Description:

Rene Gagnon - World War II
Charleston, SC and Oceanside, CA, ca. August 1943-August 1944
Rene Gagnon World War II Love Letters to His Future Wife, Archive of 10, Superb!

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, all written during Gagnon's military training as a guard at the Naval Prison Camp in Charleston, South Carolina, and at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California. Spanning a full year, the letters are dated between August 1, 1943, and August 2, 1944. Gagnon was only 18-years-old when he began writing 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," 2pp, in ink, on a single sheet of U.S. Marines Corp gilt-embossed stationery measuring 7" x 10.5", Charleston, South Carolina, August 1, 1943. Accompanied by the original signed, hand-addressed, and free franked transmittal envelope postmarked August 2, 1943, from same. Expected mailing folds and creases. Isolated toning. In very good plus to near fine condition.

In part: "Darling Kiddo...As far as getting a furlough is concerned we have to wait at least six months before asking for another one. Then I might get 14 days that is if they don't transfer me from here before then. There shipping 19 out of here this month…they will have three months of combat training and then go across. I'm just hoping I'm not among those nineteen."

2.) Autograph Letter Signed, "Love as ever, Rene," 4pp, in pencil, on the recto and verso of two sheets of ivory-colored stationery measuring 7.25" x 10.5", Charleston, South Carolina, October 13, 1943. Accompanied by the original signed, hand-addressed, and free franked transmittal envelope postmarked same and "S.W.A.K." at flap. Expected mailing folds and creases. Very minor toning. In near fine condition.

In part: "Dearest Darling Kiddo...With a little praying and a little luck I'll be getting another furlough at the end of January...Isn't that swell three more months boy I can hardly wait. That little dance hall the U.F.W. will be going in full swing…boy won't I be proud to walk in there with you…your the kind of girl that's going to make someone a swell wife, and I sure hope that someone is me."

3.) Autograph Letter Signed, "Love as ever / Rene," 4pp, in ink, on two sheets of ivory-colored stationery measuring 7.25" x 10.5", Charleston, South Carolina, October 17, 1943. Accompanied by the original signed, hand-addressed, and free franked transmittal envelope postmarked October 18, 1943, from same. Expected mailing folds and light creases. Very minor isolated toning. In fine condition and boldly written.

In part: Darling Kiddo...boy I can't wait to get out of here and be able to take you to the beach and show you off. In the seven months that we went out together we didn't have a chance to go very many places. With the gas situation as it was, but better days are coming believe me it won't be long…Yesterday afternoon they brought a radio in the barracks, the kind that plays records...somebody put on White Christmas I just felt kinda blue and I just couldn't go out last night, it just seemed like nothing else mattered if you weren't there, I didn't care if Betty Grable would have been in town."

4.) Autograph Letter Signed, "Love & Kisses as ever / Rene," 2pp, in ink, on the recto and verso of a single sheet of cream-colored stationery measuring 7.25" x 10.375", Charleston, South Carolina, November 16, 1943. Accompanied by the original signed, hand-addressed, and free franked transmittal envelope postmarked same. Expected mailing folds and creases. Minor soiling. In near fine condition and boldly written.

In part: "Darling Kiddo...all we've got to wait for is this war to end, lots of people seem to think that it will be over by the end of next year...I was thinking of maybe going to Canada and enlisting in the Canadian Mounted Police after the war. Its just a silly thought now but well, you know me when I want something, how would you like that being the wife of a Mountie and living in Canada."

5.) Autograph Letter Signed, "I'll love you forever & ever / Rene," 2pp, in pencil, on the recto and verso of a single sheet of cream-colored stationery measuring 7.25" x 10.375", Charleston, South Carolina, November 18, 1943. Accompanied by the original signed, hand-addressed, and free franked transmittal envelope postmarked November 19, 1943, from same. Expected folds and light creases. In near fine condition.

In part: "Dearest Darling...Don't you remember the reason I enlisted, maybe you've forgotten that now but I haven't, you said you wanted a decent wedding, well I loved you so much I went away to make sure than when I came back we'd be old enough and we could have that big wedding you've always wanted remember, you always did want to get married dressed in white, well maybe I can't give you castles and diamonds but if my little girl wants a big church wedding and all dressed in white thats what she'll have, nothing is to good for you, because you're the only one I want to make happy, now and forever...Well till victory, and peaceful married life for when I return."

6.) Autograph Letter Signed, "Love as ever / Rene," 2pp, in ink, on the recto and verso of a single sheet of cream-colored stationery measuring 6" x 10", Charleston, South Carolina, March 21, 1943 (corrected to 1944.) Accompanied by the original signed, hand-addressed, and free franked transmittal envelope postmarked March 23, 1944, from same. Expected mailing folds and creases. Open tear at top left not affecting text. In near fine condition.

In part: "Darling Kiddo...I still love you darling and wish I could be with you now. I'd give anything just to hold your hand right now. I'd give anything just to hold your hand right now. The way you fixed your hair, I haven't seen one girl yet that had her hair fixed like that, so how could I fall for any of them, and all those silly things you say, I just can't love any one else, I guess I'm stuck with you for life, and I'm sure glad of that."

7.) Autograph Letter Signed Twice, first as "Love and Kisses / Rene," and then again as "Love as ever / Rene," after the postscript, 4pp, in pencil, on the rectos and versos of two sheets of cream-colored stationery measuring 6" x 9", Camp Pendleton, California, April 15, 1944. Accompanied by the original signed, hand-addressed, and free franked transmittal envelope postmarked same. Expected mailing folds and wrinkles. Isolated toning. Mousing to both letter and envelope, more so to envelope. In very good condition.

In part: "Darling Kiddo...I think of how nice it would be when you come down with Mom to visit me in July, well I guess our plans have all been spoiled as this must be too far for you to come, and we'll be shipping across around July anyways, so I guess there's no other way out...I guess it took a war to make me realize what a swell place home is. I never realized what a swell town Hooksett was until I saw some of these other dumps...I haven't no furlough coming up...So when I get paid I won't be broke; so what do you say about that ring."

8.) Autograph Letter Signed, "Love as ever and more / Rene," 6pp, in pencil, on the rectos and versos of three sheets of U.S. Marines Corp stationery measuring 6.25" x 10.5", Camp Pendleton, California, May 3, 1944. Accompanied by the original signed, hand-addressed, and free franked transmittal envelope postmarked May 5, 1944, from same. Expected mailing folds and creases. Isolated toning with a bit of scattered soiling. In very good condition.

In part: "Darling Kiddo...I've got to go to demolition school now...I know I've done a lot of things I shouldn't have as we weren't married, and I realize now they were wrong, believe me darling I'm sorry, I guess I just couldn't help myself, and you didn't put up to much of a fight so I guess that's how it happened a lot of times, maybe it's just that we were so much in love it didn't matter, anyways, all the time I've been going out with you were the swellest years of my life. I hope you'll forgive me for all those times...You know this is the kind of work that sets a guy to thinking, Yesterday we were blowing up pillboxes and trenches of course it was only practice but we were using real dynamite and T.N.T., some guy didn't get out fast enough, that was the last mistake he'll ever make, there's no two chances when you're fooling with dynamite you either do it right the first time or your not around for a second try...Well this guy stayed around too long after the fire was lit and well there shipping what's left of him to his parents in a coffin...it could just as easily have been me...when a guy is doing this kind of work he sorta likes to have a clear conscience..."

9.) Autograph Letter Signed, "Love as ever / Rene," 2pp, in ink, on the recto and verso of a single sheet of U.S. Marines Corp gilt-embossed stationery measuring 7.25" x 10.5", Camp Pendleton, California, July 10, 1944. Accompanied by the original signed, hand-addressed, and free franked transmittal envelope postmarked July 12, 1944, from same. Expected mailing folds. Isolated toning. A bit of ink smudging. In near fine condition.

In part: Darling Kiddo...Its kinda quiet in camp tonight as most of the boys are gone on a 48 hr leave. This war is sure lasting longer than we planned...It looks like I won't be coming home this month as all furloughs have been cancelled till August 2nd...The way they've been inspecting everything around here, it looks like there's something about to pop, and I think it's our shipping overseas."

10.) Autograph Letter Signed, "Love as ever / Rene," 2pp, in ink, on the recto and verso of a single sheet of teal-colored, gilt-embossed U.S. Marines Corp stationery measuring 7.25" x 10.5", Camp Pendleton, California, August 2, 1944. Accompanied by the original signed, hand-addressed, and free franked transmittal envelope postmarked August 3, 1944, from same. Expected mailing folds and creases. Minor toning. In near fine condition condition.

In part: "Dearest Darling...Please don't write and say, 'that's the kind of letter you needed to get you to write everyday.' I know its true, the thought of getting into an argument, with you now, didn't look so good to me. Especially now when I can't even do or say anything about it. Look darling, I'm trying to forget that letter, I even went to sleep thinking about it, and it's a miracle I didn't dream about it all night. Let's just forget that you ever sent it, and please write like you used to before...Your still the girl I'm gonna marry aren't you. At least I hope you haven't change your mind."

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."

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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