Finding Aid for the Robert L. and Beulah M. Biehler Second World War corrrespondence 2022.184.w.r

Zoe Adams

Center for American War Letters Archives

7/6/2022

Leatherby Libraries

Chapman University

Orange, CA 92866

speccoll@chapman.edu

URL: http://www1.chapman.edu/library/archives/

Contributing Institution: Center for American War Letters Archives

Title: Robert L. and Beulah M. Biehler Second World War correspondence

Identifier/Call Number: 2022.184.w.r

Physical Description: 0.5 Linear Feet (8 folders)

Date (inclusive): 1940 August 27 - 1942 April 14

Abstract: This collection contains correspondence to and from Cdt. Robert L. Biehler, USAAC and Beulah M. Peterson during the Second World War.

Language of Material: English .

Container: WWII 166

Container: 1-8

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Susan Schenk.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by author and chronology.

Series 1, Correspondence from Robert to Beulah
Series 2, Correspondence from Beulah to Robert
Series 3, Correspondence from various authors to Robert
Series 4, Correspondence from various authors to Beulah

Biographical / Historical

Cadet Robert Lee "Bob" Biehler, United States Army Air Corps (11/10/1916 - 10/17/1991) was born in Omega, Oklahoma. Before enlisting in the Army, he worked as an electrician and lived with his aunt and uncle in Washington County, Oregon. After joining, he trained for the Air Corps at Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls, Texas before being granted a medical discharge in early 1942 due to chronic headaches.

Robert's brother, Private First Class Kenneth P. Biehler, United States Army also served overseas during the war. He served with Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 158th Field Artillery, 45th Division first at Camp Barkeley, Texas and then at Camp Chorrera, Panama Canal Zone.

Beulah M. "Pete" Peterson (11/19/1924 - 8/25/2015) was born in Oregon to Ole H. Peterson and Laura K. Peterson.

Statement of Potentially Harmful Content

This collection may contain materials that are difficult to view, are potentially harmful, or use outdated and culturally insensitive language. Chapman University preserves and makes these materials accessible to researchers to ensure long-term accuracy of these historical records. This repository aims to not promote or otherwise celebrate this content, but to use it for educational and research purposes.

Please see the National Archives and Records Administration's (NARA) "Statement on Potentially Harmful Content" for more information: https://www.archives.gov/research/reparative-description/harmful-content

Preferred Citation

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Robert L. and Beulah M. Biehler Second World War correspondence (2022.184.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.

Content Description

This collection contains 77 correspondence to and from Cdt. Robert L. "Bob" Biehler, USAAC and Beulah M. "Pete" Peterson before and during the Second World War. Included are 34 letters from Robert to Beulah and two from his brother PFC Kenneth P. Biehler, USA, as well as five letters from Beulah to Robert, one each to Robert from family, a coworker named Bill, and Adel Peters, and five Christmas cards.

Also included in the correspondence are letters to Beulah from other authors, including one from Robert's sister Elizabeth, two from Henry B., ten from Charles "Buster" Amon, and fourteen from Kenneth "Kenny" Mandel.

Conditions Governing Use

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)

Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941.

Military training camps

War -- Medical aspects

United States -- Army -- Air Forces

Series 1, Correspondence from Robert to Beulah 1941 July 19 - 1941 March 2

Physical Description: 0.05 Linear feet(2 folders)

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains 34 correspondence from Robert L. "Bob" Biehler, USAAC to Beulah M. "Pete" Peterson during the Second World War.

The correspondence begins on July 19, 1941 in Beaverton, Oregon, where Bob is working while living with his aunt and uncle. The next letter is written on August 19, 1941 from Fort Lewis, Washington. In it, Bob tells her that he took two exams for the Air Corps and passed. He writes, "I guess I'm in the Air Coprs, but Pete listen closely, I joined up the army to do my part and also to get all the good training I could get." He breaks the news to her that joining the Air Corps means that he agreed to three years of service. He also tells her that he chose to go to Wichita Falls, Texas for training school.

From September 6 to December 1, 1941, he writes from Sheppard Field, the training center in Wichita Falls, Texas. He tells her how much he loves and misses her, and how he is trying to figure out a way to get back to her. He found out that if he completes airplane mechanics course then he may be transferred to Alaska or Panama and he does not want that because it would send him too far from her (he mentions an instructor, Ray Hobbs).

On December 1, 1941 he writes that he is going before the medical discharge board the next day, for what is mentioned in later letters as chronic headaches.

On December 5, 1941, while home in Omega, Oklahoma on a 14 day furlough, Bob writes, "By gosh hon I guess it's about time I broke the news to you and golly Pete I hope you're as pleased with it as I am. Pete, I'm coming home to you."

However, the attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States' declaration of war on Japan complicates his efforts to go back to Oregon. On December 8, 1941, the day after the attack, he writes:

Pete Honey, the situation surely looks bad and I'm not sure now of what's going to happen. Pete you know that I was supposed to get discharged from the Army sometime within the next 2 or 3 weeks, that was before the Japanese situation came up and Darling now I don't know what's up, but sweet you may be sure that if they call upon me to go and fight, sweet I'd go if I had to crawl. Darling this country stands for everything I love and believe in and if they come to the point that they think I shouldn't be discharged well Darling I'll do my part just like the other boys are doing.

Thursday, December 11, 1941:

"Pete had I known war was going to be declared I'd of taken out for Oregon immediately after they gave me my furlough, but Hon it's quite funny they haven't called me back to the field and that's what makes me think my discharge will eventually go through."

On this date, Germany and Italy declared war on the US and Congress issued a declaration of war in return later the same day.

On December 14, 1941, he has returned to Wichita Falls, Texas to await his discharge. He responds to her concern about being so close to the coast with war with Japan having been declared. He also writes that his younger brother, Kenneth, shipped out to an unknown location with the army and that their family is very worried about him. In this letter, he also tells her that is medical discharge was approved by the medical officer at Shepaprd Field, but that he is awaiting approval from the Washington office. This letter includes aggressive language about wanting to defeat Japan and Germany. He tells Pete of his desire to help his country fight, saying, "Oh Pete always remember if they turn my M.D. down I'm ready to give my country the very best that's in me."

From December 18, 1941 to February 6, 1942, he writes from the hospital in Wichita Falls while he awaits medical discharge. During this time he tells her how much he misses and loves her. He discusses wanting to marry her, being worried about Kenneth, and having to go before the medical board four times. He also discusses his conflict in wanting to be with her again but also wishing he could serve his country.

On February 22, 1942 he returns home to Omega, Oklahoma and continues to write about how much he misses her. He dicusses his options for work, saying that he may go to California as he has a sure job there, where in Oregon he would have to spend time looking for work. He continues to express his regret in not being able to serve in the army. On Febraury 26, 1942, he writes, "Pete hone I'm just so darn disguested, here all my pals and even my brother are in the army and what am I doing? Sitting here on the outside."

The last letter in this series is written on March 2, 1942.

Series 2, Correspondence from Beulah to Robert 1941 December 18 - 1942 February 2

Physical Description: 0.025 Linear feet(1 folder)

Scope and Contents

This series contains 5 correspondence from Beulah M. "Pete" Peterson to Cdt. Robert L. "Bob" Biehler, USAAC during the Second World War. The correspondence begins on December 18, 1941 with Pete in Oregon writing to Bob at Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls, Texas. In this letter, she tells Bob about the drills they have to do at school because everyone is scared about being so close to the coast. In the rest of her letters she writes about how much she loves and misses him, and how she hopes his medical discharge goes through.

Series 3, Correspondence from various authors to Robert 1941 November 28 - 1942 February 10

Physical Description: 0.02 Linear feet(2 folders)

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains 11 correspondence from various authors to Cdt. Robert L. "Bob" Biehler, USAAC during the Second World War.

Two of the correspondnece are from Bob's brother, PFC Kenneth P. "Ken" Biehler, USA while Bob is at Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls, Texas and Ken is in the Panama Canal Zone. An additional correspondence was included in one of the envelopes from someone named Duke.

One letter is from Adel Peters. He discusses the football game between the University of Oregon and Oregon State College (now Oregon State University). The letter is originally dated November 28, 1941, however in a note at the bottom of the page Peters writes that two week have past since he wrote it , adding, "please write and let me know what becomes of you from time to time since Japan declared war." The envelope of the letter is post dated Dwecember 8, 1941.

One letter is from a former co-worker of Bob's named Bill on December 9, 1941. Bill tells Bob about people in the office and that he put in an application for the Navy Air Corps.

Five of the correspondence are Christmas cards sent in December of 1941 when Bob was in Wichita, Texas. The cards are from Mr. and Mrs. Yearout, Walt, Irene Korgan, Inez and Olin Nichols, and Carl Peterson.

The last letter in this series is from Bob's mother in Omega, Oklahoma and is dated January 11, 1942. She writes about Ken being far away from hom and says, "as for you wwanting to exchange places with him, don't know why you feel that you should be the one to go instead o him." She also adds, "we know he is all right but I can't help worrying about him."

Series 4, Correspondence from various authors to Beulah 1940 August 27 - 1942 April 14

Physical Description: 0.04 Linear feet(3 folders)

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains 27 correspondence from various authors to Beulah M. "Pete" Peterson before and during the Second World War.

Eight letters are from Kenneth "Kenny" Mandel, starting on August 29, 1940 and ending on January 6, 1942. He writes about flight school and going on dates. The letter from March 24, 1941 includes two photograph negatives.

Sixteen letters are from Charles "Buster" Amon, starting on August 27, 1940 and ending on April 14, 1972. Buster writes to Beulah from Portland until April 3, 1941. From that point on he writes from Oakland, California. Buster discusses his relationship with Beulah and how she has been seeing Bob. Once he moves to California, he refers to himself as her "far away boyfriend."

Two letters are from Henry Bohles. One letter is from Ronbert's mother and sister, Elizabeth.