Conditions Governing Access
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Arrangement
Biographical / Historical
Preferred Citation
Content Description
Conditions Governing Use
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Cleenput brothers Second World War correspondence
Creator:
Cleenput, Jacob, Corporal
Creator:
Cleenput, Frank, Petty Officer Second Class
source:
Bergin, Marilyn
Creator:
Cleenput, Peter, Jr.
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.232.w.r
Physical Description:
.08 Linear feet
(1 folder)
Date (inclusive): 1942 November 14 - 1945 February 9
Abstract: This collection contains nine correspondence between the Cleenput brothers during the Second World War. Seven of the letters
were written by Cpl. Jacob Cleenput, USA to his brother Peter Cleenput, Jr. and his family. One letter was written by Peter
to Jacob and one letter was written by P02. Frank Cleenput, USS American Legion, USN to Peter.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 14
Container: 7
Container: 1
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Marylin Bergin and the Cleenput Family.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by material type, author, and date.
Biographical / Historical
Corporal Jacob Cleenput, United States Army (9/8/1921 - 11/29/1944) was born in Paramus, New Jersey to Peter, Sr. and Regina
Cleenput. His father emigrated from Sluis, Netherlands and his mother from Sint-Margriete, Belgium in the late 1800s. Jacob
was the second youngest child, preceded by Sophia, Emma, Peter, Jr., Louise, and Edmond, and followed only by Frank. All of
the children worked on their family's dairy farm before and after school. They each dropped out of high school and got jobs
working alongside their parents. Jacob drove a tank for the 5th Armored Division. He was killed in Achen, Germany on 29 November
1944. His only living sibling, Louise, is 100 years old and lives in a nursing home.
Petty Officer Second Class Frank Cleenput, United States Navy served aboard the USS American Legion.
Access Information
Chapman does not hold the IP rights to this collection.
Preferred Citation
[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Cleenput brothers Second World War correspondence (2017.232.w.r), Center for American
War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
Content Description
This collection contains nine correspondence between the Cleenput brothers during the Second World War. Seven of the letters
were written by Cpl. Jacob Cleenput, USA to his brother Peter Cleenput, Jr. and his family in Paramus, New Jersey. Jacob wrote
about planning on returning home on furlough, loading vehicles onto trains for transportation across the United States, hoping
Frank doesn't enter the military, serving under a new general, preparing for a spike in guard duty shifts, earning his first
promotion and awaiting a second one, testing the tank artillery, and going overseas to engage with the War in Europe. One
letter was written by Peter to Jacob, in which he wrote about wishing to hear from his brother, the lack of events occurring
in Paramus, passing on news about his kids and other siblings of theirs, and hoping things are well with him. One letter was
written by PO 2/C Frank Cleenput, USN to Peter, in which he wrote about returned letters he had written to Jacob. It is unknown
whether he knew Jacob was KIA at this time.
Conditions Governing Use
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. For further copyright information, please contact the archivist.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War (1939-1945)
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
United States. -- Navy
United States -- Army -- Armored Division, 5th
Cleenput, Peter, Jr.
Bergin, Marilyn