Finding Aid for the Alfred Paul Wafer Second World War correspondence 2017.055.w.r
Sharon Clairemont
Center for American War Letters Archives
10/17/2017
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Alfred Paul Wafer Second World War correspondence
Creator:
Alfred Paul Wafer
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.055.w.r
Physical Description:
1 Linear feet
(1 carton)
Date (inclusive): 1942 November 5 - 1945 December 12
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence from Sgt. Alfred Paul Wafer, USA to his wife Elsie Ann Opolski Wafer during the Second
World War.
Physical Description: Several letters written in pencil in 1945 are faded and illegible.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 118
Container: 10-14
Container: 1-5
Container: WWII 119
Container: 1-6
Container: 6-11
Container: WWII 120
Container: 1-9
Container: 12-20
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Carol Mitchell.
This collection is arranged by material type, author and date.
- Series 1, Correspondence from Alfred to Elsie, 1942-1946
- Series 2, Correspondence from Catherine Wafer to Elsie Wafer, 1943-1944
- Series 3, Ephemera
- Series 4, Banner/flag
- Series 5, Photographs
- Series 6, Clippings
Access Information
Chapman does not hold the IP rights to this collection.[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Alfred P. Wafer Second World War correspondence (2017.055.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 primarily contains correspondence from Sergeant Alfred P. Wafer, United States Army to his wife Elsie in Dearborn,
Michigan during the Second World War. He writes from training camps in Colorado, California, and Louisiana as well as from
travel and combat in France and Germany. The collection also contains letters from his sister, Catherine, to Elsie; photographs;
several newspaper articles and 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)
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
United States -- Army -- European Theater of Operations
California -- Camp Roberts
box WWII 118, folder 10-14, folder 1-5, box WWII 119, folder 1-6, folder 6-11, box WWII 120, folder 1-4, folder 12-15
Series 1, Correspondence from Alfred to Elsie 1942 November - 1945 December
Physical Description: .8 Linear Feet
Language of Material: English.
This series contains correspondence from Sgt. Alfred Paul "Al" Wafer, USA to his wife, Elsie Opolski Wafer during his service
in the Army during the Second World War. There are original letters, V-mail, postcards and telegrams. The correspondence begins
at Camp (Fort) Custer in Michigan, then soon continues from Camp Carson in Colorado where he is serving in Co. D, 353rd Infantry,
89th Division and expects to have 10 weeks of training.
Wafer writes to her at home in Dearborn, Michigan and discusses missing her, his lonliness, asks about their (unborn) baby,
hopes she is being faithful, tells her about the prayers he says for their well-being. Of training, he writes "All they teach
you here is to kill and in the bloodiest way... they said that we will see action by spring." He warns her to stay away from
beer gardens and "other boys." He writes of rifle and machine gun training and earning marksman points, long hikes, cold weather,
guard duty ".. if any ask what I think of this army you can tell them I said the army can go to hell...they don't care if
you die here, but they won't kill me, because I am going to live and see my baby and my wife and make them happy." He writes
about baby names, relationships with siblings, speculation about furloughs and next assignments. He writes his first job after
training as messenger for the commander, and repeatedly tells her if she really needs him whem the baby is born to have her
doctors contact the Red Cross and the Red Cross will contact his commander. He writes he doesn't want to advance beyond rank
of private although he understands she wants him to so that he will earn more money.
On April 21, 1943 he writes "So proud to be a father..." Baby girl is named Carol Lee. May 7, 1943 includes a letter from
doctor attesting to her birth and he writes of receiving another $12/month for the baby. He writes of training in mountains
in cold and wet weather, but anticipate going to desert for 13 week of training and maneuvers He writes of rigors of training,
heat, snakes, too little sleep, water and food. Aug. 1, 1943, he writes he is tranferred to Company A, 353rd Infantry, light
machine gun, training for jungle warfare, anticipates his company being sent to California. At Camp Carson he writes witnesses
frequent crashes of P-38 and B-24 airplanes nearby. He writes frequently about his health and trouble with his feet, back,
eyes, and frequent colds. He writes of anticipated furlough Sept 20-29, 1943.
Enclosed in Oct. 22 letter is Oct. 13 letter from Al's sister, Agnes. Nov. 19, 1943 he is writing from Louisiana about training
and maneuvers, sleeping in tents, far from town, with no leave allowed. Jan. 2, 1944 - "...I am laying in my tent writing
to you its raining its been raining for two weeks everything is wet we sleep in between wet blankets, the ground is all muddy
and we got to lay in it. We don't get enough food to eat. I didn't have a bath for 1 month and a half. My feet are killing
me and I haven't got any socks we don't get time to wash any the ones I have on I had them on for 3 weeks ... Christmas dinner
was C-rations."
Feb. 2, 1944 - he writes about seeing Los Angeles and Hollywood actors' homes, sunny weather, oranges and the Pacific Ocean.
Feb. 16, 1944 - he is writing from Camp Roberts in CA, anticipates furlough in April 1944, and goes back to Michigan. May
15, 1944 - he writes he is headed to Camp Butner in North Carolina. June 6, 1944 he writes of being "broke" from PFC to Pvt.
for "telling off" a sergeant. Writes he doesn't really care, but will probably earn the PFC again. He writes of the possibility
of Elsie and Carol Lee coming to stay in Durham for awhile, but difficulty finding a place, concern about infantile paralysis
spreading through Durham. He writes he is going to school for "expert infantryman." Elsie visits him in Durham in early August
1944 without Carol Lee.
His August 23, 44 letter includes a letter from Elsie to Al's commander asking that her husband be granted a furlough before
he goes overseas. Al writes that most of his time is spent on firing range or on maneuvers "in the woods." Sept. 1944 he
writes he is "going to driver school" and is "very pleased to get a government driver's license." He writes of anticipated
furlough in early October 1944. In late October he writes the camp is very busy because they are going overseas soon. He writes
he anticipates getting his sergeant stripes as he has benn filling is as sergeant. Nov. 12, 1944 - He remarks on the re-election
of the president "If we would have got Dewey the war would have been over with, ... us boys fight for our lives while all
the big shots make the money." He writes often during his hospitalization for a "skin disease" in Nov. - Dec. 1944. He writes
he is lonely, Nov. 30 - "... they are playing on the radio 'I'm Dreaming of A White Christmas.' Boy, it sure make you feel
bad and give you funny feeling down inside, and it make you want to cry, that just the way I feel right now but no tears come
out." Hospital stay ends his opportunity to serve as sergeant and likelihood of earning stripe. Shares his thoughts about
war with Japanese.
In late December 1944 writes he's being sent overseas. In February 1945 he's writing from France, although he can't say where.
He tells of having been to Le Havre and of towns "destroyed pretty bad." He asks her to send food or candy as they don't get
enough food and he is always hungry. On March 14, 1945 he is writing from Germany and his rank is now Sgt. Writes he is drawing
$76, and says he will send her $50. He shares his thoughts about German people. He writes he is in combat, on front line,
and of "rough crossing the Rhine River." He writes he often daydreams about their future.
April 5, 1945 - "When I get back I don't want to go no where just stay home with you and Carol and if I ever seen another
gun I will break it. I am writing this letter almost on the front lines and the bullets are flying.. Boy this war can't end
too soon to suit me." He writes of other soldiers looting, but says there isn't anything he wants. He earns another medal
which means another $10/month in his pay. He writes he has spent some time in Luxenburg, but in April 1945 he is still in
Germany althoughthere is very little fighting. There is a gap in correspondence from May 2 to June 21. June 22 writes he is
in France and didn't get any mail because they have been moving, so he just received 50 letters from her. He writes they are
breaking up the Army divisions and reassigning soldiers, and there are rumors they will go to the Pacific theater. He writes
he doesn't have enough points to get out, but is hoping to go home before going to Pacific.
He writes of trips to Paris on leave, shopping but not buying because prices are inflated. He writes of getting his "teeth
fixed" having lost some in combat. A July 9, 1945 letter includes a news article about when Army divisions will return home
and states Alfred's 89th will remain in Europe through 1945.
His August 1, 1945 correspondence includes a typewritten combat history of the 89th Infantry Division. In an August 8 letter
he wonders if he can get his old job back at the Ford Motor Co. and writes then they'd live in Dearborn, MI. Aug. 10, 1945
- writes of Japanese surrender and of his anticipated furlough in Scotland and England. He writes of many other soldiers going
home through his camp. He writes assisting their departure and guarding prisoners are main functions of his camp. He writes
her about head injury received in combat that still causes him occasional pain. Writes he doesn't object to Elsie working
unless it causes her to get sick. Writes he's been told he will maybe ship out in mid-November, says he thinks living with
her parents might be a good idea until they save enough money for their own place. Much of last two months of correspondence
is about Al's return date, itinerary, and much speculation about whether he will be home for Christmas.
Among the last correspondence is a telegram from Dec. 24, 1945 stating his expectation to sail aboard the USS Wasp and anticipation
of docking in New York on Jan. 1, 1946. News article enclosed with telegram, clipped from "Detroit News, Sun Jan 6, 1946"
is photograph captioned "Her flight deck splintered and crumpled by heavy Atlantic gales, the Carrier Wasp with more than
5,000 ... European fighting aboard, docks at a pier on Staten Island, N.Y. - A.P. Wirephoto" The final correspondence is a
telegram from Al to Elsie from New York, Jan. 5, 1946 "Arrived safely Expect to see you soon ..."
box WWII 120, folder 5, folder 16
Series 2, Correspondence from Catherine Wafer to Elsie Wafer 1943-1944
Physical Description: .05 Linear Feet
Language of Material: English.
This series contains correspondence from Catherine Wafer to Elsie Wafer, wife of Alfred P. Wafer. Catherine (Kate) is Alfred's
sister and writes from Fort Wayne, IN to Elsie in Dearborn, MI. In the three letters in this series Catherine writes mostly
about family news and health - Elsie's baby Carol Lee, her niece Sharon, weather, and a fire at the Sears Roebuck store.
box WWII 120, folder 6, folder 17
Series 3, Ephemera 1941-1945
Physical Description: .05 Linear Feet
Language of Material: English.
This series contains ephemera including: paper currency from Germany and France -- German (Deutsches Reich) postage stamps
with images of Hitler, an airplane, and "Zulassungsmarke" -- a sugar ration purchase certificate -- two patriotic/Allied embroidered
cards from France -- a 1941 draft registration card for Alfred Paul Wafer -- a receipt for insured mail - pink souvenir underwear
stamped "Camp Roberts," described by A. Wafer in accompanying note to Elsie Wafer -- thin paper advertisement for "Grand Hotel
Kurhaus, Schlangenbad im Taunus (Germany) -- seven small photo card advertisements for Hotel Pension Hohenwald (Germany) --
typewritten "Combat History of the 89th Infantry Division."
box WWII 120, folder 7, folder 18
Series 4, Banner/Flag 1941-1945
Physical Description: 1 ItemFaded, watermarked11 x 8 inches
Language of Material: English.
This series contains one small banner/flag approx. 11 x 8 inches, faded burgundy-brown perimeter with single five-pointed
faded burgundy-brown star on off-white background, with gold fringe across bottom; stained and watermarked. Unidentified origin
or affiliation.
box WWII 120, folder 8, folder 19
Series 5, Photographs 1941-1945
Physical Description: .05 Linear feet
Language of Material: English.
This series contains one photograph of a man in uniform, likely Alfred P. Wafer, holding small child, likely his daughter,
Carol Lee; -- one photograph snapshot of a woman sitting on a fence in front of a building; -- three unidentifiable, deteriorated
3 x 5 in. images.
box WWII 120, folder 9, folder 20
Series 6, Clippings 1943-1946
Physical Description: .05 Linear feet
Language of Material: English.
This series contains newspaper articles about Alfred Wafer and/or his 89th Infantry Division. An early article, although undated
can be tracked to his time at Camp Carson, CO as the article is from a fictional version of the "Pikes Peak Herald." Most
of the articles are unidentified as to source and date, but tell of troop movements and homecomings at the end of the war.