Pfc. Leonard Gentil

4/11/16 - 12/11/88

3036th AAF BU

Leonard Gentil enlisted in the Air Corp in July of 1942. After flight training, he became a radio operator and mechanic. He was discharged on March 1st 1946.

The following letter was written by Pvt. Len Gentil on a Friday night at 8:30PM on May 5th 1945 while serving in the United States Army. He is writing to his wife. "Peep" is referring to his newborn daughter.

Esther darling,

I've been talking to Kennedy for the past two hours-also had a malted milk. He had his appendix out today while I was home and is still in the hosital, but is allowed to go out a couple of hours each day. He is just convalescing now. We are remodeling supply-tools out some shelves, built others-moved things around so much that Sgt. Willingham won't recognize it when he comes back from furlough. We are doing the work ourselves, and some of the men are pretty handy with the hammer and saw. It looks like the war with Germany is over. All that is lacking is the official announcement. They are surrendering so fast that we haven't places to keep them. By the time you've received this VE Day may have become official-I hope so. Most of the fellows here think that Japan will be licked by next Christmas. I doubt it but it shouldn't take much longer. If Russia declares war on Japan and the British keep their word about an all out war on Japan, then the Nips shouldn't last very long. I'm expecting to spend my next birthday at home. I'm hoping that song "I'll be home for Chritmas" is true this year but in the meantime I may have to spend a few months overseas. I've been looking at your and Lynne's pictures and day dreaming of my few days with you. When I look at Peep then you I feel so proud I could burst. I keep thinking how lucky I am to have such a wonderful wife and daughter. Perhaps it wasn't as sweet as you expected it would be-or even as I expected it to be-but I feel like we missed something or didn't use my time with you enough. I never get enough of your love or companionship-in a way it is a funny feeling, but I realize it is simply that I love you so much that if I were with your 24 hours a day I'd still feel like I wanted to see more of you. I'm glad I'm never tired of you dear, I never intend to. I sorta feel the same way about Peep-I don't know how I'm going to get enough of both of you when 24 hours a day is all there is-and I need 40 hours a day for each one of you. Someday if you will remind me, I'll explain all this and what I'm trying to say, so that you may understand me. it simply boils down to I love you very, very much and wish I were twins so I could love you twice as much. How did the service banquet and dance turn out? Have a good time? Or maybe you haven't had it yet. Tell me all about it, hear? Well, darling, I'm ready to say good night. Kiss my little girl for me and tell her how much I love and miss her too. I love you.

Len

P.S. I feel like I want to talk to you about a thousand things, but when I was on furlough I couldn't remember them. I guess there relly isn't anything important I want to say-it's just that I miss you and want to talk with you-I love you so much.

***Germany would officially surrender on May 8th 1945 with Japan surrendering on September 2nd 1945. Len Genil would be home for his next birthday. After the War, Len worked for Standard Oil Company and would eventually relocate to Miami, FL. Len and Esther welcomed their second child Sharon in 1951. "Peep", sadly, passed away in 1986 at the age of 43 after a long fought battle with cancer. Len would pass away just two years later in 1988. Esther and Sharon stil reside in Miami.