Letters to Libby

About the Book

Letters to Libby/ Part Two is part two of a three part series. The books are comprised of edited letters written by Joseph A. White II to his wife (Elizabeth T. White ["Libby"]) during World War Two.

The letters in Part Two chronicle a tale beginning in Goubrine, Tunisia (August 12, 1943), and ending in Caserta, Italy (June 4, 1944). The misery of separation from the woman he loves and the vicissitudes of Army-Air Corps life are themes well explored in Letters to Libby/ Part Two.

About the Author

Joseph A. White was born in Mebane, North Carolina on February 28, 1918 to Joseph and Lillian White. He spent his childhood years in Greensboro, North Carolina where he met his wife to be (B. Elizabeth Taylor; daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Raymond Taylor) in the First Baptist Church of Greensboro at the tender age of nine years old.

He later attended the University of Michigan from 1935-1938, where he earned his Bachelor of Music Degree. From 1938 to 1940 he furthered his education at The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He then went back to the University of Michigan to earn his Master of Music Degree during the years 1940-1941. The instrument he played was the French Horn.

He volunteered for active duty in the Army-Air Corps in 1941 before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, then began his flight training and married Elizabeth on May 16, 1942 in Valdosta, Georgia.

From 1942 to 1945 (the period covered by the letters in the three part series Letters to Libby), he was engaged as a troop-carrier and transport pilot, and also as a personal pilot to a variety of notable characters (Winston Churchill, King George VI of England, Ike Eisenhower, Field Marshal Montgomery, and Field Marshal Alexander).

After the war he and his wife returned to Ann Arbor, Michigan, but not before their first child (J. A. White III) was delivered on December 3, 1945 in Greensboro, North Carolina. In Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan he worked on his Doctorate and taught French Horn from 1946 to 1947, and then continued to work on his Doctorate while being occupied as an Instructor there from 1948 to 1950. On May 5, 1948, a second son was born to them, (Raymond Alan White, the Editor of Letters to Libby).

In 1950, Joseph and his family moved to Tallahassee, Florida, where he began work at the Florida State University School of Music, while continuing working on his Doctorate. At F.S.U. he played and taught French Horn and a variety of other Music courses such as Music Theory and Sightsinging. He directed ensembles and dissertations as well as playing French Horn in several Symphonies around the nation. Joseph and Elizabeth's first daughter (Marcia Elizabeth White-Wurzel) was born in Tallahassee on May 6, 1951. Joseph White became Dr. White in 1958 when he was awarded his Doctorate from the University of Michigan. On July 26, 1959, their second daughter, (Carroll Taylor White-Jarrett), and final member of the immediate family was also born in Tallahassee. After becoming a Professor he also served as Assistant to the Dean of the School of Music at F.S.U. until he retired in 1990. Immediately upon retiring he was rehired as a Visiting Professor, and worked at F.S.U. until he died on July 31, 1999.

Dr. White died of a heart attack in his School of Music office on a Saturday, while working on administrative tasks associated with the 62nd Troop-Carrier Reunion for that year. He was found by his loving wife when she went to his office after he called her and said he wasn't feeling too well.

Dad always said that when it was time for him to go, he prayed that the Good Lord would take him quickly...and He did. It was a tragic but fitting end to the earthly life of a great man.

Excerpts

Thursday Evening
August 26, 1943
Goubrine, Tunisia

Dearest Libby,

Another day without mail from you, and I must admit I am disappointed. Somehow, I felt positive that at least a V-mail would come. At any rate, no one else received mail either, so there wasn't the added torture of watching other men read a letter while I had none.

My crew chief Sergeant Engle showed me the Clapper article this morning! It had been mailed to him and came yesterday, or the day before. I was anxious to read it because I wanted to learn just what sort of 'picture' the article presented. I don't need to tell you that it did my heart good to see Father Time's name in the paper, but I do wish it had given the names of the rest of the crew: Jimmy Hayes (copilot), Lieutenant Cooney (navigator), Sergeant Engle, and Sergeant Aubry (radio operator). The particular flight he wrote about was exactly the way he described. On that day as well as on the other days, we enjoyed flying the correspondents. They were friendly, very talkative, and whether in the air or on the ground, they worked at their typewriters almost all the time. Every time we landed, Clapper and Tragaskis would jump out and set up a work space under the wing-one under the right wing and the other under the left wing. Sergeant Engle also told me that his girl in Washington State had written saying she had seen an article about the plane and the crew. We don't know if it is the same article or not, but we will find out because he's asking her to send it.

I went up for a short flight this morning to swing the compass, a chore to be done not infrequently because of deviations in the earth's magnetic field. It was my first flight in two days because of the operational work I have been doing. Since then I have had little to do except read and play casino. We have received more rations. I was able to pick up four packs of cigarettes (two of them 'Twenty Grand'), some hard candy, and two cakes of soap. My supply of soap, toothpaste, and shaving cream is holding up quite well. It's the cigarettes that are low, and I do mean low. It would be a good time for me to stop smoking, but I doubt I will. Besides, I smoke no more than I always have, one pack a day, and most of that is done either while I am flying or writing you.

Another of our enlisted men received an awful shock day before yesterday. His wife wrote asking for a divorce. The shock came out of a clear blue sky with no warning or indication whatsoever. Up to this time, he has been one of our best workers. Now, he doesn't care about anything. I spoke to him about the change in his behavior, thinking perhaps our long tour of duty was beginning to get to him. He said: "No, lieutenant, my wife has just asked for a divorce." I was stunned! He continued to talk until he had relieved his tortured mind. Then almost belligerently said: "I'll not give her a divorce, not until I get home." That, of course, completely ties her hands because she cannot file for divorce without his consent. How can a wife do that? I cannot imagine such a thing happening, and therefore I can't even begin to realize what it would be like. He doesn't care about himself anymore, and I can certainly understand, but he will have to recover himself soon because in the air each of us must meet our responsibilities for the safety of all. I said a moment ago I can't even begin to understand because I can't even imagine that happening to us. You have often asked me always to remember that you love me with all the love of your whole being. I do remember, my darling, every minute of every day and night. My whole life is built around and for you. Were anything to happen it would be like the destruction of a temple that crashes to the ground because its sole support has been destroyed.

I guess the plight of the corporal has upset me. I hope I helped him by listening as long as he wanted to talk. Certainly no words of mine could help. Goodnight, Libby. Thank you for being what you are. I love you.

Wednesday Evening
September 29, 1943
Cassibile, Sicily

Dearest Libby,

My day has gone well. Though the length of time in the air was but a third of that of yesterday's flight, we still were away from Cassibile most of the day.

I wish I could adequately describe General Alexander's arrival at the plane this morning.