Letters From Soldiers

 

 The sources contain numerous letters from soldiers in 1945, offering a glimpse into their experiences during World War II. Here are four of these letters, highlighting their diverse situations and emotions:

*   **Letter from a Soldier Anchored off the Coast**: A soldier writing from aboard a ship, anchored off the coast in Jinsen Bay, expresses a longing for home. He describes the mountains meeting the water's edge, the "beautiful, a deep purple" sunsets, and the mild temperature as similar to what he would find at home.

 He notes that his ship is an auxiliary oiler, and its duties include fueling the fleet. He mentions having participated in operations in the Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. This soldier is "looking forward to returning to those grand old West Virginia hills again where life is pleasant and peaceful" and says that "the past three years I have come to realize more than ever before the joys of life in the mountains of West Virginia". He also asks that his address be changed to Brooklyn, West Virginia, indicating his anticipation of returning home soon.

*   **Letter from a Soldier in the Pacific**: A soldier stationed somewhere in Guam writes a letter to his mother, dated September 4, 1945. He mentions that it has been hot and rained a little, and he is working at the post office. He also notes that he will soon be leaving this "rock", having arrived on November 22, 1944. 

He recalls the bad trip from Hawaii on a boat that was "so crowded and the food was no good at all." He talks of the name of the island he was on, Zinnia in the Marshalls, and describes it as being "about as big as the field out in front of our house." 

He mentions that the only good thing about the island was that it had "a good swimming hole" and they mostly swam and fished but seldom caught anything worth keeping because “a lot of the fish were poison.” He says that they were "red, green and blue ones and they were all poison." He notes the censorship is over and that he can now write about anything and sends pictures of native girls who are "pretty good looking" but "still pretty black" and says these pictures "were taken at one of our base end stations." 

This soldier also states that "school will start tomorrow in the states" and says he noticed some native kids starting to go to school that morning. He also mentions that he will quit writing this letter when the movie starts.

*  **Letter from a Soldier in Europe**: This soldier, writing from Belgium on December 20, apologizes to his mother for not writing sooner, mentioning he has been busy. He reports that he had "a nice little break" and had a chance to travel to Paris where he spent a couple of days. 

He also says he met some of his friends while in Paris and saw some of the boys in their outfits. He mentions he met Dale Sharp in Paris and notes it “was quite a show.” This soldier, Glen Kelly, says he is doing alright, has been "plenty busy for some days," and apologizes for not writing sooner.

*  **Letter from a Soldier in North Africa**: A soldier in North Africa writes to his family describing the places he has seen and the people he has encountered. He expresses his appreciation for being American after witnessing the lifestyle of the people in the area. He says he visited Arab villages and that he finds them "very dirty and ignorant." 

He says that “the people live in houses made of stone or mud” and that many simply “dig a hole in the side of a cliff and call it ‘home, sweet home.’” He also notes the goats and chickens live in the same house, and that "you can smell those caves and houses for half a mile."

 He also speaks of the Arab women and their traditional dress. He mentions that local children beg for money, gum, or cigarettes, and that they also want parts of discarded uniforms from American soldiers. He also mentions that he was offered a bed sheet that cost $35-$40 on the black market, and says that the day he was writing he had spent $30 for the pants he was wearing.

 This soldier says that it is almost Christmas and that he will miss both Christmas dinner and Thanksgiving dinner. He says that it was "funny about our Thanksgiving dinner, we were out to sea and it was rough" and that “half the fellows were sick yet they would take a big plate of food but couldn't eat.”

These letters collectively depict the **varied experiences of soldiers** during the war, from the **anticipation of returning home** to the **challenges of daily life on the front lines and abroad**, and their longing for a familiar life and food. They also provide insight into their interactions with local populations and the **contrast between their home in West Virginia and the world beyond.**