SPERRY, Okla. -- A piece of WWII history turned up in an unsuspecting place, and now one Green Country family has made it their mission to return it to the rightful owners.
“In this green folder, the letter was neatly put in there,” Shirley Williamson, the woman who discovered the piece of history, said.
A little tidying up around the house turned into quite the discovery. A letter postmarked 1945 from the War Department Air Forces was found in an old family album.
The letter, written by Chaplain John D. Barringer reads, “It is with the deepest of sympathy that I write this letter...”
The envelope holds the history of an American soldier from Sperry, Glen B. Guyton. It is addressed to Maude H. Guyton, believed to be Glen’s mother.
"I regret that I must confirm the news that Glen is missing in action,” the letter from Barringer reads.
The letter details the service of Staff Sgt. Guyton who was serving in Japan during WWII. The letter addresses Glen’s accomplishments during the war and how he fought the enemy without fear. Chaplain Barringer sent his prayers to Glen’s family, hoping that someday Glen would turn up and return home safely.
Inside the letter from the Chaplain was another letter, written by Maude Guyton.
"She started by saying, ‘My darling boy, I am writing a letter to entrust to your Chaplain when you return,” the letter reads.
Maude’s letter appears to be written as a prayer to her son, who is missing at war.
It goes on to say, “My darling, you remember when you left, and I cried so and was so sick of heart, you told me I didn't have enough faith.”
Maude’s words to her son made it known the family had a strong faith and would be praying for a safe return home.
However, the letter's existence is still a mystery. Williamson now possesses it but said she has no idea how she got it.
"I just pray more than anything that this will get back to their family,” she said.
Williamson’s hope is to bring this soldier's family some closure.
The letter closes with a prayer for Glen stating, “with all our love and prayer that God won't waste too long before returning you, love mama."
It’s a storied decade in the making still searching for an ending. However, war records show Glen Guyton did eventually turn up during the war. It is believed Guyton was shot down in his plane in Japan and taken as a prisoner by Japanese forces. He was eventually recovered when the hostilities ended.
Williamson believes Guyton may have the family either in the area or Texas. Her plea is that someone will come forward and claim the letter.
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