TLS signed “G. S. Patton Jr,” one onionskin page, 8 x 10.25, May 26, 1943. Letter to Mrs. Stephen M. Klima in New York City. In full: “I received your letter of April 30 about a week ago and had been inquiring about your husband, Pvt. Klima, through his Division Commander. Pvt. Klima was wounded slightly on November 10, 1942. He has not been wounded a second time. However, he has been reported missing in action since March 22. ‘Missing in action’ means that he was either taken prisoner or was killed. In the great majority of cases, men reported missing in action are prisoners. There is an agreement between various nations at war through which lists of prisoners are exchanged. The Adjutant General of the War Department is the only agency that can send out notices of missing in action. They also send out subsequent notices when the persons reported missing are definitely located as prisoners, or definitely found to be dead. I presume that by this time you have received a notice from the Adjutant General, U.S. Army, War Department, Washington, D.C., and I sincerely hope that in this notice you are informed that your husband is a prisoner. I regret that I cannot be more explicit or reassuring; however, I do wish to compliment you on your very fine and patriotic frame of mind as expressed in your letter to me.” Patton also adds a brief handwritten postscript at the bottom, which reads, “P.S. My son-in-law was reported missing in action and later reported captured. Good Luck! P.” Letter is accompanied by the original free franked envelope, signed in the lower left corner, “Censored, G. S. Patton, Lt. Gen.”
Accompanying Patton’s letter is a TLS from George Marshall, signed “G. C. Marshall,” one page, 7 x 9, dated August 13, 1943. Slightly less than three months after Patton’s, the letter to Mrs. Klima reads, in full: “I have just been informed that your husband was killed in action in the North African Area. Please accept my sincere personal sympathy. Stephen Klima died a gallant soldier’s death in our battle for liberty and decency. I hope you will find consolation in the fact that he sacrificed his life in the service of the people of America and the cause of democracy throughout the world. Again, my deepest sympathy to you and to the other members of his family.” Accompanied by the original mailing envelope. In fine condition, with intersecting mailing folds, a few creases, and some scattered light toning. Marshall’s letter is in fine condition.
PFC Klima was a 21-year old from New York City when he enlisted in the army on January 8, 1941. He was assigned to the 16th Infantry which was the first unit ashore in Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa, on November 8, 1942. Patton commanded the Western Task Force for Operation Torch which probably was the reason Mrs. Klima wrote to the general inquiring about her husband. While he was a stern disciplinarian and not a sentimental man, he cared greatly for his men, going so far as to have captured food and liquor from the enemy sent to the fighting men in the front lines and guaranteeing mail deliveries and liberal distribution of passes. He also required his men to wear steel helmets and leggings to prevent injuries and had the utmost respect for the wounded. In his letter to Mrs. Klima, he notes that her husband was listed as "Missing in action," not wounded as she thought and, mentions in
postscript "My son-in-law was reported missing in action and later reported captured." His daughter's husband, Lieutenant Colonel John Waters, had been captured in Tunisia in 1943 and sent to Hammelburg stalag as a prisoner of war; he was later liberated by a United States division a week after a botched rescue attempt launched by Patton in March 1945.
In February 1943, the 16th Infantry engaged in a series of battles around the Kasserine Pass in west-central Tunisia in which Rommel's troops drubbed The US II Corps and as a result, Patton was given command of the corps. The Battle of the El Guettar was fought from March 23 – April 7, 1943, becoming the first battle in which U.S. forces defeated the experienced German tank units. PFC Stephen M. Klima died April 9, 1943. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$75.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
