Finding Aid for the Richard F. Ring Second World War correspondence and other materials 2017.627.w.r

Lorraine Shaller
Center for American War Letters Archives
11/6/2017
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu


Contributing Institution: Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Richard F. Ring Second World War correspondence and other materials
Creator: Ring, Richard Fred
source: Slater, Richelle Ring
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.627.w.r
Physical Description: 0.25 Linear feet (7 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1942 October 29 - 1946 January 31
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, military documents, ephemera, and realia pertaining to the military service of CMOMM Richard F. Ring, USNR during the Second World War.
Language of Material: English .
Container: WWII 19
Container: 1-7
Container: 1-7

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Richelle Ring Slater.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by material type, author, and date.
  • Series 1, Correspondence from Richard F. Ring
  • Series 2, Photographs
  • Series 3, Clippings
  • Series 4, Military documents
  • Series 5, Ephemera
  • Series 6, Biographical information
  • Series 7, Realia

Preferred Citation

[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Richard F. Ring Second World War correspondence (2017.627.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

Content Description

This collection contains correspondence from and concerning Chief Motor Machinist Mate Richard Fred Ring, United States Naval Reserve during the Second World War. This collection also contains various photos, newspaper clippings, cards, and patches along with notes from the writer about the materials which serve as background information. Ring lived in Seattle with his parents until he joined the Navy as an Apprentice Seaman. He quickly rose through the ranks, and served overseas in England, participating in the invasion of France, and after the war, he was deployed to Hawaii and from there to the Pacific to assist in post-war activities.

Conditions Governing Use

There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the respondsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions. For further copyright information, please contact the archivist.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

United States. -- Navy
World War (1939-1945) -- England
World War (1939-1945) -- Hawaii
Slater, Richelle Ring

box WWII 19, folder 1, folder 1

Series 1, Correspondence from Richard F. Ring 1942 December 9 - 1945 October 25

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

Scope and Contents

This series contains greeting cards, letters, and postcards from CMOMM Richard F. Ring, USNR to his family during the Second World War. His first cards are addressed from the Naval Training Station at Farragut, Idaho, where Ring was stationed for initial training. He next writes from Nebraska and later Missouri where he was stationed for specialized machine training, trying to make the grade of Motor Machinst Mate Grade 2. One of his letters contains his itinerary on the trip down, which he took by train. He writes, "Left Farragut^Idaho at 0800, arrived Land Point Idaho 0915, crossed Clarks Forks River = very pretty."
After receiving his certification as a Machinist's Mate, the next letters find Ring in St. Louis, then Toledo, Ohio, and finally Detroit, Michigan. He mentions the amenities at the USO club in Detroit and how he can see Canada across the river. He also mentions his Point of Embarkation will be at Norfolk/Newport News, Virginia, which he describes as a "H---hole." December of 1943 finds him "somewhere in England." He describes the people as "pretty hard up," and the beer as "strong as heck." Christmas 1943 he writes, "It seems like no one had any x-mas [sic] spirit this year. Not even the home people of this town." He also talks about visiting London on leave. There is a gap of about a year until January 1945 when Ring returned to the United States. The next time he sends a letter, it is from Hawaii. His final letters detail his service clearing mines off the Japanese coast after the end of the war in September 1945.
box WWII 19, folder 2, folder 2

Series 2, Photographs 1943 January - 1945 March

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

Scope and Contents

This series contains various portraits of CMOMM Richard F. Ring, USNR and photos he took with his friends over the course of the Second World War. Most are black and white but some have been colorized.
box WWII 19, folder 3, folder 3

Series 3, Military documents 1942 October 29 - 1946 January 31

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

Scope and Contents

This series contains a mixture of original and photocopied documents pertaining to the military service of CMOMM Richard F. Ring, USNR, including his company's citations for honor in battle, his parents' notification of his surgery for a hernia, his certificates for his completed programs of study, and his honorable discharge documents.
box WWII 19, folder 4, folder 4

Series 4, Clippings 1942 November 8 - 1944 June 6

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

Scope and Contents

This series contains several newspaper clippings, including three from the Seattle Times discussing Seattle men at Farragut, Idaho. Another details a speech given by President Roosevelt on D-Day, June 6, 1944. The others are editorials or obituaries of honored or fallen soldiers that Ring knew.
box WWII 19, folder 5, folder 5

Series 5, Ephemera 1942 - 1995 1942 - 1946

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

Scope and Contents

This series contains a poster for the Marines amphibious landing vehicles, several clippings, a license to purchase alcohol in Idaho belonging to Richard F. Ring, a menu from Christmas dinner at Farragut 1942, a yearbook for the naval training center in Missouri where Ring attended, a program from a memorial service for Robert Ellis, a "Reserved" sign, and some notes from a veterans gathering Ring attended in 1995.
box WWII 19, folder 6, folder 6

Series 6, Biographical information

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

Scope and Contents

This series contains biographical information about and written by Richard F. Ring, written on notebook paper and placed in a binder along with the other items in the collection.
box WWII 19, folder 7, folder 7

Series 7, Realia

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

Scope and Contents

This series contains two patches. One is a sleeve patch from Naval Amphibious forces, and has a picture of a green and red alligator on a blue and tan background. The second is a Machinist's Mate patch and features a black shoulder insignia with a white eagle over a rotor with the letters M and O around it and two red stripes beneath.