Finding Aid for the J Wilbur Cornwell Second World War correspondence, photographs, documents, and uniform 2019.093.w.r
Andrew Harman
Center for American War Letters Archives
9/27/2019
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: J Wilbur Cornwell Second World War correspondence, photographs, documents, and uniform
source:
Tillinghast, Deborah J.
Creator:
Cornwell, J Wilbur, Technical Sergeant, 1916-2007
Identifier/Call Number: 2019.093.w.r
Physical Description:
4 Linear Feet
(6 folders, 1 uniform, 1 specimen box container)
Date (inclusive): 1941 October - 1945 September
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence, photographs, documents, and one uniform belonging to T/Sgt. J Wilbur Cornwell, USA
during the Second World War.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 65
Container: 8-11
Container: 1-4
Container: Specimen box 2
Container: 5
Container: WWII Uniforms 1
Container: Oversize 3
Container: 5
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the family of J Wilbur Cornwell, Sr., donated by Deborah Tillinghast.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by material type and chronology:
- Series 1, Correspondence
- Series 2, Photographs
- Series 3, Military Documents
- Series 4, Uniform and medals
- Series 5, Ephemera and ration books
Biographical / Historical
Technical Sergeant J Wilbur Cornwell, United States Army (11/14/1916 - 1/13/2007) was born in Brockman, California to Orpha
A. and Harry Phillif Cornwell. It is unclear why he was born in California as his parents were from Iowa and South Dakota,
respectively, and they resided in Iowa. J Wilbur grew up in Ankeny, Iowa and eventually had several siblings: Ruth H, Donald
A., and Olive. He worked as a light truck driver for Russell Jenkins Hauling when he was drafted on March 17, 1941 at Fort
Des Moines. He reported to Fort Sill, Oklahoma soon after and served with Battery B, 14th Field Artillery Observation Battalion.
In January 1942, his girlfriend Orma Eliza Atherton (b. 10/10/1921), who worked as a doctor's assistant, traveled to join
him and they married in Lawton, OK on January 8, 1942. By this time, he had already been reassigned to Camp Roberts in Paso
Robles, California and they left immediately after the wedding. Cornwell was granted permission to drive his car and he reported
first to the Santa Anita Assembly Center. Orma went along and lived in a converted garage in Arcadia before the move to Paso
Robles, where they purchased a small house trailer. He again gained permission to drive her, the car and trailer to his future
postings, including Olympia, Washington where their son was born, and Bend, Oregon. He was not, however, allowed to live off-base
with his wife and child.
On March 9, 1944 Cornwell left for the Pacific Theater with 2nd Sound Ranging Platoon, Battery A, 289th Observation Battalion.
Orma and their son returned to Iowa as he served overseas in New Guinea and later the Philippines until the end of the war.
He returned on October 9, 1945 and was discharged on October 17 at Fort Logan, Colorado.
J Wilbur Cornwell passed away in 2007 in Ankeny and is interred at Greenwood Friends Cemetery.
General
There is no period after "J" in Cornwell's name. His name, properly written, is J Wilbur Cornwell, Sr.
Preferred Citation
[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], J Wilbur Cornwell Second World War correspondence, photographs, documents,
and uniform (2019.093.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, photographs of, documents regarding, and one uniform belonging to T/Sgt. J Wilbur
Cornwell, USA during the Second World War. Included are approximately twenty letters and V-Mail, several service documents
including separation papers, several photographs in uniform both home and overseas, and one green dress uniform. The uniform
includes trousers with belt, jacket with pins and four ribbons, two garrison caps, and a small box with pins, ribbons, and
a medal.
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)
World War (1939-1945) -- Pacific Area
United States -- Army -- Pacific Theater of Operations
World War (1939-1945) -- Philippines.
United States. -- Army.
United States. -- Army. -- Field Artillery
World War (1939-1945) -- Photography
Photographs
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
Tillinghast, Deborah J.
box WWII 65, folder 8, folder 1
Series 1, Correspondence
1941 May 31 - 1945 October
Physical Description: 0.04 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
This series contains 28 correspondence from T/Sgt. J Wilbur Cornwell, USA to his wife Orma during the Second World War. There
are two letters from camps in the United States, two from New Guinea, and the rest were sent from the Philippines. Included
in the correspondence is one Christmas V-Mail to his parents, one letter to his grandmother, and one birthday card to Orma.
Also included is one photograph that was sent with the letter postmarked October 4, 1941 from Fort Sill showing JW and Orma
at Mt. Scott in Lawton, Oklahoma on May 31.
In the correspondence he discusses his daily routine, the weather and heat of the South Pacific, leisure time and friends
and family on the home front. There is also some description of the terrain and the physical nature of his location. Though
in an observation battalion for artillery, many of his letters discuss ease of life during the Philippines Campaign that would
suggest he was in the rear areas. This includes going to the ocean and stopping to see an old pipe organ, swimming, and even
telling Orma that he will not be able to do yard work because his hands are getting soft (May 4, 1945). On April 23, 1945
he mentions casualties in the 14th FA Obsvn Bn with whom he served before, but there is little or no mention of his or his
current unit's (Batt A, 289th FA Obsvn Bn) combat action or casualties.
On June 7, 1944 he is apparently helping Orma fill in a certificate for him and mentions the SS Exiria, but with no context.
On March 26, 1945 he responds to a remark by Orma suggesting that "the kids over there are not getting everything they need."
He assures her that nobody is starving and though there are "shortages of this and that in a deal like this," everyone is
fine as far as supplies.
Most of the letters end with a small "P.S. I love you" in the bottom left corner.
The last parcel is the birthday card from the Philippines, arranged where it is due to Orma's birthday in October and Cornwell's
location of the Philippines at that time.
box WWII 65, folder 9, folder 2, box Oversize 3, folder 5
Series 2, Photographs
1939-1945
Physical Description: 0.04 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
This series contains 35 photographs of and relating to T/Sgt. J Wilbur Cornwell, USA and his wife Orma during the Second World
War. Included are photographs of Cornwell in uniform, Orma, trucks and other soldiers at Camp Roberts, Fort Sill, and overseas
in New Guinea and the Philippines. Some shots were taken from Camp Roberts and the Mojave Desert, including one of the moon
and some shots taken inside and outside of their camping trailer. Also included are photographs of Filipino women and children
and a bombed building. One of the photographs is a panorama of Battery B. The earliest photograph is a picture of Orma from
the late 1930s that Cornwell carried with him while overseas.
One photograph is a panorama of Battery B in Folder 5.
One photograph is physically arranged with the correspondence, sent with the letter postmarked October 4, 1941.
box WWII 65, folder 10, folder 3
Series 3, Military documents
1941 November 6 - 1945 October 17
Physical Description: 0.01 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
This series contains military documents pertaining to T/Sgt. J Wilbur Cornwell, USA during the Second World War. Included
are two special orders documents, two commendation memoranda, his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, as well as a miniaturized
copy, Separation Qualification Record, Immunization Register, . The miniature copy of his report of separation has been split
and the front and back are now two pieces.
The two special orders include Cornwell's promotion to corporal on November 6, 1941 and promotion to technical sergeant on
April 28, 1943.
Of the memoranda, one is a transmission of a message from General Douglas MacArthur expressing "admiration for the splendid
conduct of the campaign east of Aitape PD..." This transmission was dated August 11, 1944.
The other memmorandum was dated May 30, 1945 and commends Battery A, 289th FA Obsn Bn for its actions during the period March
15 to May 30, 1945. The commendation is type signed by Brigadier General George V. Keyser, Commanding Officer, Headquarters,
XI Corps Artillery.
flat-box Specimen box 2, Compartment 5, box WWII Uniforms 1
Series 4, Uniform and medals
1945-1946
Physical Description: 4 Linear feet(1 uniform, 1 specimen box container)
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
This series includes one uniform, mostly complete, as well as ribbons and medals belonging to T/Sgt. J Wilbur Cornwell, USA
during the Second World War.
The uniform is an enlisted green dress uniform, including trousers, jacket, khaki belt, khaki tie, and two green garrison
caps. Each of the garrison caps have red piping signifying artillery, and one is flat on top and appears to have scarcely
been worn. The other has a rounded top as was the norm after 1942.
The jacket also includes a left shoulder patch with dice for the XI Corps, a right breast patch of the "Ruptured Duck" honarable
discharge emblem, and four ribbons on the right breast: American Defense, Philippine Liberation, Good Conduct, and Asiatic-Pacific
Campaign.
Also included are one spare ribbon each for the American Defense, Good Conduct, and Asiatic-Pacific Medals, two Good Conduct
ribbons without backing (loose fabric), one full-size Good Conduct Medal, one small Good Conduct ribbon pin, as well as one
small "Rupture Duck" pin.
box WWII 65, folder 11, folder 4
Series 5, Ephemera and ration books
1941 November 27 - 1944 January 19
Physical Description: 0.01 Linear feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
This series contains ephemera and ration books belonging to T/Sgt. J Wilbur Cornwell, USA during the Second World War. Included
are three "First Drafts" cards, two holiday menus, five war ration books, and one basic formulas in electricity cheat sheet
card.
The "First Drafts" are advertisements and "Newsnotes about Army life from Staff Sgt. Mark Wesler, late of the Wexler Printing
Co., and now 'somewhere in the United States'--we hope."
Three of the war ration books belonged to Cornwell, and two belonged to his wife Orma.
The menus are ornate and include Thanksgiving and Christmas 1941 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, with personnel lists for the battery.