Letter from Belleau Wood
Letter from Belleau Wood
Mary Lou Cheatham
The Beginning of a Romance
Trudy Cameron grew up near a south Mississippi railroad town. When she was in elementary school, she and Jeremy Smitherlin became sweethearts. Their families endured hardships, which brought Trudy, Jeremy, and her brother Will close. No matter what happened to them, they always relied on one another. Little did they know they’d face hardships such as a pandemic and World War I. Someday would there be a Spanish flu romance?
Letter Writing
The time came for them to go to college. They chose to go to three separate schools—Will to Mississippi State, Jeremy to Ole Miss, and Trudy to the women’s college known as the W. Since phone calls were inconvenient luxuries, the three wrote each other letters.
Jeremy, hoping to become a journalist, spent all his time developing his skills as a writer and photographer. He soon fell into a pattern of neglecting Trudy, who devoted her time to practicing piano.
Through surprising paths with twists and turns, Trudy found herself in a confusing maze of the Great War to end all wars, Spanish flu, romance with love she didn’t expect. Does anyone ever know where feelings of love will take a young, tender heart?
What was the letter that changed everything?
A young woman's world is turned upside down by war and a pandemic!
Love and Longing During the Great War
This story is set in the early part of the last century. The world and those living in it faced at least two major crises during this time, World War l (also known as the Great War or the war to end all wars) and the Spanish Flu, a pandemic similar to what is happening now with the coronavirus.
The main character of the book is Trudy Cameron, a strong young woman who is kind, intelligent, talented, and beautiful! The story involves the interaction between her and various family members and friends. A talented pianist, she attends a college that is strictly for women, affectionately known as “the W.”
Sorrows and Joys
She might be hard-working and determined, but her life is not dull! She actually marries a young man about to go to war. Since she attends a women’s college, her marriage must be kept secret. Her roommates, her family, almost everyone she knows is kept in the dark about it. Problems arise, as might be expected.
I don’t want to give the story away. Just know that there are ups and downs, good times and bad, sorrows and joys. The flu strikes. The war ends. Soldiers return home. People pick up the pieces of their lives and try to carry on. While reading this book, I was struck by the kindness and consideration shown by various characters. If only this were true in our world today!
Vicki Curry, Educator
