624. CLAIRE L. CHENNAULT Rare fine content war-date A.L.S. "Claire", 1p. Legal folio, [China], July 13, 1944 to his wife Peggy. Chennault opens his letter thanking his wife for sending a package of necessities, including snaps "to hold on shoulder patches". He then mentions the lady who apparently delivered the package: "...[she] is the daughter of a wealthy Chinese family in Shanghai and now the wife of an instructor in radio...she evacuated Shanghai and Hong Kong just before the Jap attacked the latter...She was raised in the lap of luxury...she has been unable to renew her wardrobe...She would hardly take the box before paying me - and I didn't know even the approximate cost. The Chinese are that way, you know....I am sorry that Ralph was not given time to complete his will...You may 'do' a head of me if you want - or a foot or a hand. Remember you once thought my hands were 'young'. None of me will be young by the time you see me again....You are doing plenty to win this war and we are doing fine. You keep the home fires burning and we will tend to the fires under the japs and Germans..." Tiny hole at center where Chennault's pen hung-up, else very good.                 $700 - 900