August 2020 Auction Ends Thursday, August 27th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/27/2020
Rene Gagnon WWII autograph letter 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. Here, he writes to his hometown sweetheart Pauline Harnois, whom he would marry upon returning from the war. Dated 8 March 1944 from the Naval Prison Camp in Charleston, South Carolina, letter reads in part, ''Well here I am again back in camp and hoping to get back home soon...I...caught the train to Washington...I went and take a walk around. Just as I walked out of the station there it stood right ahead of me right across from the park, the Capitol...I decided to walk over to it, when I got there I just stood staring at it, imagining that you were right next to me. It's funny I had never realized before what I was really fighting for, then I knew its because you were here in America...Well I knew that if I quit and all the other fellas like me quit, Hitler himself would be sitting in that capitol...Now I know why I'm here it's not because I want to be because theres 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 in between Germany and the US the'll never pass to get here. Then you'll always be safe always...Rene''. Accompanied by the mailing envelope made out in Gagnon's hand in pencil, including his name (''P.F.C. R.A. Gagnon U.S.M.C.) and return address. Letter in pencil runs 6pp. on 3 sheets of plain stationery, measuring 7'' x 10.5''. Very good condition.
Iwo Jima Flag Raiser Rene Gagnon Autograph Letter Signed in 1944 -- ''...I knew that if I quit and all the other fellas like me quit, Hitler himself would be sitting in that capitol...''
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