Corporal Bob Crawford writes home on D-Day, "Don't worry about me, only the good die young." Bob writes to his family from boot camp in Texas, then in England, France and to the liberation of Germany. While inspecting the horror of the Nazi death prison at Auschwitz, Bob is changed forever.

SYNOPSIS:

During WW2, CORPORAL BOB CRAWFORD writes letters home from foxholes, boot camp, D-Day, to the liberation of Nazi Germany. Our picture is seen through Bob and his family who read his mail, coupled with color stock footage of combat action. We see the effect that WW2 has on Bob and his family. The day before the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, Bob and FRANCIS elope. They have a party in Salt Lake City. Against FRANCIS's pleading, Bob, 31 enlists on December 7th 1941. The Army sends Bob to boot camp in Texas for mechanized mortar training. Bob’s unit is mostly teenage boys from Texas and Alabama. Aboard his troopship to England, Bob is informed, by his 1st Sergeant, and friend, MAC, that his wife died. Bob is devastated. In England, a German aircraft strafes Bob’s Company. Nearly drowning in the effort, on D-Day, Bob’s unit invades Normandy. His company fires mortars for seven different Divisions. His company wins a Presidential Citation. Transferred to Patton’s 3rd Army, Bob writes home. He sends his nephew a German Paratrooper’s helmet and belt buckle. Bob’s letters are vivid descriptions of battles across Europe. [V.O. by Bob]. Suffering from battle fatigue, Bob goes to a rest camp in France. A battle-weary Bob enjoys needed rest, dances, movies, and USO shows. Super-chow and much needed rest quickly restores his morale. Bob writes home, showing his hope for the end of the War. His family tries to maintain normal lives. Bob’s unit plows across France, Belgium, and Germany, into village after deserted village. Their Thanksgiving dinner jeep is blown to bits by a German tank. Across the Rhine, Bob’s unit captures a German factory manned by a German Policeman. To relieve stress, they shoot up the place. In its office is a dead German officer. Bob finds a cache of stationery. Bob’s unit moves through the Alps. Warsaw and Berlin fall to the Russians. Bob writes home about the most horrendous aspect of the War: A Nazi concentration camp: “A sight so horrific that it cannot be fully described.” General Eisenhower orders Army Photographers to photograph. Reporters take down Ike’s every word: “I want to be in a position to give first-hand evidence of these things, if ever in the future, there develops a tendency to charge these atrocities merely to propaganda." Bob and his Buddies celebrate V-E Day. Passing the Statue of Liberty, Bob remarks, “She’s the most beautiful woman in the world.” On his troop train home, a Lieutenant informs Bob that Patton is dead. At North Platte, Nebraska, Bob enjoys USO entertainment. At home in Utah, mobs of loved ones hug and kiss their returned soldiers. Bob is greeted by friends and family. They have a party where Bob tells his family, “It sure is good to be home again.” FORTY-FIVE YEARS LATER, June 6, 1989, at the reunion of the D-Day landing in France, Bob shows his adult daughter, Robin Crawford the graves of his wartime buddies. [Adapted from Robin Crawford- Robbin's book: "A Foxhole Closer to Home." ] (2010 Author House & Library of Congress #2010915335)

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