March 3, 1948 - A letter from Mrs. Julia Wright

The mother of Nelson R. Wright, Gerald's friend and fellow G Company soldier, who was killed in action on April 7, 1945 in Germany. Read the transcription of the letter below.

March 3, 1948

Dear Mr. Desjardin,

I will answer your letter. I was so glad to get to hear from someone that knew my boy over the sea. I do thank you so much for riting [SP - writing] me. I was so proud to know of some living person that could tell me he saw him in his last minutes and saw him die. I have just cried and wondered and prayed to the Lord that might know of some one that would tell me true about my son Nelson and so I can’t thank you a nuff [SP- enough] for your tenderness to rite [SP - write] me. Oh I do wish I could see you to talk to you about him but we are poor folk and can’t get the money to come for that. He was married and his wife drawed his insurance. We didn’t draw any thing but just lost our precious boy. It was so hard to give him up I can’t hardly stand it. He was a good hearted boy he didn’t have no mean habits when he was at home he was liked by all that knew him.

Would you mind if I ask you a few question please. I know all soldiers don’t like to talk much about the war, but hope it won’t bear on your mind too long for my heart hurts all the time. I guess you can tell by this writing, I never could write much but since my trouble began, I can’t write hardly at all so excuse bad writing and [lose?] my heart as much as you can be telling me all about Nelson you now. I just [unreadable] and [unreadable] and search for some thing about him. I have had a form fill out to have his body brought back. Do you think it will be him or could there be any mistake any it wouldn’t be him.

How long was you with Nelson over there? He wrote me and said he didn’t like that tuff stuff but he would make the best he could out of it. Did he ever say anything about dying to you? O I know all of the boys drafted ever [part of letter missing, word redacted] getting back home alive. O I don’t see why I ever let him walk out of our home without trying to get him to pray the Lord before he went away. This may look silly to you but I have [unreadable] a many times about the poor boys having to kill others and dying killing and fighting. Of course I know they had to and was made to do it again there. Well I do know. Did the chaplain preach the Bible to you all or not and how often was they with you all? Tell anything you know about him. O I can’t thank you enough for the picture you sent I am so glad of it. I don’t know why he didn’t never send us no picture after he crossed. He wrote us [unreadable] and said he had some pictures made but didn’t know whether they would be any good. You ask about the award his wide got, the purple heart and the Brown Star and a large picture [unreadable] the honor roll.

Can you tell me did he ever get any package we sent him? The last he ever wrote us was 2 day of April and didn’t tell about getting any package from us. We sent him candy and pecans and everything we could to eat but didn’t think he ever got any of them. Didn’t seem like he could get our mail like [unreadable]. You said you guess Captain Caple of G company wrote us it was the 10 of June before I ever got anything telling about him and then it was not much. It told about Nelson R Wright was killed in action the 7 of April in Germany. I wrote the Captain about him but the war was over and every one had moved. I requested him a letter and never did get no answer. Will you please tell me where he was killed and was he tore up badly. I know its hard to think about but I want to know just like it was for I am hurt to the bottom of my heart. Anyway and I rather know the way it was as to be wounded all the time. Can you tell me this other boy Donald Koutnik - parents name and address. I would like to write to them if you can. Do you know know Nelson’s buddy that he sleeps with would you care to tell me please?

Did he ever speak one word after he was shot or do you know? I hope he call on the Lord for mercy before he past away is my prayer. I guess you well wonder why his dad didn’t write. It hurt him so bad to give Nelson up. He can’t hardly stand to talk about him he just get up and walk out when we get to talking about him. Nelson was his main favorite he was always with him at anything he done, working, hunting, fishing, or anything he was wishing to do and could do most anything any one else could do. We miss him so bad in all of our work he would draw the tractor all the time was here. He was just in service for 8 months before he got killed. Our older boy was turned down he weigh 285 pounds and can’t do much he is so fat. We just had three children the baby one is a girl she is married and just lives [unreadable]. Nelson was married and had one boy it was 3 months old when he left home. His wife took the baby to ark and has married again se we don’t see them all any more. It is hard for us to bare but maybe we can make it.

Was you with Nelson when he kill the 2 deer he wrote me about going hunting and sure done some eating of them. Well I know you will get tired trying to read this bad writing but hoping to hear from you soon and a long letter and I do thank you again for the picture you sent along with the letter sure was so glad to get both of them and if there is anything else in my power I can do for you I am willing at any times to help you so answer soon.

Yours Truly,
Julia Wright
Ridgely, Tenn

Christmas Card from Gerald F. Davolt

A Christmas card from Jerry's friend in the army, Gerald F. Davolt. Gerald was a Technical Sargent and was drafted into the war in 1941. Technicians had specialized jobs within the army, from electricians to engineers. It is possible that Jerry met Gerald at Camp Ellis, which was set up for specialized training.

The letter, sent in 1946, reads as follows:

"Hello Doc. Hope this finds you well. Would like to hear how you are.

Gerald F. Davolt"