Conditions Governing Access
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Arrangement
Biographical / Historical
Preferred Citation
Content Description
Conditions Governing Use
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Ann Volk Second World War correspondence
Creator:
Langerholc, Philip
Creator:
Langerholc, Larry
source:
Beaven, Phyllis
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.324.w.rd
Physical Description:
0.08 Linear feet
(1 folder)
Date (inclusive): 1943 September 16 - October 5
Abstract: This collection contains letters and a funeral card from SSgt. Philip Langerholc and Sgt. Larry Langerholc to their sister
Ann Volk during the Second World War.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 20
Container: 9
Container: 1
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Phyllis Beaven.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by author and date.
Biographical / Historical
As given by the donor, who is the daughter of Ann Volk, the sister of both Philip and Larry, "Staff Sgt. Philip Langerholc:
Born in Johnstown, PA and graduated from Johnstown High School. He was a marine in World War II and was 19 years old when
he was killed in action at Guadal Canal [sic] on September 21, 1943, just 5 days after he sent a letter to my mother. The
… letter .. was addressed to my mother, Mrs. John (Ann) Volk, and my dad. It was dated September 16, 1943, and postmarked
the next day. A few days later he was killed in action at Guadal Canal [sic] … Sgt. Larry Langerholc: Born in West Newton,
PA. He graduated from Johnstown High School, Johnstown, PA. He volunteered for the Army in 1941. He landed in France on VE
Day. He spent time in post-war Germany. Upon an honorable discharge from the Army, he returned to Johnstown, PA, where he
lived for the rest of his life. He married and fathered 4 children… The… letter… was addressed to my mother (his sister),
Mrs. John (Ann) Volk. It was dated October 5, 1943. He had recently learned that his brother, Philip, was killed in action
in September 1943."
Preferred Citation
[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Ann Volk Second World War correspondence (2017.324.w.r), Center for American War
Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
Content Description
This collection is available online in Chapman University's Digital Commons: https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/avolk_correspondence
This collection contains two letters written to Ann Volk from her brothers Staff Sergeant Philip Langerholc and Sergeant Larry
Langerholc during the Second World War. The collection also contains a funeral card from Philip with a picture of him on the
back. Enscribed on the funeral card is, "In Memory of S. Sgt. Phillip Langerholc Born May 25, 1923 Killed in action September
21, 1943 'He gave his life for his country; his memory will live forever.' Meek Funeral Home Johnstown, PA." The first letter
of the collection was written by Philip to Ann. On the envelope there is a message that seems to have been written at a later
date that reads, "Last letter re'd from Phil. Killed in action telegram rec'd Sept 30." In this letter, dated September 17,
1943, Philip talks about how happy he was to receive letters from Ann and Fran saying that although they were nice letters,
"just to see the envelopes was enough to make me happy." He talks about how he has not heard from Rudy and that he does not
write enough but surmises that " I sometimes wonder how in the world I can ever find anything to write about my self." He
ends his letter by writing these sullen words: "Please don't worry about my being in action. Cause I'm not (not exactly anyway).
All I see is a few bombs dropped now and then. Those Japs sure are pests – all they do is keep us awake all nite." Philip
died a few days after this letter was written, on September 21, 1943 at the Battle of Guadalcanal. In the envelope along with
this letter was the previously mentioned funeral card.
The second letter from this collection is written by Larry to Ann and Larry discusses Philip's death. He writes, "I'm sure
you and Juel are taking it ok but I'm really worried about Mother. All she would talk about while I was home on furlough was
about him, and wishing he could be home too. I was looking forward to his home-coming too, and was planning on coming home
on furlough when he did. But that is war, and it can't be helped. He did his share I'm sure but I do wish he could have had
his furlough." He also talks about how helpless people feel during this time, with a woman named Pauline (relationship unknown),
"Said she knows she should try to help if she can but doesn't know what to do about it. I'm sure I don't know either." He
also writes how worried he is for his mother, "I think that Mother shouldn't be alone for a while, at least till she gets
some of the grief out of her system. I'm glad I'm not home. I couldn't do anything to help, and it would just make me more
miserable to be around a lot of crying. Juel wrote me about Mother having all of Phil's pictures in front of her and crying.
Gosh! I'd give anything for her not to have to go thru that. How is Dad taking it? I guess he's ok cause he's a man, but poor
Mom." He also tells Ann that he will not write Rudy, who is mentioned in Philip's letter but their relationship is unknown
saying, "Maybe its best he finds out for himself, when he gets one of Phil's letters back. Which reminds me, I'll be getting
one back too. I didn't even get to thank him for the wedding gift."
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 the archivist.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War II
World War (1939-1945)
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945) -- Casualties
World War (1939-1945) -- Propaganda
Last letters before death
War letters -- Last letters home
Volk, Ann
Beaven, Phyllis