Collection Guide
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Summers, Harold E. (Second World War correspondence, clippings, and other materials)
2018.164.w.r
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Table of contents
box WWII 24, folder 1
Series 1, Correspondence from Harold 1938 January 7 - 1941 August 7
Creator: Summers, Harold Edgar, Signalman Second Class, 1919-1941
Creator: Mumaugh née Summers, Nina Lucile , 1916-
Creator: Mumaugh, Robert Darst, Staff Sergeant, 1913-1974
Physical Description: 0.1 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains twenty-three letters from SM 2/c Harold E. Summers, USN to his sister and brother-in-law, Lucile and
Robert Mumaugh, before the beginning of the Second World War. Also included is an "At 'Em" newsletter sent by Summers in April
1939, two envelopes from "Pan American Airways Via TransPacific Airmail," with a photo of a China Clipper glued to the outside,
as well as one letter with letterhead: "United States Fleet, Battle Force, Battleship Division One, USS Arizona, Flagship."
SM2/c Summers began writing in 1938 aboard the USS Arizona from Bremerton, Washington and travelled with that ship up and
down the west coast working with the "Signal Gang", stopping in San Francisco, Long Beach, San Pedro, and San Diego. All envelopes
have "USS Arizona" postal stamps as he mails from the ship.
The ship went to Honolulu in April 1940, with Summers expecting only to stay a short time, and returned to Bremerton in November.
The ship crossed the equator and the men enjoyed all of the rituals of that crossing, described in the letters, before heading
back to Hawaii to be stationed in Pearl Harbor February 3, 1941.
Of note in his correspondence is his discussion of the battle fleet with them, including the Oklahoma and the Missouri, and
when he tells his sister that "war talk" makes them mad but they "don't believe in us getting it."
Also discussed are pictures from a fellow sailor that transferred from China with pictures of the bombings the Japanese had
been conducting there. He also ironically states that "they usually split the fleet up," even though the fleet was harbored
together in Pearl Harbor before the attack for protection. Two friends joined him on the trip back to Hawaii that were stationed
on other ships; Al Lyman of the USS Mississippi and George Fisher of the USS Detroit.
box WWII 24, folder 2
Series 2, Correspondence from Lucile 1941 December 5 - 1941 December 18
Creator: Mumaugh née Summers, Nina Lucile , 1916-
Physical Description: 0.05 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains four correspondence from Lucile Mumaugh to her brother SM2/c Harold E. Summers, USN during the time of
the attack on Pearl Harbor at the beginning of the Second World War. All of these correspondence, which includes one Christmas
card, are marked "return to writer" because at the time of their arrival, SM2/c Summers had already been killed.
On December 5, 1941, Lucile mentions that from what they have been reading the fighting with Japan had already begun, as well
as a discussion of her and her husband's new home.
On December 8, the reports of the attack had been announced and she discusses how they heard on the radio, as well as President
Roosevelt's speech declaring war, stating that it was "both thrilling and dreadful" how quickly the declaration was passed.
She hopes that her brother will "just give those Japs HELL."
On December 14, she sent a Christmas card with a cartoon.
On December 18, she mentions that on the 15th she finally found out that the USS Arizona had been hit and sunk immediately.
She is "trying to stay positive" because "no news is good news" regarding not being informed about her brother's whereabouts
at that point.
box WWII 24, folder 3
Series 3, Other correspondence 1941 December 21 - 1942 July 8
Physical Description: 0.025 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains seven correspondence regarding SM2/c Harold E. Summers, USN and the attack on Pearl Harbor on December
7, 1941. Their are various authors, including his father Orlie Edgar Summers in a Western Union to Harold's grandmother informing
her that Harold was reported Missing In Action on December 21. "Grandma" and "Aunt Carrie" wrote several letters to Lucile
and Robert Mumaugh expresses sadness and condolences, as well as discussion of Harold's brother Robert enlisting before he
is drafted. The last letter is a request from Lucile to the post office attempting to find Harold's fiancé in Los Angeles
to gain any information about his personal life out there that they can.
box Summers 1
Series 4, Clippings and other materials 1941 December - 1966
Physical Description: 1 Linear Feet(1 flat box)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains one scrapbook and one stack of clippings relating to the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
The stack contains 79 clippings from modern papers from 1996-2009 relating to Pearl Harbor anniversaries, memorials, and veterans,
as well as one from December 22, 1941 and one from December 7, 1969. The scrapbook was collected following the attack, approximately
25 pages with some loose materials, and continues to include articles until 1966 that are loose in the back.
The scrapbook begins with focusing on the attack, casualties, rationing, air raid instructions and other war related topics
and are primarily from Akron, Ohio publications. Also included are handwritten transcriptions of death notifications from
the Departments of the Navy and Navigation regarding SM2/c Summer's report of death on the USS Arizona, though he was never
found.
The clippings include photographs of men killed or missing in Pearl Harbor and continue to other battles of the war. The scrapbook
continues to include a reunion program for the USS Arizona, and a carbon copy of the Bronze Star Medal citation given to Sgt.
Robert Summers, USMC on February 26, 1945 for actions on Iwo Jima.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941.
box WWII 24, folder 4
Series 5, Photographs
Physical Description: 0.025 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains one black and white photograph of SM2/c Harold E. Summers, USN in uniform and four panoramic black and
white photographs of an Army unit. There are two similar panoramas of an entire unit and two panoramas with just a few men;
none of whom are identified.
The photograph of SM2/c Summers was deframed and a picture of the frame is printed out in the folder.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War (1939-1945) -- Photography
Photographs
United States. -- Navy
United States. -- Army.
box WWII 24, folder 5
Series 6, Sheet music
Physical Description: 0.025 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains two original and two copies of sheet music. One set is from The American Weekly, song entitled "Marching
Thru Berlin," from the film "Stagedoor Canteen," lyrics by Bob Reed.
The second is entitled "Remember Pearl Harbor." Words by Don Reid, music by Don Reid and Sammy Kaye.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Music
Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941.