#december 1944

[hjmarseille]

Chinese-uniformed Americans from Unit Two and Chinese guerrillas from Column Four display captured weapons and equipment after ambushing a Japanese unit in Hunan Province in December 1944. (Courtesy Dr Charles H. Miles)

Photo and caption featured in World War II US Navy Special Warfare Units (Elite Book 203) by Eugene Liptak

[arinewman7]

Great Jazz Band (New Orleans)

by Jean Dubuffet

December 1944

MoMA

[hjmarseille]

The aftermath of a Resistance attack on three propeller blade copying machines at the Ratier works at Figeac, France, on 19 January 1944. A 3lb charge was used for each machine, being placed on the main casting which, as can be seen from the photograph, was completely shattered. The photograph was taken during December 1944, twelve months later.

Photo and caption featured in SOE in France 1941-1945: An Official Account of the Special Operations Executive’s French Circuits by Robert Bourne-Patterson

[hjmarseille]

Jean Webster, December 1944.

Photo and caption featured in Above the Battle: An Air Observation Post Pilot at War by Ronald Lyell Munro

[hjmarseille]

Major General James Gavin, Commanding General 82d Airborne Division, walks down a lane in an advanced area of fighting in Belgium, December 1944. Promoted colonel shortly after he assumed command of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment in July 1942, Gavin was an exceptional combat leader as well as a crucial figure in the development of airborne doctrine. (Photo12/UIG/Getty Images)

Photo and caption featured in Osprey Combat 33 US Airborne Soldier vs German Soldier Sicily, Normandy, and Operation Market Garden, 1943-44 by David Campbell

[wellmeetagaiin]

A letter from Lawrence Wild (February 22, 1921 - April 22, 1945) to his wife, Dorothy (Dot) Wild (née ; Sundstrand) dated December 16th, 1944. These are unique in that Larry was killed in action at 23 years old.

Sent from Germany

Transcribed under the cut

Dec 16,1944

Germany

Dear Sweetheart,

       Here’s your little man again writing to my little wife. 

        Hope this letter finds you well. I worry so much about you, always think about you and Sandy. O baby, I wish I was home. I would be so happy. 

        I miss your loving and kissing. I need you and Sandy.

        Well some day we will be together again and we will be so happy. 

        Just think a new home. O baby, I hope this damn war ends soon. Things are looking good, keep your fingers crossed. 

        Well today for the first time in 6 days I finally got a good bath. I got it in a cool [???] that’s when we get our bath. It’s nice. There is a big room, it takes about 15 men at a time. It’s open all day long and we can just walk right in the [???] and take a bath. 

        Its in Holland. They have a lot of [???] here. 

        Tonight is a little cold. We are still in the Germany home.

        My cold is gone. I had the G.I. again today. I was running all day. I think the [??????]

        Well baby I guess that’s all for now. I am going to bed now. 

        Closing now. Sending all my love to my darling wife and baby. Love to Mom and Pop. 

        Always yours,

Love & Kiss for you & Sandy

Love, Larry

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[wellmeetagaiin]

A vintage Christmas card sent by Lawrence Wild to his wife sent December 16th, 1944.

“May you have the gladness of Christmas which is Hope. The spirit of Christmas which is Peace. The Heart of Christmas which is Love. 

All my love, 

Larry.”

[wellmeetagaiin]

A letter from Lawrence Wild (February 22, 1921 - April 22, 1945) to his wife, Dorothy (Dot) Wild (née ; Sundstrand) dated December 4th, 1944. These are unique in that Larry was killed in action at 23 years old.

This is a letter written from Germany.

This one is depressing. 

Transcribed under the cut.

Dec 4, 1944

Germany

        Dear Sweetheart, 

        Here I am at last. I have been trying to write but have been on the go so much. Sunny here and [???] with my jeep and it was so [???] that I did not get time to write. 

        I am back now in Holland for a few days then I go back. 

        I am okay. It’s a hard life but I guess I will have to do my best. 

       I have been tired a lot and have seen a lot of hell. 

        I do everything I can to help end this war. I hope it ends soon. It’s a hard job.

        I miss you so much. Think about you and Sandy all the time. Wishing I was there with you. 

        I worry so much about you. I hope and pray you are well. I hope everything turns out alright. Some day we will be together again and we will go out and have a good time. We will make up for every thing that we have missed. 

        When this mess is over we will go out for 2 or 3 weeks and have a good time. 

        You ask if it is drill or practice - no, its the real thing. I have been through a lot. I drive from morning til night some times. I drive all night. I don’t mind, that is my job.

        How is my baby? Hope you are well. Are you still working? If it is too hard then do not work for its too hard for you. 

        Doll, I was just thinking did you receive a money [??] it was $12. Let me know if you got it. 

       I miss Sandy and you so much. Every time I look at you and Sandy on the pictures I just feel like crying. I love you so much and miss you. I miss your loving and kissing. I can not put kiss marks on the letter. . think it will be a message.  I will put some on this one and see if they take them off. 

        Dot, don’t say things like that. Like you said you are going to head for the river, please don’t say that. 

        If any thing ever happens to you then I would not want to live. 

        Some day I will be home then it will not be so bad for you. I will do everything. 

        I will be so happy when this mess is over. 

        I don’t know what to say about the couch. You do what ever you think is the best, if you need a stronger one than get it. 

        No, we are [???? ???] in tents now. We live in the German houses when we [????] its more safe in them. No one lives in them. They all moved out of them before we got to them. 

        Well, if Leane wants to be that way then don’t tell her to [???]. She doesn’t write to me. 

        Just so I get mail from my darling wife then I feel okay and it makes me feel so good to get them from you. That’s all I look for.

        Wish I was there to go to bed with you. Boy, I would love that. I miss sleeping with you, feeling you next to me. I love you so and miss you more than anything in the world. 

        Do you still kiss Sandy for me ? Wish I could see her. She is so sweet. She is a little doll just like her mom. 

        Well baby it’s now 11 o’clock and I am so tired tonight. I think I will lay try to get to sleep. 

        I will write soon again. Don’t worry about me. I am okay and feel fine just hope and pray for this war to end soon.

        Sending all my love to you, my darling wife and baby. 

        Love and kiss

         Love, Larry

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PS. I am now Cpl. T/5 (Note:  Technician fifth grade)