William “Tom” Franks from Wawaka, Indiana fought in World War II with the 121st Infantry, 8th Infantry Division. He would earn two Purple Hearts in Northern Europe–shot through the neck in Normandy and later shot in the leg in the Huertgen Forest. Remarkably, he would survive both wounds. This April 1944 note home is [...]
This Wednesday, our letter comes from Albion, Indiana infantryman, Terry Weber. Weber served in the Vietnam War with Company A, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Known as the “Golden Dragons”, the unit worked the Central Highland jungles as part of Operation Paul Revere. This personal note to his family is date June 17, [...]
Hump day again, and time for our weekly feature, Letters From War Wednesdays. The History Junkie just doesn’t see enough out there on WWI. So let’s again take a look back at the Great War. Merriam, Indiana soldier, Virgil Winebrenner enlisted in the U.S. Army in April 1916. He was assigned to Company K, 18th [...]
Hump day, and time for Letters From War Wednesdays. This October 1965 note comes from trooper, Dennis Black, who served with 1st Platoon, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Air Cav Division in Vietnam. Black had just returned to the field at the time of this writing, having healed from shrapnel wounds. The letter [...]
This Wednesday, we’re featuring a letter from World War II infantryman, Ralph Conner. He fought through North Africa, Sicily and into Italy with Company L, 7th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division. Conner, while on the Italian Front, wrote this short December 1943 note to his little sister, Lois, back home in Noble County, Indiana. Dear Lois, [...]
Letters From War Wednesday again, and this time, we’ll feature the words of World War II airman, Donald Parker. At the time of this note, May 1945, Lt. Parker was stationed at Davis-Monthan Field – Tuscon, Arizona, training as a navigator on the newly released, B-29 Superfortress. “Well, I’m down here in the fair city [...]
How many of us have been to Disney World? Better yet, how many remember that super annoying ride, and accompanying song, “It’s a Small World After All”? Ugh, the History Junkie’s head is beginning to hurt again, just like in Orlando. But for Albion, Indiana brothers, Carl and Max McGuire, it did turn out to [...]
I don’t know about you all, but the History Junkie is still very much in holiday spirits. Accordingly, for LFWW, let’s feature another Christmas letter. This offering comes to us from Indiana doughboy, Jesse Winebrenner, serving occupational duties in France. The letter, addressed to his mother and dated December 24, 1918, was written just a [...]
Yes, we are back again with Letters From War Wednesdays. Today’s note comes courtesy of Eleanor Kimmell Roubique. In her book, Home by the Fourth of July, she re-prints the letters of her grandfather,William Francis Kimmell, who served with the 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry through the major battles of the Civil War, including Gettysburg and [...]
Here it is! By popular demand, the History Junkie is starting a new feature. We will call it, Letters From War Wednesdays (LFWW). Each and every Wednesday, we will post a sure-to-be compelling letter from one of our brave lot. Enjoy. Today’s offering, staying with the USS Barbel theme of the week, comes from Bernard [...]