PBA Galleries

Approximately 70 items. 

Fascinating collection gathered by a G.I. who landed at Utah Beach on June 7th, after their transport sunk and all the equipment was lost ("morale fair"), and made his way across France and into Germany with his unit. The soldier was PFC Walter E. Goplerud, as indicated by two letters signed by his unit commander certifying that items gathered by Goplerud in Germany were approved. Most interesting is a typescript of his journal of his service in Europe, along with a more general narrative of the action. The items in the collection include several issues of the Stars & Stripes (one declares "Eisenhower ousts Patton as 3rd Army Commander", another notes simply "Hitler Dead"); two issues of The Sniper, published in Weiden Germany in July, 1945; "Carry On" a mimeographed newsletter from May 26, 1945, in Amberg Germany, with such news as "Third Canuck Division with Occupy Germany" and "Nips Lose 111 Planes Attacking U.S. Fleet"; a flyer  from July 29, 1943, "When You Are Overseas These Facts Are Vital" (basically loose lips sink ships); and much more. An unusual and revealing glimpse at the war in Europe and its aftermath through the eyes of ordinary soldiers.