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A History of Hartford
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Letters From Our Military Sons and Daughters

The following letters were from local men and women serving in the armed forces to their family and community folks back home in Hartford.  The military rank shown was their status at the time the letter was written.

All Wars and Peacetime

Bisbee, Terry L.
Sp/4

Vietnam
1964
US Army
Letter written to his mother, Lola Bisbee, regarding the Purple Heart he received with some other details of the war from Ton Son Nhut, Vietnam.

Boynton, John B.
Retired Bird Colonel

WW11
1942
US Air Force
Tribute by lifetime friend, Stu Elder.  John was career military, including a POW during WW11.  Click here to view John’s military profile, which is very impressive.

Haight,  George S.
Cpl.

WW11
1945
US Army

I’ve just received some packages and cards from the people of Hartford and would like to express my appreciation. I wish to thank the citizens of Hartford and the Mothers of World War II for the very nice gifts. It certainly makes a fella feel good to know that the folks back home are thinking of their boys overseas.
(From the Mariana Islands
. This letter appeared in the local newspaper)

Hubbard, Ralph
 
Captain

WW11
1945
US Army

Letter was written in July, 1944 from Rome describes the entrance of American troops into Rome, the retreat of the German armies. Another Letter appeared in the Day Spring in March,1945 and was written from Anzio beachhead in Italy. 

Lewis, C.H.
Engineer

Civil War
1864

Letter written to his parents on Christmas Day, 1864.  Describes conditions of the Civil War at that time.

Lightner, Seward

WW 1
1917
US Army

Letter was written to his mother in 1917. Interesting items to note are description of clothing issued, military food, and comment about a moving picture show.

Rhinehart, James

WW11
1944

Vmail written to his mother, Mary Rhinehart for Mother’s Day 1944.  Click here for the military profile and photo of James Rhinehart.

Sanders, Harold H.

WW11
1943

Postcard written to his mother, Mrs. W.W. Sanders on October 12, 1943.

Snodgrass, Clarence 

WW 11
1945
US Navy
I want to thank you for all the things you have sent to me since I’ve been in the navy. Please accept my apologies for not writing sooner.
   It gives us fellows here a grand feeling to know that the folks at home are always thinking of us. I wish I could tell you about the things I’m doing here, but the navy says no.  Say hello to the people of Hartford for me.

    (Snodgrass was serving somewhere in the Pacific.
This letter appeared in the local newspaper)

  Willcox, E.B.

  Civil War
Oct 18, 1862
Mich. Cav.

Letter to E.B.’s sister, Mrs. E.M. Dyre (Dyer) during the War of the Rebellion.  Describes pay situation and seeing President Lincoln during a visit to the camp.
 

Information for this web site was gathered from personal interviews, newspaper articles, scrapbooks, personal photo albums, and other documented materials - many available to the public at the Hartford Public Library or Van Buren County Historical Museum.  Please report any typographical errors, updated information, or incorrectly stated information to the webmaster for correction.  Reprinting for personal and instructional purposes is permitted, however, unauthorized commercial reprinting of this information or unauthorized linking to photos-pictures on this site is strictly prohibited without written permission from the webmaster. 



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HartfordHistory Icon - Hartford MI

Pearls In Our Past - Hartford Michigan
© 
A Pictorial History of Hartford Michigan
Emma Thornburg Sefcik
Webmaster
Competent Secretarial Service
History of Hartford Michigan
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Revised: March 23, 2009