Description:

Truman Harry

Harry S. Truman, Coin & Military Career Related Letter

 

1p TLS signed by former 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman (1884-1972) as "Harry" at lower right. Written in Independence, Missouri on August 7, 1962. On watermarked cream paper with black embossed "Harry S. Truman / Independence, Missouri" letterhead. Docket stamped at upper right. Expected wear including light paper folds and a paper clip rust impression verso, else near fine. 7.25" x 10.5".

 

In the summer of 1962, ex-President Truman wrote John W. Snyder (1895-1985), his friend, war buddy, and former colleague, about an interwar veterans' reunion. Truman had befriended Snyder during World War I, where both served in the artillery.

 

In part:

 

"As you remember, you and I used to command some Reserve Regiments known as the 379th and 380th Field Artillery, which also contained the 381st as a part of the Artillery Brigade of the 102nd Division.

 

They are hoping to hold a meeting of the former officers of those three Regiments. I thought maybe you might be able to make a contact with the Adjutant General's Office for a roster of the officers by Regiments of the above three which composed the 102nd…"

 

In 1917, Truman, who was significantly older than the average rank and file and legally blind in his left eye, successfully--and with a little well-meaning deception--reenlisted in the Missouri National Guard. He was deployed to the Western Front, promoted to captain in July 1918, and later commanded Battery D, 129th Field Artillery, 35th Division. "Captain Harry" proved to be a strict but fair commander. His steadiness anchored his men. There were no fatalities among the 200-man Battery D, despite their undertaking a punishing road march into the Argonne Forest, holding under heavy fire at the Battle of Who Run, and participating in some of the last artillery barrages of the war before Armistice.

 

After his honorable discharge as captain in 1919, Truman joined the United States Officers' Reserve Corps, where he would remain on active duty well into the 1940s, and on inactive duty until 1953. Truman was promoted to colonel in 1932, and served as the commanding officer of the 379th Field Artillery, the unit mentioned at the top of this letter, between 1936-1938. As is evident, Truman's ties to the military were strong throughout his entire life. He remained friends with many of the men with whom he served, including Snyder.

 

Truman also mentions Snyder's donation of currency of significant historical value to the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum. "That coin collection of the Presidents, which you gave to the Library, is now the most interesting thing in this institution," Truman wrote. "More people stop in front of it and more people want to come to see it than any other thing here." The almost complete type set of U.S. official coinage dating from 1789 is still in the library's collections.

 

John W. Snyder returned to civilian life as a businessman, but like Truman, he also joined the Reserves. President Truman appointed Snyder the 54th Secretary of the Treasury in 1946.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

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