Creator: Keeler, Walter, 1914-?
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
This series contains 185 correspondence written by T/SGT Walter Keeler, USAAF to his wife Florence (neé Mesner) in the year
1945. These correspondence cover the earliest days of their relationship through the first few months of their marriage.
The majority of Walter's correspondence are romantic in nature and, for the most part, discuss two things: the weather - usually
in the first paragraph - and his love for Florence. All other topics are, more or less, incidental: even VE Day gets only
a passing mention (see letter dated May 8, 1945).
There is one letter in which Walter provides some rather poignant insights relating to the atomic bomb: "The last report I
heard tonight is that we dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki which created utter destruction . . . makes one wonder about the
future of the world if it gets into the hands of unscrupulous nations such as Nazi Germany or Japan" (see letter dated August
9, 1945).
Also included are several cards from Walter to Florence.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945)
Atomic bomb -- Japan
United States -- Army -- Air Forces
Nagasaki-shi (Japan) -- History -- Bombardment, 1945
V-E Day (1945)