Back row L-R Howard,Elmer, Lois, Joe
Front. John & Inga.
On a farm south of Sandwich, Illinois, the Twait family raised three sons who would each answer their country’s call during the years of the Second World War. Like many American families of the time, their lives were shaped by events unfolding far beyond the quiet fields of LaSalle County. During the summer of 1944, the war would touch the Twait brothers in three very different ways.
Elmer Twait – Service in the Pacific
Photo restoration by Herk Schmidt
The oldest brother, Elmer H. Twait, entered the U.S. Army in May of 1939, more than two years before the United States entered World War II. He would spend five years in uniform, serving overseas in the Pacific Theater during the early years of the war.
After years of service, Elmer returned home in June of 1944. While he was finally leaving the Army and returning to civilian life, the war was just beginning to reach his younger brothers in Europe.
Joseph Twait – 101st Airborne Paratrooper
Photo restoration by Herk Schmidt
The middle brother, Joseph “Joe” Twait, served with the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. In 1944 he deployed to the European Theater and took part in the fighting following the Allied invasion of Normandy.
Like many soldiers, Joe wrote letters home whenever he had the chance. From France he asked his family to send small comforts that were hard to obtain at the front. In one letter he requested gum or cookies. In another he asked for cigarettes and chocolate, simple reminders of home during the difficult days of the campaign.
During the fighting in France, Joe was captured by German forces and became a prisoner of war. He was eventually held at Stalag VII-A, a large POW camp located near Moosburg, Germany. From captivity he was able to send postcards to his family reassuring them that he was alive and doing as well as possible under the circumstances.
In one letter from France, Joe wrote simply:
“If you can send some gum or cookies I sure would appreciate it. Things like that are hard to get here.”
Howard Twait – Wounded in Normandy
Photo restoration by Herk Schmidt
The youngest brother, Howard P. Twait, also served in the U.S. Army during the Normandy campaign. Howard was a combat engineer, one of the soldiers responsible for clearing obstacles, mines, and other hazards as Allied forces fought to expand the beachhead after the D-Day landings.
In a letter to his folks dated June 16, 1944 Howard writes ” I am writing this in a fox hole somewhere in France. It’s pretty tough over here……”
On June 21, 1944, Howard was wounded during the Normandy campaign when an explosion cost him a leg and several fingers. He later received the Purple Heart in recognition of his wounds.
For the Twait family, the events of that summer brought the war into sharp focus.
In June of 1944, as the invasion of Normandy unfolded, one Twait brother was returning home from service in the Pacific, another was fighting in France with the 101st Airborne, and the youngest lay wounded on the Normandy beachhead.
Letters From the Front and Captivity
While Joe endured captivity in Germany, letters and postcards continued to travel between the POW camp and the family farm south of Sandwich. In his messages home he often tried to reassure his parents not to worry.
Writing from captivity, he again tried to reassure his family:
“I am a Prisoner and I am Alright”
At the same time, his requests for everyday items, gum, cookies, cigarettes, and chocolate offered a glimpse into the small comforts soldiers longed for while far from home.
A Family’s Wartime Legacy
Among the keepsakes preserved by the Twait family is a small engraved cigarette case Joe had made during his time in the service. Inside are still several Lucky Strike cigarettes, the same brand many soldiers requested from home during the war. The case remains a quiet reminder of the everyday realities faced by young men serving far from their families.
In later years Joe occasionally spoke about his wartime experiences. At a gathering marking the fiftieth anniversary of the Normandy invasion, he joined other veterans in sharing memories of those difficult days.
The story of the Twait brothers reflects the experience of many American families during World War II. From a farm south of Sandwich, three brothers served their country in different corners of a world at war. One returned from years of service in the Pacific. One fought with the airborne forces in France and endured captivity as a prisoner of war. Another was wounded during the brutal work of clearing the Normandy beachhead.
Together, their experiences remain an enduring part of the history of the Sandwich community.
Sources
- Twait family letters and artifacts
- U.S. Army service records
- National Purple Heart Hall of Honor
- Aurora Beacon-News (D-Day anniversary article)
- Family recollections provided by Joseph Twait’s grandson