Bonded to Bondi

Regarding “Bondi: Australian for Beach” (Aug. 25): In 1944 after being wounded fighting in Dutch New Guinea, I received R&R; leave to Australia. On board the small ship headed for Brisbane, a wild poker game broke out. A fellow leave-taker won $3,300, which was a fortune in those days.

Debarking in Brisbane, we boarded multi-gauge trains heading for Sydney. In short time, we had a penthouse at Bondi, a rental car and an introduction to the local black-market gas source and bootlegger. What more could we ask for?

Party time with “styke ‘n eggs” for late breakfasts was too soon behind us. More than half a century later, we salute you, Bondi!

HAL BRAUN

Hollywood