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

This collection is made up of 48 letters that Samuel Rhea Tunnell wrote to his family while serving in the United States Navy during World War II. Tunnell discussed his training, his experiences in Hawaii, and family news.

This collection is made up of 48 letters that Samuel Rhea Tunnell wrote to his family while serving in the United States Navy during World War II. He addressed his letters to Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Thomasson of Monterey, California, and Lakeview, Oregon, whom he referred to as his parents. He often referred to his sister, Mary Tunnell, and to a man named "Rod," and he enclosed a note for Mary in his letter of June 4, 1942. Many of his letters are written on stationery with Hawaiian imagery such as scenery, hula dancers, and the territorial seal.

The first 3 letters pertain to Tunnell's experiences at the United States Naval Training Center in San Diego, California, from December 1941-January 1942, including his daily routine and fights between sailors in the barracks. After mid-January 1942, he wrote from the Keosanqua, a tugboat stationed in Hawaii. He occasionally discussed soldiers' relationships with Hawaiian women, mentioned his own shyness toward women, and reported that he enjoyed bowling in his spare time. One letter encloses a photograph of a soldier ("Raymond [Nielson], 'Wildcat'") with a Hawaiian woman (February 26, 1943). Tunnell most frequently commented on family affairs, such as the Thomassons' financial difficulties and their move to Oregon during the war. On April 24, 1943, he sent his mother a pre-printed card with a colored picture of flowers.

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.

The Brunger papers consist primarily of letters from United States Navy Seaman Francis D. Brunger to Alice Louise Harrington, his girlfriend and eventual wife, during Brunger's service in the Pacific Theater of the Second World War. He wrote of his life at sea and responded to news from home about his wife and his son, Francis David Brunger, Jr., who was born in December 1944. Additional material includes a photograph, documents, printed material, and ephemera.

The Brunger papers consist primarily of correspondence written by United States Navy Seaman Francis D. Brunger to Alice Louise Harrington, his girlfriend and eventual wife, during his service in the Pacific Theater of the Second World War.

Of the 294 letters in the Correspondence series, Brunger wrote 246 to Alice, whom he called "Bone." The letters trace the couple's relationship from their early courtship through their engagement, marriage, and birth of their first son ("Stinky"). Francis often wrote of his desire to return to his family. In his earlier letters, he discussed his intention to join the navy following the bombing of Pearl Harbor and Alice's budding nursing career. He wrote of different aspects of military life throughout the remainder of his naval career, including daily life onboard the Farenholt and the Rooks, and his training in Shoemaker, California. During the spring and summer of 1945, he shared his anticipation for the end of the war, and by late August he believed he would soon receive a discharge. Though he seldom reported military engagements, his friend Joe wrote Alice about some of the Farenholt's military actions near Guadalcanal (March 30, 1944). Other acquaintances wrote to Alice about their experiences in the army. The collection also has a group of letters addressed to Charles Brunger, Francis's brother, who served at the United States Naval Training Center in Sampson, New York.

The Photograph shows a newborn child.

The Documents series contains an insurance policy for Alice Brunger from the St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company (November 5, 1944).

Printed Material includes a newspaper clipping reporting the birth of Francis D. Brunger, Jr. [December 1944], a clipping relating draft results from Oswego County, New York (undated), and the March 1943 edition of The Colby Alumnus.

The Ephemera series (19 items) contains birthday and other greeting cards from Francis D. Brunger to his wife and son, instructions for making baby formula, a menu for a Christmas dinner held at the United States Navy Receiving Station in Shoemaker, California [December 25, 1944], a "Safety First for Your Baby" pamphlet, a birthday poem and drawing on V-mail stationery, two short poems, two printed programs for religious services, three key tags, and a newspaper clipping featuring four color "Blondie" comics.

This collection is made up of 27 letters that Leroy Stecker wrote to his family while serving in the United States Navy during World War II. Stecker, a seaman first class, was based at Norfolk, Virginia, and served onboard the Oceanographer in the Pacific Theater.

This collection is made up of 27 letters that Leroy Stecker wrote to his family while serving in the United States Navy during World War II. Stecker, a seaman first class, was based at Norfolk, Virginia, and served onboard the Oceanographer in the Pacific Theater. Stecker addressed his letters to his mother and stepfather in Torrance, California, and to a woman named Joan who lived with them, from July 12, 1942, to September 8, 1943. He was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, until late August, when he joined the crew of the Oceanographer, which served in the Aleutian Islands, Hawaii, and the South Pacific during the war. Stecker wrote primarily about his everyday life and discussed his meals, hobbies, and acquaintances. In Norfolk, he met a woman whose husband had gone to war, and he later discussed a relationship with a married woman, reporting her intention of getting a divorce. Stecker frequently responded to news of acquaintances from home and on one occasion offered advice for a man named "Bus," who considered joining the navy. A pencil drawing of a man in profile is enclosed in Stecker's letter of February 2, 1943.

This collection is primarily made up of letters that Pharmacist's Mate Norman C. Stewart wrote to his girlfriend and later wife, Dorothy Seltzer of Norristown, Pennsylvania, about his experiences in the United States Navy during World War II. Stewart served at the United States Naval Hospital in Newport, Rhode Island; in Oakland, California; and in the Pacific Theater.

This collection is made up of 56 letters that Pharmacist's Mate Norman C. Stewart wrote to his girlfriend and later wife, Dorothy Seltzer of Norristown, Pennsylvania, about his experiences in the United States Navy during World War II. Stewart served at the United States Naval Hospital in Newport, Rhode Island; in Oakland, California; and in the Pacific Theater. One letter by Norman's mother Katie and two school essays by Norman's brother Mervin complete the collection.

Stewart's correspondence concerns his navy service in Rhode Island, California, and the Pacific Theater from April 12, 1942-October 27, 1945. Only 1 letter from 1944 is present. Stewart discussed his work in a hospital laboratory while at Newport, and training maneuvers while at Alameda, California.

From February 1945-October 1945, Stewart commented on his travels in the Pacific, such as visits to Hawaii and Guam. His leisure activities included reading, attending football games, and seeing movies. Stewart's later letters concern the discharge process and his anticipated return to civilian life. Throughout his military service, he wrote of his love for Dorothy.

Mervin Stewart, Norman's brother, wrote 2 school essays in September 1943: "Verbal vs. Chemical Poison," about Axis propaganda, and "Country versus City Life." Stewart's teacher made brief remarks on each essay with a red pencil.

This collection is made up of the World War II-era correspondence of Norma Greiner, her husband William R. Kent, and the Greiner family. The papers include letters that Norma Greiner wrote to her family while serving as a United States Navy nurse in San Francisco, California, in 1943; letters that William R. Kent wrote to his wife Norma while serving onboard the USS Cape Esperance in the South Pacific from August 1944-November 1944; letters that the Greiner family received from various servicemen during the war; and letters that Norma Greiner Kent received from her mother- and sister-in-law.

This collection (79 items) contains the World War II-era correspondence of Norma Greiner of La Grande, Oregon; her husband, William R. Kent; and the Greiner family. One receipt pertains to a small payment from Mrs. R. C. Greiner to C. E. Branner (July 9, 1942).

Norma Greiner wrote 38 letters to her parents while working as a United States Navy nurse at Treasure Island, San Francisco, California, in 1943. She described her experiences treating wounded servicemen and sometimes provided details about specific patients. In one letter, she discussed a set of photographs shown to her by an officer returning from Guadalcanal (February 13, 1943, mailed with letter dated February 11, 1943), and in another, she described her wedding (August 3, 1943). Some letters refer to Greiner's dating life and several from late July and early August concern her marriage to William R. Kent. Her final letter, dated February 19, 1945, pertains to life in San Diego, California. Three of her letters have enclosures: a newspaper clipping about nurses (March 15, 1943), 4 snapshots of natives in an unidentified location (May 27, 1943), and bicycle licenses for Norma Grider [sic] and Wanda Tucker (June 4, 1942). One item is an illustrated printed form letter 2'8" long, including grains of sand glued to one page, that Norma sent to her brother Lawrence (March 27, 1943).

William R. Kent sent 26 letters to his wife Norma Greiner Kent while serving on the USS Cape Esperance in the South Pacific from August 1944-November 1944; these letters form part of a much larger series (not present). Kent discussed navy life, anticipated the birth of their first child, and counted down the days remaining in his enlistment. While stationed on an unidentified island, he described his health difficulties, including a sprained ankle and a diminished appetite, and responded to Norma's news of her hospital work and pregnancy. He mentioned his initiation as a "shell back" after crossing the Equator and encloses a humorous mock subpoena for a related ceremony (August 14-15, 1944). On October 19, 1944, Kent reflected on the death of a friend named Hallowell, enclosing his obituary. Other enclosures include letters and V-mail from the Kent family (September 20, 1944; September 29, 1944; and October 15, 1944); 3 snapshot photographs of an unidentified man with a dog and horse (September 14, 1944); a notice that his subscription to Parents' Magazine would soon expire (September 14, 1944); a cartoon (October 16, 1944); and a list of recommended Bible verses (November 19, 1944). Norma also received letters from her sister-in-law, "Jay" Kent, and from her mother-in-law, Helen Kent.

In addition to Norma's letters, the Greiner family received correspondence from William R. Kent (1 item, March 22, 1945) and other servicemen. Private Dale Greiner, a relative, wrote about his experiences while training with the United States Air Forces in Miami Beach, Florida, and Gulfport, Mississippi; David G. Weathers wrote twice of his love for Norma (April 4, 1943, and July 11, 1943); Norman E. Olson mentioned his participation in naval campaigns near the Philippines on the USS Heywood (February 27, 1945); and Private Chester J. Hoab discussed tank training at Fort Knox, Kentucky (ca. March 25, 1943). Private Bryce E. Miller wrote his letter of March 4, 1943, on stationery bearing printed images of military aircraft.

This collection is made up of letters that Richard S. Samuels sent to his wife Sonya while serving in the United States Navy during World War II. Samuels wrote almost daily about his experiences at the Farragut Naval Training Station in northern Idaho and the Naval Landing Force Equipment Depot at Albany, California.

This collection contains correspondence and other materials pertaining to the United States Navy service of Richard S. Samuels during World War II.

The Correspondence series comprises the bulk of the collection. Private W. Robert Liphardt, Jr. ("Wally") wrote 4 letters to Richard and "Gussie" Samuels from August 20, 1942-January 13, 1943. Originally from Berwyn, Illinois, he was a member of the 340th Bomb Group, 487th Bomb Squadron, and served at United States Army Air Forces bases in Colorado and South Carolina.

Most items are letters that Richard S. Samuels sent to Sonya and Susan ("Push") Samuels, his wife and baby daughter, from February 3, 1944-November 14, 1945. His earliest letters concern his journey from Los Angeles to northern Idaho, where he trained at Camp Waldron. He regularly composed 2-4-page letters about his love for his family and his experiences at the Farragut naval base, including his attempts to earn an electrician's rating. Samuels listed his equipment and commented on daily activities such as inspections and drill.

After July 1944, he wrote from Albany, California, where he was an electrician for the Naval Landing Force Equipment Depot. Samuels shared anecdotes from his work and mentioned his frequent visits to Berkeley, California, where he often posted his letters. Some letters pertain to his finances and his attempts to rent an apartment near Albany. Samuels and other naval personnel regularly attended movie screenings, and he sometimes offered his opinions of the films. In every letter, Samuels wrote of his love for his wife, and he usually commented on his daughter's health and developmental progress. A Thanksgiving Day menu, decorated with a cartoon of a sailor and a turkey, is enclosed in his letter of November 25, 1944. Samuels often used stationery from the United States Navy, the Farragut Naval Training Station, and the Naval Landing Force Equipment Depot, and most of his letters have sketches of hearts pierced with arrows.

In addition to Samuels's letters, the collection has Documents and Ephemera from the World War II era, such as an unlabeled black patch with a white circle, a vending machine card with a picture of Joan Davis, a booklet about the Farragut Naval Training Station, and ten copies of a portrait of a sailor in his U.S. Navy uniform, one of which has an affectionate personal inscription on the back. Fourteen copies of the Farragut News are dated March 9, 1944-July 20, 1944, and contain news and photographs from the naval installation.

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.

The Renwick family correspondence is made up of the World War II-era letters of John and Violet Renwick of Durhamville, New York, and their sons George and John. The Renwick brothers, who both served in the United States Navy, discussed aspects of their service and their parents and friends shared news from home.

The Renwick family correspondence is made up 90 World War II-era letters of John and Violet Renwick of Durhamville, New York, and their sons George and John, both of whom served in the United States Navy. The collection has three main groups of letters, which overlap chronologically: letters from John E. Renwick to John and Violet Renwick; letters from John and Violet Renwick to George Renwick; and letters to George Renwick from friends in New York.

John Renwick's letters to his parents primarily regard his initial induction into the navy in Albany, New York, his time at the US Naval Training Station in Newport, Rhode Island, and his experiences working in a store at Naval Air Station Pensacola in 1942 and 1943. He wrote infrequently throughout the remainder of the war and into the postwar years, when he described his life in Brookhaven, Mississippi.

John and Violet Renwick's letters to their son George provide news of family and friends in New York. Violet Renwick often commented on her health problems, urged George to remain safe, and expressed her concerns during George's hospitalization for "stomach trouble" in the summer of 1944. George's other correspondents, who were primarily women, wrote about life in Oneida and Rome, New York, during the war. Both the Renwick family and George's friends mentioned news of other military personnel. A letter from "Eleanor" on January 4, 1944, includes a pencil sketch of a sailor, identified as "you," dreaming on a small tropical island, with a ship in the background.

This collection contains letters that Lieutenant Herbert Brigdon Syrett wrote to his mother while serving with the United States Army during World War II, as well as a scrapbook about Syrett's military experiences. Syrett, a member of the 102nd Medical Battalion, described his training in the United States and Hawaii and his experiences in the Pacific Theater.

This collection contains around 580 letters that Lieutenant Herbert Brigdon Syrett ("Brig") wrote to his mother while serving with the United States Army during World War II, as well as a scrapbook (around 60 pages) about his military experiences.

The Correspondence series contains Syrett's letters to his mother from January 6, 1943-December 11, 1945; and 13 letters from Syrett to Howard and Miriam Cusack, January 10, 1944-August 23, 1945. He first described daily life and training exercises at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas. In April 1943, he was transferred to Camp Barkeley, Texas, where he participated in an officers' training program and recorded details about his daily schedule and courses. By August 1943, he had graduated and had joined the 102nd Medical Battalion for training at Camp Grant, Illinois, filling his correspondence with descriptions of the scenery and his travels. In December 1943, Syrett reported his safe arrival in Hawaii and his unit's preparations for campaigns in the jungles of the Pacific Theater. While in Hawaii, Syrett became a member of the Outrigger Canoe Club on Waikiki Beach, and he also wrote about his training, military life, officer duties, and leave periods in Honolulu.

After May 1944, Syrett wrote from Saipan, where he participated in active combat during the Allied invasion. He recounted some of his experiences during the battle, such as living in a foxhole and witnessing bombing raids. After the battle, he commented on native life, the impact of the fighting, and insects. Syrett also reported his increasing religious faith and mentioned his religious activities, particularly after his first experiences in active combat. On December 3, 1944, he wrote about non-United States citizens who had joined the country's military forces. In April 1945, Syrett was transferred to Okinawa, Japan, and he compared the United States Army and United States Navy during his voyage. Throughout the summer of 1945, he anticipated the end of the war and wrote about the power of the atomic bomb, while expressing his hope that the war would end soon. After the Japanese surrender, he served in Okinawa, Muramatsu, and Niigata, Japan, which he described. An avid souvenir hunter, Syrett discussed his acquisitions throughout his military service. He also responded to news from home, provided information about other servicemen with whom he corresponded, and discussed the military's encouragement of V-mail services. An undated photograph of an unidentified soldier is housed at the end of the series.

Syrett occasionally enclosed items such as dried flowers, magazine articles, and newspaper clippings in his letters. In his correspondence with the Cusacks, Syrett occasionally sent snapshot photographs of himself, fellow soldiers, destroyed buildings, and scenery (November 24, 1944, 3 photos; January 25, 1945, 6 photos; March 1, 1945, 7 photos). He often wrote on stationery depicting the logos of the United States Army, United States Navy, Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Camp Barkeley, and Camp Grant, as well as stationery with scenes from Camp Barkeley and Hawaii. In 1945, Syrett sometimes composed letters on paper he took from Japanese soldiers. Some letters are V-mail letters, including pre-printed Easter and Mother's Day greetings.

The Scrapbook (around 60 pages) is comprised primarily of newspaper clippings and ephemera from Syrett's World War II service. The items are arranged roughly chronologically. He also collected newsletters, programs, and tickets during his time in the United States, as well as currency during his time abroad. Official documents such as Syrett's draft cards, military orders, and vaccine records are also present. Newspaper clippings relate to the 27th Army Division, jungle training exercises in Hawaii, the Battle of Saipan, the Battle of Okinawa, and the Pacific Theater. Christmas cards are also pasted into the volume.