Person:William Rakestraw (5)

Western Union Telegram, SA184 dated 6 45 redated 1945 May 7

!MILITARY: WWII, serial/service # 36 485 353. Inducted Chicago, Illinois. Basic Training Little Rock, Arkansas. Address, LaSalle Dr., Alton, IL. Pvt. QMC

DEATH: Car accident. See file.

BURIAL: Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial: Plot 8, Row 39, Grave 41

CORRESPONDENCE: 1. 1 Aug 1944 Dear Mom and Dad Well love I got a letter from you yesterday and love it came in time, And love you know that I can not write ever day but I would like to and love you tell the girls to write and not to sent me a thing I will not get it for some time, But I will try to write to thems if I can. Well love how are you and all, We came 23 miles list night and I was up all night as I hope you can read this ok. I am feeling good at the time it is 9.30 pm and boy I guess you all are just geting up but I am going to have a good time soon. Love I do not think that this old war is going to go for a other 4 weeks are none but if it dones I will be home soon. Well love I guess this is all for this time. Love Bill. 2. postdate 17 Aug 1944 Dear Sis Well I got a letter from you ever day are so And do A love it So keep it up love it is a good hot day and I am laying in the sun we jusk got off of the front and love it is hell that way I hope Ned done not have to come over hear Well love I am going to write soon. Dear Mom Love I sent you $60 to keep for me So if you get it write and tell me Love Bill 3. postdate 20 Aug 1944 Dear Mom and Dad Love today is Sunday and I am writing in the julp thinking of the girl I love and it is you and how are you dear? I am feeling good at the time. Love can you get me Dave add I would like to write to him boy. I would like to see him. The boys are playing cards and I did not do so good Hi Hi (It hell)!! I got to go to work on my jeep so I guess I will not write to much at the time, I would like to have on after this war they are a good little car Well I guess you can see I am runing out of ing so I will stop for now So write soon Love Bill 4. Sep 30 1944 (post date 3 Sep) Note: envelope forwarded to Torrance, CA but the address on letter is to CA and not IL To Mom and All I musk of ben thinking of Mary (?) at the time Sister it with a M. Well I guess it is ok and how is my love ones today. It is not to good of a day now, And how is it out there, Boy I would love to be out there and boy we would have a good time, I guess I am feeling ok but I miss old home so much and I would die to see you for a min and love I do not think that I will be home for x mas all I hope that this old war will be over by that time, And by the way love I got that box on the way to you they are not to good but I like them and I no will to Well love it look like I got to go for this time. Love Bill 5. 4 Sep 1944 Dear Mom and Sis ("Mom and" crossed out) Well it look like I was going to write to Mom, Love how is Ned comeing in the Army did you see him I do hope that he will no have to come over hear I have been write letter all day and boy it is hell I do not like to write a letter they take thing out of it and all that. But love I am going to write to you all I can and Dot. Well love I got to be going for this time. Love Bill 6. 3 Sep 1944 Dear Mom and Dad Well love I went you all to no I am ok love one. And how are you for to day Love I do not no what to say but I went to write to you I no you feel good when you get a letter I no I do I guess you are on your way to Cilf by this time I do hope you have a good time and I will see you be for love now this old war is going to be over be for home Love Bill