Introduction to "A Soldier's Story in Love Letters of WWII"
How is distant love communicated? Today the main form of distant communication is the cell phone and E-mails, and then by regular land based phones. During World War II, cell phones and computer E-mails had not even been thought of, and access to land based phones was limited, especially to a person who had little financial means. The main form of communication during World War II was the letter; so two people in love, separated by the distance created by War, used this as the basis for communication, committing their feelings and daily lives to a piece of paper.
Frances Gildea and Gene Breyer met at their employer's office, The Cincinnati Milling Machine Company. Frances worked in the payroll department as a comptometer operator, and Gene as a bookkeeper in the accounting department. Both had come from poor working class families, and were delighted to be working full time. Immediately attracted to one another, Gene and Frances had their first date on Saturday night, December 6th, 1941, on the eve of Pearl Harbor, at the Schullers Wigwam Restaurant. As they celebrated Christmas during 1941, neither one could imagine that World War II was going to separate them for the next four Christmases.
After Gene was drafted into the Army during 1942, he shared all his experiences with Frances through letters he wrote her over the course of the next four years. Most of his letters were subject to censors, so he could not write anything that could be interpreted as classified information, such as his actual location at the time. His letters still provided a window for Frances to see his daily life, and his devotion to her. Frances treasured every letter, and saved every one until her death more than 45 years later.
This book reproduces these letters, starting with the first one in 1942, and ending in 1946, when Gene returned home to marry Frances. The letters are a time capsule of love expressed during the time of war, a way for a soldier to stay in touch with the life and love he longed to return to. The letters are accompanied by a description of where Gene was at the time and what he was experiencing, so the reader can relate to his feelings in the letters. These love letters of World War II capture a different aspect of the war, fought not only to defeat the evil Axis forces, but also to return to a normal life with a loved one.
When a person is in love, they cannot wait to see their loved one. Waking up in the morning and seeing the one you love next to you, simply putting a sock on, is heaven on earth. Everyone has experienced this, sometimes it lasts a week, a year, or forever. For Gene and Frances, it lasted forever, and the letters saved by Frances and reprinted in this book show daily life during World War II as expressed by Gene to the one he loved.
Frances Gildea and Gene Breyer met at their employer's office, The Cincinnati Milling Machine Company. Frances worked in the payroll department as a comptometer operator, and Gene as a bookkeeper in the accounting department. Both had come from poor working class families, and were delighted to be working full time. Immediately attracted to one another, Gene and Frances had their first date on Saturday night, December 6th, 1941, on the eve of Pearl Harbor, at the Schullers Wigwam Restaurant. As they celebrated Christmas during 1941, neither one could imagine that World War II was going to separate them for the next four Christmases.
After Gene was drafted into the Army during 1942, he shared all his experiences with Frances through letters he wrote her over the course of the next four years. Most of his letters were subject to censors, so he could not write anything that could be interpreted as classified information, such as his actual location at the time. His letters still provided a window for Frances to see his daily life, and his devotion to her. Frances treasured every letter, and saved every one until her death more than 45 years later.
This book reproduces these letters, starting with the first one in 1942, and ending in 1946, when Gene returned home to marry Frances. The letters are a time capsule of love expressed during the time of war, a way for a soldier to stay in touch with the life and love he longed to return to. The letters are accompanied by a description of where Gene was at the time and what he was experiencing, so the reader can relate to his feelings in the letters. These love letters of World War II capture a different aspect of the war, fought not only to defeat the evil Axis forces, but also to return to a normal life with a loved one.
When a person is in love, they cannot wait to see their loved one. Waking up in the morning and seeing the one you love next to you, simply putting a sock on, is heaven on earth. Everyone has experienced this, sometimes it lasts a week, a year, or forever. For Gene and Frances, it lasted forever, and the letters saved by Frances and reprinted in this book show daily life during World War II as expressed by Gene to the one he loved.
Table of Contents
Foreword
Introduction
1. Humble Beginnings
2. Love at First Sight
3. The Letters Begin
4. A New Year
5. Final Days at Camp Hood
6. Tennessee Maneuvers
7. Days at Ft. Jackson
8. Last Days Before Overseas Movement
9. To the British Isles
10. The Unit Moves to France
11. Back to the War in Germany
12. After the German Surrender
13. Relief - The War is Finally Over
14. The Home Stretch
15. Life as a Civilian
Endnotes
Index
Introduction
1. Humble Beginnings
2. Love at First Sight
3. The Letters Begin
4. A New Year
5. Final Days at Camp Hood
6. Tennessee Maneuvers
7. Days at Ft. Jackson
8. Last Days Before Overseas Movement
9. To the British Isles
10. The Unit Moves to France
11. Back to the War in Germany
12. After the German Surrender
13. Relief - The War is Finally Over
14. The Home Stretch
15. Life as a Civilian
Endnotes
Index