could be informed as to why the search planes were not sent out sooner. We know the question in Lt. Stauffer's mind, as with all of you, was "Why don't they come."
Yours Very Sincerely,

Wayne C. Stauffer, Chaplain (Capt)
W.D. Pers Center
Fort Sam Houston, Texas

Pers-8249-LK STAUFFER, Edward H. Lt., USMC

October 26, 1945

My dear Chaplain Stauffer:

Your kind letter of October 16th reached me this morning here in the Bureau of Naval Personnel where I have been on temporary duty since my return from Guam.

There are many questions which I fear we will never have sufficient information to answer with any degree of satisfaction. I have tried to piece together the known shreds and I have come to the conclusion that the heavy explosions caused such damage that we were unable to get a distress message off the ship prior to her sinking. Thus the outside world knew nothing of the tragedy until a naval aircraft on routine reconnaissance and search sighted some of the survivors. During wartime naval ships maintained radio silence until such time as the situation required them to use their radio so there were no routing reports made and consequently no suspicion would arise merely from lack of information.

I hope the above in some small measure relieves the anguish which I know is in your heart.

Very sincerely yours,

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

Chaplain Wayne C. Stauffer
W.D.Pers Center
Fort Sam Houston, Texas