The News

It had been a tense campaign, deeply felt and bitterly contested on both sides. But now the import of the nation's other battles swam back into focus again, like mountains seen after rain. There were the battles of World War II on many fronts, and of the peace somewhere beyond. And, as always in war, there was the personal struggle of thousands with heartbreak, loneliness and loss.

Day by day, all over the nation, men & women read somber and heart-catching news in telegrams which began "deeply regret to inform you. . . ." For all the news was not in the newspapers, though some of it got into the news pictures (see cut). But that was not the whole story. Some of the story was in what U.S. mothers & fathers thought and sometimes wrote of their dead boys--such brave and sober thoughts as these:

"I am proud that I reared a son who was brave enough to do his duty and do it well. I know he was the most wonderful son in the world, but it is indeed comforting for strangers to say he was brave and courageous."

"He was my whole world, all I had. He lived as he died, always on the peak of excellence."

"In his last letter, written a few days before his death, he said: 'I am in the assault wave this time. I know it will be rough, but I have no kick coming, as I asked for it. If it will ease your mind any, remember that this was my idea. I wanted to come over here. I am scared and I am not ashamed to admit it. Also I have been reading my Bible regularly. It makes you feel a lot better.' "

"We are proud of him, but our hearts will ache for him the rest of our lives. To us he is an only son who will never come home to us again."

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