Finding Aid for the Lucy A. Ingram Second World War correspondence 2017.560.w.r
Lorraine Shaller
Center for American War Letters Archives
11/15/17
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Lucy A. Ingram Second World War correspondence
source:
Ingram, Lucy A.
Creator:
Bell, Joe
Creator:
Oborne, Francis Joseph
Creator:
Hansen, Paul J.
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.560.w.r
Physical Description:
0.08 Linear feet
(1 folder)
Date: 1946 October 25
Date: 1944 May 17
Date: 1945 February 14
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence and photographs from three soldiers, PFC Paul J. "Jack" Hansen, Sgt. Joe Bell, and
PFC Francis Joseph "Fran" Oborne during the Second World War.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 19
Container: 8
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Lucy A. Ingram
This collection is arranged chronologically.
[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Lucy A. Ingram Second World War correspondence (2017.560.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 correspondence from three soldiers, Private First Class Paul J. "Jack" Hansen, Sergeant Joe Bell,
and Private First Class Francis Joseph "Fran" Oborne during the Second World War. Oborne was the donor Lucy Ingram's cousin.
He was killed on Iwo Jima in 1945 and his remains were buried at the San Francisco Military Cemetery.
In his letter of October 1946, Jack Hansen writes of his wish to return to the United States and discusses his fellow soldiers'
and his efforts to paint one of their offices in Guam. Joe Bell writes from New Guinea where he was stationed in 1944. Mostly,
he discusses his hut he built on the beach and about swimming in the ocean. He mentions someone saw a crocodile on the beach,
and says he does not want to tangle with one of them. He also discusses going though a former Japanese encampment and finding
money from the Japanese invasion. He and his friends apparently went to the Post Exchange with that money and bought a carton
of cigarettes with it, despite it not being an acceptable form of currency. The final letter from Francis Oborne is dated
February 14, 1945. In it, he talks about his plans for the future coaching football at USC and how much he misses playing
tennis with his cousin. Then he tells her he still has a lock of her hair and her picture in his wallet. Oborne was killed
during the invasion of Iwo Jima less than two weeks later.
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. For further copyright information, please contact the archivist.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945)
World War (1939-1945) -- Pacific Area
Ingram, Lucy A.