This response is for others that experience the same problem and begin
searching for a solution.

The fix is simple: Do NOT use ME OLE, as it does not work reliably.

The problem is in the way linked docs are internally coded to recognize
each other. They code structure is prone to breakdown with repeated
use, leading to corrupt .doc files.

A workaround is to use macros to copy in relevant content across files.

Good Luck,

--David Smith