Oliver, Verne Lee (Vietnam War-era correspondence), 1964 May 4 - 1967 January 22

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Summary

Title:
Verne Lee Oliver Vietnam War-era correspondence
Dates:
1964 May 4 - 1967 January 22
Creators:
Oliver, Verne Lee, 1944-01-06-1994-06-25 and Oliver, Terri
Abstract:
This collection includes correspondence, clippings, and memorabilia from Verne Lee Oliver, USN during the mid-1960s. Oliver was stationed in Europe during the Vietnam War and the letters are to his parents and siblings.
Containers:
box: Vietnam 12
folder: 1-6
folder: 1-6
Extent:
0.4 Linear feet (1 document box)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Verne Lee Oliver Vietnam War-era correspondence (2017.236.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains 67 letters, newspaper clippings and memorabilia from Verne Lee Oliver to his parents and siblings. Oliver was a Communications Technician with the United States Navy and was stationed in Europe during the Vietnam War. Oliver wrote the letters during training in the United States and while stationed in Scotland and Cyprus.

The letters discuss daily life and activities at the US Naval Training Center in San Diego and at the US Naval Communications Trianing Center in Pensacola, Florida. After training, Verne was assigned to Edzell, Scotland. According to the donor, Oliver was later transferred to Nicosia, Cyprus, where he was attached to the American embassy.

The letters are addressed to his parents, to his brother Jerry, and to his sister Terri. Terri is the donor of the letters and she also included transcriptions of all of the letters.

In addition to correspondence, the collection includes a photo that appears to be of Verne Oliver, newspaper clippings, and items that Oliver picked up during his travels and sent to his parents.

There are also two letters to Oliver's parents from the military.

Biographical / historical:

Verne Lee Oliver served as a communications technician with the United States Navy during the Vietnam-War era and was stationed in Scotland and Cyprus.

Oliver was born on January 6, 1944 in Stockton, California. The donor writes that he was the "first child of Dale Wamsley and Zona May Walbridge Oliver." Verne Oliver had a younger brother, Jerry, and a younger sister, Terri.

Oliver graduated from Sonora High School in Sonora, California in June 1991. According to a 1965 newspaper clipping of the USNCTC log, Oliver later studied at biological sciences at Stockton College before enlisting with the Navy on May 1, 1964. Oliver went to boot camp at the US Naval Training Center in San Diego. Later, he attended the US Naval Communications Training Center in Pensacola, Florida. After completion of his training, Oliver was assigned to Edzell, Scotland. He later was transferred to Cyprus, where he was attached to the U.S. Embassy.

According to information provided by the donor, Oliver attended Sacramento State University after he was honorably discharged from the Navy. He then graduated from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento in 1973.

The donor writes that Oliver "worked for the California Legislative Council for approximately 20 years, specializing in labor law." He died on June 25, 1994.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Terri Oliver.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged by material type, author, and date.

  • Series 1, Correspondence from Verne L. Oliver
  • Series 2, Military correspondence
  • Series 3, Transcripts

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Jewish Holocaust (1939-1945)
Names:
Oliver, Terri
Places:
United States. -- Navy

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Rob Strauss
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2022-03-29 18:47:25 -0400 .

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. For further copyright information, please contact the archivist.

Preferred citation:

[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Verne Lee Oliver Vietnam War-era correspondence (2017.236.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

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