"Dear Pop"

This letter is part of the “Anne and Wayne Coloney Collection” at the Florida State Institute on Word War II and the Human Experience. It is from Wayne Coloney, a tank officer stationed in Europe, to his father. The letter is written on browning paper with black ink. In the letter, Wayne expresses anger at his lack of promotion and describes the items he will bring home to sell. Below Wayne's letter is a second note indicating that the letter, after being read by Wayne's father, was sent to Mary Adore.

Wayne Coloney

The Institute on World War II and the Human Experience

http://digital-collections.ww2.fsu.edu/scripto/items/show/191

Omeka

Peter Strobis

The Institute on World War II and the Human Experience

English

1925-1949

war letter

pen ink, paper

Person to Person (Analogue)

Camp Lucky Strike
Friday Afternoon
July 20, 1945

Dear Pop:
Since I last wrote you I have received 2 letters from you dated the 5th Mar. & 23 June. I have moved from Ebnat, Germany to Camp Lucky Strike near Le Havre, France. Been processed & am waiting to go home. I will get a 30 day furlough from Camp Blanding, Florida & will then be assigned to an outfit headed for the CBJ. I am authorized to wear an E.T.O. ribbon with 2 battle stars & 2 gold overseas bars. I'm still a private while almost everyone else here is at least a P.F.C., even men who have no battle experience & only half as long in the army. A number of others from out-fit are in the same boat & I'm beginning to think I'll be a private for the rest of my life.

I'm taking home a P-35, a 1917 Luger, a 1938 Luger, & a P-38 that I bought for $40.00 also a sight from a kraut "88" that our tank knocked out, a telescopic sight for a rifle, a kraut Paratroopers knife, a good 16 jewel watch I took off a dead kraut, and a first class camera tripod, a pair of kraut binoculars, and my Leica. I swapped the watch you gave me while I was at A&M for a Rolliecord (120-size film) checked in clipping. When I get home a friend of mine who is in camp with me, is going to buy my Leica for the trade in value on a con tax. Then I'm going to trade in the Rolliecord & money for a Contax III f 1.5. Selling it to him will not lose me anything & will give him a reduction on the market price. The prices quoted in the clippings are for used cameras in A-1 condition. You can't buy new ones of course without priority.

I haven't written mother & am not going to. Am going to just walk in & surprise them. Even if I did write it is doubtful if she would get it before I got home any way.
You said in your letter that I hadn't mentioned my plans for continuing my education after the war. In several of my letters I have mentioned this & I think by now you will have received them so I wont say anything more here. Hope this will reach you in good time.

Love,
Wayne

Aug 16, 1945- Mary Adore Darling: I am sending home this letter of Wayne the last one I have had from him. I hope he is there when this comes so he can read it to you himself. We heard to-day on the radio that troops returning from Europe would not be sent out here. I hope that is true. You must have had a bang up celebration in the States according to the reports here - as I said we had ours on Friday night when the announced that Japan was considering surrender. We really had some fireworks also an air raid to help things along. I wrote you a note this AM & want to get a short one off to Moms to-night. Still no mail. All my love Darling to you and Wayne and Warren Herndon

Pop
Mary Adore