Special Collections Research Center

Scope and Contents

Letters from Al to his wife Cass. He mentions a gift he sent her from Arizona made out of an "Indian weed" and talks about life in the army and the men in his unit.

Content Description This collection consists of about 50 letters addressed to Berdean Hall, of Newman, California, mostly from her brother, John Hall. Berdean Hall served in World War II as a member of the United States Women's Army Corps, known as WAC. After joining the WAC, Berdean was transferred to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Her brother also served in the United States Army during World War II in the Army Air Corps. Berdean's letters include correspondence from friends serving in the military during World...

Content Description The correspondence includes handwritten postcards, letters, and V-Mail as well as three photographs addressed to Elsie Jean Comfort (referred to as Elsie, Jean and Jeannie) from United States servicemen in the Army, Navy and Air Force during World War II and the Korean War. Several of the letter writers are from Comfort’s hometown of Elmira, New York. Comfort receives letters from F.W. (Franklin Woodward or “Barney”) Harlan; Charles R. Haner; James Ewing, Jr.; Donald Fickers; Richard T....

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Collection of letters from Dorothy to her husband, Richard, a Reservist in the Army during World War II. He was stationed with the 59th Training Group in Squadron 598 V at Keesler Field, Mississippi.

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Collection of letters to and from the Dowdy family from 1944-69. Daniel and Gladys Dowdy were residents of Eggleston, VA. Their letters to each other, written in 1944-45, discuss their life together, their plans for after the war, and their romance in explicit detail. Also includes letters from 1961-62 from the Dowdy children's German penpal, and letters from 1969 as son Harold began basic training in the US Army.

Content Description This collection consists of over 85 handwritten letters and 3 photographs. It documents the final year of World War II (1945) from the perspective of a United States Navy parachute rigger stationed at U.S.N.A.S. Klamath Falls in Oregon. W.A. (Wilfred Allen or Al) Fountain wrote to Evelyn Ruth Lanphere, who lived in Coupeville, on Whidbey Island, in Washington State. Few letters are dated; envelope postmarks detail the letters’ chronology. The end of World War II is often...

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Letters to father William H. Gelbach about the war in the Pacific. Includes two photographs from New Guinea.

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Letter to Mary, Ralph, and family about his travels in Australia and New Guinea, his past furlough, and his romantic adventures.

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Letter about hoping for a quick discharge from the Navy as well as a visit to Tokyo.

Content Description

Series of letters addressed to Jesse Figula A private in the Army who was stationed at the Panama Canal Zone, from various individuals dated 1933-1945. Two of the authors are his brothers, Bill and George, who also join the armed forces during World War, II. Louie, another brother who is serving in the US Navy, also writes to Jesse. In one letter dated 1937, Bill describes a Union strike at the steel mill in their town.

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Letter from son to parents about life in the army in Germany. Mentions looting and keeping German pistols and swords.

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Letters from friends Joe, Margie, Jean, and Sue asking about life in the army. Mentions life in high school, work experiences, and asks when Craig is coming home.

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Letter about how Mattie's card and gift arrived for Levin in France well in time for Christmas.

Content Description Letters include one photograph, two ration books, seven V-Mail cards, two War Department postcards, a Roanoke, Virginia newspaper, a greeting card, and several handwritten letters. Letters are primarily written by Ellis David Lovern, Jr to his wife Ruby and daughter Nancy. Lovern served with the U.S. Army during World War II. His letters are sent from “somewhere in” Tennessee, England, Germany, and Belgium. Lovern frequently signs his name as “Elmer.” He addresses his wife’s concern about...

Content Description

Series of letters from Nancy Kessler to her husband, Louis, while he served in the United States Navy as a quartermaster and was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia from 1944-1945.

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Series of letters addressed to Patrick Arnold from family and friends while stationed on the USS Bronson (DD-668) out of Charleston, South Carolina, the USS Howorth (DD-592), and at the Naval Recruiting Station in Washington, D.C. from 1944-1949.

Content Description The Paul A. Carpenter Letters consists of incoming correspondence and Vmail from family and friends. The letters date from 1942-1945, with the bulk written in 1945. Much of the content discusses the home front: the change of seasons, canning berries and peas, poetry, movies, and new novels such as “Forever Amber”. Paul Carpenter’s parents, J.E. and Albina Carpenter, sent local newspaper clippings with their letters, sharing news of other Kenton, Ohio soldiers and sailors and announcements...

Content Description Correspondence from William (Billy) Preston to his sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Ralph Bennett, primarily mailed during World War II (1940-1945) with a few letters sent from 1946-1960. The collection includes 120 handwritten and typed letters and postcards; black and white photographs; a Western Union telegram; and newspaper clippings. It is arranged chronologically. The correspondence is detailed and legible, with description of U.S. Army experience in North America (training, duties,...

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Letters to Nettie about life in the army in Europe. Mentions Red Cross Christmas entertainment.

Content Description Mostly envelopes of letters Ed Sanderbeck sent to his wife Fay Weekley from 1941- 1945 while he served in the United States Air Force during World War II. The envelopes have notes written to Fay, but the letters have been removed and are not with the envelopes. Notes discuss his life in the military as he was stationed in Australia, New Guinea, the Philippines, and Korea, and his unit's success at shooting down Japanese planes. Almost 350 envelopes in total, includes some Vmail and some...

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Letter to Paul G. Strong Jr. about life at Camp Croft, SC. Phillip mentions not having much to do and plans to try and visit Paul soon.

Content Description

Letter from Camp Lee, Virginia discussing basic training in the Army in preparation for war. Thomas, who signs his letter, Roy, laments that he is being held back in the United States as surplus troops in support of others heading over seas. Gibbons writes January 20, 1943 on his letter, but the envelope is postmarked 1944. The later year is most likely the accurate dating of this correspondence.

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Letter about life in the army and a minor operation with a difficult healing process.