Gerald M. Rees papers
Collection Organization
The collection of World War II service letters written by Gerald M. Rees provides a glimpse of the training experience of a typical enlisted man, but also the thoughtful observations of a well-educated and culturally aware individual in a variety of situations. In many circumstances the descriptions Gerald wrote to his mother of places and events were laced with references to home and comparisons with local sights, such as comparing a rocky beach to the one at Marblehead, Ohio, or using the Toledo Museum of Art as a point of reference in describing other museums he visited.
Thanks to his participation in the short-lived Army Specialized Training Program which had him stationed in New York, the letters from November 1943 through March 1944 are full of descriptions of the cultural activities in New York, a pattern that continues as the opportunities of places like London and Paris were also presented. All through the narrative of his correspondence references are made to concerts, plays, radio programs, and museums, demonstrating his deep and abiding love of music. Some references are fascinating for the double layer of cultural influence, such as in the letter written from Paris on May 21, 1945, where he talks about visiting the Academy de Musique for a performance of the opera "Boris Goudenow", but then spends additional space describing the huge chandelier and connecting it to the central action in the film "Phantom of the Opera".
The content of the letters related to the war are most detailed during his period of training in a variety of places in the U.S., including in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and New York, due to the fact that those letters were not subject to censorship. As of the end of April 1944 he had 9 moves in 11 months. Once Gerald received orders for overseas service, however, that situation changed and the content became more general. Although he was able to provide rich details on his living situation, the British lifestyle, monetary system, food, housing, entertainment options, and other daily events, the letters of this period provide almost no hint of his military activities or his locations. He also wrote enthusiastically of the work of both the U.S.O. and Red Cross.
The letters in the collection also demonstrate the effective use V-mail from overseas posts, with initial skepticism on Gerald's part to a whole-hearted endorsement of the system. In a letter dated July 4, 1944, he also expresses enthusiasm for the G.I. Bill of Rights (signed into law on June 22, 1944) and furthering his education, with references in future letters indicating his intention to make use of the program at the conclusion of his service. Other letters with significant content include those of May 8 and 9, 1945 (reporting reactions to VE day and also describing a trip to Dachau). Both were also reprinted in the Pemberville Leader issue of July 4, 1945. It might be noted that a corporal from the 292nd was responsible for the capture of the Commandant of Dachau at the end of April 1945. After July 1945 Gerald returned to the U.S. and due to frequent furloughs, there were few additional letters.
Corespondence (Camp Perry, Ohio), May 1943
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- Creation: May 1943
Correspondence (Camp Barkeley, Texas), June 1943
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- Creation: June 1943
Correspondence (Camp Barkeley, Texas), July 1943
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- Creation: July 1943
Correspondence (Camp Barkeley, Texas), August 1943
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- Creation: August 1943
Correspondence (Camp Barkeley, Texas), September 1943
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- Creation: September 1943
Correspondence (Camp Barkeley / Camp Maxey), October 1943
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- Creation: October 1943
Correspondence (City College of New York), November 1943
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- Creation: November 1943
Correspondence (City College of New York), December 1943
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- Creation: December 1943
Correspondence (City College of New York), January 1944
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- Creation: January 1944
Correspondence (City College of New York), February 1944
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- Creation: February 1944
Correspondence (City College / Camp Polk, Louisiana), March 1944
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- Creation: March 1944
Correspondence (Louisiana / Camp Bowie, Texas / Fort Sill), April 1944
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- Creation: April 1944
Correspondence (Fort Sill, Oklahoma), May 1944
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- Creation: May 1944
Correspondence (Camp Bowie, Brownwood, Texas), June 1944
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- Creation: June 1944
Correspondence (Camp Bowie, Texas), July 1944
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- Creation: July 1944
Correspondence (Camp Bowie, Texas), August 1944
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- Creation: August 1944
Correspondence (Camp Bowie, Texas), September 1944
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- Creation: September 1944
Correspondence (Camp Bowie, Texas), October 1944
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- Creation: October 1944
Correspondence (Camp Bowie, New Jersey), November 1944
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- Creation: November 1944
Correspondence (APO New York / en route / England), December 1944
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- Creation: December 1944
Correspondence (England), January 1945
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- Creation: January 1945
Correspondence (France), February 1945
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- Creation: February 1945
Correspondence (France / Germany), March 1945
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- Creation: March 1945
Correspondence (Germany), April 1945
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- Creation: April 1945
Correspondence (Germany), May 1945
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- Creation: May 1945
Correspondence (Germany / France), June 1945
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- Creation: June 1945
Correspondence (France / England), July 1945
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- Creation: July 1945
Correspondence (Fort Bragg, North Carolina), December 1945
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- Creation: December 1945
Correspondence from Mrs. Rees, June 1945
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- Creation: June 1945