If you want to know who fought to liberated Europe and the world from tyranny, this is one of those soldiers.
You're bidding on a rare WWII Killed In Action two letter lot. Both of the letters were written by 2nd Lt. Sam Hirsch. He was a radioman, Killed in action in France in early 1945.
These two original letters comes with one envelope. The two Autographed letters are dated Aug. 17, 1942 and June 19, 1943. The 1942 letter was written while Sam Hirsch was a Private in training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Also there are two photos (recent reprints), one of him in 1943 and one of a Glider Unit getting ready to take off.
The 1942 letter is important because he writes about starting Radio school, in the letter he writes;
"I started radio school today. We are learning to take and send international Morse Code it is a little dry at the start but it's better than drilling so I like it"
About Lt Sam Hirsch:
Lt. Hirsch was with the 103rd Infantry Division and Glider Battalion in Rome Italy and took part in the South France Invasion.
What makes these letters rare is that 2nd Lt. Hirsch was a Jewish Officer, with a Troop Carrier Glider Battalion and in many other Army Units in Europe. These two original letters come with excellent documentation around how this soldier lost his life.
Lt. Hirsch was in a Troop Carrier Glider Battalion while in Italy before the South France invasion. The letters come with many facsimiles of other letters he has written and in one of them he writes this: "Gliders are safe" ..... "that's what the Army told him".
Where and how he gave the intimate sacrifice:
2nd Lt. Sam Hirsch was killed in Schillersdorf, France, which is a village about 40 kilometers north of Stracburg in the Alsace region of France. This village had about 500 populations.
This village had been fought over during the Battle of the Bulge and was held by the U.S. 2nd Battalion in January 1945 when the German 6th SS Mountain Division took the town back. By March the 103rd Inf. Div. was occupying Schillersdorf but the Germans were shelling it.
2nd Lt. Hirsch was manning a Field Switchboard in the village and had just left his post when he was stuck by shrapnel. I believe he died in a field hospital but I am not sure. At the time of his death he was in the Army Signal Corps.
Why Killed in Action letters are important:
Killed in action letters from men and woman (yes there were woman who were serving on the front lines who were KIA) who served in WWII are special because they often times represent the only personal record of the individual who in most cases died very early in their life. (A KIA letter is important to have in any WWII collection).
What you will get:
You will get everything shown in this listing, The two original letters and one envelope. There is also a small 1943 photo of Lt. Hirsch and a Glider photo. (These photos are reprints.) Plus over 20+ pages of facsimile letters relating to 2nd Lt. Hirsch and the 103rd Infantry Division.
About the seller:
I have been buying and selling Americana, rare books & documents, since the early 1970’s.
I have sold large collections and important individual items to some of the largest libraries, Auction Houses, Rare book rooms, Universities and Museum in the US.
I have published unique Americana works which are in University and private libraries throughout the world.
Some of the proceeds from my sales go to support WW2 Primary Source Material for class rooms at High Schools in my area. (If you are a teacher and are interested in WW2 Primary Source Material for your class room please email me.)
When you buy from me you have my guarantee that what you are buying is authentic.
Email me if you have questions.
See photos for condition and letter content.
Bidding conditions and mailing below:
I will ship these letters First Class mail in a regular envelope.
US buyers only.
You must have bought over 25 items on eBay, Paypal preferred and you must have a good rating in order to buy on this item/items.
I have a 100% rating and have sold many rare and important document, letters and items on Ebay so you know you will receive this original item.
See photos for condition.
Email me if you have any questions.