WW2 set of three letters from 32nd Signals Staff Sgt. 1942-44 (War in Pacific)

$40.00 CAD

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S/Sgt (Staff Sergeant) Edward J. Bailey (20630342) of the 32nd Signal Company writing to family back home in Detroit. Routed via APO 32 in San Francisco.

  1. On Australian Salvation Army Red Shield War Services letterhead, posted in ‘Salvation Army Red Shield for Australian Troops’ envelope. Red ‘USAFIA’ censor stamp as well as note ‘censored __ Boedeker 2nd Lt Sig-C.” Aug 23 1942: ”… I cannot tell you a thing as to what I am doing or just where I am at. I am still somewhere in Australia. Everything is going along in true Army Style. Lots of hard work with not too much time off…”
  2. On American Red Cross letterhead, posted in Red Cross envelope. Purple ‘US Army Examiner’ stamp. December 1943: “Somewhere in the South West Pacific” written at bottom of pre-printed ‘Season Greetings for ‘44’ flyer with topless girl on beach, palm tree..
  3. On American Red Cross letterhead, posted in Red Cross envelope. Purple ‘US Army Examiner’ stamp. May 18 1944: “Somewhere in Guinea …. we have been quite busy. No doubt you know we have moved again. Another boat trip…if you can get Black & White or Teachers for me, it will be swell”

 Envelopes are stained, crinkled but intact.

 

The United States 32nd Infantry Division was formed from Army National Guard units from Wisconsin and Michigan and fought primarily during World War I and World War II.

During World War II, the division was credited with many "firsts". It was the first United States division to deploy as an entire unit overseas and among the first of seven U.S. Army and U.S. Marine units to engage in offensive ground combat operations during 1942. The division was among the first divisions to engage the enemy and were still fighting holdouts after the official Japanese surrender. The 32nd logged a total of 654 days of combat during World War II, more than any other United States Army division.

… Taking a southerly route to avoid the Japanese Navy, they arrived in southern Australia at Port Adelaide on 14 May 1942, having traveled 9,000 miles (14,000 km) in 23 days. They were the first American division in World War II to be moved in a single convoy from the United States to the front lines.

WIKIPEDIA