Ann Purvis
Cooper
Cooper
About War of Movement
The WWII Letters of Corporal Charles Gerald Purvis
176 pages, 6.14x9.21
ISBN 978-0-9816172-2-0
$14.95
They were rear echelon troops, but they endured prolonged
exposure to enemy shelling, strafing, and bombing. They were
first engaged in combat in southern Italy. This was followed by
the long siege on the beachhead at Anzio, the breakout there and
the push to Rome and beyond. Their battalion took part in the
amphibi¬ous invasion of southern France, advanced to Alsace,
and fought in the Vosges Mountains and at Colmar. After
crossing into Germany, it was within a few miles of Munich
when the war in Europe ended. The story is told in letters
received from Cpl. Charles Gerald Purvis, while he served in the
army with the 141st Field Artillery Battalion during World War II.
The letters cover a period from August 1942, until the war ended
and he returned home in October 1945. They were interesting and
well written, though often under difficult conditions, and limited
by censorship rules. Occasionally, a letter was illustrated with a
sketch of an overnight stopping place on the advance through
Italy, France, and Germany. There were drawings of the dugout
where several months were spent on the Anzio beachhead. On
birthdays and holidays, when conditions allowed, family members
and friends received hand¬made greetings, designed especially for
the occasion. There were some letters reflecting weariness of the
war. Scenes of destruction and death along the roadways,
described as "inevitable in the trail of war," and large parts of
cities re¬duced to rubble affected morale. There was some
frustration over delays of all kinds, after the conflict in Europe
ended and the long wait to go home began. But most of the letters
were optimistic and cheerful and just simply entertaining. The
time is long past to bring out these letters. They give a unique
account of World War II, as experienced by one enlisted man in
his assigned place of duty. It is daily life, as it happened to real
people, going about the business of fighting a war.
The WWII Letters of Corporal Charles Gerald Purvis
176 pages, 6.14x9.21
ISBN 978-0-9816172-2-0
$14.95
They were rear echelon troops, but they endured prolonged
exposure to enemy shelling, strafing, and bombing. They were
first engaged in combat in southern Italy. This was followed by
the long siege on the beachhead at Anzio, the breakout there and
the push to Rome and beyond. Their battalion took part in the
amphibi¬ous invasion of southern France, advanced to Alsace,
and fought in the Vosges Mountains and at Colmar. After
crossing into Germany, it was within a few miles of Munich
when the war in Europe ended. The story is told in letters
received from Cpl. Charles Gerald Purvis, while he served in the
army with the 141st Field Artillery Battalion during World War II.
The letters cover a period from August 1942, until the war ended
and he returned home in October 1945. They were interesting and
well written, though often under difficult conditions, and limited
by censorship rules. Occasionally, a letter was illustrated with a
sketch of an overnight stopping place on the advance through
Italy, France, and Germany. There were drawings of the dugout
where several months were spent on the Anzio beachhead. On
birthdays and holidays, when conditions allowed, family members
and friends received hand¬made greetings, designed especially for
the occasion. There were some letters reflecting weariness of the
war. Scenes of destruction and death along the roadways,
described as "inevitable in the trail of war," and large parts of
cities re¬duced to rubble affected morale. There was some
frustration over delays of all kinds, after the conflict in Europe
ended and the long wait to go home began. But most of the letters
were optimistic and cheerful and just simply entertaining. The
time is long past to bring out these letters. They give a unique
account of World War II, as experienced by one enlisted man in
his assigned place of duty. It is daily life, as it happened to real
people, going about the business of fighting a war.
About the Author
Anne Cooper and her family are to be commended for keeping all the letters and pictures that her
brother, Gerald, sent home during his service in World War Ii, from August 1942 until the war ended.
His tour of duty included Africa, Italy, France, Alsace and Germany. His life-like pencil drawings of
the men in his battery and the sketches of the places traveled make it an interesting account of World
War II. Anyone who has an interest in World War II will enjoy this very personal account of the war.
Anna Lois Everly, Author
Anne Cooper and her family are to be commended for keeping all the letters and pictures that her
brother, Gerald, sent home during his service in World War Ii, from August 1942 until the war ended.
His tour of duty included Africa, Italy, France, Alsace and Germany. His life-like pencil drawings of
the men in his battery and the sketches of the places traveled make it an interesting account of World
War II. Anyone who has an interest in World War II will enjoy this very personal account of the war.
Anna Lois Everly, Author
Anne Cooper and Charles Purvis' Books Are Published by Westview, Inc. BUY NOW |
