WWII Letter, Famous B - 25 TUSKEGEE AIRMAN, AFRICAN AMERICAN, WW2, ALS
Item History & Price
Reference Number: Avaluer:464710 | Country/Region of Manufacture: Germany |
The letter is written from the 2164th A.A.F. Base, Tuskegee Institute while he was in pilot training. In the letter he writes his "Folks" about his concern for his Brother Corporal Jack Ramsey who is traveling on a ship to the Pacific.
Here is part of what he writes:
"Oh Mother I've ...prayed each and every night for Jack, and that he would get across without any harm coming too him. To be frank with you I was really worried..."
Lt. Ramsey was a B-25 Bomber Pilot from a classic American Military Family. Two of his Brothers, John (Jack) Ramsey and 2nd Lt. Billy Ramsey were both in the Army and his Father, Sgt. William Beal Ramsey, Jr. served in WW1 with the all African American 368th Infantry Regiment.
This letter is signed by Lt. Ramsey ( Ted ) and it includes the original envelope which has Lt. Ramsey signature: A/C Pierce Ramsey, and the TUSKEGEE Institute Postmark.
You can find videos on Youtube about Lt. Ramsey if you search: "Pierce Ramsey, TUSKEGEE"
See photos for content and condition. This letter and envelope are guaranteed original. The letter also come with a recent WW2 print of Lt. Ramsey.
Bidding conditions and mailing below:I ship Priority Mail US Post Service, three day delivery. The reason why is virtually all of the items I sell are one of a kind and even though an item may not have a high selling price it is sometime priceless to the buyer. Also Priority Mail US Post Service is insured and is tracked to guarantee delivery. US buyers only. (I do make some exceptions for foreign buyers but you need to email me to get approval for bidding.You must have bought over 25 items on eBay, Paypal preferred and you must have a good rating in order to buy on this item/items.I have a 100% rating and have sold many rare and important document, letters and items on Ebay so you know you will receive this original item.See photos for condition. Email me if you have any questions.
On Jun-06-19 at 14:39:08 PDT, seller added the following information:Background: Lt. Ted Ramey’s Family were Philadelphian and light skinned African Americans. This impacted the way he and his family were treated in the Military and when they were on furloughs. It appears it was tricky for them to navigating racial discrimination in the military and in the letters I have read there is almost a code language use in describing their treatment and the situations they were involved it. Lt. Billy Ramsey, (Ted's older Brother) I believe entered the service first out of the three Brothers and he would give advice to his Brothers on how to get along and get ahead in the military. The Brothers grew up in the North but received most of their military training in the South. In doing so they were not a custom to the way African American were treated in the South. Lt. Billy Ramsey, I believe the oldest brother, would write about the importance of laying low and obeying orders to getting along. Despite the hurdles they all encountered it is clear how patriotic they were and the importance of winning the War. Lt Ted Ramsey was a special kind of solider as were all the Men and Woman at the Tuskegee Institute; with only a high school education he was offered an Appointment to West Point Military Academy. (see my other listing with Ted's West Point letter) At that time in history there were only a handful of African Americans who had graduated from West Point and Lt. Ramsey was honored to be one of 5 men at Tuskegee to be chosen but he did not pursue the opportunity for many reasons. On Jun-07-19 at 15:18:54 PDT, seller added the following information:I will include with these original letters a facsimile copy of a letter Airman Ted Ramsey sent to his parents from Keesler Field Mississippi, January 1944. In the letter he writes he is pleased that his White Officers all being from the North: “I’m really getting along fine down here, all my White Officers are from the North so that’s very nice” And I will also include a facsimile copy of a letter sent to Airman Ted Ramsey’s parents inviting them to Washington D.C. to witness the Oath ceremony of Marshall L. Shepard, Recorder of Deeds Sept 28, 1944, Senate Office Building. In the invitation it states that Marshall L. Shepard will be given the Oath by Justice Hugo Black: “The Oath will be administrated by Justice Hugo L. Black of the United States Supreme Court.”