D-Day Correspondence
This collection contains 3 correspondences written by servicemembers who wrote about the 1944 June 6 invasion of Normandy, France. These service members either directly participated on D-Day or landed in Normandy shortly after the invasion. In the first letter, Sgt. David B. Biddle writes about the significance of the day to his wife, Margery Biddle, but also reassuring her that she should not be scared for him and instead pray and trust God. Lt. Ralph P. Goldsticker, Jr., a bombardier with the Army Air Corps, writes to his parents about their company’s debrief the day before the invasion and how he flew two missions on D-Day. Finally, Maj. Allen M. Boyden, a surgeon with the US Army Auxiliary Surgical Group, 3rd, writes to his wife nearly a week after the landing on the beaches of Normandy. Boyden, who performed some of the first surgeries on Omaha Beach, recounts he has not slept in a week due to the many surgeries he has conducted, but feels he is making a difference. From the air to the ground, this collection represents just a small sample of the thousands of U.S. military personnel who participated in the invasion that opened a second front in Europe that would eventually lead to the defeat of Nazi Germany.
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1944-06-06, David to Wife
David B. Biddle
Sgt. Davide Biddle, USA, wrote to his wife on D-Day, expressing to her the significance of the day and what it means to ending the war. He frequently reassures his wife that he is not trying to scare her but reassurring her that she is strong. Sgt. Biddle emphasizes the importance of praying and trusting God throughout the remainder of the war. The seargent also expresses he continued love for his wife as he writes the letter. Biddle would not land in Normandy until June 11, 1944, a few days after D-Day.
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1944-06-06, Ralph to Parents
Ralph P. Goldsticker Jr.
This letter is written a day after June 6, 1944. Lt. Ralph P. Goldsticker, Jr., a bombardier with the U.S. Army Air Force Corps, writes about the 1944 June 5 debrief leading up to the D-Day. He also discusses how he flew two missions on D-Day and the second mission - in the afternoon - is when he was able to see the Allied forces along Normandy's beaches. Lt. Goldsticker writes that throughout the entire day, he and the rest of the Air Corps wanted to know the details of what was happening on the beachhead.
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1944-06-12, Allen to Wife
Allen M. Boyden
A surgeon in the Army, Maj. Allen M. Boyden performed some of the first surgeries on Omaha Beach. In this letter, Boyden writes to his wife, explaining that this is the first letter he was able to write to her in a long time - presumably the first letter since before the Allied invasion at Normandy, France on D-Day. He writes about not being able to sleep for a week due to the many major surgeries he had to conduct. Maj. Boyden writes that he feels he is making a difference in the war.