1945 World War WWII Military Love Letter Doctor Medical Corps New Caledonia Old

Description

1.5 page handwritten letter by Captain Gale F. Ross (1915-2006) who was in the US Army Medical Corps in New Caledonia.
*HIS MILITARY RECORD AND REPORT OF SEPARATION IS SHOWN IN THE LISTING FOR REFERENCE ONLY-- IT IS NOT INCLUDED WITH THE SALE.*
Dated January 1, 1945 from New Caledonia. Includes a photograph of him (damaged).
No envelope/cover. Sent to his wife.
See obituary of the author:
DR. GALE F. ROSS 90, Springfield doctor and farmer, formerly of New Carlisle and Cedarville died peacefully, April 15, in Springfield at Mercy Medical Center. He was in the hospital only one day thanks to Jean Henderson, his beloved caregiver. Dr. Ross spent much of his childhood happily plowing behind horses in the field of Greene and Fayette counties. He graduated from Cedarville H.S. (1933) and Cedarville College (1937), a period in which he engaged in farming, football, basketball, baseball, drama, and music. It was on the farm next to his where he met Ruth Kimble, the love of his life. They were parted only by her death in 2003. Attempting to maintain the family farm and attend medical school at the same time, he commuted from Columbus to Cedarville by motorcycle. After graduating from Ohio State's Medical School in 1942 he survived WWII as a Captain in the Medical Corp, serving in the Pacific Island groups of Guadalcanal, Espiritu Santu and New Caledonia. During the Battle of Okinawa he performed surgery in a field hospital. Later, he participated in the Occupation of Korea. Finally returning to Ohio in 1946, he practiced family medicine in New Carlisle, treating patients in their homes until 1950. From then until he retired he practiced industrial medicine at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, dealing with facets of the new space program and problems concerning the effects of nuclear radiation. During the 1950's "Doc" was a major player in the newly formed Tecumseh Athletic Boosters Club which helped develop high school football not only at Tecumseh, but also at most of the rural schools of Clark County. For over a decade he was the physician for the THS teams. New Carlisle residents might recall "Old Doc Ross" playing full-court basketball with the teenagers behind the old New Carlisle School building. After he retired he indulged his early love of farming by driving a tractor, but he always said that the beloved horses of his childhood did a better job than "those accursed gas belching monstrosities." Local motorists might remember catching a glimpse of him out in the fields swearing at his stuck tractor. Dr. Ross is survived by his sister, Helen Hains of Yellow Springs and his son and daughter-in-law Dick and Barb Ross of Bellbrook. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Ruth Ross, and his sister Evelyn Reese of Dayton. Friends may call from 10:30 AM Saturday April 22, 2006 until the time of funeral services at 11:30 AM at the TROSTEL-CHAPMAN FUNERAL HOME, New Carlisle, Ohio with Rev. Jeff Burdsall officiating. Burial at Glen Haven Memorial Gardens with military honors.