Cole, Benjamin Gaston. Benjamin Gaston Cole papers, 1943-1991; (bulk, 1943-1946).
Title:
Benjamin Gaston Cole papers, 1943-1991; (bulk, 1943-1946).
Consisting of World War II letters, V-Mail messages, and photographs, 2 Mar. 1943 - 30 Jan. 1946, addressed to Greenville, S.C., resident Miss Lee Howard [later Mrs. Lee Howard Watson]. Letters written from Walterboro, S.C., Warner-Robins, Ga., and undisclosed locations in England, France, and Germany. A multi-page retrospective letter, 21 May 1945, written after censorship restrictions were lifted, indicates that the United Kingdom, Cole was stationed first at Warton, but later was attached to military depots at Charmy Downs, Cottesmore, Crookham Commons, North Witham, Saltby, Bishops Stortsford, and Folkingham. He served at various times with both tactical and service squadrons, where he was responsible for airplane part salvage. Cole was relocated to France in early 1945 and after the surrender of Japan was assigned to a tactical photo reconnaissance group in Germany. Cole's long and newsy letters speculate on his uncertain future, voice frustration with the inefficiency of the war effort, comment on his work as a military censor, and relate news of leisure-time activities, movies, music, dances, and cultural events. They also reveal an inner struggle with the realization that soldiers were dying in combat while others enjoyed lives of relative safety. Other topics include preparations for the Normandy invasion, Christmas 1944 celebrations, interaction with civilians in England and France, the surrender of Germany and Japan, the futility of world peace, and the Nuremberg war crimes trial. Also includes typescript volume, 1991, "Excerpts from Letters written by Benjamin Gaston Cole to Lee Howard, Greenville, South Carolina, March 1943 - January 1946," prepared for the Thursday Club.
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