Finding Aid for the Robert D. Hanni, Jr. Second World War correspondence 2017.686.w.r
Andrew Harman
Center for American War Letters Archives
2/22/2019
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Robert D. Hanni, Jr. Second World War correspondence
source:
Skinner, C. Alan
source:
Skinner, Martha
Creator:
Hanni, Robert D., Jr., Private First Class, 1909-1960
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.686.w.r
Physical Description:
.025 Linear feet
(1 folder)
Date (inclusive): 1945 January 4 - 1945 February 10
Abstract: This collection contains three correspondence and one anecdote written by Pvt. Robert D. Hanni, Jr., USA to Helen Skinner,
during the Second World War.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 24
Container: 15
Container: 1
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of C. Alan and Martha Skinner.
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Private First Class Robert D. "Bob" Hanni, Jr., United States Army (1/24/1909 - 12/28/1960) was born and lived in Youngstown,
Ohio and worked as a structural engineer for Truscon Steel Company before being drafted into the Army, enlisting on October
9, 1943. He was married to Anne and they had two sons. Hanni served with the Ground Force Replacement System Truck Battalion,
Company A, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division, and was honorably discharged on November 17, 1945 as a PFC after earning the
Bronze Star Medal. He passed away in 1960 and is interred at Lake Park Cemetery in Youngstown.
Clifford "Cliff" Skinner, United States Army (1/29/1911 - 11/4/1974) in New Jersey and was married to Helen Evelyn Skinner
neé Kerr in 1939. The two lived in Bloomfield, NJ and they had a son C. Alan, referred in Hanni's letters as Alan. Skinner
enlisted on September 23, 1943 and served with PFC Hanni in France and was discharged on December 2, 1945.
[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Robert D. Hanni, Jr. Second World War correspondence (2017.686.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 three correspondence by Pvt. Robert D. Hanni, Jr., USA to Helen Skinner, during the Second World
War. Also included is an anecdote about an American Free Mason.
Pvt. Hanni wrote his letters to Helen from France while serving with her husband, Clifford Skinner. He wrote in a humorous
manner, usually being depricating about his Cliff and thanking her for her packages that they share. In his last letter he
gives some details about himself to stave off a perceived negative image that Clifford may be writing her.
The anecdote is about a lieutenant that was also a Free Mason. He was captured in the Battle of the Bulge, only to be set
free by a German officer when he found his Masonic card in his wallet. This relationship led to the American testifying during
the war crimes trials on the German's behalf, leading to his release. This anecdote was typed and sent to Helen because Clifford
was a Mason and the sender "Jan" thought he would be interested in the story.
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
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945) -- France
Skinner, C. Alan
Skinner, Martha
Skinner, Clifford, 1911-1974