Ben Gross acquired fairly the shock just lately when letters began arriving at his dwelling that he penned method again in 1952.
Gross, 95, is a Korean Battle veteran. He was shocked and amused just lately to be reunited with letters he despatched dwelling whereas in Korea that had been separated and mistakenly despatched to addresses that now not exist.
Final fall, Gross’s brother, Valentine Gross, knowledgeable him he had saved greater than 25 letters Ben had despatched again dwelling to North Dakota throughout his time in Korea.
“He stated, ‘I’ve obtained all these letters. I’m going to throw them out until you need them,’” Ben Gross informed ANF in Atlanta.
His brother, relaying the story to a North Dakota information outlet, stated as a toddler of the Despair, his household didn’t discard something for trash. So, the letters stayed tucked away and preserved for a few years.
Letters Misplaced within the Mail
All of the letters, both handwritten or typed, have been written in 1952 and 1953. The letters have been positioned into one bundle and have been imagined to be shipped to Peachtree Metropolis, Georgia, the place Gross at present resides. One downside – they by no means arrived.
“That was the primary inkling that I had that one thing was unsuitable,” Gross stated.
Because the letters have been nonetheless within the authentic envelopes Gross had despatched them in with addresses from greater than 70 years in the past, the letters have been faraway from the bundle, and every one was despatched to these outdated addresses.
The U.S. Postal Service isn’t positive how the letters grew to become indifferent from the bundle, however realizing the significance of the mail, Gross stated the postal service labored exhausting to resolve the difficulty. Some postmasters have even known as Gross to replace him on the seek for the lacking letters. He additionally acquired assist from a couple of Good Samaritans.
Over the previous few months, letters have been trickling into Gross’s Georgia residence. Nonetheless, as of Jan. 10, greater than 12 letters are nonetheless ready to be retrieved.
The letters he has acquired have introduced again many fond reminiscences for the Korean Battle veteran. He had not laid eyes on them in additional than seven many years. Gross’s writing conveys the story of a humble North Dakota farm child feeling considerably homesick and able to return dwelling from warfare. He was in his early twenties when he served in Korea.
“After I arrived in Korea in ’52, the warfare was nonetheless going at full blast,” he stated.
An Army veteran, Gross served within the nineteenth Infantry Regiment, twenty fourth Infantry Division.
A Slice of Dwelling
In a few of the letters, Gross exhibits appreciation for the small issues, like care packages with tasty goodies despatched from a household priest.
“Father Chuck informed me to jot down you straight away and thanks for the cookies,” Gross learn, holding one of many letters.
“I bear in mind this one, particularly. I bear in mind once we have been there,” he stated, selecting up and scanning one other letter.
A number of of the letters contained black and white images, like one in every of him bundled up in a darkish uniform outdoors his tent, the bottom coated in snow.
Whereas Gross didn’t suppose a lot of the letters when he despatched them, all these years later, he’s blissful to have them again. Cherished mementos, the notes present a window into his youth and journey again in time.
“Oh, sure, they undoubtedly take me again,” Gross stated.
