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Table of contents What's This?
  • 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: Cleenput brothers Second World War correspondence
    Creator: Cleenput, Jacob, Corporal
    Creator: Cleenput, Frank, Petty Officer Second Class
    source: Bergin, Marilyn
    Creator: Cleenput, Peter, Jr.
    Identifier/Call Number: 2017.232.w.r
    Physical Description: .08 Linear feet (1 folder)
    Date (inclusive): 1942 November 14 - 1945 February 9
    Abstract: This collection contains nine correspondence between the Cleenput brothers during the Second World War. Seven of the letters were written by Cpl. Jacob Cleenput, USA to his brother Peter Cleenput, Jr. and his family. One letter was written by Peter to Jacob and one letter was written by P02. Frank Cleenput, USS American Legion, USN to Peter.
    Language of Material: English .
    Container: WWII 14
    Container: 7
    Container: 1

    Conditions Governing Access

    This collection is open for research.

    Immediate Source of Acquisition

    Gift of Marylin Bergin and the Cleenput Family.

    Arrangement

    This collection is arranged by material type, author, and date.

    Biographical / Historical

    Corporal Jacob Cleenput, United States Army (9/8/1921 - 11/29/1944) was born in Paramus, New Jersey to Peter, Sr. and Regina Cleenput. His father emigrated from Sluis, Netherlands and his mother from Sint-Margriete, Belgium in the late 1800s. Jacob was the second youngest child, preceded by Sophia, Emma, Peter, Jr., Louise, and Edmond, and followed only by Frank. All of the children worked on their family's dairy farm before and after school. They each dropped out of high school and got jobs working alongside their parents. Jacob drove a tank for the 5th Armored Division. He was killed in Achen, Germany on 29 November 1944. His only living sibling, Louise, is 100 years old and lives in a nursing home.
    Petty Officer Second Class Frank Cleenput, United States Navy served aboard the USS American Legion.

    Access Information

    Chapman does not hold the IP rights to this collection.

    Preferred Citation

    [Item title, Box number, Folder number], Cleenput brothers Second World War correspondence (2017.232.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

    Content Description

    This collection contains nine correspondence between the Cleenput brothers during the Second World War. Seven of the letters were written by Cpl. Jacob Cleenput, USA to his brother Peter Cleenput, Jr. and his family in Paramus, New Jersey. Jacob wrote about planning on returning home on furlough, loading vehicles onto trains for transportation across the United States, hoping Frank doesn't enter the military, serving under a new general, preparing for a spike in guard duty shifts, earning his first promotion and awaiting a second one, testing the tank artillery, and going overseas to engage with the War in Europe. One letter was written by Peter to Jacob, in which he wrote about wishing to hear from his brother, the lack of events occurring in Paramus, passing on news about his kids and other siblings of theirs, and hoping things are well with him. One letter was written by PO 2/C Frank Cleenput, USN to Peter, in which he wrote about returned letters he had written to Jacob. It is unknown whether he knew Jacob was KIA at this time.

    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 (1939-1945)
    Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
    United States. -- Navy
    United States -- Army -- Armored Division, 5th
    Cleenput, Peter, Jr.
    Bergin, Marilyn