Finding Aid for the Henry A. Wayne Second World War correspondence and other materials 2017.668.w.r

Sharon Clairemont
Center for American War Letters Archives
1/30/2018
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu


Contributing Institution: Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Henry A. Wayne Second World War correspondence and other materials
Creator: Henry A. Wayne
source: Sandra Wayne
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.668.w.r
Physical Description: .25 Linear Feet (11 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1943 - 1945
Abstract: This collection contains photographs, realia and correspondence written to and from PFC Henry A. Wayne, USA during the Second World War.
Language of Material: English .
Container: WWII 20
Container: 10-20
Container: 1-11

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for use.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Sandra and David Wayne

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by material type, author and date.
  • Series 1, Correspondence from Henry A. Wayne to Karah Wayne
  • Series 2, Correspondence to Henry A. Wayne from friends
  • Series 3, Military documents
  • Series 4, History of the 104th Infantry Division
  • Series 5, Drawing made at Nordhausen
  • Series 6, Photographs
  • Series 7, Medals
  • Series 8, Currency

Biographical / Historical

Private First Class Henry A. Wayne, United States Army (7/12/1921 - 3/28/2015) was born in Somerville, Massachusetts to Henry E. Wayne and Karah Colvin Wayne. His father was a professional trumpet player. Henry was the youngest of three siblings; an older sister Alma and brother named Edward. His parents divorced when he was young and he was raised by Mr. and Mrs. George. Mr. George was also a professional trumpet player and taught my Henry to play, playing all through school and in bands to support himself through college. Harry James was his hero.
Henry served overseas during the Second World War, and was discharged on December 3, 1945 at Camp San Luis Obispo. He served with Medical Detachment, 414th Infantry.
Henry attended college at Columbia in New York City and graduated from Northeastern University in Boston in 1948. He was engaged to 'Jane' from New York while he was in the service. She went to Roslindale, MA to meet his family. His mother was a devout Baptist and looked down upon marriage to a Catholic.
Henry met Elfreda E. Black on a blind date arranged by his neighbor who worked in a bank with her. They were married June 14, 1947 and honeymooned at Niagara Falls and Washington D.C. Their daughter Sandra was born March 19, 1948 in Boston and their son David was born Dec. 27, 1949. Henry worked for the same insurance company his whole career; Travelers Insurance, previously Employers Group. His work led him to be supervising manager of the Brocton, MA branch. He raised his family in Walpole, MA where they lived for fifty-one years. He was an avid golfer. He and Elfreda did a lot of traveling in the 1970's and 80's. According to the donor, he had a great sense of humor and contageous chuckle.
Henry and Elfreda were married 68 years. They moved to St. Johnsbury, Vermont in 2003, where Henry died at the age of 93 March 28, 2015, just 28 days after Elfreda. They were interred together in the Black family plot in Bartlett, New Hampshire.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Henry A. Wayne Second World War correspondence and other materials (2017.668.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

Content Description

This collection contains correspondence written to and from PFC Henry A. Wayne, USA during the Second World War. The collection also contains photographs, military documents, and realia including medals and coins. PFC. Wayne was a medical administrative clerk, ambulance driver and bugler. -- The donation form contains biographical information about the collection.

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
World War (1939-1945) -- Germany
World War (1939-1945) -- Concentration camps
Sandra Wayne

box WWII 20, folder 10, folder 1

Series 1, Correspondence from Henry A. Wayne to Karah Wayne 1943 - 1945

Physical Description: 0.05 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains 22 correspondence from PFC Henry A. Wayne, USA to his mother Karah P. Wayne in Roslindale, Massachusetts during the Second World War. The correspondence consists of 18 handwritten and typed letters and four postcards. The first letter, written March 27, 1943 is from Camp Carson, CO. He writes about leaving New York and the train trip West. "I ended up in a medical outfit as a stretcher bearer no less. God only knows what will become of me." He later writes from Fort Devens, MA and from the Army Air Forces Tech Training Command in Atlantic City, NJ. "There is one thing I have learned in the Army and that is disappointment. You can not plan on anything here...You just live from one day to the next." April 8 1945 - in Germany ... May 9 - "Well the war over here is over." June 27, 1945 - "A very short note to let you know I am leaving for home in a couple days aboard the U.S.S. Erickson (sic) which is to land in Brooklyn on or about the eighth of July." August 21 - Well here I am out in sunny California..." Sept. 8 postcard = "Am in L.A. this weekend. Am having a fair time but will be glad to head East again..." Dec. 7, 1945 - "Well the good news is here at last. I am going to get out of the army this coming Friday... I do not think that I will try to give Jane a ring this Christmas. I think it will be better if I waited..." Last letter - Dec. 11, 1945 - "It sure does seem funny to think I have only one more day in this darned old army."
box WWII 20, folder 11-14, folder 2-5

Series 2, Correspondence to Henry A. Wayne from friends 1943-1945

Physical Description: 0.075 Linear Feet(4 folders)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains correspondence written to PFC Henry A. Wayne, USA from friends during the Second World War. Henry was addressed as "Chick" by many friends. The series includes one letter from Jane Meiswinkle, who was his fiancee, written Nov. 11, 1945. She declares her love for him, discusses their future and encloses a photograph of herself. -- There are four letter and two postcards from his friend Jeannie Corrigan. She writes of her social life, dating and dancing and of people they know. She teases, flirts and jokes. Corrigan's letters are dated April - July, 1944. -- There are three letters from friend Joan Simms written May - July 1944. She writes of her studies at Hunter College, her social life, vacation plans, her brother, and their mutual friend, Pat. There is one letter, a birthday card and a postcard from "Pat," dated July 1944 - Sept. 1945. She writes from Camp Tegakwitha where she is a summer camp counselor and encloses a snapshot of herself as a young child. -- There is one letter each from friends Bertha Mahan, Bob, and Elsie.
box WWII 20, folder 15, folder 6

Series 3, Military documents 1943 - 1945

Physical Description: 0.01 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains documents pertaining to the military service of PFC Henry A. Wayne, USA during the Second World War. The series includes:
  • Registration Certificates for Henry Arthur Wayne, 2-16-1942
  • 1 Identification Card issued by War Department, 8-22-1944
  • 1 Statement of Enlistment in the Enlisted Reserve Corps Unassigned, 1942
  • 2 Immunization Registers; a Motor Vehicle Operator's Permit for Trucks, cargo, 1/4-3/4-ton, 4-24-1945
  • 1 Furlough Ticket for coach travel Providence to Boston, 7-23-1945
  • 1 certificate from the Army Specialized Training Program for completion of a course in "Basic Engineering pursued at New York University" March 26, 1944
  • 1 document certifying Henry A. Wayne "returned to the New York Port of Embarkation from overseas service on the M.S. John Ericsson"
  • 1 certificate of thanks from Harry Truman issued to "you who answered the call of your country and served in its Armed Forces..."
  • Soldier's Individual Pay Record, 3-20-1945
  • 1 Separation Qualification Record listing a summary of military occupations of Administrative Clerk and Ambulance Driver as well as military and civilian education
  • 1 Honorable Discharge certificate given to Henry A Wayne
  • 1 full-size copy of the Honorable Discharge document
  • 1 small copy, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, of the Honorable Discharge document
box WWII 20, folder 16, folder 7

Series 4, History of the 104th Infantry Division 1945

Physical Description: 0.01 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains a letter and a printed booklet. The letter is "To all Timberwolves" dated 23 April 1945 from Major General Terry Allen commending the 104th Infantry for their action and conduct in combat. It recounts the action of the 104th from October 1944 through April 23, 1945. The booklet, entitled "The Trail ... of the Timberwolves; 104th Infantry Division, Camp San Luis Obispo, California" tells the history of the Timberwolves from Sept. 15, 1942 through Sept. 15, 1945. It is written by Major General Terry Allen and includes a photo of him on the frontispiece.
box WWII 20, folder 17, folder 8

Series 5, Drawing made at Nordhausen 1945

Physical Description: 0.01 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains a pencil drawing on paper 5.5 x 8 in. The sketch is of a thin person wearing shirt, pants, boots, and cap holding a dish out from his body as if asking for or anticipating receiving something. The drawing includes the words "CAMP LUCKY STRIKE CHOW HOUND!" and "NORDHAUSEN II." -- In the donor paperwork the donor writes "please note the drawing at Nordhausen. Henry Wayne often took pencil to paper. He was an ambulance driver and was involved in the liberation of Nordhausen. My father never talked about the war but did say that there is a smell - the 'smell of death' that never leaves you. The troops were completely unprepared for what they would find in the camps."
box WWII 20, folder 18, folder 9

Series 6, Photographs 1943 - 1945

Physical Description: 0.01 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains 20 photographs of Henry Wayne, his family members and friends. Some photos are identified on their reverse and include Karah Wayne, Edward Wayne, Billy Vercho, and Henry's one-time fiancee Jane Meiswinkle, as well as photos of the Wayne home at 16 Rosecliff St., Roslindale, MA
box WWII 20, folder 19, folder 10

Series 7, Medals

Physical Description: 0.01 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains military medals, a religious medal and a commemorative medal. The military medals include a silver Iron/Maltese cross pin with an image of a crown at the top, the letter "W" in the center and 1914 in the bottom portion; a similar Iron Cross attached to a black and white ribbon; a metal (bronze?) Iron Cross with crossed swords and "1914-1918" in the center of a laurel wreath (possibly WWI Honour Cross) attached to black, red and white ribbon; a circular medal with the Prussian crown centered on the obverse with "Treue Dienst" arching the upper portion and "bei der Fahne" arching in the lower portion and only a IX on the reverse, attached to a solid blue ribbon; a circular pin with a red cross in the center encircled by the words "Deutsches Rotes Kreuz" and "Schwersternhelferin" separated by swastikas. The religious medal is inscribed "ST. TERISIA DE JESU INFANTE" with an image of the saint on the obverse and an image and the words "PIUS XI PONT MAX" on the reverse. The commemorative medal is a Kaiser Wilhelm Centenary Medal. The obverse is a right facing effigy of Wilhelm I in military uniform wearing a mantle and Pickelhaube. To the left of the effigy is the inscription WILHELM / DER / GROSSE / DEUTSCHE / KAISER. To the right is KOENIG / VON / PREUSSEN. The reverse depicts symbols of royal authority including the German State Crown, an orb, sword, and scepter placed upon a pillow surrounded by oak leaves, in the lower half of the medal. To the left is an upward climbing laurel branch. In the upper half is the inscription in six lines ZUM ANDENKEN AN DEN HUNDERTSTEN GEBURTSTAG DES GROSSEN KAISERS WILHELM I. 1797 22.MAERZ 1897.
box WWII 20, folder 20, folder 11

Series 8, Currency

Physical Description: 0.01 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains three pieces of currency, including:
  • one "Eine Mark" note, marked "Serie 1944, Allierte Militarbeholde, In Umlauf Gesetz Deutschland,"
  • one Chinese coin, circular with a square hole in the center
  • one "Belgie" 1 franc coin, showing arms of Brabant and the state title on the obverse and the royal monogram on the reverse