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Kenneth J. Kestenholtz Letters

 Collection
Identifier: MS 00023

  • Staff Only
  • No requestable containers

Content Description

72 letters from Kenneth James Kestenholtz to his family, usually addressed, "Sis and all", dated 1943- 1945. During World War II, Kestenholtz served as a Private in the 117th Stateion in the Philippine Islands and New Guinea in the South Pacific. Kestenholtz describes the weather, scenery, and wildlife of his Pacific surroundings. He also comments on food rations, particularly that they receive gum but no candy and only one pack of smokes per day. Most of his letters inquire about friends back home and consist of reports to his sister regarding friends he has heard from. Toward the end of his letters, Kestenholtz tells his sister of the large amount of Japanese prisoners his battalion takes in to their stockades but mostly refrains from reporting much about his activities at his station.

Dates

  • Creation: 1943 - 1945

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Conditions Governing Use

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Extent

0.5 Linear Feet

Language

English

Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Research Center Repository

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