Physical Description: .025 Linear Feet(3 Folders)
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
This series contains three folders with written correspondence from various military soldiers to Lola Cannon Pefley during
the Second World War, which includes correspondence from 1928-1952. This series contains 61 written correspondence, 12 V-Mail,
18 postcards, one holiday card and four addressed envelopes with no letter attached. Correspondence about life in service
and mutual friends.
Folder 7 - Letters to Margaret Thomas from Bell Chambers, 05-13-28 and 01-05-29 regarding work, school and gift exchanging.
Letters from Sergeant Charles A. Cunningham (07-28-42), where he states to Lola Pefley, "I am happy to know that you keep
in touch with so many of the boys and know they appreicaite it just as much as I do" and also, "On the serious side of the
ledger, you find so little of your spiritual altruism being practiced any more. It is perhaps what we need more than anything
else. It is a complete absence of it that makes our world the unsafe place that it is to live in and that makes for so much
unhappiness," (09-08-42). Corporal Ben L. Lewis wrote that he was able to interview General Persons in Louisiana after he
had to find him "deep in the maneuver jungle" of training. He also spoke of meeting up with "old gal Gloria," drinking sherry
and having an interlude with Gloria's mom, (09-25-42). Sergeant Kent Thorton wrote about a little not to Lola about being
in the hospital for a few days and how mental depression seems "like a nightmare," (09-28-42). V-mail from Lafayette Newcome,
commented to Lola that she never stated she was married, (11-11-42).
Folder 8 - V-mail valentine drawing from Walter. A graduation card from Candidate Ed Beebe, Second Lieutenant US Army, (03-03-43).
A letter from Corporal George E. Thomas a.k.a. "Big Eddie," (05-12-43) and another one on 05-21-43 with an enclosed poem to
Red, Lola's husband, titled "Chinese Talk." A V-Mail written by Corporal W. H. Granham stated, "What do you think of the war
news now? Isn't it good and just think how sad Hitler must be now. They are getting repaid for everything they started, and
there is more to come here after, too," (05-16-43). Brief information was given about Lola writing a book from Corporal James
Rawlins Thompson, US Army, (07-21-43), and also on 08-27-43. Most letters spoke of the furloughs the soldiers were waiting
for.
Folder 9 - V-Mail from Lamar Conant, 02-08-44, spoke of Black Eddie's death and how he was the first one to get to Black Eddie
and how "He never suffered at all." He also stated that demotions were being issued to soldiers, incluing himself. A letter
from Aunt Dixie, Big Eddie. Two letters from Sergeant Vincent A. Aaron where he speaks of his malaria that he has in Italy,
(01-17-45), and a soldier named "Smith" who was killed in an accident on Christams Eve, 1944. Postcards received by friends.