Finding Aid for the William Harold Lee Second World War correspondence 2017.580.w.r
Lorraine Shaller
Center for American War Letters Archives
10-16-17
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: William Harold Lee Second World War correspondence
Creator:
Lee, William Harold, 1924-2007
source:
Rayfield, Rebecca Lee
source:
Lee, Steven M.
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.580.w.r
Physical Description:
0.75 Linear feet
(2 document boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1944 April 14 - 1945 December 11
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence between Sgt. William Harold Lee, USAAF, and his family during the Second World War.
Lee was stationed in the Pacific and served in New Guinea, Australia, the Philippines, and Okinawa.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 61
Container: 1-4
Container: 1-4
Container: WWII 62
Container: 1-7
Container: 5-11
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the family of William Harold Lee, donated by Rebecca Rayfield.
This collection is arranged chronologically by material type:
- Series 1, Correspodnence from William Harold Lee
- Series 2, Correspondence from the Lee family
- Series 3, Photographs
- Series 4, Newspaper clippings
- Series 5, Ephemera
[Item title, Box number, Folder number], William Harold Lee Second World War correspondence (2017.580.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 correspondence from Sergeant William Harold "Buddy" Lee, United States Army Air Force to his parents
during the Second World War. As part of the 380th Bombardment Group, Lee served in New Guinea, Australia, the Philippines,
and Okinawa, however his letters do not discuss any of his work, which seems to be confined to a field office. He also stayed
in touch with the war news in other theaters. He discusses the situation on the Western front, the battles against the Japanese,
and contemporary politics.
This collection also contains letters from Lee's family, including several from his father, two from his mother, and one from
his sister.
Besides correspondence, the collection contains several newspaper clippings, one photograph, and some ephemera.
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. For further copyright information, please contact the archivist.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War (1939-1945) -- Philippines.
United States -- Army -- Air Forces
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945)
Rayfield, Rebecca Lee
Lee, Steven M.
box WWII 61, folder 1-4, folder 1-4, box WWII 62, folder 1-3, folder 5-7
Series 1, Correspondence from William Harold Lee 1944 June 1 - 1945 December 11
Language of Material: English.
This series contains correspondence from Sgt. William Harold Lee, USAAF or "Buddy" to his parents during the Second World
War. In his letters, Lee avoids talking about his work. Instead, he discusses his hobbies like coin collecting, and when he
reaches Australia he talks about taking photos. He also mentions chasing some kangaroos around and how much he misses his
fox terrier Spotty. Mostly he writes of being on KP duty and seeing shows. He discusses the situation on the Western front,
the battles against the Japanese, and even in his letter dated April 28th, 1945 mentions the death of President Roosevelt
when he says, "I could see in Dads [sic] letters that he greatly misses the leader ship [sic] of F.D.R. and thought that he
would most likely come feel it as he was a great admirer of his. It is true that he was a great man and that we all would
feel ever so more assured that if he stayed at the helm, thing [sic] would have been known to come out more assuredly." Later
he discusses Truman's first speech in office in his letter dated May 4, 1945, saying, "I think that as each day goees by he
is doing a better job of it." He also asks after his younger brother Jim frequently and expresses how Jim should finish school
because Lee does not want him joining the Army.
box WWII 62, folder 4, folder 8
Series 2, Correspondence from the Lee family 1944 December 24 - 1945 November 26
Language of Material: English.
This series contains five letters, two from Lee's mother, two from Lee's father, and one from his sister. Most of the letters
were sent around the holidays and reference getting the house in order, repainted and cleaned. Lee's mother mentions their
Christmas gathering and all the people that visited them in 1944. Lee's father discusses the news in the Pacific as well as
a typhoon that hit the Philippines in fall of 1945. Lee's sister talks about her work, their brother Jim, and her hopes that
Lee will be home for the holidays.
box WWII 62, folder 5, folder 9
box WWII 62, folder 6, folder 10
Series 4, Newspaper clippings 1945-09-02-1945-11-29
Language of Material: English.
This series contains 4 newspaper clippings sent home by Sergeant William Lee from his time overseas. One is from "The New
Okinawan" and references the Japanese surrender and the end of World War II. Two others are comics. The last is a graphic
referencing the number of soldiers sent home from wartime.