Dear Violet, with All My Love, Jack: A B-24 WWII Pilot's Words of Love

Dear Violet, With all my Love, Jack is a love story told through the love letters Jack wrote to Violet while training to fly the B-24 and then, as he flew 'the Hump' during WWII. But the story does not unfold only through his letters. The story is told through a back drop of many sources. It is a compilation of historical documents, cultural references of the times, excerpts from an interview taped 40 years after the war during a reunion with two other WWII B-24 bomber pilots who flew with him. These letters also show glimpses of the kind of husband and father he grew to become which were told through the Berry family stories, personal letters, Violet's journal, and a family history written by Violet and her granddaughter, Jodi Havener.

Jack Berry grew up on a farm in southern Illinois and after high school graduation, enrolled in Illinois State Teacher's 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 Sanitarium's Nurses' Training program and was roommates with Jack's sister, Juanita. Violet had gone to Juanita's 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 wasn't 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.

Am sure these letters reflect the same kind of love from the hearts of soldiers and sweethearts across generations, races, cultures and time. This is our story.