Ellard-Murphree-Pilgreen-Smith Family Papers Collection
Language Note: We recognize that items in this collection use outdated and/or racist language. Unless otherwise noted, this is the language used by the record creator(s) and not imposed by the Beulah Culbertson Archives and Special Collections. Visit our website to read our harmful language policy.
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Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; January 9, 1945
Sam Ellard Smith
Sonny Boy tells his mother he knows how worried she is, but that he is doing ok. He expresses anger that his cousin cut down some trees on their property.
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Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; July 15, 1945
Sam Ellard Smith
Sonny Boy responds to pictures his mother sent from home. He discusses a letter he received from his friend Sleech in the Pacific and seeing Jack Benny at a show in Germany.
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Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; July 20, 1945
Sam Ellard Smith
Sonny Boy describes a church he encountered and discusses farming practices that he has observed while stationed in Europe. He writes about some men from his battalion being moved based on the point system.
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Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; July 24, 1945
Sam Ellard Smith
Sonny Boy tells Pauline that he has been doing road blocks. He describes food he's eaten in Europe that are different from home. Someone else from another divison has taken over his job, and his leg isn't bothering him as much, but he wonders how bad it would have to be before he had to leave the army.
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Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; July 29, 1945
Sam Ellard Smith
Sonny Boy tells his mother about fishing in a nearby stream, and about his batallion in a castle belonging to the Belgian king and queen. He recalls a harrowing experience at Bastogne in which he escaped gunfire.
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Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; July 3, 1945
Sam Ellard Smith
Sonny Boy writes that a Ukranian choir performed for them, and he enjoyed it very much. He describes his job as armorer for his company, and that he turned down a job with more prestige because he doesn't want the responsibility. He also tells his mother how German commodities like cameras and guns are expensive now, as opposed to when he was in combat and had dozens of them.
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Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; July 9, 1945
Sam Ellard Smith
Sonny Boy discusses his injury and recent activities. He talks about people being reassigned to return home and states it will probably be another year before he leaves.
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Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; June 1, 1945
Sam Ellard Smith
Sonny Boy writes about capturing Germans at a surrender point, and he describes what he dislikes and enjoys about his duties, and says he lacks points in the Adjusted Service Rating Score to come home for a while.
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Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; June 13, 1945
Sam Ellard Smith
Sonny Boy thinks he might be overseas in Germany longer than he expected, and he tells her how many battle stars he has earned in combat. He doesn't think the point system, or Adjusted Service Rating Score, is fair.
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Letter from Sonny Boy Smith to Pauline Smith; June 13, 1945
Sam Ellard Smith
Sonny Boy tells his mother about going to the hospital for pain in his leg and back. He sees a nurse there that looks like his sister Bernice.