Harry F. Smith, Jr. Second World War correspondence, 1944 - 1995, bulk 1944 - 1946 May

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Summary

Creators:
Smith, Harry F., Mr., Jr.
Abstract:
This collection contains the correspondence and other material from SK3 Class Harry F. Smith, Jr., USN to his family during the Second World War.
Extent:
1 Linear Feet (2 document boxes)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Harry F. Smith, Jr. Second World War correspondence (2015.111.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 URL's, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains the correspondence from SK3 Harry F. Smith, Jr., USN to his family during the Second World War. The collection also contains photographs, ephemera, booklets, empty envelopes, and a map of San Diego. The photographs, ephemera and two of the booklets were sent along with correspondence.

The correspondence details the service of SK3 Smith during his training and deployment in the Pacific theater. He began training in April 1945 at the United States Naval Training Center (USNTC) at Camp Decateur in San Diego, Ca. He detailed the training program for his parents up until departure out of San Diego Harbor on the Cruiser Biloxi on July 19. After the censors had eased at the end of the war, in a letter dated September 4, 1945, he wrote a letter detailing his travel by ship to Pearl Harbor and then to Guam in the Marianas Islands chain. This includes training in the Pacific of simulating planes dive-bombing their ship. After writing as a Seaman First Class for most of his service, he was promoted to Storekeeper Third Class on March 3, 1946 and departed Guam for the United States on May 23, 1946 aboard the Billy Mitchell. His last letter to his parents was dated the day before his departure.

Biographical / historical:

Storekeeper Third Class Harry Fay Smith, Jr., United States Navy was born in Los Angeles in 1927 to his parents, Harry Fay Smith, Sr. and May J. Smith. He joined the Navy at the age of 18 in April 1945. He continued to serve and deployed to the Pacific theater until after the war when he returned to the United States in May 1946.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Harry Fay Smith, Jr., 10/29/2015.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged by material type and date:

  • Series 1, Correspondence from Harry F. Smith, Jr.
  • Series 2, Booklets
  • Series 3, Map of San Diego

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:

[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Harry F. Smith, Jr. Second World War correspondence (2015.111.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 URL's, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Contact:
(714) 532-7716
privette@chapman.edu
Website