Draft of letter from Harry S. Truman to Eleanor Roosevelt

I decorated him with a Congressional Medal of Honor. THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON May 17, 1948 1/2 - Dear Mrs. Roosevelt: I read your letter of thirteenth with a great deal of interest. I have thoroughly looked into the conscientious objectors case and, I think, all the honest conscientious objectors have been released. I'll admit that it is rather difficult for me to look on a con- scientious objector with patience while your four sons and my three nephews were risking their lives to save our Govern- ment, and the things for which we stand, these people were virtually shooting them in the back. I ran across one conscientious objector that I really believe is all man - he was a young Naval Pharmacist Mate who served on Okinawa carrying wounded sailors and marines from the asked him how it came about that he as a con- scientious objector was willing to go into the things of the battlefield and he said to me that he could serve the Lord and save lives as well there as anywhere else in the world. He didn't weigh over one hundred and forty pounds and he was about five feet six inches tall. I shall never forget him. My experience in the first world war with conscientious objectors was not a happy one - the majority of those with whom I came in contact were just plain cowards and shirkers - that is the reason I asked Justice Roberts to make a complete survey of the situation and to release all those that he felt were honestly conscientious objectors and that has been done. My sympathies with the rest of them are not very strong, as you can see. Ley reciate your interest in them and cans see now that all, danger is passed why they-would want to get qut of Sincerely yours, Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt 29 Washington Square, West New York 11, New York