Wwii Letter, Returned, Killed In Action, Iwo Jima 1945. For Sale

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This isa scarceoriginal WWII letter and cover,written on the27th of February,1945, to a United States Marine who was killed in action at Iwo Jima. The letter was written to the marine by his mother. Her son had beenkilled4 days earlier. Sheknewwhen she wrote the letter that her son was fighting on Iwo Jima,but she was not yet aware that he was dead. There is content about the Iwo Jima invasion in this letter.

Theletter has beenreturned to sender. The coverbears aUnited States Marine Corps "Returned to Sender HQ USMC Wash, D.C." stamping.

*** The cover is addressed to "Corp. Raynor A. Michelsen, F.Co, 2nd Bn., 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division, F.M.F., c/oFPO San Francisco, California. It wasreturned toCorporal Michelsen'smother at her home in Massachusetts. Corporal Raynor A. Michelsen, F Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, was killed in action at Iwo Jima on 23 February, pagepage letter is interesting and emotional.Mrs. Michelsen had been closely following the first news reports from Iwo Jima, knowing that her son was fighting there. There were regular reports on the radio:

"We are getting reports every few hours on your progress."

Mrs. Michelsen had a friend who had heard from a man who was also in the 4th MarineDivision. The man had written that the 4th Marine Division would be sent home after the Iwo Jima battle:

"Velma received 4 letters from Teddyyesterday. He wrote them aboard ship... Teddy told Velma in his letters therewas a possibility of the 4th coming home after this battle."

There is muchmore. Mrs. Michelsenhad a friendnamed Miriam Duffywho had joined the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. Miriam Duffy had four brothers in the service. One of her brothers had been killed in May 1944, while serving with Merrill's Marauders in Burma:

"My girlfriend Miriam Duffy, who joined the Marines and is now with the Casualty Dept. in Arlington, Va, is just about as crazy about the Marine Corps as you are. She raves about it all the time. She has 4 brothers in the service and she makes the 5th member. One of her brothers lost his life in the India sector last May. He was with Merrill's Marauders."

Mrs. Michelsen was very proud of her son's service in the Marine Corps. A man who worked in the same building as her had a son in the 5th Marine Division, and they often discussed the Marine Corps together:

"There is a man in the same building I am in who has a son in the 5th Division. The son's name is Jack Coffey and he is quite a boy. If you ever come across him tell him I know his father. We always have a chat about the Marine Corps when we meet."

At the end of the letter Mrs. Michelsen expressesher love for her sonand her hope that he was well and happy.

Corporal Raynor Michelsennever received this letter. Hehad died four days beforeit was written.The letterwas returned toMrs. Michelsena few months after her sonwas killedon Iwo Jima.

The condition is as shown.Thereare nobackstamps on the cover. pays shipping, $1.50 in Canada, $2.00 to the United States, $2.50 Overseas. Shipping costs may be combined with my other sales ending in the same week as far as package size and weight permit. Payment must be received within 5 calendar days of the end of the sale. The winning buyer must contact me within 2 days of the end of the sale. I accept Paypal only. Thank you.

At present I will be mailing packages only once or twice weekly.

Canadian buyers must pay applicable GST/HST on all purchases.

This item has been shown 110 times. Wwii Letter, Returned, Killed In Action, Iwo Jima 1945.: $27