Appalachia to Dessau: Letters of a Tank Commander in World War II

Raised in the rural Appalachian town of Erwin, Tennessee, John David Goodin was a tank commander in one of the most notorious and prestigious regiments in World War II, the 3rd Armored "Spearhead" Division, the 32nd Armored Regiment. From his basic training in 1941, to his experience with the horrific concentration camps in Dessau, Germany, through VE Day in 1945, Goodin wrote hundreds of letters to friends and family that chronicled his experiences leaving home and country for the first time, showing the personal cost of separation and service.

This book presents Goodin's uncensored and emotional letters home, following his transformation from rookie to seasoned soldier. This is an unvarnished and honest portrait of the life of a young soldier, told in over 300 letters to home. Original photographs of Goodin's life and family illustrate how his Appalachian roots grounded him during a tumultuous time of war.

Sandy Laws is an assistant archivist in the Archives of Appalachia at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee. She holds a Master of Education degree in School Librarianship from ETSU. A native Appalachian, she lives in East Tennessee.