A Story of Love & War
World War 2, as seen in the letters of an Iowa farm boy serving in the Pacific and Europe.
Leonard Durrell Talcott was born in the Iowa country town of Randalia, where his family owned and operated a Dairy farm called Tall Oaks. A “war baby”, Leonard was born on 5 September 1917, the year that the USA entered The Great War. His mother was a Quaker Pacifist. And yet, 24 years later, Leonard enlisted in the Army Air Corps.
The stories of WWII have been told millions of times; but as many of the sons and daughters of those who fought well-know, not often by the soldiers, sailors or airmen themselves.
What you’ll find on this historical blog, is the account of one man’s journey from a small farm in Iowa to the war in the Pacific and Europe, to hospital in Italy and finally home to the Midwest.
The story is told through the letters, telegrams and personal accounts of
Leonard Talcott, his mother, friends and his girlfriend (and future wife) Janet.
Leonard Talcott
Leonard began his military service with the US Army Air Corps, 50th Pursuit Group.
But in 1942 he moved to Officers Training with the Army and served in the 45th Division, HQ Company, 179th Regiment. He served through four D-Days; Sicily, Salerno, Anzio and St. Maxime.