Nov. 16, 1951 - a family searches for answers

HEADQUARTERS
38^th INFANTRY REGIMENT
APO 248 c/o Postmaster

San Francisco, California

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         November 16, 1951

Mr. Charles A. Fries

62 Interboro Parkway

Brooklyn 7, New York

Dear Mr. Fries:

                Your letter of inquiry concerning First Lieutenant Joseph T. O’Donnell, 0-1059578, Company A, 38^th Infantry Regiment, arrived just a few hours after I had parted a letter to his wife.

I included in that letter all of the information available.   Although I talked with Joseph at length on only one occasion, I received the impression that he was a devout Catholic and a devoted husband and father.  From your letter it is clear that the impression was a true one.

                It always seems harder, Mr. Fries, to lose the good, perhaps because they are loved more deeply than others.  And it is heart rending when a wife and child are left behind.  It is not possible for us poor human beings, with our limited perspective, to understand God’s ways.  That understanding is reserved for the next life, when all will be made known to us.  We can but try and imitate Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Only after the sweat of blood did our Lord say to His Father:  “Thy will be done.” And so it must needs be with us too.

                It is so hard to give up one so good and beloved as Joseph, there is also great comfort in the knowledge that he was ready to go to his eternal reward.

               

                I am very grateful for your prayers for me and all our officers and soldiers in Korea.  Your intentions and those of Joseph’s family will be included in my Mass this evening.

                May God lessen the deep hurt in your hearts caused by Joseph’s death.

With expressions of sincere sympathy, I remain.

                                                                                                                                                                                    JAMES R. MEDER                                                                                                                                                        Chaplain ( Captain)