Ohio War Stories: Share Your Memories

…was the Western Union delivery man. As author Scott Trostel noted, telegrams delivered by the ubiquitous company more often than not meant very bad news.

Scott writes:
In my home town of Piqua, a few of the follow-up letters were turned over to the local ewspapers for publication. This was not the norm, but we have the good fortune to look into those letters detailing things that were not expressed in the initial telegraph advising of a death. The two letters below portray the correspondence for a soldier killed at the Battle of the Bulge and a separate letter for a soldier killed at Luzon in the Philippines. Names have been changed to afford the families that privacy that has sustained them since the original letters were received in 1945.

Dear Mrs. Brown:
May I express to you the deepest sympathies of the officers and men of this organization in your bereavement caused by the death of your husband, Donald, who was killed in action in Germany on February 24 [1945].
It should comfort you to know that Donald’s body was laid to rest with appropriate Protestant ceremonies in an American cemetery in Luxembourg. His grave is marked with a modest cross bearing his name and other pertinent information. When security measures and censorship permit, information regarding the place of burial will be furnished upon request to by the Quartermaster General, ASF, Washington, 25, D. C.
Donald was a good soldier and was highly esteemed by his officers and comrades. His sacrifice was unselfishly made for the protection and well being of those whom he loved at home and for his country. We read In the Bible, “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend.” May the God of all grace comfort you and sustain you in our
prayer.
Captain. D. J. Allard,
Assistant Adjutant
301 Infantry

Dear Mrs. Jones:
It is with deep regret that I write this letter notifying you of the loss of your son, James, who so Bravely died in combat against our Japanese enemy. The morning of February 23, 1945, our unit was called upon to fire direct fire on enemy strong points in the Manila area, Philippine Islands, which were holding up the advance of our infantry.
We were in position and had been firing thirty minutes when a Japanese mortar shell landed about twenty feet from James post, and a fragment from a shell hit him in the right side. He was given first aid on the spot by Medical Corps aid man and immediately rushed to a hospital. I assure you that the best medical attention possible was given him.
James was laid to rest at United States Army Cemetery No. 1, Plot 6, row 25, grave No. 245, situated in Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands. As soon as the situation permits, I will mail a photograph of the grave to you.
Since I have been associated with your son, he has been nothing but a gentleman and a soldier. He was admired by all his fellow soldiers and we will mourn his loss.
Francis B. Riddle, Captain