Letters From War Wednesday: World War II – Tom Franks.

William “Tom” Franks from Wawaka, Indiana fought in World War II with the 121st Infantry, 8th Infantry Division.   He would earn two Purple Hearts in Northern Europe–shot through the neck in Normandy and later shot in the leg in the Huertgen Forest.  Remarkably, he would survive both wounds.

Tom Franks - 121st Infantry, 8th ID

This April 1944 note home is telling in Franks’ sense for the pending invasion.  The landing at Normandy, D-Day, would follow this letter by only five weeks.

“Easter Sunday in ‘sunny’ Northern Ireland!  Minus the sun.  A year ago I was back in good old Indiana wearing civilian clothes.  Some change.  My new Easter outfit is my O.D.s with a barracks bag crease.  They did seem new, for we hadn’t worn them for awhile.

“…We are making ready to start the finish of this thing.  I feel that we will be in on the Big Show.  It should be a good one.  I understand the radios are going to carry a blow-by-blow description.  Sounds interesting.”