World War II Driver James Henry Brewster volunteered as an ambulance driver with the American Field Service (AFS) between 1943 and 1945. Brewster was posted to the C Platoon of 567 Company in Italy in October 1943, and remained in Italy until he was transferred to Germany in April 1945. He was transferred to India in August of that same year, and was repatriated to the United States in November 1945 following the termination of wartime hostilities.
Brewster donated his wartime collection to the Archives of the American Field Service and AFS Intercultural Programs (AFS Archives) in 2011. The collection includes letters that he wrote to his parents while overseas. Some of the letters in the collection were illustrated by Brewster, showing scenes featuring AFS ambulances or the activities of the volunteer ambulance drivers in their down time He also illustrated scenes depicting the local Italian community where his unit was stationed in January 1944, including a drawing of a farmer leading a donkey up the hill to town (depicted above.)
Click here to read more information about the James H. Brewster Collection in the AFS Archives.