War letters reflect sacrifice, offer inspiration

Jason Maloney For Agri-View
May 25, 2020
May 25, 2020

1 of 7

A photo of Ed Lynch sits on a trunk of letters he wrote. He flew in the Army Air Corps during World War II; he died in a plane crash in Wisconsin after the war. His watch, next to his photo, stopped upon impact when his plane crashed. Lynch's nephew donated the photos and watch to the Center For American War Letters.

Center For American War Letters

Andrew Carroll, founding director of the Center for American War Letters, is surrounded by donated war letters.

Center For American War Letters

Barb Robbins' father wrote home often during World War II.

Center For American War Letters

Letters written by 1st Sgt. Wayne Maloney to his sweatheart during World War II are in a box on their way to the Center For American War Letters.

Jason Maloney/For Agri-View

Donated war letters contain messages for readers of the present and future.

Center For American War Letters

1st Sgt. Wayne Maloney's Army uniform, left, hangs next to Maj. Jason Maloney's Army uniform. Right-shoulder patches on Army uniforms indicate duty in combat areas during war. Wayne Maloney served on active duty from 1942 to 1946. Jason Maloney served on active duty from 2004 to 2006, retiring in 2010 from the Army Reserve.

Jason Maloney/For Agri-View

Jason Maloney and Red

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Jason Maloney For Agri-View

Surviving difficult times is easier when we’re inspired by the lives of others. There are many famous people like George Washington who persevered selflessly through adversity for a greater good. And then there are lesser-known heroes like Ernest Evans who faced insurmountable odds with skill and courage in defense of our nation.

kAm|2?J @7 FD 92G6 DF49 A6@A=6 :? @FC @H? 72>:=:6Dj H6 ;FDE >:89E ?@E <?@H E96>] qFE E96J >:89E 36 2G2:=23=6 E@ 96=A :7 H6 ;FDE =@@<] %92E’D >F49 @7 H92E E96 r6?E6C 7@C p>6C:42? (2C {6EE6CD :D 2== 23@FE]k^Am

kAmtG6CJ 72>:=J 92D 9:DE@CJ] tG6CJ 72>:=J 92D DE@C:6D @7 :?DA:C2E:@? 2?5 4@FC286 – D@>6 C6>6>36C65 2?5 D@>6 7@C8@EE6?] p =@E @7 72>:=:6D 92G6 =:G:?8 >6DD286D E92E 2?46DE@CD 92G6 D6?E E@ E96> E9C@F89 E96 =@?8 A2DD286 7C@> @?6 86?6C2E:@? E@ 2?@E96C E92E H6 42== E:>6] %9@D6 =:G:?8 >6DD286D 2C6 HC:EE6? 5@H? @? D4C2AD @7 A2A6C 9:5:?8 :? @=5 ECF?<D[ DF:E42D6D[ 2?5 42C53@2C5 3@I6D DE@C65 :? 4=@D6ED 2?5 2EE:4D] u2C> 9@FD6D 2?5 FC32? 5H6==:?8D 2== 24C@DD E96 ?2E:@? F?<?@H:?8=J 9@FD6 2C49:G6D @7 :?DA:C2E:@?]k^Am

kAmp?5J r2CC@==[ 7@F?5:?8 5:C64E@C @7 E96 r6?E6C 7@C p>6C:42? (2C {6EE6CD[ <?@HD H6== E96 A@H6C @7 =:G:?8 >6DD286D HC:EE6? 3J D6CG:46 >6>36CD E@ =@G65 @?6D]k^Am

kAm“(6 92G6 2 4@==64E:@? 7C@> (:D4@?D:?[ 2? @=5 ECF?< 7:==65 H:E9 H2C =6EE6CD HC:EE6? 3J D@>6@?6 H9@ D6CG65 :? (@C=5 (2C xx[” 96 D2:5] “w6 DFCG:G65 E96 H2C[ 3FE EC28:42==J 27E6C E96 H2C 96 H2D 7=J:?8 H96? E96 2:CA=2?6 96 H2D :? >2=7F?4E:@?65] w6 C62=:K65 96 H2D 8@:?8 E@ 4C2D9 2?5 E92E 96 H@F=5 5:6 D@ 96 2:>65 E96 A=2?6 7@C 2 =2<6] (96? 9:D ?6A96H 5@?2E65 E96 ECF?< @7 =6EE6CD 96 :?4=F565 E96 H2E49 9:D F?4=6 H2D H62C:?8 5FC:?8 9:D 72E2= 4C2D9] %96 H2E49 DE@AA65 2E E96 >@>6?E @7 :>A24E]k^Am

kAm“*6DE6C52J 2 3@I @7 =6EE6CD 2CC:G65j x 42==65 E96 H@>2? H9@ D6?E E96> E@ E92?< 96C] $96 E@=5 >6 E92E C:89E ?@H :D E96 A6C764E E:>6 E@ D6?5 E96>] (6 2C6 2== DEF4< :? @FC 9@>6D] (92E 36EE6C E:>6 E@ 8@ E9C@F89 E96 2EE:4 H:E9 @FC =@G65 @?6D E@ 7:?5 H2C =6EE6CD HC:EE6? 3J 72>:=J >6>36CDn %2=<:?8 23@FE 72>:=J DE@C:6D 2?5 C625:?8 H2C =6EE6CD :D 2 A6C764E 72>:=J 24E:G:EJ] x 92G6 925 J@F?8 A6@A=6 E6== >6 E96J 92G6 C625 H2C =6EE6CD HC:EE6? 3J 8C2?5A2C6?ED 2?5 E96 =6EE6CD C6G62=65 2 ?6H D:56 @7 E9@D6 8C2?5A2C6?ED]”k^Am

kAmq2C32C2 #@33:?D 7C@> !F==>2?[ (2D9:?8E@?[ :D E96 H@>2? H9@ >2:=65 E92E 3@I @7 =6EE6CD E@ r2CC@==]k^Am

kAm“%9@D6 =6EE6CD H6C6 HC:EE6? 3J >J 72E96C E@ >J >@E96C 5FC:?8 (@C=5 (2C xx[” D96 D2:5] “%96C6 H2D 2=D@ 2 5:2CJ 7C@> E96 @44FA2E:@? @7 A@DEH2C v6C>2?J] x’G6 925 E96> 7@C6G6Cj x’> 2? @?=J 49:=5] (96? x 5:6 x :>28:?65 E96J H@F=5 36 E9C@H? :? E96 3FC? 32CC6=] x H2D 92AAJ E@ 7:?5 2 A=246 E92E H2D :?E6C6DE65 2?5 H@F=5 G2=F6 E96> 2?5 <66A E96>] (96? x 962C5 p?5J E2=<:?8 23@FE E96 46?E6C @? E96 C25:@[ H6== :E H2D 2 ?@\3C2:?6C]”k^Am

kAm$96 D6?E 2 3@I :? }@G6>36C E@ E96 46?E6C] %96? H:E9 >@C6 E:>6 2E 9@>6 5F6 E@ E96 A2?56>:4 D96 7@F?5 2?5 D6?E >@C6 :? |2C49[ :?4=F5:?8 D@>6 =6EE6CD 96C 8C2?572E96C HC@E6 7C@> E96 |6I:42? 3@C56C F?56C v6?6C2= y@9? y] !6CD9:?8]k^Am

People are also reading…

Good cattle and a giving nature: Late cowboy to receive hall of fame honors
County school’s Easter parties created lasting memories
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
Virtual fence shows potential for producers
Nebraska ranchers reel from fire losses
Divine intent of creation respected
Farmers visit Mexico ahead of USMCA talks
Defend Digestive Function to Protect Profitability
Rural America at its finest: fire relief efforts in Nebraska show best of humanity
Seed, weeds and satellites at Commodity Classic
Social media talk burns my britches
Rail merger would hurt farmers
Quality data, trust key to AI in agriculture
Study reveals how bull buyers use key genetic information
Proposals aim to improve pool of rural veterinarians

kAm%96 r6?E6C 7@C p>6C:42? (2C {6EE6CD 2:>D E@ AC6D6CG6 9:DE@CJ 3J 2446AE:?8 =6EE6CD 7C@> 2?J 6C2]k^Am

kAm“%96D6 =6EE6CD 2C6 7:CDE\A6CD@? 9:DE@C:42= 244@F?ED[” r2CC@== D2:5] “(6 92G6 =6EE6CD 7C@> !62C= w2C3@C[ 2 =6EE6C 7C@> 2 D6CG:46 >6>36C H9@ H2D :? u@C5’D %962E6C H96? !C6D:56?E {:?4@=? H2D D9@E[ W2?5X 244@F?ED @7 s\s2J[ 't 2?5 'y s2J] (6 AC6D6CG6 9:DE@CJ 2D D66? 2?5 6IA6C:6?465 7:CDE92?5] %96D6 =6EE6CD 9F>2?:K6 E96D6 >6? 2?5 H@>6? H9@ D6CG65]k^Am

kAm“(6 2=D@ AC6D6CG6 =6EE6CD 7C@> 72>:=:6D E@ D6CG:46 >6>36CD] %96 =6EE6CD C6>:?5 FD E92E E96D6 2C6 ?@E DE2E:DE:4D E92E 8@ @77 E@ 7:89E] tG6CJ @?6 @7 E96D6 :?5:G:5F2=D :D D@>63@5J’D 49:=5[ 2 DA@FD6[ 2 DH66E962CE] %96J D9@H D24C:7:46D :? E:>6D @7 H2C 2?5 E92E E96D6 D24C:7:46D 6IE6?5 72C 36J@?5 E96 32EE=67:6=5] xE :D?’E ;FDE E96 C:D< @7 86EE:?8 <:==65 @C H@F?565j :E’D E96 DEC2:? @? C6=2E:@?D9:AD] xE’D ?@E 36:?8 E96C6 7@C E96 3:CE9 @7 2 49:=5 2?5 <?@H:?8 2 =6EE6C >2J 36 2== E92E 49:=5 6G6C <?@HD @7 E96 HC:E6C] !C6D6CG2E:@? @7 E96D6 =6EE6CD 9@?@CD E96> 2?5 E96 D24C:7:46D E96J 2?5 E96:C 72>:=:6D 92G6 >256 7@C 2== @7 FD]”k^Am

kAm%96 2C49:G6 2E E96 46?E6C 4@?E2:?D =6EE6CD 5@4F>6?E:?8 E96 $A2?:D9 u=F !2?56>:4 E92E 92AA6?65 5FC:?8 2?5 27E6C (@C=5 (2C x]k^Am

kAm“p? pC>J A@DE :D C62==J H96C6 E96 A2?56>:4 3682?[” r2CC@== D2:5] “~FC EC@@AD E@@< :E E@ tFC@A6] xE =2E6C C6EFC?65 E@ E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D :? 2?@E96C H2G6 H:E9 2 G6?862?46] $A2:? H2D E96 @?=J 4@F?ECJ E@ E2=< 23@FE :E @A6?=J[ D@ A6@A=6 E9@F89E :E @C:8:?2E65 :? $A2:?] (6 92G6 =6EE6CD 7C@> E92E A2?56>:4 E92E C62==J D9@H E96 C6D:=:6?46 @7 A6@A=6 8@:?8 E9C@F89 56G2DE2E:?8 2?5 42E2DEC@A9:4 A6C:@5D] (6 86E E9C@F89 E9@D6 A6C:@5D] (6 86E E9C@F89 E96> E@86E96C]”k^Am

kAm%96 =6EE6CD r2CC@== 2?5 9:D 4@==628F6D 92G6 AC6D6CG65 56>@?DEC2E6 E96 C6D:=:6?46 @7 9F>2? DA:C:E] %96J AC@G:56 6I2>A=6D E92E 8:G6 DEC6?8E9 E@ FD 2D H6 7246 42=2>:EJ[ D:4<?6DD[ 5:D2DE6C 2?5 =@?8 @55D] r2CC@== D2:5 96 6?4@F?E6CD EC2865J 7C@> E:>6 E@ E:>6]k^Am

kAm“p7E6C 8:G:?8 E2=<D 2C@F?5 E96 4@F?ECJ x 92G6 A6@A=6 4@>6 FA E@ >6 2?5 D2J E92E E96J 5:5 ?@E <?@H 23@FE @FC @C82?:K2E:@? 2?5 E92E E96J ;FDE E9C6H 2H2J H2C =6EE6CD 3642FD6 E96J ;FDE 5:5 ?@E <?@H H92E E@ 5@ H:E9 E96>[” 96 D2:5] “‘x7 @?=J H6 925 <?@H?[ H6 H@F=5 92G6 5@?2E65 E96>[’ WE96J D2J]X”k^Am

kAm~C:8:?2= =6EE6CD 5@?2E65 E@ E96 r6?E6C 2C6 AC6D6CG65 7@C6G6C]k^Am

kAmx? E96 2EE:4 @7 2 72C>9@FD6 :? ?@CE96C? (:D4@?D:? E96C6 H2D @?46 2? @=5 3@I @7 H2C =6EE6CD] %96J H6C6 HC:EE6? 3J pC>J `DE $8E] (2J?6 |2=@?6J 5FC:?8 9:D >:=:E2CJ D6CG:46 7C@> `hca E@ `hce] %96J C64@C565 9:D EC:2=D[ 92C5D9:AD 2?5 4@?EC:3FE:@?D 2D 96 D6CG65 :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2?5 tFC@A6] w6 HC@E6 E@ 9:D 8:C=7C:6?5 6249 52J] %92E 8:C=7C:6?5[ p?? (6:496=[ >2CC:65 9:> 27E6C E96 H2C] |J =2E6 A2C6?ED E@=5 >6 D?:AA6ED @7 H92E E96J H6?E E9C@F89 :? E9@D6 J62CD[ 3FE E9@D6 =6EE6CD 2C6 E96 =:G:?8 >6DD286D 7C@> >J 72E96C E@ 2== H9@ C625 E96>] %96J 2C6 ?@H 2E E96 r6?E6C 7@C p>6C:42? (2C {6EE6CD 2?5 H:== 36 2G2:=23=6 7@C C6D62C49 @?46 E96J 2C6 2C49:G65]k^Am

kAm%96C6 >2J ?6G6C 36 2 36EE6C E:>6 7@C 2 A6CD@? E@ =62C? 23@FE 9:D @C 96C 6IE6?565 72>:=J 3J E6==:?8 DE@C:6D 2?5 C625:?8 =6EE6CD E96J 92G6 HC:EE6?] %96J >2J H6== AC@G:56 72>:=J >6>36CD H:E9 E96 4@FC286 2?5 :?DA:C2E:@? E@ 96=A E96> E9C@F89 2?JE9:?8 E96J’C6 724:?8] u@C E9@D6 H9@ H2?E E@ D92C6 E96 :?DA:C2E:@? :? E9@D6 =6EE6CD H:E9 @E96CD[ E96 r6?E6C 7@C p>6C:42? (2C {6EE6CD :D C625J E@ 96=A]k^Am

kAm%96 r6?E6C 7@C p>6C:42? (2C {6EE6CD :D E2<:?8 5@?2E:@?D @7 =6EE6CD 5FC:?8 2?5 7@==@H:?8 E96 4FCC6?E A2?56>:4] ~C:8:?2= =6EE6CD 2C6 36DE 3642FD6 E96J AC@G:56 >@C6 4=F6D 7@C 9:DE@C:2?D[ 3FE 4@A:6D 2?5 6G6? 6>2:=D 2C6 2446AE65] p=E9@F89 DE277 >6>36CD 2C6 :?567:?:E6=J @FE @7 E96:C @77:46D[ =6EE6CD H:== 36 D276=J 96=5 3J E96 >2:=C@@> F?E:= E96 DE277 :D 2==@H65 E@ C6EFC?] %92E >:89E 56=2J 24<?@H=658>6?ED E92E 5@?2E:@?D 92G6 366? C646:G65] ':D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]H2C=6EE6CD]FDQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmHHH]H2C=6EE6CD]FDk^2m 7@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?]k^Am

Jason Maloney is an “elderly” farm boy from Marinette County, Wisconsin. He’s a retired educator, a retired soldier and a lifelong Wisconsin resident. He lives on the shore of Lake Superior with his wife, Cindy Dillenschneider, and Red, a sturdy loyal Australian Shepherd.