December 2012 Auction Ends Tuesday, December 18th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/18/2012
Lot of 47 autograph letters signed by the Iwo Jima hero of WWII, Rene Gagnon, along with two typed letters signed, all from Charleston, SC and Camp Pendleton, CA. Letters range in date from 28 December 1943 to 3 May 1944, the final days before his deployment overseas, and include 43 original envelopes, all signed by Gagnon. Gagnon was one of the six WWII soldiers who skyrocketed to fame after appearing in the famous photograph ''Raising The Flag on Iwo Jima,'' taken by photographer Joe Rosenthal on Mount Suribachi on 23 February 1945 during the furious and highly fatal Battle of Iwo Jima; of those pictured just three survived the battle. Lot comprises 43 autograph letters, 4 postcards and 2 typed letters, all signed and sent by the young Marine enlistee to his sweetheart and fellow mill worker Pauline Harnois. In these poignant and candid letters, Gagnon expresses his strong desire for the war to end and his determination to survive it, so that he may return to New Hampshire and marry Pauline. The excerpts to follow are uncorrected for his frequent minor punctuation and spelling errors. The young marine completes his trying first year away from home and the steady confidence he demonstrated in earlier letters here gives way to a vulnerability and roller coaster of emotions as the eventuality of combat begins to close in. While the promise of a furlough and visit home acts as a dangling carrot, he is horrified by the death of a fellow trainee and seems powerfully tempted by the option of receiving a medical discharge. He writes: ''...I didn't realize what it would be like to be away from you and home, you were right darling when you said, 'if you're getting in just for the uniform you might as well not get in at all.' Well everyone else was getting in so, I wanted to be like the rest...if I just quit and all the other fellows like me quit Hitler himself would be sitting in that capitol...I know why I'm here its not because I want to be because there's nothing I wouldn't give to be with you right now. And when I do go across its only to meet the enemy before he gets here, as long as I'm out there between Germany and the U.S. the'll never pass to get here. Then you'll always be safe always...'' On the death of a fellow enlistee: ''...Yesterday we were blowing up pillboxes and trenches of course it was only practice but we were using real dynamite and T.N.T., some guy didn't get out fast enough, that was the last mistake he'll ever make, there's no two chances when your fooling with dynamite you either do it right the first time or your not around for a second try...there shipping what's left of him to his parents in a coffin...it could just as easily have been me...if God just helps me come out of all this alive, I'll do anything you want the rest of my life...'' Mortality continues to taunt him: ''...In the past three days went to 2 funerals, and to a formal guard for some fellas that received the purple heart for being wounded in action, we also had to go to an honor guard for Lord Halifax from England, who was here in the guard this morning...'' Of the training he writes: ''...we drill late at night and when we come in its time for lights out that means no writing, it isn't quite like civilian life you know, we don't do what we want to do when we want to. You do whatever you're told and you do it on the double. That's the Marine Corp...'' Through it all, he keeps a sense of humor and the boys manage to savor their last opportunities for frivolity before heading overseas: ''...Every twenty days we get a 72 hour leave...all I can do is go to the beach or up to Los Angeles or Hollywood and see a couple of shows...[one of the things] we do to past time...is give each other massages. One of the guys here bought some blackhead removing cream. And since then all the guys around here giving each other facials. You'd never guess this was the Marine Corp it looks more like a Beauty Parlor...they gave us some colored cold cream and we had to put it on our face to get colored the same as the grass so they couldn't see us when we laid down in the grass, boy when the guys were done painting up each other, what a mess we all looked like Frankensteins Monster...and to think women get those mudpacks just for the fun of it...'' During a pensive moment he describes a peaceful scene on the grounds and reflects on the senselessness of war: ''...Right now I am on watch at the Admirals Quarters it's a nice big mansion in the middle of a little forest like, right beside the house there's a little sentry box, that's where I am...When you look outside on a day like this you can't possibly imagine theres a war going on, it just doesn't seem logical, why do people want to fight when theres such places as this to live in peace in. Then I heard the sound of airplane that sorta broke my day dreaming up...half conscious of what was going on outside expecting to see a transport plane like the one that use to go by back home, but it was not a transport. It was a bomber, then I realize that somewhere people are fighting over 2,000 miles across the ocean, there are no more swell little forest like this; all there is left over there are ruins of buildings, bridges, and roads. And as it is now lots of husbands and boyfriends are not coming back. I keep telling myself that can't happen to us, and I don't think it will...you're the only reason I'm in the service...I couldn't think of a better way to spend the rest of my life than with you in that little white cottage just being regular people raising a couple of kids, going on picnics on Sunday afternoon...maybe it sounds like a boring life to you...I'll never be able to offer you millions but I'll give you more love than anyone else could ever have for you...I told the fellas here I was married so how about signing your name Mrs. Pauline Gagnon on the back of the envelopes...'' An opportunity for Gagnon to leave the Marines arises. A letter he mis-dates 14 March 1943 [really 1944 as evidenced by Charleston dateline and postmark] reads in full: ''...Well little darling I've got something to ask you, you see were supposed to go to San Diego California the 27th that means that it may be a couple of years before I see you again. But I've got better news they check up on us, I mean a physical exam before, and what do you know, my old blood pressure has crept up on me again, the doctor said that I could never go to combat on account of that and that if I wanted a medical discharge I could get one, that means that I'd have to turn in the hospital and be surveyed for about two months while they send my papers to Washington, that is the whole story in a nutshell, is I could be home in about three months, not for 2 days or ten days but for keeps as the army or navy couldn't touch me with a medical discharge. Of course they don't know that I've had high blood pressure all my life and that it doesn't affect me. They say that if I should go to combat I couldn't stand up under the strain. But I know better. Well darling I can get out in three or four months on a medical discharge and nobody would know, the difference except me and you; I could get my old job back and well I'll leave that up to you. Should I take it, or shouldn't I. Tell me darling what should I do. Whatever you say goes with me because I'll do anything to make you happy. Remember at the station you said you wish I was a 4F, well I wouldn't be a 4F but I would be an ex-marine discharged on account of illness which has no effect on me and I could work as before, walk around in civilian clothes, and if anybody should get nosy and ask why I'm not in the service, well I'm no 4F I've got a medical discharge to prove I've serve and was sent back. As for me I'm for it because I love you so much I can hardly stand being apart. Well the decision is up to you, any way you say is okay with me. Love as ever, Rene / P.S. Hope to be with you soon, don't tell Mom about it yet I want to surprise her.'' Ultimately the notion is forgotten and he writes: ''...I don't want my kids to think their father was taking it easy while the others were fighting...'' At the beginning of April he leaves Charleston for Camp Pendleton: ''...I've got to go to demolition school now...we'll be shipping out to San Diego...I took my last physical exam this morning...'' From Oceanside, CA he writes: ''...were on maneuvers, I've only been here two days and I've been working like hell. Boy this place isn't like Charleston at all, all work and no play...there issuing us all new field shoes, and camouflage clothes, and combat knives, so our departure isn't far off...Were shipping out at the end of May...we'll be in the South Seas around Christmas of 1944 but I'm hoping that in 1945 well be decorating a tree all of our own in our own little cottage...'' Gagnon in reality would spend Christmas of 1945 in the Central Pacific, and in February would raise the Flag on Iwo Jima. He hopes in vain for a speedy resolution: ''...You know they say the war is going to last six more years, one year to lick the Germans, one year to lick the Japs, and four years to get the Yankees back up North...Did you read in the paper last week about Henry Ford predicting that the war will be over in two months, I sure hope he knows what he's talking about...'' Each letter is signed ''Rene''. Most are written on plain or plain ruled stationery, with a few appearing on Marine Corp stationery. They measure approximately 7.5'' x 10.5''. Each letter (excepting the postcards) is accompanied by its original envelope filled out in Gagnon's hand and additionally signed by Gagnon, although one is torn removing most of the signature. Creasing and toning are minor, else near fine. A compelling lot revealing Gagnon's apprehension in the face of impeding warfare.
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Lot of 47 Rene Gagnon WWII Autograph Letters Signed -- Remarkably, Gagnon Almost Quit the Marines: ''...doctor said...I...could get medical discharge...I'm for it...'' But Then, ''...If I just quit...
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