Staff Sergeant Irvin Schwartz's letter home on May 8, 1945 reflected on the end of World War II in the European Theatre.
Letters from War – Irvin Schwartz’s V-E Day letter to the West Schuylkill Press-Herald – May 8, 1945
Letters from War – Sergeant Irvin Schwartz receives the Distinguished Service Cross for gallantry during the Battle of the Bulge
In 1945, Sergeant Irvin Schwartz was honored with the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism during the Battle of the Bulge.
Letters from War – Irvin Schwartz’s response to the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt – 1945
Sergeant Irvin Schwartz shares how he learned the shocking news of President Roosevelt's death in April 1945.
Letters from War – A photograph of the Nazi panzer destroyed by Irvin Schwartz in the Battle of the Bulge
In May 1945, the West Schuylkill Press-Herald published a photograph taken during the Battle of the Bulge showing a tank destroyed by Sgt. Irvin Schwartz.
Letters from War – A chippy letter in response to a fellow Pine Grove soldier serving in Italy – 1945
Sergeant Schwartz took offense to a comment from a soldier in Italy about the difference in fighting conditions between the Italian front and inside Nazi Germany.
Letters from War – “I believe the end is coming soon,” March 1945
In a March 1945 letter, Sgt. Irvin Schwartz shared insights about Nazi Germany's desperate "total war" efforts to turn back Allied attacks.
Letters from War – Ideas for a World War II memorial in Pine Grove and a dislike of monuments – 1945
As World War II drew to a close, Sgt. Irvin Schwartz laid out a proposal to honor the Pine Grove area servicemembers when they returned home.
Letters from War – A letter from an army hospital describing wounds received in Germany – 1945
German artillery shells struck down Sergeant Irvin Schwartz on February 27, 1945. He wrote home to his parents to comfort them that he wasn't severely wounded.
Letters from War – Awarded the Bronze Star and wounded in action – 1945
In March 1945, Irvin Schwartz's hometown newspaper published news of his Bronze Star. A week later they shared the news he had been wounded.
Letters from War – Receiving mail from friends and fellow servicemembers on the front line in Belgium (delayed) – 1945
A letter from the front lines in Belgium as the Battle of the Bulge raged in January 1945.
Wynning History 