Finding Aid for the Arthur J. Estes Second World War, Korean War, and Vietnam War correspondence and photographic slides 2021.030.w.r

Frank J. López-Huerta

Center for American War Letters Archives

10/24/2022

Leatherby Libraries

Chapman University

Orange, CA 92866

speccoll@chapman.edu

URL: http://www1.chapman.edu/library/archives/

Contributing Institution: Center for American War Letters Archives

Title: Arthur J. Estes Second World War, Korean War, and Vietnam War correspondence and photographic slides

Creator: Estes, Arthur Jeffry, Chaplain (Colonel), 1921-2012

Creator: Estes, Jeanne Louise née Elliot

source: Estes Knapp, Sharon

Identifier/Call Number: 2021.030.w.r

Physical Description: 2 Linear Feet (39 folders)

Date (inclusive): 1942 June 16 - 2013 March 6

Date (bulk): 1942 June 16 - 1969 November 17

Abstract: This collection contains approximately 1,200 letters written by CH (Col.) Arthur J. Estes, USAR to his wife Jeane E. Estes throughout the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Also included is one box of slides, one self-published memoir, and several personal histories and resumes. Estes served as a chaplain during all three conflicts.

Language of Material: English .

Container: Cold War 5

Container: 1 - 9

Container: Cold War 6

Container: 10 - 21

Container: Cold War 7

Container: 22 - 30

Container: Cold War 8

Container: 31 - 38

Container: VW O-F 1

Container: 39

Container: Estes 1

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Sharon Estes Knapp.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into five series.

Series 1, corresponde from Arthur J. Estes
Series 2, correspondence from other authors
Series 3, Arthur J. Estes memoir
Series 4, other documents
Series 5, photographic slides and other materials

Biographical / Historical

Chaplain (Colonel) Arthur Jeffry Estes, United States Army (1921 - 2012) was born to Arthur M., and Bernice B. Estes in Jacksonville, Florida. Arthur married Jeanne Louise Estes née Elliot on September 5, 1943. Arthur and Jeanne had two daughters, Sharon Jeane and Patricia Suzanne Estes, as well as one son [name unknown].

Statement on 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This collection may contain materials that are difficult to view, are potentially harmful, or use outdated and culturally insensitive language.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

Preferred Citation

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Arthur J. Estes Second World War, Korean War, and Vietnam War correspondence and slides (2021.030.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.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains approximately correspondence from CH (Col.) Arthur J. Estes, USAR to his wife Jeane E. Estes throughout the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Also included is one box of slides, one self-published memoir, and several personal histories and resumes. Estes served as a chaplain during all three conflicts.

Series 1 contains approximately 1,200 letters written by Estes to his wife. Estes continued to write to his family between each conflict while serving from the home front or from abroad. Most of his correspondence records his experiences as a military chaplain, military career goals, and his relationships with military chaplains of different religious sects.

Series 2, also contains two letters written by Jeane E. Estes to Arthur J. Estes, and two letters written by Donald E. Shook to Sharon Estes [Arthur and Jeane's daughter].

Series 3, contains a signed copy of Arthur J. Estes' 2008 memoir, Paratrooper Chaplain: The memoirs of a lifetime of service to military personnel.

Series 4, contains approximately three resumes, one "brief biography" on Arthur J. Estes, and one photocopy of Arthur J. Estes' "Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge" document.

Series 5, contains approximately 200 Kodachrome transparency slides. Most of these slides appear to have been taken in Saigon [Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam] during the Vietnam War.

Conditions Governing Use

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

Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945

World War (1939-1945)

Korean War, 1950-1953.

Korean War -- (1950-1953) -- Correspondence

Vietnam War (1961-1975) -- Correspondence

Christianity

Jesus Christ.

Photographs

Slides (Photography)

Newspaper clippings

World War (1939-1945) -- Personal Narratives

Vietnam War (1961-1975) -- Personal narratives, American

Estes Knapp, Sharon

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

Scope and Contents

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)

Scope and Contents

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)

Scope and Contents

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

Physical Description: .01 Linear Feet(1 folder)

Scope and Contents

This series contains approximately three resumes, one "brief biography" on Arthur J. Estes, and one photocopy of Arthur J. Estes' "Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge" document.

custom-box Estes 1, folder VW O-F 1

Series 5, Photographic slides and other materials 1966 May 23

Physical Description: .2 Linear Feet

Scope and Contents

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)