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Havel, Thomas E. (Second World War correspondence)
2022.173.w.r
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Thomas E. Havel Second World War correspondence
Creator:
Havel, Thomas Earl, Captain, 1911-1989
source:
Havel, Richard W.
Identifier/Call Number: 2022.173.w.r
Physical Description:
1 Linear Feet
(6 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1944 June 4 - 1945 August 21
Abstract: This collection contains approximately 70 letters written by Capt. Thomas E. Havel, USA to his wife Elizabeth Havel née Shilts
during the Second World War. This collection also contains one transcribed letter from Havel to Pie Johnson, Nazi propaganda
leaflets and booklets, postcards, photographs, photocopied documents, and photocopied photographs of Capt. Havel's medals.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 172
Container: 1-6
Container: 1-6
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Richard W. Havel.
This collection is arranged by material type, and chronological order:
- Series 1, Thomas E. Havel correspondence
- Series 2, Ephemera
- Series 3, Other papers
Captain Thomas Earl "Tom" Havel, United States Army (1911 - 1989) was born in Montgomery, Minnesota to Thomas Nichols Havel
and Henrietta Cecelia Havel née Thaler. He was the second eldest of 5 children, two brothers, and two sisters. Havel graduated
from Sherman High School in 1929 and graduated from Creighton University Medical School in 1935.
Havel met Elizabeth Shilts while studying at Creighton University Medica School. Shilts earned her degree as a registered
nurse from St. Catherine's hospital in 1935 and, in 1936 married Havel.
Capt. Havel served as a general surgeon with the 110th Medical Battalion attached to the 35th Division between 1942 through
1945. According to the donor he "was Platoon Leader supervising evacuation of casualties and emergency medical treatment [and]
. . . . Performed emergency operations." He was awarded the Bronze Star for "meritorious service from July 11, 1944 to April
24, 1945 in the European Theater."
Thomas E. and Elizabeth Havel moved their family to Santa Monica, CA in 1950 after he accepted a position with St. John's
Hospital. Together they raised five children. In 1964, Havel was "recognized by his peers and selected to serve as Chief of
Staff for St. John's [Hospital]."
[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Thomas E. Havel Second World War correspondence (2022.173.w.r), Center for
American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.
This collection contains approximately 70 letters written by Capt. Thomas E. Havel, USA to his wife Elizabeth Havel née Shilts
during the Second World War. This collection also contains one transcribed letter from Havel to Pie Johnson on April 29, 1945
that discussed his encounters with survivors of Nazi concentration camps. This collection also includes Nazi propaganda leaflets
and booklets intended for US servicemembers in the European Theater of Operations. This collection also contains postcards,
photographs, photocopied documents and photocopied photographs of Capt. Havel's medals.
There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the
responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War (1939-1945) -- Photography
World War (1939-1945) -- Propaganda
Propaganda -- History -- 20th century.
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945)
Battle of the Ardennes (1944-1945)
V-E Day (1945)
V-J Day, 1945 -- England
World War (1939-1945) -- France
World War (1939-1945) -- Germany
World War (1939-1945) -- Concentration camps -- Germany
Havel, Richard W.