The Best Mother’s Day Present During World War II

World War II was immensely difficult for mothers. I can’t imagine how hard it was to not know where your soldier sons and daughters were located or whether they were safe or even still alive. I’m sure the best Mother’s Day present during those years was a letter. I often reference War Letters: Extraordinary Correspondence from American Wars, edited by Andrew Carroll. In this book, there are many letters written by soldiers back home to their moms. They are tender, serious, heartbreaking, and sometimes even funny.

The one I am going to share in this blog is one of the humorous ones. It was written by fifteen-year-old Bill Lynn who learned quickly that he really didn’t want to be a marine. He lied about his age to enlist in the summer of 1941 and went to San Diego, California for boot camp. My grandfather also went to San Diego for boot camp. Please ignore any spelling and grammar errors in Bill’s letter.

Dear Mom,

This is the lousy place in the world. Our clothes they gave us are to big for some of us. I got my shots today & they really do hurt me. The sargents crabby. Just because a boy forgot something when we were moving the man kicked him & made him run all the way over to the other camp & get it. We go to bed at 9:00 & get up at 5:00. Mom tell them the truth about my age and get me out of here. I am getting so lonely I think I will die. We had to go get all our hair cut off but about half an inch. Hurry as soon as possible if you can. Try to get out by Sunday at least. We had to polish & wash windows last night until 9:00 o clock. I have enclosed the bill. Sorry I did not write sooner. Oh, mom if you only knew how I feel you would not wait to get me out. Send me some clothes when you come get me out. Write me some because I have put some stamps in for air mail. You have to walk on your tiptoes so it will not make to much noise. The sarg. made that up. Tell everybody I said helo. How’s Sandy.

Your son

Bill

Write to me.

After this letter, Bill became fonder of the marines, mailed back the birth certificate his mother eventually sent him, and stayed in the military. His letters home became more sporadic when he was sent to the Pacific warfront. Sadly, he was killed three days after his nineteenth birthday. Bill’s letters were a consolation to his mother. She kept them always, and now they are for all to read and remember her son.

The mothers of World War II made huge sacrifices. My heart goes out to all the mothers today who have sons and daughters serving away from home in the military. I hope they receive a letter, text, or phone call this Mother’s Day!

“It’s still all heat and sand out here. I’ve been sleeping with no covers,” Victoria read on with a frown, and Ava stifled a giggle. She knew her mother was tired of James’s letters always beginning with a weather report. She wanted to know more about what he was eating, who he was befriending, and what sort of training he was engaging in.

Songbird, Chapter 32

READ OR LISTEN TO SONGBIRD TODAY!