Raymond Garrett Luke

September 17, 1942

FIVE LEAVE HERE FOR ARMY SERVICE

Two Flagler County men leave today for officers training in the U. S. army while three others leave in a regular draft quota, all go first to Camp Blanding for induction.

William Welch Deen and William Francis Rolleston are volunteer officer candidates, while RAYMOND GARRETT LUKE, Charles Edward Creal and Sam Doak Humphrey are selectees.

In addition, Emery Buckner and Robert William Gardner were listed in today's call from Flagler County but both have previously been transferred to Duval County.

November 23, 1944

Pfc. RAYMOND LUKE wrote a letter to his former employer, H. C. Miller, from Germany asking him to request us to send The Tribune to him, which we are now doing. Raymond said he had been in England, Scotland, Wales, France, including the city, of Paris, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland and is now in Belgium.

February 15, 1945

First on this list this week is a letter from Pfc. RAYMOND LUKE who is, we presume, on the Western Front. He says:

"Just a line to let you know I am receiving The Tribune regularly now and I certainly enjoy reading. Since reading it I find that there are more Bunnell boys over here. I haven't seen any of them but now that I know who some of them are I hope to meet someone any day. I wish knew what outfit Johnnie Mercer is in.

I am attached to a mighty, fighting armored division. I wish I could tell you which one, but can't, of course.

Tell Wilfred Hunter that we have had plenty of snow and ice over here and can sympathize with him about the cold.

Thanks a lot for the paper, and tell all the folks there I said hello and be sure to give all the boys in the service my very best wishes.”

(Glad to get your letter Raymond. We are having Johnnie Mercer's address sent to you.)

February 22, 1945

A V-Mail from Pfc. RAYMOND LUKE, on the Western Front. He said:

"Just to show you that I do appreciate The Tribune, which I received about an hour ago, I will write you a note.

Certainly regret to learn that some of the boys from home have been wounded. I suppose Curtis Deen is home by now, so when you see him give my best wishes. By the way, do you know where Bill Deen is? He and I went into the army together. I haven't seen or heard anything about him since I left Blanding.

I really appreciate the paper and if you want me to pay you for it I will write my wife to pay you the money.

I certainly hope Mr. Miller is well by now. Give them my best regards. Well, as there isn't much to write about from here, I will close by wishing all the boys and girls in the services the best of luck."

(Glad you are getting the paper, Raymond, and we want you to have it as is. Curtis was discharged a few days ago. Bill Deen went to Texas from Blanding, out there a number of months, then went to the hospital with asthma which he has been subject to all of his life. Was given a medical discharge and is here at home).

August 2, 1945

Another letter from T/5 RAYMOND LUKE, who encloses a picture of a buck that he helped kill somewhere in Germany:

"Well, Mr. Fuller, I guess the first thing I should do is apologize for not writing any sooner, I thought for sometime that I would be going home soon, but since I have only 67 points, it looks like I am going to be over here for quite some time.

I am still getting the Tribune and I do really enjoy reading it.

I wish I could remember all the places I have been over here, but during the nine months of combat, I saw so many different places until I can't remember half of them.

During Christmas the division we were attached to went for a two-week rest, but were sent back to help stop the breakthrough the Germans made. Of course there were times when we had it pretty easy for a week or two at a time, but we never did get one of those rest periods.

Mr. Fuller, as hard as I have looked, I haven't seen any of the Bunnell boys that are over here.

I am enclosing a picture of a deer I helped kill, but a couple of nights later, I got a twelve point buck all by myself. What a deer that was. Prettiest one I have ever seen! That's about all the fun I have though, but I am doing my share of that.

I will close by saying tell everyone I said hello."

December 27, 1945

Discharged from the armed services this week ..... RAYMOND G. LUKE