Foutch, Argyle W. (Cold War correspondence and military documents), 1959 August 19 - 1962 November 8

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Summary

Title:

Argyle W. Foutch Cold War correspondence and military documents

Dates:

1959 August 19 - 1962 November 8

Abstract:

This collection contains two letters from CWO4 Argyle W. "Joe" Foutch, USN to his wife Ethel, and one from Ethel to Argyle, during the Cold War. Also included are two military documents and one newsletter saved by Foutch.

Containers:

box: Cold War 3
folder: 5
folder: 1

Extent:

0.015 Linear Feet (1 folder)

Language:

English .

Preferred citation:

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Argyle W. Foutch Cold War correspondence and military documents (2022.257.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.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains two letters from CWO4 Argyle W. "Joe" Foutch, USN to his wife Ethel, and one from Ethel to Argyle, during the Cold War. Also included are one barracks conduct memorandum, one naval nuclear power school examination, and one newsletter.

The memorandum is a first endorsement of a barracks committee letter regarding "Standards of Personal Conduct for Nuclear Power School Barracks," dated August 19, 1959. The examination, undated, was taken by Foutch for "Reactor Theory." The newsletter was is entitled "The Big 'E' dated July 1, 1962 and includes the history of Air Group Six.

Ethel's letter, dated March 20, 1962 to Argyle details her daily activities and includes missing him while he is away aboard the USS Enterprise. It is addressed from Mrs. A.W. Foutch though they had not yet been married.

Argyle wrote his first letter on October 23 aboard the Enterprise, one day after President Kennedy ordered a blockade of Cuba; the other letter was written in early November. Each letter discusses the situation and tells Ethel not to listen to rumors. He mentions having one more year of service, which he is okay with because he says, "Well I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I got out during a time like this anyway." He goes on to say:

"I understand that there is a Russian convoy headed this way. Wonder if they will turn around or keep on coming in. Well, time will tell and until then we just keep on steaming. I do know one thing - they will have a rough time making it to Havana!!"

Biographical / historical:

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Argyle Wayne "Joe" Foutch, United States Navy (5/28/1935 - 9/7/1994) was born in Medina, Tennessee to John William Foutch and Lela Maie Foutch née Willis. He married Ethel Hazel Lee (2/15/1930 - 6/22/2017) in Williamsburg, Virginia on August 2, 1962.

Foutch was trained at the US Naval Nuclear Power School at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California, class of 1959. He later served aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) based out of Newport News, Virginia. He was aboard the Enterprise while it served in the blockade of Soviet ships heading to Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.

Argyle passed away in Escambia, Florida in 1994, followed by Ethel in 2017. Both were interred at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola (Ethel listed as "Ethel Wiggins Foutch").

Acquisition information:

Gift of Myrna Lane.

Custodial history:

This collection was found on the side of the road by a friend of the donor in Pensacola, Florida.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged by material type and chronology.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Cold War (1945-1989)
Cold War (1945-1989) -- Letters
Nuclear Energy History
Nuclear energy -- History
Military education
Places:: United States. -- Navy

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:: Andrew Harman
Date Encoded:: This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2022-12-13 19:10:00 -0500 .

Access and use

Restrictions:: This collection is open for research.
Terms of access:: 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.