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Scrapbooks, Letters,
and V-Mail
The primary source of information used as the foundation for developing
this website came from my father's scrapbooks. These scrapbooks contained
a large number of photographs, post cards, greeting cards, and other
memorabilia that he gathered from the late 1930's through 1945. Although
the scrapbooks deteriorated during the more than 60 years since he first started
putting them together, almost all of the material contained in them
was salvaged and put on this site. However, due to the time elapsed
and Dad's unfortunate choice in archiving techniques, some of the
material may not be of the highest quality.
In addition to the information obtained from Dad's scrapbook, his
sister Mae kept all the letters and V-mail that she received from
my Dad during the war. In these letters Dad revealed his innermost
thoughts, fears, as well as his hopes for the future. Excerpts from
these letters are included.
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In many of the letters
that Dad wrote, he mentioned "Blondie", the girl he met before
going overseas. Blondie later became his wife and mother to his
three sons. Pictured to the right is Mel, otherwise known as "Blondie"
or our Mom.
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BLONDIE
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Since Dad did not talk much to his family about his childhood or what
his life was like during the war, the photographs and other material
contained in his scrapbooks were not that meaningful to his active
young sons. Unfortunately, when Dad did eventually talk to his us
about the war, we were either too young to fully understand or appreciate
the significance of what he described, or we were too busy with school,
sports, or other activities to discuss the major events that occurred
during Dad's early life. Today, these scrapbooks and letters that
were originally perceived to be just a collection of pictures, names,
and other material that Dad collected during the war, have become
a real treasure for me and my brothers.
Print Resources
The Story of a New Ship of War, Robert W. Kirsch, USS LCI (R) 74,
Editor (Landing Craft Infantry)
History of U.S. Naval Operations in World War II, Samuel Eliot Morison,
Volumes I-XV)
D-Day June 6, 1944 - The Climatic Battle of World War II, Stephen
E. Ambrose, Touchstone (1994), Rockefeller Center, 1230 Avenue of
the Americas, NY, NY 10020
World War II - A Visual Encyclopedia, General Editor - John Keegan,
Sterling Publishing Co, Inc (1999), 387 Park Avenue South, NY, NY
10016
The Greatest Generation, Tom Brokaw, Random House Inc. (1998), NY,
NY
Coming of Age in the Great Depression, The Civilian Conservation Corps
Experience in New Mexico, 1933- 1942, Richard Melzer, Yucca Tree Press
(2000), Las Cruces, NM 88005-3305
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