Emanuel Levy collection, 1941-2007

Summary

Creator:

Levy, Emanuel, 1918-2013

Abstract:

This collection is made up of correspondence, soldiers' newsletters, and other items related to Emanuel Levy's service in the United States Army Signal Corps during World War II and his involvement in veterans' reunions. Levy corresponded with family members and friends in Brooklyn, New York, while serving in in the United States and the Pacific Theater from 1941-1943; he later received updates from fellow veterans. The collection also includes Levy's war reminiscences, and sheet music and manuscripts of Levy's musical comedy, Hey Mister Satan (1942).

Extent:

2 linear feet

Language:

English

Authors:

Collection processed and finding aid created by Meg Hixon, October 2013

Background

Scope and Content:

This collection is made up of correspondence, soldiers' newsletters, and other items related to Emanuel Levy's service in the United States Army Signal Corps during World War II, and to his involvement in veterans' reunions.

The Correspondence series (244 items) contains Emanuel Levy's incoming and outgoing correspondence from January 1941 to June 1943, and a single letter written in September 1945. "Manny" received letters from family members and friends in Brooklyn, New York, who discussed the family news and, less frequently, politics and the war. His correspondents included women named Muriel, Evelyn, Alberta, and Frances. In his letters and postcards, Levy commented on his experiences at Camp Upton, New York; Camp Shelby, Mississippi; Camp Beale, California; Camp Butner, North Carolina; other bases; and in Hawaii and the Pacific Theater, where he was stationed for most of 1942. He described his life on base immediately prior to the Pearl Harbor attack, discussed finances and allotments, and responded to news from his family's letters to him. He occasionally used stationery from the Jewish Welfare Board, USO, and various military installations.

The Military Transmissions and Communications series (8 items) consists of official communications sent during World War II, primarily related to the signal corps and the Pacific Theater. The series includes Irving Strobing's transmission reporting the surrender of Corregidor (May 4, 1942) and a separate order to stop American vessels bound for Corregidor, a communication from Franklin D. Roosevelt to the United States Army forces in the Philippines (beginning "Personal from the President to Lt Gen Wainwright…"), and an undated notice of the German surrender.

The Reunions and Postwar Papers series (94 items) includes materials related to reunions of the 303rd Signal Operation Battalion, the history of the unit, and Emanuel Levy's involvement with veterans' organizations. The 303rd Signal Operation Battalion held reunions from 1947-1993. Items include Emanuel Levy's postwar correspondence with fellow veterans, invitations, address lists, newspaper clippings, and ephemeral materials. Several incoming letters to Levy inform him of fellow veterans' postwar lives and deaths.

The Writings series (8 items) pertains to Emanuel Levy's service in the United States Army Signal Corps during World War II. Three personal reminiscences, written sometime after the war, recount his work for the 101st Signal Operation Battalion and 303rd Signal Operation Battalion in the United States, the Pacific, and Europe during and just after the war, with details about military communications operations, his movements, and specific incidents. One item is a list of the posts where Levy served between April 1941 and September 1945. The series contains an article that Levy submitted to Harper's Magazine in 1957 ("Two Ugly Beasties") and typescripts and manuscript sheet music for Levy's musical, "Hey Mister Satan," written with George H. Johnston and C. W. Erdenbrecher.

The Printed Items series (20 unique items) contains multiple copies of soldiers' newsletters. The Burpee, by the 303rd Signal Operation Battalion, related news of the battalion's activities while at Camp Crowder, Missouri, and in Sunnyvale, California (August 5, 1943-November 18, 1943). The Taylor Maid chronicled events onboard the General Harry Taylor at the close of the war in the Pacific; the series holds a marquee "War Ends" issue (August 15, 1945) and a signed souvenir issue (August 18, 1945). Other items are a copy of The Message, a professional newspaper produced in Camp Crowder, Missouri (September 9, 1943), and a published volume, 303rd Signal Operation Battalion: An Informal Unofficial History, April 17, 1943-February 25, 1946. The publication is a unit history comprised of photographs and essays by several of its members and a unit roster.

Three World War II-era newspaper clippings pertain to Emanuel Levy's promotion to master sergeant, a Women's Army Corps member's visit to her dying soldier son, and the 303rd Signal Operation Battalion's service in Europe, including participation in the Battle of the Bulge.

Biographical / Historical:

Emanuel Levy was born on April 11, 1918, the son of Barnet Levy of Brooklyn, New York. His siblings included Evelyn and Danny. Levy, a draftee, was inducted into the United States Army in January 1941 and trained at Camp Upton, New York, before joining the 101st Signal Operation Battalion at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. He served in Hawaii and the Pacific Theater (December 1941-February 1943); at Camp Beale, California (February 1943-April 1943); and Camp Butner, North Carolina (April 1943-July 1943). In July 1943, he joined the 303rd Signal Operation Battalion, with which he served at Camp Crowder, Missouri (July 1943-October 1943); various bases in California (October 1943-July 1944); Camp Shelby, Mississippi (July 1944-August 1944); and western Europe (August 1944-August 1945). Levy was en route to the Philippine Islands when the war ended, and he received his discharge at Camp Drum, New York, in September 1945. Levy attained the rank of master sergeant during the war and was a member of the 303rd Signal Operation Battalion's reunion committee.

Acquisition Information:

2008, 2012, 2014. M-4709, M-4940, M-5027 .

Processing information:

Cataloging funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). This collection has been processed according to minimal processing procedures and may be revised, expanded, or updated in the future.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in the following series:

• Series I: Correspondence
• Series II: Military Transmissions and Communications
• Series III: Reunions and Postwar Papers
• Series IV: Writings
• Series V: Printed Items

The series are arranged chronologically, with undated items and fragments placed at the end. The Writings series is arranged by subject.

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Related

Additional Descriptive Data:

Related Materials

Emanuel Levy Collection (AFC/2001/001/20267), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:

Jewish soldiers.
Jews--United States.
Musicals.
Reunions.
World War, 1939-1945--Communications.
World War, 1939-1945--Hawaii.
World War, 1939-1945--Peace.
World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American.
World War, 1939-1945--Regimental histories--United States.
World War, 1939-1945--United States.
World War, 1939-1945--Veterans.

Formats:

Clippings (information artifacts)
Ephemera.
Histories.
Invitations.
Letters (correspondence)
Mailing lists.
Newsletters.
Reminiscences.
Scores.
Telegrams.

Names:

General Harry Taylor (Ship)
United States. Army. Signal Operation Battalion, 303rd.
Erdenbrecher, C. W.
Gelb, Ruth.
Johnston, George H.
Levy, Barnet.
Levy, Daniel.
Levy, Evelyn.
Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945.
Strobing, Irving, 1920-1997.

Places:

Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.)
Camp Beale (Calif.)
Camp Butner (N.C.)
Camp Crowder (Mo.)
Camp Shelby (Miss.)
Camp Upton (N.Y.)