Finding Aid for the Argyle W. Foutch Cold War correspondence and military documents 2022.257.w.r
Andrew Harman
Center for American War Letters Archives
12/13/2022
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Argyle W. Foutch Cold War correspondence and military documents
Identifier/Call Number: 2022.257.w.r
Physical Description:
0.015 Linear Feet
(1 folder)
Date (inclusive): 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.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: Cold War 3
Container: 5
Container: 1
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Myrna Lane.
This collection is arranged by material type and chronology.
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").
This collection was found on the side of the road by a friend of the donor in Pensacola, Florida.
[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.
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!!"
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
United States. -- Navy
Cold War (1945-1989)
Cold War (1945-1989) -- Letters
Nuclear Energy History
Nuclear energy -- History
Military education