World War II Finding Aids

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MS-003: The Papers of Amos E. Taylor, Gettysburg Class of 1915

Christine M. Ameduri

The Amos E. Taylor Collection is divided into eight Series. I. Biographical Information; II. Military Service; III. University of Pennsylvania; IV. U.S. Department of Commerce; V. Inter-American Economic & Social Council/Pan American Union; VI. American University; VII. Personal Memorabilia, and VIII. Publications. It includes materials covering many decades of his life including his extensive education, his military service in World War I, and his career working for federal agencies, presidents, and economic associations.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website

https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/
MS-024: Papers of the Major General Charles A. Willoughby

Jaclyn Campbell

Major General Charles Andre Willoughby was born as Adolph C. Weidenbach in Heidelberg, Germany, March 8, 1892 to Baron T. von Tscheppe-Weidenbach of Baden, Germany, and Emmy Willoughby of Baltimore, Maryland. He attended several schools in both Germany and France, learning German, French, and Spanish, before moving to the United States to be with relatives in 1910. Willoughby enlisted in the Regular Army and was a private, corporal, and sergeant between 1910 and 1913, when he entered Gettysburg College. While at Gettysburg, he founded the college’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). He graduated in 1914 and received his commission as Major in May of that year. Willoughby later pursued post-graduate studies at the University of Kansas, although he never completed this degree, due to his active duty in World War I.

In August 1916, Willoughby accepted a Regular Army Commission and, while waiting for his appointment, taught at the Howe School in Indiana and Racine College in Wisconsin in the modern language departments.

During his military tenure, Willoughby served the 16th, 35th, 24th, and 65th Regiments of the Infantry and the First Division of American Expeditionary Force, as well as the Air Service in 1918 and 1919. In 1918, he commanded the Aviation Instruction Center at Chatereauroux, France and was the military attaché for United States legislations to Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador from 1923-1927.

He served as General MacArthur’s Chief of Intelligence from 1940-1951 and participated in active duty in Manila during World War II.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-029: Letters Written to People from Biglerville during World War II

Jaclyn Campbell

This collection is comprised of letters to Olive Tipton and Sara Miller.

The letters written to Olive Tipton were exclusively from George Sandoe (1893- 1975), a private serving in the Antiaircraft Division of the Service stationed throughout the United States during the course of these letters. During the course of training, a blood vessel ruptured in Sandoe’s leg, sending him to the hospital, where the latter portion of this series was written. This series is composed mostly of correspondence concerning Tipton’s life in Biglerville during the war and day to day matters such as business advice for Tipton’s turkey farm.

The letters written to Sara Miller were from several men who were friends of Miller. One set of letters was from E. E. Tipton, Miller’s brother. This series is composed mostly of correspondence concerning military training life and Miller’s job.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-030: Letters of Richard Schade (World War II)

Jaclyn Campbell

Richard Schade was born August 9, 1919 and died January 25, 1997. During World War II, he was stationed in Paterson, New Jersey; Fort Totten, NY; and Camp Stewart, GA throughout the course of these letters. Most of them were written to his wife, Betty, in Camden, NJ. Throughout the course of the letters, Schade rises from the rank of Private to Corporal, and finally to Sergeant.

During his enlistment, Betty became pregnant and delivered a girl in the Spring of 1944. She was named Carol. These letters show that Schade was a very devoted husband and father and are primarily love letters to his wife and, later, daughter.

This collection is correspondence from Richard to his wife and additional letters addresses to Richard.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-031: Letters from Chan Coulter to his wife and child, World War II

Jaclyn Campbell

This collection consists primarily of correspondence from Coulter to his family and is broken up into sections based on correspondence by regular mail, correspondence by V-Mail, the 1985 Reunion of the 37th Division.

Family correspondence consists of a series of letters, written by Coulter, to his wife, Mae, and son, Chan Lowell, during his overseas service in the South Pacific from 1942 until his discharge in 1945. The correspondence includes fatherly advice to his son and talk of normal family business matters to his wife, as well as day-to-day happenings of military life during war. Some letters have been censored and cut in places.

There is also a series of V-Mails, written by Coulter, to his wife and son during his overseas service from 1942 until 1945.

The last section consists of papers acquired by Coulter regarding the 40th Anniversary of the 37th Division’s Liberation of Manila. This series includes news clippings, itineraries, and programs of the 37th Division and its 40th reunion in 1985.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-056: World War II German Prisoners of War Collection

Keith R. Swaney

Major Laurence C. Thomas directed the German POW camp on the Emmitsburg Road in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and a camp in Pine Grove Furnace, about fifteen miles north. Members of the intelligence corps apparently confiscated the items written in German from the prisoners of war.

The World War II German POW Collection consists of those confiscated materials from the prisoners. It is composed of two series: I. Materials likely confiscated by the intelligence corps and II. Miscellaneous newspaper clippings.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-067: Robert Bell Bradley Papers

Barbara Schuitt

This collection is composed of Robert Bell Bradley’s memoirs of his experiences as a medic during combat in France during WWII and his subsequent capture and five months’ imprisonment east of Berlin in a prisoner-of-war facility. Included are poems from that time as well as collections of his general poetry selections and philosophical reflections. There are no letters or other memorabilia from his war experiences.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-077: Gladys Kennedy World War II Letters

Tara R. Wink and Andrew D. Royer

This collection of correspondence contains letters from all fronts and from many of Gladys’ “sweethearts.” It appears that she shipped her address out in the parts she made at the Depot and would get responses from some of the soldiers and sailors. Some of the letters are from soldiers and sailors abroad from her hometown of York Springs, Pennsylvania. Collection includes paperwork from a raise received by Kennedy in 1944.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-084: Letters of Gerald Koster, World War II

Krystal M. Thomas

The collection is compromised mainly of letters written by Gerald Koster home to his family in West Toledo, Ohio. The letters follow Koster through training in Great Lakes, Illinois and into combat as well as giving a fairly complete portrait of life on board ship. While Koster’s letters to his parents focus on naval operations and descriptions of military life, those addressed to his younger sister, Phyllis, include more information and queries regarding friends, family, and neighbors on the home front. Koster is very careful about censoring; few of his letters have been edited. As the war continues, he becomes more critical of the Navy and the handling of the war in general. His last letters from Japan are particularly critical and illustrate the frustration Gerald felt after being in the Navy for three years.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-089: Yarnell Collection

Christopher C. Culig

The Yarnell Collection consists of correspondence received by Orpha Yarnell during World War II from both of her sons, Clyde and Glenn. Clyde served with the 493rd Quartermaster Depot, and the letter from overseas, his training at Camp Harahan, and his stay in Camp Stoneman. Glenn served with the 186th Engineer Combat Battalion, originating from Fort Jackson, Camp Forrest, and New Guinea.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-094: Letters of John Duttera, World War II

Kayla Lenkner

This collection consists primarily of correspondence received by Ruth Feiser during World War II from John Duttera, Joseph E. Atland, and others.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-104: World War II Letters from Carl G. Ohmer and Richard E. Ohmer

Kate Boeree

This collection contains 109 letters written by soldiers in World War II. 98 of these are letters are addressed to the Ohmer family in Girard, PA from their sons, Carl and Richard, as well as a friend of the family, Ray O’Connor. 11 of the letters are addressed to Georgia Hitchcock in New York, NY from John V. Starr, as well as one letter signed “Don,” with no other distinguishing factors of his identity. All letters include their original envelope.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-117: Papers of George H. Sweet Jr. ’42

Elizabeth M. Ungemach

This collection gives insight into the pre- and inter-wartime life of George H. Sweet Jr. ’42 as a member and captain of L.S.T. 358 in the Mediterranean. It also provides general information about World War II in the Mediterranean and L.S.T.s. It further gives a glimpse of the experiences of Donald Sweet ’49 as an aircrewman in the Pacific theater, specifically about life and important happenings during the invasion of Okinawa in 1945.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-118: Letters Solicited by Jerold Wikoff for Gettysburg Alumni Magazine

Sierra R. Green

This collection is comprised of letters written by Gettysburg College alumni to Mr. Jerold Wikoff concerning three distinct topics: World War II experiences, dinks, and alumni couple sweetheart stories. The alumni who contributed the letters that comprise this collection wrote in response to Mr. Wikoff‟s various requests within the Gettysburg alumni magazine.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-120: Naviglia-Woncheck World War II Letters Home: A Family Separated by War

G. Ronald Couchman

The collection consists of 31 letters or postcards by service men to loved ones at home. Nearly all of the letters are from members of the Naviglia-Woncheck extended family including the four Naviglia brothers: Louis (14 letters), John (one letter), James (one letter), Joseph (7 letters), and “Check” Woncheck (5 letters) the brother-in-law of their sister Anne. The collection also includes one letter from PFC James Faulkner to his sister and one letter from Pvt. David R. Curry to his cousin, Frances Faulkner, a card address to Ford Peters, a war ration book, a Draft Classification Notice for William Thomas Woncheck, Anne’s husband, and an uniform name badge for Sgt Woncheck.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-123: Robert D. Hanson Papers

Meghan E. Kelly

This collection is mainly comprised of letters and telegrams of the immediate Hanson family during WWII (1942-1946, with gaps), though there is a selection of letters to members of the family from other authors and a small group of letters written from 1904-1924 to Elizabeth and Henry Hanson from Elizabeth’s parents F. V. N. (Franklin Verzelius Newton) and L. T. ( Laura Trimble) Painter. In the sub-series of other letters addressed to Robert Hanson there are several letters pertaining to Robert’s admission to law school, the bar, and the army in addition to personal correspondence.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-126: Anita Faller Alford Collection

Devin McKinney

This collection contains photographs, a scrapbook, newspapers, maps, military records, and more focused on Anita Faller Alford's military service as a nurse during World War II.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-142: World War II Correspondence of Clarence and Helen Haldeman

Devin McKinney

The bulk of the letters in the collection were written by Clarence and Helen Haldeman between 1943 and 1946, while Clarence was being trained at various bases by the Army Air Corps, and later serving in a bomber squadron in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-157: Donald Brett Collection of Eisenhower Memorabilia

Katy Rettig

The collection consists of items relevant to all aspects of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s life and career. Most prevalent are Ike’s years as president with numerous artifacts from his 1952 and 1956 presidential campaigns as well as commemorative pieces. These artifacts include a significant collection of campaign buttons, jewelry, and postcards along with other miscellaneous campaign artifacts. There is also a series of photographs mostly relating to his Army career in World War II with others from his two terms as president. Of particular interest are the 1915 and 1945 Howitzers, the United States Military Academy at West Point’s yearbook and the tropical worsted wool summer uniform coat of Brigadier General Robert Ludwig Schulz, Eisenhower’s military aide who continued to work with the retired general and president until Ike’s death in 1969. Also included is a small box of Donald Brett’s personal papers that reflect his own research interests.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-164: Assorted Documents from the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA)

Anna M. Baldasarre

This is an artificial collection consisting of various documents, letters, and booklets. It also includes textiles (UNRRA and IRO uniform badges) and a printed photo album (of Dachau concentration camp). These items offer a broad yet fleeting glance at the entire operation of UNRRA, ranging from upper-level administration (largely American, Canadian, or British) to displaced persons in Europe.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-169: Albert Chance World War II Collection

Melanie L. Fernandes

This collection contains personal documents, correspondence, photographs, and items from Albert Chance during the time he served in WWII. His correspondence and photographic materials dominate the collection. While Chance’s materials give a thorough description of his personal experience during the war in the European Theater and North African Campaign, they also provide perspective into the mind of the common soldier during this time. Through his letters Chance expressed his feelings of commitment to the war effort, his opinions about the sites and people he saw while he was away, and what he did during his leisure time.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-171: Corporal Luther Jacob “Jake” Thomas Papers

Margaret J. Meyers and Jenna E. Fleming

This collection consists of letters, photographs, documents, and artifacts relating to Luther J. “Jake” Thomas’s military service during the Second World War. The majority of the collection features correspondence between Thomas and his family, particularly his mother Anna Thomas, between 1943 and 1945. While serving as an MP in the Army Air Corps, Thomas regularly mailed letters and photographs home detailing his training, travels, and experiences as a soldier. The collection also includes Thomas’s military documentation (for example, induction and separation papers), training materials, wartime souvenirs and artefacts, and post-war awards and honors. The collection includes documents related to Thomas’s veteran status following his discharge in late 1945, as well as his subsequent enrollment in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. Finally, the collection contains general information about the Thomas family, including photographs, obituaries, and documents concerning Luther C. Thomas (Thomas’s father)’s military service in World War I.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-173: Leo Jarboe Papers

Abby M. Rolland

This collection consists of many, diverse documents, in both English and Japanese, about the USS Callaghan (DD-792) and other ships, newspaper articles, letters, recollections, and other personal items from Kaoru Hasegawa and Leo Jarboe, reunion and exchange program information, material about the second USS Callaghan (DDG-994), images, and veterans information.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-177: Lillian Quinn Letter Collection

Avery N. Fox

The collection consists primarily of letters written from Lillian Quinn to Lillian Carling. The letters span from January 27, 1937 to August 8, 1949 and focus on family health, activities, and troubles of the Quinn family, as well as their opinions about World War II and how it impacts the family.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.
MS-178: David Woods ’52 Papers

Kathryn Shirey

The David Woods Collections consists primarily of letters Woods wrote during his time serving in the Army, stationed in the Philippines. The letters are from August 1, 1946 to September 10, 1947. He was a consistent writer and sent letters home usually at least once a week. A concerned man, he frequently apologizes to his parents, and for not writing more often. All of the letters, except one, are addressed to his family, including his mother, Margaret McGaughy Woods, his father, David Walker Woods II and his little brother, William A. Woods. He liked to take photos and send them home, and he mentions a few times how thankful he is for the camera his father sent him. The collection does not include any letters that he received back from his family or friends.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.