September 2014 Auction Ends Thursday, September 25th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/25/2014
WWII Iwo Jima hero Rene Gagnon autograph letter signed as a Private in the U.S. Marine Corps. Letter, datelined 2 June 1943 was sent by Gagnon from training camp on Parris Island, South Carolina to his sweetheart back home, Pauline Harnois. The Marine waxes poetic on his love for her and describes the training. Reads in part: ''...Next week will be our last week on this island after that we will move up to the rifle range...I am now sitting under the shade of a tree across the field from our camp. It's peaceful here nothing to bother you...Maybe you'll think I'm being silly and getting poetic but it's nothing like that, this is really the first time I've had to sit down and tell you what I'm thinking of, on a night like this, it seems like I can recall old memories like the first time I asked to kiss you...even Marines get a lump in their throat and sometimes, something gets in their eyes too, not they never admit it's tears, they just call it dirt in their eyes but we know what it really is, even Marines have hearts...'' Signed simply ''Rene''. A ''R.A. Gagnon'' black stamp also appears at top right of page one. 10pp. letter in pencil on five sheets measures 7'' x 10.5''. Expected toning and two horizontal folds from mailing. Very good overall.
Iwo Jima Hero Rene Gagnon WWII-Dated Autograph Letter Signed -- Ten Pages Long -- ''...even Marines get a lump in their throat and...something gets in their eyes too...they just call it dirt...''
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