In 1944 and 1945, postal worker turned soldier, Wendell Wiley Wolfenbarger, wrote his wife Ruby and children frequent letters. Sometimes they were postcards, sometimes V-mails, and others were written "sitting on a box by a wood fire, outside of course, writing on my knee."

The Museum’s collection contains hundreds of menus from holiday meals shared while in service. The fact that so many of these were saved and mailed or brought home tells us just how important these meals were.

Between June 1942 and November 1945, over 1 billion V-mails were processed.

“You woke up hungry, you went to bed hungry, you were hungry all day long.”

Two young servicemembers enjoy jubilant London as the war in Europe ended. 

“While some high school letters are worn on sweaters, your letters are next to our hearts.”

“Words alone cannot restore lost years”

The war correspondent and the entertainer shared a mission to connect with those in service during World War II.  

“Am Safe, A Prisoner of War in Germany; do not worry.”

In a first letter home after his release from a Japanese POW camp, a fighter pilot thanks his family for their prayers.