Dear Violet, with All My Love, Jack: A B-24 WWII Pilot`s Words of Love, Havener Marcia, Pokorski Susan, Berry John

Jack Berry grew up on a farm in southern Illinois and after high school graduation, enrolled in Illinois State Teachers college. After completing two years, he enlisted in the Army Air Corp. During his Officers Training, while home on leave, he met Violet. Violet was enrolled in the Olney Sanitariums Nurses Training program and was roommates with Jacks sister, Juanita. Violet had gone to Juanitas home for the weekend. Jack always said he knew that very weekend he was going to marry her.

The weekend proved to be the spark that lit this young Lt.s heart as he tried to keep the flame alive through their exchange of letters. We do not get to see her letters to him. (He did not see the need to save them as she did his). But, we can certainly ascertain many of her responses, support, and growing love for him through his comments back.

Marcia, John and I had each read his letters individually with mother as we each visited her after his death. It wasnt until we were all together one weekend after her death that we sat down and read them together. It seemed important to us to save the content of these endearing letters and thus began the process of telling their story.