July 2015 Auction Ends Thursday, July 30th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/30/2015
Rene Gagnon WWII autograph letter five times signed as a Private First Class in the U.S. Marine Corps. Gagnon was one of the six soldiers pictured in ''Raising The Flag on Iwo Jima'', the iconic image of the turning point of the war and one of the most famous photographs of all time. From an undisclosed location in the ''Central Pacific'', he writes to his sweetheart and future wife Pauline Harnois. Dated 27 November 1944, love letter reads (uncorrected for minor errors) in part, ''Dearest Darling, Just a line to let you know I'm fine and thinking of you. This is a Sunday afternoon, and boy is it dead I'll bet its as bad as back home. Its lonely for you back there because were here and its lonely for us here because all the folks are back there; Quite a mixup isn't it. I got a package from Mom yesterday. I also received your pictures...Well it looks like the sun is coming out again so maybe I'll hang out my clothes to dry. That's all I've been doing, hanging them out and taking them back in...the U.S.O. too far to walk...you don't have to worry, as there allmost all as black as nigers, oh there are a few white American girls, but there about 50 or over you see there Red Cross Women...Rene''. 4pp. letter in ink on 4 sheets of ruled stationery measures 8'' x 10''. In addition to signing the closure of his letter, Gagnon writes ''R.A. Gagnon'' at the bottom edge of every sheet. Toning and creasing, else near fine.
Rene Gagnon Autograph Letter Signed 5 Times -- From the Central Pacific 3 Months Before Iwo Jima -- ''...you don't have to worry...there are a few white American girls, but there about 50...''
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