MINNESOTA

STILLWATER

The following letters from his mother were the last she sent, eventually they would be mailed back to her, having never been read.

July 24, 1944

Dear Lawrence,

I’ve let a whole week race by and didn’t get a letter off. Things just sort of piled up on me this past few days and I didn’t get to write sooner. Everyone is well and so busy – We have Edgar Shaefer here this week combining 2 fields of oats which are too short to cut, so we have been really busy. The grain is quite good, but the straw is so short. I had two letters from Gene today – He has made sergeant first class now so I think that is very good considering how hard those boosts usually come. He seems to like it awfully well and is pretty busy too. Sent us some snaps of a kangaroo and not one of himself – you know Gene!! I met Margaret McIntire in town today and Anne Johnson and they both asked very kindly for you and wished to be remembered – so “when this you see, remember me”. I surely took a lot of consolation out of your telling us about your chaplain – it was one of my constant nightmares that you would be in a unit which didn’t have a chaplain and it surely was a comfort to know your circumstances. Your last letter came through in 11 days – pretty speedy of eh? I meant to tell you before that Dick was made 1st lieutenant on July 1st – all the boys of his platoon are from Texas and they sure can take the heat better than he can, but their weather is a little cooler now and they have steady rain so I suppose that is a relief from dust – so you remember North Africa? I guess that dust was in a class by itself. Florence Koepke’s husband has been sent overseas, and Russ is still sitting in a desert in Arizona – Terry is home on furlough and is rushing around with about four girls at a time, popular boy isn’t he? There isn’t any news this time, but just that John is called up for the 1st of August. Dad asked to have him deferred until the crop was harvested but he is called anyway – I suppose they think that Mark is plenty old enough to be a farmer – you know you don’t really need brains or brawn either to farm now – at least that’s what the S.S board thinks! When you get this, I think you will have completed the second full year in service – God bless you and keep you safe until the end of this mess – it can’t last forever. Goodbye now and write when you can – thanks for the three letters you sent from France – they helped so much.

Dearest love from Mother

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Aug. 1, 1944

Dear Lawrence,

Another hot and sticky day that seems to be making up its mind to rain. I keep wondering how the weather is in France. The papers say the weather hasn’t been good there and that just seems to be too, too much – with all you have to stand beside! Rita is very anxious to help me write this so it may not be as connected as it should be. She has been cutting some double teeth and was rather fussy, but is real good today. We got some snaps of her and are just hoping that they turn out well so we can send them to you. John went to the Fort this morning – they have a pre-induction medical now and then are called up in about 3 or 4 weeks, it’s different than when you went almost two years ago. I can’t believe that any two years of our lives would pass without seeing each other, but we know it is true. I’m afraid that when you come home I’ll never want to let you out of my sight again – and what a gay and exciting life that would be! We had a nice long letter from Gene yesterday – he hopes to make another rating soon – he got sergeant first class the first of July and now hopes for another boost. I can’t think what they call it in the Navy. He thought he might be moved north soon. Hope he doesn’t have to move as this is a very good station, and he likes it. We have five young ducks this summer and they are just finding out that they can swim and they sure seem to enjoy it. Margie feeds them most of the time and when she goes out in the yard they all follow her – they are a comical looking sight. We have hunted up and down in the papers for mentions of your division, but they don’t tell the numbers of them any more so you can see we can just guess and hope. Things seem to be going along pretty well there now if we can believe what we hear, but it seems hard to wait to know how you are. Benson’s haven’t heard either since in June. Not any news around here, just I know everyone is too busy to do much else but work – Jack expects to thresh this week, he had rented Jim Doran’s farm on ½’s so will have quite a large threshing they hope. Grandma can walk a little with a cane, so is getting along as well as can be expected – they miss Gerald pretty badly though. It’s getting near mail time now and I must send a line to Gene, so will close now – try to be careful – we all love and miss you so.

Good-bye now and dearest love from Mother.

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Aug. 9, 1944

Dear Lawrence,

Just two years today since we saw you last and today your V-mail of July 23 came with your new rating on the address – Congratulations, over and over again – I’m so happy that you are getting what you deserve – I know that you have earned that rank in service and hard work. We are all just terribly proud of you. I know of how slow promotions come in the infantry. Jack Kelm just made sergeant last week and he was in a year before you, he has been in Italy. When you speak of the rough going my heart just turns over. I’m praying day and night that those shells will keep on going over. We didn’t hear from Gene this week, but they are pretty busy. We have threshed today so much grain, about a full crop and of course we had two fields combined so had very little to thresh now – the grain is good though. It’s about 95 degrees in the shade here today – I wonder what part of the weather you are having. We finally got some snaps and as soon as they are reprinted, I’ll send some. John got his notice and passed the physical so I suppose will be called up soon. He wants to get in the Navy, but has to take what he gets – just as you did. I must write to Gene now and so goodbye and try to be careful of everything, will try to write soon again – you make me ashamed of not writing more often when you write in a fox hole.

Dearest love from all,
Mother

The next letter from 9th Infantry Chaplain Edwin W. Marohn was to answer a letter received from Mrs. Thomas Malone. Father Joe survived the war, earning the rank of major before returning to his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee where he was a Methodist pastor before the war.

To Mrs. Thomas d. Malone Rt. 3 Stillwater, MN

From Ch. Edwin W. Marohn 0533566

My dear Mrs. Malone:

These lines are being written in reference to your inquiry concerning S/Sgt. Lawrence W. Gunderson who was officially reported by the War Department as killed in action. War Department regulations do not permit any more information to be gain than the official notification. When the war is over, as much detailed information as possible will be given. I can assure you that he received a religious burial in a military cemetery. Furthermore, I can say that, if you so desire, he may be removed and reinterred in the United States after the war. Well aware of your feelings regarding Sgt. Lawrence, I offer my sympathy and know that our Heavenly Father will give you courage and strength to bear your burden.

Sincerely,
Edwin W. Marohn
Chaplain, USA

P.S. Father “Joe” is no longer with this unit, but I took the privilege of answering

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Aug. 10, 1944

Dearest Aunt Clare,

I’m so very sorry it had to happen – my sympathy probably isn’t expressed in the right way, but I really don’t know how to word it, I feel so bad. But maybe we should be thankful and I know you are, that he didn’t have to come home shell shocked or with his legs both missing, at least we know he’s in heaven and just think how happy he is there. Lawrence was always a good son, and brother, and cousin, so our Blessed Lady will be sure to take good care of him. As long as I’m in bed, I can’t go to his Mass or even see you. (The dollar is for Mass) and I’ll say ever so many prayers for him and that’s all that will help him now. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be in bed. It’s about a month now and I may not be well by school, but the next chance I have, I’ll get down to see you. Say hello to all the little people for him, give my love to Aunt Lizzy, Aunt Mattie too. “God Bless you Dear Aunt Clare and help you through this great trial.”

Love,
Mary Catherine

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Friday Aug. 11, 1944

Dear Mrs. Gunderson,

I just can’t tell you how terribly shocked & saddened I am to hear that this sorrow had to come to you and your family. I think of you every minute and only wish there was something I could do to help. Little did we think when we talked together last that this news was on the way. I’m writing to Ronald today, I know this is going to be a blow to him too. Those two boys have meant so much to one another. I’m coming up some day soon. May God give you strength and courage to face this grief that has come to you.

Sincerely,
Rilla Benson

Ronny Benson survived the war as a radio sergeant in K Company, 3rd Battalion. Lawrence had written in a letter from England that, “he is taking some course in radio or something. So he might have an easier job if he makes good.” Years later it was noted by a fellow soldier in a 9th Division newsletter that Ronny, “had the longest stint of continuous front line duty of anybody in Company K”.