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Walters Family (Second World War correspondence)
2017.308.w.r
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Table of contents
box WWII 116, folder 1-4, folder 1-4
Series 1, Correspondence from Robert H. Walters to his parents 1942 September 2 - 1945 July 27
Creator: Walters, Robert H.
source: Walters, Aaron
source: Walters, Verna
source: Duvall, Edna
Physical Description: .25 Linear Feet(3 folders)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains correspondence from Sgt. Bob Walters, USAAF to his parents and aunt during the Second World War. His
first year in the service, from 1942 to 1943, he writes mostly about his training as a member of the ground crew in the Army
Air Corps. As a Private, Walters worked primarily with radios and electronics for bombers, and his letters detail his experience
in training school at Boca Raton, Florida, as well as his promotion to Sergeant and as a ground radio operator in Casper,
Wyoming. He discusses his travels, mostly in Florida and later in Salt Lake City. In Casper, he writes about an accident involving
one of the B-24 bombers, which crash-landed. He also writes about receiving letters from other people, most notably his brother
Ted, his sister Bettie (also referred to as Lib), and several young woman including Barbara and Dorothy Engels. One woman
he seems most attached to is Dorothy Bohn, whom he met in St. Louis.
In October 1943, Sgt. Walters was relocated to Fresno, California, although he only stayed for a few months before he was
shipped in January 1944. By February, he had reached Italy. His letters are necessarily vague, although he hints at having
seen certain unnamed "historic sites." In his letter dated May 16, 1944, Walters writes, "By the time you get this you will
likely know there has been a big push here + our air men did their share." This is apparently a reference to Operation Diadem
in combination with Operation Strangle to push the German defenses back into the Liri Valley in Italy. By late May he writes
that the Army "should have Rome by the time you get this." His letter of June 5th confirms this.
A later letter from June states Bob is or at one time was stationed in the area around Naples. Mostly he writes about his
trips to town to see shows or about playing in a makeshift orchestra with an Italian saxophone and clarinet someone purchased
for him. One of his letters details an excursion to Pompeii and a tour of Naples.
In his letter dated February 13, 1945, he writes that he and his orchestra have been given special orders to play for three
weeks in Foggia with a USO show. He also frequently makes reference to his brother Ted in the Pacific theater. In the letter
dated March 14, 1945, Sgt. Walters writes about the tour of cities he has visited, naming "Foggia, San Savaro, Cerignola,
Bari, & Lecce." He also writes that he "certainly felt bad about Darrel Johnson's death. He was such a swell fellow. That's
3 West Lodge boys that I knew who are gone." In his letter dated March 27, he writes about seeing at least 12 men bail out
of their planes in one day and relates a specific anecdote about one whose foot got caught in his lines so that he almost
fell to his death.
In his letter April 17, 1945, he writes about playing in a ceremony to honor the death of President Roosevelt. He writes,
"We just played the Star Spangled Banner and one trumpet player payed taps. We couldn't play anything else as we're really
a swing band." On May 9th, Sgt. Walters writes, "When the first news came of Germany's surrender, we were out on the line
where the planes are. The control tower shot a few red flares and soon there were flares of all colors all over the field."
On May 16, Sgt. Walters writes that he traveled to Rome by plane and was able to visit Vatican City and to see Pope Pius XII.
Sgt. Walters expected to return home by June but was rerouted to another camp until late July when he finally boarded a ship
at Naples to return home.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
United States. -- Army. -- Air Corps
Airplanes, Military -- Maintenance and repair
World War (1939-1945) -- Italy
box WWII 116, folder 5, folder 5
Series 2, Correspondence from Robert H. Walters to Edna Duval 1944 April 13
Creator: Walters, Robert H.
source: Duvall, Edna
Physical Description: .025 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains one V-mail letter from Sgt. Robert H. Walters, USAAF to his aunt Edna Duvall while Walters was stationed
in Italy during the Second World War. He thanks her for the Reader's Digests she sent and explains briefly about the local
wildlife.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War (1939-1945) -- Italy
box WWII 116, folder 6, folder 6
Series 3, Robert H. Walters photographs
Physical Description: .025 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains one undated photograph featuring one of Sgt. Robert H. Walters', USAAF service friends named Arthur Schulte
of Hartington, Nebraska. The photo features Schulte seated on a camp chair with two small dogs.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Photographs
World War (1939-1945) -- Photography
box WWII 116, folder 7, folder 7
Series 4, Robert H. Walters currency
Creator: Walters, Robert H.
Physical Description: .025 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains three pieces of currency Sgt. Robert H. Walters, USAAF found or bought during his time in the Army Air
Corps. The first item is a 10 lire note, the second is a five lire note, and the third is a 20,000 Reichsmark note.
box WWII 116, folder 8, folder 8
Series 5, Robert H. Walters clippings 1944 July 8
box WWII 116, folder 9, folder 9, box WWII 117, folder 1-2, folder 10-11
Series 6, Correspondence from Theodore W. Walters to his parents 1942 July 12 - 1945 August 12
Creator: Walters, Theodore W.
Language of Material: English.
This series contains correspondence from Sgt. Theodore W. Walters, USMC to his parents Aaron and Verna Walters during the
period preceding his enlistment into the Marine Corps until the end of the Second World War. The correspondence begins in
1942 when Walters was living in Dayton, Ohio with his Aunt Edna and Uncle Gene looking for work after graduating from high
school in Winona, Minnesota. He discusses applying to Morningside College in Sioux City and his work at Wright Field (at the
time an Army Air Corps installation) shipping schematics for new types of aircraft to military bases around the country. His
letters from 1942 detail the kinds of planes he has seen and the companies he has worked with, including Boeing, Lockheed,
and Republic. Specifically, he mentions the B-24, B-25, and the, at the time still confidential, P-47 Thunderbolt.
By early 1943 Walters had joined the Marine Corps and was stationed at the Recruitment Depot in San Diego, California. He
discusses meeting friends from his home town and taking his placement test for Marine aviation as well as other physical tests
he had to pass to remain in boot camp. He also writes about buying a life insurance policy through the Marine Corps. He mentions
in passing that he knew someone who was involved in the fighting at Guadalcanal, speculating where he might be now. By late
April 1943, Walters writes that he is on the rifle range, and that he anticipates having trouble because he is left-handed,
but the Marines make you shoot right-handed. However, by May, he writes that he can now shoot both left and right-handed.
On May 13th, he writes that he scored, "299, droping [sic] 41 points. I [sic] score of 292 was the least ou could get to obtain
sharpshooter [second rank of marksmanship above expert rifleman and under expert marksman]."
After his marksmanship training, Sgt. Walters writes that he will be moving to Kearney Mesa Field (still in San Diego) to
begin aviation training. On May 27th, he writes that he was placed into Aviation Ordinance, meaning he would be prepping planes
for flight. He was almost immediately transferred to Norman, Oklahoma for maintenance training. He writes that if he scores
an average of 93 or above, he can qualify for flight training, which is his plan. At the Naval Aviation training center in
Norman, Walters writes about sharing the base with the Navy men and the WAVES, the latter of whom he writes are generally
disliked for being "in the way," although he writes, "I guess they are doing a lot for a speedy victory."
He continues to write through the summer of 1943 about his school work, and by September 21 he has graduated and is on his
way back to San Diego. Walters stayed in San Diego only a brief time before being transferred to the fighter station at El
Centro by the Mexican border. He writes about his work in a Corsair squadron, which is the type of plane he supplies and arms.
He also mentions going across the border into Mexico for a festival there and about watching a bullfight. By November of 1943,
Walters writes that he will be shipping out on the next group to leave, then writes that he will instead be leaving at the
end of December or January of the following year.
His letters stop at the end of December and resume ten days into January after his furlough. Walters continues to write about
his work as an ordinance man, although he takes a test to become a bombadier and fails due to poor eyesight. He also talks
about his relationship with a girl from home, Helen. They seem to have a rocky relationship, although he claims that he loves
her in each of his letters to his parents.
By February, Walters writes that he has been placed on thirty days of mess duty and later mentions that Helen has joined the
WAVES. He also frequently writes about his siblings Bob and Lib, both of whom are overseas at this point. He writes about
learning that Lib has met a nice captain and hopes that they will get married some day.
In his letter dated April 17, 1944, now Corporal Walters writes that he saw a show with movie stars Red Skelton and Helen
Parrish and took a ride in a B-25 bomber. He adds that he still has no idea when he will be shipping out. By late April, he
writes that Helen rarely writes to him anymore, and he has started dating again. By May 4, he writes that she asked him to
call off them seeing each other anymore. Just days later, he writes that he has met another girl, Katherine, who lives in
Brawley. He also writes that he has been promoted to sergeant. In early July, he writes that he should be shipping overseas
very soon.
Sgt. Walters' letter from July 28, 1944 is his first letter overseas. Although he is unable to say where he is, he writes
that he is still on friendly soil. His squadron landed on Peleliu at this time, and there are no letters from him between
September 5 and 26 of 1944, which he writes his due to his "being in one of these major battles out here, and of course you
should be able to figure out which one." This may be in reference to the Battle of Peleliu, which lasted from September to
November of that year.
He stays on Peleliu for the remainder of the war, mostly writing about starting a baseball league. In November 1944, he writes
about being in the hospital for some second degree burns, most likely sustained during the Battle of Peleliu although this
is not confirmed. In January 1945, he is back in the hospital being treated for acute jaundice. He writes that several of
his friends have been admitted for the same illness. By August 1945, Walters writes that they have heard news of the atomic
bomb, and his last letter dated August 12, 1945 mentions that everyone on the base is waiting for word of whether the Japanese
have signed the peace treaty, ending the war.
box WWII 117, folder 3, folder 12
Series 7, Correspondence from Theodore W. Walters to Bettie Walters 1943 April 1 - 1945 July 2
Creator: Walters, Theodore W.
Physical Description: .025 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains two letters from Sgt. Theodore W. Walters, USMC to his sister Bettie during the the Second World War.
The first letter details his life in San Diego on the Marine base there, and his second letter updates her on his status on
the island of Peleliu. He asks her questions about her life in the Red Cross, mentioning her passage through the destroyed
city of Cologne, and he jokes that she probably never wants to see another donut in the rest of her life.
box WWII 117, folder 4, folder 13
Series 8, Theodore W. Walters calling card
box WWII 117, folder 5-6, folder 14-15, box WWII 118, folder 7, folder 16
Series 9, Correspondence from Bettie Walters to her parents 1943 - 1945 July 17
Creator: Walters-MacInnes, Bettie (Elizabeth)
Physical Description: .33 Linear Feet(3 folders)
Language of Material: English.
Bettie Walters letters to her parents start while she is still in school in Elmhurst, Illinois. She writes that she has sent
her papers into the Red Cross and hopes to hear back from either them or the Marines. By July 1943, she writes that she and
the other girls who have been accepted into the Red Cross are staying at an old house in Washington D.C. that previously belonged
to General George Meade of Civil War fame. She writes about her assignments in the United States from August to September
before being shipped overseas. First, Bettie goes to a camp in Colonial Beach, Virginia and runs a movie theater there for
a few days, later returning to D.C. She leaves again for a rest home for Merchant Marine sailors who are readjusting to life
after the war at an estate owned by relatives of wealthy philanthropist Diamond Jim Brady. She returns to her home base at
the Midston House in New York until September 19, 1943.
From there, her letters cease until her first V-mail from overseas, dated October 13, 1943. At that point she had arrived
and acclimatized in England. She describes in detail her work at her first canteen outside of London and by the beginning
of 1944 she was transferred to open another club in the southwest of England. During this time, she writes about her work
setting up events for the soldiers in the area and also mentions her excursions to famous sites like Westminister Abbey and
a set of Roman ruins, although where these were is unclear. She writes about the devastation London had experienced during
the blitz and says that many of the most famous areas were now unrecognizable. She also writes that she was able to tour a
bomber and ride in a tank. In April 1944, Bettie writes that she and her friend Jean travelled to Edinburgh and Glasgow in
Scotland on furlough. She writes that she was able to visit Edinburgh castle and buy a kilt. She returned to her post April
18, 1944. After this, her writing becomes more sporadic. She explains that this is due to the Army training her Red Cross
group how to drive 2 1/2 ton trucks. At this time, she also writes that she saw General Eisenhower.
Her last letter before the invasion of D-Day mentions that she is packing but does not provide any details. Her next letter,
dated June 14, 1944, mentions that she is back in London, and while the British and American planes are constantly flying
overhead for France, the Germans have stopped bombing almost completely. She also writes in this letter that Oscar Hammersteins'
daughter Margaret is in their Red Cross performance group. Bettie writes that she and her friend Judy have been traveling
all over Norwich giving performances for the soldiers. She writes that with regard to the invasion, the Red Cross has no more
information than the people at home.
In her letter dated July 3, 1944, Bettie writes, "I can just imagine that you've been reading about hte new German weapon
and are frantic." This is most likely in reference to the introduction of the V-1 buzz bomb by Nazi forces in June 1944 after
the D-Day invasions. By mid-July, she writes that she is driving around a cinemobile, a truck which is outfitted with a projector
to show movies to troops. On August 24, she writes that she and her friends are packing and the next day, she is in France.
Her V-mail dated August 25 says that while she and Judy have not joined their permanent unit yet, they were able to see General
Roosevelt's grave in Normandy. Later she writes that she traveled through Paris and by October is in the French countryside.
She remains in the same place for several months, taking short trips out with the clubmobile. At this point she writes that
she is working the US 7th Army under General Patch. Later, she writes briefly of her furlough to the French Riviera in January
1945, and in March mentions that she has been admitted to the hospital, although a reason is not given. During this time,
she and her friends Henrietta and Judy had two cars. One was a German General Motors model they named Opal, which had to be
junked, and the second was a French Cintreon they nicknamed Harvey B. Her letter of March 23, 1945 mentions that she has been
reassigned to a different clubmobile unit apparently near the front lines. This may have been the point where she rejoined
Patton's 2nd Army as she writes she is now in Germany, and "There sure isn't much left of [it]." Her letters following the
end of the war are fairly brief. She mentions visiting her friend Henrietta outside of Munich while on leave, which must have
been the time when she witnessed the liberation of Dachau alluded to in Series 17. However, there are no letters in this series
to corroborate this. Her last letter to her parents was sent from Arles, France in July 1945.
Of note: the envelope for the letter dated May 19, 1945 includes two stamps with Adolf Hitler's face, 4 Deutschesreich, with
pen written "Kaput" underneath each.
box WWII 118, folder 2, folder 17
Series 10, Correspondence from Bettie Walters to Agnes Bard 1943 - August 21 - 1945 May 30
Creator: Walters-MacInnes, Bettie (Elizabeth)
Creator: Bard, Agnes
Language of Material: English.
This collection contains correspondence from Bettie Walters to her friend and neighbor Agnes Bard. As with the letters to
her parents, Walters correspondence begins when she is still in the United States working at the Merchant Marines Rest Center
in New Jersey. Bettie's next letter is from her time in England. She describes visiting a 13th century castle and talks about
surviving her first air raid. In her news sheet dated May 23, 1944, she writes about showing movies in a bombed out block
of London. She also mentions going out to dinner with a pilot who told her a story of how he was almost killed by shrapnel.
Her letter of October 25, 1944 explains, "Don't ever mention this to my mother, but we are so close to the front that it's
practically a short walk. No particular danger however except for shells dropping around occasionally." In her letter dated
May 31, 1945 she writes that she has recently found a "Captain friend" and will be driving down to visit him before he leaves.
Her last news page tells of V.E. Day and how the German soldiers were rushing to American lines to give themselves up. She
writes, "they can't seem to understand our not wanting to scoop them up and whisk them away. The civilians are amazed too
that the army allows them to walk along beside their soldiers and talk with them." She writes that the Army's main concern
is to stop the Russians from killing the Germans now that the war is over and also to put down the German underground (the
"Werewolves").
box WWII 118, folder 3, folder 18
Series 11, Correspondence from Bettie Walters to Robert H. Walters 1944 May 28 - 1944 July 3
Creator: Walters-MacInnes, Bettie (Elizabeth)
Language of Material: English.
This collection comprises two news sheets and one letter from Bettie Walters to her brother Sgt. Robert H. Walters, USAAF
during the Second World War. The first note discusses the peculiarities of the Red Cross house in England. The second news
sheet comes after D-Day when Bettie was still in England. She writes of a friend who is assigned to a hospital ship at Normandy
and that, "we were all so envious of her for beating us over." Her letter to Bob begins during an air raid. She writes that
it is 1:30 in the morning and the buzz bombs are falling. She gives Bob news of her impending transfer to France and hopes
that he is enjoying Italy as much as he is able.
box WWII 118, folder 4, folder 19
Series 12, Correspondence from Bettie Walters to Theodore W. Walters 1944 May 15
box WWII 118, folder 5, folder 20
Series 13, Correspondence to Aaron and Verna Walters, miscellaneous 1943 November 23 - 1944 December 18
Language of Material: English.
This collection contains correspondence from four writers to Aaron and Verna Walters during the Second World War, arranged
in alphabetical order. The first writer is their nephew, Lieutenant (later Captain) Eugene H. Duval. His letters detail little
of his experience in the Pacific and mostly contain wishes that his family is well.
The second writer is Pearle Engan, apparently a family friend. She writes to express her sympathy over hearing their son Ted
was listed among the wounded at Peleliu. She also writes to say that her husband recently had a heart attack, although he
survived, and that another mutual friend died.
The next letter comes from one of Bettie's friends overseas although her name is very hard to read. It appears to be Eve Mestins.
She writes that Bettie is well and wishes Verna Walters well in her battle against arthritis.
The last letter is a card also from one of Bettie's Red Cross friends, Mary Alice Sturdevant, discussing their recent trips
through Paris with the 2nd Army. She also writes that Bettie's voice is better than many of the signers on Broadway.
box WWII 118, folder 6, folder 21
box WWII 118, folder 7, folder 22
Series 15, Clippings 1944 June 2
Language of Material: English.
This series contains one clipping from the Minneappolis Star Journal. It is titled, "Minneapolis Yanks Meet in London." Below
is a photograph of men in uniform arranged in rows. At the top of the page is handwritten marginalia in Bettie's handwriting
which says, "I have showed movies in this room. Bill Cruise from NY University is director. I go over there frequently as
it is near my house."
box WWII 118, folder 8, folder 23
box WWII 118, folder 9, folder 24
Series 17, Biographical information
Language of Material: English.
This series contains several undated records provided by the donor Ian MacInnes concerning his stepmother Bettie Walters MacInnes.
The records comprise several typed and scanned copies of photographs, three obituaries, and an article entitled, "A Red Cross
Girl's Memories of Dachau." This article was written by Bettie Walters-MacInnes after she returned home from the war and details
her experience visiting the Dachau concentration camp after liberation on April 30, 1945. This was during her stay with her
Red Cross friend Henrietta outside of Munich, and the other woman whom she refers to in the article may be Henrietta.
The series also contains two sheets from the collection donation form pertaining to Sergeant Robert H. Walters and Sergeant
Theodore W. Walters.