I am always interested in reading these things as they give an insight into the thinking at the time.
I don't know if anyone is still around here, but I just found this forum and topic.
In the box of letters that my dad sent back to his parents while serving in Korea, I found a bunch of letters from Cpl. Clarence F Miller, who was in Btry C of the 535th AAA Bn. The letters I have found are from dates of around spring 44 through summer 45. The letters from 44 are from the base in the UK. The ones from 45 are from Germany in April/May or so, and later 45 from back in France.
The most interesting part to me is where he talks of his experience in Germany and the interactions with the German civilians. Note that the dates run from right before VE Day until after. One of the letters is dated something like May 17, or so, so right after VE Day. He talks about how they are skeptical of the claims that Hitler is dead, and how the German children were afraid of them because the Nazis told them that the Americans would chop their heads off.
It's all very real, because these were letters written right there while it was happening, and not just memories.
One thing that has me puzzled, however, is that I have not been able to figure out how he and my grandparents knew each other. My grandma has been dead more than 40 years now, but I asked my 93 year old uncle, who would have been living with Grandma and Grandpa at the time, and he has no idea who this was. I've also checked with genealogical records for my area, and can't find him there.
I'd like to find his family, because they may be interested. He talks about breaking off his engagement to "Marie" due to uncertainty about the future, and I'm dying to know whatever became of it - did he marry Marie or not?
If anyone can help me out with any recollection of Cpl Clarence F Miller, Btry C, I would appreciate it. I don't expect it, though.
On the other hand, if anyone is interested, I would be happy to post some of the letters and see what you all have to say about them. I have probably a couple dozen letters that he wrote.
I admit I haven't read most of them. To be honest, most of them are pretty boring, and just talk about crops and the weather. No surprise, of course, because I'm sure he wasn't going to be providing too many details. My Dad's letters from Korea are very similar, and he's told me that was on purpose, because he didn't want to tell his folks too much about what was really going on.
Paul
Nothing about the letters ( to me) is boring.
Probably the WW1/WW2 forum.
Greetings, I'm new to this site and found it by chance this afternoon.
My name is Ray Fernandez, and last year I had the honor of being selected by the Veterans, as the President of the 535th Anti Aircraft Artillery - Automatic Weapons Battalion.
The 535th AAA participated in the D-Day landings on Utah Beach, fought in the Battle of the Bulge along side the 99th Infantry (Checkerboard), at the Remagen Bridge, and many other battles. My father, Ray Sr, was assigned to the 535th AAA, A Battery, 7th Gun Section.
We hold yearly reunions for the Vets and I hope, thru this site, to contact others that have ties to the 535th. There are many Vets out there that may not know these reunions exist.
If you have a family member that served with the 535th, or was assigned to a unit that fought along side them, or know of the family members of a deceased member that are researching, please contact me.
God Bless our Veterans
Ray
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