1944 V-Mail Letter to Milton Collins from Aaron Gourse, during World War II

This letter from Aaron Gourse to Milton Collins is a sample of the more than 1500 documents and photos in our local collection. Nearly 100 servicemen wrote to Collins, the Jewish Community Center director from 1942 to 1963, over the course of their military service during and after World War II, when they received issues of the JCC’s monthly publication, The Center Menorah.  Milton saved every letter, and after his death his family saved the letters, eventually donating them to the KJA Archives.  The Archives also houses the Center’s Jewish Welfare Board cards for the servicemen and their military address cards.  Aaron’s JWB card states that he enlisted in November of 1942 as a first lieutenant.

More about the Gourse family:  Aaron Gourse (1907-2001) came to Knoxville from Charleston, South Carolina, between 1910 and 1915 with his parents George and Gertrude (nee Banov), and sisters Harriet, Nellie, and Rosa.  Younger brother Milton was born in Knoxville.  George had a pawn shop on Gay Street.  By 1920 the family lived on Fifth Avenue next door to the Corklands (and later the Rosenblatts).  Aaron was a 1924 graduate of Knoxville High School.  By the time World War II began, Aaron was a physician and may not have lived in Knoxville for several years, but his parents still lived at the house on Fifth Avenue.  Most of the children moved to California, but oldest sister Harriet died in 1944, George in 1945 and Gertrude in 1956 – the three are buried in Knoxville’s New Jewish Cemetery.

Aaron’s return address in this V-mail letter to Milton Collins suggests that he was then stationed in an army hospital located somewhere in the Pacific.  Aaron practiced medicine in northern California.

Here is a transcription:

Capt. A. Gourse, ________ [likely his service number]
84th Station Hospital
APO 922 c/o P[ost]M[aster]
San Francisco, Calif
2 July ’44

Mr. Milton Collins
Jewish Community Center
621 W Vine Ave
Knoxville
Tennessee, USA

Hello Milton,

   The menorah has been arriving regularly every month and I must congratulate the center upon publishing such an excellent newspaper. I read it from beginning to end for the news. I have been away from Knoxville for so long that many whom I recall as young children are now grown and taking their rightful place as leaders in the community.
   It was with sincere regret that I learned of the death of Herbert Davis, whom I knew, & of Harris Tucker.
   Please say “Hello” to all my friends & I hope I shall be able to visit with them soon.
     Aaron Gourse

[note that the stamp on the upper left indicates that this post was approved by Army censors]