Date: 1945. 

Scope and Content Note:

This collection consists of one uncensored World War II letter that was written on board a hospital ship on April 23, 1945. The letter, from "Don" to his mother, who lived in Jackson, Mississippi, was delivered to its recipient by a friend of the writer who was from there. This enabled the writer to more freely describe war experiences that almost certainly would have been censored.

The writer described most of his military service chronologically, beginning with his trip to the Philippines from Dutch New Guinea on December 26, 1944. He remarked that a "Zero" airplane was shot down during the trip, and he stated that after encountering sniper resistance his division landed on January 9, 1945. That night, the Japanese began strafing the landing barges and initiating rounds of shelling that continued throughout most of the writers time in the Philippines. He also mentioned San Habin, a bombed-out city where he narrowly missed more sniper fire. After passing through the city of Plaridel, the writers unit remained in Manila for several days. The writer mentioned an old American hospital in Quezon City, but soon after arriving there, he became sick with jaundice and malaria and was flown to Manila and then to a hospital ship. Before closing, the writer noted that he had visited Corregidor, located across the bay from Manila, and he also mentioned that he had participated in the Buna campaign in present-day Papua, New Guinea.

Series Identification:

Series 1: Letter. 1945. 1 item.