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

This collection is made up of 5 diaries that Frederick Lafferty composed while serving with the United States Army during World War II. Lafferty, who worked in a communications unit, described his experiences at Camp Edwards, Massachusetts; Victoria, Australia; New Caledonia; and Guadalcanal.

This collection is made up of 5 diaries that Frederick Lafferty composed while serving with the United States Army during World War II. Lafferty, who worked in a communications unit, described his experiences at Camp Edwards, Massachusetts; Victoria, Australia; New Caledonia; and Guadalcanal. The volumes cover March 24, 1941, and November 17, 1942, with detailed entries for January 20, 1942-August 11, 1942, and October 1, 1942-November 17, 1942.

Lafferty began his first diary with his enlistment and early training in the United States, and started keeping regular entries in late January 1942, after his deployment overseas. In a note to Helen dated August 15, 1942 (pp. 27-29), Lafferty indicated his desire for her to read his diary. He anticipated an upcoming assignment, and shared his belief in military service as a duty to one's country.

Lafferty wrote about his experiences onboard the transport ship Santa Elena while traveling from the United States to Australia via the Panama Canal; his stay in Ballarat and Melbourne, Australia; and his journey to New Caledonia, where he remained for several months. As a member of a communications unit, he often worked in a "message room" and reported rumors of upcoming maneuvers and news of recent battles; his unit worked in cooperation with French radio operators. He heard, and related, stories of Marines who had participated in combat against Japanese forces.

Lafferty's diaries primarily reflect aspects of soldiers' daily lives, such as meals and the poor quality of the food, mail, inspections, leisure activities, and religious habits. A Catholic, he often reported his discussions with priests, attended mass, and prayed the rosary. He also occasionally discussed air raids and training exercises.

Lafferty's final diary almost exclusively concerns his active participation during the Guadalcanal campaign. This diary also has a list of items the soldiers carried (pages 34-35).

Non-textual matter includes a picture of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill posed next to the Statue of Liberty and the flags of the United States and Britain (cover of the 3rd diary). Also, an entry is written on the inside of a Philip Morris cigarette package (laid into the 5th diary).

Two of the diaries contain enclosures:

• Volume 1
  • Printed maps of Ballarat, Australia [ca. 1942]
  • La France Australe, New Caledonia newspaper (August 13, 1942)
• Volume 5
  • Recipe for developing film (undated)
  • United States Army bulletin regarding military information and artillery practices, "Sterling Brand" Grape Juice, and battle precautions (August 9, 1942)
  • Real photograph postcard from Fred to Mrs. Eliza Lafferty, Boston, Massachusetts (September 4, 1906)
  • New Caledonia stamp [ca. 1942]

The collection holds two loose items. The first is a letter from Frederick Lafferty to his sister Helen about his intention to send her his diaries after the conclusion of the war. The other is a printed program for a memorial service held by the Elks of Boston, Lodge No. 10. Frederick Lafferty is recognized in a list of "Deceased Brothers," 1945-1946.

The Roland F. Kerner papers contain correspondence, documents, printed items, and ephemera pertaining to Kerner's service in the United States Marine Corps and Seabees during World War II. He wrote letters to his mother and received letters from his fiancée while he was serving in the Pacific. The additional items concern various aspects of his military service.

The Roland F. Kerner papers are made up of correspondence, documents, printed items, and ephemera pertaining to Kerner's service in the United States Marine Corps and Seabees during World War II. The Correspondence series (256 items), which includes manuscript and typed letters, V-mail, telegrams, and postcards, contains Kerner's incoming and outgoing correspondence with his mother and his fiancée. From November 1942-May 1945, Kerner wrote to his widowed mother about his travels, training schedule, leisure activities, and military duties in the United States and the Pacific Theater. He also commented on her work and encouraged her not to overexert herself. Occasionally, Kerner mentioned developments in the war, such as the D-Day invasions. In a letter of September 7, 1943, he discussed island residents' desire to marry off their daughters to American soldiers, and his letter of April 1, 1945, reports his courtship with and engagement to Louise Stevens. Kerner wrote infrequently after May 1945, when he again went overseas; his later letters concern his travels in the Pacific and, in one case, a conflict with his brother-in-law, Paul Dieter (October 1, 1945).

From May 1945-October 1945, most items are love letters from Louise Stevens to Roland F. Kerner. She wrote about her daily life and social activities in Wheaton, Illinois, and shared her joy after hearing about the end of the war. Her letter of September 29, 1945, is written on illustrated stationery celebrating the Allied victory, and at least two of her letters enclose photographs. Far less frequently, Kerner received letters from his mother and sister, who wrote about housework and family life. Ray [Bilter], another soldier, wrote a letter about his experiences in Germany near the end of the war and shared his negative opinion of Germans after seeing concentration camps (April 29, 1945).

The Documents and Reports series (24 items) is made up of receipts, military records, and other items pertaining to Roland F. Kerner, such as a receipt for work on his car (June 2, 1942), a document about Kerner's approved leave of absence from the navy (May 17, 1945), documents about his eligibility for postwar education benefits (April 23, 1946), and 5 lists of naval personnel. An undated form about Kerner's military service encloses photographs of him in uniform.

The Printed Items series (21 items) mostly contains newspapers and clippings, often about the Pacific Theater of the war. Issues of Yank, the West Chicago Press, and servicemen's informal newsletters are included. Other items are two books with religious devotions and a map of the Pacific Ocean. The Ephemera series (15 items) consists of 4 wage slips, a letter fragment, photographs, 5 photographic postcards of scenes from Melbourne, Australia, and other items.