A USPS worker became a hero when he made the commitment to drive nearly 400 miles in order to deliver a collection of lost WWII letters to the soldier’s family.
Grand Prairie USPS carrier Alvin Gauthier, a Marine Corps veteran himself, stumbled upon a collection of letters from the World War II era while going about his daily shift.
“I was preparing for my route when I stumbled upon some letters from 1942, during World War II,” recounted Gauthier in an interview with KXAS-TV. “My immediate instinct was to track down the family connected to these letters.”
In an interview with NBC affiliate KARK-TV, Gauthier disclosed that the letters were specifically addressed to “Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lamb” in Jacksonville, Arkansas.
After returning, Gauthier had a conversation with a postal office employee who mentioned that in the past, they used to rely on zones instead of traditional addresses.
He could discern that the letters were intended for the soldier’s parents. One of the letters conveyed, “I’m feeling much better today after the mail call we had last night.”
Gauthier expressed his strong desire to ensure that the letters find their way to the appropriate family.
Thanks to KARK-TV, Gauthier successfully identified and located the soldier’s sister, Jo Ann Smith.
USPS Driver Hand-Delivers WWII Letters to Family of Soldier
The mail carrier, who happens to be a Marine Corp Veteran, took it upon himself to personally deliver the letters to Smith on his day off. This act of kindness turned into a five-hour road trip for him.
Gauthier admitted that instead of simply mailing them, he decided to go above and beyond by personally delivering the items. He explained, “Sometimes you have to go the extra mile… or in this case, 379 miles.”
“I’m filled with a mix of excitement and tears,” said Smith in an interview with Fox affiliate KLRT-TV. Being the only remaining member of her siblings, she expressed that the letters were a valuable connection to her family.
“I truly admire Alvin,” she expressed. “He has gone above and beyond to extend his support, and people establish connections on various levels. I feel just as connected to Alvin as I do to my own family.”
