This is a letter from Ed Gare Jr that my cousin shared with me. It is written to my Uncle Dave, known as Bud and describes the night the family discovered he was alive and freed from a German prisoner of war camp. There are a number of family members mentioned in it:
- Dave is my Grandfather David Wright
- Caroll is my mother
- Catherine is my aunt
- Charlie is my Uncle
- George is my Uncle
- and the Uncle referenced is my great Uncle Edward.
Northampton, Mass Apl. 11-45 8 P.M.
Dear Bud:
This has been a great day around here. Dave brought in the V mail, we had to use a glass to read teh address but we got it. We damn glad the Germans didn't get you they are bastards. Lu is in France + might get yo see you if you write him, I'll send you the address to-night. He is still LT.L.S.G. 05 39 857. Co B. 20th JK Bn. A.P.O. 444. N.Y. Your folks are all well. I saw Carol yesterday she was looking for news and couldn't find her father so luckily we had it. The card written from Camp A12 on Feb 2nd came first, then the letter written in December was delivered to Catherine in Washington, the army was checking on it to be sure you were you. Then the short letter yesterday saying you were in France And to-days V mail completed the record. 140 days is a long time to-be cooped up as gran-says or whether they feed you. Charlie is in Germany, probably O.K. in his jeep. Your Uncle was sick for a while but is better now, he is O.K in fact. Catherine married a Navy J.g. Lt. a few weeks ago, we went to the wedding. Trushan is on a cruiser the Amsterdam + was home a few weeks ago. Puff is in Camp Thunder Mo. waiting to move, he is a medic now. He was home in January. George is O.K. he talks occasionally but Caroll almost a pal of mine, she was positively beautiful at Catherine's wedding, she wore a pink gown, lacy + slim, after the wedding I spent an hour talking to Major Smith about you + his son who was + maybe is a prisoner of the Germans. We haven't passed a day without thinking of you, Lu said he sat down + cried when he heard of it in December, so you see that was once when [ILLEGIBLE] Family failed the great S.S.S. There are several cats and about two weeks ago I sat on one. It was the night we heard about you first, the day the card from [ILLEGABLE] I worked late at the store so I stopped in at your home at about 10 P.M. Bud you would have busted. Harry Fiff sent in a bottle of wine + someone set Uncle one so the two bottles were on the table, I sat on a cat. Uncle uncorked the bottle, Caroll put cherries in the wine, I don't know why and we all drank to Bud, a quart if you please, Then Dave + I fought the other war for a while, Uncle went to bed, Caroll went upstairs, I groped my way home + I guess Dave drank the other bottle himself. Enclosed is a pet picture of mine - The Connecticut Valley from Mt. Nonotuck. It is all here, not green yet but will be, get your one way ticket back here and then we will try to keep Europe in Europe aa+ Asia in Asia and let Northampton enjoy the Valley. We (the Chamber of Commerce) have had 50 pictures The school, churches, shops + main street made to send to the boys but I hope you will see it yourself soon.
So we hope you improve, get back some weight, + strength and we will see you soon.
3 or 4 of my letters came back, I'll give then to you when you get home.
Don't bother to write me but use the paper if you need it for Dave, he tells me anyway.
Ed Gare Jr
I spent many evenings at your home this winter, Your Father is a great man, they don't make any better ones.
Here is the scanned copy of the letter.
I've also started to compile a list of some of the family members who have been members of the military and taken part in the wars. It is not everyone.
- World War II
- World War I
- Civil War
- My 2nd Great Granduncle Charles Championette Putnam, who died at the battle of Middleburg, VA while charging a hill.
- My 6th Cousin, 4 times removed David Perkins Putnam
- My 2nd Great Grandfather Edward B. Smith, who may have been a spy during the war, and died of consumption.
- My 2nd Great Grandfather John McCann, who was a carter and was at the Battle of Gettysburg
- My Great Granduncle Franklin Adelbert Smith, who died in Memphis, TN likely due to wounds from Sturgis's expedition to Guntown, TN.
- War of 1812
- My 3rd Great Grandfather Simeon Reed, who was a drummer during the war
I hope to get into the next generation soon which will document the families involvement in the Revolutionary War.
