This collection contains letters, photographs, military records, and funeral ephemera from 1st Lt. Lewis Calvin Kluttz during the Second World War and Korean War as well as correspondence from Kluttz's uncle, Cpl. George Phillip Blind during the First World War.

George Phillip Blind was born in Los Angeles, CA in 1886. He was the fifth of seven children of Phillip Blind, a Civil War Veteran, and Elizabeth Ellen Blind. The Blinds brought their family to California from Ohio around 1884 or 1885. By the 1910 census, George was living at home but working as a hotel waiter. He went back to Ohio in 1912 and married Anna Margaret Stenger. By 1916 they had a son, George Phillip Blind, Jr. and were back in California. George volunteered for the military during the First World War and served as a Corporal in Battery D, Reg #62, Artillery Corps. He wrote to his sister Helen Jennette Blind and his sister Linnian E. Blind. George's brother, Charles Blind also served the First World War. George was discharged in March of 1919. In the 1920 census he is listed as divorced and a Private at Camp Mead, Anne Arundel, Maryland. By 1924, he was back in California, where he died in Letterman Hospital. He is buried in the National Cemetery in the Presidio in San Francisco.Lewis Calvin Kluttz was born in Douglas, AZ in 1927. He had an older sister named Katherine, who was born in 1925. His father was Silas Lillington Kluttz (son of a Civil War veteran) from North Carolina who worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad. His mother was Helen Jeanette Kluttz (sister of George Phillip Blind) from California who had come to Douglas as a teacher. Lewis attended Douglas High School and played basketball and football. After graduation, he attended the University of Arizona in Tucson as a pre-med student, for he wanted to be a doctor like his uncle Charles Blind, but his studies were interrupted by the Second World War. He served for 18 months in Alaska before being discharged. He returned to the University and finished his degree with a Bachelor of Science in 1949. He wasn't accepted into any medical schools resulting in him studying law. He was in the Army Reserves when the Korean War began and he was called back into duty as a 1st Lt. He was killed on July 29, 1952 while leading his platoon on their third attempt to take "Outpost Kelly" held by the Chinese. He was shot in the head by a sniper. He was nominated for the Distinguished Service Award and received the Purple Heart. (His cousin and son of Charles Blind, Lee Penn Blind was killed while on active duty in July of 1953. He was a pilot and died during a training accident). Lewis' funeral was held on September 20, 1952 at First Presbyterian Church/Calvary Cemetery in Douglas, AZ.

0.5 Linear feet (1 box)

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