I was excited to find Buddy’s postcards because of the longer story they reveal.
Buddy was born in 1918. His enlistment record indicates that he worked in the education field and had completed 3 years of college. (I don’t often try to look up the names on my postcards, but since I had so much information, in this case I gave it a shot.)
Postcard Timeline
Enlisted: May 23, 1942 – Fort Oglethorpe, GA (age 23, unmarried at time of enlistment)
Source: National Archives Enlistment Record
| Date | Sent from | Current Unit/Base | Rank | Recipient Name | Recipient location |
| 26-Aug-42 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Army Air Base, Salt Lake | Pvt | Gladys Bell | Lobelville, Tn |
| 5-Apr-43 | St Louis, Missouri | 21st Sqd. Topeka, Ks | ? | Mrs. E Bell | Lobelville, Tn |
| 29-Aug-43 | Topeka, Kansas | 21st Sqd. Topeka, Ks | Sgt | Mrs. L. H. Marress | Lobelville, Tn |
| 13-Sep-43 | Topeka, Kansas | 21st Sqd. Topeka, Ks | ? | Mrs. L. H. Marress | Lobelville, Tn |
| 9-Apr-44 | Topeka, Kansas | 25th Adr’m Sq. (S) | Cpl. | Gladys Marress | Linden, Tn |
It seems that Miss Gladys Bell became Mrs. Marress during the summer of 1943.
Buddy Marress’s wife is buried in Perry County Tennessee: Marress, Gladys Bell, Apr. 1916-Dec. 9, 1989, “Wife of Loyd Marress”
Lost Greetings 