Correspondence from Harold C. Roberts to Faith N. Roberts 9 August, 1928

Correspondence from Harold C. Roberts to Faith N. Roberts 9 August, 1928

Summary: One page letter from Condega detailing Colonel Dunlap's idea for an expedition patrol down the Coco River to the East Coast (440 miles). Roberts wrote about how Dunlap asked him for advice on boat construction and invited him to come on the patrol. Roberts included boat dimensions. Roberts speaks about missing his son, David.

Transcription:

"Condega, Nic.

9 Aug. 1928.

 My Darling:

                 I finally got away from Ocotal on Sunday morning. Was held up there because Col. Dunlap has a new idea. He wants to send an expedition down the Coco River from Ocotal to the east coast around 400 miles by boat. So he held me there a day to give my ideas on the building of boats and the equipment and arms that should be taken. It will be a really great adventure. Of course I was “bursting with pride” and naturally asked to go. The whole thing is worked out now and has been suggested to Gen. Feland asking his permission. The Col. practically approved. They are to go down the river with the current in flat bottom boats 28 ftx 4 ft each with two aft board motors and carrying 12 to 20 men each. The supplies and food to be dropped from planes daily suspended from parachutes. I left Ocotal all excited over the idea. It may go through I don’t know but if it does, we will be the fist white men to travel the full length of the Coco R. in boats and nearly the entire way through virginal unexplored country.

                I left Pueblo Nuevo on Tuesday with a patrol on orders to investigate a shooting scrape between alleged bandito and marines. A patrol had a contact, killed some armed bandits and now the families of the dead bandits are pressing charges of murder against the marines. So I was sent to make an investigation. So I’ve been to Totogalpa, Palacagucina, and here in Condega and the investigation is now completed as far as I am concerned. Of course there is no evidence to point toward the guilt of the Marines.

                Perhaps when I return to Contega there will be mail from my darling. I hope so for it seems to come so seldom now and it is so necessary to my happiness. When I take my little case out with the pictures of my sweet and David, I just get sick with longing. It just seems ages since I have seen you, baby and I love you so and want you so and seem to dream of you all the time now. And I just long to get a hold of David. A year old and he doesn’t even know his daddy.

                Sweetie I’m sending a thanks and kisses and all the love in the world to you and wish you the happiest birthday possible and only wish I could be your birthday present. Don’t save that money I send. Do buy something as I shall demand seeing what you bought yourself, later. I love you and my love to David. Yours, Bob."

Harold C. Roberts

Correspondence from Harold C. Roberts to Faith N. Roberts 9 August, 1928, Folder 21, COLL 2678, Archives Branch, Marine Corps History Division, Quantico, VA.

9 August, 1928

Jessica Carson, Kenzie Hool

text

Condega, Nicaragua