USA

040670 - ALL AMERICAN LETTERS HOME

By Pfc. Earl Gene Thurman and Andrew V Garner

The following letters, V-mails, and postcards were written not by my hand but by those of the late Private First-Class Earl G. Thurman, who served with the 82nd Airborne as a replacement G.I. in the Second World War.

Age has muddled some, with letters close to 80 years old; they have overall stood the test of time, yellowing in some places torn and holed in others, but wherever possible each letter has been carefully transcribed exactly including the punctuation. After all, I am only the narrator.

The letters tell of a young Southern American soldier who becomes a member of the elite 82nd airborne, his story, his words, writing home to his mother, father, and sister. You will travel with him as he carries out his basic training, then the joys of exploring the U.S.A. as he travels to various Army camps, when he goes overseas to England, Earl is taken away by the beauty of the English countryside, the people, and even the local dialects, Next into the thick of battle as he parachutes into Holland during operation “Market Garden”. A telegram home informs Earl’s family that he has been injured in action. This creates a unique historical trail as letters home tell of his plight. They are also accompanied by hospital cards and memorabilia giving the reader a perspective of an American wounded serviceman during the Second World War from his collection.

Earl Thurman writes home regularly to his mother, Launette Glass Thurman, his father, Earl Van Dorn Thurman, and his sister Nell. His story starts during training in the United States, the excitement of visiting new places both home and overseas is evident, but also the importance of contact, the frustration of not receiving a letter or a parcel, and the censorship of letters. Army life can be dull, this becomes obvious at times as some letters repeat a similar message time and time again.

With the collection of ephemera came photos, booklets, and interesting documents, of which I have included them all, to the best of my knowledge, in date order and relevance. Researching Earl has been a revelation, a certain case of how one door opens another, the power of social media, the World Wide Web, and an online auction site.

Unfortunately, the final chapter “Searching for Earl” produces a shock ending twelve years after the Second World War ended.

Take a deep breath…

Sit back…

Imagine hearing Gene’s Southern accent

in your mind...

Read his words, turn back the clock…

As you listen to a young man at war…