Cpl Roman F. Klick 36620923
Co "A", 353rd Engr Regt
A.P.O. #502, c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, California
August 8, 1943
Dear Aunty Clara,
I did not run the movie machine tonight. I saw Lt Yantis and he said he would run it alone and that Tuesday night I could have the whole show to myself. The pictures he obtained this evening were not regular commercial films although they may possibly have been shown to the public. They have been given quite a play up in such magazines as Life and others of the picture variety. They were (1) "Divide and Conquer" (2) The Battle of Britain" (3) "Beyond the Line of Duty". The first film was about the beginning of the war, Hitler's smash into Norway, Denmark, Luxemburg, Holland and Belgium, The Escape at Dunkerque and the fall of France. The second film was about the various phases in the Battle of Britain where the full daylight raids of German bombers first came over, then the fighter plane raids, then the tactics of smashing airdromes, then turning on industrial centers and finally attacking the ports. Then it showed the indiscriminate smashing of London, the night raids and the incendiary raids which all ended in defeat for the Luftwaffe and victory for the RAF. The third film showed the career of a pilot as he went thru his training and out into the combat zone of the Philippine Islands where he distinguished himself "beyond the line of duty." You may not know it but you have already read about this fellow in a little footnote in the story "Queens Die Proudly". Incidentally, Walter Houston was a narrator in one of the pictures.
I started to write you another letter this afternoon in addition to the three I wrote this morning (dated 6th, 7th and 8th) in which I went into a rather lengthy explanation of the different types of insurance policies which are offered by the Army. I completed just about half a page of the letter when I realized I did not know all I was talking about; therefore, I got hold of one of the books furnished to all clerks which explains the mechanism of the entire National Life Insurance set-up. I studied that book once before when I was first on the job of clerk but because we had no need for an exact knowledge for it I never really picked up the information in it. Now that I can see the advantages for different types of policies other than most soldiers now have, I have picked it up very readily and could almost become an insurance agent for the government. Most soldiers do not realize the tremendous opportunity which is afforded them by converting their 5-year level plan insurance to another form.
I am seriously thinking of converting my 5-year policy over to a 20-payment life. I'll have to explain to you just what I will have to do; just what it will cost and just what advantages there are to having it. I would like to know the commercial rates on a 20-payment life insurance policy for a fellow age 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27. I'm sure my Dad has all those figures at his fingertips since it is his business. I would also like to know the cash surrender value of a Prudential insurance policy during those twenty years and the value of paid up insurance should you decide to stop payments somewhere along the line.
The rate of a 20-payment policy is seemingly exorbitant when compared with the present policy but just think it will be comparatively cheaper than the civilian insurance rates and in 20 years all insurance worries will be over. The matter is not urgent as yet because my policy will not be eligible for conversion until November 16 of this year when it will have been in effect for a full year. The monthly rate for $10,000 20-Payment Life is $20.80. Its cash surrender value runs but little behind the actual amount put into it and beginning with the 19th year of the policy the cash surrender value is greater than the amount put into it. The paid up insurance value runs about double of the total premiums to date so that no matter what year you may wish to discontinue payments, you will be insured for double the amount of the premiums paid to that date.
So-long,
/s/ Roman
Roman