Cigarettes, Candy, Jam and Peanuts

Dear Brother,

I am glad you received my letter. It was certainly good to hear from you as well. Mother has kept all your letters. She is doing fine now, but she was sure worried about you for a time. She was so happy you went to church for Easter. She knew you would like it. When she read your last letter, she said, “Well…I always knew Son was a good boy.” She sent you a package with the things you requested – cigarettes, candy, jam and peanuts.  Perhaps it will catch up with you soon.

Cousin Bess told Mother that you wrote that you were in the big invasion. Were you at Omaha? What was it like to see combat? France sounds very nice – a beautiful country with pretty girls. I’d like to see it. Dad is doing fine now too. He wanted me to ask you - did you get to see St. Lo?  I read that St. Lo was named after a fellow who healed the blind and that pilgrims still visit a healing spring in the town where he was born.  Perhaps someday, when I am a little older, I will come join you there.  I will bring you more cigarettes, candy, jam and peanuts and we will go visit that healing spring together.

We are very proud of you, Brother.

Lots of love,

James

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Written - June 6, 2014

I wrote this "letter" on behalf of my Dad in remembrance of his brother, Marshall Wade DeLong, and in honor of the 70th anniversary of D-Day. This letter was inspired by reading Dad’s collection of letters and V-MAIL postcards (Victory Mail) between Marshall Wade and the extended family.