Physical Description: .08 Linear Feet(1 folder)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains correspondence from Aviation Ordinanceman Roger Johnson to his brother Herb and sister-in-law Harriet during the Second World War. The correspondence begins as Roger and his friends are traveling to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. After some brief training, he was relocated to Alameda, California. He writes about seeing "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and "Iceland" in Chicago and at the canteen in California respectively. Two more months finds him stationed at Pearl Harbor. Most of his letters deal with personal business, asking after family and friends. For example, in a letter dated December 15, 1942, he writes, "So Harold is in Africa. Boy he is getting around too isn't he." He also asks about the weather at home (Rockford, Illinois) mostly to ask if it is snowing or whether his brother and sister have gone ice-skating. He asks after his brother Bud, who in 1942 went into the army. In late 1942, Roger learns he will be an uncle, and in his last letter, October 25, 1943, he begins with, "Probably you will e almost ready to go to the hospital by the time you get this letter?"

Physical Description: .03 Linear Feet(1 folder)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains correspondence from Private Chester "Bud" Johnson to his brother Herb and sister-in-law Harriet. Bud discusses his entrance into the Army and his progression through boot camp initially. Many of his letters discuss his exercise and marches, and others talk about his education in plane spotting and recognition and anti-aircraft training. He mentions being questioned briefly about a rape allegation, but later mentions that the military police found the real culprit. By his last letter, Harriet and Herb informed Bud that he was going to be an uncle, and he talks about his excitement as well as his relief that he has finished boot camp and will soon "ship out" and see action.

Physical Description: .08 Linear Feet(1 folder)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains correspodence to Harriet and Herb Johnson from other family members and friends serving overseas during the Second World War. One letter is addressed from March Field, Riverside, dated February 20th, 1942, but the last page is missing, and the author is unknown. The writer discusses being sick with tonsilitis, the weather in Riverside, and the quality of the food at the camp.

The series also contains two letters and two postcards from Herb's brother Private First Class Clayton O. Johnson. Clayton served in the Army Air Corps stationed first at Jackson Air Base in Mississippi, then Columbia Air Base in South Carolina, and finally served overseas in England during the Second World War.

One letter is addressed from "Elmer" at Columbia Air Field. He discusses another Johnson brother, Oral, and his tasks in the motor pool ferrying captains around.

The series contains a postcard from Johnson sister Hazel. She wrote from Lansing, Michigan about a trip she took to Detroit.

A letter addressed to Harriet from Margaret Mitchell in Vallejo, California mentions Margaret's husband Glenn is at Camp Pendleton. She talks about their son Freddie and about how windy it is at their house. She also asks after Harriet and her baby.

Three letters are addressed from Merv, who mentions being stationed in California and later Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi in 1943. He mentions his training with rifles and anti-aircraft, asks about Clayton, and mentions what appears to have been a race riot at Camp Van Dorn.

Two more letters are addressed from Doris and Roy Hartman, and one was from Private First Class Roy Hartman alone. The letters discuss the couple's working situation and generally what they had been doing at the time.

Physical Description: .08 Linear Feet(1 folder)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains correspondence from Lieutenant Junior Grade Donald Babb to his wife Carolyn during the Vietnam War. Donald and Carolyn are the parents of the donor, Tonya Babb. Initially, he discusses how this will be his final deployment and how difficult it was to say good-bye to his family at the airport. He talks about flying missions over Cam Ranh Bay as well as some bizarre incident about having to ferry around a bunch of Northwest Airlines employees who were on strike. He also talks about his daughter Tonya, and says he wishes he could be there to help take care of her. He also mentions that there is rioting in Manila on January 25, 1971, and that a friend's wife died. Most of his letters, though, discuss his daily routine and news from home.

Physical Description: .25 Linear Feet(1 folder)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains one photograph of Donald Babb aboard his ship working as a navigator and smiling at the camera during the Vietnam War.

Language of Material: English.

This series contains two items of ephemera. One is a sheet of instructions from the Navy explaining how family writing to sailors aboard ship should structure their letters. The other is a label or advertisement.

Physical Description: .25 Linear Feet(unfoldered)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains a cigar box of unknown date or origin. The box is cardboard covered in a veneer meant to simulate wood. It is decorated with a picture of a horse and originally held the collection of Roger Johnson and Chester Johnson's letters.