This letter sent by a US Army sergeant in World War II to his mother has finally been delivered to his widow 76 years later after it got lost in the post.
John Gonsalves, a then 22-year-old sergeant in the U.S. Army located in Bad Orb, a town in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis district of the state of Hesse in Germany, had written the letter to his mother in Massachusetts on 6th December 1945, telling her how he hoped to soon be returning home.
The letter would sit unopened for more than 75 years before being found in a U.S. Postal Service distribution facility in Pittsburgh.
He wrote: “Dear, Mom. Received another letter from you today and was happy to hear that everything is okay.
“As for myself, I’m fine and getting along okay. But as far as the food it’s pretty lousy most of the time.
“Love and kisses, Your son Johnny. I’ll be seeing you soon, I hope.”
But by the time the letter arrived at its destination, both he and his mother would be long dead. John Gonsalves died in 2015 and his mother has since died too.
Army Sgt. John Gonsalves sent the letter 76 years ago to his mother from Germany during WW2. (Newsflash) 
Angelina Gonsalves and her husband, John Gonsalves, at their wedding 67 years ago. (Newsflash)
Instead, his widow, Angelina ‘Jean’ Gonsalves, 89, received the long lost letter. He had met her five years after he sent the letter.
Gonsalves said: “Imagine that! Seventy-six years!
“I just…couldn’t believe it. And then just his handwriting and everything. It was just so amazing.”
The US Postal Service delivered a note expressing their condolences to Gonsalves for her loss. It said: “We are uncertain where this letter has been for the past seven-plus decades, but it arrived at our facility approximately six weeks ago
“Due to the age and significance to your family history…delivering this letter was of utmost importance to us.”
The 76 year old letter sent by Army Sgt. John Gonsalves from Germany during WW2 to his mother in in Massachusetts in the USA. (Newsflash) 
The 76 year old letter sent by Army Sgt. John Gonsalves from Germany during WW2 to his mother in in Massachusetts in the USA. (Newsflash)
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Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub-Editor: William McGee, Agency: Newsflash
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