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Levy, Lester B. (Second World War correspondence)
2017.114.w.r
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Lester B. Levy Second World War correspondence
Creator:
Levy, Lester B. , 1916-1942
source:
Kostbar, Julie, 1917-1995
source:
Kostbar, Jeffrey
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.114.w.r
Physical Description:
0.2 Linear feet
(5 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1940 November 11 - 1942
Abstract: This collection contains 32 letters and postcards written by SSgt. Lester B. Levy, USAAC to his fiance Julie Kostbar during
the Second World War. One letter was written by Kostbar to Levy. Also included in the collection are four photographs, one
newspaper clipping, one personal account, and three pages of biographical information. Levy died in a Japanese prisoner of
war camp in the Philippines in July of 1942.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 13
Container: 17-21
Container: 1-5
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Jeffrey Kostbar.
This collection is arranged by material type, author, and date.
- Series 1, Correspondence from Lester B. Levy
- Series 2, Correspondence to Lester B. Levy
- Series 3, Graphic materials
- Series 4, Biographical information
Staff Sergeant Lester B. Levy, United States Army Air Corps (9/9/1916 - 7/3/1942) was born in Ohio and enlisted in the Army
Air Corps in October of 1940. Levy trained at Chanute Field in Rantoul, Illinois and arrived at Clark Field in the Philippines
in mid-1941, where he served with the 28th Materiel Squadron.
Information provided by the donor indicates that SSgt. Levy was captured after the fall of Bataan and died in a prisoner of
war camp on July 3, 1942. According to government records, Levy was interred at Arlington National Cemetery on July 13, 1949.
[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Lester B. Levy Second World War correspondence (2017.114.w.r), Center for American
War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
This collection contains 32 letters and postcards written by SSgt. Lester B. Levy, USAAC to his fiance Julie Kostbar during
the Second World War. Levy was assigned to the 28th Materiel Squadron. Although his letters show that he was a Private, later
records indicate he rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant.
The collection also includes one letter that Kostbar wrote to Levy. In addition, there are four photographs, one newspaper
clipping, a drawing of Levy, and several pages of biographical information about the donor and the recipient.
The letters from Levy begin while he is in training at Chanute Field in Illinois and continue through his overseas assignment
at Clark Field in the Philippines. In the letters, Levy writes about activities at Chanute Field. In one letter, dated February
26, 1941, Levy writes about how he was court-martialed and placed under "post restriction" after the barracks chief reported
him as AWOL.
Levy also describes sailing overseas on the USS Pierce. In a June 7, 1941 letter, Levy writes that it is the maiden voyage
of the USS Pierce as an army transport. In a possible reference to the "Flying Tigers", the letter also describes how the
ship was carrying "30 other fellows who are going to China as flyers to fight against Japan."
Levy also writes about being stationed at Clark Field in the Philippines and his letters also describe the buildup in military
personnel at the base. An October 3, 1941 letter refers to German Jewish refugees in Manila.
Kostbar's letter to Levy discusses the attack on Pearl Harbor. Kostbar also writes about a cablegram that Levy had sent to
his father reporting that he was safe after the attacks by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor and other bases. The letter never
reached Levy and the envelope is marked "Return to Sender. Service Suspended."
There is also a newspaper clipping reporting the death of Levy. Additional information provided by the donor, Kostbar's nephew,
says Levy was captured after the fall of Bataan and died on July 3, 1942 at a Japanese prison camp in the Philippines.
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945)
World War (1939-1945) -- Philippines.
World War (1939-1945) -- Prisoners and prisons
Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941.
Bataan, Battle of, Philippines, 1942
Philippines -- Clark Field
Kostbar, Julie, 1917-1995
Kostbar, Jeffrey