Santa Fe Author Elaine Pinkerton
COMMUNITY News:
Pajarito Press LLC announces the release of a new edition of “From Calcutta with Love: The World War II Letters of Richard and Reva Beard,” compiled and edited by Santa Fean Elaine Pinkerton, formerly of Los Alamos.
This collection revives an important primary source documenting the China-Burma-India (CBI) theater—a critical yet often-overlooked front of World War II.
From 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, March 1, Pinkerton will sign copies and discuss her beautifully redesigned book at a special event at Barnes & Noble, Santa Fe Place Mall.
The CBI campaign was essential to the Allied victory, sustaining the fight against Japan through
grueling supply lines over the Himalayan “Hump,” jungle warfare, and medical operations under
extreme conditions. The treacherous flight pattern over the Himalayas, crucial to supplying the Allied effort, was a virtual suicide mission, and pilots who “flew the Hump” braved violent monsoon
rains and deadly wind shifts.
The book presents hundreds of letters exchanged between Richard Beard, an Army psychologist
stationed at the 142nd General Hospital in Calcutta who dealt daily with emotional trauma of his
patients, and his wife Reva, a schoolteacher in Findlay, Ohio. Richard’s letters describe the harsh
environment, widespread disease, psychological strain on troops, and the perilous logistics that
kept Allied forces operational in Asia, yet with tenderness and humor as he poured out his longings
and passion despite the drama of war. A pillar to her husband, Reva’s replies provide a complementary view of the American home front, capturing wartime community efforts, family life, and resilience during their prolonged separation.
Pinkerton, the Beards’ daughter, has carefully edited the correspondence and supplied historical context that underscores the CBI theater’s strategic importance within the larger global conflict.
This reissue brings renewed attention to a lesser-known but pivotal chapter of World War II, making these authentic voices from a vital front accessible once again.
The new hardcover edition from Pajarito Press LLC is available now through major retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and independent bookstores. ISBN: 978-1-948386-03-6.
For more information, review copies, or interview requests, contact Pajarito Press at info@pajarito-
press.com.
Pajarito Press LLC is an independent publisher dedicated to preserving significant historical and
personal narratives, with a focus on World War II stories and Southwestern voices.