April 1st, 1943
Key Martini Island


To:
Admiral William D. Leahy
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
Washington, D.C.

From:
The Girls
Residents, Key Martini Island

Dear Sir,

We are writing to express our gratitude to the United States Navy for its vigilance in seeing to our well being here on the island. We trust that the Navy is in receipt of the U-Boat we captured last month and find that it and the happy prisoners of war who accompanied it are satisfactory as a contribution to the war effort. In answer to your earlier inquiry, the Kriegsmarine sailors were perfect gentlemen and seemed quite happy to surrender without the need for any unpleasantness. Please give them our warm regards and inform them that we will be sending them the photos we promised very soon.

To respond to your curiosity as to our method of securing the U-Boat, we didn't have any plan. The poor fellows simply motored up to the lagoon and rowed ashore. We are somewhat perplexed as to why they did this. They were certainly in a poor state, as their stores of schnapps and sausages had been exhausted days earlier. After a nice meal and some music and dancing, they all stretched out on the beach and drifted off to sleep helped along by the scotch and brandy that had flowed freely.

As you already know, we radioed in with the news of their presence and the next morning a U.S. Navy destroyer was at anchor off the mouth of the lagoon. You must know the rest of the story.

No, we were not molested in any way however we believe that our wardrobe choices had something to do with this whole event. Maybe they had enough sausage on board after all, and only said they were looking for supplies because they were homesick for the company of women. Perhaps if you asked them nicely they would explain their motives. We are at a loss to shed any light in this regard.

We will certainly keep on the lookout for any further of the enemy and will be happy to pass along any of them who come our way.

With warm wishes to all the boys in service!

Sincerely,
The Girls