The General and His Daughter

The War Time Letters of General James M. Gavin to his Daughter Barbara

Barbara Gavin Fauntleroy, Gayle Wurst

• Publisher: Fordham University Press
• Year: 2009
• Print ISBN: 9780823226870
• eBook ISBN: 9780823226894
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: World War II
• Index: History

James Maurice Gavin left for war in April 1943 as a colonel commanding the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division—America's first airborne division and the first to fight in World War II. In 1944, "Slim Jim" Gavin, as he was known to his troops, at the age of thirty-seven became the 82nd's commanding general—the youngest Army officer to become a major general since the Civil War. At war's end, this soldier's soldier had become one of our greatest generals—and the 82nd's most decorated officer.

Now James Gavin's letters home to his nine-year-old daughter Barbara provide a revealing portrait of the American experience in World War II through the eyes of one of its most dynamic officers. Written from ship decks, foxholes, and field tents—often just before or after a dangerous jump—they capture the day-to-day realities of combat and Gavin's personal reactions to the war he helped to win. And provide an invaluable self-portrait of a great general, and a great American, in war and peace.

The book's more than 200 letters begin at Fort Bragg in 1943 and continue to December 1945, as Gavin came home to lead the 82nd at the head of the Victory parade in New York. This correspondence constitutes the majority of Gavin's private wartime letters, but except for rare appearances in regimental newsletters, it has never before been published.

In her Introduction, Epilogue, and Notes, Barbara Gavin Fauntleroy gives a privileged glimpse of the private man. Edited by Gayle Wurst, the book features historical overviews by Starlyn Jorgensen, a preface by noted Gavin biographer Gerard M. Devlin, and a foreword by Rufus Broadaway, Gavin's aide-de-camp.

chapter one

THE CALL TO WAR

On November 8, 1942, the Allies invaded French North Africa, resulting in the capitulation of the Vichy French colonial forces.1 Expecting complete victory over all Axis forces in North Africa by early spring 1943, plans were formulated for the Allied invasion, staged from North Africa, of the Italian island of Sicily. Invading Sicily—sandwiched between the northeast coast of Tunisia and the southwest tip of the Italian mainland—might induce the war-weary Italians to surrender and sever their alliance with Germany, thereby weakening Axis control in the Mediterranean. Code-named Operation HUSKY, the combined Anglo-American invasion plan called for supportive airborne operations: during the predawn hours prior to the amphibious landings, British and American troops would be dropped and air-landed inland to seize key terrain and block enemy movement toward the invasion beaches.

Selected to protect the American beachheads, Major General Matthew B. Ridgway’s untried 82nd Airborne Division—America’s first airborne division activated by the War Department in August 1942 and based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina—received orders to deploy to a training area in North Africa. The Division’s table of organization included one parachute infantry regiment and two glider infantry regiments; however, to meet the plan’s operational requirement, one of the glider regiments would have to be replaced by an additional parachute regiment—Colonel James M. Gavin’s 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Fort Benning, Georgia, got the call. Fourteen years after graduating from West Point and determined to repay his “Spartan mother” for all that she had given him, Jim Gavin—the orphan from the small coal-mining town in eastern Pennsylvania—would now have the opportunity to cancel the debt.2

Assigned to the 82nd, Gavin moved his “boys” of the 505 to Fort Bragg. From Bragg, Gavin sent Barbara the first letter of their nearly three-year wartime separation, obviously determined that life remain as normal as possible for his nine-year-old daughter.

[Undated]

Dear Barbara,

I am sorry that I forgot to send your allowance. I liked your Valentine very much. I have it on my desk now.

I am enclosing $1.00, your allowance for the last two weeks and 50 cents extra for being a good girl. I am glad that you are buying a war bond. It is wise to save and it is patriotic to buy bonds. If everyone buys enough bonds the war will be over soon and all of the soldiers can come home.

It has been very cold here [at Fort Bragg]. I live in buildings close to McKellars Pond where you went swimming last summer. There is ice on the pond now.

Write to me again when you have the time.

XXX Love,

Daddy

April 11, 1943

Dear Babe,

I have finally after much looking about managed to get a typewriter so my letters from now on should at least be more readable. In addition, my letters from now on will very likely be exposed to an extra reading since the censor will be reading them too. That may ultimately cause some double talk and misunderstanding but it is all for the best.

I am enclosing a check for ten dollars which includes your allowance, plus the cost of “Never Call Retreat,” and sufficient balance to get me a copy of “Lee’s Lieutenants,” Vol. II, by Douglas Southall Freeman. Please get it as quickly as possible and mail it to me at my present address. [My dad relaxed by reading and especially enjoyed books about the Civil War.—BGF]

I have been swamped with work and consequently haven’t had an opportunity to send the radio, books, etc. I plan on getting it off tomorrow, or at least part of it. I have to send it express collect, let me know how much it cost.

Max was prop blasted last night.3 He did very well. He had a big bowl of milk and seemed to like it very much. [Max was the mascot of the 505, a handsome boxer dog who loved to jump.—BGF]

Love XXXXXXX,

Pappy

The 82nd Airborne Division departed Fort Bragg on April 20, 1943, for Camp Edwards, Massachusetts, where it would make final preparations for deployment overseas. Traveling by train under strict security and thereby keeping secret their move to war, America’s newest elite soldiers were also directed to cover or remove their telling airborne insignias and badges and were further instructed on the wartime censorship regulations governing all correspondence.

April 23, 1943

Dear Babe,

I have a new address now as you have probably noticed [by the enclosed APO card]. Be sure to address your letters to me exactly like that, notice that the word “parachute” is omitted, that is important.

I have been very busy or I would have written you sooner. After this letter it may be some time until you hear from me again. I will write you whenever I can. Sometimes letters may get lost or end up in the drink so you must expect that. In addition, any or all of my letters may be censored. That means that I will not be able to tell you very much, if anything, about where I am or what I am doing. If you follow the newspapers though, sooner or later you should find mention of our activities. Everyone is fine and very anxious to catch up with some nazis and japs. At present, as I said, we are very busy.

I saw some ceagles today. You remember them. It has been very cold and I miss the dogwood and cherry blossoms like I saw last time we took a walk together. [I once confused a seagull with an eagle. Realizing my mistake, I then called it a “ceagle,” much to my dad’s amusement.—BGF]

I was glad to get the candy that you sent to Fort Bragg. I received the Martha Washington and it was best of all. It should have been I suppose. Anytime you are wondering if there is anything you can send, send candy. I have about everything else that I can use. If you try to send anything it might be necessary for you to have this letter containing a request for a specific item, hence the request for candy.

I would like to tell you more about what’s going on but I am particularly unable to right now. Perhaps later I will be able to be more newsy.

Love XXXX,

Pappy

On April 29, the three troop transports carrying the 82nd to North Africa sailed from the harbor of New York City in a well-protected convoy—the 505 on board the converted liner “S.S. Monterey.” Though the assistant division commander, Brigadier General Charles L. Keerans Jr., also traveled on board the “Monterey,” the less-senior Gavin was made commanding officer of troops.

May 1943

Dear Girls,

I thought I would let you know how things are going while I still have the time. This letter is to probably be mailed in New York. The permanent transport commanding officer, one Lt. Col. Truscott, is going to take it back with him and mail it upon arrival. If all goes well you should get it much more quickly than you would by the regular channels. Incidentally, I understand that the V-mail is now operating in you-know-where [French Morocco].

This is our fifth day at sea, maybe the sixth, and it is a very nice day. We are in quite dangerous waters and yesterday sighted our first sub. Fortunately it went right ahead minding its own business and we paid it no attention, so other than having to get up too early it caused no inconvenience. Our escort seems, to a landlubber, quite sizable. Except for losing some sleep and having to wear our water wings [life preservers] at all times, they cause no trouble. We will probably get a warm reception at the straits of you-know-where [Gibraltar] but no one seems concerned about it.

I have an interesting job. Being the senior officer aboard ship outside of General Keerans, who is not traveling in a command capacity, I am commanding officer of troops. The entire 505 is with me fortunately. In addition, I have an assemblage of 4,000 additional spare parts [replacement troops not yet assigned to a unit], casuals, and diverse nondescript forms of soldiery.

These parachute soldiers are tops and they are doing about all the work on this ship right now. Most of the people who joined have to be taken care of rather than helping. We have a grand ship, a big Matson liner. It is all quite an experience. Not the least interesting, Charlie is redoing his weekend in Tulsa, without accompaniment this time. I have been too busy, too much responsibility.

There has been nothing particularly exciting happening. We lost a big part of our air force yesterday. A ship was catapulted from one of our accompanying battleships during the passing visit of the sub, and when the pilot tried to land (this is an airplane I am talking about), the ship kept going into the ocean, busted a pontoon and disappeared. Too bad. A few more days and we may get within support of land-based aircraft. That will be much better.

We have no idea what is going on in the outside world. We have no way of getting the news. Radios are not permitted. No one on the ship receives news.

We have had the usual round of band concerts, physical training, care of weapons (which we don’t have to caution them about anymore), boxing, inspections, etc. Starting today we are going to have language classes for everyone aboard ship simultaneously. We have records: Arabic, French, etc. After a brief introduction and explanation of what is to happen, they are played over the ship’s public address system. At the same time officers have classes with the troops, each soldier has a text which follows the exact lesson being broadcast. Quite a system. Keeps them out of trouble. They don’t learn much Arabic.

We have had no seasickness to amount to anything although the sea has been rough at times. This is a grand ship. The best ship in the convoy. I can look out and see the old “Chateau Thierry” at any time, she has been bouncing around like a cork since she left you-know-where.

I will give the V-mail a try as soon as I have an opportunity after debarking. It may get back before this.

The 505 is going to give a good account of itself in any capacity anywhere. Everyone is anxious and looking forward to what is coming. They have been outstanding in everything they have put their hands to since leaving Fort Bragg.

Love XXXXXXX,

Pappy

[On back of above letter]

We are now out eight days and things are pretty much humdrum. I thought you would be interested in the enclosed [Pocket Guide to North Africa]. Each soldier is to receive one before landing.

There has been no particular excitement. Passed Swedish prisoner of war exchange ship, or something like that, last night. Everyone was alerted and stood by for trouble. It stood out like Times Square in 1929. Lights aglow, we could see it for a long time. Our ship cannot be seen even a few feet away at night so we were quite suspicious. Since nothing has happened, I guess it was OK.

I finished “Lee’s Lieutenants.” Thanks very much. The purser aboard ship wanted to borrow it so he is taking it back with him, and if all goes well, he will mail it upon reaching the States.

Hope the allotment is coming through, I haven’t been paid in a long time. If I can get some money wherever I am going, I will send it to the bank. I am sure, however, that your allotment is getting through.4

Lots of seaweed floating...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• CONTENTS
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• EDITOR’S NOTE
• FOREWORD
• INTRODUCTION
• PROLOGUE
• Chapter 1. THE CALL TO WAR
• Chapter 2. OPERATION HUSKY—NORTH AFRICA
• Chapter 3. OPERATION HUSKYQ—SICILY
• Chapter 4. OPERATION AVALANCHE—ITALY
• Chapter 5. OPERATION OVERLORD/NEPTUNE—UNITED KINGDOM
• Chapter 6. OPERATION NEPTUNE—NORMANDY
• Chapter 7. COMMAND OF THE 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION
• Chapter 8. OPERATION MARKET-GARDEN—HOLLAND
• Chapter 9. THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE—BELGIUM
• Chapter 10. CRACKING THE SIEGFRIED LINE—GERMANY
• Chapter 11. A BRIEF RESPITE—FRANCE
• Chapter 12. BACK ON THE LINE—THE FINAL FIGHT
• Chapter 13. VICTORY, RUSSIAN CAMARADERIE, AND A VISIT HOME
• Chapter 14. OCCUPATION DUTY—BERLIN
• Chapter 15. THE CALL HOME
• EPILOGUE
• NOTES
• SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
• INDEX