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Estes, Arthur J. (Second World War, Korean War, and Vietnam War correspondence and photographic slides)
2021.030.w.r
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Table of contents
box Cold War 5, box Cold War 6, box Cold War 7
Series 1, Correspondence from Arthur J. Estes 1942 June 16 - 1949 September 19
Physical Description: .5 Linear Feet(9 folders)
Statement of Potentially Harmful Content
This collection may contain materials that are difficult to view, are potentially harmful, or use outdated and culturally
insensitive language. Chapman University preserves and makes these materials accessible to researchers to ensure long-term
accuracy of these historical records. This repository aims to not promote or otherwise celebrate this content, but to use
it for educational and research purposes.
Please see the National Archives and Records Administration's (NARA) "Statement on Potentially Harmful Content" for more information:
https://www.archives.gov/research/reparative-description/harmful-content
This series contains approximately 1,200 letters written by CH. (Col.) Arthur J. Estes, USAR to his wife, Jeane L. Estes
throughout the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. This series also contains 12 postcards, one photographic
print, one hand-drawn floor plan, and approximately 20 ephemera.
1942:
The earliest correspondence written by Ch. (Col.) Arthur J. Estes to Jeane L. Estes date back to the summer of 1942. He predominantly
recorded words of love for Jeane, the weather, and detailes about life in the military service.
1943:
Estes wrote to Jeane during spring and early summer of 1943. He predominantly recorded his words of love for Jeane, the weather,
and his religious activities as a military Chaplain.
In a letter dated May 24, 1943 Estes reflected that "it has been a very interesting life so far, especially the last 5. I
have found Christ, answered his call to the minestry [sic], and have found you. . . . After all, what more important things
could happen to a man than to find his life, his work and his life mate."
1944:
Estes wrote to Jeane during the summer months of 1944. He predominantly recorded his experiences while attending seminary
school in Seminary Hill, Texas. His letters also contain matters related to his personal relationships with god, local congregations,
and his cohort.
1945:
Estes wrote to Jeane between July 1 to December 31, 1945 to keep her updated on his well-being, the local weather, and reflection
on his activities as a military chaplain.
In November 6, 1945 Estes wrote from Manila Bay. He noted that "we passed Corregidor and got a look at the destruction. The
bombed out [sic] buildings on top were visible against the sky." Estes further recorded the result of war in the city of Manila,
Philippines stating that "hardly a building has not been damaged and all important [sic] structures have been demolished."
1946:
Estes wrote prolifically to Jeane from January 2, 1946 to December 26, 1946 while serving in various locations throughout
the Pacific after the Second World War. He predominantly wrote about the weather, his reflections on obtaining promotions,
and daily activities as a military chaplain.
1947:
Estes wrote to Jeane throughout 1947 from China, Japan, the Korean Peninsula, the Philippines, and Hawaii after the Second
World War.
In a letter dated February 17, 1947 Estes reflected on a radio broadcast "that four transports will be put on duty evacuating
personnel from Shanghai to Manila." He acknowledged that "we're expecting to be one of them but will not know until later."
Estes wrote from Shanghai on July 15, 1947.
1948:
Estes wrote to Jeane while travelling between Japan and Korea after the Second World War.
1949:
Estes wrote to Jeane while training as "duty chaplain" and during his time as a student at The Chaplain school in the "Carlisle
Barracks, Pennsylvania" after the Second World War.
1950:
Estes wrote to Jeane from Camp San Luis Obispo, CA about his religious services as a military chaplain during the Korean War.
In a letter dated June 30, 1950 he stated that "rumors are rife here, of course. I think very few expect to be civilian again
soon. I just saw an L.A. paper . . ., and find that Russia, so far, is keeping 'hands off.' I expect that we chaplains will
be snowed under with requests for emergency leave and outright discharge."
1951
Estes wrote to Jeane from Fort Ord in Monterey, CA during the Korean War.
1952:
Estes wrote to Jeane and their children from various locations during the Korean War. He predominantly wrote about his religious
services as a military chaplain, reflected on his relationships with chaplains of other Christian sects within the military,
and his humanitarian efforts.
Estes wrote from the following locations during 1952:
- USS General Mitchell
- USS General Gordon
- Camp Drake replacement camp, Tokyo, Japan
- Sasebo, Japan
- Busan, South Korea
- Daegu, South Korea
- unspecified locations in North Korea
1953:
Estes wrote to Jeane while serving in Korea and eventually from the home front about his daily activities as a military chaplain,
Operation Smack, and operation Pork Chop Hill while serving during the Korean War.
In a letter dated February 3, 1953 Estes wrote to Jeane about his activities with the 7th Infantry Division in Korea and shared
his opinions regarding headlines that Operation Smack was a publicity stunt.
1954:
Estes wrote from Camp Carson and Camp Hale, Colorado during the early months of 1954.
1955:
Estes wrote to Jeane from Camp Rucher, Alabama during the Vietnam War.
1958:
Estes wrote to Jeane while touring Egypt, Greece, and Turkey during the Vietnam War.
1960:
Estes wrote a single letter that is inscribed by an unknown author,"1960 - December?" He briefly wrote about his plans to
attend a chaplain retreat in Japan during the month of November [potentially 1960].
1962:
Estes wrote a single letter to Jeane on May 23, 1962 about his efforts to recruit students.
1966:
Estes wrote approximately 310 letters to Jeane predominantly from Saigon [Ho Chi Minh City] during the Vietnam War. He wrote
about a variety of topics including living and working conditions at the Saigon Head Quarters; descriptions of local people,
customs, and clothing; and his activities as a military chaplain serving throughout Vietnam, including location described
as "up country" during the Vietnam War.
In a letter dated May 5, 1966 Estes wrote from Saigon about photographing "the palace, home of the Chief of State, cathedral
[and] Kennedy Square, City Hall, Street Sewers, the river front, the main Buddhist temple (where most of the latest demonstrations
have taken place)."
1967:
Estes wrote five letters to Jeane during the Vietnam War.
1969:
Estes wrote two letters to Jeane during the Vietnam War.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945)
World War (1939-1945) -- Pacific Area
Christianity
Jesus Christ.
Communist revolution in China
World War (1939-1945) -- China
Korean War -- (1950-1953) -- Correspondence
Korean War 1950-1953 -- Homefront
Vietnam War (1961-1975) -- Vietnam.
Vietnam War (1961-1975) -- Correspondence
box Cold War 8
Series 2, Correspondence from other authors 1946 April 3 - 2013 March 6
Physical Description: .01 Linear Feet(1 folder)
This series contains four letters written by two authors during various years. Jeane E. Estes sent two letters to her husband,
Arthur J. Estes on April 3, 1946 and on September 5, 2006. Donald E. Shook of the 17th Infantry Regiment Association wrote
two letters to Sharon Estes.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945)
box Cold War 8
Series 3, Arthur J. Estes memoir 2008
Physical Description: .04 Linear Feet(1 folder)
This series contains a signed copy of Arthur J. Estes' 2008 memoir,
Paratrooper Chaplain: The memoirs of a lifetime of service to military personnel.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Vietnam War (1961-1975) -- Vietnam.
Vietnam War (1961-1975) -- Correspondence
Vietnam War (1961-1975) -- Personal narratives, American
World War (1939-1945)
World War (1939-1945) -- Personal Narratives
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
Korean War, 1950-1953.
Korean War -- (1950-1953) -- Correspondence
box Cold War 8
Series 4, Other documents 1971 July 1
custom-box Estes 1, folder VW O-F 1
Series 5, Photographic slides and other materials 1966 May 23
Physical Description: .2 Linear Feet
This series contains approximately 200 Kodachrome transparencies that appear to have been taken predominantly in Saigon (modern-day
Ho Chi Minh City), likely during the Vietnam War. The donor originally categorized these transparencies into four groups.
- Group-1, contains approximately 32-transparencies originally accompanied by a note inscribed "101st Ft. Campbell."
- Group-2, contains approximately 25-transparencies without any indications of a group title.
- Group-3, contains approximately 10-transparencies originally accompanied by a note inscribed "Vietnam (to go)."
- Group-4, contains approximately 129-tranparencies originally accompanied by a note inscribed "V.N. Vietnam."
This series also contains one newspaper clipping from the front page of the "Saigon Daily News" published May 23, 1966.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Vietnam War (1961-1975) -- Vietnam.
Photographs
Slides (Photography)