Letters From War Wednesday: World War II – Ralph Conner.

This Wednesday, we’re featuring a letter from World War II infantryman, Ralph Conner.  He fought through North Africa, Sicily and into Italy with Company L, 7th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division.  Conner,  while on the Italian Front, wrote this short December 1943 note to his little sister, Lois, back home in Noble County, Indiana.

Ralph Conner - 3rd Infantry Division

Dear Lois,

…I got your letter the other day, sure was glad to hear from you.  The little girls and boys over here that are your age don’t get the things you get back there.  They don’t get much candy, only what we give them out of our cans that we get.  They don’t know what ice cream is.  They have cows, sheep, chickens, and do their work with oxen.  They have some mules.  They bake bread here that is hard as rock.  They call it pona.  Well Lois, how do you like school this winter?  Have you still your sled and is old Walt still driving the school bus?  …Tell Mom and Dad to take good care of Ring and Jack because I am going to go hunting with them when this war is over.   …Write when you can.

Love, your brother,

Ralph

In January, Conner and his unit would take part in one of the boldest moves of the war, the surprise landing behind enemy lines at Anzio Beach, Italy.  Sadly, on April 24, 1944, Conner was killed in action by an enemy bullet at Spaccasassi Creek.