Marple, Paul Thomas ENS
40 20 60

Honey Brook, Pa
August 17, 1945

Capt Charles Butler McVay
Washington, D. C.

Dear Capt. McVay:
I am the mother of Ens. Paul Thomas Marple, U.S.N.R. I read the acct. of the disaster in the "New Era" (Lancaster) of Aug 15th, and that you were rescued. Could you possibly give me some information about my son Paul? I heard from the Navy on Sunday 12th that he was "missing in action" which, I suppose means that he is dead. Any information you can give me or someone else who was rescued who knew him would be so much appreciated. His loss is overwhelming as he is my only son and I am a widow. He had such promise as he was a fine scholar and a research chemist. He had but one yr to go for his Ph.D. in chemistry and was a member of the honorary societies Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Lamda Upsilon and Sigma Xi. It will be hard to replace him in chemistry and of course as a man of character and a dear beloved son - never. Please tell me something of his last day if you knew him personally. I cannot see how I can live through this fatal ordeal.
I hope you and the other survivors will regain your strength & may God bless you all and keep you from war.
Bless you all and keep you from war.
Sincerely,

(Mrs.) Esther D. Marple

P.S. My home is in Lancaster
548 W. Lemon St
Lancaster Pa
Telephone 2-6640
But I am at present at my brothers home
In Honeybrook Pa.
You could address me
here c/o Mr. Daniel Dorsheimer, Jr.
Honey Brook, Pa

Pers-8249-LK

MARPLE, Paul Thomas, Ens. (D)L-R, 402060, USNR

October 31, 1945

My dear Mrs. Marple,

Your kind letter dated August 17th concerning your son Ensign Paul Thomas Marple, United States Naval Reserve, has just reached me in the Bureau of Naval Personnel where I have been on temporary duty since my return from Guan the middle of last month.

I regret that I can add nothing to my letter of September 29th which I trust reached you after your letter to me was written.

It is difficult I know for you to understand why we can not furnish more information. However, when it is realized the ship sank in the middle of the night in a very short time and that no records whatsoever were saved that may explain our difficulty in piecing together a coherent story.

May I again express my heartfelt sympathy.

Very sincerely,

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

Mrs. Esther D. Marple
c/o Mr. Daniel Dorsheimer, Jr.
Honey Brook, Pennsylvania