(Dearest Mother): A George Patton Soldier's Correspondence With His Mother During World War II

By Emily A. Newton

A biography of a World War II soldier who server under General George Patton, consisting of letters to his mother describing the trials and tribulations of the war.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Oct 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9781543990775

Book preview

Patton

BIBLOGRAPHY

Blumenson, Martin. Patton: The Man behind the Legend 1885 -1945. New York: William Morrow & Company Inc., 1985.

Peifer, Charles. Soldier of Destiny. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Dillon Press, 1989.

E-BOOK CREATED AND EDITED BY EMILY A. NEWTON (ONE OF MAYOH NEWTON’S TWIN DAUGHTERS).

CONTIBUTORS: PHOTOGRAPHS SCANNED AND EDITED BY HOLLY IVY (MAYOH NEWTON’S OTHER TWIN DAUGHTER).

PHOTO CREDITS: (PHOTOS AT END OF E-BOOK): CZCHECLOSLOVAKIAN GIRL & BOSTON PARADE TAKEN FROM PATTON: THE MAN BEHIND THE LEGEND & VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE ARCHIVES

DRAFT NOTICE FROM AUBURN UNIVERSITY

GRADUATION PROGRAM FROM

OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL

INTRODUCTION

Over 16 million people served in the United States armed services during World War II, often called the bloodiest conflict in history. World War II at times involved many nations of the world and engrossed many corners of the globe from 1935 to 1945, but the War to End all Wars was fought predominately in two primary theaters - Europe and across the Pacific and eastern Asia.

The War pitted the Axis powers of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperialist Japan against the Allied nations of Great Britain, France, China, the Soviet Union and the United States. While the Axis powers enjoyed success initially, the Allies were gradually able to come back, with both Italy and Germany falling to Allied troops and Japan surrendering after the dropping of the atomic bomb.

The 16 million members of the U.S. Military included men and women of all races, all backgrounds, all religions, all ethnicity as well as all socioeconomic classed - rich, poor and middle class. One aspect that participants all had in common - they were all members of America’s Greatest Generation

This is the story of an American serviceman and his family brought to life through a collection of his personal letters that were penned in England, France, Germany, and Austria. Lieutenant Mayoh Newton’s viewpoint springs from a pivotal time; a worldwide drama that took place nearly seventy years ago. As his story unfolds through simple and heartfelt words intended at the time to be only for the eyes of the addressee, the reader gains a sense of the enormity of what is transpiring in the world.

Just as he was starting out in life, Mayoh had graduated from Auburn University. Then just as quickly as that happened, he was drafted into the U.S. Army to fight in World War II.

Not knowing what would transpire in the next few years after he was shipped to Europe must have been an overwhelming feeling for Mayoh. At the same time, he understood the necessity for taking part in the fight for the freedom of many European nations.

Many of his letters were under censorship, but he was able to divulge some significant details to his mother about what was going on the battle areas he was in. In these letters, this young soldier describes what life was like in the military, i.e., the army food he endures - some good, some not so good; the homesickness of missing his mother; and the unique measures which he and his squad mates undertook in an effort to make life in the service just a little more bearable. The letters also tell of growing confidence that Germany would soon be defeated. Though they share of celebration following Germany’s defeat, they also show Mayoh’s frustration in wondering when he would ever get to go home.

The thoughts and prayers of all his family members were always with Mayoh. Because of this, fate was on his side when he returned home on a ship from France in September of 1945.

BERTHA PRICE NEWTON

Bertha Price Newton was a genteel southern lady. She was a housewife for most of her life. Then she worked temporarily for the Red Cross to help send supplies to the boys overseas. In the mid 1940’s, she lived out a trying ordeal. Her only son, Mayoh, was drafted into the army and sent overseas to fight in World War II.

In 1943 & 1944, Mayoh attended Officer Candidate School and Tank Driving School in Ft. Knox, Kentucky and Ft. Bragg, North, Carolina. Bertha was very proud of her son’s achievements in Officer Candidate School. He proved his ability to be an officer and an efficient tank driver. Next to his war experiences, getting through Officer Candidate School was one of the toughest challenges in Mayoh’s life. However, he was determined to serve his country in the U.S. Army.

After her second husband died, Bertha lived by herself on a cotton plantation in Loachapoka, Alabama. Her only contact with her son were the numerous letters that he religiously wrote to her. Without these letters, she would never know where he was in Europe at any given time or what year he might return home. At that time, to pass the time, she also worked as a house mother for one of the sororities at Auburn University.

As one can see, the letters were elegantly written on official army stationary. They were written from 1943 to 1945. They show his great affection for his mother because Mayoh’s father died when he was only sixteen years old, and he was also an only child. The letters also proved to be a lifeline between the two of them. Once he got overseas, his mother and her two sisters were Mayoh Newton’s only contact with the outside world.

The content of the letters gives his mother wonderful descriptions of all the sights and scenery Mayoh saw in his travels to England, France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Czechoslovakia.

However, the revelations of his combat experiences reveal what he was up against in the war. One of these includes a serious head injury from a jeep accident in Regensburg, Germany.

Bertha waited anxiously month by month for any word from Mayoh about when the war would officially end, and when he could expect to be discharged and return home. Fortunately for Bertha, the outcome was joyful, and it was only a short time before Mayoh would enjoy the taste of a home-cooked meal. Mayoh returned home to Alabama in September of 1945.

After Mayoh Newton’s service in the Korean War (1950 - 1952), Bertha lived for a few more years, and then died in 1956. She was buried with her parents in Ozark, Alabama.

MAYOH HENDERSON NEWTON

Mayoh H. Newton was born February 17, 1922 in Savannah, Georgia. He enjoyed a fun-filled childhood in