Preface
In Spring of 2017, I visited my parents in Lancaster, Pennsylvania for the holiday of Passover. Together with my wife Devora, and young son Eli, we had made the trip from our home in Jerusalem, Israel to spend much-needed quality time with our extended family. I’d always been a history enthusiast, but after becoming a new father, there was simultaneously born a newfound appreciation and an interest in my learning more about my own historical family roots.
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It was this curiosity that found us rummaging through the many boxes in my parent’s attic one afternoon during our stay. Box after box of old family photos and mementos were opened and looked through. One of the final boxes of the day became the catalyst for an unexpected yet wonderful four-year journey.
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Within the large box were eight smaller shoeboxes, filled with what appeared to be countless old envelopes, stacked together. Devora picked one letter from the box – completely at random – and began to read aloud.
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Wednesday, May 16, 1945
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Hello Folks,
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Another swell package from you…There are some Polish Jews in this town, and I must have met them all yesterday, about 51. The majority have been in concentration camps for over five years, and they certainly have some stories to tell…God knows what’ll become of them. The Poles treated them terribly and none want to go back there. When you see something like this, you begin to realize why Palestine would be such a grand place. These people actually have no place to go. They all speak Yiddish and I understood them, just like hearing my Old Man speak it. A lot came from Warsaw, and they say it was a terrible place for the Jews…
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That’s all now.
Love and Kisses,
CharlieÂ
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We were left speechless, in awe and astonishment. It was not news to me that my Pop-Pop, Charlie Fletcher, had been a serviceman in WWII. I had grown up hearing him repeat the same two or three Army anecdotes, had happily listened while he sang his Unit’s song very heartily, albeit off-key. But holding his letters, seeing his handwriting, and reading his short but powerful message written more than 70 years before, was among the most profound experiences of my life.
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The next few days of our visit found me carefully unfolding every letter, digitally scanning, and organizing the envelopes according to their respective dates. Though I didn’t know at the time what would become of those scans, I knew that these letters and the story within couldn’t remain to gather dust. It became my mission to preserve and share the materials that tell of a world through the eyes of my then 20-year-old grandfather. That is how and why the book Love and Kisses, Charlie is in your hands today.
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While reading through and preparing these letters for print, a few matters quickly became apparent. Firstly, this was no “Band of Brothers” story, in fact it was furthest thing from a soaring Hollywood epic. Like some 39% of all enlisted personnel during WWII, Charlie had an administrative rather than a frontline combat position. Additionally, though thoroughly patriotic and proud of his military service, he was content and grateful for his non-combat role, having no false illusions as to the trials and tribulations of war. Furthermore, Charlie’s maturity and inimitable personality take centerstage throughout his correspondence. He was a relatively young man facing a most daunting chapter, yet he maintained his humor throughout and was chiefly concerned not for himself, but for his family, their health, business, and relationships. His letters constantly reassure his parents that everything is “okey-doke” – all while positioned only a few miles from the frontlines while serving in Europe. Finally, Charlie threads a heartwarming and strong cultural and social Jewish identity throughout his correspondence. These foundational characteristics would continue to follow and formulate him on his path in adulthood.
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Charlie’s letters begin with his arrival to Camp Upton, New York and his induction to the United States Army in September 1943. From there we follow him to training at Fort Benning, Georgia and Camp Swift, Texas, through to his eventual departure to Europe in September 1944. Once in France, Charlie and his Division completed 173 days of combat through Germany until Victory in Europe Day, on May 8, 1945. From May 1945, Charlie is placed on Garrison Duty in Germany until he is honorably discharged in February 1946. All told, Charlie’s letters are the personal accounts and reflections of a young man drafted just two months shy of his 20th birthday. They are a slice of Americana, reflecting both the significant historical events as well as the often dull and routine existence of Army life. In short, they describe the “hurry up and wait” maxim, which so powerfully defines the military experience.
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At this point, a note regarding the technical structure of this book is in order. The following pages contain upwards of 600 letters, postcards, and telegrams written to his family by my grandfather Charles “Charlie” L. Fletcher between September 1943 and February 1946, while serving in the United States Army in WWII. The letters have been faithfully transcribed, with only small grammatical changes made to the original text. For a more seamless reading experience, the letters have been divided into 13 chapters corresponding to the main events in which Charlie was a participant. The Yiddish and Hebrew terms sprinkled liberally throughout the letters have been italicized, with their English translation footnoted. Additionally, the footnotes added by this author include short definitions of military terminology, explanations of historical events and people.
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At the time of the letters’ composition, there was a censorship in effect for war correspondence. Therefore, there are many details missing as to Charlie’s location at any given time, as well as the military and historical events which served as the backdrop for his letters. To bridge this gap, a brief historical overview concerning the main events of the time as they relate to and affect Charlie’s personal experiences can be found at the beginning of each chapter. The accompanying photographs and archival materials are from Charlie’s personal collection unless otherwise noted; maps and troop movements were sourced from the Division’s war annual published in 1947, With the 102nd Infantry Division Through Germany.
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The completion of this project has been a poignant journey back to my roots, enhancing both past and present. To view the world through my grandfather’s perspective at such a pivotal point in his life helped me to better understand myself, my parents, and the person that he would later become - the man I knew and loved as Pop-Pop. Though he passed away when I was 15 years old, working on this project over the last few years has made me feel that he is still right here beside me. In a truly full circle moment uniting our military journeys, I was privileged to officiate as an IDF Rabbi for a Hannukah candle-lighting ceremony together with US General Mark A. Milley, 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during his visit to Israel. It was a profound experience to share Charlie’s story at an event which encapsulated the Jewish identity, American patriotism and Zionistic values that he held so dear.
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In truth, my grandfather’s legacy is the joyful spirit with which he interacted with everyone. Always family oriented, outgoing, good-natured, and one for a good time, I know that he would get a kick out of every bit of fuss being made over him and his letters today. Indeed, he'd think it swell.
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Well, Pop-Pop, this one’s for you.
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Love and Kisses,
Joshua Gerstein
Jerusalem, Israel
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