I would like to share a letter I found in a book I recently bought at a flea market this past year. It seemed to share a bit of insight into the life of those island hopping Marines back in WW Two. It was inside of an old yellowed envelope addressed to Mrs. Thomas O'Malley and was dated November 13, 1944. It read:
Dear Ann,I guess it is fair that we also remember those non-military victims at this time of the year. Here is to you, Mrs. O'Malley, and to your son, O'Jesus O'Malley. We all must honor the sacrifices that you made for our country, as well as the vallant efforts your husband and Mr. Ignoski made in defense of our freedom. Posted by Tiger at November 12, 2005 04:38 PM | TrackBackAlthough we never met, I feel that I have to come to know you very well from all the conversations between Tom and I during those long nights laying in the foxholes. He had received your letter just the day before he was killed when than mortar round exploded in our midst this past week. As we both lay there, wounded, and in shock from the blast, he turned to me and said, "Please, if I don't make it, tell my wife to name our child ..." he gasped for air, then exhaled: "Oh Jesus," reaching for air. These were his last words. I know these words can provide you no comfort in these days, but I felt you should know.
Izzy Ignoski, USMC