Guide to the Melvin G. Thompson letters
1943-1945

This is a nearly complete collection of the letters home from Melvin G. Thompson to his wife, Hope. Thompson wrote letters home every day to every five days. The letters fill four vertical document boxes. Also included are: a letter from his mother to him, a few “vmail” letters, and a couple of telegrams to his wife, likely written to assuage her fears for his safety.

Thompson's first letter to his wife is dated Sept. 12, 1943, and was sent from his army basic training post at Fort Lewis, Washington. Melvin and Hopey were still somewhat newlyweds, as they had been married Sept. 18, 1941. They had an infant son, Scott, born at the time of Thompson's induction into the army. His letters are mainly declarations of love for his wife, inquiring about his son, and general descriptions of the weather and camp life. Throughout his deployment, he appears to have followed military rules about appropriate letter information, as none of his letters seem to have required official editing. Only once did he mention a letter returned to him due to military information contained within it. He went by train in September 1944 to Fort Van Dorn, Mississippi, where he mentioned the possibility of training for a cannon company. In October became a squad leader, receiving an $80 monthly allowance, which he sent home to his wife.

In February 1944 Thompson went by train to Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky, and at that time he mentioned attending radio school. On furlough he was able to visit his wife in March 1944. Also that month, he moved to an undisclosable location on the east coast of the U.S., in preparation for shipping overseas. By July 1944 he was stationed in France, then Luxembourg. By December he was in various parts of Germany, and his letters contain complaints about moving around so much. He wrote that he had seen combat, but did not elaborate. He also wrote of sleeping on the ground, severe cold, lack of bathing, and lack of electricity by which to write. Thompson thanked his wife often for her care packages of cigarettes, candy and cookies. In January 1945 in Belgium, he complained of lightly frostbitten feet and bad conditions. By February he was back in Germany, then in Holland by March, where he wrote about buying small wooden clogs for his son Scott. In May he received the Bronze Star, although he did not specify the reason for the award.

In May of 1945 Thompson went to Czechoslovakia, then France. At this time he expected to to ship home on October 2. He continued to write letters, expressing more and more frustration over the delays he and his fellow servicemen experienced as they waited for departure. Delays continued, while at the same time Thompson saw ships idling in the harbor, and others with less points than he (80 points, vs. others with 60) shipping home before him. His last letter is dated Oct. 18, 1945, the date of his fourth wedding anniversary.