Finding Aid for the "Mansfield Cousins" Second World War correspondence and photographs 2018.110.w.r

Andrew Harman
Center for American War Letters Archives
8/9/2018
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu


Contributing Institution: Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: "Mansfield Cousins" Second World War correspondence and photographs
Identifier/Call Number: 2018.110.w.r
Physical Description: 0.1 Linear feet (1 folder)
Date (inclusive): 1941 October 31 - 1946 November 28
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence from several relations of the Wappner family from Mansfield, Ohio sent to William and Helen Wappner, during the Second World War. The correspondence were sent from brothers, cousins and a friend of Helen's husband, William H. Wappner, as well as one from her brother to her sister. Also included are several photographs, biographies of each author, and some clippings.
Language of Material: English .
Container: WWII 21
Container: 14
Container: 1

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Diane Kracker.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by author and material type. Each author is physically separated by a one page biography.
  • Series 1, Richard L. Wappner
  • Series 2, Karl W. Wappner
  • Series 3, Eugene R. Wappner
  • Series 3, Eugene R. Wappner
  • Series 4, Leonard M. Wappner
  • Series 5, Charles P. Hunt
  • Series 6, James P. Wappner
  • Series 7, Frank Stimler
  • Series 8, John R. Gilmore
  • Series 9, Family photographs
  • Series 10, Clippings

Biographical / Historical

Overall, a total of nine Mansfield, Ohio cousins, all grandsons of Katherine and Philip Wappner, Sr. served during the Second World War, as well as Helen E. Wappner's brother, John and a friend of Helen's husband William H. Wappner, Frank Stimler. All those relations from Mansfield returned home safely and without injury. Their service included the Army, Navy, Army Air Force, and the Merchant Marines. William Wappner attempted to enlist several times but continued to be rejected due to medical issues resulting from a broken back.
Individual short biographies and further information for each man who served is included under the appropriate series level description.

Preferred Citation

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], "Mansfield Cousins" Second World War correspondence and photographs (2018.110.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.

Content Description

This collection contains correspondence from several brothers, cousins and a friend of the Wappner family from Mansfield, Ohio, sent to another cousin, William H. Wappner and his wife Helen E. Wappner, during the Second World War. The authors were relations of Helen's husband William as well as one from her brother to her sister, Clara D. Gilmore. Also included are several photographs, biographies of each author, and some clippings.

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.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

World War (1939-1945)
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
Photographs
World War (1939-1945) -- North Africa
World War (1939-1945) -- Italy
World War (1939-1945) -- France
World War (1939-1945) -- Europe
United States -- Army -- Air Forces
Wappner née Gilmore, Helen Elizabeth
Wappner, William Henry, 1914-1987

 

Series 1, Richard L. Wappner 1943 February 11 - 1944 March 7

Creator: Wappner, Richard Leroy, 1915-1986
Physical Description: 0.025 Linear feet(21 correspondence)
Language of Material: English.

Biographical / Historical

Technical Sergeant Richard Leroy Wappner, United States Army Air Force (10/12/1915 - 04/20/1986) graduated from Case College of Mortuary Science in Cleveland, Ohio and worked at the Wappner Funeral Directors in Mansfield, a company he part owned.
TSgt. Wappner enlisted in the USAAF on June 16, 1942 at Fort Hayes in Columbus and was honorably discharged on September 6, 1945, having served in England, North Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Italy, Sicily, and France with the 182nd QMSCA, 1135th QMCSGA, and the 15th Air Force Transport Group.

Scope and Contents

This series contains nineteen letters, including V-Mail, and two postcards from T/Sgt. Richard L. Wappner, USA to his sister Helen during the Second World War. Also included are four photographs, copied from the originals.
 

Series 2, Karl W. Wappner 1941

Physical Description: 0.001 Linear feet(2 photographs)
Language of Material: English.

Biographical / Historical

Technical Sergeant Karl William Wappner, United States Army (1/24/1919 - 8/29/1971) was born in Mansfield, Ohio and owned Wappner Meat Market before enlisting on February 26, 1941. He trained at Fort Hayes and Fort Stevens and served in the Pacific Theater with Company C 186th Infantry Division, 41st Infantry Brigade, Combat Team of the 40th Infantry Division before an honorable discharge on January 10, 1946.

Scope and Contents

This series contains two photographs of TSgt. Karl W. Wappner, USA in uniform during the Second World War. The photographs are copies of originals.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

United States. -- Army.
World War (1939-1945)
Photographs
 

Series 3, Eugene R. Wappner 1943 May 28 - October 15

Creator: Wappner , Eugene Russell, 1921-1965
Physical Description: 0.02 Linear feet(4 photographs, 5 v-mail)
Language of Material: English.

Biographical / Historical

Pharmacist's Mate Eugene Russell "Gene" Wappner, United States Navy (7/28/1921 - 1/20/1965) was born in Mansfield, Ohio and worked at the Wappner Meat Market and enlisted in the navy July 8, 1942. He served on the USS Oberon in the Mediterranean and North Africa, with involvement in the invasion of Italy with British Forces and was honorably discharged December 13, 1945.

Scope and Contents

This series contains five v-mail sent by PhM Eugene R. Wappner, USN during the Second World War as well as four photographs of PHM Wappner taken during the war. The photographs are copies of originals. One of the photographs is with his brother TSgt. Richard Wappner, USA in North Africa in May 1943.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

United States. -- Navy
World War (1939-1945) -- North Africa
World War (1939-1945) -- Italy
 

Series 4, Leonard M. Wappner 1941-1944

Physical Description: 0.001 Linear feet(2 photographs)
Language of Material: English.

Biographical / Historical

Leonard Martin "Pete" Wappner, United States Merchant Marines (5/23/1924 - 10-12-1991) was born in Mansfield, Ohio and was employed by Ohio Brass before serving with the Merchant Marines for three years aboard the Liberty Ship SS John Constantine in the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans.

Scope and Contents

This series contains two photographs of Leonard M. Wappner, USMM taken during the Second World War. The photographs are copies of originals.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Merchant marine -- United States
World War (1939-1945) -- Pacific Area
World War (1939-1945)
 

Series 5, Charles P. Hunt 1943

Creator: Hunt, Charles Philip, 1919-2004
Physical Description: 0.02 Linear feet(2 photographs, 1 letter, 2 v-mail)
Language of Material: English.

Biographical / Historical

Sergeant Charles Philip "Bud" Hunt, United States Army (8/3/1919 - 7/25/2004) was born in Mansfield, Ohio and enlisted on June 28, 1941 at Fort Hayes. He served in North Africa and took part in the invasion of Sicily and Italy, eventually making his way to Germany as a decoder on a tank with his artillery battalion. He was honorably discharged on July 2, 1945.

Scope and Contents

This series contains correspondence from Sgt. Charles P. Hunt, USA sent during the Second World War, as well as two photographs. Included are one full form v-mail and one small v-mail. The photographs are copies of originals, and include one in uniform and one of Pvt. Hunt decoding while sitting in a tank.
The full form v-mail gives a short description of fighting and list of places he had been through Tunisia and Algeria, and includes a stamp with a palm tree and a swastika he took from some Germans. The small v-mail describes beating Italians on Sicily and how easy it was, "why you don't even need a gun, about all of them are on our side already."

Subjects and Indexing Terms

United States. -- Army.
United States. -- Army. -- Field Artillery
World War (1939-1945)
Photographs
World War (1939-1945) -- United States -- Equipment and supplies -- Pictorial Works.
 

Series 6, James P. Wappner 1942

Physical Description: 0.001 Linear feet(1 photograph)
Language of Material: English.

Biographical / Historical

Yeoman Second Class James Philip "Jim" Wappner, United States Navy (3/9/1921 - 4/2/1979) was born in Mansfield, Ohio and enlisted in teh navy on September 17, 1942. He was assigned to the naval air training base in Pensacola, Florida and served on the USS Tulagi CVE-72 before an honorable discharge on April 10, 1946.

Scope and Contents

This series contains one photograph of YM2C James P. Wappner, USN in uniform in Pensacola, Florida during the Second World War.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

United States. -- Navy
 

Series 7, Frank Stimler 1942-1945

Creator: Stimler, Frank
Physical Description: 0.02 Linear feet(4 v-mail)
Language of Material: English.

Biographical / Historical

Technician Fifth Grade Frank "Pinky" Stimler, United States Army was born and raised in Mansfield, Ohio and enlisted on October 31, 1942 and served with Headquarters Company, Seventh Army until his honorable discharge on October 24, 1945.

Scope and Contents

This series contains four v-mail from TEC5 Frank Stimler, USA during the Second World War. He wrote to his friend from home, William Wappner.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

World War (1939-1945)
United States. -- Army.
World War (1939-1945) -- Europe
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
 

Series 8, John R. Gilmore 1941 October 31 - 1943 September 22

Physical Description: 0.02 Linear feet(2 photographs, 1 v-mail, 1 graduation flyer, 3 photocopies)
Language of Material: English.

Biographical / Historical

Captain John Rolin Gilmore, United States Army Air Force (8/18/1920 - 3/4/2001) was born in Coshocton County, Ohio and attended Ohio State University before enlisting on March 15, 1941 and graduating the Air Corps Advanced Flying School on October 31, 1941 at Brooks Field, Texas. He served in North Africa, Sicily and Italy as a reconaissance pilot with the 111 Reconnaissance Squadron until his honorable discharge on July 7, 1947.

Scope and Contents

This series contains materials relating to Capt. John R. Gilmore, USAAF during the Second World War. Included are one v-mail, one graduation flyer from the Air Corps Advanced Flying School, two photographs and three photocopies of clippings and an invitation to the graduation.
The photographs are of Lt. Gilmore and his father, and one of him with his wife, Clarabelle and child John R. Gilmore, Jr. The clippings describe his acceptance as a flying cadet and a letter he sent home describing the hazards of reconaissance flying in a P52 fighter-type plane and friendly fire.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

United States -- Army -- Air Forces
World War (1939-1945) -- North Africa
World War (1939-1945) -- Italy
Air pilots, military
 

Series 9, Family photographs 1946 November 28

Physical Description: 0.001 Linear feet(3 photographs)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains three photographs, black and white, of the Wappner family on Thanksgiving 1946. In the picture there is a cake that had "Welcome Home" written on it to celebrate the safe return of all of those in the family that served during the Second World War. Names are written on the back of each photo, these are copies of originals.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Photographs
 

Series 10, "Mansfield Cousins" clippings 1942-1946

Physical Description: 0.001 Linear feet(3 photocopies)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains three photocopied clippings about the various brothers and cousins of the Wappner family from Mansfield, Ohio. They include stories about their service and a short article about the return home of the last relative from active service.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

World War (1939-1945)
V-E Day (1945)
United States. -- Army.
United States. -- Navy
Newspaper clippings