USPS Worker Hand Delivers Lost World War 2 Letters to Woman
Better Late Than Never
Alvin Gauthier, a USPS carrier from Grande Prairie, Texas, hand-delivered WW-II era long lost letters to soldier's family.
NBC 5 News
Gauthier, a mail carrier in Grande Prairie, Texas, discovered the cache of WWII-era letters when they inexplicably landed in his mailbag one day.
"I was getting ready for my route and found some letters that were dated back to 1942, so World War II," Gauthier told NBC affiliate KXAS-TV.
"My main thought was I have to find this family."
Alvin Gauthier via KXAS-TV
The letters, some typed and some hand-written, were obviously from a soldier to his parents, "Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lamb."
As a military veteran himself, Gauthier recognized the historical value and sentimental importance of his find. He understands the impact letters have on boosting a soldier's morale, having written and received letters from his own parents during his tour in Iraq.
He made it his mission to get the letters home.
Simply addressed to Jacksonville, Alabama and without a physical address, he didn't have much to go by. But this was one mystery he was determined to solve.
Using the clues he did have, a military return address and the recipients' names, Gauthier enlisted the help of local media in Little Rock, Arkansas.
They delivered. After running the story, Gauthier received several emails and phone calls from people from all over. He was able to track down JoAnn Smith, the soldier's sister.
USPS Worker Hand-Delivers WWII Soldier's Long Lost Letters
WWII soldier Marion W. Lamb
NBC 5 News
Rather than putting the letters back in the mail, Gauthier decided to hand-deliver the precious correspondence. On his first day off, he hopped in the car and drove 5 hours across state lines to reunite JoAnn with her brother's legacy.
"I could have stuck them in the mail, but it's kinda like sometimes you have to go above and beyond," he said.
"Just go the extra mile … or 379 miles.”
When the veteran arrived at Smith's door with the letters, she was shocked...and thrilled.
“I’m very excited and very tearful,” a crying Smith told Fox affiliate KLRT-TV about the moment. “For me, it’s a connection to my family.”
Smith was only two years old when her older brother, Marion Lamb, went off to fight in WWII.He served in the South Pacific with the 96th Infantry Division, his unit earning the Philippine Republic Presidential Citation Badge for their bravery. He passed away in 2010, at the age of 89.
Smith is the last remaining sibling out of six kids. The letters mean the world to her.
The Importance of Connection
JoAnn Smith is reunited with letters written by her older brother, Marion, during WWII
NBC 5 News
After more than eight decades, these long-lost letters finally came home.
Gauthier didn't just deliver letters, he delivered priceless memories. For Smith, they are so much more than mere words on the page, they are a tangible link to her brother and the past. It's a gift she'll never forget.
“I just appreciate Alvin,” Smith told KLRT-TV. “He has really gone out of his way and people connect on different levels and I feel as connected to Alvin as I do my family.”
How Death Can Be Life's Greatest Gift
If you were told that you only had a couple of months, days, or hours left to live, would you regret anything? When reflecting on your life, is there anything you would change?
Life is precious, yet temporary. You never know the exact moment when you will die, so you need to live as if you were to die tomorrow.
How Death Can Be Life's Greatest Gift
In my nursing career, I have met many people who were suffering from a life-threatening illness, and who were soon to meet death. They did not know the exact moment they would die, but they knew their time was short. There was no longer any hope that they would overcome their illness, as it was only a matter of time before their body would fail them.
I could tell that some of these individuals had trouble confronting the idea of death. I could see the pain in their eyes, and could hear the anguish in their voice. These individuals were fearful of what was to come, and were disheartened with their current situation. They were angry with their life and knew that their time was running out.
READ: Gain the Strength to Accept the Things You Cannot Change
Yet on the opposite end of the spectrum, I've met individuals who have chosen to face death with bravery and grace. I have been inspired by the way some patients courageously met death with a smile on their face. Even through the pain and suffering, they remained optimistic, and took everything in stride.
What you leave behind
I believe that the patients who accepted death accepted it because they were accepting of their life. They were content with the idea of passing on because they were content with how they had lived. Because they were satisfied with their life, it was easier for them to leave it.
Although everyone deals with death differently, what is universal is the aspect of death. We are all going to die -- it’s how we approach the idea of death that distinguishes us.
When you approach the end of your life, which type of person will you be? Will you be the one who looks at your life with displeasure and discontent? Or are you going to be the one who nears death with a smile because you are incredibly grateful for the life you've lived?
How will you choose to live?
Having the knowledge that you are going to die is one of the greatest gifts that you have been given. Thinking about your imminent death forces you to reflect on your life and the way that you've been living. By doing so, you gain clarity and become empowered to shape your life in the way you choose.
READ: How Writing Your Own Eulogy Can Help You Follow Your Heart and Live Your Best Life
If you are unsatisfied with life, then decide to change it. Is there someone you’ve been meaning to call but you've been putting it off? Call them! Have you been dreaming of visiting the south of France but are hesitant to purchase a ticket because you think its too expensive? Save up your money and purchase the ticket! Are you working in a spirit-sucking job that you hate and are only staying because you think you have no other option? Do your research and change jobs!
Be the one who strives to take advantage of the time they have by choosing to live life to the fullest. Stop procrastinating on your to-do lists and putting things off for “some other time.” Be grateful for what you do have, and stop wasting time being ungrateful for what you don’t. Don't finally knock on death’s door with unfulfilled wishes and dreams, so start making the steps to ensure that doesn’t happen.