My father entered the United States Army in December of 1943 and the text for these postings are the letters he sent to my grandparents from early 1944 through 1946. My intent is to update this blog weekly and at that rate I will be able to share the three-years of correspondence within a single year. The prose is plain and the content reveals the pace of a soldier’s life. These letters home truthfully reflect the experiences of one 19-year old American soldier during his service in the infantry. I am posting these letters as a tribute to my father and to all the men and women who served in the armed forces of the United States during that extraordinary time.

We have faith that future generations will know that here, in the middle of the twentieth century, there came a time when men of good will found a way to unite, and produce, and fight to destory the forces of ignorance, and intolerance, and slavery, and war. – President Franklin D. Roosevelt. 1943

June 06, 2009

Letter addressed to: Mr.Mrs. Ben Lederman, 923 Leavitt St. Chicago, Illinois; From Pvt. Harold Lederman 16121216, x04QM AP0104, Postmaster N.Y-N.Y.; Passed by Army examiner #33649

Editor’;s Note: This hand-written letter is on onion skin paper.

November 24, 1944

Dear Mother Dad, 

I received my first letters from you yesterday since I’;ve been over seas. There were three of them, 2 v-mail and 1 airmail. I’;m glad you finally sent me Rum’;s address. Now I will be able to write to him. 

Yesterday was Thanksgiving. We had the turkey and all the trimmings. Most of the doughboys had turkey also. Its amazing when you think of all of us, so far from home, observing still in the midst of a battlefield, Thanksgiving.

I’;m sure there was many who gave thanks to God today. I was sure one of them. 

I recently was able to see some of the dead boys they had just taken off the battlefield. If some of the men back home, whom of personal ambition attempt to prolong the war, could se them–I’;m sure the war would soon end. When you look at them you can’;t help but think–why are they dead! Just a year or so ago they were either going to school-working-married and now their dead. Many among them had ambition–all looked forward to the future–Now their dead. It keeps shooting thru your mind-again and again-why have these men died? I know why we fight-I know of the values we’;re trying to secure. I hope these men have not given their lives for empty words. 

I’;m sorry I went up on slight a philosophical side. But I had to air out some of my thoughts. Love, Harold

Editor’;s note: This letter was written on Armed Forces of the United States stationery and the corresponding envelope was not saved. It is the only letter in the series to appear on this stationery. A section of this letter was redacted by the censors.

Dear Mother Father,

I hope we will be together next year to observe New Years. Tonight I am going to services at the chapel, conducted by a Jewish minister.

I certainly enjoyed that pass I had in New York. I never saw crowds on State Street that could compare with those on 7th St. I plan to contact Dave or Fannie on my next pass. 

(The next paragraph was cut-out by censors)

I experienced part of that hurricane which swept up the New England states. The winds were of terrific velocity. One could jump into the air and then be carried several feet by the wind’;s force.

Mom, send some news about the other boys. I’;m curious to know how there making out.

I will write as soon as possible. Love, Harold

Editor’;s Note: This letter is typed on onion skin–no envelope

Dear Mother and Dad,

This is my second day in the Q.M.C. of the 104 Division. It seems like a dream more than anything else. I expect to awaken any time now and find myself asleep in a fox hole. After living in the mud for two months and eating C and K rations for so long my present status seems unbelievable. I’;m now eating good food and sleeping in a warm dry room. I’;m sleeping in a kitchen with four other fellows. This might seem like crowded conditions, but its nothing compared to the times when I’;ve slept in trains half the size with three times the amount of men.

My transfer to the Q.M.C. is one of those things you always read about but never happens to you. I had arrived at rear echelon of he 104 a few evenings ago after being assigned to it by a replacement depot. I slept over night in a pup tent with one of my buddies and expected to be assigned to and infantry regement the next morning. The next morning a rooster was read to the group I came with,assigning them to their new infantry units.    My name was not on the list. I thought that I would be on the next list of replacements to infantry outfits. Suddenly a list came out assigning me and four other fellows to this Quarter Master outfit. We all were somewhat dazed. We all had been in the infantry up this time and knew of no personal abilities the Quarter Master would desire.

I know how happy you xxx will be when you recieve this and my previous letter.  Its something we’;ve all wished for for such a long time. As you always said mom, xxxx fate will take its own course. I, however, hope its on the right course.

A lot of the men around this outfit were formerly in A.S.T.P. One of them attended the University of Illinois, but I don’;t know him. Love, Harold

Editor’;s Note: This letter has no envelope

Dear Mother Dad,

Today was my first anniversary. One week ago today I left the infantry. Oh Happy Day! However I though it would be the simplest thing in the world to toss of the ways of an infantry man and settle down, more or less, to a steady comparatively safe job. It wasn’;t. I’;ve been used to sleeping out in the open without any way of warming up. In the place I am now, I stay in a warm room practically day and night-getting out only to eat chow. I’;m perfectly contented with this setup, but physical system can’;t take it. I’;ve got a cold, not bad but bad enough to make me feel dopey.

A couple days ago we had a bit of excitement the other day. There was a fire in the building in which I live. It was the stable past. There wasn’;t any damage done to equipment but the building sure was destroyed. 

I need a few thins that I wish you’;d send me as soon as possible. I need a fountain pen-preferable an Eversharp. I also need a wrist watch of the shock proof variety. Both my fountain pen and wrist watch are broken. I also need a sleeveless woolen sweater-khaki colored.

As of this date I haven’;t received a letter from you. I realize the huge mail problem and I’;m patiently waiting. Love, Harold.

February 27, 2009

Editor’;s Note: This letter is typed on onion skin paper.

Dear Mother and Dad,

Yesterday was my birthday and it certainly seems like I got my present. I was assigned to the I04 Quarter Master Corp attached to the 104 division. My present job is that of a typist clerk in the Special Effects Department of the division. It is a newly created department and I was fortunate enough to be passing through a replacement depot when they requisitioned for five typist. Its one of those breaks that happen once in a live (sp) time. All the other boys who were with me went on to infantry regements (sp) where they are used as replacements. I’;m still in Germany, but now instead of living in a pup tent I’;m living in a German building. To be exact in a German kitchen. It feels great to get back on a typewriter again.

It’;s been snowing and raining intermittingly (sp) for the last few days. Its a wet snow and doesn’;t stick to the ground readily. Walking around here is very difficult because of the mud. In places its as deep as one foot.

Mom, I ope you forward the address of Russell Baruch to me. I’;d like to write to him.

I the future I’;ll be able to write more letters home. I’;ll write soon because one of my buddys (sp) wants to use the typewriter. Love, Hal

November 4, 1944

November 24, 1944

U.S.  B-29 bombers begin the massive bombing campaign against mainland Japan. In Europe, the  Allies  capture Strasbourg.

Dear Mother Father,

I’;m still at the same replacement camp in Germany. Although I am considered to be in a combat zone, it is relatively safe.

The first few nights we slept in pup tents. Large tents were put up and we moved into them. We had no bed, but I have long adapted myself to sleeping on the ground. Three days ago I built a bed out of logs. This bed feels as comfortable as any I’;ve slept in. We had no fire the first week and it was getting pretty cold. We constructed a fie place out of bricks. This provides a little heat. All in all I’;m fairly comfortable. Love, Harold 

P.S. I haven’;t received any letters. 

November 3:  The Japanese launch more than 9,000 hydrogen balloons with incendiaries attached, sending them on westerly winds to North America. Fewer than 300 of the balloons will reach their targets, but one is found and detonated in Oregon, killing a woman and five children.

November 5:  German forces round up 200 Dutch citizens in the town of Heusden. The Germans barricade them inside the town hall and blow up the building.

February 14, 2009

October 25, 1944

Dear Mother Father,

I’;m still at the replacement depot in Germany. I’;ll probably leave any day now.

I’;ve been on the move so much in the last couple of weeks that I’;ve been unable to write a letter of much detail. I had an opportunity to visit a large town when I was in France. The French are very friendly. In this town, business at gone back to normal and the people seemed t have thrown of the weight of the past grim years. The only thing that reminds one of the war here is the wreckage of the bombed buildings. These people – women and children – must have endured many terrifying moments. Will write soon, Love, Harold

February 09, 2009

From: Pvt. H.J. Lederman, Inf. Co. I A.P.O. 15468 c/o Postmaster N.Y. N.Y.

To: Mr. Mrs. B. Lederman 923 N. Leavitt St. Chicago, Ill

I arrived in Germany yesterday. The previous two days I had spent in a replacement depot in Belgium. As yet, I have not seen combat. 

Living conditions have been rough. Living in pup tents on we round. However, we have very good food. It seems the closer one gets to the front the better the food. I am in excellent physical condition and hope to remain so. 

I have not received any mail since I left England. Love, Harold. 

From: Pvt. H.J. Lederman; Inf. Co. I A.P.O. -15486 c/o Postmaster N.Y. N.Y.

To: Mr. Mrs. Ben Lederman 923 N. Leavitt St. Chicago, IL

Dear Mother Father,

I’;m writing tis letter from somewhere in Normandy, France. Right now we’;re camped in a tent city similar to the type I was in at Fort Benning, Ga. The only thing that reminds one of the war is the continuous flow of airplanes over head.

Mother, will you please subscribe the overseas edition of Newsweek Magazine for me. Have it sent to my present mailing address. Please do the same with Readers Digest.

Don’;t forget to send Russel Baruch address to me Will write soon. Love, Harold

February 01, 2009

To: Mr. Mrs. B. Lederman 923 N. Leavitt St. Chicago, Ill

From: Prvt. H.J. Lederman Inf. Co. I A.P.O. 15468 c/o Postmaster N.Y.N.Y.

Dear Mother Dad,

I’;ve just a few minutes to write. I’;m still in England at the same camp. I don’;t know how much longer I’;ll be here.

Send me a couple of packages containing cookies, candy and canned juice.

I’;ll write as soon as I get an opportunity to do so. Love, Harold