Soldier letter home from Italy describes dugout life and mail theft
A wartime letter from March 30 details soldiers living in a seven by six by four foot dugout near a creek, lined with GI blankets, candles for light, and daily tasks like sewing sleeping bags. The writer mentions seeing burly sergeants Marvin and Herbert Ponton, Italian mail theft, anger at enemies, and frustration with leadership, ending with a candid self-deprecating line about bravery.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Marvin
Herbert Ponton
U. S
Krauta
J. L. Lewis
Russia
Lewis
Washington
News of Our Men Women in Uniform
A fragment from a wartime section shows a chatty letter fragment with humor about soldiers under strain living underground, dehydration from rations, and personal remarks on hair color, ending with a sign-off from Joe P and a note about being made staff sergeant.
Navy promotions and service notes from Malvern area
Lt Atkinson receives promotion from lieutenant junior grade to lieutenant senior grade and serves as an instructor at the Naval Flight Preparatory School in Natchitoches La. Other items: Richard J Shepard graduates from aviation radio school in Memphis. letters from servicemen relay bond drive support. community donations to a service members fund total 1006.60. local residents report furloughs and travels. readers share home front updates and letters from the field.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lt. Atkinson
Ross C. Atkinson
Malvern
U. S. Naval Flight Preparatory School
Natchitoches
Richa J. Shepard
Aviation Radio
Richard J. Shepard
Mra
Arleigh Shepard
Naval Air Technical Training Center
Memphis
Tenn
K. E. Herts
San Dimas
Cal
U, Hale
Archie Anderson
Forrest Hatfield
Mra. Chas
A, R, Lee
Council Bluffs
Posthumous Air Medal for Harold F Tague 13th AAF
Harold F. Tague receives the Oak Leaf cluster and Air Medal posthumously for meritorious aerial engineer gunner service with the 13th AAF in the South Pacific area, from July 20 to Oct 10, 1943, amid hazardous combat missions with anti aircraft and fighter opposition. The citation notes courage and energy reflecting credit on US forces.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
14Th Aap
South
Millard ¥. Harmon
United States Army
South Parific
13Th Aaf &Set
Harold F. Tague
Tague
United States
Andrew J. Tague
Malvern
Servicemen Address Changes Bulletin From World War II Era
A long list of updated addresses and home fronts for servicemen and servicewomen, including Samuel L. Nelli, William L. McCord, Claude P. Robertson, Ralph Maddocks, and many others. Entries show unit codes, ship and station names, APOs and c/o PM routes, with cautionary notes about c/o PM and locations in Fort Sill, San Francisco, Dubuque, New York, Camp Hood, and more, reflecting the era's mail system and personnel movements. The item reads as a military community notice urging readers to verify and use current addresses for correspondence.
Weekend Gatherings and Service Farewells in Mt Vernon
Mt Vernon residents hosted visits and family dinners over the weekend. W. A. Bower and Ralph and Glen Bower traveled to Tam bor to spend the night with relatives, while Carl Holden family and Willadean Holden visited in town. Howard Holden and sons prepared for upcoming Army service. Induction news reached Mrs Beeger as her son-in-law Robert Harris, seaman first class, will train at Great Lakes and then Wright University for radio technician training. Mrs Hopfer and children stayed with Paul Seeger’s family in Mitchell. Dale Bell family joined a Sunday dinner honoring Austin Wolfe departing for service. Herman Goy of Waterloo visited Richard and family and met Mrs Harry Nelson. Richard Gay hosted the Allely family’s latest arrival near Henderson.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mra
W. A. Bower
Tambor
Will Thomas
Mr. Bower
Ralph
Glen Bower
Thomas
Mr. Thomas
Carl Holden
Howard
Harold
Willadean Holden
Holden
P. C. Beeger
Robert Harris
Great Lakes
Wright University
Chicago
Mitchell, Neb
L. G. Hopfer
Billy
Marji
Auburn
Nebd
Paul Seeger
Beeger
Dale Bell
Vonda
Deloris
J. R. Bateman
Austin Wolfe
Herman Goy
Waterloo
Richard
Harry Nelson
Richard Gay
Millard Allely
Henderson
Allely
Also Mentioned on This Page
Doo and Partner
Italy
Tor
Allen
Joe
Atkinson
Cpl
Earl Jones
North Africa
Afr
Lawrence
Jones
John Paulson
Cama
Camp Albert
Ala
Robert Paulson
Peter Deloria
Hankins
Desi
Milla County
England
Harold Hawking
New York
Charles Johnson
Barkedale Field
Shraveport
Mrs
Red Oak
Allen Norton
D. A. Norton
Pomona
Excelsior Springa
Fvt
Bucr
New School
Missouri
Mississippi
Baweo
Lan Abegoles
Gal
Harold Thaue
Elmo Hites
Hastings
Biy
North Camp Hood
Tex
John Hall
V. T
Hadlor
Sair
Adolph
Mele
Sgt
Snuffy Smith
Arl
John C. Hall
Seattle
Wash
Samuel L. Nelli
Fort Sill
Okla
William L. McCord
San Francisco
Claude P. Robertson
USNTU
University Dubuque
Dubuque
Ralph Maddocks
U. 8
Hollywood Beach Hotel
Hollywood, Fla
Pfc
Werden
Granteer
Nav
Troy
Aafpns
HAAF
Hondo
BE. W. Knight
TSS
SFAAF
Sioux Falla
Gene K. Ball
M. V
Fleet PO
James M. Hering
ABN
Jack D. Hering
N. Y
Forrest F. Stephens
Kenneth Allensworth
Harold Cozad
Marion RK
Edie A
Camp Bennion
Farragut
Ide
Vernon D
McKee
AAFCO
SAACC
Camp Beauregard
Edward H
Wiseman
Bow
APO
Camp Pickett
Ve. Pri
Co. A
Pbth
Camp Hood
Charles G. Narron
Stth Reg
Camp Hood, Tex
Ronald D. Honeyman
N.Y
Ed Edie
NATTC
Leroy BE. Jackson
Ca. C
90Th
Reg
IRTC
Marion R. Redbout
Dale Byers
USN
Navy Yard
Philadelphia
Frank I. Beller
USMC
Lester Carson
RD M
San Diego
John H. Paulson
Camp Sibert
Alas
Chas
A. R. Lee
R. E. McCormick
Leala Anderson
44Th
Berr. Orp
LAAF
Lakeland
Fla
Oral
Groff
Russall L. Coppack
Clyde Shook Jr
Kenneth Parker
Navy
Pier 40
Marlin L. Richardson
Ord
L. M. Co
Camp Carson
Colo
Earl G. Jones
Orville V. Hardy
Charles B. Bon
R & F Pa
Beer Field
Ft. Wayne
Ind
R. Yates
Camp Howze
Paul B. Plumb
Grider Field
Pins Bluff
Ark
Ensien
Usnr
NTS
Hollywood
Beech Frotel
Rim
Holly Wood
Leslie Anderton
TsSet
Stewart A. Hall
Clarence A. Biggerstal
Biry
FL A. Bn
Gall Parker
Camp Roberts
Vance White
USNTS
Camp Waldron
Ida
Donnice M. Arnald
A. A. FL
M. A
Sn G
Pinellas
St. Petersburg
Willam D. Baer
A. 3
Scott Field, Ui
Joe Dawson
Marion W. Alexander
Robert F. Alexander
c/o
Bat Francisco
Willard F. Budd
R. T. Co
Camp van Dorn
Miss
Ellery Deforest Pickrel
Area J
Bks
Farregut
Pvt
Raytes Abn
Co. G
Eighth Aaf
Eighth Air Force Flying Fortress
Germany
AAF
John C. Sakalauskas
Brooklyn
Walter Smith
Clarence J. Brazier
Ponta
Air Force
A AL
Onmure
Tate
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!