Hq. 7th Mtz. Div. A.P.O. 7
Camp San Luis Obispo, Cal.

June 7, 1942

Dear Edwin:

In a few days you graduate, you become an officer and a man on your own. I wish I could distill my twenty-four years of commissioned service into a few valuable lessons and put them on paper for you so that you might be saved some of the stubbing that I (and all others) have received. However, I have neither the time nor the talent for such a thing and if I did you probably wouldn’t “be guided by me” anyhow, so all I can do is to wish you every success and the avoidance of every misfortune.
I can tell you – and I remember the exact words – what my father told me as a parting message when I graduated from West Point in 1918 – and that was: “Have your own standard of honor, which I know will be high, and stick to it.” It is so easy to compromise – and to lose your ideals – but don’t do it.
You’re going into a war in which you and the men entrusted to your care may be killed. All you can do about that is to do it like a man. Our cause is right and if we must go – you and I, we’ll make the enemy pay as dearly as we can for it – and we’re lucky to be able to go out that way, that is, doing the thing we’d rather be doing than anything else in the world, you as a naval officer – at sea, and I as an army officer – in the field. Also we’ll be spared the disillusionment, disease and discomfort of old age – and if we come through alright, as I hope & pray we will, we’ll have the satisfaction of having done our duty and for the rest of our lives we can, with confidence, look the world in the eyes. They say that no man can say that he has really lived until he has risked his life in battle for his country.
So much for that. I’ve just heard over the radio of the victory at Midway. The news is good – let’s hope it stays that way. Never doubt a final victory – we can and will win. But it’s not going to be easy.
I hope that you have a grand and long leave – that you get to do all the things that you want to do and that when you join your ship that you will find your officer shipmates and your skipper all that you could ask. Be loyal to your skipper, remembering that his is the full responsibility not only for the success but for the failure of the ship – but don’t be a “yes” man who is afraid to be frank. However, once the “old man” has made his decision, forget your views and cheerfully get behind his decision and push with all your might.
Forgive a father’s lecturing & preaching. I am confident that you’re going to be a splendid officer and add to the reputation of the name Sibert. When you get into a pinch, a lot of professional fighting men are going to be looking over your shoulder – Palmers, Careys, Siberts, etc. in the uniforms of all the wars that our country has fought – I know that you’ll be a credit to them.
Am very happy about old Bill finally getting his ticket to West Point. Sometime when your ship is in New York – go up to see him and cheer him up.
As to women – pick out one as near like your mother as you can find – some one not only with plenty of looks but with real intelligence, personality and good humor – but also someone of good breeding. Money isn’t important, but it doesn’t hurt. A good guide to a girl is to look at her mother and father. In a few years, she, the girl, will look and act and be like one or both of them. Don’t be in a hurry to choose, but once you find someone you can’t be happy without, there’s no use wasting your time single. I only hope that you are as lucky as I was in life’s biggest and most important lottery. It’s not all luck however – good judgment helps.
That’s about all. As the Spanish say: “Vaya con Dios”, or go with God. You will always be in your mother’s and my prayers and Cary’s too. Let me hear from you and send me your address.
With all possible luck and all my love, Your father, E.L.S.