38 Nebraskaland • March 2020
ater this year the world will mark the 75th anniversary
of the end of World War II. Here is the story of one of the
many Nebraskans who served in that war.
William Green wrote to his mother in Lincoln on
February 13, 1945:
"Dear Mom,
"The way your letters sound, it looks like you're not getting
any mail from me. I've written quite often and they should
eventually catch up to you ... Don't for Pete's sake worry about
me being a casualty. That's the last thing I thought you'd do.
Maybe I'll do what some people do, and not write the truth
so you won't worry. Some fellows do that and maybe they're
right. I can assure you that I'm not a casualty and probably
won't be…."
Green was right about the slowness of communication.
On March 14 his family received the telegram that no parent
wants to receive. By then Green had been dead two weeks,
having succumbed to wounds received
while fi ghting on
Bill Green
By David L. Bristow, History Nebraska
a World War II Soldier
First page of Green's last letter home, February 13, 1945.
History Nebraska RG2025AM
L
First page of Green's last letter home February 13 1945
Corporal William E. Green, ca. 1944-45. History Nebraska
RG2025AM
