Edward "Jiggs" Weston was one of many local "boys" from Southern Illinois who joined World War II to protect their country and their families from the tyranny, violence and despair that had threatened to forever change the lives and freedoms of the citizens of their world.
At that time, communication was not quick or easy. They did not have e-mail, facebook, cell phones, or even the luxury of expensive long distance phone calls. They could not be connected to their world by television or internet.
To help the community feel included and in touch with their "boys" in the military, letters from those serving overseas were sometimes published in local newspapers.
This letter was published in "The Gazette-Democrat", a newspaper in the Anna-Jonesboro, Illinois area.
The letter was addressed to "Jiggs" friends, Mr. & Mrs. V. Smith from Jonesboro.
Hello Folks: I guess you had about given up the thought of hearing from me again. I have thought of all of my home town friends but today is the first time that I could set down and write you a letter.
I have been back from France a few weeks. It was quite a show. I had the pleasure of seeing it from the very start. I had quite a nice little stay in France but didn't do much looking around. We were always in danger of the snipers taking a crack at us.
France is a very beautiful country, what I saw of it. Almost all of the buildings are old and constructed of rocks and plaster. It has a natural beauty as the people don't trim their hedge rows as the people in England do. The weather was not very good while I was over there but I understand that it is very beautiful most of the time.
We are back in England, standing by and recuperating. I do not have the least idea what we will do next. I have great hopes of seeing you all by fall.
We had a very nice homecoming dance last Saturday. I am enclosing one of the announcements for you to keep for a souvenir.
I have received the Gazette-Democrat regularly lately and it is really good to get the news from home and see what the other boys are doing.
As yet, I have not seen my brother, "Tiny", but the last I heard from him, he seemed to think that he was coming home. I hope so.
I hope all of the boys from home made it out as well as I did. I never got a scratch. We were the first men to touch French soil and it was pretty hot that June morning and it wasn't the weather.
God has taken very good care of me so far and I shall leave my future to Him. He is the one that never deserts anyone.
I hope this letter finds all of your family well. I'm sorry you lost your mother. I remember seeing her the last time I was home.
Give my regards to all of my friends.
One of the boys,
"Jiggs"
Edward E Weston, BM 2/c, USNCDU No 43
c//o FPO, New York City, NY
FYI: USNCDU stands for United States Navy Combat Demolition Unit
