Finding Aid for the Cesare J. Verda Second World War correspondence 2022.132.w.r
Frank J. López-Huerta
Center for American War Letters Archives
4/15/2022
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Cesare J. Verda Second World War correspondence
source:
Clunen, Phyllis Verda
Identifier/Call Number: 2022.132.w.r
Physical Description:
.01 Linear Feet
(1 folder)
Date (inclusive): 1942 September 15 - 1944 May 25
Abstract: This collection contains letters addressed to Cesare J. Verda and Dominic Verda from friends and family during the Second
World War.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 127
Container: 11
Container: 1
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Verda/Clunen Family, donated by Phyllis Verda Clunen
This collection is arranged according to its original order.
[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Cesare Verda Second World War correspondence (2022.132.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 letters addressed to Cesare James Verda and Dominic Verda written by their friends during the Second
World War:
- George Victor Envall, Jr., United States Navy Reserve who wrote from Peru, Nebraska
- Private Robert Grate, United States Army who served with the 32nd Signal "Ing." Battalion
- William T. "Bill" Shelton, United States Coast Guard who served on the USS Murzim in the South Pacific
- Corporal Henri Corradi, United States Army who wrote from the Pacific Theater of war
Also included is one photocopied letter from their eldest brother Dario Matteo Verda, United States Army who wrote from Camp
Cooke, California during the Second World War.
George V. Envall, Jr., USNR wrote about his V-12 training in Peru, Nebraska. In his July 5, 1943 letter, he lists his courses:
"navigation I . . . physics I . . . math II, and naval organization." By July 17, 1943, he described his training as "a swell
deal in this V-12 because everything is new" after which he joked that he nearly poked his eye out saluting an officer.
Pvt Robert D. "Bob" Grate, USA wrote May 9, 1943, to share news of friends stationed all over the United States. He also wrote
about their friend George V. Envall Jr. becoming president of Hi-Y. According to the donor, Hi-Y was a "service group designed
to promote Christian values which was formed in 1889 by the YMCA for high school age boys. George Envall and all three Verda
brothers belonged to this organization."
William T. "Bob" Shelton, USNR wrote October 24, 1943, to ask if the US Army has contacted him or any of the Verda brothers
saying, "I hope you stay there 'cause (sic) there is no place like home and I don't mean perhaps."
Cpl Henri Corradi, USA wrote May 25, 1944, from "somewhere in New Guinea" to ask about the Verda family's well-being. He stated
"it ain't (sic) heaven down here. . . but I sure wish it would get over with real soon."
Dario M. Verda, USA wrote September 9, 1942, from Camp Cooke, California. He explained that "there's not much doing here yet"
but at Camp Cooke he learned that one of their acquaintance's son was drafted and now assigned to the Military Police.
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
United States. -- Navy
World War (1939-1945) -- Pacific campaign -- Guam
World War (1939-1945)
Clunen, Phyllis Verda
Verda, Cesare J., 1918-2009