During the course of World War II, soldiers sent letters home describing the events and conditions of the war; for historians, these letters give front-line insight to the war and of the “Greatest Generation.” George Hynes wrote a letter home from Amberley Stalion, Australia on 26 January 1941 mentioning a secret mission he hoped to take part of to save “the lives of [his] friends.” George Jr. wrote to his mom and dad to thank them for raising him in a good home, he even said, “if everyone had the swell parents and good home that I have had there would be nothing like this happening.” He then explained what to do with his belongings he had sent from his foot locker. There is a sense that George Jr. did not believe he would be returning home
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wrote home were very different from each other. Paul’s letter home describes the hard parts of the war including what it sounded like to hear the “cries of the wounded.” Even if his intention was to tell home how the war was going, he did not sugarcoat his reality. George Jr. on the other hand did not describe the war itself or even his meal plan as Paul did. George Jr. talked to his parents about the ship he was on and his desire to save his friends and make his parents proud. Again, Paul’s letter never mentions what to do with his belonging if he never made it home, but George Jr. told his parents to do with his items as they please but to make sure that his dad got his camera. George Jr. did not bother to worry his parents with the conditions of war. There are many possibilities as to why these letters were so different. First, they were written in two different countries thousands of miles apart. Another reason could be that George Jr. wrote his letter in the middle of the war period three years before Paul wrote his letter home which was only a year before the war ended. It is likely that conditions worsened as the war went on and Paul needed to speak to the devastation that George never encountered in the same way. Both letters, however, offer insight into the “Greatest Generation” fighting during World War II and the conditions and events both were faced with, all described in their letters
wrote home were very different from each other. Paul’s letter home describes the hard parts of the war including what it sounded like to hear the “cries of the wounded.” Even if his intention was to tell home how the war was going, he did not sugarcoat his reality. George Jr. on the other hand did not describe the war itself or even his meal plan as Paul did. George Jr. talked to his parents about the ship he was on and his desire to save his friends and make his parents proud. Again, Paul’s letter never mentions what to do with his belonging if he never made it home, but George Jr. told his parents to do with his items as they please but to make sure that his dad got his camera. George Jr. did not bother to worry his parents with the conditions of war. There are many possibilities as to why these letters were so different. First, they were written in two different countries thousands of miles apart. Another reason could be that George Jr. wrote his letter in the middle of the war period three years before Paul wrote his letter home which was only a year before the war ended. It is likely that conditions worsened as the war went on and Paul needed to speak to the devastation that George never encountered in the same way. Both letters, however, offer insight into the “Greatest Generation” fighting during World War II and the conditions and events both were faced with, all described in their letters