An intimate look into the details of one Jewish G.I.'s experiences, “Love and Kisses, Charlie” brings the full spectrum of military life into focus, from the quotidian to the political to the personal. It's an absorbing read that takes one back in time when folks still wrote letters to express their feelings and describe their lives.
Dr. Deborah Dash Moore
Professor of History and Professor of Judaic Studies,
University of Michigan and author of “GI Jews: How World War II Changed a Generation”
The letters of Charles L. Fletcher are not what you might expect from a soldier in World War Two. They provide a fascinating look at the relationship of a young man and his parents and sister as he endeavors to make them a part of his army life and constantly reassures them of his present and future well-being.
Love and Kisses, Charlie is a wonderful compilation of a man’s life, told through his own words and it is a must read for any parent or grandparent who watched their son go to war. It is also a great read for anyone who is a fan of historical war books.
What do you write home to your Jewish mother when you’re in the middle of fighting a global war unlike anything before or since?
These letters are a great resource for those of us trying to understand the experiences of the Jewish-American soldier in World War II. It's a pleasure getting to know Charlie Fletcher through his wartime letters home.
Michael Rugel
Director of Programs and Content
National Museum of American Jewish Military History
The conveyance of life within these written pieces of history is remarkable, particularly given the time they were written, during WWII, and the preservation of them by Charlie's family. Photographs and images are included that integrate a deeper understanding of the family, the era, and a time capsule that embraces feeling as well as fact. I am a history nerd and that is what initially drew me to a book that is, in all probability, one of the most comprehensive collections of written family correspondence during the war in existence. Love and Kisses, Charlie is a beautiful, memorable story that will undoubtedly resonate with readers long after they've read it.
