WWII Frontline Letter, Normandy 1944. 4th Infantry Division. Killed in Action.

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WWII Frontline Letter, Normandy 1944. 4th Infantry Division. Killed in Action.:
$95.00

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*** Please see my other listings for more Active Service military letters.

   This is a very scarce original WWII frontline letter, written in Normandy in July 1944 by an American infantry officer who was later killed in action. This officer landed at Utah Beach on D-Day as a platoon leader in the 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. He was killed in action in November, 1944, in the Hurtgen Forest. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for valor in action.

*** The letter was written by Lieutenant John W. Irvine, who was killed in action in the Hurtgen Forest on the 14th of November, 1944.

   There is outstanding content in this letter about Lieutenant Irvine\'s experiences at the front during the Normandy campaign. He writes that fighting in the Normandy hedgerows was very difficult, like jungle fighting, and that it was very difficult for tanks to operate:

\"Normandy is very pretty but I\'ll be glad to get out of these hedgerows and into open country. This is practically like jungle fighting, and it\'s very difficult for our tanks to operate.\"

   Lieutenant Irvine was optimistic that the Germans would soon give up:

\"We have a radio in the area today and we\'re all listening to the news. Sounds like Germany is about ready to quit.\"

   Lieutenant Irvine states that the people at home in the U.S.A. were very fortunate, in comparison with the misery and suffering of the people of Europe. He also states that he wished it would stop raining so that he could get dry:

\"We\'re pretty lucky anyway. There is so much misery over here you realize how fortunate we are in the U.S.

... I threw all my clothes away and bought all new O.D.\'s, so I\'m all set for awhile. If it would just stop raining so I could get my blankets dry I\'d be happy.\"

   There is more. Lieutenant Irvine writes of chaplain services in the field. He also explains that when the men were resting they enjoyed discussing their recent battles, with plenty of embellishment:

\"While we\'re resting like this we sit around and swap lies about the last battle - you really hear some terrific stories.\"

***  This letter was written by Lieutenant John W. Irvine, who served as a platoon leader in Company H, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. Lieutenant Irvine was assigned to his regiment less than two weeks before D-Day. He served as a platoon leader in the assault landings at Utah Beach and throughout the Normandy campaign.

Lieutenant Irvine was killed in action on the 14th of November 1944, during the Hurtgen Forest battle. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for valor in action.

   An excellent original WWII letter, written in Normandy by an officer in the 4th Infantry Division who landed on D-Day, was killed in action in the Hurtgen Forest, and was awarded the Silver Star posthumously for valor in action. pays shipping, $3.00 in Canada, $4.00 to the United States, $5.00 Overseas. Immediate payment is required for this listing. I accept Paypal only. Thank you.

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