Finding Aid for the Robert H. McVay Second World War correspondence 2017.518.w.r
Lee Feldman
Center for American War Letters Archives
10/31/17
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Robert H. McVay Second World War correspondence
Creator:
McVay, Robert Harrell
source:
McVay, Kipling L.
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.518.w.r
Physical Description:
.21 Linear Feet
(3 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1943 December 22 - 1950 February 15
Abstract: This collection contains letters, photographs, and written correspondence from AMM3/C, Robert H. McVay, USAAF during the Second
World War.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 14
Container: 11-13
Container: 1-3
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Kipling L. McVay.
This collection is arranged by material type, author, and date.
Aviation Machinist's Mate Third Class Robert Harrell McVay, United States Army Air Force (10/30/1925 - 6/11/1989) was born
to parents George Birch McVay and Ida Ruby Smith McVay in Cochran, Georgia. Robert attended the Cochran public schools and
was a member of Boy Scout Troop #53. Along with his friends, he signed up for the aviation branch of service. From 1943 to
1946, he served in the US Navy and soon after completed his studies at Middle Georgia College in Cochran. He reenlisted in
the Air Force on October 22, 1947, and served until he was discharged as a Master Sergeant in late 1964/early 1965.
During his service, he was stationed in the Pacific theater, serving at the Admiralty Islands, Saipan, and the Philippines,
and later performed duties in Germany, Africa, France, and back home in the United States. He was awarded the American Area
Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Medal with three bronze stars, the Philippine Liberation Medal with one bronze star, the German
Occupation Medal, the Berlin Air Lift clasp, the Humane Action Medal, Senior Air Crew Members Wings, the Good Conduct Medal
with five loops, the Sharpshooters Medal, the NCO Academy Ribbon, the Victory Medal with three bronze stars, and was commended
by the Air Force on December 6, 1944 and the Navy on April 23, 1945. He married to Yvette Chouchesne on January 13, 1952,
and later adopted their daughter, Sylvia Lee McVay, and her sone, their grandson Thomas Robert Roetzler, Jr. Robert McVay
retired from military service on December 9, 1986, receiving a medal and a certificate for completing over fourty years of
service. Robert passed away in 1989 and is interred at Cedar Hill Cemetary in Cochran, Georgia.
(Source: donor)
[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Robert Harrell McVay Second World War correspondence (2017.518.w.r), Center for American
War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
This collection contains correspondence, realia and ephemera from AMM3/C Robert McVay, USAAF to his parents during and after
the Second World War. Also included is a supplementary file featuring the biographical information of McVay.
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
World War (1939-1945) -- Homefront
World War (1939-1945) -- Japan
McVay, Ida Ruby Smith
McVay, Kipling L.