SSG Arville Weldon Littleton

Arville is in the middle, my mom, Ollie Maye McClendon Littleton, is beside him. The gentleman on the left is unknown.

Italy

May 23,1944

Dear Bud:

Theres not much I can say, you know these censors. These Foreign countries are quite a bit different from home, they don't do things like like we do.

We have a pretty good place to stay at the present, plenty to eat and everything like that. I think Italy would be a better place to live than Africa but I don't care for either one of them.

(The rest of the letter has been lost)

Southern France

Sept. 11, 1944

Dear Guy and Family:

As usual I don't have much to write about. I haven't gotten that weekly letter - just one the other day, but if you are working in the hay I don't blame you for not writing. I doubt if I could even work in the hay anymore, much less do anything after I got through for the day. Right now I'm taking it easy in the sunshine. If you can't read it, it's because I'm trying to write laying down. I wish I was thin to try out some of those green apples. I'll bet they are not any better than the apples and plums over here - and not half as many.

I knew about Brannon but I didn't know about Red Curtis, I hope he is all right, maby he was captured.

These French are really glad to see us, they give us eggs and bread and cheese and they don't care for us getting apples, pears and plums out of the orchards. I don't think it would do any good if they did care.

We had a little scrap with the Jerries the other day and our side won the battle. We have won them all so far. A few of us were pretty well hidden and were shooting at trucks. I hit one and it exploded. I think I hit a hand grenade or some kind ammunition. After the battle I went down and there lay four dead Germans. Thats all there was to ...

... start with. I got them all. It's a shame there was not more in it. I'm going to try to get me a German piostol and if I can I'll get you one to - if they will let me take them home.

I don't think there is any use in sending more candy. I got the first one Ollie Maye sent, and that is all. I don't know where they go but they don't get to me. I did get a box of razor blades from home. Oh yes, I got this paper out of one of the trucks we knocked out. Well I've got to write home.

Love

Arville

(click to view whole report)

He was killed the day after he wrote that letter. My mother was only 20 years old at the time and I was 20 months old.