The following letter was published in the Willimantic, CT newspaper during WWII and recently reprinted in the 2009 Pearl Family annual newsletter.  The letter was written by Austin Emmons to a lady in Hampton who sent articles to Hampton soldiers stationed overseas.  Austin had enlisted along with his cousin and best friend, Arthur B. Pearl.  Austin was stationed in New Guinea when he sent this correspondence.  It reads:

“Dear Mrs Huling:  I have just received from our fair little town, the fine fountain pen.  I wish to express sincere appreciation from the depths of my heart.

“To us all, wheresoever we may be there often comes a host of precious memories, memories of our homes and our beloved community and we are storing up memories which will forever dwell with us.  Memories that all have poignant significance with our repertoire of wartime exploits.

“When we think of you, our friends and neighbors at home, we do so with a tinge of nostalgic feeling.  Our hearts are indeed warmed by these tokens of friendship.  It is moreover, encouraging to know that all the good people at home are thinking of us.  It gives us an added incentive to fight the good fight, until the joyous day comes, when we will return to a new America, radiant with the same old American spirit.  It will be an America that will play an all important role in a world free of tyranny and treachery.  It will be a symbol of a righteous glory.  This is the America we will return to.  May the love and blessing of an all powerful God be with you in your great crusade of more closely binding our home front to the hearts of the boys in all corners of the world.  

“Sincerely,  Austin E. Emmons”