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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Liam Gilliver

Soldier's letter to mum sent in 1945 finally gets delivered over 70 years later

A letter penned by a World War II soldier has finally been delivered more than 70 years after it was written.

US Army sergeant John Gonsalves wrote a message to his mother On December 6, 1945 when he was just 22-year-old and working in Germany.

However, the hand-written letter didn't make it to its destination and somehow got lost in the post.

That is until it turned up at a United States Postal Service facility for processing and distribution in Pittsburgh 76 years later.

Sgt. Gonsalves sadly passed away in 2015 - and his Mum had also died long before the letter was found.

But USPS were able to track down Gonsalves' widow Angelina - who he met some five years after the letter was originally penned.

The Soldier penned the letter in 1945 - but it has only recently been found (Boston25news)

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The letter reads: "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.”

Angelina says she "just couldn't believe it" when she opened the note.

Angelina says she "just couldn't believe it" after USPS delivered the latter 76 years later (Boston25news)
Angelina met Sgt. Gonsalves around five years after he penned the letter (Boston25news)

"Imagine that! Seventy-six years," she told Boston 25 News last week.

"I just couldn’t believe it... It was just so amazing...

"It’s like he came back to me, you know? Really, that was amazing."

Mrs Gonsalves, who will celebrate her 90th birthday this month, described her husband as a "good man" who "everybody loved".

She went on to thank USPS for their condolences, as well as efforts in delivering the letter

According to reports, USPS say they are "uncertain" how the letter got lost for more than 70 years - but said it only arrived at their facility approximately six weeks ago.

A spokesperson for the company told Angelina: "Due to the age and significance to your family history… delivering this letter was of utmost importance to us."

Do you have a story to share? We want to hear all about it. Email us at yourmirror@mirror.co.uk

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