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

This collection consists of letters that Stanley Socha, a native of Oneida County, New York, exchanged with his wife Sophia while serving in the United States Army during World War II. He discussed his experiences during training at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, and during his deployment in the Philippines and Japan. Stanley Socha also received letters from family and friends.

This collection (3.25 linear feet) consists of letters that Stanley Socha, a native of Oneida County, New York, exchanged with his wife Sophia while serving in the United States Army during World War II. He discussed his experiences during training at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, and during his deployment in the Philippines and Japan.

The Stanley and Sophia Socha Correspondence comprises the vast bulk of the collection. The Sochas wrote over 700 letters to each other from October 1943-January 1946, most of which are Stanley's almost-daily letters to Sophia from Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, and from the Pacific Theater. At Camp Claiborne, Socha discussed military life and his training regimen, which included running obstacle courses and learning to tie different knots. In the spring of 1944, he described his experiences on a navy vessel while traveling to the Pacific, and he commented regularly on his health, surroundings, meals, and everyday life while serving overseas. Among other topics, he mentioned soldiers' interactions with Filipino women and shared his impressions of social class differences. Though he focused on his personal life and his feelings for Sophia, Socha occasionally commented on current events and war news. After V-J Day, he wrote from Tacloban, Philippines, and Tokorozawa, Japan, anticipating his return to the United States. He composed some letters on stationery bearing the logos of Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, and the United States Army.

Sophia Socha's letters to her husband are interspersed throughout the collection, becoming more frequent after his deployment to the Pacific. She commented on her life in Utica and provided news of her husband's parents and siblings, who lived in Oriskany Falls, New York. She occasionally enclosed newspaper clippings with her correspondence. The Sochas' letters from September and October 1944 concern the recent death of Stanley's mother.

The Letters to Stanley Socha series contains 54 items. Stanley's siblings, parents, and acquaintances wrote to him about life in New York, life in the United States military, and other topics. One letter from his mother is in Polish (July [11], 1944). The series includes Easter and birthday cards and V-mail.

This collection is made up of 56 letters that members of the United States Army, United States Navy, and United States Coast Guard wrote to Shirley Kunz of Chicago, Illinois, during World War II.

This collection is made up of 56 letters that members of the United States Army, United States Navy, and United States Coast Guard wrote to Shirley Kunz of Chicago, Illinois, during World War II.

Kunz's early correspondents included Frank S. Kunz, Jr., who discussed his service in the United States Coast Guard at the Manhattan Beach Training Station in Brooklyn, New York, and near New Smyrna Beach, Florida; and Jos. L. Bussa, who trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in llinois. Frank Kunz later wrote from New Guinea and the Philippines, where he commented on postwar destruction. Henry A. Petru ("Hank") of the United States Army's 335th Infantry Regiment wrote to Kunz after 1943; he reminisced about an outing with Kunz and her friend Dolores, mentioned his involvement in engineering school and his glider training, and commented on his combat experiences in France and Germany, where he was wounded in late 1944. Some of Petru's letters enclose drafts of Kunz's responses. Richard C. Hoover ("Dick") wrote to Kunz from 1944-1946, discussing his attempts to earn a rating, his enjoyment of football and bowling, and his family's health. He provided updates about his mother's medical treatments, and shared news of her death in February 1946.

Kunz's other correspondents included Russel E. Sorensen and Harvey J. Hopsicker, who both served in the United States Navy's medical corps at San Diego, California; and William B. Vogel, a mutual friend of Hank Petru. She also received letters from Ray Warczynski, who served onboard the SS City of Grand Rapids, and from a correspondent, "Le Roy," who commented on his high school schedule in McHenry, Illinois. Some letters are written on stationery depicting the logos of United States military bases; other letterheads show Jesus Christ, a cartoon sailor with radio equipment, and the SS City of Grand Rapids. Shirley Kunz drew a picture of a foot in her letter to Hank Petru of July 26, 1943.

This collection is made up of letters that Phyllis Okoniewski of Buffalo, New York, wrote and received during World War II. She corresponded with servicemen in multiple branches of the United States Armed Forces during the early years of the war, and wrote over 150 letters to her future husband, Richard J. Szymczak, from September 1943-May 1945.

This collection is made up of approximately 200 letters that Phyllis Okoniewski of Buffalo, New York, wrote and received during World War II, 4 manuscript writings, and 6 newspaper clippings..

The Correspondence series consists of Phyllis Okoniewski's incoming and outgoing letters. From February 1941-August 1943, Okoniewski received over 40 letters from members of the United States Army, United States Army Air Forces, and United States Navy. They wrote about aspects of military life at bases such as Camp McClellan, Alabama; Camp Croft, South Carolina; Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida; Camp Pickett, Virginia; Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina; Sampson Naval Training Station, New Jersey; Camp Gordon, Georgia; and South Kelly Field, Texas. The servicemen discussed their classes, possible assignments, daily routine, and leisure activities. Okoniewski occasionally composed drafts of letters to these soldiers, in which she discussed her life in Buffalo, New York. The bulk of the series (over 150 items) is comprised of Okoniewski's letters to her future husband, Richard Szymczak, between September 1943 and May 1945. She commented on news from home, activities with members of the Okoniewski and Szymczak families, her senior prom, and her love for Szymczak.

The Writings series (4 items) contains 2 drafts of an explicit poem about Adam and Eve, a recipe for "love cake," a parody of Longfellow's poem "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere," and a typed joke about married women.

Five of the six Newspaper clippings relate to the Buffalo Bisons hockey team during the war. One of these lists war casualties from western New York on the reverse side. The sixth clipping is an image of members of the 95th Signal Company, 3rd Division, United States Army, surrounding a cow.

This collection contains around 150 incoming letters that Miriam Kline of New York City received from men serving in the United States Armed Forces throughout World War II. They described their experiences and exercises at army training camps and other military bases within the United States.

This collection contains around 150 incoming letters that Miriam Kline of New York City received from men serving in the United States Armed Forces throughout World War II. They described their experiences and exercises at army training camps and other military bases within the United States. She also wrote 2 letters and sent 2 Christmas cards to soldiers.

Sergeant Walter C. Jessel and Private David W. Hoefer wrote most of the earlier letters between July 1941 and June 1942. Jessel, a friend, shared his experiences in the army both before and shortly after the Pearl Harbor attacks, and Hoefer often wrote Miriam about his life in the army and about his affection for her, though he wrote less frequently after she declined his romantic advances in mid-June 1942. Throughout the war, Kline continued to receive letters from Jessel, Hoefer, and 14 other servicemen, primarily from bases in the United States. They described many aspects of everyday life in the army, army air forces, and coast guard.

Enclosures include 3 photographs of Walter C. Jessel in uniform, newspaper clippings, and humorous cartoons. Jessel drew a picture of his transport train in his letter postmarked October 13, 1941. Later items include letters that Miriam wrote to Jessel and to Lieutenant R. H. Davis in 1945, as well as Christmas cards she sent to Davis and to Allan Isakson.

This scrapbook contains correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, and ephemera related to the soldiers' canteen that Katharine G. Prest hosted at her home in Lancaster, Massachusetts, between June 1941 and August 1945.

This scrapbook contains around 120 pages of correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, and ephemera related to the soldiers' canteen that Katharine G. Prest hosted at her home in Lancaster, Massachusetts, between June 1941 and August 1945.

Soldiers stationed throughout the United States and in both major theaters of war frequently wrote to Prest, expressing their gratitude for her hospitality and sometimes reporting on their experiences after leaving Massachusetts; soldiers' wives and mothers occasionally thanked Prest as well. Emily J. Nichols, who worked for the American Red Cross at Fort Devens, corresponded with Prest about upcoming events for wounded men. The servicemen sent manuscript letters, V-mail letters, postcards, and Christmas cards. Many of the postcards include cartoons and other illustrations, most frequently regarding military life. Snapshots and formal portraits show groups of young men and women relaxing at the Prests' home, often near the pool, and soldiers in uniform at various locations.

Prest collected newspaper clippings about her wartime activities and about the war, particularly related to soldiers' experiences in the European Theater. Some clippings include photographs of Prest. The scrapbook contains a small number of printed programs, song lyrics, insignia patches, and a pin from the 101st Cavalry Regiment. One page consists of several soldiers' drawings, including a caricature of Adolf Hitler with target values printed on various parts of his body. A colored illustration commemorating the 101st Cavalry Regiment and several portraits of unidentified individuals are drawn directly into the volume. Later items include awards and certificates of thanks that Prest received from various organizations (undated, WWII era), an award celebrating her commitment to fighting cancer (1951), and a birth announcement (written on a photograph) (January 25, 1954).

Two items pre-date United States involvement in the war: a 1930 group photograph of the "Lawyer's Club" (including William M. Preston), and a 1940 book entitled Yuletide in Many Lands.

This collection contains 6 letters that Private Harold Young wrote to Faye McIntyre, a friend, while serving with the United States Army during World War II. He first worked as a Quartermaster Corps driver based at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, and then transferred to Camp Butner, North Carolina, where he trained with the Signal Corps. Young discussed his opinions on the army, his changing military ambitions, and his desire to return to Oregon after the war.

This collection contains 6 letters that Private Harold Young wrote to Faye McIntyre of Elgin, Oregon, while serving with the United States Army at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, and Camp Butner, North Carolina, during World War II.

Initially, Young expressed surprise that she had found his address and initiated communication, though later letters indicate that Young knew McIntyre's parents and had many acquaintances in common with her. He first responded to a letter on August 28, 1942, and confirmed that he was a member of a noncombatant unit, though he had the opportunity to volunteer for a dangerous active service unit; he later wrote that he was "looking to die at a young age" by participating in overseas service (September 5, 1942). These first two letters urge McIntyre to follow her impulse to come east to visit him and allude to a liaison the couple enjoyed in San Francisco. In 1943, Young reported that he had married another woman, though he declared that his "heart belong[ed] in Oregon" (June 3, 1943).

After volunteering for the Signal Corps, Young wrote four letters from Camp Butner, North Carolina, detailing the unit's training as an amphibious invasion force (June 3 and June 25, 1943). Additionally, he expressed his distaste for the hot weather and inadequate social activities, his increasing disenchantment with his military placement, and his hope of returning to the West Coast (July 19 and August 21, 1943). Two of his letters bear graphic letterheads from Camp Butner, depicting soldiers in action.

This collection contains World War II-era correspondence between Garrison ("Garry") and Jane Dover of Queens, New York, as well as letters that Garrison Dover received from other family members. Jane told Garrison, an army private, about her social activities, her work, and life on the home front; he wrote about his affection for her and his uncertainty about overseas deployment while stationed at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland and at Camp Beale, California.

This collection (96 items) contains World War II-era correspondence between Garrison ("Garry") and Jane Dover of Queens, New York, as well as letters that Garrison Dover received from other family members.

Jane Dover wrote the majority of the letters, describing her life and social activities on the home front and commenting on her work for a temp agency, finances, and, on one occasion, the effect of the Victory Tax on her paycheck (October 29, 1943); she frequently sent money to her husband. Her letters also reflect Garrison's updates about his training at the Aberdeen Proving Ground from October 1943-March 1944.

Between March 17, 1944, and April 10, 1944, Garrison Dover wrote 12 letters to his wife from Camp Beale, California, where he anticipated being sent overseas. He described his travels to Sacramento on weekend passes and various aspects of camp life. On May 23, 1944, his wife reported that a Ouija game had predicted his return home on April 2, 1945, and she sent him a birthday card in late August. Her letter of September 14, 1944, mentions a hurricane threatening Atlantic City, New Jersey. Jane also wrote about the 1944 presidential election, including her growing distaste for Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt (September 26, 1944) and a literacy test she underwent as a first-time voter (October 12, 1944). Her final letter to Garrison is dated February 7, 1945, during his recovery at Mason General Hospital in Brentwood, Long Island. The collection also contains a card that Jane wrote to her husband in June 1945, while he lived and worked in Utica, New York, and letters that Garrison Dover received from family members.

This collection contains 8 letters that Private Everleigh B. Ehrmann, Jr., wrote to his parents in Lackawanna, New York, while training with the United States Army during World War II. He described army training exercises for diffusing German bombs, preparations for combat in the Pacific theater, his health problems, and other aspects of military life. Four of his letters include illustrations.

This collection contains 8 letters that Private Everleigh B. Ehrmann, Jr., wrote to his parents in Lackawanna, New York, while training with the United States Army during the Second World War. He described the Army's training exercises for diffusing German bombs, preparations for combat in the Pacific theater, his health problems, and other aspects of military life. Four of his letters include illustrations.

Ehrmann first wrote while participating in the Army Specialized Training Program at Providence College, where he anticipated his examinations and explained a geometry problem he had encountered in one of his courses, illustrated with 3 graphs ([December 31, 1943]). His next 5 letters pertain to his training with Company I of the 328th Infantry Regiment at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, between April and May 1944, initially complicated by a recurring medical problem with his leg. Though Ehrmann received frequent treatments for his ailment, he participated in the unit's training exercises, including rifle range evaluations and mock battle scenarios. In addition to providing details about his daily routine, such as cleaning his rifle and hiking, he also described infiltration exercises and his work diffusing mines. In a letter postmarked May 29, he illustrated these exercises with a sketch of a soldier diffusing explosives and a diagram of a German mine.

After transferring to Camp Shelby, Mississippi, and joining the 82nd Portable Surgical Hospital, Ehrmann mentioned a lecture by a "Lieutenant Lipkoff," who had served overseas with a similar unit, and drew a map of the area in which Lipkoff had served in New Guinea [June 22, 1944]. In his final 2 letters, he anticipated traveling to the Pacific Theater, an inference he had drawn after studying tropical diseases and learning concealment in southern swamps. He also expressed his belief that he might soon earn a corporal's rating, and drew a picture of his Army-issued machete [June 25, 1944].

This collection contains roughly 400 letters that Corporal Edwin Stetson Holland wrote to Jane C. Anderson, his fiancée, during his service with the United States Army Air Forces 43rd Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion during World War II. Holland reported on his experiences while training from June 1943 to November 1944 at Fort Devens, Massachusetts; Camp Davis, North Carolina; and Camp Stewart, Georgia. He also wrote from the Hawaiian Islands, the Ryukyu Islands, and Okinawa between November 1944 and November 1945. In addition to responding to news from his home in Worcester, Massachusetts, and to sharing his love for Jane, Holland discussed his health, fellow soldiers, training exercises, and the scenery.

This collection contains roughly 400 letters that Corporal Edwin Stetson Holland wrote to Jane C. Anderson, his fiancée, during his service with the United States Army Air Forces 43rd Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion during World War II. Holland reported on his experiences while training from June 1943 to November 1944, at Fort Devens, Massachusetts; Camp Davis, North Carolina; and Camp Stewart, Georgia. He also wrote from the Hawaiian Islands, the Ryukyu Islands, and Okinawa between November 1944 and November 1945. In addition to responding to news from his home in Worcester, Massachusetts, and to sharing his love for Jane, Holland discussed his health, fellow soldiers, training exercises, and the scenery.

The Correspondence series is comprised of Holland's letters to Anderson throughout his military service. His first letters from Fort Devens, Massachusetts, concern his stay in the camp hospital in June 1943, after he contracted the chicken pox. He transferred to Camp Davis, North Carolina, later that month, and regularly wrote to Anderson throughout his time in training. He discussed many aspects of military life, such as the scenery and climate, training exercises and hikes, duties around the camp, and his fellow soldiers. He frequently wrote of his love for Jane and reminisced about their times together. After transferring to Westhampton Beach, Long Island, around February 1944, he attended automotive classes. He spent most of April-November 1944 at Camp Stewart, Georgia, where his training included bivouacs and hikes.

Holland often wrote while traveling, and described his accommodations and the passing scenery. His itineraries included stops at Chicago, Illinois, and Cheyenne, Wyoming, in late 1944. He spent a few weeks at a camp in the west before arriving in Oahu in November 1944. He frequently commented on Hawaiian scenery, the local people, and visits to Honolulu. Between July 1945 and October 1945, he wrote from the Ryukyu Islands and Okinawa, Japan, where he served in the final days of the war. He remarked broadly on his military experiences and described the life of American soldiers stationed in the Pacific theater. On one occasion, he reported in depth on the effects of a recent typhoon (October 11, 1945). After mid-August, he shared his feelings about the end of the war, and his expectation of a discharge. He arrived in California in early November, and by November 28, 1845, had returned to Barre, Massachusetts.

• Camp Davis, North Carolina, including images of soldiers with antiaircraft guns
• Camp Stewart, Georgia, including images of soldiers, the camp's buildings, and antiaircraft guns
• Fort Devens, Massachusetts
• Kilauea Military Camp, Hawaii
• United Service Organizations (USO)
• United States Army Air Corps
• United States Red Cross

The Ephemera series has 6 items: 2 change-of-address notices that Holland sent Jane during the war; a bank form inquiring about the respondent's postwar financial plans; a printed program for a religious service held onboard the Sea Bass on October 21, 1945, during Edwin S. Holland's return from the Pacific; and covers once used to house groups of Holland's letters. The correspondence series includes 1 printed program for a religious service held at Camp Davis, enclosed in Holland's letter of December 19, 1943.

This collection is made up of letters that brothers Edward K. Burdette, Jr. ("Ken"), and Huddleston York Burdette ("York") wrote to their parents during their service in the United States military during World War II. Ken served in the army and York served in the coast guard. Each wrote primarily about their everyday experiences and upcoming assignments.

This collection is made up of letters that brothers Edward K. Burdette, Jr. ("Ken"), and Huddleston York Burdette ("York") wrote to their parents during their service in the United States military during World War II. Ken served in the army and York served in the coast guard. Each wrote primarily about their everyday experiences and upcoming assignments.

Ken Burdette wrote the first 5 letters ([June 2, 1942]-August 2, 1943), often commenting on his various instructional assignments and personal news. In his first letter, he asked his father for an opinion on his girlfriend Mary, whom he later married. After his wedding, he occasionally referred to domestic affairs, such as the couple's search for housing near Washington, D.C., and the high cost of living there (September 11, 1942). He also mentioned Mary's sightseeing in New York City (August 2, 1943). In one later letter, which encloses a memorandum with a religious joke, he discussed an upcoming cross-country train trip from San Francisco to Augusta, Georgia (January 25, 1945).

York Burdette wrote 7 letters to his parents from [September 13, 1945]-[October 29, 1945], primarily about life in the coast guard, his friends, and finances. He trained at the United States Coast Guard Training Station in St. Augustine, Florida, and served near New Orleans, Louisiana, and Pensacola, Florida. While in Louisiana, he often took leave in New Orleans, though he found it difficult to enjoy the city on a limited budget ([November 13, 1943]). In his final letter, he wrote of the various ships in port for the Navy Day celebrations.