Letters regarding Martin Taylor

What you are about to see is a goldmine of discovery found within the genealogy books of Della Nyberg, who then passed the book onto her son, who then so graciously let me scan its contents.

What follows here is the correspondence between Martin Taylor's military superiors and Martin's family back home during WWII when he went missing over Japan.  To read the contents of each letter you'll have to click on the letter's image to read what is printed, or open each one up in a new page so see it in a larger font.

I've also included a few more personal letters between Martin and his family that give a real taste for what Martin was like and what was going through his head at the time.  Once again, I did not transcribe these to maintain a level of reverence for some of his parting words.  Click on the images to read them more clearly.

Letter from Martin to his mom, dated Sept 22, 1944

Transcribed letter from Martin to his family- straight from genealogy book page
date unknown, but it's indicated as the last letter he sent home.

Letter to Martin from sister, Della.  Dated Nov 24, 1944.
Martin's crew went missing Nov 29, 1944.
He never got this letter, and it was returned to it's sender.

Newspaper clipping regarding Martin Taylor missing in action.
No source listed, found in the genealogy books of Della Nyberg.
Assumed a local paper, perhaps Vernal Express in 1944 or 1945?

Newspaper clipping transcribed:

T/Sgt. Martin V. Taylor, 24, son of Mrs. Roy Taylor, Lapoint, Uintah county, is missing in action over Japanese territory since Nov. 29, a brother Ralph Taylor, Salt Lake City, was informed.

Sgt. Taylor is a native of Lapoint, and was born April 19, 1920.  He is a graduate of Alterra high school, and was study body president in his senior year.  He enlisted in the army in May 1941, and had been overseas since November, 1944.  He was a radio-gunner on a B-29.

Awaiting further word, besides his mother, is his wife, Mrs. Cleora Kay Taylor, Los Angeles; five sisters, Mrs. Clarence Jensen, Bremerton, Wash.; Mrs. Coy Hayward, Bountiful; Mrs. Roy Huber and Mrs. George Nyberg, Lapoint; Mrs. Keith Ross, Vernal, and five brothers, Rex Taylor, Lapoint; Leslie Taylor, Leeton; Sherman Taylor, Meeker, Colo.; Roy Taylor, Bridgeland, and Ralph Taylor, Salt Lake City.

Military letter sent to Cleora Kay Taylor (Martin's wife)
informing her that her husband is missing in action.
How this letter fell into the hands of Martin's sister I don't know.
Letter dated 1 Jan 1945.

Letter regarding a Lt. Hodson, likely someone on the same mission as Martin.
It gives further details of what the military knew of his crew's disappearance.
I'm assuming this was a copy sent to Martin's family.
Dated 24 Jan 1945.

This letter relates to the letter above.  It's from Lt. Hodson's father (Fremont B. Hodson)
addressed to Martin's mother.  With this letter he sent a copy of the information
he had received above from the military.
Dated 14 February 1945.

Letter from the Quartermaster General to Martin's mother
updating her on the sad business of still finding no trace of Martin's crew.
Dated 4 Dec 1947.

Another letter from the Quartermaster General to Martin's mother
informing her that no wreckage or remains were ever found of the bombing mission.
Dated 4 Apr 1949

A final letter from the Army to Martin's mother
finalizing his presumed death date as 29 Nov 1944.
Dated 28 Oct 1949

A letter from the Meditation Chapel in Memory Park, Salt Lake City, UT to Martin's mother
regarding a memorial with Martin's name included on it.
Dated Sept 12, 1949.

I feel it a blessing to have copies of these letters which tell a beautifully somber story about those who sacrificed so greatly, and those who mourned their loss and still anticipate their reunion.

Photo from personal albums of Della/Gene Nyberg and Cheryl Murray
Thank you, Sgt. Martin Taylor.