Grigsby, Brandon J. (Iraq War correspondence), 2003

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Summary

Title:

Brandon J. Grigsby Iraq War correspondence

Dates:

2003

Creators:

Konowal, Nancy and Grigsby, Brandon J.

Abstract:

This collection contains two correspondence written by Brandon J. "BJ" Grigsby to his Spanish teacher, Nancy Konowal, during the Iraq War.

Containers:

box: Afghan/Iraq 1
folder: 6
folder: 1
folder: 2017-066-w-r_Grigsby, Brandon

Extent:

.08 Linear feet (1 folder)

Language:

English .

Preferred citation:

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Brandon J. Grigsby Iraq War correspondence (2017.066.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.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains two correspondence written by Brandon J. "BJ" Grigsby, USMC to his Spanish teacher, Nancy Konowal, during the Iraq War. Brandon wrote his letters while he was in Kuwait and Baghdad. Both letters are undated. Also included is one copy of a photograph of Brandon in his dress blues uniform.

In the first letter apologizes for not writing back while he was in Japan because he was travelling all over Southeast Asia, but the letter was written while in Kuwait awaiting "for the word to move on Saddam [Hussein]" into Iraq; "and it's pretty boring for the most part." He discusses vaccinations and spending time in class for "military stuff," including the laws of war. He tells her that Kuwaiti citizens are contracted to do all of the cooking, laundry and other duties.

In the second letter, he said, "The war is about over and the humanitarian effort is kicking in. The war was pretty intense for about two weeks with many coalition forces dying for their country. Luckily I'm O.K. but I would've given my life for any of those great men that passed." He also mentions conditions, including heat and sandstorms while loading cargo planes, as well as asking about people protesting the war back home; "What do they expect to get out of that?"

Biographical / historical:

Brandon J. "BJ" Grigsby, United States Marine Corps was a student of Ms. Konowal's at South Beloit High School in Illinois and graduated in 1997. According to the donor he joined the Marines shortly after in 1998 and served in Iraq during the early part of the war. He later lived and worked in Denver, Colorado.

Acquisition information:

Gift of Nancy Konowal.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Iraq War, 2003-2011
Iraq War -- (2003-2011) -- Correspondence
Photographs
Names:: Konowal, Nancy

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:: Andrew Harman
Date Encoded:: This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2022-02-04 17:59:29 -0500 .

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.