John Grosvenor Dahl

P.O. Box A-155

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Fourth of July, 1944

Dear Larry + Ruth,

I wonder if you are going back in memory to-day to many a hot and explosive Fourth in the bygone years in Arlighton Park. I have been, even though the day has so far had no local reminders of the glorious Fourth as we used to know it. The stars and stripes have been hoisted in front of the cathedral along with the Haitian bi-color, and from 5:00 to 7:00 this afternoon. The Bishop and I join our compatriots at the party at the Embassy Residence up in Bourdon — but otherwise it’s just a work day like any other. I suppose the family are all together today having a picnic or something. I like to think so anyway.

The immediate raison d’être of this letter, beside owing you a response for yours of the 13th of June, is to say that the box of film has come in on a ship, as has a box of stuff mother sent me some weeks ago. I went all the way down to the Customs House today, but as I had unintentionally left my claim cards at home I shall have to go again tomorrow before I can bring the things home. Once again, many thanks for the consideration and trouble you have gone to.

Don’t think about the expense of the stuff that is coming to you. You may have to count it as your birthday presents this year as well as reimbursement for the export licese and so on because Bob might be gone by then, in which case you’d have to pay an unwelcome duty on whatever I sent out. Will that be satisfactory? As for recipes of concoctions, I’ll send you some good ones later. Three common ones are a jigger (I think!) of rum in a tall glass of coco-cola, or of Canada Dry ginger ale, or sparkling water. I don’t know how to make rum punch, rum collins, or a bambou cocktail (all excellent), but I’ll find out and let you in on it. On their way to you are three bottles of 5 star Barboucourt and three of Barbaucourt Réservé Spécial. The latter being the oldest and best, reputedly. Many tourists have always preferred Rhum Sarthe, but the veteran down here don’t. So you can feel really Port-au-Parincien with what you’re getting. 

There isn’t much news that hasn’t already gone off in letters to the folks. I spent three days last week up at the Bisho’s House, two of them devoted to giving retreat addresses to the seminarians who stayed there as well. The hotel management were very kind and knocked the three days off my June bill. They have also reduced all the guest dinners from a dollar to eight cents, which is an unsolicited and unexpected courtesy. I must already have graduated to the rank of star boarder! It’s a help because I have a great many people to dinner.

I was tickled with Jan’s rendition of “Jesus loves me”! She’s going to be a real Protest-ant, isn’t she? How I’d love to see the kids. Mother and Dad heep me posted about them. I only hope they’re still recognizable to me by the time I see them again. 

What did you decide about the Beebe’s cottage for your vacation? Of course I remember the one Ruthe, you, and I spent there. By the way, when are you scheduled to have a vacation? Perhaps next year you can plan it for the cool months and take a cruise down here. We were a bit upset last week — or two

weeks agon now — with the report that the PAA seaplane had sighted two German subs of Goneïves. The Coast Guard went right out, but no one know what they found, or didn’t find. This is the first report like this in a long time. Distressing, not?

The end of this month the Bishop, Henri Stines of the seminary, and I sail 40 miles across to the island of La Gouâve to visit the missions over there. Henri has hired the sailboat — $6.⁰⁰ for the week — and we went down to the warf the other night to try to pick it out of the crowd of small craft tied upthere, but it had apparently gone off on a voyage. We are glad it’s named “Miracle” remembering that we are now soon to enter the season of possible hurricanes! Bob hopes to get off to sail over with us and take some movies, but he couldn’t stay the entire week so is trying to arrange with the Air Corps to come over and get him at the village of Anse-ā-Galet. The rest of us will go into the interior on horse back.

did you ever get the book of matches marked with the name Thorland Club for Harry Yanke? Those are all I’ve been able to find — no boxes yet.

Time to shower now before going up to greet the Ambassador and his wife. There’s no denying it, it’s hot here but not unbearable. It got up to 97⁰ the other day. Very unusual actually. Nights are splendid at the Splendid.

Write again soon. Best love to all the family. 

Ever,

John

Article about u-boats in the caribbean. It was quite possible they saw a u-boat: https://uboat.net/maps/caribbean.htm