April 2014 Auction Ends Tuesday, April 29th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/29/2014
WWII Iwo Jima hero Rene Gagnon autograph letter signed as a Private First Class in the US Marine Corps, datelined 31 May 1943 from training camp on Parris Island, South Carolina. Gagnon was one of the six WWII soldiers elevated to icon status after appearing in the famous photograph ''Raising The Flag on Iwo Jima.'' Love letter is addressed to his sweetheart back home, Pauline Harnois, and discusses daily camp life. Reads in part: ''...there is no place to dance here because there are no girls to dance with...as for shows there is one every night but we can't go. The truth is we can't go anywhere right now, not until we get our 7 weeks done...As to where I'd go if I could, the truth is we can't go outside our own back yard which is about the size of your father's land. The only time we somewhere is when the whole platoon goes...'' Signed ''Rene''. Written in pencil, card-style letter runs 4pp. with writing on each side of card. Minor toning and horizontal fold from mailing, else very good. Includes original postmarked Navy Yard stamped envelope with return address and Gagnon's full name written in his hand. Very good overall.
Rene Gagnon WWII-Dated 1943 Autograph Letter Signed to His Love Back Home, From Training Camp on Parris Island -- ''...The only time we somewhere is when the whole platoon goes...''
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