During WWII, “V-Mail” (short for “Victory Mail”) was a method of sending letters between soldiers and their families. It was a popular way to manage mail flow and reduce the weight and bulk of correspondence. Messages were written on special V-Mail forms, then microfilmed to save space. Upon arrival, the microfilm was enlarged and printed back onto paper to be delivered to the recipient. This method saved cargo space for other wartime supplies while still allowing for regular communications.
Season’s Greetings, 1942
from the Saucon Valley Defenders Committee
Picture yourself, young, probably just out of Hellertown High School, likely never having traveled far, and suddenly World War II breaks out. Here you are, in some foreign land—either in Europe, the Pacific, or at a military base in the USA.
It's December 1942, and even though you're not in Saucon Valley, you still want to celebrate the holidays. Having a buddy in a foxhole or on a ship is good, but nothing beats being home for the holidays!
Then comes this Season's Greetings from your hometown Saucon Valley Defenders Committee. You probably know there's a fruitcake on its way to you along with other goodies from Saucon Valley and your family.
We’re sure you’ll pass the V-Mail greetings to your friends and wish them a Happy Holiday season as well!
Below is the greeting sent to our enlisted men and women in 1942. The war is just beginning, and emotions are running high. We had a wonderful Saucon Valley Defenders Committee to share their greetings with you.
Check out the V-Mails available on the blog to see how this holiday was shared with our Hometown Heroes in 1942.
Merry Christmas, Ken Bloss & Dan Ruth
December 2025
The majority of Hellertown and Lower Saucon service men and women featured in the Saucon Valley Defenders V-Mail are listed below. Not all names have been captured here but it is worth looking through to see if you recognize anyone.
Businesses, organizations, teams, and local town names are listed in the second half of Who’s Who.
If you want to find a reference to someone listed, just access the V-Mail searchable file provided in the V-Mail Blog.
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👉 For the full stories, download the searchable Adobe PDF from the blog. 👈
(ignore the informational caution that "pops up" - and click DOWNLOAD)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a3y1RYzkrJtzy6o3yOFo80ayYs1lvrv_/view?usp=sharing 👈
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October 1942, 43, 44, 45
What a difference a War Makes. Take a look at what was happening in our hometown during four years of war as depicted in the excerpts from October V-Mails below.
Parades, Halloween at Home, Beautiful Fall Weather, High School Soccer, Alumni Serving, War Drives, and Elections!
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👉 For the full stories, download the searchable Adobe PDF from the blog. 👈
(ignore the informational caution that "pops up" - and click DOWNLOAD)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a3y1RYzkrJtzy6o3yOFo80ayYs1lvrv_/view?usp=sharing 👈
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1942-October – Hellertown
In the golden October sunlight, yellow leaves drift down in the blue air, and the hills are smoky with haze. Wild asters grow deep along the country roads, and the woods are filled with bayberry and bittersweet. The wild mixture of beautiful colors against old stone walls nearly makes one accept autumn. The schools opened on September 8th, with 377 students enrolled in high school and 496 in elementary grades.
Soccer at the local high school ramps up during the week of October 5th. The first game against the Lehigh Frosh will be played in Bethlehem. Due to transportation difficulties, only six major games are scheduled. The team personnel include Lash, possibly as goalie; Mowrey and Goldberg as potential fullbacks; Werkheiser, Marcez, Johnson, Flok, and Fonner as possible halfbacks. The most challenging aspect will be the forward line, as there are few linesmen with enough experience and drive to make the team function cohesively. The potential linemen are Robert Yob, Mease, Schneider, Pundiak, Richards, Keller, Hirkach, and Pasternak. At a meeting of the Lehigh-Northampton League, it was agreed that basketball will be played during the upcoming season. The league will include the following teams: Copley, South Whitehall, Wilson, Nazareth, Fountain Hill, East Stroudsburg, and Hellertown.
October 1943 - Halloween
Well, I guess you know by now that the 3rd War Loan Drive went over the top. The response in your hometown, especially in the schools, was good. It seems that the people—most of them—want to do their part. Outside of a few chiselers and careless individuals, we recognize our duty, whether it's buying bonds, saving scrap, or donating to deserving causes. We want you to know we are behind you.The latest check-up shows that 162 alumni of H.H.S. are currently serving. H.H.S. will have both boys' and girls' basketball teams this year. Recent actions by the Board of Education allow these teams to participate in an inter-scholastic schedule. It is now known that the boys will again compete in the Lehigh-Northampton League.
October 1943 - Halloween
Township Division
The folks from District No. 3, which includes Polk Valley, Wassergass, and Lower / Saucon, kept 'on the ball' during the past month and plan to dedicate their plaque, probably on October 10th. The plaque for the area will be placed at the crossroads in Ironville, better known as Wassergass, and will list the names of 55 men in the Army and 7 in the Navy. Somehow, the lads and lassies from this area are not inclined to join the specialized branches of the Armed Forces. Two additional names, Kenneth Bergstresser and Thomas Vuksta, Jr., have been received beyond those already mentioned in our letters.
All of the folks on the "home front" are supporting this work, and in District No. 3, Jacob Raab, Chairman, is assisted by Mrs. Clarence Reiss, Mrs. Floyd Brader, Jr., and Mrs. Mae I. Quier. We take great pleasure in dedicating this issue to those 62 "Fighters for Freedom" from District No. 3, and sincerely pray that our small efforts may help them in some way to accomplish the big job that all of you are determined to see end in VICTORY.
October 1944 – Halloween
Township Division
We are always receiving great letters from you folks on the 11Fighting Front, and like the 1GALS1, some are quite tricky. P.F.C. Charles Wimmer really made the headlines: 'BINGEN AND LEITHSVILLE HOLD REUNION IN NEW GUINEA." It seems that 1Chuck, who is a G.I. cook, had some visitors recently in New Guinea. His visitors included none other than his brother Allen, Maynard Klotz, Earle Sutton, and Warren Miller from Leiths-ville and “Eddie”Hock from Bingen. What a small world!
October 1945 - Halloween
Hellertown Division
Nature in all its beautiful colors of yellow, red, and brown has bedecked the hills and fields surrounding our little town. Though the tapestry of leaves is breathlessly beautiful, we close our eyes to what must come. Falling leaves and the falling year—beauty is going the way she came. Saying goodbye with no sigh, no tear (it is the empty wind you hear). It is also election time. The election for town officials as well as certain county offices is just a week away. The office of chief burgess probably offers the most interesting contest. The Republican party has nominated Howard Hess, a local businessman, while the choice of the Democratic party is Morris J. Dimmick, the veteran burgess. Almost daily, as you go downtown, you meet someone in or just out of uniform who a short time ago was either on foreign soil or in camp. Many are home on extended furloughs with the hope their discharge will follow soon and lead to a happy return to civilian life. Halloween again was a big event for the kids, and they showed more enthusiasm than at any time in many past years. The American Legion Band, with a good number of musicians, furnished the main part of the music. Prizes were awarded, and as usual, the treat at the firehouse followed the parade. The prizes and refreshments were gifts from local civic organizations and civic-minded citizens.
A look back at September 1942 and what the Saucon Valley Defenders Committee wrote in the Sept. 4th V-Mail to keep our local troops in service worldwide updated on Saucon Valley’s Homefront activities. (See the complete V-Mail below.)
Here is the big picture of what the war-torn world looked like in September 1942.
Highlights of the Saucon Valley Defenders Committee V-Mail, Sept 4, 1942
Please see the V-Mail dated September 4, 1942 (below).
There is much more detail and local news in this edition.
Imagine, as you read this, what it would be like to be a service member halfway around the world (in the Pacific or Europe) receiving this Saucon Valley News.
Thank you, Saucon Valley Defenders!
Ken Bloss (and Dan Ruth)
9/11/25
