Even after WWII, the parents of those lost on the bomber off New Guinea wrote to one another. 

Fred Wieland, father of pilot John Wieland

[Philadelphia] Jan. 5, 1947

Dear Mrs. Wilson,

      Your kind letter with your greeting card received and Mrs. Wieland and myself were glad to hear from you, but we were shocked to learn of the passing of your dear husband.

      He must have been a comfort to you when the tragic news was sent to your home from the War Department from time to time regarding your sons and miss him very much.

      We do not know why many things happen and we should not question beyond a reasonable doubt the workings of our Lord and Christ but I know he cares and will take care of you and will help you bear your burdens and griefs.

      I would suggest you to read First Corinthians 15th Chapter especially the 58th verse and Revelation 21st Chapter for your consolation and help and there are many other comforting chapters and verses in the Bible which helped us during our dark days and carried us through. 

      As like yourself we at home feel very close to you folks and the other parents of Jack’s buddies. 

      Having grandchildren like yourself we have three grandsons to comfort us. . . . 

      Mrs. Wieland joins me in sending you our very best wishes and hoping the new year brings you and yours a new hope for tomorrow. 

      Augusta Stack, mother of navigator John Stack   

Grand Rapids, April 4 – 1947

Dear Mrs. Wilson –

Your card with the benediction was so sweet and thoughtful. I have just returned from the “Good Friday” services at our congregational church and have found them most sad but encouraging and uplifting.

It is nice to be in communication with you. Are hearts were saddened at Christmas time with the knowledge of your husband’s passing but I feel as you do that the world is so full of suffering that those who have gone before are safe in God’s keeping We miss our loved ones but rejoice in their well being. . . .

Hoping that you are in good health and that your family is well, I am

Lovingly – Augusta C. Stack

Essie Sharpton, mother of gunner Ted Sharpton

Essie Sharpton of Dacula, Georgia, was such a blessing to Clabe and Leora Wilson. Her youngest son was a gunner on the B-25 missing since November 27, 1943. 

      She began writing information to them as soon as the military revealed in early 1945 the addresses of the families of the six missing crew members. 

      When Mrs. Sharpton learned of the Wilsons’ other losses, she wrote, “Truly you have had more than your share of sorrow in this world conflict–and though my sorrow is great, I’m ashamed to complain. I feel humble and sorrowful in your great sorrow, and I know it could just as easily have been me instead of you. Why, I don’t know, that it was you who lost three instead of me? I don’t feel I deserve the difference. I’m just trying to be thankful and trusting the Lord for guidance, as I know you are or you couldn’t stand up under so much. May He continue to give you the strength of faith and love that it takes to carry on.”

Only combat mission

Yet, there was a hope that the missing crew members might show up, and she was still hoping and trusting that they’d be found. Her son, Willie Ted Sharpton, was added as the sixth crew member, to man a gun.

      He was lost on his only combat mission.

“Yet I know I’m not better to give than my Heavenly Father, who sent His only Son to die a horrible death for our sins, and I know He knows best whatever has happened–and I know I must trust to Him for comfort. He’ll bear our burdens if we’ll trust him.”

     The week before, a young Air Force man had visited Mrs. Sharpton. He was part of a squadron in Europe whose job was to do a thorough job of searching for MIAs. Just because they’d been presumed dead didn’t mean they’d quit searching for them. 

      (Later I found evidence that this was true. The records of this crew were compared with evidence found by these search teams, even several years later.)

      “And though we may never understand why we had to bear these burdens here, we can know in the Great Beyond, and only trust a Higher Power to guide us to a better life.”

Christmastime

Leora Wilson and Essie Sharpton wrote to each other, at least at Christmastime, for decades. What a blessing these two women were for each other through the decades.

Gunner Ted Sharpton, born in 1919, was the son of Essie Sharpton, a lunch-room lady in Dacula, Georgia, who had been widowed since about 1934. She had eight children–six sons and two daughters. One son was still in high school. Mrs. Sharpton wrote to Leora Wilson for decades. Even after her death in 1982, Mrs. Sharpton’s daughters, Lillie May Parker and Dollie Foster, continued to send Christmas cards to Leora. After she died in 1987, a daughter sent Christmas cards to Dale Wilson’s twin, Darlene Wilson Scar.   

(I’m still in contact with two great granddaughters of Essie Sharpton and a niece of John Stack.)