Lot 312

Rene Gagnon World War II Love Letters to His Future Wife, Archive of 10, Superb!

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Rene Gagnon World War II Love Letters to His Future Wife, Archive of 10, Superb!

Estimate: $1,000 - $1,500

Starting Bid: $350

(0 Bids)

June 17, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
Wilton, CT, US

Description:

Rene Gagnon
Charleston, SC, ca. March 8 - April 1, 1944
Rene Gagnon World War II Love Letters to His Future Wife, Archive of 10, Superb!
Archive

Rene Gagnon (1925-1979). As Private First Class in the U.S. Marine Corps, Gagnon writes to his hometown sweetheart, Pauline Harnois (1926-2006), whom he would marry upon his return from the war. Gagnon is best known for being one of the participants in the famous flag raising on Iwo Jima. Here offered is a collection of ten letters, the majority written during Gagnon's military training as a guard at the Naval Prison Camp in Charleston, South Carolina. Dated between March 8 and April 1, 1944, Gagnon was only 18 years old when he wrote the majority of these letters. In reading them, we are privy to a glimpse of what life was like for this young WWII soldier in love, likely away from home for the very first time.

Comprises, in chronological order by date of letter, with original spelling and grammar retained:

1.) Autograph letter signed, "Love as ever / Rene," 5pp plus a lengthy full-page postscript, in pencil, on the recto and verso of 3 sheets of tan colored stationery measuring 7" x 10.5", Charleston, South Carolina, March 8, 1944. Accompanied by the original signed, hand-addressed, and free franked transmittal envelope postmarked same. Expected mailing folds and creases. Toning and soiling, with adhesive residue along edges of top of first page. In very good condition.

In part: "Well here I am again back in camp and hoping to get back home soon…caught the train to Washington…I went and take a walk around. Just as I walked out of the station there it stood right ahead of me right across from the park, the Capitol…I decided to walk over to it, when I got there I just stood staring at it, imagining that you were right next to me. It's funny I had never realized before what I was really fighting for, then I knew its because you were here in America…Well I knew that if I quit and all the other fellas like me quit, Hitler himself would be sitting in that capitol…Now I know why I'm here it's not because I want to be because theres nothing I wouldn't give to be with you right now. And when I do go across its only to meet the enemy before he gets here, as long as I'm out there in between Germany and the US they'll never pass to get here. Then you'll always be safe…"

2.) Autograph letter signed, "Love as ever / Rene," 6pp, in ink, on the recto and verso of 3 sheets of cream colored stationery measuring 5.5" x 9", Charleston, South Carolina, March 12, 1943[4]. Accompanied by the original signed, hand-addressed, and free franked transmittal envelope postmarked March 13, 1944, from same. On the letter, Gagnon writes the date as 1943 in error; 1944 is postmarked on the envelope. Expected mailing folds and creases. Tiny chip at upper right margins. In near fine condition.

In part: "...still no letter today...I won't be going to New River, so far as we know from the last dispatch that arrived here, we'll be shipping out to San Diego California the 23rd of this month...I want you to know that I've always loved you and always will...the way you said good-bye at the station remember you said 'I'm not going to cry you know' and just as you said that, tears were already streaking down your cheeks...you're the only reason I'm in the service...you could get married and that would spoil all my dreaming and planning...I'm not crying Marines are supposed to be tough, they don't cry, but remember, they still have a heart..."

3.) Autograph letter signed, "Love as ever / Rene," 4pp, in ink, on the recto and verso of 2 sheets of ivory colored stationery measuring 5.5" x 8.5", Charleston, South Carolina, March 13, 1943[4]. Accompanied by the original signed, hand-addressed, and free franked transmittal envelope postmarked March 14, 1944, from same. On the letter, Gagnon writes the date as 1943 in error; 1944 is postmarked on the envelope. Expected mailing folds and creases. Toning and scattered spotting. Uneven deckling along top edge is evidently due to being removed from a pad, not affecting text. In near fine condition.

In part: "...were suppose to go to San Diego California the 27th that means that it may be a couple of years before I see you again. But I've got better news they check up on us, I mean a physical exam before, and what do you know, my old blood pressure has crept up on me again, the doctors said that I could never go to combat on account of that and that if I wanted a medical discharge I could get one, that means that I'd have to turn in the hospital and be surveyed for about two months while they sent my papers to Washington, that is the whole story in a nutshell, is I could be home in about three months, not for 2 days or ten days but for keeps as the army or navy couldn't touch me with a medical discharge. Of course they don't know that I've had high blood pressure all my life and that it doesn't affect me. They say that if I go to combat I couldn't stand up under the strain. But I know better. Well darling I can get out in three or four months on a medical discharge and nobody would know, the difference except me and you; I could get my old job back and well I'll leave that up to you. Should I take it, or shouldn't I...don't tell mom about it yet I want to surprise her..." Gagnon, of course, decided to remain in the service. His blood pressure did catch up with him, however; as he passed away at age 54 from heart disease.

4.) Autograph letter signed, "Love as ever / Rene," 6pp, in ink, on the recto and verso of 3 sheets of cream colored stationery measuring 5.5" x 9", Charleston, South Carolina, March 15, 1944. Accompanied by the original signed, hand-addressed, and free franked transmittal envelope postmarked March 17, 1944, from same. Expected mailing folds and creases. Minor scattered soiling. In near fine condition.

In part: "Something tells me, I'll win that bet with your father yet. Tell him that if I leave for overseas duty without getting a furlough first, I want him to buy you candy and flowers (roses) every week until he has gotten $25 worth...I guess my leaving will sort of break up the little trip Mom had planned, that is coming down and see me in July or August. Well that's the way things go I guess; after all its war...all the guys around here go around giving each other facials. Youd never guess this was the Marine Corps it looks more like a Beauty Parlor..."

5.) Autograph letter signed, "Love as ever and even more / Rene," 8pp, in ink, on the recto and verso of 4 sheets of cream colored stationery measuring 5.5" x 9", Charleston, South Carolina, March 18, 1944. Accompanied by the original signed, hand-addressed, and free franked transmittal envelope postmarked March 19, 1944, from same. Expected mailing folds and creases. A tiny bit of scattered soiling. In near fine condition.

In part: "...the end of the war is finally in sight. You see it can't last much longer now, everybody seems to be planning for after the war, so I guess we'll be back home together in a year or two...I told you when I got on the train in Boston I'd always love you and only you, and that I'd come back someday no matter how long it would be, you wait, and I'll come back..."

6.) Autograph letter signed, "Love as ever / Rene," 3pp, in ink, on the recto and verso of 2 sheets of cream colored stationery measuring 5.5" x 9", Charleston, South Carolina, March 19, 1944. Accompanied by the original signed, hand-addressed, and free franked transmittal envelope postmarked same. Expected mailing folds and creases. A tiny bit of scattered soiling. In fine condition.

In part: "...it is Sunday and were supposed to have all day liberty on Sundays, but we have to go on a special guard at a funeral this afternoon, so I guess that sorta spoils the whole day...breakfast at 8.30, after that go to church at 9.00 then, wash clothes (maybe) thats if I feel like it...I was planning on going to Columbia this Sunday with one of the fellas that lives there"

7.) Autograph letter signed, "Love as ever / Rene," 4pp, in ink, on the recto and verso of 2 sheets of cream colored stationery measuring 6" x 8", Charleston, South Carolina, March 22, 1944. Accompanied by the original signed, hand-addressed, and free franked transmittal envelope postmarked March 23, 1944, from same. Central horizontal mailing fold and light creases. In near fine condition.

In part: "...it sure is dead in the office here. No one to talk to, I just sent my standby out the gate to get me some sandwiches. You know this corporal of the guard watch is pretty nice, whenever you want anything all you have to do is get a standby and he runs all over for you, that's what it used to be before, I used to run around for these corporals, but them days are gone forever, I'm on my way up slow but sure...had to go to an honor guard for Lord Halifax from England, who was here in the yard this morning..." Lord Halifax was British Ambassador to the United States at the time.

8.) Autograph letter signed, "Love as ever and even more of it Darling / Rene," 4pp, in ink, on the recto and verso of 2 sheets of cream colored stationery measuring 6" x 10", Charleston, South Carolina, March 24, 1944. Accompanied by the original signed, hand-addressed, and free franked transmittal envelope postmarked March 25, 1944, from same. Expected mailing folds and creases. Minor toning. In fine condition.

In part: "Well I wasn't on the first shipment going out. Maybe I'll be on this next one, I hope not as its going to San Diego also, and I'd like to go to New River so I could come home every week-end or stay here where you can come and see me in July or August. Did you read in the paper last week, about Henry Ford predicting that the war will be over in two months, I sure hope he knows what hes talking about...if I ship out with the next batch I'll send you a telegram...I'm studying like heck for that Cpl. exam..."

9.) Autograph letter signed, "Love as ever / Rene," 1p, in pencil and red ink, on the recto and verso of a single sheet of cream colored stationery measuring 6" x 10", Charleston, South Carolina, March 28, 1944. Accompanied by the original signed, hand-addressed, and free franked transmittal envelope postmarked same. Expected mailing folds and creases. Minor toning. In near fine condition.

In part: "I don't know quite how to start telling you, but by the time you get this letter I'll be on my way to California...we'll be leaving before this letter gets to you, as you probably won't get it till Friday...I'll write to you and explain everything about my shipping out, tonight I'll have plenty of time on the 12 to 4 relief."

10.) Autograph letter signed, "Love as ever / Rene," 2pp, in pencil, on the recto and verso of a single sheet of U.S. Marine Corps stationery measuring 7.25" x 10.5", Mississippi River, Louisiana, April 1, 1944. Accompanied by the original signed, hand-addressed, and free franked transmittal envelope postmarked April 2, 1944. Expected mailing folds and creases. In fine condition.

In part: "Well here we are on our way to California, you'll have to excuse the writing as its kinda hard to write with all the rolling around, right now the train is aboard a ferry to cross the Mississippi River...theres nothing much to say...I guess I'll have to wait a while for that pleasure [of reuniting] but believe me it'll come some day, as sure as there is a God in Heaven."

On October 17, 2019, the U.S. Marines Corps announced that Corporal Harold Keller (1921-1979) was the flag raiser previously identified as Rene Gagnon in Joe Rosenthal's iconic photograph, "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima". The press release further stated, "Private First Class Gagnon played a significant role in the flag raising on Mount Suribachi and his role will never be diminished. He was directly responsible for getting the larger second flag to the top and returning the first flag for safekeeping. Without his efforts, this historical event might not have been captured, let alone even occurred."

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