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Hoppen, Stanley K. (Second World War correspondence)
2017.142.w.r
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Stanley K. Hoppen Second World War correspondence
Creator:
Hoppen, Stanley Kenneth, Technical Sergeant, 1907-1995
source:
Corbett, Susan
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.142.w.r
Physical Description:
.05 Linear feet
(1 folder)
Date (bulk): 1908 March 18 - 1915 July 28
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence from Technical Sergeant Stanley K. Hoppen, United States Army during the Second World
War. Included are three photographs and a postcard from 1908 to his father.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 24
Container: 8
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the Corbett Family, via Susan Corbett.
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Technical Sergeant Stanley Kenneth Hoppen, United States Army (6/1/1907 - 11/25/1995) was born in Nyack, New York to Robert
and Grace Hoppen and is of English descent. He attended Brown University for a year in 1924 and was a member of the Zeta Psi
fraternity.
During the Second World War, T/Sgt. Hoppen served with Company A, 744th Railway Operations Battalion in northern France and
throughout Belgium. Toward the end of the war, his unit was responsible for the maintenance and care of a large territory
of railway lines that brought supplies throughout Belgium and northern France, while camping in box cars captured from the
Germans.
After the war, Hoppen worked in a box factory in Nyack and supported his mother until her passing and helped his sister, Constance
"Connie" Corbett neé Hoppen and her son Jimmy (donor's husband) and daughter Gail after Connie was widowed. He later moved
to Albany to be closer to Connie and Gail and passed away in November 1995 at the age of 88.
[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Stanley K. Hoppen Second World War correspondence (2017.142.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 seven correspondence from T/Sgt. Stanley K. Hoppen, USA to his sister Connie during the Second World
War. Also included are three photographs of Hoppen after the war.
The correspondence discusses his living conditions in northern France and Belgium, the work he did on the railway, weather,
church services, and Connie's house hunting efforts (the address he sends his letters is their family's home address).
Topics of note include his mention of the upcoming presidential election in 1944, expecting "Eleanor wins again," as well
as the death of President Roosevelt in 1945 saying, "Too bad, especially right now even tho I don't believe it will have any
bad effect on the war's progress." Hoppen also discussed turning down a promotion to lieutenant in June 1945 because the pay
would be less and it would require two more years of service. This made his colonel angry with him.
He also mentions work they did on the railway in Belgium in preparation for the return of the king, with some discussion on
the population being split with some not wanting the king to return to power.
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
Railroad
Railroad rails.
World War (1939-1945) -- Belgium
World War (1939-1945) -- France
World War (1939-1945) -- Christmas
Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945
Corbett, Susan