Dear Mr. Parshley,

          I’m writing this letter to you, because I feel you, as a minister, can answer the question which is on my mind.

          Is it possible that God can completely forget a man?  I told you before that since I have come into the service I have become more religious.  I say a prayer every night, asking God to protect me and to make me a good man and a capable sailor.  And, of course, I ask Him to bless all my loved ones.

          You see, it’s this way, Mr. Parshley.  About two weeks ago I had 13 teeth out.  Before I knew that I was going to have so many out, I prayed and asked God to be with me and if I had to have any teeth out, let it only be a few.  Maybe it was asking too much, because my prayers went unanswered.  Then last week I was called to the dentist again.  Before I went, I asked God to have mercy on me and to prevent any more teeth from being pulled.  When I reached the dentist, two teeth more were pulled. 

          On top of all this, the dentist told me that I wouldn’t be able to go home with my company, because my teeth wouldn’t be ready by then.  (Sept. 11)  Since then, every night I have been praying and asking God to speed the healing of all my gums so that, through some miracle, I might have my impression taken and my plates made.  But now with only 8 more days to go, it is impossible to hope, even for a miracle. 

          But one thing that has [made] my faith in God begin to disintegrate is that yesterday I went down to see the chaplain.  Unfortunately only a Catholic Chaplin was there.  He asked me what I wanted.  I told him about my company breaking soon and asked if he could do anything to speed up the work on my teeth.  Quite sarcastically, he pointed to his cross emblem on his collar and said, “Look, -- Chaplin’s pin, what you want is a dentist.  We don’t keep teeth in stock here.”  He said nothing more, so I thanked him and left.  Even if he couldn’t have done anything, he could have been a little more courteous, it seems. 

          Maybe I’m asking too much from God, or maybe he is punishing me in his own way for my sins, I don’t know. 

          If you can explain my question to me, Mr. Parshley, I’ll appreciate it a great deal.

                                                                             Sincerely yours,