Finding Aid for the Bill E. Johnson post-Second World War correspondence 2017.598.w.r
Andrew Harman
Center for American War Letters Archives
5/30/2019
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Bill E. Johnson post-Second World War correspondence
source:
Johnson, Sharon
Creator:
Johnson, Bill E. , Technician Fifth Grade
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.598.w.r
Physical Description:
.08 Linear feet
(1 folder)
Date (inclusive): 1947 April 14 - June 17
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence from T/5 Bill E. Johnson, USA to his wife Sharon after the Second World War.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 148
Container: 1
Container: 1
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Sharon Johnson.
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Technician Fifth Grade Bill E. Johnson, United States Army was born in Cashe, Oklahoma and moved to Hughson, California during
elementary school. He lived in Empire, Stanislaus County, CA when he enlisted in the Army and was later stationed at Camp
Stoneman in Staging Section Command. His wife Sharon and both their parents stilled lived in Hughson, only approximately 75
miles away from Camp Stoneman, which was the San Francisco Port of Embarkation until 1954 when the base was decommissioned.
During their correspondence, T/5 Johnson was nearly out of the Army and Sharon was pregnant with their first daughter, born
shortly before his discharge.
[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Bill E. Johnson post-Second World War correspondence (2017.598.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.
This collection contains seventeen correspondence written by T/5 Bill E. Johnson, USA to his wife Sharon after the Second
World War. The correspondence was written between April and June 1947 during the last months of Johnson's service and while
Sharon was pregnant with their first daughter. Johnson frequently urges her to go to the doctor and take care of herself,
as well as planning to save money for the birth. The letters were written from Camp Stoneman, California, not far from where
they lived in Hughson, CA and most of his letters were written on Monday or Tuesday after spending the weekend with her. Some
of the letters are covered in lipstick kisses and two are dated 1946 by Johnson on accident.
Of note is a couple mentions of rooster fighting and two letters that mirror each other because one was written while drunk,
and the writing is scribbled, while the other reiterates the same message the next day with no mention of the previous letter.
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Armed Forces -- Correspondence
Johnson, Sharon