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Letter Grouping from a Tank Destroyer Crewman captured at Kasserine Pass


Championhilz
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Championhilz

I recently picked up a very nice letter grouping belonging to Corporal John Rannou, who served in Company C, 805th Tank Destroyer Battalion. He was captured in February 1943, along with much of his company, in fighting near the Kasserine Pass in North Africa. Rannou's company suffered extremely heavy losses, having 75 casualties and losing all twelve of their tank destroyers.

 

This letter collection consists of 11 postcards and 9 letters written by Rannou from Stalag 3b, and 15 letters written by him after he returned to the United States and was posted to Fort Benning.

 

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I have transcribed the postcards and letters that John wrote to his wife, Madeleine:

 

May 22, 1943

 

Dear Darling:

It's a beautiful day today and I'm feeling right up to it. I'm hoping everyone home is feeling the same. Darling yours so much on my mind, never a minute passes that your not in my thoughts. I need not say how much I love you, my past speaks for itself. How are the Jacobs, Deorios, Poupons and Pensecs with their up and coming little families? Give them my best. Matt & Emilie and Odette how are they getting along, smooth I hope. Give your folks and mine my regards. By the way don't forget Ed and the relatives all around. How the pipe gang still going strong? Or have you quit? Good if you have. Hows my father coming with his new job? Well darling like all other letters the end is coming up fast, too fast even though there is much to write about. I'll always love you very much.

 

Your husband,

 

John

 

 

[Letter from John Rannou to Mrs. John Rannou, Received 11-1-1943]

 

 

 

 

 

June 6, 1943

 

Dearest Wife: How are you hon? Still ast Levy's. I'm feeling fine and in pretty good shape. Give the folks my regards. Ondek and Solimins give their regards to you and Odette. I haven't received ____ letters as yet but I hope to in the near future. Chin up darling so long.

 

Your loving husband,

 

John

 

[Postcard, received 10-29-43]

 

 

 

 

 

6/19/43

 

Dear Madeleine: I haven't heard from you yet but I'm expecting to any day now, one or two of the boys have received some, its getting closer and closer now. I'm feeling swell and hope that you are the same. Give your mother and father my best regards along with the rest of the gang.

 

Your Loving Husband,

 

John

 

[Postcard, received November 1, 1943]

 

 

 

June 27, 1943

 

Dear Madeleine: How are you darling? I'm feeling fine and hope you are very much the same. How are my chocolate cigarettes and razor blades coming along? If possible darling pack your own parcels and with plenty of chocolate and food thats filling like rolled oats whole wheat cereals or any kind of food you can send if any. I'm not starving or anything like that but I could use something like that but I could use something to eat all the time to fill the empty feeling for the vitamins and such. Don't let the Red Cross buffaloe you about they're giving us everything we need like one of the boys here read in his letters and don't donate too freely till I get back. Enough for that although it makes me angry to read how much the Red Cross is suppose to be doing for us in the letters here. Give my regards and love to everybody and keep the home fires burning chin up and all that sort of thing till I get home to you.

 

Your Ever Loving Husband

 

John

 

[Received October 11, 1943]

 

 

 

July 1943

 

Dear Madeleine:

I was just thinking how nice and warm it must be over there while here the weather holds the chill of November. You know better than I how much I want to be with you. My only hope is you are well and in the pink of condition. I'm feeling fine. I hope the rest of the gang is the same. You know how much I miss you and love you which is very very much. I now come back to the same story of what you should send which is everything you possible can in the line of food cheese crackers jam candy sugar nescafe meat anything and don't let the Red Cross tell you they're taking care of us with parcels every week they're not its seven weeks since the last one the same before then. Don't contribute anything to them show them they're wrong. I'm not as desperate as I sound but it makes me angry to think of some of the things they must be telling you. Give my regards to the gang and tell them to write. I guess thats about all. So long hon.

 

Your Loving Husband,

 

John

 

[Received November 8, 1943]

 

 

 

 

July 4, 1943

 

Dear Madeleine: Everything is running along fine, I'm feeling fine and dandy. I hope very much so that you are the same, your family, Odette, Matt & Emily and everybody. Give them all my regards and best wishes. Keep sending chocalate, cigarettes, or tobacco and etc. I have yet to hear from you. So long Hon.

 

Your loving husband,

 

John

 

[Postcard, Received October 30, 1943]

 

 

 

 

July 25, 1943

 

My Darling Wife:

As the time flies by and each and every minute my thoughts are of you and home. I get anxious sometimes as to how things are home. I have yet to receive a letter but I've learned to be patent for I know they are on the road and that they'll tell me all I want to know as to how you are. I'm feeling fine with plenty of time laying on my hands laying around doing nothing but read and think. Do I sound melancholy? If I do I don't mean too, for I pretty use to this life now but very anxious to get back to my old one. How is everyone at home? Give them my best regards. Ed must be quite a lad these days. I'd like to see a picture of him and you and the family. How are your parcels coming along? No trouble I hope, from the red cross. Have you been receiving my letters and cards. Well darling I'm at my end. You know I love you very much as always.

 

Your Loving Husband

 

John

 

[Received December 28, 1943]

 

 

 

 

August 1, 1943

 

Dear Madeleine: Another month gone by. It looks like I'll celebrate another birthday this side of the pond. Its been quite a long time since I've last seen you, but my memories are still vivid. I haven't received any letters yet but hope to soon give my regards to the gang, especially your mom & pop, Odette, Matt & Emelie, Jacobs etc. So long hon.

 

Your loving husband

 

John

 

[Postcard, Received Dec. 29, 1943]

 

 

 

 

Sept. 4, 1943

 

Dear Madeleine: Hiya Hon. Your letters are starting to come now. I very glad to hear your feeling fine. I also received your parcels of clothes and cigarettes. Solimino & Ondik are also receiving letters from home. I'm glad you heard from me. Give my regards to the gang. Your parcels are ideal. I'm waiting for a snapshot of you but I have none whatever. So long hon.

 

Your loving husband,

 

John

 

[Postcard, Received Feb. 24, 1944]

 

 

 

 

Sept. 26, 1943

 

Dear Darling:

I've finally received your first letter a couple of days ago and I think I've received all your letters of the month of May. I guess I got about all of Ondeks letters from his sister. I receive an awful lot of letters but over half were for Ondek & one for Solenuno. I hope you receive some of mine. I'm feeling swell and hoping to be with you soon. I just know you feel the same. You know I've been sweating out a snapshot from you in all your letters but haven't as yet receive it. I've lost all of the ones of u I had with everything else. I love you very much as always. Things are still the same with me. Give my regards to the gang hon. The boys give their regards to you and Odette especially Odette. Also my thoughts to your Mom & Dad and to mine folks & Ed & Frant. I do hope that snapshot is on the way. Well darling these letters of mine are not what they use to be and I hope I don't have to write them much longer. So long Hon with all my love.

 

Your loving husband

 

John

 

[Received March 20, 1944]

 

 

 

Nov. 14, 1943

 

Dear Darling:

 

Its been quite some time now since I received a letter from you. Three weeks to be exact. I have received a birthday card from Uncle Joes of Conn. What I'm really waiting for is a snapshot of you and the end of this war. I'm feeling fine darling and I hope you are the same and everyone. You know of course that I feel still the same about you as a matter of fact I love you more if that is possible. Soon I'll have you to myself always as before. How is Ed getting along? How is the whole gang Mom, pop (on both sides) Frant Odette Matt and Emilie Frank and family the Diris everybody. By the way are you an aunt yet? Name him after me (or her after you). I received your parcel that makes two clothing and one cigarette. Put woolens and things that are warm and some cod liver oil pills or something like that. Well daring time marches on and our time will come.

 

Love as Always

 

John

 

[Received March 20, 1944]

 

 

 

 

Nov. 22, 1943

 

Dear Madeleine: I received a letter a few days ago dated Sept. 13 with some strange news. You see my last letter was dated Aug. 11. But if I figure right Matt is now a father of baby girl and Frant was home and now I imagine, a married man. Well hon, am I right. I'm feeling fine and hope you are the same. I just wait for the day till I'm back home, Give my regards to all.

 

So Long Hon,

 

As Always

 

John

 

[Received March 24, 1944]

 

 

 

Dec. 19, 1943

 

Dear Madeleine: Everything is fine hon. I'm feeling good and hope you are the same. Xmas is drawing near and the barrack is decorated to make us feel the Xmas spirit and we do have it but our minds are on home. We will have a cheerful Xmas – that is under these condition.

 

Your loving husband

 

John

 

[Postcard, Received March 23, 1944]

 

 

 

Dec. 19, 1943

 

Dear Madeleine: I hope you've had a happy time this Xmas. I hope you don't worry too much about me and have a good time. Give everyone my regards and wishes. Keep those home fires burning etc. etc. for I'll be coming home one of these days and to stay.

 

Your loving husband

 

John

 

[Postcard, Received March 23, 1944]

 

 

 

Dec. 26, 1943

 

Dear Darling:

We received a wonderful Xmas parcel from the red cross that made Xmas here in the stalag. I also received a few letters from you a couple of days before Xmas which really set it off, along with somewhat of a party for Xmas eve. So you see we're not too bad off here. In one of the letters you sent you told me of a picture of you you are going to send, so now I'll be sweating it out which I've been doing since last May. The letter also cinches that Frant got married and Matt & Emilie are the proud parents of a baby girl. My congradulations all around also my best wishes to the gang. My thoughts of you tick away every second of the day darling. As a poet here puts it I quote - “My heart is heavey, its you I adore we are always together although oceans apart.” unquote. I love you very much darling and waiting for the day we'll be together again. I'll love you always

 

Your husband

 

John

 

[Received March 24, 1944]

 

 

 

Feb. 6, 1944

 

Dear Madeleine: I'm fairly well contented this week because I received some of your letters along with a few from mom. Also your cigarettes. I have everything I need the Red Cross is doing everything possible for us food, clothing, cigarettes, and etc they're a god send.

 

I love you as always

 

John

 

[Postcard, Received April 17, 1944]

 

 

 

Feb. 20, 1944

 

Dear Madeleine: I hope your doing well and feeling fine and don't give up the ship. I know you won't give up. I'm feeling fine so is Solimino & Ondik we're always together. Give my love and regards to the gang especially my new niece. I love you as always and living on memories & dreams. So long hon.

 

Yours as always

 

John

 

[Postcard, Received April 6, 1944]

 

 

 

Feb. 27, 1944

 

Dear Darling:

I've just took notice its leap year. It would be a nice year for the fellows to get home. With all the women running around. Don't get me wrong hon, not me but the other fellows. I've got you and your all I think of and want. I love you too much to do otherwise. Yes I still feel the same way about you I don't think I'll ever change. There's no doubt about it. Everything here is about the same darling. I receive a letter from you this week also one from Frank & Marcella. I was glad to hear everyone were feeling fine. Give them all my love and regards. Since a week I've become an confirmed pipe smoker so a pipe and some tobacco, Revelation, would come in handy hon. There I go asking for things again I really don't need a thing darling, the Red Cross is taking good care of us. So long darling remember I'll always love you.

 

John

 

[Received June 14, 1944]

 

 

 

May 21, 1944

 

Dear Madeleine: I received another letter this week I've lost count on how many I've already received but its near the hundred. I also received another cigarette and clothing parcels bringing them all up to date. Your right on the ball hon. As I knew you would be I couldn't have anything better.

 

I love you

 

John

 

[Postcard, Received August 11, 1944]

 

 

 

Nov. 12, 1944

 

Dear Madeleine: I received a few letters this week, four of them from you one from mom and another from Rene & Louise. I'm feeling fine. I see your back in Levy's again. I was glad to hear that in a way. Its better than the other work anyway. In mom letter I see Ed's been wearing my clothes he must be quite a lad. I don't think I'd be able to recognise him anymore unless he looks like a Rannou and I can spot one a mile away. Little Johnny and Mariana must be quite some kids too. I'm glad to hear that Ed is doing fine. Well darling the lines are running low and I haven't mention you yet but need I for you know better than I how much I love you. So long love.

 

I love you as always

 

John

 

[No Date it was Received]

 

 

 

 

 

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Championhilz

In his letters John often mentioned his friend "Solimino" who was in the same barracks with him at Stalag 3b. I did some research, and found that "Solimino" was Angelo Solimino, who also served in the 805th Tank Destroyer Battalion and was captured the same day as John. I also found that Solimino kept a journal during his time at Stalag 3b, and the entire document has been digitized: http://tealcat.nyheritage.org/collections/pierson-war-journal.

 

Solimino drew many pictures in his journal, such as this one:

 

post-274-0-51693100-1498530743.png

 

 

 

 

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Championhilz

Angelo Solimino also drew pictures of his friends, including several of John Rannou:

 

post-274-0-10831200-1498531043.png

 

 

Solimino also wrote down the names of his friends in the camp in the form of dogtags:

 

post-274-0-83729400-1498531238.png

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Championhilz

John Rannou was released from captivity in 1945 and sent back to the United States - but he did not get to go home immediately. He was sent to Fort Benning to work as an instructor because he didn't have enough points for immediate discharge! In most of his letters written from Fort Benning he talks about how much he wants to see his wife and can't wait to get out of the army. Rannou was finally discharged in September 1945.

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Very nice write up! I bought some of his letters on Ebay a few years ago. I have 2 letters from before he was captured, 9 POW postcards, 2 letters from Camp Lucky Strike, and a letter from right after he got home. You have dug deeper into the research on him than I have. The first POW camp he was held at was Stalag VIIA, which is where his POW ID # was assigned.

 

Kurt

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Also thank you for posting the link to the Wartime Log! It nice to see it digitized online.

 

Kurt

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