Finding Aid for the Thompson Family Second World War and Gulf War correspondence 2017.113.w.r
Robert
Center for American War Letters Archives
8/12/2017
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Thompson Family Second World War and Gulf War correspondence
source:
Thompson, Jo
source:
Thompson, Willard
Creator:
Miller, Durand R. , 1922-2008
Creator:
Summers, Terry
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.113.w.r
Physical Description:
.16 Linear feet
(2 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1945-1991
Date (bulk): 1990-1991
Abstract: This collection contains an assortment of letters written during the Persian Gulf War and the Second World War that were donated
by Willard and Jo Thompson. The Persian Gulf War correspondence includes 16 letters that Master Gunnery Sergeant Terry Summers
wrote to Jo Thompson while he served with the Marines in Bahrain during the Persian Gulf War. The Second World War correspondence
consists of transcribed letters that were written by Marine Lieutenant Durand R. Miller, father of Jo Thompson, and describe
the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: Gulf War 1
Container: 1-2
Container: 1-2
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Willard and Jo Thompson.
This collection is arranged by material type, author, and date. Series 1: Gulf War Correspondence from Terry Summers – Series
2: Durand R. Miller Second World War Correspondence.
According to information provided by the donor, Lieutenant Durand R. Miller, United States Marine Corps (b. 11/1922) was born
in New York and raised on Long Island. He graduated from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut in 1944 and attended
Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia. A story in the April 26, 1945 edition of the Nassau Daily Review-Star says
Miller also had a brother, Burton F. Miller, who served in the army air forces.
He served as a lieutenant with the 5th Marine Division and fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima. The donor writes that Miller
was "said to be the surviving 2nd Liet. to walk off of IWO."
Miller was later recalled during the Korean War and served stateside. He left the Marine Corps in 1952 as a captain.
[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Thompson Family correspondence (2017.113.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives,
Chapman University, CA.
This collection contains an assortment of original letters written during the Persian Gulf War and transcribed letters from
the Second World War. The Gulf War correspondence was written by Master Gunnery Sergeant Terry Summers, United States Marine
Corps to Jo and Bill Thompson. Summers writes about the activities on the military base in Bahrain, the activities leading
up to the air campaign, and the challenges that Marines face being far away from home.
The Second World War correspondence consists of transcribed letters that were written by Lt. Durand R. Miller, USMC who was
the father of Jo Thompson. The letters describe the Battle of Iwo Jima and include a description of the various stages of
the campaign. The letters were published in the Nassau Daily Review-Star.
Miller fought with the 5th Marines and, according to the donor, was "said to be the only surviving 2nd Lieut. to walk off
of IWO."
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
Persian Gulf War (1991) -- Correspondence
Persian Gulf War (1991)
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945) -- Campaigns -- Japan -- Iwo Jima (Volcano Islands)
Thompson, Jo
Thompson, Willard
box Gulf War 1, folder 11
Series 1, Gulf War correspondence from Terry Summers 1990 November - 1991 February
Physical Description: .1 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains correspondence that MGSgt. Terry Summers, USMC wrote to Jo Thompson while serving with the Marines in
Bahrain during the Gulf War. The letters discuss the start of the air and ground campaigns during the Gulf War, the activities
on the Marine base, the climeate in Bahrain, and Marines' struggles with loneliness.
Letters of note include a letter from December 29, 1990 in which Summers recounts how he got the orders to go to the Persian
Gulf earlier in the year. A January 19, 1991 discuss the activity on January 16, 1991 before the start of the air campaign.
Summers writes that "the night of the 16th we went to sleep with a pretty good idea it was going to kick off." He adds that
they got shots in the arms and hips they had not received before and that they started taking pills for nerve gas around noon
that day.
A Feb 4, 1991 letter metnions SCUD attacks on Bahrain and the beginning of the ground war. A few letters address the anti-war
marches in the United States. A February 8, 1991 letter mentions two men getting "Dear John" letters from their wives.
In a letter postmarked December 29 1990, Summers mentions getting his picture taken with a four star general (General Grey?
It could be General Alfred Gray Jr.).
The series also contains a newspaper clipping from the January 24, 1991 edition of the Gulf Daily News.
box Gulf War 1, folder 2
Series 2, Second World War correspondence from Durand R. Miller 1945
Physical Description: .025 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains transcribed letters that Lt. Durand R. Miller, USMC sent to his parents after the Battle of Iwo Jima
in 1944. According to information provided by the donor, the letters were published in the Nassau Daily Review-Star.
In the letters, Miller writes about the battle and its different phases, with brief week-by-week descriptions. He also writes
of being wounded during the battle when he was hit by shrapnel. Miller writes that there "isn't a Marine on all of IWO who
hasn't a piece of lead or steel in him some where -- and I'm no exception." However, Miller's injury did not require medical
attention.
Miller fought with the 5th Marines and, according to the donor, was "said to be the only surviving 2nd Lieut. to walk off
of IWO."