Co8»*Dding General Leonard D. Heaton 
Malter Re^ krmy Medical Center 
Washington « D. C. 
Dear General Heaton: 
This Institution is sponsoring the S%lthsoniai}*'BrediB 
Belgian Congo iExpedition for the porpose of studSying the inverte- 
brate life of that area, particolarly mites, tieks, and fleas, 
their plant and anisal hosts, terrestrial and fresh water 
Crustacea, sollusks and fish. Ihf. ”^aldo L. Sciwitt, head curator 
of soology in the 0nited States national Museurs will be in charge 
of the field work and will personally be concerned with the 
aquatic invertebrates. The ectopaimsltes will be looked after by 
ISr. Bdward Baker, acarologist of the Onited States Departi^Qt of 
Agriculture, 
As we also wish to keep a photo-record of the expedition's 
cfjerations and of ti^ aniKals collected and studied in the field, 
we have urgent need of an experienced scientific photographs. 
Many of tiie animals and parasites in which we are especially 
interested are of small, often niicroscopic, siae^and very diffi- 
cult sub.1ects to pl^sotograph in life and in their natural habitats. 
Your Kr. Soy L. Sexton, dr, cliief of tije photo-laboratory 
at the Army Medical Center, is known to us for Ms unusual caa- 
jietencc in medical and »lcro-plsotograpiy. For these reasons we 
write you in the hope tiiat you and your Service may be able to 
cooperate with the Srnithscmian to the extent of gr'anting J^r. 
Sexton official leave of absence for the porpose of participating 
in the expedition as staff photographer. Ke would be expected 
to report in Leopoldville, wfiere the ejq>editionary party will 
assemble, on April 11 and should be able to return to Washington 
via Cairo, Fgypt by June 22, His expenses, travel and subsistence 
for the duration of his stay in Africa, would be borne by this 
Institution, which would also supply all necessary pFx^tographic 
supplies. 
