WW II Letters: August 1, 1944

by Terri Potratz | November 10, 2008 at 01:07 pm

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In recognition of Veteran's Day, here is another letter which was sent to my grandmother during the second world war.

The letter is from Staff Sgt. William Mack, and his handwriting was quite difficult to read. I did some digging around and it may be William P. Mack, who served on the USS Ford - more can be read about him here, he eventually became a writer and died in 2003 at the age of 87. It sounds to me like he was a good family friend of my grandmother's but no one in my family recognizes the name. There is some confusion here as on the back of the attached photo, my grandma wrote that Bill Mack died of cancer in 1984...so we're not sure which William/Bill Mack this letter is from.

"Dear Marion,

Just two days ago your V-Mail of July 10th arrived here. The mail situation has been such that even V-Mails haven't arrived promptly, coming in the same "mail call" as some regular mail, postmarked a later date.

Finding that you are now married came as a surprise, but not a too sudden one. From your letters over the past year or so such was indicated, the time for the event seeming to me, to be the undecided factor.

Marion I really don't know how to put it, for already I'm very late in receiving the news, but I wish to add my best wishes to those you have already received. I sincerely hope that the future will allot you and Pat a full share of real happyness.

Speaking of the future, I'm looking forward to meeting your Pat when this thing is all over. From your letters he sounds like one real person, and rightly so to be such a fortunate chap. As a member of "the gang" I'll lay out the welcome mat personally for him at our first "get-together" and even, should he deserve it, show him the art of "dunking donuts."

There isn't much to say for things over here. Each day, as the news continues to look good, we're getting a bit nearer home, and for me, the sooner the better. It's been a long time, but all things come to an end, and I think from our [unreadable] it's going to be a successful one.

Well Marion, I've been writing for just a few moments, but that is all I can spare now. "Busy..." is the word here now. Hope this finds you well and in good spirit. Give my best to your father and mother, and all the gang. Write again when you find time, for I enjoy hearing from you. Until then I remain,

Sincerely,

Brother Bill."

See more letters from the WW II era here on NowPublic.