Appalachia to Dessau

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.

John Goodin
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 270
Bibliographic Info: 85 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2024
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9445-0
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5369-3
Imprint: McFarland

Preface 1
Introduction 3
List of Goodin’s Family and Friends 5
One. Basic Training: May 1941–June 1942 7
Two. Dog Biscuits and Dust Devils: July 1, 1942–September 14, 1943 34
Three. England “Somewhere”: September 15, 1943–December 30, 1943 71
Four. Somebody’s Johnny: January 1944–June 1944 99
Five. Normandy—Baptism by Fire, the Spearhead Is Born: June 23–September 14, 1944 118
Six. “Still Rollin’”: Rhineland, Germany, September 15, 1944–March 21, 1945; Ardennes, Belgium, December 19, 1944–January 25, 1945 151
Seven. Dessau: Victories and Atrocities: March 22–April 25, 1945 193
Eight. The Fatted Calf: April 28, 1945–September 10, 1945 209
Epilogue 252
Chapter Notes 253
Bibliography and Further Reading 257
Index 259