Your Forever Arthur

Arthur and Dorothy Minor were married on January 5th, 1937 in the heart of bluegrass country in Nicholasville, Kentucky located just outside Lexington.

Before the war, Arthur worked for the War Department in the Ordinance division, first in Dayton, Ohio then Louisville. They made their home 643 East Main Street in Lexington, KY.

At the age of 35, Arthur entered the Army in September of 1943. He was assigned to the 79th Infantry Division. In mid June, the division landed on Utah Beach and entered into combat by the 19th of June. 

His unit was engaged in heavy fighting in the hills surrounding the town of La Haye-du-Puits, France. Arthur was battling the enemy on Hill 84, also known as Montgardon.

Dorothy, back home in Lexington, anxiously awaited for any word from her dear Arthur. It had been many months since he left for France.

  In July she received this letter from her dear Arthur.

                              7-2-1944

                              Somewhere in France

Dearest Honeychild,

There isn’t much to write so this is a letter to let you know that the soldier whom you married some years ago is not forgetting that he loves the sweetest home soldier in the world. I have now gotten so many letters that I could hardly start to answer them. Somehow V Mail seems to be beating air mail. I don’t know why. 

So, I haven’t gotten the letter telling about the wedding. The bride says I have a wonderful wife as if I didn’t already know. She thanked me for the flowers and mother told me how nice so I almost know how pretty they were.

You don’t know how much the love of my wife helps me keep the chin up. I only hope I can justify your idea that I can be a good husband because everyday I am more determined that I will be better than you thought I was. 

Glad that John is back in the States and May should feel much better about everything once more. 

I have just gotten the first box as you must know by now. I had something I intended to say but as usual it has left me so I had better close and tell the sweetest girl in the world. I love you.

Your Arthur Forever

On August 5th, Dorothy received the first of two telegrams. Arthur had been wounded July 9th in fighting on Hill 84. The extent of his wounds were worse than originally reported and on August 11, she received the second Western Union telegram. Arthur died of his wounds on fourteen July.