I found a third letter from 1944. My Dad was stationed overseas at the time he wrote this letter. He didn’t go into much detail about his missions, I’m guessing he wasn’t allowed. He spoke about friends and acquaintances from back home and a lot about track, again, especially his brother, George, breaking the two-minute … Continue reading Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 15
Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 14
Wow! I have only two letters from 1944 and if finding all of these letters has been like finding a gold mine, this was the nugget that made it all the more worthwhile. My Dad was about to ship overseas and made it pretty clear that he wouldn’t be able to write as much as … Continue reading Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 14
Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 13
This letter was quite interesting. My Dad spoke of trying to acclimate himself back in to the army after his furlough. Clearly, he enjoyed being home and may have “lifted” a picture of his girlfriend Rosemary, my mom, from his mother. It’s nice to see they were putting the “fun” in dysfunctional as far back … Continue reading Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 13
Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 12
In this letter, my Dad’s training had stepped up and his enthusiasm for flying was nice to see. The seriousness of what he’d signed up for was beginning to take shape as well. He commented on a person the family knew who had returned home “shell-shocked.” I was happy to read how up to date … Continue reading Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 12
Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 11
These letters go to eleven! I need to bring back “How’s tricks,” I love it! This letter really stresses to me the challenges for some of these young men being away from home for the first time and that they could no longer take for granted many of the comforts of home. A care package … Continue reading Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 11
Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 10
After a few letters I found where my Dad wrote to his Mom, it seems only fair that he penned one to his Dad, too. This letter certainly has a more serious tone than the ones he sent to his mom. Knowing that his father’s work was seasonal, it seemed to bother him to have … Continue reading Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 10
Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 9
This letter is very telling to me about my Dad’s relationship to his siblings and his parents. The teasing is lovingly strong? Ha! I wish I’d read it as a kid because he teases his mother in a way I’d never have teased him or my mom. No way I would have gotten away with … Continue reading Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 9
Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 8
In this letter, my Dad discussed his travel adventure from Denver to Florida for gunnery school, called someone a “swell egg,” swore, and to describe the town in Florida where he wound up he dropped Sinatra lyrics. Well-played, Dad! Also, my Dad mentioned "Skunk Holler" in this letter so I decided to do some digging … Continue reading Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 8
Dad’s WWII Letters Home – Letter 7
In today’s letter, my Dad wrote from Colorado and talked about becoming an armorer, which I had to look up, and it evidently means "one that repairs and maintains small arms and weapon systems." From a previous letter I told you about a square in Cambridge that I thought was named after his neighbor and … Continue reading Dad’s WWII Letters Home – Letter 7
Dad’s WWII Letters Home – Letter 6
This is another incomplete letter that I came across with the others that my Dad wrote while in the service during WWII. It appears he was still in Miami and continued to write about his allotment getting settled so he could have money sent directly home. Along with Track and field, my Dad was an … Continue reading Dad’s WWII Letters Home – Letter 6