Letters Home from World War II

While serving in the United States Army during World War II, Harold Carlton Bunner maintained regular correspondence with his wife, family members, and friends. Written primarily in 1944, these letters offer a personal glimpse into the experiences of military service during wartime and reveal the importance of staying connected with loved ones despite long distances and uncertainty.

The Clayton State University Archives preserves thirty-eight letters and related correspondence exchanged between Harold and his family. Although this collection represents only a small portion of the family's original correspondence, it provides meaningful insight into the relationships, daily concerns, and emotional support networks that sustained service members and their families during the war. Harold authored six of the surviving letters, while the remaining correspondence was written by his wife, Ercell, relatives, and friends.

Private Bunner's Background and Letter Correspondence

Harold Carlton Bunner was born on June 22, 1909, in Davistown, Pennsylvania, to Howard E. Bunner, a farmer, and Minnie D. Linton, a homemaker. He was the third of five children. As an adult, Harold married and became the father of two children. Before his military service, he worked as an automobile mechanic for Koontz Motor Freight in Akron, Ohio, while his family remained on their farm in Pennsylvania.

In October 1940, at the age of thirty-one, Harold enlisted in the U.S. Army. During his service, he held the rank of Technician Fifth Grade in a Maintenance Company and was stationed at military installations in Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

The letters exchanged between Harold and Ercell document both the extraordinary circumstances of wartime and the ordinary realities of family life. Their correspondence reflects discussions about their children, Hattie Carol and Sammy, finances, health concerns, military developments, and everyday experiences on both the home front and the war front. The letters also reveal the couple's affection for one another through endearing terms such as "Hubby," "Wifey," and "Ole Topper."

Beyond communication between husband and wife, the collection highlights the encouragement and support Harold received from family members and friends throughout his military service. Together, these letters demonstrate how written correspondence helped maintain family bonds, provided emotional reassurance, and preserved a sense of normalcy during a period of global conflict.

Harold C. Bunner passed away on February 25, 2002, at the age of ninety-two. Today, the Harold C. Bunner: Letters Home from World War II Collection serves as a testament to the enduring strength of family relationships and the vital role personal correspondence played in connecting loved ones separated by war.