A cache of letters leads to a journey of discovery that reveals the long and lasting consequences of war

William S. Walker never knew his uncle, Fletcher "Bud" Blanton. Blanton had been killed fighting in Europe during World War II before Walker was born. Walker had heard stories about Bud, but for most of his life his uncle had existed only as a faded memory. That path changed when Walker opened a dusty cabinet forgotten in his garage attic and found a paper sack and a note in his father's handwriting that read, "Go through before you throw away." The bag was filled with family photos, correspondence, and a collection of letters and postcards that his uncle Bud had written to his family during his time on the frontline as a US Army infantryman in Europe. The first letter he pulled from the bag opened with the line, "Dearest Mama." Walker's Dearest Mama is Bud Blanton's story. More than that it is a deeply personal family chronicle that resonates for all those left behind when servicemembers do not return home from combat.

William Walker is a South Carolina–born writer and former soldier who worked as a reporter and editor for more than four decades.

"A touching homage to a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. A tender, loving account of a short but honorable life."—Kirkus Reviews

"Dearest Mama presents a compelling collection of letters from WWII soldier, Private First-Class Fletcher Blanton, highlighting the profound impact of his absence on his family and friends."—Travis L. Martin, author of War & Homecoming

"There's a story behind every soldier who served during WWII. Thanks to a packet of letters he found in a cobweb-covered cabinet, William S. Walker tells the story of his uncle Bud, who never made it back home."—Tyler Bridges, chief political reporter for the Times-Picayune/The Advocate in New Orleans, author of The Flight

Dearest Mama

The Lost Letters of a Fallen Soldier and the Stories of Those He Left Behind

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Dearest Mama

The Lost Letters of a Fallen Soldier and the Stories of Those He Left Behind

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