ww2 letters/photos: trashed.

[Blacksheep]

The same friend of mine who found the thousands of beer cans, also found this. This is an extensive collection of ww2 letters from G.I. 'S to one gal, some sent photo's/memento's etc. The date range is from early 1941 through 1946. There are well over 600 letters, hundreds of photo's (G.I., family etc)

The man she finally chose (and married) sent the vast majority of letters, often including newspaper clippings, photo's and sometimes his
own artwork. It appears that he ended up stationed in (occupied) Japan and sent home many post cards/photo's from there including short notes on the back including one describing how they drove a jeep down the steps of a shrine (see pic). We even found one "Dear Jane" letter!

He found this in a large plastic tote that was already loaded and destined for the dump, glad he saved this but, what to do with it.

UPDATE: Did a bit of googleing and found the obits, they did have two children. Need to start digging and hopefully find a contact.

 

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[GopherDaGold]

Very nice! I was an MP and so was my dad.

 

[fossis]

It's sad that they were thrown away, but lucky your friend saved them.
My uncle was in the 'Occupation of Japan', he saw combat on Okinawa & was wounded in the arm.

Fossis.............

 

[Ray S S]

Good for you, blacksheep. That is a very honorable thing you are doing. Lots of luck with it. If you do not find any
connections to thw people, most any large museum would be glad to have them.
Again, the best of luck.
Ray

 

[Urban Prospector]

Sure admire the little Eagle Globe & Anchor.

 

[Tank69]

very cool save try your local VFW they mite be intrested in them to show.

 

[Blacksheep]

Update: A few weeks back, I made contact with a daughter who now lives in Texas. She was ecstatic to learn about this and did not realize it even existed. She noted that after her mothers death, a brother handled the estate including selling the family home (which her father built), she speculated that these boxes may have been far back in a storage "cubby" in an upstairs bedroom and missed by her brother. The subsequent owner defaulted on their mortgage and left behind many items and all this was part of what was found.

I was able to make contact through her church and received a phone call within 10 minutes of that initial contact, a very wonderful woman who, at the time, had only two pictures of her parents..now has well over 100 additional photo's of her parents and other family members and includes wedding photo's (and many others) that she had never seen before. Some of the photo's and trinkets she has heard stories about including the half stick of gum (she did not elaborate and I didn't ask).

Sent her everything in one huge box, and was unbelievably happy to have gotten these lost family treasures.

 

[pat-tekker-cat]

Oh Blacksheep, what a long time and diligence it must have taken to do this. Bless you!

All of my fathers; medals, pics, uniform, etc, were given by my stepmother, to our local Vet's Museum. I was a little angry at first, the thought of my dads life being just "given away". But, I then realized, my dad did what he did for all, not just for me or a few. I am glad and happy to know, others can share in his life, and I know these items are well taken care of and revered, in that small town museum.
I'm sure that daughter is very grateful for what you have done, I am. Thank you!

 

[Mackaydon]

P-T-C,
I like your (eventual) realization regarding your dad's service items.
His memory and sacrifices will now be long remembered by many.
Don.......

 

[Nickleanddime]

That's days worth of reading and dreaming for me. I love taking in people's personal history that's where the real building blocks if America is.

 

[Blacksheep]

It was interesting to read some of this, I was somewhat surprised at how "racy" some of those letters were (I warned the daughter about one particular, very graphic letter. She asked me to destroy it...I will hold onto it for a while longer in case she changes her mind). She also gave me permission to copy a few of the more interesting pictures her father took while stationed in Japan.

I didnt add any of the research I had done nor did I add anything notes/cards as I wanted her to "discover" everything without any more outside influence than necessary. She did say she will send a photo of her new picture wall once she finishes framing/hanging.

One thing is for certain, after reading some of those letters, I have a much better understanding of how the people of that era pulled together in a time of need and sadly, have my doubts it would ever happen at that level in the future. One other note on this, the elongated penny bracelet from the worlds fair...is a 1924 D, did a double take with the loupe just to be sure.

 

[packerbacker]

I've nominated your post for the "banner". These are the sort of treasure that have true meaning to us and their families. It is a connection between us and the past. Great job!