Physical Description: 0.04 Linear Feet(1 folder)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains six letters from Pvt. Dayle E. Gibson, USA to Hattie M. Newman during the Second World War. They infer that they are dating, though Dayle says it is okay for her to write other men. His first three letters were from Thaon, France and he asks about several people back home. His sister says that the two of them make a great couple and some other family and friend business is discussed throughout the correspondence. Two soldiers were mentioned in his unit, Leeland Clark and James Cooley.

On August 14, 1945 Pvt. Gibson mentions being overseas for 27 months and that "everyone's talking about the atomic bomb and Japan's surrendring terms." He also mentions being fed up with the "frogs," a derogatory term for the French people with whom the American soldiers are not getting along. The French people wear the soldiers' clothing and military police force them to strip in the streets. Pvt. Gibson says, "In a way I don't blame the men for what they are going to do to these girls when we leave Thaon. Any girl they see with an American soldier they are going to cut all her hair off when we leave. They really are mad because some of our boys can date the girls here and the Frenchmen can't. The girls ignore them. Not all but same."

By August 25, his unit moves to Mulhouse, France and later Metz, where the soldiers were confined to camp because of a fight that broke out between French people and black soldiers, involving "some killings."

By the end of the correspondence, he is waiting to be sent home and expresses his love and hopes to marry Hattie. He also mentions considering the Merchant Marines if he cannot find work back home. Throughout the correspondence, it seems Hattie is ill and in every letter he hopes she is doing better than before. Some of the letters are signed "Eddie."

Physical Description: 0.08 Linear Feet(1 folder)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains seven letters from Luther E. Myers to Pvt. Dayle E. Gibson, USA during the Second World War. All of Luther's letters were sent while Pvt. Gibson was still in the United States, between June 1943 and March 1944.

NOTE: there is very strong language in these letters, as Luther jested with his friend by calling him curse word names. Also, the letter postmarked November 6, 1943 is accidentally dated 1942, but was sent in the envelope marked 1943. The letter dated December 3, 1943 has half of the first page ripped off and missing, and the letter dated December 8, 1943 has the first page cut off from just under the date and also missing.

These letters mostly discuss girls; who Luther likes, who Dayle can help set him up with, and some discussion of Hattie though a piece is missing from the letter dated December 3, 1943 that mentions his possible disapproval. Other topics are wild outings with friends involving hitchhiking or wrecking his car and hoping Dayle can come home on furlough soon.

He also gives the address for a friend in the Army named "Roy": Private Nelson L. Kennedy, Company A 14th Battalion, Army Reserve Training Center (ARTC).