Finding Aid for the Melissa Miller First World War, Second World War and Korean War correspondence collection 2017.280.w.r

Wynter Salazar
Center for American War Letters Archives
August 7, 2017
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu


Contributing Institution: Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Melissa Miller First World War, Second World War, and Korean War collection
source: Miller, Melissa
Creator: Blind, George Philip
Creator: Kluttz, Lewis Calvin
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.280.w.r
Physical Description: 0.5 Linear feet (1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1917 October 1 - 1952 September 20
Abstract: This collection contains letters, photographs, military records, and funeral ephemera from 1st Lt. Lewis Calvin Kluttz during the Second World War and Korean War as well as correspondence from Kluttz's uncle, Cpl. George Phillip Blind during the First World War.
Language of Material: English .
Container: WWI 13
Container: 1-8

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Melissa Miller

Arrangement

This collection is arranged chronologically by material type:
  • Series 1, George Philip Blind First World War correspondence
  • Series 2, Lewis Calvin Kluttz Second World War correspondence
  • Series 3, Lewis Calvin Kluttz Korean War correspondence

George Philip Blind

George Phillip Blind was born in Los Angeles, CA in 1886. He was the fifth of seven children of Phillip Blind, a Civil War Veteran, and Elizabeth Ellen Blind. The Blinds brought their family to California from Ohio around 1884 or 1885. By the 1910 census, George was living at home but working as a hotel waiter. He went back to Ohio in 1912 and married Anna Margaret Stenger. By 1916 they had a son, George Phillip Blind, Jr. and were back in California. George volunteered for the military during the First World War and served as a Corporal in Battery D, Reg #62, Artillery Corps. He wrote to his sister Helen Jennette Blind and his sister Linnian E. Blind. George's brother, Charles Blind also served the First World War. George was discharged in March of 1919. In the 1920 census he is listed as divorced and a Private at Camp Mead, Anne Arundel, Maryland. By 1924, he was back in California, where he died in Letterman Hospital. He is buried in the National Cemetery in the Presidio in San Francisco.

Lewis Calvin Kluttz

Lewis Calvin Kluttz was born in Douglas, AZ in 1927. He had an older sister named Katherine, who was born in 1925. His father was Silas Lillington Kluttz (son of a Civil War veteran) from North Carolina who worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad. His mother was Helen Jeanette Kluttz (sister of George Phillip Blind) from California who had come to Douglas as a teacher. Lewis attended Douglas High School and played basketball and football. After graduation, he attended the University of Arizona in Tucson as a pre-med student, for he wanted to be a doctor like his uncle Charles Blind, but his studies were interrupted by the Second World War. He served for 18 months in Alaska before being discharged. He returned to the University and finished his degree with a Bachelor of Science in 1949. He wasn't accepted into any medical schools resulting in him studying law. He was in the Army Reserves when the Korean War began and he was called back into duty as a 1st Lt. He was killed on July 29, 1952 while leading his platoon on their third attempt to take "Outpost Kelly" held by the Chinese. He was shot in the head by a sniper. He was nominated for the Distinguished Service Award and received the Purple Heart. (His cousin and son of Charles Blind, Lee Penn Blind was killed while on active duty in July of 1953. He was a pilot and died during a training accident). Lewis' funeral was held on September 20, 1952 at First Presbyterian Church/Calvary Cemetery in Douglas, AZ.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Melissa Miller First World War, Second World War and Korean War collection (2017.280.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

Content Description

This collection contains correspondence from Corporal George Phillip Blind to his sisters during the First World War. This collection also contains correspondence from First Lieutenant Lewis Calvin Kluttz to his parents and sister during the Second World War and during the Korean War. Kluttz died July 29, 1952 in Korea. This collection also contains military and government documents concerning his death.

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 (1914-1918)
Correspondence -- World War, 1914-1918
World War (1939-1945)
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
Korean War, 1950-1953.
Korean War -- (1950-1953) -- Correspondence
Last letters before death
Death notification
World War (1939-1945) -- Campaigns -- Alaska -- Aleutian Islands
Miller, Melissa

box WWI 13, folder 1

Series 1, George Philip Blind First World War correspondence 1917 October 1 1923-04-28

source: Miller, Melissa
Creator: Blind, George Philip
Physical Description: 0.08 Linear feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains one folder entitled correspondence. This series contains an inventory and biographical information provided by the donor. This series also contains correspondence from Corporal George Phillip Blind to his sister Helen Jennette Blind and his sister Linnian E. Blind during the First World War as well as a photo of Blind and an obituary. Blind served as Corporal in Battery D, Reg #62, Artillery Corps. He was stationed at Fort Scott in San Francisco. He was the uncle of Lewis Calvin Kluttz. Some noted material in this series is his photo with writing on the back detailing his birth and death as well as his letter dated October 1, 1917 in which he says he is looking forward to a football game between two of the forts. Blind died July 18, 1924.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Correspondence -- World War, 1914-1918
World War (1914-1918)
box WWI 13, folder 2-3

Series 2, Lewis Calvin Kluttz Second World War correspondence 1945 December 25 - 1946 February 1

source: Miller, Melissa
Creator: Kluttz, Lewis Calvin
Physical Description: 0.16 Linear feet(2 folders)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains correspondence, photos, and military documents pertaining to Lewis Calvin Kluttz during the Second World War. Folder 2 contains six correspondence from Kluttz to his family. In this correspondence Kluttz reveals that he is working in Alaska at Dutch Habor in the Aleutian Islands. He was working with salvage. In one letter dated December 25, 1945 he explains that his work should be done by contractors and he should be paid more but the government just wanted cheap labor. In a letter dated January 17, 1946 he describes the different houses available there. In a letter dated January 23, 1946 he describes what he wants to do in the future and what classes he wishes to take. A very interesting letter is dated February 1, 1946. In this letter he talks about how a soldier got angry and burned all their records before he left. This made their job almost impossible to do. "It is a really a shame to see this equipment going to rust up here. Trucks, cranes, cats, stoves, refrigerators, boilers, generators compressors, and all sorts of hand tools and power machinery are scattered from end to end on this island. We have no records of a large part of it so we can not report it for shipping until we dig up records for it. I would estimate that there is at least eight million dollars worth of stuff of all types up here in varying conditions waiting for our crew of twenty men to get around to crating it and shipping it … It is no wonder they want you all to buy War Bonds." Folder 3 contains photos and 2 Military records. 5 of the photos were taken in Douglas AZ. Descriptions are as follows: 1. Lewis and Katherine (sister) May 1945 2. Lewis boarding SP train at depot 3. Lewis with parents, Silas L. Kluttz and Helen J. Kluttz at train depot 4. Lewis with parents at train depot 5. Formal Portrait of Lewis. The next 7 photographs were taken while Lewis was stationed in Alaska. Descriptions as follows: 6. Lewis with someone "Brand new Sergeants!" 7. Lewis and someone in front of equipment 8. Lewis in work clothes outdoors "The sun came out for a full two hours this day. Also the first day that there was not at least a foot of snow on the ground." 9. Lewis in parka with companion 10. Lewis in front of building "Where the War Bonds went to—Commanding Officers "shack"" 11. Lewis in stained work overalls 12. Lewis leaning on a building. Military Records are also included in this folder. These records include his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation as well as his Honorable discharge issued December 6, 1946.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

World War (1939-1945) -- Campaigns -- Alaska -- Aleutian Islands
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945)
box WWI 13, folder 4-8

Series 3, Lewis Calvin Kluttz Korean War correspondence 1952 March 23 - 1952 August 16

source: Miller, Melissa
Creator: Kluttz, Lewis Calvin
Physical Description: 0.4 Linear feet(5 folders)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains correspondence, photos, condolences, and official death correspondence pertaining to Lewis Calvin Kluttz during the Korean War. Lewis became a 1st Lieutenant with the 15th Infantry Regiment in the 3rd Division.
Folder 4 contains 7 correspondence from Lewis to his sister, Katherine. Some letters of interest include the letter dated May 11, 1952. In this letter Lewis complains about the USO shows, mentions some drama between a man named Carl and Katherine, and expresses his feelings towards the war. He believes that the war is pointless stating, "Any would be nice but from personal observation I don't think they are about to end this thing and it seems more and more pointless the longer I stay here – I really get quite bitter about it at times. But then I remember that I'm over here 'to make the world safe for you to live in' and I feel much better." In the letter dated May 24, 1952 he mentions pictures that are reference to the Mockup of a joke magazine that Katherine and her roommates and friends sent to Lewis in Korea. Made to look like a scandal magazine "Confidential" It is "pictures" referenced in Lewis' letter from May 24 1952 (returned with personal effects after death). This magazine is located in folder 8. His very last correspondence before his death is dated July 26, 1952. In this letter to his parents he ends his letter by saying "I expect to be very busy the next few days so don't worry if you don't hear from me for awhile. I'll be okay."
Folder 5 contains photos and newspaper clippings. For a detailed description of these photos please refer to the donor inventory. The newpaper clippings are from the Douglas Dispatch on Febuary 24, 1952.
Folder 6 contains approximately 10 offical military condolences as well as the telegrams sent notifiying the Kluttz's of Lewis' death and the transport of his body. One letter of interest is dated August 5, 1952 from WM. E. Bergin which confirms Lewis' death as well as comes with form C 3109 "Statement of Death" and DA Pamphlet No. 20-15 "For Your Guidance" for the family to refer to.
Folder 7 contains government and legal documents and correspondence including compensation records, tax records, and life insurance records. These documents provide insight into all the paperwork a family must fill out once a family member has died while in service. This folder also contains the letter notifying the Kluttz's that Lewis won the Purple Heart.
Folder 8 contains 7 death related correspondence including condolences from friends and soldiers as well as funeral ephemera. Some material of interest is the letter written by Katherine to Lewis that specifies returned to sender "verified deceased" on the envelope. Also the mockup joke magazine that was referenced in one of Lewis' letters. The rest of the letters are condolence letters to Mr. and Mrs. Kluttz and most describe how he died and how he was a good soldier. This folder also contains a "In Remembrance" Card from Kluttz's funeral as well as 3 booklets of flower arrangements.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Last letters before death
Death notification
Korean War -- (1950-1953) -- Correspondence
Korean War, 1950-1953.