Finding Aid for the Dayle E. Gibson Second World War correspondence 2018.167.w.r

Andrew Harman
Center for American War Letters Archives
6/18/2019
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu


Contributing Institution: Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Dayle E. Gibson Second World War correspondence
source: Gibson, Hattie M.
Creator: Gibson, Dayle Edward, Private, 1925-2000
Creator: Mayers, Luther
Identifier/Call Number: 2018.167.w.r
Physical Description: .08 Linear feet (2 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1943 July 25 - 1945 October 26
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence to and from Pvt. Dayle E. Gibson, USA during the Second World War. The letters written by Gibson were sent to Hattie M. Newman. The letters sent to Gibson were written by his friend, Luther Mayers.
Language of Material: English .
Container: WWII 149
Container: 4-5
Container: 1-2

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Hattie M. Gibson.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged chronologically, separated by author.
  • Series 1, Correspondence from Dayle to Hattie
  • Series 2, Correspondence from Luther to Dayle

Biographical / Historical

Private Dayle Edward Gibson, United States Army (3/12/1925 - 1/5/2000) was born in Zanesville, Ohio and attended Grover Cleveland Middle/High School. He met Hattie M. Newman in the summer of 1942 when she was on vacation in Ohio with her uncle. She lived in Philippi, West Virginia. They maintained correspondence from the time they met and continued after Dayle was drafted into the Army, developing into a serious relationship. According to Hattie, it was expected of young women to write soldiers and she corresponded with several soldiers who were overseas during the war. Dayle was a musician and could play a variety of instruments, including a guitar while serving, according to Hattie.
Pvt. Gibson also received letters from his friend, Luther Myers whom he had known since childhood. Their families were friends and their mothers were very close. The two of them even worked at the Zanes Hotel together for six months. Hattie recalled that Luther was a "funny guy" and that he "always had a plan but rarely followed through. He wasn't a trouble maker but...he was a big talker." (source: donor)
During the war Pvt. Gibson served with B Battery, 277th at Camp McCoy in Wisconsin and Camp Funston in Fort Riley, Kansasas and later transferred to B Battery 269th Field Artillery Battalion, 89th Division, 9th Army at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He served overseas as a .50 caliber machine gunner with this unit until after the war in Europe when he moved to C Battery and later to 340th F.A. Bn., also with the 89th Div. as he was stationed at Camp 20 Grand in Duclair, one of several "Cigarette Camps" near Le Havre used to cycle soldiers out of the continent.
After the war Dayle and Hattie married, had children and moved to Philo, Ohio. Dayle E. Gibson passed away in 2000.

Preferred Citation

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Dayle E. Gibson Second World War correspondence (2018.167.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 thirteen correspondence to and from Pvt. Dayle E. Gibson, USA during the Second World War. The six letters written by Gibson were sent to Hattie M. Newman. The seven letters sent to Gibson were written by his friend, Luther Myers.

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) -- France
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945) -- Equipment and supplies
Atomic bomb -- United States -- History
United States -- Race Relations
Gibson, Hattie M.

box WWII 149, folder 4, folder 1

Series 1, Correspondence from Dayle to Hattie 1945 July 11 - October 26

Physical Description: 0.04 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

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."
box WWII 149, folder 5, folder 2

Series 2, Correspondence from Luther to Dayle 1943 June 25 - 1944 March 26

Physical Description: 0.08 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

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).