Alex Hamas Second World War correspondence, bulk 1943 - 2008

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Summary

Creators:
Hamas née Kucan, Mary Louise , b. 1924, Meisner née Hamas, Linda , and Hamas, Alex, Corporal, 1922-2004
Abstract:
This collection contains sixteen correspondence from Corporal Alex Hamas, United States Army to his then fiancée Mary Louise Kucan during the Second World War. Also included are one photograph of Hamas, one certificate of enrollment to the World War II Registry of Rememberances, and one biography written by Mrs. Hamas.
Extent:
.04 Linear feet (1 folder)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Alex Hamas Second World War correspondence (2017.173.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.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains six original correspondence from Cpl. Alex Hamas, USA to his then fiancée Mary Louise Kucan during the Second World War. Also included are ten photocopied correspondence, one photograph of Hamas in 1986, one certificate of enrollment to the World War II Registry of Rememberances, and one biography written by Mrs. Hamas.

In his correspondence, Cpl. Hamas discusses the comforts of home, missing Mary, the Thanksgiving meal of 1944 and the morale that built for the men, following events back home in Pittsburgh including football, and some of his general day to day activities including going to church, though he was careful of the censors. Some of his V-Mail were sent as hand-drawn Christmas cards, and according to his wife this was a service he provided for many of the other men in his unit. After the war ended, he mentions seeing Germans and Poles and Russians returning home and the various flags they waved. At that time he did not mind the monotonous daily routines or duties because it was better than being shipped to the Pacific, which he and many of the men were "sweating out," that is to say worried about. He also mentions an argument about the point system to send soldiers home and how the fathers and husbands feel they should have priority.

Biographical / historical:

Corporal Alex Hamas (pronounced HAY-miss), United States Army (7/25/1922 - 4/19/2004) was born and lived his entire life in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended Taylor Allderdice High School and later two years at the University of Pittsburgh.

Cpl. Hamas served in the Army from January 20, 1943 until his separation on January 18, 1946, first training in North Carolina and with the 199th General Hospital in England and the 4th Infantry "Ivy" Division in Germany. When he returned to America after the war, he married Mary Louise Kucan in August 1946 and was active in veterans organizations, especially the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the 4th "Ivy" Division. He took leadership roles in those organizations and continued activities until his death in 2004. He and his family visited the 4th Infantry Memorial in Luxembourg in 1986 (Mrs. Hamas' bio has it in 1984, the photograph says 1986) and he has since been memorialized in the Registry of Rememberances as part of the National World War II Memorial.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Mary Louise Kucan Hamas, facilitated by Linda Hamas Meisner.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged chronologically. The photograph and biography are separate.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Alex Hamas Second World War correspondence (2017.173.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.

Contact:
(714) 532-7716
privette@chapman.edu
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