Search results | Digital Grinnell

Title: Anna Lee Freeman to Lucille Ley - December 4, 1944
Description: Anna Lee implies in her letter that she has recived word that her son is dead. She mentions that she is still praying for the other members of the crew that are only reported as missing, including Jimmy. Anna Lee tells Lucille about an old friend of her son that paid her a visit and the good memories he brought back. She asks Lucille to write back any news she hears.
Date Created: 1944
PID: grinnell:26510

Title: Anna Lee Freeman to Lucille Ley - November 2, 1944
Description: Anna Lee talks about her son and his reported death. She mentions that her son sometimes talked about Jimmy in his letters home as they were part of the same crew. She offers her sympathy to Lucille (presumably because Jimmy has been reported as missing) and hopes that maybe they have heard different news.
Date Created: 1944
PID: grinnell:26507

Title: Anna Lee Freeman to Lucille Ley - November 24, 1944
Description: Anna Lee mentions the connections she's created with the other crew members' parents. She sends pictures and information regarding crew to keep Lucille updated on the situation. She asks Lucille if she has recieved the last letter one of the crew member's was able to write and says that if not she will send it her way.
Date Created: 1944
PID: grinnell:26509

Title: Edna M. Smith to Lucille Ley - December 14, 1944
Description: Edna expresses disappointment that her son is not in the photo Lucille sent. She says she has heard from all the other next-of-kin except one. She muses on the little information she knows about her son's military service and comments that she still has not received any off his personal effects. She wonders whether Lucille has ever been asked to settle Jimmy's estate, a process which she calls "red tape." She doubts whether George is actually dead without proof. The mothers swap photographs of their sons.
Date Created: 1944
PID: grinnell:26522

Title: Edna M. Smith to Lucille Ley - November 13, 1944
Description: Edna outlines the chronology from the time she received notice that her son was missing in action to the time she received the list of crew members killed in action and Lucille's letter at almost the same time. She says her son never gave out any information or sent any photos, so she is glad to have more information. She begs Lucille for any additional photos or information she may have and expresses her solidarity as another mother of a missing soldier. She promises to send any updates she receives.
Date Created: 1944
PID: grinnell:26521

Title: John L. Smith to Lucille Ley - December 14, 1944
Description: John sends Lucille a Christmas card in which he thanks Lucille for the photos she sent, although his son is not in them. He sends a photo to her. He agrees with her that the prostpects of their sons returning are slim, but wishes Lucille a nice Christmas nevertheless.
Date Created: 1944
PID: grinnell:26525

Title: John L. Smith to Lucille Ley - November 10, 1944
Description: John expresses solidarity and emphasizes that parents of soldiers MIA must continue to wait and hope, but prepare for the worst. He requests any photos or information Lucille might have and offers the same to her.
Date Created: 1944
PID: grinnell:26523

Title: Mary Grothouse to Lucille Ley - November 27, 1944
Description: Mary, another mother with a son reported as missing, writes to Lucille to tell her she has not yet recieved her son Kenneth's personal items. She writes that her other son in England communicated with some of the boys from Kenneth's base who have high hopes the crew will return. Finally Mary relates to Lucille how her family has changed since the start of the war.
Date Created: 1944
PID: grinnell:26514

Title: Mrs. H. L. Luke to Lucille Ley - December 7, 1944
Description: Mrs. Luke confirms that George is in the picture Lucille sent to her, and expresses her grief at the prospect of never seeing George again. She tells Lucille she has received George's Purple Heart and will soon receive George's Air Medal and Oak Leaf Clusters in the mail. She sends Lucille's photograph back and says she will pay for a copy to be made. She passes along the news from a Mr. Smith that there are special troops looking for the missing soldiers, whom she prays are safe.
Date Created: 1944
PID: grinnell:26519

Title: Mrs. H. L. Luke to Lucille Ley - November 20, 1944
Description: Mrs. Luke thanks Lucille for her letter and for the additional information Lucille was able to provide about the circumstances of her stepson George's death. She requests a copy of one of Lucille's photographs. She says she is glad to know some of the crew of the plane is still missing and not officially pronounced dead, and she hopes for good news soon. Mrs. Luke describes her internal struggle with her hatred for the Germans. She tells Lucille a little about George, about her own children, and about George's older brother who was also killed in action.
Date Created: 1944
PID: grinnell:26518