James Franklin (Johnny) Mercer

December 9, 1943

Hubert Frier, "Bruz" Gordon, JOHNNY MERCER, Bobby Moody and Harold Emery have already taken their “screen out” medical examination. Pretty soon you guys may be having to retrain some of us old-timers - or soon it seems.

March 9, 1944

JOHNNY MERCER and Bobby Moody went to Blanding for their physical a couple of weeks ago. JOHNNY chose the army- - Bobby the navy. Today JOHNNY told us he leaves here for induction at Atlanta March 20.

March 30, 1944

JOHNNY MERCER let here last week for induction in the army.

April 6, 1944

Also a letter from JOHNNIE MERCER, who has just arrived at Fort Knox, Ky. Johnnie said

"I am fine but it is just a little chilly here. We drilled for two hours today while it was snowing. Certainly seem peculiar because it was my first time to see it like that. I am in the armored replacement training center. Tell all my friends there hello for me and we hope to be back soon."

April 20, 1944

A letter this week, from JOHNNY MERCER from Fort Knox saying, he had received his first copy of The Tribune. Johnny says they went out on the rifle range recently which was just practice and he made 12 points over expert shooting and he hopes he will be able to make that good on the record shooting. "Tell everyone hello for me and I hope to see them in 15 more weeks.”

June 22, 1944

Pvt. JOHNNIE MERCER up at Fort Knox, Ky., says:

"I really enjoy the paper which enables me to keep up with what happens there. Our company has just returned to camp after three weeks in the woods on D & M of tanks. It was tough, dry and dusty. We start on three weeks of 75mm gunnery school tomorrow. When we finish that we get two weeks of battle training and then 10 days at home - I hope. I hope. Tell everyone hello for me and that I still hope to be home soon.”

July 20, 1944

News release from public relations officer at Fort Knox, Ky., informs us that Pvt. JOHNNIE MERCER, who is taking his basic training at the Armored Replacement Train Center there, has recently made "expert" on the machine gun, one of the highest scores in his company.

(We wish to commend not only Johnnie for his shooting, but we also commend public relations for the near, concise, information and in addition a photograph for reproduction. He must have been a real newspaper guy.)

August 10, 1944

Pvt. JOHNNY MERCER is home on a "delay en route furlough" from Ft. Knox, Ky. He doesn't know where he'll end up at yet. However, judging from the chest hardware Johnny has on for expertness with both rifle and machine guns the enemy would hope he remains in the United States.

August 17, 1944

Pvt. JOHNNIE MERCER left Wednesday for Ft. Smith, Ark., where he will be stationed with an armored outfit, after spending at 10-day furlough with his family. During the past weekend, he and others of his family spent a day at Camp Stewart with his brother, Ray Mercer who is stationed there.

September 7, 1944

Pvt. JOHNNIE MERCER now has mail addressed in care of postmaster, New York.

October 19, 1944

Pvt. JOHNNY MERCER, with an armored division, has arrived in France, according to a letter received by his wife here on October 6. Johnny's brother, Zeno, is somewhere in the European theater of operations also.

November 9, 1944

M/Sgt. Zeno Mercer has advised his parents here that he is now with an engineer company in France. His brother, JOHNNY MERCER, also wrote his parents, but from Belgium.

November 16, 1944

A letter dated October 14 in France, from JOHNNIE MERCER;

"Just a line to you and my hometown friends. I am doing fine and hope everyone there is the same.

Mr. Fuller, I would like to get The Tribune that is, if you haven't already sent it. Would like to tell you where I am, but that is something that Uncle won't let us do, but will say that I saw Liverpool, England; St. Lo and LeMans, France. Then at one time was near Paris. Where I am now is just your guess.

Well I will have to c1ose for now, hoping the paper catches me soon. May God's blessings be with all the Bunnell people."

(Johnnie, The Trib has been going to your address right along. Hope it gets to you soon).

December 7, 1944

And here's one from Pvt. JOHNNIE MERCER in Germany. He tells us what Tank Bn he is in and what Infantry Div. he is attached to, but we can't print them. He said that "is about all I can say or tell at the present time." He continued:

“I surely will be glad to get the paper again because I know I will really enjoy it more now than I ever did before.

I suppose the election went to suit most everyone there - or did it? Most of the fellows here seem to be O.K. about it.

Would love to be home with all the good Flagler county people, but maybe it won't be too long now (I hope).”

(The election, Johnnie suited most of us, but we'll all, be a lot happier when you guys are back home and give a lot of help in selecting the right people for office).

March 1, 1945

A V-Mail this morning from Pfc. JOHNNIE MERCER, dated Feb. 17, "Germany." Johnnie says:

“Just a line to say hello and that I am still bouncing around the ETO with these Jerries and hope we can keep them on the run until a quick victory, which won't be too soon for anyone over on this side of the deep blue ocean.

Boy, oh boy! Aren't the Russians going? Old Russia surely has done the work. I hope that nothing may stop them now.

I want to thank you again for the paper. When it comes in I really read every word of it. When reading it, it seems to carry one back there in good old Bunnell for a while.

Sorry to hear about Howard Bankston. I hope that all the other hometown boys can return safely and I am sure we can if God is willing.

Will sign off now with wishing God's blessing to all the Flagler county people."

(Thanks for the letter, Johnnie. We quite agree with you that the Russians have done a good job. On the other hand we know you fellows are doing just as great a job.)

April 19, 1945

M/Sgt. Zeno Mercer writes his mother, who sends The Tribune to him, that "I read every word of including the legal advertisements, although they mean nothing to me."

His brother, JOHNNIE also wrote saying "I am deep in Germany in a hole. Wish I could stay in this hole but can't." His wife, Carolyn here, received a German sword from his this week for a souvenir.

June 7, 1944

M/Sgt. Zeno Mercer advises his parents here that he is at Le Havre, France, and Pfc. JOHNNY MERCER is on the border of Czechoslovakia and Austria, but they had not yet learned just where the third son, Pfc. Ray Mercer is, but was in Germany at last accounts.

October 11, 1945

Pfc. JOHNNIE MERCER arrived home here a few days ago from the ETO where he served many months in several campaigns.

December 13, 1945

Discharged from the armed forces this week ....... JOHNNIE MERCER