Riva, Italy

On May 13th, 1945, Epstein wrote his first letter since arriving in Italy marked clearly by location. Headed "Riva, Italy" instead of "Somewhere in Italy," this letter was the first written by Jerome following the surrender of German forces in Italy on May 2nd and V-E Day on May 8th. Freed from censorship by the end of the war, in this letter Jerome freely expressed both his location as well as his feelings about his experience in combat.