PFC Nickolas J. Pappas, of Wilkes-Barre PA, Served in the 1878th US Army Aviation Engineers during WW2 in the Pacific. He was part of the efforts on Saipan and Okinawa. His younger brother John served in the US Marine Corp and was wounded in the battle of Iwo Jima. During WW2 men and women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their love...
Jul 24, 2025•17 min
Corp Andreas was born in Illinois but registered for WW2 while leaving in Terre Haute Indiana. he was part of the 3789th Q.M. Truck Co. His letter is part of the series talking about friends of Lt. James Wisby of Morgantown IN. During WW2 men and women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support...
Jun 29, 2025•16 min
Corp. Albert W. Chase, US Army. We catch up with Corp Chase in New Guinea after he arrived at a replacement depot on Goodenough Island. ALSO! The family of Russel I. Armstrong, who was the subjiect of a podcast back in August of 2024 came across the podcast while doing some research on him - I am happy to report that Pvt Armstrongs letters have gone home! During WW2 men and women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwri...
Jun 15, 2025•13 min
T/5 Justin Floyd Morgan of Morgantown IN, served in the US Army Aircorp in Europe. He served in the 3576th QM Unit. During WW2 men and women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support and normalcy. Over the years I have collected letters with the intention of returning to family - but first I’d...
Jun 01, 2025•14 min
James R. "Ducky" Bond of Morgantown IN, served in the Pacific Islands. During WW2 men and women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support and normalcy. Over the years I have collected letters with the intention of returning to family - but first I’d like to share who these men were, where were...
May 26, 2025•13 min
Albert J. Vivier was from Massachusetts and served int eh 235th QM Truck Company in WW2. We catch up with him while serving in Italy, helping to get supplies to the forward troops. During WW2 women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support and normalcy. Over the years I have collected letters ...
Feb 07, 2025•14 min
Donald Dean Eberling of Nashua Iowa served in the 45th Infantry Division, 179th Infantry Regiment. He joined the 179th as they began their march towards Munich and was part of the liberation of Dachau. During WW2 women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support and normalcy. Over the years I ha...
Jan 31, 2025•19 min
Pvt Orin J. Wheeler, US Army served in the Cannon Co of the 7th Infantry. At just 20 years old he ws part of the Battle of Anzio in Italy. Pvt Wheeler hailed from my home state of Massachusetts, and returned their after the war to raise his family. During WW2 women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblan...
Jan 26, 2025•15 min
T/Sgt Beedle served in the 560th and 562nd Signal Air Warning Corp in the European Theatre. He was also a radio technician that worked on the Bell-X1 aircraft, which Capt. Chuck Yeager flew to break the sound barrier in 1947! During WW2 women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support and norma...
Jan 18, 2025•16 min
T/Sgt Thomas Edward Snowden was from Giddings TX and served in the US Army Air Corp in the 57th Fighter Group, 65th Fighter Squadron "The Pyramiders" In this podcast I mention two webistes 57thfightergroup.org soldiersangels.org During WW2 women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support and no...
Jan 12, 2025•16 min
This week we have letters written by PFC George Paul Corthell of Tiffin and Oak Harbor Ohio. PFC Corthell served with the 862nd Chemical Co, Aviation Operations in Europe. I'd like to thank Hampstead NH Cable Tv for their contribution which allowed me to purchase these letters at auction. During WW2 women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters...
Dec 31, 2024•16 min
This week we have letters written home by two brothers from Lawrenceville Virginia. Pvt James W. Scarborough served in the 1177th Military Police Aviation and Cpl Julien L. Scarborough served with the 752nd Tank Battalion. During WW2 women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support and normalcy...
Dec 28, 2024•18 min
Cpl Noel Charles Reed was from Fairfield Vermont as a Military Police Officer. During WW2 women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support and normalcy. Over the years I have collected letters with the intention of returning to family - but first I’d like to share who these men were, where were...
Dec 22, 2024•18 min
Kenneth Paul Miller was from Pennsylvania and served in the U.S. Navy during WW2 and he was stationed at CASU-22 During WW2 women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support and normalcy. Over the years I have collected letters with the intention of returning to family - but first I’d like to sh...
Dec 08, 2024•14 min
Henry Ellis Carlisle was from Pierson Florida and a fern grower. He served in the Ordnance at Tidworth England During WW2 men and women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support and normalcy. Over the years I have collected letters with the intention of returning to family - but first I’d like...
Nov 30, 2024•13 min
PFC Anderson served in the 23rd Marines, 4th Division. He saw some of the worst of the Pacific, fighting in Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. Please take a moment to hear his story, and his letter. If you know of the Anderson family of Pittsburgh, please pass along my podcast! Let's try to get this letter home! Let's also celebrate the return of Lt. Sadie Cohen's letter home! I talk about that at the end of this podcast! During WW2 men and women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and the...
Nov 12, 2024•16 min
PFC John William (Willie) Phillips, a farmer of Virginia served in the 116th Infantry and the 1906 Ordnance. Hear his letters home to his sister Virginia in 1943 and 1944! During WW2 men and women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support and normalcy. Over the years I have collected letters w...
Nov 02, 2024•14 min
Corporal Joseph Donald Hamel, United States Marine Corp. Corp Hamel fought with the 7th Marines in grueling fighting through the Pacific, he wrote his letter home while undergoing training for Operation Iceberg.. The Battle of Okinawa. During WW2 men and women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of...
Oct 05, 2024•16 min
S/Sgt Walter Raymond Shipp was from Kenton Ohio. He was killed in action on Feb 17, 1945 at the age of 31, during the Battle of Manila. Please listen to his story, and his letter home written in August of 1944 to his sister Hazel back home. During WW2 men and women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblan...
Sep 08, 2024•17 min
PFC Kenneth Evert Goff of Michigan served with the 4th Air Force Replacement Depot Squadron 403, in the Pacific. also! an exciting update to the podcast about S/K Herbert C. Brummett! During WW2 men and women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support and normalcy. Over the years I have collect...
Sep 02, 2024•16 min
Pvt Armstrong served in the US Army with 98th infantry division – Iroquois division, 389th Infantry Regiment at the end of the war, assigned to occupied Japan under General MacArthur. During WW2 men and women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support and normalcy. Over the years I have collect...
Aug 26, 2024•14 min
Joseph Frederick Pratt Jr., of Jacksonville Florida was a pilot of a B26 Marauder Bomber in WW2. He flew 282 combat hours over Italy, France and Germany, all before the age of 22 yrs old. During WW2 men and women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support and normalcy. Over the years I have col...
Aug 17, 2024•21 min
S/1 Stanley J. Dombrowski served as a Naval Armed Guard of the Merchant Marine ship the SS Eielson during WW2. Hear about brave service of the Armed Guards, the Merchant Marines, and hear S/1 Dombrowski's letters home. During WW2 men and women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support and norm...
Aug 03, 2024•21 min
Pvt Warren Papkey was from Massachusetts and served with the Medical Detachment of the 175th Infantry. Please have a listen and hear a bit about the Army Medics of WW2. During WW2 men and women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support and normalcy. Over the years I have collected letters with...
Jul 21, 2024•16 min
The Wagner brothers both served in WW2. Carl served in the Pacific, and Donald in Europe - he was killed in action in France July of 1944. During WW2 men and women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support and normalcy. Over the years I have collected letters with the intention of returning to...
Jul 07, 2024•18 min
Lt. Sadie Cohen served as an Army Nurse in the Pacific theatre or WW2 at the 60th General Hospital in New Guinea and Philippines. During WW2 men and women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support and normalcy. Over the years I have collected letters with the intention of returning to family -...
Jul 04, 2024•17 min
S/Sgt Nelson served in WW2 in the 60th Transport Group, deploying paratroopers, flying in supplies and evacuating wounded both in North Africa and Italy. Mentioned in this episode is SoldiersAngels.org Please check them out to find ways to help active and veteran service men and women and their families. During WW2 men and women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright...
Jun 15, 2024•14 min
Clifford Emil Hehn joined the US Navy in 1939 when he was just 17 years old. At the time of the Pearl Harbor attack he was aboard the USS Langley, the very first American aircraft carrier, anchored off the Philippines. Just two months later, while trying to bring P40 aircraft to the island of Java, she was attacked by Japanese bombers and sunk. Please listen to the story of Seaman First Class Clifford Emil Hehn and the final hours of the USS Langley. During WW2 men and women were deployed throug...
May 31, 2024•22 min
Thank you for joining me for our annual Memorial Day episode of War and Family: Letters Home. This episode is being recorded Memorial Day weekend 2024. Memorial Day is sometimes thought of as the kick off to the summer months, and it is – however more importantly it is to honor those that made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives in defense of our country. The fallen heroes who never made it home. 2nd Lt. Earl Leonard Urban served in the 701st Tank Destroyer Battalion. He was just 27 year...
May 25, 2024•15 min
Ensign Dale Cleveland Alexander, US Navy Pilot. He was originally Illinois and he was trained in DeLand Florida as a Dive Bomber Pilot. Mr. Alexander was also very involved in the beginnings of the DeLand Naval Air Station Museum. During WW2 men and women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of supp...
May 19, 2024•15 min
