Finding Aid for the Jerry T. Zichelli Second World War correspondence 2022.195.w.r

Andrew Harman
Center for American War Letters Archives
6/30/2022
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu


Contributing Institution: Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Jerry T. Zichelli Second World War correspondence
source: Zichelli, Ione S.
Creator: Zichelli, Jerry Thomas, Private, 1924-1943
Identifier/Call Number: 2022.195.w.r
Physical Description: 0.01 Linear Feet (1 folder)
Date: 1943 October 24
Abstract: This collection contains one letter from Pvt. Jerry T. Zichelli, USA to his brother Cpl. Frank J. Zichelli, USAAF during the Second World War. The letter was written from Italy in 1943.
Condition Description: The front and back of the envelope are separated.
Language of Material: English .
Container: WWII 165
Container: 12
Container: 1

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Ione Zichelli.

Biographical / Historical

Private Jerry Thomas Zichelli, United States Army (11/24/1924 - 11/13/1943) was born in Newark, New Jersey to Italian immigrants Guiseppe (Joseph) and Marie Aida (Ida) Zichelli. He had an older brother and sister, Frank and Maria, and younger siblings Josephine, Anthony, Nicolina, and Rose; all born in New Jersey. His parents went by anglicized names Joseph and Ida in the federal census' and other forms, and his father worked as a Janitor, declaring in the 1930 census that he was a veteran of the First World War.
Jerry worked at a rug cleaning factory in East Orange when he filled out his draft card. He was in Italy when he wrote this letter and served with th 29th Replacement Battalion, 5th Army but had been approved to join the Rangers. He was killed three weeks later in Salerno.
Corporal Frank J. Zichelli, United States Army Air Force (2/26/1922 - 1/28/1982) enlisted on October 3, 1942 and served with 50th Airdrome Squadron in Harrington, Kansas when he received this letter from Jerry in 1943.
Note: the draft card for Jerry Zichelli shows his birthday as November 25, whereas his mother's application for his gravestone shows his birthday as November 24. Both documents are available on Ancestry.com.

Preferred Citation

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Jerry T. Zichelli Second World War correspondence (2022.195.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 one letter from Pvt. Jerry T. Zichelli, USA to his brother Cpl. Frank J. Zichelli, USAAF during the Second World War.
The letter was written by Jerry in Italy to Frank who was at the 50th Airdrome Squadron in Harrington, Kansas. In the letter, Jerry laments being in Italy, saying he does not like it all, saying, "...you should be satisfied with all you get, and pray that you don't go overseas."
He continues to describe how beautiful Italy "must have been" before the war, "but it is a hell of a mess now...all their homes are wrecked, and being wrecked every night."
"From some of the buildings that are still standing, and some that were just touched I'd say this was a darn nice place, and I really feel sorry for these people. I hope the hell it's over soon."
Jerry goes on to inform Frank that he applied for a transfer with some friends to join the Rangers and that had been approved. He was killed in action about 20 days later on November 13, 1943 in Salerno, Italy.

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
World War (1939-1945) -- Italy
Zichelli, Ione S.