Finding Aid for the Roman Milewski Second World War correspondence 2022.166.w.r
Zoe Adams
Center for American War Letters Archives
5/26/2022
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Roman Milewski Second World War correspondence
source:
Kaminsky, Karen
Creator:
Milewski, Roman, Private First Class, 1912-1945
Identifier/Call Number: 2022.166.w.r
Physical Description:
0.025 Linear feet
(2 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1943 October 20 - 1945 May
Abstract: This collection contains nine correspondence from PFC Roman "Romie" Milewski, USA to his niece Ruth Braun during the Second
World War. Also included are additional correspondence to his sister, his wife, and one letter from the Army to his wife,
as well as three photographs of Roman and various clippings.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 165
Container: 6-7
Container: 1-2
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Karen Kaminsky
This collection is arranged in chronological order.
Private First Class Roman Milewski, United States Army (1/24/1912 - 1945) was born in South Milwaukee to Mary Milewski. He
had one sister, Julia Milewski. He attended St. Adalbert's Grade School, South Milwaukee High School, and Milwaukee School
of Engineering. On September 20, 1941 he married Ella Kempf and on August 6, 1943 their daughter Mary Ellen was born. On October
20, 1943 he entered military service and was killed in Germany sometime in 1945. He is buried in Henry Chapelle Military Cemetery
in Beligum.
[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Roman Milewski Second World War correspondence (2022.0166.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 nine correspondence from PFC Roman "Romie" Milewski, USA to his niece Ruth Braun during the Second
World War. Additional correspondence includes one Christmas card to his sister, Julia Milewski, one postcard to his wife,
Ella Milewski, and one letter from the US Army to Ella. Also included in the collection are three photographs of Roman, two
of which he is in uniform. Also inlcuded is a South Milwaukee newspaper from April 27, 1945 called "The Journal" that includes
a description of a Mass service held for Milewski, and an employee magazine, called the "Scoop" from Bucyrus Erie Company,
where Milewski worked before joining the army, with a feature page of deceased employees. The collection also includes two
typed bages of biographical information provided by the donor.
The first item in this collection is a letter of notice from LtCol. Coffard on October 20, 1943 calling a list of men to active
duty, Milewski included. The men included in the letter were ordered to report to Camp Grant in Illinois.
The correspondence to Ruth begins on November 7, 1943 from Fort Smith in Arkansas. The last correspondence to her was written
on August 20, 1944 on a postcard from Missouri. In this note, Milewski tells her that he is on his way to Colorado. Another
letter to Ruth is included in this collection that does not have a date but was written in Colorado Springs on paper that
inlcudes photographs of Colorado. Milewski addressses the letters to "Ruthie" and signs off "Romie."
In the letters to Ruth, Milewski describes his camp life, being busy with duties, and missing his wife and daugther. On November
14, 1943, Milewski wrote, "I really miss Ella and the baby. I wish I was home with them. Someday I will be home again with
them, after this war is over. It's going to take a long time yet." In the letter dated January 3, 1944, Milewski sent Ruth
a 16th Armored Division patch, which is included in the collection.
On November 28, 1944, Milewski wrote to his sister, Julia, on a Christmas postcard from "somewhere in Germany." In this note,
he ponders the war, saying "I hope when this war is over I come back the same way as when I went into the Army."
On the December 31, 1944, Milewski sent a postcard to his wife, Ella, telling her how much he loved and missed her. This is
the last letter written by Milewski in the collection.
The letter dated March 28, 1945 is a notice of Roman's death, sent to Ella by Lt. Colonel John Williamson. The letter reads:
To supplement the report which you have already received from the War Department, it is with my sincerest sympathy that I am sending you some additional information regarding the death of your courageous husband, Private First Class Roman J. Milewski, 36835021, company A, 18th Infantry. Roman was killed in action 18 March 1945 in the vicinity of Eudenbach, Germany. He was buried with appropriate funeral services conducted by a Catholic Chaplain. At the time of his death he was a rifleman with his company in a defensive position at a newly won objective. An enemy artillery shell that struck near Roman's foxhole was responsible for his instant death. Your husband was an outstanding and capable young soldier whose untimely death is felt by all who knew and loved him. His bravery, loyalty, keen sense of duty and aggressiveness were a great inspiration to those who worked and fought with him. His is a loss which will be hard to replace.
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
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945)
World War (1939-1945) -- Casualties
Photographs
World War (1939-1945) -- Newspapers
Kaminsky, Karen