Havel, Thomas E. (Second World War correspondence), 1944 June 4 - 1945 August 21

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Summary

Title:
Thomas E. Havel Second World War correspondence
Dates:
1944 June 4 - 1945 August 21
Creators:
Havel, Thomas Earl, Captain, 1911-1989 and Havel, Richard W.
Abstract:
This collection contains approximately 70 letters written by Capt. Thomas E. Havel, USA to his wife Elizabeth Havel née Shilts during the Second World War. This collection also contains one transcribed letter from Havel to Pie Johnson, Nazi propaganda leaflets and booklets, postcards, photographs, photocopied documents, and photocopied photographs of Capt. Havel's medals.
Containers:
box: WWII 172
folder: 1-6
folder: 1-6
Extent:
1 Linear Feet (6 folders)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Thomas E. Havel Second World War correspondence (2022.173.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.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains approximately 70 letters written by Capt. Thomas E. Havel, USA to his wife Elizabeth Havel née Shilts during the Second World War. This collection also contains one transcribed letter from Havel to Pie Johnson on April 29, 1945 that discussed his encounters with survivors of Nazi concentration camps. This collection also includes Nazi propaganda leaflets and booklets intended for US servicemembers in the European Theater of Operations. This collection also contains postcards, photographs, photocopied documents and photocopied photographs of Capt. Havel's medals.

Biographical / historical:

Captain Thomas Earl "Tom" Havel, United States Army (1911 - 1989) was born in Montgomery, Minnesota to Thomas Nichols Havel and Henrietta Cecelia Havel née Thaler. He was the second eldest of 5 children, two brothers, and two sisters. Havel graduated from Sherman High School in 1929 and graduated from Creighton University Medical School in 1935.

Havel met Elizabeth Shilts while studying at Creighton University Medica School. Shilts earned her degree as a registered nurse from St. Catherine's hospital in 1935 and, in 1936 married Havel.

Capt. Havel served as a general surgeon with the 110th Medical Battalion attached to the 35th Division between 1942 through 1945. According to the donor he "was Platoon Leader supervising evacuation of casualties and emergency medical treatment [and] . . . . Performed emergency operations." He was awarded the Bronze Star for "meritorious service from July 11, 1944 to April 24, 1945 in the European Theater."

Thomas E. and Elizabeth Havel moved their family to Santa Monica, CA in 1950 after he accepted a position with St. John's Hospital. Together they raised five children. In 1964, Havel was "recognized by his peers and selected to serve as Chief of Staff for St. John's [Hospital]."

Acquisition information:
Gift of Richard W. Havel.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged by material type, and chronological order:

  • Series 1, Thomas E. Havel correspondence
  • Series 2, Ephemera
  • Series 3, Other papers

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Frank J. López-Huerta
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2022-08-25 17:23:50 -0400 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Thomas E. Havel Second World War correspondence (2022.173.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.

Contact:
(714) 532-7716
privette@chapman.edu
Website