Wiese Jr., Walter L. (Second World War correspondence), 1945 January 5 - 1945 May 30

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Summary

Title:
Walter L. Wiese Jr. Second World War correspondence
Dates:
1945 January 5 - 1945 May 30
Creators:
Wiese, Walter L., Jr., Staff Sergeant, Kouopka, Urban S., Chaplain, Reynolds, Charles E., First Sergeant, and Uxa, Betty
Abstract:
This collection contains fourty-five written correspondences from SSgt. Walter L. Wiese Jr., USA to his wife June B. Wiese during the Second World War.
Containers:
box: WWII 19
folder: 20-21
folder: 1-2
Extent:
.16 Linear feet (2 folders)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Walter L. Wiese Jr Second World War correspondence (2017.616.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains fourty-five written correspondences from SSgt. Walter L. Wiese, Jr., USA to his wife June B. Wiese during the Second World War. In these letters, Walter refers to his wife by the nicknames "Bade" or "Junie." He writes to June about about how much he loves her and wants to come home to her, receiving her Christmas gift, recovering from a leg injury, reminiscing about their first date and their marriage, preparing to leave the hospital and join his outfit, receiving a Purple Heart, being mistaken for being missing in action (MIA), asking about June's new dog, Jiggs, wishing her a happy birthday and wanting to be with her to celebrate, finally arriving at the front, riding a horse for the first time, requesting care packages, hearing of the Nazi's surrender in Germany and feeling even more ready to return home, and sending home money. There are two additional letters addressed to June that were not sent by Walter. The two, sent separately by Chaplain Urban S. Kouopka and First Sergeant Charles E. Reynolds, inform her of a military mistake in which Walter was declared MIA instead of merely wounded and apologize for the error.

Biographical / historical:

Staff Sergeant Walter L. Wiese, Jr., United States Army (b. 1917) was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Before entering active service, he married June B. Spinner, who was also born in St. Louis. He enlisted in the military on March 19, 1941 and was honorably discharged on October 12, 1945, receiving five Bronze Stars, a Good Conduct Medal, and a Purple Heart. Walter was reported missing in action but was actually wounded in action on January 19, 1945 in Luxembourg, Germany. After the war, he returned to St. Louis and worked as a truck driver delivering meat to butcher shops. He and June went on to have five children: Mary Jane, Diana, Elizabeth, Walter, and Joseph.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Betty Uxa and the Wiese family.
Arrangement:

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

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Lee Feldman
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2022-04-15 13:18:02 -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], Walter L. Wiese Jr Second World War correspondence (2017.616.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

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