Collections : [University of Michigan William L. Clements Library]

This collection is made up of letters that Charles Valek wrote to Violet Goodman of Cleveland, Ohio, while serving in the United States Merchant Marine in 1919. He wrote about his leisure activities while stationed on the USS Meade in Boston Harbor and about his later assignment in Newport News, Virginia.

This collection is made up of 5 letters that Charles Valek wrote to Violet Goodman of Cleveland, Ohio, while serving in the United States Marine Corps between June and September 1919. His first 3 letters pertain to his service on the USS Meade in Boston Harbor in June and July. He explained his decision to join the merchant marines after finding it difficult to find work in Cleveland, discussed the difficulty of making friends despite meeting many different people, and commented on his leisure activities, such as attending "nudie picture shows" and a circus. Valek also stated his desire to travel to different countries. In August and September 1919, he wrote from Newport News, Virginia, eagerly anticipating his departure for a trip to Germany, though his ship remained in dry dock in early September.