Barbara L Gingerich Rivas

Letters from an Okie in Occupied Europe Barbara L Gingerich Rivas

Helen Daugherty Wainright joined her husband, Major Charles Roy Wainright, in Occupied Germany in 1946. Roy had preceeded Helen to Germany, arriving in October of 1945. They did not return to the United States until Roy was transferred back in October of 1948. Helen wrote many letters home to her mother, her siblings, and friends. Most of her letters were saved and collected together. The writings give us a unique view of the Occupation from someone who had only recently left Oklahoma. Helen commented on customs, landscape, culture, and her trips to other parts of Europe. She left us an insider's view of life in Europe and showed us the contrast between that and life in Oklahoma.