In a series of letters to his sister, A. Fern Souther, from the time he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942 until his discharge in 1945, Souther describes his experiences as a truck driver in North Africa and Italy. During basic training and the four months he remained in Italy after the War in Europe was over, Souther wrote very frank, usually brief letters. During the time he saw active service, his letters were censored and his style is self-conscious and less spontaneous.

During 1943, Fern Souther clipped articles about Vermont men and women serving in World War II from the Burlington Free Press and the Newport Daily Express. The chronologically arranged articles include obituaries, inductions, promotions, awards, leaves, as well as many photographs.

Francis Souther, nicknamed Buster, was born June 4, 1913, in Lowell, Vermont. In 1942 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served during World War II as a truck driver in North Africa and Italy. He was discharged in November 1945. After the war he married Barbara Warner. He died May 19, 1992.