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Cook, Kieth L. (Second World War correspondence)
2017.615.w.r
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Keith L. Cook Second World War correspondence
Creator:
Cook, Keith L. , Private First Class, b. 1927
Creator:
Ward, Dale S., Sergeant
Creator:
Wenger, Russel J. , Sergeant, b. 1924
source:
Ramp, Rebecca S.
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.615.w.r
Physical Description:
.5 Linear Feet
(5 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1945 May 09 - 1946 September 24
Abstract: This collection contains the correspondence of PFC Kieth L. Cook, USA while training during and after the Second World War
ended and his overseas duty in Japan after the Second World War ended. Included are letters written to the Cook family from
another family member serving, SGT Russel J. Wenger, and a family friend, SGT Dale S. Ward. There is also one photograph of
PFC Cook and his sisters, as well as an honor roll pamphlet.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 149
Container: 6-10
Container: 1-5
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Rebecca S. Ramp, daughter of PFC Kieth L. Cook, USA
This collection is arranged chronologically in the following series:
- Series 1, Correspondence from Kieth to family
- Series 2, Correspondence to Cook family and photograph
Private First Class Kieth L. Cook, United States Army (b. 1/7/1927) was born in Elkhart, Indiana. He graduated from Jimtown
High School in 1945. He registered for the draft on January 8, 1945, and his first letter began on May 9, 1945. PFC Cook trained
as an Infantryman at Camp Livingston, LA. after completion of training he was shipped to Fort Ord, CA where he embarked to
Japan. After the war, PFC Cook worked in a foundry, drove a school bus, and farmed/milked dairy cattle until he retired in
1991.
The other two writers included in this collection are Sergeant Dale S. Ward, United States Army who was a family friend and
attended high school with PFC Cook, and Sergeant Russel J. Wenger, United States Army. Russel J. Wenger (03-13-1924) was born
in Wakarusa, IN to Russel Lowell Wenger and Ruth Viola (Weldy) Wenger. He attended school in Wakarusa from 1st through 7th
grades. He then moved to Ohio and worked on Meadow Home Farm while attending eighth and ninth grade at Russel School in Russel,
OH. He attended Chester School for his grade 10 through 12 and lived and worked at Tellings Belle Vernon Farm in Novelty,
OH. after returning from service in the army, he married Doris Russell (8-24-1946) and stayed within his sisters home, where
the West Geauga High Scool building is now located.
[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Kieth L. Cook Second World War correspondence (2017.615.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 105 Correspondence from PFC Keith L. Cook, USA to his mother, Mrs. Cook, and the rest of the family
during the Second World War. This collection also contains three correspondence from SGT Russell J. Wagner, USA to his aunt,
Mrs. Cook, PFC Cook's mother, during the Second World War as well as one correspondence from SGT Dale S. Ward, USA to Mrs.
Cook during the Second World War. Additionally included are one photograph and one honor roll pamphlet.
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
Basic training (Military education)
Christianity
Church buildings.
Japanese paper
Japan -- History
United States -- Army -- Pacific Theater of Operations
V-J Day, 1945
V-mail
World War (1939-1945) -- Japan
Ramp, Rebecca S.