January 4, 1946 - Tientsin, China

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This is the absolute last letter from the shoe box. I am hoping to once again post letters. I am making an appeal to my relatives to go through those boxes of momentos, and provide me with additional material. I would love to read some of letters my father, Joe wrote to his friends and family.

Until then, I hope you have enjoyed reliving a troubling time during our nation's history from the angle of the average 'GI' Joe. It has been a pleasure sharing with you.

November 30, 1945 - Tientsin, China

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 This is one of two letters that I have written to my father Joe by his brother-in-law, Al. Al was a marine stationed in the South Pacific. This letter is written from China. On my mother, Norma's side of the family, her brother George was in the Air Force and stationed during WWII in China and also spent some time in India.

My dad and his step brother Paul as well as brother-in-law always liked to joke and tease. In this letter, Al sends Joe a hundred dollar Chinese bill (worth about 2 cents), so Joe could go and buy a camera. Of course, this was almost an impossibility as most consumer items were in short supply.

I am sure Joe enjoyed the humor, as he kept and preserved the letter and bill for all of these years.

Cherbourg, France, June 13, 1945

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To learn more about V-MAIL click the wikipedia link below:

V-Mail

This is the last letter in the shoe box from Paul to my father Joe. In the next couple of weeks, I will post the two letters written by Al Paskowicz to my father Joe.

I am hoping in the future, that some of my relatives will provide me letters in their possession. Of course, I will share them on this blog.

France, May 25, 1945

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La Haye du Puits, France, May 14, 1945

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Click the link below to read the article on Victory in Europe Day:

Victory in Europe Day

that occurred on May 7-8, 1945.

If you look to the right, click the link 'Where I'm From', I have been posting pictures my father took during the War.

France, May 4, 1945

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These letters were written on onion skin paper and are very fragile. I find it very interesting that both Paul and my dad would send type written letters. For years, the letters that I received from my dad were type written, and he would usually write them all cap. He would never sign them, just his typed name at the end of the letter. After reading these war letters, I wonder if that is where he learned to send letters in this fashion.

France, April 28, 1945

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