“Don’t Spare the Ink” -Daniel Wallock’s letters home

This lesson explores the daily experience of a World War II serviceman through the lens of letters written home from Milwaukee native, Private First Class Daniel Wallock, who served in the Pacific Theater. The letters of Pfc. Wallock provide a unique opportunity for students to hear the personal voice of a serviceman, who reminds us that the most heroic individuals are also ordinary men and women who like chocolate cake and dancing. Pfc. Wallock was killed by a sniper on Pegun Island. The letters in this lesson include a first-hand account of his death and the correspondence from the U.S. government as Wallock’s mother searched for information on her son’s death.