1942 – the year that tried men’s souls

Reading through the letters written to my mom during 1942, from an Army Captain stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington and later in Oregon has been fascinating.  I can’t imagine what it was like.  There was little good news from the war.  For anyone interested, there is an excellent book titled “1942 the year that tried men’s souls“. Prior to the first letter the war was not going too well.  Pearl Harbor and Wake Island in December 1941.  In April/May 1942 the Philippines fell and the Bataan Death march occurred.  Only in June did some good news come out, the defeat of the Japanese at the Battle of the Coral Sea and at Midway Island.  This later has been recognized as a turning point in the war in the Pacific but at the time it was really only the first good news after the Japanese stormed across the islands. So what was in the news at the time of the letters: letter 1 – July 28 1942 – London and Birmingham being bombed by the Nazis.  Stiff fighting at El Alamein.  Russian forces fighting at Stalingrad. letter 2 – Aug 26 1942 – Headline: “Stalingrad in immediate peril of siege”. Marines fighting in the Solomon Islands. letter 3 – Sept 28 1942 – Marines, outnumbered 10 to 1 beat off Japanese attack at Guadalcanal.  They had been fighting for seven weeks.  Germany was rushing more troops to Stalingrad. letter 4 – Oct. 14 1942 – Marines still holding ground at Guadalcanal.  Two Japanese Cruisers sunk.  Army to swell to 7,500,000 men. letter 5 – Nov 13 1942 – “Reds still hold at Stalingrad”.  Allied forces land in North Africa.