This picture of Albert "Frankie" Smith and Bill Sellars at Epworth Children's Home was found in an envelope recently with a letter from Smith during WWII. Below is a photo of Bill Sellers today. WWII Veteran Bill Sellars recently received a letter from his childhood friend, Albert Smith, 64 years after it was written.

Bill Sellars, Albert Smith, and Albert's brother, Woodrow, grew up together at Epworth Children's Home.

During World War II, the two friends, Bill and Al, joined the military. Al, an army paratrooper, was stationed in France, Germany, and England. Bill did his overseas tour of duty in the Pacific.

Sometime after surviving his first experiences jumping into France during the invasion, Al wrote and mailed a letter to his pal Bill, who was back in the states.

Sellars said he had come back to the University of South Carolina but was unexpectedly called to go to Asbury, New Jersey. When the letter came to his USC address, no one knew where to forward it, so it was returned to Smith.

Shortly afterwards, Smith was killed in combat. His effects were sent to Woodrow, who, devastated by his brother's death, couldn't bring himself to go through the items, so he just placed them in a box and stored them in the back of a closet.

Years later, Woodrow Smith was cleaning out that closet and came across the things he had stored there all those years ago. Among the objects found was the letter to Bill Sellars, still in the envelope, postmarked August 26, 1944, never having been opened in 64 years.

Woodrow delivered the envelope personally to Sellars in July of this year. Inside was a three- page letter from Albert Smith (Frankie) to his buddy Billy Sellars, as well as a picture of the two friends during their childhood days at Epworth.

Sellars said it meant a lot to him receiving the letter after all these years and that it was an important tribute to his friend, Albert Smith, because he gave his life.

25 August, 1944

Dear Billy,

I hear that you are back in the states so I guess that I 'll write you. I met Bob Beach a little while ago and we are really having a big time. He gets a jeep and comes over to see me, then we usually go somewhere and have a swell time. Milton said that he saw you a few times in the Marshall Islands or Hawaii one, I can't remember. I know that you were over in the Pacific for a while. I have been overseas a year now and it's beginning to tell on me. No kidding

As you probably know have been combat. was one of France. I landed about seven hours before day. I'm telling you we really caught hell. We were over a good while but now back England.

Say what's about Cuby Rae and Bob? anything mean do each other or a Bob got a picture of her

Say, how are going back Bet you were glad get back there. You probably think it is heaven compared to the Pacific. I'm waiting for the day I get to go back there. We'll really have a wonderful time when we get together. Claude Norman was in on the invasion but I never heard from him since. Sure hope that he is all right. Angus is stationed about 160 miles from me but I can never get off to see him. We have planned and planned to meet but something always inter feres somewhere and I never get him.

Have been London a but has changed a got back France. The girls are making a off American

Look Bill, want you do me a Go Lane Drug Store and ask Setzler. She's the cashier at the cigarette counter. Tell her hello for me and that I still lo ve her. She's my girl. Take her out one night for me. Tell her that you're one of my buddies. Why don't you go by and Montegue me when you have

Well no news guess close now. Be good and girl me. Write soon.