0500 Letters from a WW II Combat Infantryman

About the Book

May 7, 1945 Well, the war ended today. Tomorrow is officially V - E Day! All is quiet on the western front. Thank our Almighty God that at last we have peace over here. We can’t really be happy as long as we have boys fighting on the other side of the world but it is also a big step towards ending the war over there too. We hope and pray that it ends soon. It looked like the 4th of July here tonight. The French civilians are shooting up flares and rockets of all colors. The soldiers are not celebrating very much though. The order to “Cease Firing” has come. I just can’t help but thinking of our buddies who were left behind on the battlefields and never will hear the order.

About the Author

Verdi Gilbertson served in the 100th Division of the United States Army as a combat infantryman in 1944 and 1945. His division was in active combat for over 180 days from October to May. In this book are about 60 letters that he wrote home to his family from the front lines in France and Germany. He also included many stories telling about his time in combat. Verdi enjoys building model airplanes, wood carving, book writing and telling stories to his four children, ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He is the author of two more books, Verdi and Gilbertson: An American Family Adventure. Verdi was born on his family farm in 1923 and now lives in Montevideo, Minnesota.