More Details Of Matthew Strait's Death

STRAIT, WOODS, STURKIE, RICHARDSON

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 9/29/2014 at 08:26:47

MORE DETAILS OF MATTHEW STRAIT'S DEATH

The following letter was recently received by Mr. and Mrs. Strait of Milton concerning the death of their son, Lieut. Matthew Strait. The letter came from the War Department of Washington, D.C.

Somewhere in Middle East
August 26, 1942.

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Strait:-

Your letter of August tenth in regard to your son, Matthew received at our headquarters only yesterday. I am one of the two doctors known as Flight Surgeons assigned to the same unit as your son.

I knew Matthew when he was a bombardier instructor at Midland, where I was also stationed. I saw him again when he joined our unit and we spent a number of hours reminiscing about West Texas. So when your letter arrived, I took the opportunity of writing this letter to Matthew's parents-two people who are part of the backbone of America, that America all of us out here are fighting for. It's hard for me to write anything here that will assuage the grief you knew upon Matthew's loss. The loss of one of "our boys" out here is always a bad blow for us all.

One of Matthew's crew, a Sargeant John Woods of Mississippi, became ill about two days prior to the accident and was in the hospital at the time. The pilot of the plane, Lt. Howard Sturkie," Proctor, Texas, survived the crash and will write you as soon as his condition permits, and I'll try and tell you everything that the rules of censorship will allow.

Matthew was not at the controls of the ship; he was the Bombardier, probably the most essential member of the bombardment combat crew. They had just returned from a mission which credited Matthew and his crew with the highly successful employment of the bomb load. The accident occurred at night as the crew and ship were coming in for a landing. The plane crashed and the pilot was the only man to escape. He will live, but remembers nothing of the accident, which is just as well, Matthew had apparently been killed outright as had the balance of the crew. Matthew was not, to outward appearance, badly injured but the shock of such a thing is terrific.

Matthew and his buddies are now at rest in an American section of a lovely little British war cemetery, whose location will be revealed to you at War's end. The ceremony was one reserved for warrior dead-for those who have done their bit for all they hold sacred. Matthew and crew have done more than that bit, they had done a lot. Members of our force were there to pay last respects.

Matthew's effects have been sent to you through the Quartermaster's section but will, of necessity, be a long time reaching you.

God bless you both for your extreme sacrifice of a beloved son, and our entire group expresses it's heartfelt sympathy to you both.

Sincerely yours,
George S. Richardson
Capt. MC

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book D, Page 144, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA