Record Group 41

Jack Wilcox WWII Collection

 

Box 1, Shelf 31

Entry 1: Newspapers

Daily Pacifican - Army Newspaper - In the Western Pacific

            Saturday, March 16, 1946

Ford Facts - The Road to Security

            Monday, December 30, 1940

            Wednesday, December 8, 1941

            Wednesday, February 5, 1941

            Wednesday, March 19, 1941

            Saturday, June 21, 1941

Navy News - From Guam

            February 17, 1946

Navy News - From Manila

            March 17, 1946

            March 18, 1946

New York World–Telegram

            Thursday, April 12, 1945

Philadelphia Record

            Wednesday, August 15, 1945

The Craftsman

            December 13, 1940

The Detroit Free Press

            Wednesday, May 2, 1945

The Evening Bulletin

            Wednesday, August 8, 1945

The Garden Island

            Tuesday, April 9, 1946

The New York Times

            Sunday, August 12, 1945

The Philadelphia Inquirer

            Saturday, August 11, 1945

            Wednesday, August 15, 1945

The Stars and Stripes

            January 24, 1946

            January 30, 1946

The Typhoon Express

            March 5, 1946

United Automobile Worker

            January 1, 1940

            December 1, 1940

            February 1, 1941

            February 15, 1941

            July 1, 1941

Box 2, Shelf 31

Entry 2: Letters to Jack Wilcox

March 27, 1945 - Postcard from F. Newbery. Note about temperatures in Detroit and Miami.

March 29, 1945 - Postcard from F. Newbery. Note about temperatures in Detroit and Miami.

July 28, 1943 - Note from a friend from Michigan. Talks about how NH is different from MI.

April 12, 1944 from Robert-He returns a check to Jack that was for an Englishman named Lionel.

 

Entry 3: Letters to Mrs. Hugh McLaughlin

April 30, 1945 from Philadelphia, PA-Letter discusses his mother’s upcoming trip to Philadelphia to see him and go to wedding in CT.  He will go NYC to learn about Navy purchases.

May 28, 1945 from Philadelphia, PA- Letter talks about his visit to NYC. Also, he had plans for his leave to Plymouth. Also, there is a menu for a party for a WAVE being sent to Hawaii.

July 11, 1945 from Philadelphia, PA-Letter talks about his recent visit to Plymouth.  He didn’t find many of his friends and discussed not returning to Michigan when war is over.  He now heads the Turret Technical Unit and may be sent to Pearl Harbor.

August 3, 1945 from Philadelphia, PA- A postcard from Elizabeth, NC

Sept. 22, 1945 from Philadelphia, PA- He is very happy he will be going to the Pacific.

Dec. 7, 1945 from Hawaii- He feels isolated in Hawaii.  He describes his ride in the city with a stranger who appeared to have been drinking.

Dec. 8, 1945 from Pearl Harbor-He says Pearl Harbor is fairly quiet compared to 4 yrs. ago.  He went on a plane ride with Lt. Commander Freeman and described an aerial view of the harbor.

Dec. 12, 1945 from Hawaii-This is a forwarded letter originally sent to another person.  It describes Jack’s trip from coast to coast.  He talks about what he saw from the train as he traveled across the country.  He encloses small pictures of his trip. Also he talks about his first impressions of Hawaii.

Jan. 3, 1946 from Hawaii-This is another forwarded letter originally written in December.  Letter has many small pictures of his trip to the beach with friends.  Also, there is a picture of Koulau Mt. where the Naval Air Station is.

Feb. 2, 1946 from Hawaii-He thanks her for the series, Terry and the Pirates she is sending him.  He describes the meals he has eaten and talks about tasting macadamia nuts for the first time.  There is a description of the pineapple plantations. He encloses an ad for a Chinese restaurant.

Feb. 21, 1946 from Guam-He is there to inventory turret parts.  He describes Johnson Island, the Marshall Islands, Tumon Bay, and other places.

Mar. 1, 1946 from Guam-Enclosed is a Navy News for Feb. 17, 1946.  There is a short note about his trip back to the States—Washington, D.C., Norfolk, Virginia Beach.

Mar. 16, 1946-from the Philippines-He describes an area where armed Japanese may still be hiding.  He describes how an Englishman talks about food rations in England as compared to all the food they get on the islands.  He talks about the people’s lives in Guiuan

April 4, 1946 from Saipan-He flew through Manila and describes the towns and the Japanese prisoners working there and talks about the Chinese on the island and their customs.  He describes Bilibid Prison.

------from San Francisco-He writes about his photography skills.

 

 

Entry 4: Letters to Mrs. G.H. Wilcox--1943

Folder 1

July 12 from Washington, D.C.- Postcard for personal items.

July 13 from Washington-Postcard.

July 14 from Washington-Talks about daily concerns.

July 15 from Washington-He talks about school.

July 18 from Washington-He talks about monetary allotments and his adjustment to Navy life.

July 20 from Washington-He talks about restaurants and school.

July 21 from Washington-He asks about local Plymouth people and restaurants he’s visited.

July 21 from Washington-He talks about getting the use of the family car and his friends back home.

July 24 from Washington-He asks his mother to send him some items and talks about his sister and his niece.

July 25 form Washington-He is happy to be typing his letters now.  He discusses is car troubles.

July 23 from Washington-Postcard of Mayflower Hotel in D.C.

July 26 from Washington-This letter is from Julia. She talks about her daughter, Katherine.

July 28 from Washington-He talks about his visit to his sister’s house and his niece.

July 28 from Washington-He talks about an exam he took.   He comments on Plymouth’s population being 14,000.

July 30 from Washington-He talks about a dance and swimming and mentions various Plymouth friends.

Aug. 2 from Washington-He talks about his visit to his sister’s house and his application for gasoline rations.

Aug. 3 from Washington-He talks about getting his gas rations and letters from home.

Aug. 4 from Washington- He talks about his health. He also talks about taking guns apart and reassembling them.

Aug. 4 from Washington, D.C.-He writes about some of his money matters.

Aug. 6 from Washington, D.C.-He talks about visiting his sister and his classes.

Aug. 10 from Washington, D.C.-He sends an article about Cass Hough.

Aug. 16 from Luray, VA-Postcard of the Mimsyln Hotel.

Aug. 17 from Washington, D.C.-He talks about news from home and mentions letters from Reniel D’Haene.  He also receives the Plymouth Mail.

Aug. 18 from Washington, D.C.-He writes about visiting his sister in Bethesda, MD.  He also writes about plane crash that killed Lt. Col. Hazelton.

Aug. 20 from Washington, D.C.-He writes about a movie he saw,”This is the Army.”

Aug. 21 from Washington, D.C.-He writes about a sick friend. He applies for war ration books.

Aug.22 from Washington, D.C.-He writes about his visit to his sister’s.  He also writes about having to sell family belongings if his orders don’t take him near Detroit.

 

Folder 2

Sept. 4 from Jacksonville, FL-He writes about the beautiful weather and scenery.

Sept. 5 from Jacksonville, FL-He writes about the beaches and how much he likes the South.  He visited Richmond, VA and writes about how much Robert E. Lee is loved down there.  He describes the tobacco factories and cotton fields.

Sept. 7 from Jacksonville, FL-He asks his mother to come out for a visit.

Sept. 9 from Jacksonville, FL-He tells his mom about a basketball injury.

Sept. 15 from Jacksonville, FL-It is a note with a check.

Sept. 15 from Jacksonville, FL-It is a short note about the candy he sent her.

Sept. 16 from Jacksonville, FL-He tells about Katherine and Julia writing to him.

Sept. 17 from Jacksonville, FL-He writes about going to the dentist and a visiting USO show.

Sept. 18 from Jacksonville, FL-He’s upset about a rummage sale his mother had.  Also he’s sending Julia a subscription to The New Yorker.

Sept. 20 from Jacksonville, FL-He writes about a pyrotechnics class, a hand grenade accident, and his chemical warfare test.

Sept.20 from Jacksonville, FL-He writes about a church sermon he went to and seeing the movie,”Spitfire.”  He mentions a letter from Bill Robinson.

Sept. 21 from Jacksonville-He writes about his mother visiting Katherine (sister).  He writes about the rainy weather and asks about Mrs. Dibble and Mrs. Baird.

Sept. 22 from Jacksonville-He sends his mother his allowance allotment increase form.

Sept. 23 from Jacksonville-He hasn’t received a letter from home for a few days.  He talks about the good meals he’s having and watching movies.

Sept. 25 from Jacksonville-He’s going to take flying lessons on a link trainer.  He talks about Harold Holshuh, an American-born German.

Sept. 27 from Jacksonville- He writes about his first flying lesson.

Sept. 27 from Jacksonville-He writes about going to church and his flying lesson.  He also describes some dental work he had done.

Sept. 28. from Jacksonville-He writes about receiving The Plymouth Mail and letters.  He continues to write about his flying lessons.

Sept. 29 from Jacksonville- He’s taking swimming lessons and learning how to survive in the water.  He is still taking flying lessons too.

Oct. 1 from Jacksonville-He writes about his swimming lessons and classes in bombs and fuses.  Someone is interviewing him for his future naval assignment.

Oct. 5 from Jacksonville-He writes about a program he saw called, “Can You Top This?”

Oct. 13 from Jacksonville-He writes about working on a dive bomber, SB3V.

Oct. 15 from Jacksonville-He writes about an article about Henry Ford which he found very interesting.

Oct. 16 from Jacksonville-He writes about working with torpedoes.  He wants his mother to travel by train in 1^st class, not coach when going to him. He received a letter from Mrs. Thompson.

Oct. 19 from Jacksonville- He really enjoys the weather in the South.  He talks about places to take his mother when she comes for a visit.

Oct. 20 from Jacksonville-He sends his mother money and is now sending her letters to MD where his sister lives.

Oct. 20 from Jacksonville- He writes to Julia and his mother.  He mentions the long letters from Miss D’Haene.  He also describes wartime Washington.

Oct. 21 from Jacksonville-He writes about a story he heard about an Englishman and his first Halloween pumpkin.

Oct. 21 from Jacksonville-He writes about the pleasure-driving ban being lifted for civilians.

Oct. 30 from Jacksonville-He writes about classes on bombs and fuses.  He asks his mother if she has an old golf ball because he wants to use its rubber.

 

 

Entry 5:  Letters to Mrs. G.H. Wilcox--1944

Folder 1

Feb. 5 from Portsmouth, VA-He discusses the illness is recovering from.

March 3 form Philadelphia, PA-He writes about his hunt for a furnished room to rent.

March 6 from Philadelphia-He writes about the Officer’s Club and the Philadelphia Symphony Concert.  He also talks about the classes he’s taking.

March 9 from Philadelphia-He writes about his mother moving and coming to visit him.  He writes about his evenings. Also he is using tape to take lint off of his uniform.

March 27 from Philadelphia-He writes about his weekend and news from his sister.

Oct. 30-Postcard from CA.

Nov. 5-Postcard from Tijuana, Mexico.

Nov. 21 form San Francisco, CA-He has been there for 2 months.  He discusses plans for Thanksgiving and talks about a Judge Schmidt who admires Jack’s mother.

Nov. 26-Postcard from Philadelphia.

Nov. 26-Postcard form Nevada.

Nov. 27.-Postcard from Omaha, NE.

Nov. 27-Postcard from Denver, CO.

Nov. 27-Postcard from Salt Lake City, UT.

 

Entry 6:  Letters to Mrs. G.H. Wilcox--1945

Folder 1

May 24 from Philadelphia-He writes about a couple of dinners he had with his friends.

July 7 from Philadelphia-He writes about his promotion and his new job.  He also mentions talking to Hugh Raeder and getting together with Clara Horton.  He’s been asked to visit little island bases in Pacific to finish his tour of duty.  He’s very excited about that.

July 10 from Philadelphia-He writes about his trip to Pocanola, NJ to fish and relax.  Enclosed are 2 passes to the Launching of the USS Princeton.

July 18 from Philadelphia- He is coming home for his birthday.  He is very excited about seeing his friends, Garry and Wes, and eating his mother’s meals.

Sept. 11 from Philadelphia-He writes about his visit to the beach in Wildwood, NJ.  He talks about his car’s repairs and the work he’s doing.

Oct. 10 from Philadelphia-He writes about a farewell party for him that was supposed to be a surprise.

Oct. 17 from Philadelphia-He is packing and waiting for his orders.

Nov. 10 from San Francisco-He contacted his Uncle George and Mrs. Welsh.  He mentions the places he visited.

Nov. 25 from Hawaii-He’s been waiting 2 weeks for mail.  He is temporarily assigned to ComAir Pac’s staff.  He’s doing Christmas shopping and talking about the holidays.  He mentions Hawaiian Dollar bills.

 

Entry 7:  Letters to Mrs. G.H. Wilcox-Unknown dates

Folder 1

Friday-He sends mother a check with a short note.

Wednesday from Washington. D.C.-Postcard with a short note about his machine gun class.

Tuesday from Philadelphia-He talks about getting a letter from Julia and getting together with John and Elisa Pickering.  Also he sent money to Katherine and Lionel.

Sept. 29 from Jacksonville-He writes about training with machine guns.

Oct. 9 from Jacksonville-He visits the town and talks about the Notre Dame-Michigan game.

Oct. 10 from Jacksonville-He writes about going to the beach and His Links Trainer plane lessons.  He has to buy a green uniform now costing between $50 and $75.

Oct. 11 from Jacksonville-He writes about going skeet shooting.  He wants his mom to travel the B&O train not the Pennsylvania.

Oct. 24-He wants his mother’s advice on his Christmas card design he wants to print.

--------He visits with Plymouth folks Mrs. Dibble and Mrs. Baird.  He talked to Hal and Clara Horton.  He writes about various Christmas activities.

From Washington, D.C.-He writes about his classes and his night out and a young woman he met.

July 30-This is a short note which accompanied some coins he sent his mother.

Tuesday-He is in Washington. D.C. and visits with Julia and Katherine.  He runs into many sailors he knows.

Tuesday from Jacksonville-He is very excited about his allowance increase.

Sept. 23 from Jacksonville-He asks her about her rummage sale.  He missed the gas mask demonstration in a gas chamber.  He will be leaving Jacksonville after Thanksgiving.

-------He sends her his traveling itinerary.

Feb. 28-He’s going to Florida in March.  This is a change in his original orders.  He hopes she has a safe trip.

Feb. 13 from St. Louis-To save coal the city is in a “Brown Out.”  The outside lighted business signs are turned off.

Thursday from New York-He writes about articles about Harry Bennett and Ford’s.  He complains about a new officer he works for.

Nov. 29-He isn’t getting his mail. He talks about his work with turrets.

Thursday-He is still waiting for his orders.  He writes about his naval friends.

 

Box 3

Entry 8:  Letters to Renaldie D’Haene--1943

Folder 1

June 1 from NY-He thanks her for sending the newspaper articles about Henry Ford’s death.  He explains how his family knew the Fords and how they helped him get a job there.

July 18 from Washington, D.C.-He describes life in this big city.  He describes the different Navy uniforms he’s seen.

Aug. 18 from Washington, D.C.-He thanks her for sending him local newspapers.  He looks forward to reading local news.  He describes his visit to Luray, VA.  He tells her he hasn’t had to wear his glasses as often as before.  He asks for Ray Turck’s address.

Aug. 24 from Washington, D.C.-He thanks her for the address and newspaper clippings.

Aug. 25 from Washington, D.C.-He asks her to call a camera shop about a camera he took there.

Aug. 26 from Washington, D.C.-He thanks her for helping him with his camera and dealing with the camera shop.

Sept. 6 from Jacksonville-He really likes the South.  He visits the cotton fields.  He talks about his classes.  He’s sending her a book about Luray.

Sept. 15 from Jacksonville-He’s still taking classes.  He compares Army and Navy instructors.  He says he’ll be assigned to repairs.  He tells her his Plymouth home is too large for his mother so it’s going to be broken up into small apartments.  He’s quit upset about this.  Then his mother may go live with his sister.  He talks about the Italian and German armies.

Oct. 4 from Jacksonville-He writes about his flying lessons.  He talks about his mistake at a dinner asking for more butter when butter is being rationed.  He talks about Ann Arbor politics.

Oct. 13 from Jacksonville-He writes about his classes and his vacation to Ponte Vedra.  He describes swimming incident he had.

Oct. 20 from Jacksonville-He writes about the cool weather he’s experiencing compared to Detroit’s weather.  He describes the various Navy outfits.  He comments on Detroit’s politics and regulations on drinking.

Oct. 25 from Jacksonville-He writes about the weather.  He tells about an Englishman he knew who had difficulties understanding our Halloween and Christmas customs.

Nov. 1 from Jacksonville-He thanks her for a package she sent him. He talks about learning about the Norden bombsight.  He describes the circus he went to.  He mentions Ray Turck and is happy to receive the Detroit papers.

Nov. 9 from Jacksonville-He discusses Jeffries winning the Detroit election.  He talks about the Norden bombsight class being completed.  He’s almost done with his flying lessons.  He asks her to save his letters as a type of diary for him.  Enclosed is a letter to Alden Plank talking about Jack’s choice to join the Navy.

Nov. 13 from Jacksonville-This is a short note thanking her for her letter.

Nov. 17 from Jacksonville- He’s going to be assigned to Detroit for a short time.

Nov. 18 from Jacksonville-He thanks her for the presents she sent him.

 

Entry 9: Letters to Renaldie D’Haene--1944

Folder 1

Jan. 14 from Washington, D.C.-He describes his visit to Detroit and Willow Run.  Willow Run was producing bombers for the war.

Jan. 24 from Portsmouth, VA-He visits Williamsburg and is quite impressed.  He describes his illness and his recovery.  The doctors said he had scarlet fever.

Feb. 15 from Washington, D.C.-He doesn’t think he had scarlet fever because he had it when he was 7.  He says doctors didn’t agree with what he had.  He describes the VA historic sites he visited.

Feb. 24 from Portsmouth-His orders are to go to Philadelphia to work on aircraft turrets.

Mar. 3 from Philadelphia-He describes his experiences of running out of gas and looking for a place to rent.

Mar. 10 from Philadelphia-He writes about liquor being rationed and liquor cards.  He confidentially tells her he might want to train to be a pilot.  He’s not sure yet.

Mar. 27 from Philadelphia-He has to go house hunting again.

Mar. 30 from Philadelphia-He’s going to be visiting Plymouth for a short time.  Also, he’s going to try to go the NY Easter parade.

April 13 for Philadelphia-He describes the capital in the springtime.  He talks about his income tax refund of $2.90.

April 21 from Philadelphia-He asks her to shorten her letters to him.  Also he describes his visit to NY.

May 11 from Philadelphia-He doesn’t think he will be able to train as a pilot because he can’t seem to gain weight to be more than 130 lbs.  He doesn’t think he will go back to live in Michigan.  He asks her to save him the comic strip, “Terry and the Pirates.”

May 23 from Philadelphia-He thanks her for the comic strips and then describes his trip to NY.  He talks about a date he had to see, “Oklahoma!”

June 1 from Philadelphia-He has orders to go to sea.  Also he sends her music lyrics he has written.

June 10 from Philadelphia-This is a short note asking her to forward a letter for him.

June 16 from Philadelphia-He describes a friend, Jack, he met at Greenfield Village and

the good times they had.  He read about Jack’s death and is quite sad.

July 8 from Philadelphia-He describes how he hosted his sister in NY when she visited.

July 11 from Philadelphia-He sends her a couple of newspaper clippings in Hebrew.

July 13 from Philadelphia-This is a short note about the movies he’s seen.

July 24-This is a copy of a letter he sent his mother.  He describes his trips to Atlantic City and Philadelphia.

July 26 from Philadelphia-He thanks her for a pocket magnifier she sent him.  He mentions an instructor he had in a class on the Sperry Lower Ball Turret.

July 29 from Philadelphia-This is a short note telling her he’s going to Norfolk.

Aug. 7 from Norfolk-Enclosed are a “Terry and the Pirates” comic strip and a postcard of a battleship’s 14-inch guns.

Aug. 18 from Philadelphia-He mentions a common friend, Tom Hughes.  He describes his trip to Norfolk.  He saw his sister and her husband, Julia and Russell, and his niece, Katherine.  He describes a fight on a streetcar that he witnessed.

Sept. 6 from Philadelphia-This is carbon copy of a letter sent to his mother.  He talks about getting new glasses, his upcoming trip to CA, and a gift for his commander.

Sept. 18 from Philadelphia-It is another copy of a letter he sent his mother and sister.  He describes his visit to NJ and seeing evidence of a past hurricane.

Oct. 10 from Philadelphia-He writes the letter as he is flying across the country and tells what he sees.

Oct. 18 from San Francisco-He describes his 2 hr. stop in Denver and how he saw his cousin, David.  He saw B29 bombers on; his landing field.  His plane trip to San Francisco took 29 hrs. with a 12 hr. stop in Chicago.

 

Oct. 21 from San Francisco-He visits his cousin in Los Altos and Sanford University.  He describes earthquake faults and the lovely views of San Francisco.

Oct. 30 from Coronado, CA-He asks her for her niece’s address out there.

Nov. 2 from Seattle-He really likes the meals at NAS Seattle. His living quarters are crowded with new arrivals from the war.

Nov.7 from San Diego-He talks about his visits to Mt. Shasta, LA, and San Diego.

Nov. 9 from San Diego-He went swimming in the ocean and describes his visit to Tijuana.

Nov. 23 from San Diego-He writes about the boys diving for oysters and the tuna boats and processing plants he sees.

Nov. 25 from San Francisco- He tells her he’s meeting her niece.

Nov. 27 from Philadelphia-He is in Hollywood and is very excited.  He describes Graumans Chinese Theater and the Howard Hughes Aircraft factory.  He also goes to a huge parade and see some movie stars.

 

Entry 10:  Letters to Renaldie D’Haene--1945

Jan. 2 from Philadelphia-He sends her a copy of a letter he has sent to others.  He doesn’t have much “military activity’ at the ASO.  He describes behavior and dress during an inspection.

Jan. 6 from Philadelphia-He thanks her for magazines she has sent him.

Jan. 17 from Philadelphia-He describes the weather there.  He describes his work in the Naval Aviation Supply office and the turret department.

Feb. 5 from Philadelphia-He has just returned form St. Louis and describes his visit there.

Feb. 14 from Philadelphia-He discusses some letters he’s sent and talks about going to the movies.

Mar. 1 from Philadelphia-He thanks her for the comic strips she continues to send him. He’s being sent the FL for a couple of months.

Mar. 12 from Florida-Enclosed are 2 FL postcards.  He writes that none of the people he worked with before are in Jacksonville now.  He likes eating Navy meals and is going to visit Miami.

April 9 from Philadelphia-He writes about a friend stationed in Germany who had severe frostbite.

 

Entry 11:  Letters to various people

Oct. 21, 1944-He describes his plane trip to Seattle.

Wednesday-This letter is to Julia in which he discusses Russell’s letter and  talks about Katherine.

Sept. 28-This is to his sister and it describes his lesson in a Link trainer.  He also writes about some of his friends.

Sept. 26 from Jacksonville-This letters is to Julia.  He writes about the insects he’s encountered.  Also he describes his first Link trainer lesson.

Aug. 4 from Washington, D.C.-This letter is to his Uncle John and Katherine.  He describes how hot it is.  He’s taking a “general ordnance equipment” class where he’s learning about big 16-inch guns down to revolvers.  He writes about his roommates and Julia’s visit to see him.

Sept. 19 from Jacksonville-This letter is to his sister.  He writes about his pyrotechnics class.

Sept. 13, 1943 from Jacksonville-This letters is to Katherine and he describes his visit to Julia.  Also he mentions the Aircraft Gunnery Officers’ School he’s going to.  He discusses family matters.

June 21-This letter is from Katherine to her mother.  She writes about the decision to divide the house into apartments.  She mentions Lionel’s grades.  She also writes about the crops she’s growing.

--------This is a letter from Hawaii describing all the sights with small pictures attached.

 

Entry 12:  Miscellaneous keepsakes

Brochure from American Airlines

Menu from farewell party for Vera Scott-May 18, 1945

Program from farewell party for Lt. AW Boldt and Lt. JG Douglas-August 14, 1945

Menu for Thanksgiving Dinner in Pearl Harbor-Nov. 22, 1945

Diagram from his radio compass work

Menu from United Airlines

Souvenir booklet from Luray Caverns from Luray, VA

Program from Radio City Music Hall for week of May 20, 1943

The Playbill for “Sons O’ Fun,” 1943

Poster for the play, “The Student Prince”

The Playbill for the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, 1943

The Playbill for the Majestic Theatre, 1943

Baby announcement for Robert Lawrence Garrison Jr. born Sept. 26, 1945

Flyer from Willard Root Music Hall

“Jaycees Hear Leader Tell of Problems,” newspaper clipping

“Jaycee President to visit City,” newspaper clipping

 

Compiled by Lena Packer, 22 February 2006