Today, the ephemera blog is playing host to Lois Kathryn Herr author of "Dear Coach: Letters Home from WWII". The postcard featured in this post appears within the book. The postcard was sent to Elizabethtown College to Coach Ira Herr by four of his athletes in 1946. What makes this postcard especially unique is that the boys weren't going off to serve as soldiers or pilots, but instead as Civilian volunteers. Coming from a brethren founding, Elizabethtown College saw its fair share of conscientious objectors finding their own unique way of serving their country during WWII.
Postcard Text:
Dearest Coach,
Will be signed to QueensVictory ship in about 1/2 hr! Going to BremenHaven, Germanywith horses. Hoping to see you soon. (We got a good Basketball team here) all present, past and future stars.
Your Boys,
Matt Meyer, Guy Buch, Walt Gingrich, and Frank Keath
Civilian volunteers Matt Meyer, Guy Buch, Walt Gingrich, and Frank Keath cast off for Bremen Haven, Germany, on the relief ship, Queen's Victory. Their job is to care for the 785 pregnant horses on board bound for Czechoslovakia.
This peaceful mission in the summer of 1946 comes about because the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) wants to send livestock to Europe to replenish herds killed during the war. UNRRA needs "seagoing cowboys" to care for the horses and turns to the Brethren Service Committee to find students from the Brethren colleges who are willing to help the Merchant Marines transport the horses. The four athletes send a postcard as they depart.
To read more about what the athletes of Elizabethtown College, Pa had to say to their Coach during their times of conflict, change and exploration brought about by WWII visit the author Lois Herr's website.
For more virtual book tour stops with fresh new content from "Dear Coach" visit the official blog.
