Description:

GERMANS ARE LOOTED AND BEATEN AND THE ATOMIC BOMB KILLS THOSE WHO ARE "DEFENSELESS"
Fine content typed Army Air Corps flyer's letter, 3pp. 4to., Heidelberg, Aug. 7, 1945 - one day after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Staff Sgt. Harry F. Meeks writes a lady friend. Meeks mentions missions and returns to base, a visit to Heerlen in the Netherlands, and the happy people he met there. He continues: "...I have never seen a town that could be as dead as St. Vith, it is literally leveled...except one solitary steeple. It hits you right between the eyes even at 2000 feet...I have only seen two people [there]...Stavelot, Malmedy and a few other towns are not quite as bad but it gives me the creeps to see nothing moving..." Meek also mentions that he has created an insignia for his squadron and has sent it to Washington, and describes some of his souvenirs which include an SS dagger given to him by a Belgian guard: "...he had just finished administering an unmerciful beating...with an occasional punch every time the urge came on him...". He further describes the beating of an SS man who had served in North Africa, who after having been relieved of his possessions was presented to Meek for execution. He closes his letter two days later: "...Too bad those atomic bombs can't get to the soldiers as easily as it gets the civilians, it's always the poor defenseless man in the street who gets it...". Very good.

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July 7, 2015 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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