Finding Aid for the John G. Thursby Second World War correspondence 2016.150.w.r

Lorraine Shaller
Center for American War Letters Archives
28 October 2016
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu


Contributing Institution: Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: John G. Thursby Second World War correspondence
Creator: Thursby, John George, 1916-2006
source: Myers, Della J.
Identifier/Call Number: 2016.150.w.r
Physical Description: .25 Linear Feet (5 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1941 February 25 - 1942 August 9
Abstract: This collection contains letters, photographs, newspaper clippings and a page from a book about the family of Sergeant John G. Thursby, United States Army, before and during the Second World War.
Language of Material: English .
Container: WWII 13
Container: 8-12
Container: 1-5

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Della J. Myers. Legacy collection from Andrew Carroll.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged chronoligcally by material type:
  • Series 1, Correspondence from John G. Thursby
  • Series 2, Photographs
  • Series 3, Thursby Family history
  • Series 4, Newspaper clipping

Preferred Citation

[Item title, Box number, Folder number], John G. Thursby Second World War correspondence (2016.150.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.

Content Description

This collection contains 26 correspondence from SGT John G. Thursby, United States Army to his friends Ogden and Agnes Platt. Thursby describes his life in Headquarters Company, 17th Engineers, Second Armored Division stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia under General George Patton and later outside of Dilworth, North Carolina. He focuses on his assigned vehicles, his division's maneuvers, and the cities he visits. He wrote about the Louisiana Maneuvers, which were the first major war games the US Military conducted prior to the American entrance in the Second World War. He also wrote about losing a friend in the attacks on Pearl Harbor. The collection contains photographs, newspaper clippings, and a page from the Thursby family history. The collection was donated by a member of the Collins family mentioned in Thursby's letters (Letter dated January 5, 1942).

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. For further copyright information, please contact teh archivist.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

World War (1939-1945)
Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941.
United States. -- Army.
Georgia -- Fort Benning
United States -- Army -- Armored division, 2nd
California -- Barstow
Wake Island
Military training camps
World War (1939-1945) -- Photography
World War (1939-1945) -- Newspapers
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
Myers, Della J.

box WWII 13, folder 1-2

Series 1. Correspondence from John Thursby 1941 February 25 - 1942 August 9

Physical Description: .16 Linear Feet(2 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains 26 corresondence from John Thursby to his friends Ogden and Agnes Platt between February 1941 and August 1942. He discusses his routine in basic training, from learning how to march to how to shoot a rifle. Thursby was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he served under General George Patton. He describes a service he attended on Easter where Patton spoke to the assembled soldiers (Letter dated April 13, 1941). He also mentions listening to a speech given by President Franklin D. Roosevelt declaring a state of national emergency on May 27, 1941 (Letter dated June 1, 1941). Thursby's tone grows sober as he relates the discussion at the fort that war will soon be upon them. In one of his letters, he describes the grief he felt when he learned that his friend Bill Collins, a Navy seaman who was stationed on the USS Arizona, died in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (Letter dated January 5, 1942). He also asks for news about another friend, Morgan Dabney, who was stationed at Wake Island when the Japanese invaded. He later discusses the movement of troops of the Second Armored Division to Fort Bragg in North Carolina and indicates that soon, they will be joining the fight. He hints that "I am glad now that I spent ten years on the Desert. It will probably be beneficial to me in the near future" (Letter dated March 22, 1942). The Second Armored division landed in North Africa in November of that year.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

World War (1939-1945)
Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941.
Georgia -- Fort Benning
United States. -- Army.
Wake Island
Military training camps
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
United States -- Army -- Armored division, 2nd
box WWII 13, folder 3

Series 2. Photographs

Physical Description: .01 Linear Feet
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

A collection of three photographs. One shows Thursby, one shows the trucks he drove, and one shows the Thursby family homestead in Barstow, CA.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

World War (1939-1945) -- Photography
Photographs
box WWII 13, folder 4

Series 3. Thursby Family history

Physical Description: .01 Linear Feet
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

A page from the book Once Upon a Desert describing the Thursby family's history in the town of Barstow.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

California -- Barstow
box WWII 13, folder 5

Series 4. Newspaper clipping 1941 June 6

Physical Description: .01 Linear Feet
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

A newspaper clipping showing the 2nd Armored Division at Fort Benning with writing on it by Thursby describing where his company, Headquarters Company, appears in one of the photographs. In another, showing the scope of the units arranged on a field, he jokes, "This will give you an idea of our field inspections."

Subjects and Indexing Terms

World War (1914-1918) -- Newspapers
Newspaper clippings