A communication received by Mrs. Ralph Speirs from Mrs. Anna Bauer of San Diego, Calif., brought word that Mrs. Bauer's son, Edwin, was missing in action in the Pacific.  No further details were given, but it is assumed he was in the Philippines area.

Edwin enlisted in the navy at San Diego in July, 1943.  He was reared in Miller, and received his schooling here.  One brother, Erwin, lives in Ree Heights.  The family moved to California about two years ago.

 

***********************

EDWIN BAHR FREE
NOW ON WAY HOME

Word Received Saturday.
Letters Says He is On Guam, and In
Good Health

    Alive and in good physical condition was the good news received Saturday from their son, Edwin Bahr, CM 1-c, who was recently liberated from a Jap prison camp in Osaki, where he had been held since early in 1942.

    First word of Edwin's release came to his parents in a cablegram direct from him, received Saturday morning.  The message said he was alive and well, and hoped to be home soon.  Monday the following leter, was received from him:

Guam, September 17

Hello Mother:

How is everyone at home.  Fine I hope.  Well, Mom, I left the Indiana and Yokahama on the 12th and landed here on Guam the same day.  I've been here about five days now.  I took all my physicals and passed, so now I'm again waiting to shove off for the states and home.  It will probably be in a couple of days.

I wrote Della a letter at the last address that I got from her, but she may have moved again, so if she has, when I hit the states and get squared away, if she isn't at home, I'll let you know where you can reach me, and you can send me her address and I'll try to see her on the way home.

Well, I suppose that Orland is getting ready to go to school.  He must be quite a boy by now.  Tell the little squirt hello, and I'll be with him soon.

Don't know for sure what my orders are yet, but I do know that I'll get leave as soon as I get there.  But outside of that I don't know how much.

Since I've been taken back, the treatment has been wonderful.  These people can't do enough for us fellows.  They pamper us like a bunch of prize babies.

Well, mother, tell them all hello for me.  I could go on for hours, but I think I'll wait until I get there, then we'll have a big time finding out all about everyone and everything.  I got a lot of things I want to know about and I know you have the same.

Boy, this American food, music, oh everything is great.  I don't believe they made words to express my feeling.

Well, I guess that's enough for now.  I hope I beat this back.  Tell everyone hello for me."

Thus ended long, anxious months during which only a few very brief messages were received, and these many months old.  Although circumstances of his capture are only conjectures, it is believed that he was in the Philippines at the time.  Shortly before he was reported missing, he was known to have been transferred to another ship, as the one he had been assigned to originally had been sunk.
 
 

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