FROM: LT DOON-GREEN, OSS/DET66
TO: GEN DONOVAN, OSS
CC: LTCOL OLSEN, OSS/DET66
DATE: 1 November 1943
RE: Operation Hardwood

On 21 October, a joint DET-66/USMC team assaulted the Buckram and Company warehouse at 500 West Wharf road, Baltimore, Maryland. Two squads of Marine raiders secured the perimeter while two more entered the warehouse; one at street level and one through the sewers. Both assault elements contained DET-66 advisors. I was in overall command and attached to the surface team.

The warehouse was the documented safehouse for a nest of vampires that had settled in Baltimore as early as 1939. As you know, Operation Hardwood's goals were twofold -- to eliminate the infestation and capture a specimen for reseach. Surveillance placed the number of hostiles inside the warehouse at 10-12. The teams were extensively briefed and armed with silver-firing weapons and anti-vampiric sundries. All four squads were equipped with radios and were in constant communication. The assault began at dawn plus one hour, 8:05 local time.

It became apparent that the vampires had been alerted to our presence. The surface assault team entered the warehouse and destroyed six earth-filled coffins, which were empty. At this time, approximately 8:10, we received a request for urgent assistance from the sewer assault team. 2LT WILLET, attached to the squad, indicated that they were under attack and had several men down. I ordered one of the perimeter squads, with DR. SCOBLE attached, to make contact and cover their withdrawal from the sewer system. My team continued into the warehouse and located the sewer access point, which we had familiarized ourselves with from plans.

Someone (presumably the vampires) had broken the water main beneath West Wharf road and destroyed emergency lighting that had been in place when Willet's team had entered. Scoble's perimeter squad encountered considerable difficulty navigating the sewer. Willet reported hearing screams, although my squad heard none. Both heard occasional gunfire until approximately 8:15. There was no further contact with the sewer assault team.

Scoble's team converged with mine at approximately 8:20 near the site of the ambush. The bodies of Lieutenant Willet and the eight Marines were discovered shortly thereafter. All had broken necks and three had been partially exsanguinated. Unable to secure the area, I ordered everyone out of the sewer.

The area was secured until additional troops from the Marine raider battalion and the 505th PIR could be brought in. Although a force of 100 men was assembled in less than ten hours, with darkness approaching I made the decision to wait until the following morning to retrieve the bodies. On 22 October, the sewers were secured but the bodies were missing. They have not been recovered to date.

The vampire nest has either moved on or is resisting our intense observation of the Baltimore area at this time. I take full responsibility for the outcome of the operation.

Sincerely,