Finding Aid for the Leo C. Bowers Second World War and Korean War correspondence 2022.145.w.r
Zoe Adams
Center for American War Letters Archives
9/20/2022
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Leo C. Bowers Second World War and Korean War correspondence
source:
Pine, Jeanne-Ann Rix
Creator:
Bowers, Leo Charles, Corporal, b. 1919
Identifier/Call Number: 2022.145.w.r
Physical Description:
0.15 Linear Feet
(2 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1945 February 17 - 1951 May 3
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence from Cpl. Leo C. "Pud" Bowers, USA to his half-sister Elizabeth Rix and her husband
Paul Rix during the Second World War and the Korean War. Also included in the collection is one Japanese-issued ten pesos
note and one Bank of America check.
Material Specific Details: The letters from April 17, 1951 and May 3, 1951 arrived in envelopes stamped with the year 1945. However, the A.P.O. and content
of the letters indicate that the year of the stamp is incorrect and that the letters were actually written in 1951.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 89
Container: 7-8
Container: 1-2
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Jeanne-Ann Rix Pine
This collection is arranged by material type and in chronological order.
Corporal Leo Charles "Pud" Bowers, United States Army (b. 4/20/1919) was born in Albion, Illinois to Smith Bowers. He married
Elizabeth M. Bowers. Leo was referred to as "Pud" and Elizabeth was referred to as "Cotton."
[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Leo C. Bowers Second World War and Korean War correspondence (2022.145.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 26 correspondence from Cpl. Leo C. "Pud" Bowers, USA to his half-sister, Elizabeth Rix and her husband,
Paul Rix, during the Second World War and the Korean War. Also included in the collection is one Japanese-issued ten pesos
note and one Bank of America check.
The correspondence begins on February 17, 1945 while Bowers is overseas and ends on December 28, 1946 when Bowers has returned
home to Illinois. Over the course of the letters, Bowers writes from the Philippine Islands, Japan, Illinois, and Korea.
In his letters, Bowers asks about the wellbeing of his sister and her husband, discusses his letters with his father, whom
he refers to as Pop, and his wife, Cotton. He also writes about the weather, food, and daily activities, such as swimming,
listening to the radio and sleeping.
In the first letter, he writes, "the war news really sounds good. Maybe I will see you all this year. I hope so." In this
letter he also mentions that he is not allowed to write much because of the Army Examiner (censor).
Five of the correspondence are V-Mail, all written while Bowers is in the Philippines. The letters from the Philippines are
dated from May 26 to August 26, 1945. On August 20, 1945, he writes about celebrating the end of the war. On August 26, he
writes about Victory over Japan day, saying that they heard about the celebration in San Francisco over the radio. A Japanese
Government ten peso note was included in the envelope of this letter.
From November 14 and November 25, 1945, Bowers writes from Japan, where is waiting for transportation to return back to the
United States.
From January 17 to December 28, 1946, Bowers writes from Albion and Mattoon, Illinois. The letter on January 17 includes a
portion written by Cotton. In these letters, he discusses his life after the war and his family.
The letters from the Korean War are dated from April 9, 1951 to May 3, 1951. On April 9, he writes, "we are north of the parallel
now. Where I am I can stand in both South and North Korea." This letter does not have an envelope. On April 27, he writes
about the movement of the troops south of the 38th parallel.
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
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945)
World War (1939-1945) -- Philippines.
Bank notes -- Philippines
World War (1939-1945) -- Japan
World War (1939-1945) -- Pacific Area
Korean War, 1950-1953.
Korean War -- (1950-1953) -- Correspondence
Pine, Jeanne-Ann Rix