Letters 1944 - England, Belgium, France, Germany

For the first six months of 1944, Goodin's letters refer to activities in England.  Beginning in June 1944, his letters say "somewhere in France."  He tells his parents he has "waited 3 years for this and I'm ready to go."  In a letter dated June 9, 1944, Goodin tells his folks: "Got my picture of Lou [Baker] screwed in firmly right in front of me in my tank, have named & christened my tank 'Bakers Beau' and it is well stocked..." 

The letters go back and forth between France, Belgium and Germany.  In a letter dated July 6, 1944, Goodin reminds his parents "We can't keep diaries - I'd have a heck of a time keeping them anyhow - but my letters would probably serve as a refresher to my memory."

Battle action heats up with Goodin stating "all hell broke loose" and "war would be wonderful if it wasn't for people getting killed."  (See Map for Battle Details)  Goodin tells his parents in a VMail dated July 19, 1944 in France, "Nearly all my letters are written on the edge of, or in a fox-hole these days."

In a letter dated November 5, Goodin tells his parents "five or six of my boys have received the Bronze Star, one the Croix de Guerre. They're a swell bunch." Goodin also mentions General Maurice Rose, the commander of the 3rd Armored Division, who would later be killed in action on March 30, 1945.

Throughout Goodin's letters, he mentions the foods in Appalachia, and had written two letters requesting that his parents send him a jar of sausage.  In a VMail dated May 3, 1944, he tells his parents "the sausage was grand - the Col. contributed grits - and three Southerners really enjoyed themselves!"