War Letters from World War II
When my mother, June McAlister Ezell, passed away in 1998, I found two letters in her personal belonging. The first written in 1942 was from her brother, Gary Roscoe McAlister, written to her from a CCC camp in Sedona, Arizona.
Gary McAlister enlisted in the Army on October 28, 1942 and was killed during World War II at The Battle of St. Lo in France on July 15, 1944. He was 22 years old.
I found a second letter written to mother on August 7, 1944 from her mother (and Gary’s mother), Hattie McAlister. My grandmother was writing to mother just after she received word that her son, Gary, had been killed.
Gary McAlister was originally buried in France, but his body was returned to the United States in 1949, and he was interred at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.
Bobby Ezell
Gary McAlister enlisted in the Army on October 28, 1942 and was killed during World War II at The Battle of St. Lo in France on July 15, 1944. He was 22 years old.
I found a second letter written to mother on August 7, 1944 from her mother (and Gary’s mother), Hattie McAlister. My grandmother was writing to mother just after she received word that her son, Gary, had been killed.
Gary McAlister was originally buried in France, but his body was returned to the United States in 1949, and he was interred at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.
Bobby Ezell
May 12, 1942
Dear Sis,
How is everything in Texas? I am at Sedona, Arizona now. That is about two hundred miles from Arlington (?) Am going to Pine (?) on Monday. This is still further north. It sure is nice and cool out here. Ans.
Soon, Gary
Dear Sis,
How is everything in Texas? I am at Sedona, Arizona now. That is about two hundred miles from Arlington (?) Am going to Pine (?) on Monday. This is still further north. It sure is nice and cool out here. Ans.
Soon, Gary
Gary McAlister
1922-1944
Buffalo, Texas
Aug 7 1944
Dear June,
I will try to let you hear how we are getting along. We are all well. But I am so worried. I have really not got sense enough to write to everyone. I hope you are well. June, you don’t know how I do feel. I wouldn’t give penny for my part (in) this world Of course I have got to take care of my two little girls. But I sure don’t care to go on to a better world. For you know I felt sorry for poor little old Gary seem like to me always getting (the) worst of everything. I sometime realize he (is) better off but then again I just can’t stand to be in this world without him. I am forever thinking of him. I can just see him every time I want to. I think of so many things he done and said. Poor little old boy was dead nearly three weeks before I got word.
June (one of) Tatum (boys) got killed in France. Willie Smith got killed in France. Travis Rabie’s wife’s brother also got killed. And Jamie Crats got killed in France. All telegrams came in about the same time.
Hansford (another son who was in the military) and Drusella (a daughter who was in the Waves) are here now.
Aug 7 1944
Dear June,
I will try to let you hear how we are getting along. We are all well. But I am so worried. I have really not got sense enough to write to everyone. I hope you are well. June, you don’t know how I do feel. I wouldn’t give penny for my part (in) this world Of course I have got to take care of my two little girls. But I sure don’t care to go on to a better world. For you know I felt sorry for poor little old Gary seem like to me always getting (the) worst of everything. I sometime realize he (is) better off but then again I just can’t stand to be in this world without him. I am forever thinking of him. I can just see him every time I want to. I think of so many things he done and said. Poor little old boy was dead nearly three weeks before I got word.
June (one of) Tatum (boys) got killed in France. Willie Smith got killed in France. Travis Rabie’s wife’s brother also got killed. And Jamie Crats got killed in France. All telegrams came in about the same time.
Hansford (another son who was in the military) and Drusella (a daughter who was in the Waves) are here now.
They are lots of company to me. Kay (another son who was in the military) hasn’t come home yet. I got letters from every one of my sisters since I have my awful trouble. June tell Gilbert and Madeline, I said hello. Kiss baby for me. I close. Ans. Soon, Mother
June pray for Hansford, Kay (other sons in the army) and Grandma and tell Mildred (another daughter) I want her to pray for them.
( Words in parentheses and paragraph indention added by me)
June pray for Hansford, Kay (other sons in the army) and Grandma and tell Mildred (another daughter) I want her to pray for them.
( Words in parentheses and paragraph indention added by me)