THE LIFE AND DEATH OF EARL FULLER
Letters Home from WWII
Born July 18, 1920; killed in action May 07, 1945

Please welcome guest author Gayle Stanley. Gayle was born and raised on a small mountain farm in Southwest Virginia, where she still lives today. Preserving local  history through the publishing of feature stories in regional newspapers and magazines has been a longtime passion of hers.

---

My uncle, Earl Fuller, was killed in the last major battle of WWII.

I thought his story may give a glimpse into the lives and deaths of thousands of other young men who gave all so that we may have a better way of life. He lost his life near the end of World War II, at only 24 years of age.    

Fifty years after his death, a rusty-hinged trunk belonging to him was given to me by his brother – my Dad. This trunk had been cared for by Earl’s family and held the last remaining memorabilia of his life – everything from his 3rd grade elementary school achievement certificate, to letters home just before he was killed. There were pictures, letters, valentines, cards from old sweethearts, paycheck stubs, the title to his 1930 Ford 2D Sedan, and other personal belongings sent home after his death in 1945.

Earl’s trunk had been soaked through in the Clinchco, VA, flood of 1977, but had miraculously survived. Most items were written in pencil, and were very brittle, faded, mud-stained from the flood waters, and difficult to transcribe.

Earl was drafted, and reported for duty to Clintwood, VA, on July 26, 1943, leaving behind his mountain home, parents, fiancé, and 7 whole siblings and 6 half-siblings.

Below are his letters, which survived the flood, in his old trunk.

---

***********************

August 24, 1943
A Postcard from Camp Lee, VA

Hello Dad & Family;
How’s everybody? I am O.K. I am leaving here today the 23rd. I will write you all later. I think it will be about a four day trip, but don’t know where I will go. N.C. Deel is with me.

As Always,
Earl

***************************

Sunday, August 28, 1943
Camp Adair, Oregon

Dear Dad & Family;
I am sending you all my insurance papers. Be sure and put them in a safe place. It would be allright to lock them in my trunk.
Is everybody well at home now? I hope Marie’s arm is better. I am well and getting along pretty good. I have gained about 7 pounds since I left home.
I sent you all a letter by air mail. I guess you have already got it, so I will close.
You all write me a line soon. Tell Alta and Virgie to be good.

As Always,
Earl

***********************************

Monday night, September 13th, 1943
Camp Adair, Oregon

Dear Sis; (Alta)
How are you girls by now? Fine I hope. Is Dad, Mother and all the rest well? How is Bob? Is he flirting with any girls now? I am well and mending like a pig in the pen. Ho. Say, you all send me about 2 or 3 of those coat hangers, and a pack of Gillette razor blades – double edge blades. They are out of them here, and I can’t go to town now. I’ve just got one more blade, and the clerk said they didn’t know when they would have any.
Have you all ever got any money from the government yet? They are some say their wives have already got paid, and they haven’t. I got it today. Well, I’ll sign off. Write as often as you can.

From Your Brother,
Earl

******************************

September 15, 1943
Camp Adair, Oregon

Dear Folks At Home;
I will write you all a line or two. How are all of you by now? Fine I hope. I am well and O.K., but really tired. I went to the Orderly Room a few minutes ago and turned in my paper for allotment to you all. I just got them back yesterday. But, I didn’t have time to turn them in yesterday. The 1st Sergeant wasn’t in tonight, so I left them with the Buck Sergeant. I’ll know more about it tomorrow. If they don’t think you all will get some money soon, I’ll take it up with the Red Cross. I haven’t got to sign the payroll yet, but I think I’ll get it straight before long. If I don’t, I am going to be in a bad shape for cigarettes.
My basic training started Monday, and I really getting plenty drilling. I’ll be a good man when I get through this basic training, or I won’t be in the Army one. I hope I’ll be able to stand it. They are some boys fall out though nearly everyday. I haven’t had to fall out at all so far. I am getting acquainted with the officers and men pretty good now.
Is it raining much out there now? It hasn’t rained but just a little bit one time since we have been here. It is really clear here, but part of the time it is a real dark, foggy time. It gets so foggy you don’t see to tell who anyone is 20 steps away. Dad, it is just 85 miles from here to Portland, Oregon. I guess you have heard Elige Counts speak of Portland. I haven’t been out of camp since I’ve been here.
Well, I’ll close for now as I have to be on my feet so much. Anyway, I am on my feet 12 or 16 hours everyday.
With best wishes. Answer soon and often.

Earl

*************************************

Saturday Night, September 18, 1943
Camp Adair, Oregon

Dear Folks At Home;

I’ll answer your letter I received yesterday. I was glad to hear all of you was well and getting along good. I am well and O.K., except kind of sore from those hikes I’ve been taking. I went on a hike Thursday morning at 7 o’clock and got in at 15 minutes after 12. We got up the next morning at 5 o’clock and went out again at 7 o’clock. We got back in at 7 Friday evening.
Is your cow getting along good? And have you all ever got my watch fixed? I would have it fixed if you haven’t, for it will ruin that way.
Dad how do you think the war is looking now? I don’t hear so much news. We have two radios in the barracks, but I don’t have much time to listen at the news. But it don’t look like it will last long. I hope it won’t. I haven’t heard from those papers I turned in yet about the allotment.
That place on my back has got sore again from carrying that pack. I’ll have to have something done about it Monday.
You tell Lem Perrigan that I am between Albancy and Carvalas. Ask him which one of those places Lloyd Cantrell is in. Remember, Albany and Carvalas.
Tell Virgie I received you all’s letter and ??? you all sent to Camp Lee. I got several letters from people after I got here that had been sent to Camp Lee. They just changed the address and sent them on here.
Well, I will close with best wishes to you all. Answer soon.

From Earl

P.S. Tell Alta and Virgie and Bob to write.

***********************************

September 20, 1943
Camp Adair, Oregon

Dear Dad & Family;
I will write you all again. I hope this finds you all well and getting along good. Well, I am O.K., except I have another abscess beside my ear like I had before. The Sergeant told me to go on sick call in the morning. I guess they will lance it, and maybe give me something for my blood to stop them.
Dad, I have gained 16 pounds since I left home. It must really be a healthy place out here. I weigh 156 pounds now. I think they have got my payroll messed up some way. I should have signed it two weeks ago. I have been called to the Orderly Room to sign twice, but my name wasn’t on the book to sign. All of them that come in when I did got $5.00 after they signed the payroll. I seen the Lieutenant the other day. He said I would get it straight, but said it would take some time. So I don’t know just when I will get any money. But not until I get to sign the payroll though, I know.
Do you guess you all could get me about 3 cartons of cigarettes at Cowan Edwards’ and have them charged. And I’ll send you all the money back as soon as I get payed. I believe Cowan would do that. But if you can’t, just let it go. I don’t won’t you all to get in any hard place. I would rather do without cigarettes than for you all to need something. But if you can get them like that, it won’t hurt you all – only the trip down there. If you can get them, send them as soon as you get them. I would already have been out if Perry had not sent me that $2.00. It seems pretty bad for me to be broke and can’t even buy my cigarettes for I always had a little money to buy what I wanted when I was at home. But maybe I’ll be allright when I get started to draw my money. I hate to ask you all to do this, but looks like I have to do something.
I have turned my papers in. I think you all will draw some money before long. Dad, are they any meal around home now? But, I guess you all will soon have plenty of corn ripe enough to grind at home. I haven’t ate any corn bread in so long I wouldn’t know what it tastes like now for we never see any here. Well, I will close hoping to see you all before long. Answer soon. Best wishes to you all.

From Earl

P.S. Get Camel Cigarettes if you get them.

*********************************

(The following letter is from his father Lewis to Earl was found among his things the Army returned after his death.)

September 26, 1943
Tenso, VA

Dear Earl;
I will write you a few lines to let you hear from us. This leaves us all well. Hope this will find you well. You wrote your back was inflaming again. I guess it will raise. You have bruised it I guess. I would have something done for it.
Well, we got your cigarettes, and I am sending them to you. Me and your mother will go to Clinchco tomorrow to fix up some papers.
Well, we have got corn meal now. We sent a turn Saturday to the mill. Our corn ground good. They have no meal in the store.
I hear the war is looking good. E.S. Counts said he wrote you how to find Lloyd Cantrell and Victoria. I would go and see them some Sunday for pass-time. It would please them to see you and hear from all of their people.
Earl, if you don’t get your money and get out of cigarettes again, write and tell me. I will send you some. It was about three months before Nervie Barton got any money. Stant got two pay days before Nervie got anything. I guess they have got you wrong someway.
Our cow is doing fine. She has got the finest heifer calf you ever saw. Your mother says she is going to keep it to make a cow.
So, I will close. Write soon.
From Lewis Fuller

P.S. I don’t know whether you can read this or not. I wrote it in the night. I can’t see good by a lamp. We thought we would write you a few lines and put it in your package.

 *********************************

January 1, 1943
Camp Adair, Oregon

Dear Dad;
I’ll answer your letter I received Thursday while I was out in the field. I would of wrote sooner, but I don’t have any way to write while I’m out there. I received your other letter yesterday. Sure was glad to hear from you all, and to hear you all was well, except colds. This leaves me O.K., but I’ve still got kind of a cold yet, but there’s not much wonder I’ve got a cold – sleeping out on the ground so much. And it rains a lot here, too. It’s raining here now.
Yes Dad, the flu is about all died down here in camp. I don’t hear much said about it now. They say some people in town have took it. I guess they have caught it from soldiers.
Dad I’m sending you one of our camp journals. I’ve marked some pictures of officers I know. Lieutenant Berg, as you will see, is on the firing line. He has been with me all the time until about a week or two ago. And he has gone over seas with two more Lieutenants I know. Berg was really a nice officer and the rest of the non-commissioned officers are still here. They are K.P. Sergeants working in the kitchen. It will be interesting to read. I am also sending you a package of coffee and sugar which we use in the field. Try the coffee and see how you like it.
Dad, I’ll not come home on the date I wrote you. They have got those dates messed up. So I signed up again for the 20th of this month. I hope it works out O.K.
Yes, Dad, I would like to see Lloyd Cantrell. I hope he will come out here. Dad, did you ever hear anymore from Floyd? I had a letter from Isabelle about a week ago, but haven’t answered it yet. She said they were all well.
Dad, I’ve got a rifle shell here I’ve been aiming to send you. I’ll try to send it before long. It’s a shell that’s been fired with a bullet put back in it. I know you would like to see what the U.S. Army rifle uses.
Well, I had better close for now. Tell everybody hello for me, and you and Mother take care of yourselves.
Answer soon.
Earl

P.S. Dad, I’ll write you if I get my furlough on that date. Dad the sugar will be in the journal, and I’m sending the coffee in this letter. So long for now.

*******************************

December 19, 1944
V-Mail from overseas

Dear Mom & Dad;
Just a few lines to say hello and let you hear I’m well and O.K. Hope everyone is well and O.K.
I went through the battle of ??? It was pretty rugged for me. I saw some good Japs, but they were dead, ha ha.
Tell everybody hello for me. I would like to see you all. So long, and write often.

Your Son,
Earl Fuller

******************************

Earl Fuller was killed May 7, 1945 in the conquest of Okinawa, which was the last major battle of the war. The battle began in the Ryukyus Island Chain, which includes the island of Okinawa.
The invasion began on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945, under the command of Lt. Gen. Simon B. Buckner, Jr., who also lost his life in this campaign.
Japanese resistance on the island did not end until June 21. During the intense ground fighting, the Allies suffered 49,000 casualties, and more than 109,000 Japanese were killed.

*****************************
(Notification of his death.)

WESTERN
UNION

No. 8 29 GOV. WASHINGTON, D.C.
3:08 PM.
JUNE 19, 1945

MRS. MARTHA FULLER
TENSO, VA.
VIA CLINTWOOD, VA.

THE SECRETARY OF WAR DESIRES ME TO EXPRESS HIS DEEP REGRET THAT YOUR SON PFC. FULLER EARL WAS KILLED IN ACTION OKINAWA SEVEN MAY 45 CONFIRMING LETTER FOLLOWS.

J. A. ULIO
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL

WAR DEPARTMENT
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL’S OFFICE
WASHINGTON, D.C.

IN REPLY REFER TO:
AG 201 Fuller, Earl
PC-OA065 June 20, 1945

Mrs. Martha F. Fuller
Tenso, Virginia

Dear Mrs. Fuller:

It is with regret that I am writing to confirm the recent telegram informing you of the death of your son, Private First Class Earl Fuller, 33,655,227, Infantry, who was killed in action on 7 May 1945 on Okinawa Island.
I wish I could give you more information but casualty reports are necessarily brief and contain only essential facts. However, provisions have been made for the unit commander or chaplain to send a letter containing further information to the emergency addressee or next of kin of each person who died overseas in the service of our country. It is not known just when the letter can be expected, but it is hoped that it will not be long delayed.
I know the sorrow this message has brought you and it is my hope that in time the knowledge of his heroic service to his country may be of sustaining comfort to you.
I extend to you my deepest sympathy.
Sincerely yours,

J. A. Ulio
Major General
The Adjutant General of the Army

1 Enclosure
WD Pamphlet No. 20-15

****************************

APO 77 c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, California
20 July 1945

Mrs. Martha F. Fuller
Tenso, Virginia

Dear Mrs. Fuller,

It is with deep regret that I write this letter concerning the death of your son, Private First Class Earl Fuller, in the course of battle for Okinawa, Ryukyus Islands. I realize there is very little I can say to lessen your grief at this irreparable loss.
In the battle near Awacha, Okinawa, during an attack on a desperately held enemy position, Private Fuller, while performing his duties as automatic rifleman was in the lead of his squad where he could bring full fire power to bear on the enemy. He was wounded when enemy artillery shells landed nearby, and died without regaining consciousness.
His courage and coolness while under fire and the aggressive manner in which he always performed his duties was an inspiration to all of us.
Your son was buried in grave 228, row 7, plot 1, in the United States Cemetery on Okinawa, Ryukyus Islands. His burial was conducted in a military manner and the Catholic Chaplain officiated at his services.
As his Commanding Officer, I wish to express the deepest sympathy of all the officers and men of his company. His passing was a personal tragedy to all who knew him. We all lost a good man and an excellent soldier.

Sincerely Yours,
William B. Cooper
Captain, 307th Infantry

OFFICE OF THE CHAPLAIN
HQ 307TH INFANTRY

*********************************

APO 77 c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, Calif.,
10 September 1945

Dear Mrs. Fuller:

Some weeks ago, you received an official letter of condolence from your son’s Company Commander explaining the details and circumstances of his heroic death.
Spiritually, I want to inform you that I believe Earl was fully prepared to meet his God. Prior to entering combat I offered Masses and gave the men ample time to receive Confession and Holy Communion. During combat I offered Mass where ever possible and gave the men General Absolution and Viactium both night and day, therefore I feel sure he took advantage of the opportunity. During combat a soldier keeps close to God.
Enclosed you will find a picture of the 77th Infantry Division Cemetery on Okinawa, R.I., where he is buried in Grave #228, Row 7, Plot 1, in which I thought you might like a copy of.
May I express to you my deepest sympathy in your great loss. May Our Blessed Mother comfort you and his loved ones.
God bless you. Pray for us.

With deepest sympathy,
DANIEL J. HUNT
Ch(Capt) 307th INF Regt
Catholic Priest.

***************************

(Note: Nearly nine years later Earl’s body was moved to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, for eternal rest on American soil.)

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
OFFICE OF THE QUARTERMASTER GENERAL
WASHINGTON 25, D.C.
5, February 1954

Mr. Lewis Fuller
Tenso, Virginia

Dear Mr. Fuller:

A photograph of the grave of your loved one, Private First Class Earl Fuller, 33655227, in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, and a descriptive folder containing a brief history of the cemetery are enclosed.

The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is one of the most beautiful of our national cemeteries. Provision has been made to assure that it will be maintained and cared for in a manner befitting the last resting place of our honored dead.

These small tokens are sent as evidence of the respect and gratitude of your government for the sacrifices made by the members of the armed forces and their families.
Sincerely,
JOHN D. MARTZ, JR.
Colonel, QMC
Chief, Memorial Division

****************************

(The Obituary of Earl Fuller, written by his father, Lewis Fuller, for inclusion in the Minute Book of the Sandlick Baptist Church.)

It is with a sad and aching heart that I attempt to write a short obituary of my son Earl Fuller. He was born July 18, 1920. He died May 7, 1945, making his stay here on earth 24 years, 9 months, 11 days

Leaving Father and Mother, four whole sisters and three whole brothers. Earl was a good boy who stayed home and worked for his father and mother and little children until he was called away by the government. He had to leave his home on August 16, 1943, never got to come home but one time in his training.

The last church he ever was at was this church, that was while he was in the United States. He wrote me for one of the song books like Reane and the Primitive Baptist used. He said it might be pleasure to him in the spare hours he had to read, so I sent it to him and he never lived to get it. We received it back after his death.

The last letter I ever received from him was April 27, 1945. He wrote and said, “Dad I am well as far as health, but am tired and exhausted over the two hard battles just gone through.” And said, “If the Lord had of not been with me, I would of not been around today.”

He got killed May the 7th, 1945. We hope our great loss was his eternal gain.

Lewis Fuller

---

I went through the contents of the trunk and sorted everything into piles. His belt, buckle and some medals were in there, but very tarnished. I cleaned them and put them into a shadow box for my Dad.

There were also stacks and stacks of letters from Earl’s girlfriend, Miss Phoebe Hay.  She had lived near here, so I made a few phone calls and got a phone number and address for her.  I found out she had married a man from Pound, VA, and they had moved to Oregon.  The odd thing is they had made their home near where Earl was stationed and taken his basic training before he was shipped overseas. This had all happened over fifty years before and she was near 80 years old now.  But I still felt she might like these letters back, so I gave her a call.  

She was delighted.  We talked for a couple hours.  Her husband had passed away a few years before and she lived alone. They did not have any children of their own, but had raised a relative’s two children. They lived near her and looked after her.  

She told me she would love to have the letters, then she told me some amazing things.  She still had all of Earl’s letters he had written to her. Plus, she had a hand-embroidered handkerchief he had bought in New Caledonia and sent to her just before he went into his final battle.  

She told me she still carried the handkerchief in a plastic bag in her purse. She had carried the handkerchief for over fifty years, changing it to each new purse with her other things. She said her husband was aware of her attachment to the handkerchief and understood from before they married that Earl was her first love and would always be in her heart.  

I cleaned up the letters from her I found in his trunk. I used a soft bristle brush and brushed the dried mud from the flood, then I boxed them up and mailed them to her.

A few days later I got a call from her.  She wanted to send me Earl’s handkerchief to keep.  I tried talking her out of it since she had not been parted from that handkerchief since he sent it to her, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.  So she mailed it to me along with a box of letters he had written to her.  She had kept everyone of them.  

I read them as she had asked me to do. I didn’t feel comfortable keeping her things, so I took pictures of the handkerchief and sent it and the letters back to her.  I told her I would always have a copy of the handkerchief in pictures, but the original needed to be back with her.

We became big telephone buddies. We talked at least once a week for over two years, then the calls stopped coming.  

One day I got a letter from the girl she had raised telling me Phoebe had passed away.  She had taken Earl’s handkerchief home with her and had it in her purse.

More WWII letters to home:

Art & Dotty, a love story in letters(Opens in a new browser tab)

The post She carried his handkerchief with her for over 50 years appeared first on Appalachian History.