Finding Aid for the Clark Family Second World War correspondence 2016.191.w.r

Physical Description: .05 Linear Feet(3 folders)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains correspondence and artwork by Albert M. Clark. The correspondence from Pvt. Albert M. (Al) Clark, USA is principally to his parents Donald Clark (Sr.) and Celia Nunn Clark, but also to his brothers Duncan and George, sister Rosamond (Rosie), Aunt Kate Clark, Aunt Josie McNeil, Ray and Connie Nunn. -- The earliest of Albert's letters are before he enlists and are from places he is working in Nevada, New Mexico and Utah and mention enclosed money he is sending home. By October 1941 he is writing from Camp Callan, near La Jolla, CA. He subsequently writes from the Mohave Anti-Aircraft Range (M.A.A.R), now Ft. Irwin, telling of extreme weather, training exercises, hikes and maneuvers. In the summer of 1942 he writes from a camp outside Honolulu, Hawaii and then later from the Gilbert Islands, Guam, the Marianas and Saipan. Albert writes sparingly of his administrative job, but includes photos and his own sketches of the of people and scenery in the islands. He writes of receiving the Orange News and comments on events at home "My Costa Mesa girl is staying by me. I think she is O.K. Gossip to the contrary." He remarks on the death of newspaper editor Willaim O. Hart, on his brother Joe's engagement, and missing the family farm, fresh food and citrus. He laments the heat of the tropics "Seems to me that 'bitter cold' would be a touch of heaven .. orange trees black and shiny in the smudgy morning light." He tells of various visits with his brothers Stuart and Joe in Hawaii, the Marianas and Guam. -- Albert's artwork consists primarily of greeting cards done in watercolor. Most are watercolor renderings from photographs of the Clark family during the brothers' childhood. This series contains 102 letters, postcards, greeting cards, or v-mail, 10 photographs and 7 pieces of artwork.

Physical Description: .05 Linear Feet(3 folders)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains correspondence and scrapbook memorabilia (photographs, currency, news articles) from Tec/5 David J. Clark, USA. Most of the correspondence is to his parents Donald Clark (Sr.) and Celia Nunn Clark, but also to sisters Rosamond (Rosie) and Suzanne and to Aunt Jessie. Early letters are written from towns in Nevada, California, Utah and Arizona as he is traveling with a painting crew for Airways Communications. He writes of receiving news from home and comments on his brothers' Orange High School track and field achievements and student body office, offers advice about the farm's bees, comments of the new Shell gas station in Orange and on the Catalina - Hermosa Beach aquaplane race. He often encourages his brothers Albert and Robert to apply for jobs with his crew and company and mentions the sums of money he is enclosing to send home to his family. By the fall of 1940 he writes of his brother Albert joining him in the work. In Sept. 1941 he writes "I've always been glad that Dad did all the repairing around home because it gave us kids a chance to pick up some valuable knowledge and at the same time introduced us to the art of using our hands." By October 1941 he is working for the Civil Aeronautics Administration and by December 1942 writes of his induction into the Army at Fort MacArthur, San Pedro, CA and subsequent assignment to Camp Chaffee, Arkansas where he joins the 14th Armored Division, 125the Armored Engineer Battalion. He writes of the daily routine and training adding "Coat hangers impossible to get here. Send some wooden ones" and "Food is plentiful, but they still need a good cook." He also comments on the death of his mother's mother "Grandmother was without a doubt the kindest and most agressive elderly person I have ever met." In Feb. 1943 he writes of learning to drive an amphibious seep (jeep) vehicle and in May of doing flood repair work and civilian rescues on the Arkansas River near Fort Smith. On March 25,1944 he comments on his brother Duncan turning down the job of sports editor at The Register. In December 1944 he writes from France and of joining the 7th Army. From June 1945 to February 1946 he is stationed in Germany and writes of his travels around Germany and Austria, Ludwig's castle, skiing in Innsbruck, the Olympic site, and describes the passion play at Oberammergau. He tells his parents he is sending home German guns and uniforms. May 12, 1945 he writes "Fighting has virtually ceased," and of liberation of prisoners of war at Moosberg concentration camp by his battalion. August 15, 1945 he describes celebrating the end of the war commenting "The bunglings of men are indeed costly." November 30, 1945 he tells his family he is sending home a movie camera, typewriter, clock, watch and perfume. He comments on his brothers Al and Robert getting home. In January 1946 he writes of family events "So Rosie had a diamond!" and "good news of Neil and Joan's wedding." His last letter fom the war is February 18, 1946 from Bremerhaven, Germany where he is awaiting a ship home. His last letter in the collection, August 2, 1946, tells of his address in Fresno, CA and to "write c/o Airways Communications. -- The scrapbook materials include 14 photographs of snowy mountain scenery, David in front of German buildings, a German automobile, abandoned German airplane (see correspondence 9/15/45); two pieces of French paper currency; a newspaper article about women and girls shooting at the 7th Army in Schweinheim, Germany; a postcard depicting three little girls; a bulletin of the American Red Cross in London "London ARC Light" dated October 27, 1945; an advertisement of plays at London's theatres and an advertisement of London's West-End movies; a uniform patch/insignia of the 14th Armored Division.

Physical Description: .01 Linear Feet(1 folder)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains the correspondence of MOMM 1/C Donald T. Clark, USN, primarily to his parents Donald Clark (Sr.) and Celia Nunn Clark, but also to his sisters Rosamond (Rosie) and Suzanne, his grandmother Mabel Nunn and to Ray and Connie Nunn. -- Early correspondence are pre-war postcards from a train trip to Chicago via the Southwest and St. Louis in March - April 1940. A postcard tells of his enlistment in June 1942 in San Diego, CA. "It seems as though we are always changing uniforms, marching, on guard duty, washing clothes, going to chow, etc." By late August he writes of being in Miami, FL for further training. There is no correspondence from 1943; the next letter is from August 1944. In September 1944 he writes of having seen his brother Joe, but not Stuart or Albert. He writes instructions about power of attorney, cashing government checks and war bonds. His letters indicate he is on a ship traveling around the Pacific, but there is no description of where, nor of his job. He writes of difficulty getting mail, financial issues at home, sale of family property on Main St., illnesses of father, mother and Duncan, and sends money orders as he is able. He writes of receiving letters from his brothers Joe, Albert, David, Neil and Robert. He writes he is grateful for news of home and receiving Orange News newspapers sent by Aunt Kate. He writes of reading in TIME magazine about Robert's "outfit" in the Luzon drive and the taking of Clark Field in February 1945. I often writes that things are "normal" or "fine" on "usual" even that "we could not ask for things to be much better." (3/22/45). March 31, 1945 he is finally allowed to "give a rough idea where we were in the Pacific the past year." After a few weeks at Pearl Harbor his ship was in Johnson Islands, Eniwetok, Kwajalein, Carolines, Guam, Marianas. He writes he is sorry to hear of Basil Pantages death on Iwo Jima. In a letter to his father he writes "Would like to have some of that fresh fruit you speak of ... Fresh vegetables are very scarce out here. ... The supply problem is difficult and they are doing a very good job, no one will go hungry." Of FDR's death " He will be missed, but so will a great many other lessor (sic), but important American citizens who have given everything, too." -- May 22, 1945,"That was sure good news when they finished the Germans." There is a four page letter to Donald from his mother, dated June 21, 1945. She writes of Stuart (brother-in-law, husband of Suzanne) being wounded in combat on Okinawa and his recovery on hospital ship, Solace, and on Guam. On August 11, 1945, he writes of being back in the States, in Seattle, but thinks it will be 60 - 90 days "before I can walk in the front door." In his last letter, Nov. 6, 1945, he writes he is still aboard ship with only eight key men left and hoping to be on leave or discharged by December 1. The series also contains one undated photograph of Donald and a 1942 bank statement.

Physical Description: .01 Linear feet(1 folder)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains five pieces of correspondence from Duncan Clark and two pieces of correspondence from SSgt. John Neil Clark, USA. -- According to newspaper articles and family history, Duncan Clark, twin of Donald T. Clark, did not serve in the military due to a high school track injury, but worked for Lockheed Aircraft. Correspondence from Duncan 1941-1943 is postmarked from Burbank, CA and refers to work there. In November 1944, he writes from Methodist Hopital, Los Angeles where he is recovering from an infection and says "too bad they didn't have penicillan when I was in before. It would have ben a different story." He refers to his father's hospitalization, and to a visit by other family. -- The typewritten note from Neil Clark is undated and has no envelope. It is short, cryptic and does not speak of where he is other than "over here." Correspondence between other brothers indicates Neil served in France. A letter to George Clark, January 31, 1943 indicates he is stationed at Muroc Army Air Base (now Edwards AFB). In a May 20, 1944 v-mail letter to George he tells of how good he has it in Solana Beach.

Physical Description: 0.75 Linear Feet(11 folders)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains the correspondence of BM 2/C George H. Clark, USCG. The series also contains photographs, a scrapbook and ephemera. The bulk of the series consists of letters and postcards from George to his parents Donald Clark, Sr. and Celia Nunn Clark, but includes letters to his brothers Joe (Oliver), sisters Rosamond and Suzanne, grandmother Mable Nunn, Ray and Connie Nunn and his aunt Kate Clark. -- The earliest letters in this series are written when George is working on a painting crew with his brother David (see Series 2) in California and Arizona. July 23, 1942 he writes from Alameda, CA of having joined the Navy. He writes of training, marching, effects of vaccinations, KP, serving on color guard. On liberty in San Francisco, he has Chinese food for the first time. In Sept. 1942, he is serving in San Clemente, then Carlsbad, then Solana Beach and La Jolla patrolling the beach. He is able to get home to Orange for some holidays. Back in Alameda, CA in August 1944, he describes gunnery practice shooting tracers at planes on a movie screen wearing 3D glasses; firefighter training, especially for gas and oil fires and techniques for fires on ships; airplane identification; Hollywood filming his camp at parade for movie called "Seaman Jones." He writes he is to be assigned to an Army ship manned by the Coast Guard that will pick up supplies from larger ships and deliver the supplies to various islands in the South Pacific. He writes of seeing or receiving letters from various friends from Orange who were serving in Europe or the Pacific. In October 1944, at gunnery school at Pacific Beach. Nov. 4, is assigned to U.S. Army Freight and Supply ship F.S. 548. He writes of reaching their destination in the Pacific January 2, 1945 after a crossing occassionally "so rough the cook couldn't cook." He writes of stops at Nggela Islands (Florida Islands) and Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, Hollandia, New Britain. April 1945, he writes from the Philippines about seeing effects of war on people and their living conditions and of ruined, bombed-out buildings in Cavite City. He writes of one port in the Philippines at which the docks are in such ruins only a few ships may enter at a time. He often mentions people and places in Orange and Orange County, Santa Ana winds, similarities in Orange County and southern California geography with places in the South Pacific, the family farm, citrus, cover crops and irrigation, Orange High School football and track, USC at the Rose Bowl, surfing and "missing those waves at Corona Del Mar." -- At his mother's mention of a relative's interest in real estate "lots down around Dana Point. That is pretty country down that way. It should build up after the war. L.A. is getting so big people are going to have to move out further to get away from all the factories." -- He writes his biggest complaints are of heat, missing mail, and the lack of fresh food. In his last letter home, Feb. 6, 1946 he writes, "Nothing out of cans for that first meal at home, please!" -- Also in this series are a folder of correspondence between George Clark and the Veterans Administration about his life insurance; a folder of photographs primarily of himself and shipmates; a folder of ephemera including a U.S. Coast Guard service medal, shoulder sleeve rank insignia, a small American flag, Coast Guard identification card, a Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation Senior Citizens' Golf I.D. Card (1992), and Elks membership cards (1993 -2006); a folder of material from a scrapbook including a photocopy of George Clark's U.S. Coast Guard discharge, an article from the Dec. 2, 1945 Navy Times with photographs of Subic Bay, Clark's Shellback certificate with signatures of shipmates, photos of four mates and three pieces of paper currency (pesos and centavos) issued by The Japanese Government, various Coast Guard service registration cards, photographs of his sister Suzanne Struck and her son Stuart James Struck, photo of Donald Clark, Sr. and Stuart James Struck, photos of George Clark onboard ship and during various points and places of service during the war. The records of George Clark are the largest part of the Clark Family collection and include seven folders of correspondence with parents and siblings (221 letters).

Physical Description: .02 Linear Feet(2 folders)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains correspondence from Lt. Robert T. Clark, USA, 185th Infantry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/185th_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States)#World_War_II) during his service in the Second World War, 1941 - 1945. Robert writes principally to his parents Donald Sr. and Celia Nunn Clark, but also to his grandmother Mabel Nunn, brothers George, John (Neil) and David, sisters Rosamond and Suzanne, aunt Jessie McNeil, Ray and Connie Nunn. His letters and postcards begin in March 1941 at Camp San Luis Obispo, CA. In May 1941 he writes he's been told he will go to school to become a commissioned officer. He writes of field camp and exercises near Rockchester, WA, more manuevers at Fort Hunter Liggett then guard duty at a Douglas aircraft plant in Santa Monica. He is moved around to fill in as company commander at various California locations. He writes "... I'm proud to be an infantryman. I'll always be." He writes of setting up an outpost on "Catalina Isthmus" (Two Harbors) staying at first at "the old Civil War barracks here," "lucky to be away from the hurry up and wait of mainland military life," of spotting two submarines, "but the Army or Navy didn't do anything about it until hours later." - "No signs of trouble yet, but I'm sure the men can hold out from the way their morale is." May 1, 1942 he writes from Fort Lewis, WA where he is guarding prisoners. He writes of missing oranges, loquats, avocados and of Orange High School football. He encloses pieces of evergreen branches. "Our training consists of learning how to use our weapons most efficiently... I'd say it's about time somebody realized that a man won't make a good soldier in battle unless he does know his weapons and can prove it before he gets into trouble." In July he writes from Fort Benning, GA where he writes about southern culture and "white people" and "black people" and about his further infantry training. In November 1942 he is in Hawaii and writes of learning to fight "Ranger fashion." He learns his brother Albert is in Hawaii and visits him. He also writes of surfing in Waikiki while awaiting orders. He begins to embellish his letters and envelopes with small sketches. In January 1943 he writes of clearing jungles and says "Since I've been a Ranger everything that seemed hard before was easy" ... The dirtier we fight the rougher I get." In February 1944 he writes of concerns over his and his family's finances and says of his sister Rosamond, offering some of his pay, "I think she should go (to college) war or no war." He writes of his Company's work on the New Britain campaign April - August 1944, then writes his location only as SWPA (South West Pacific Area) through December 1945. In July he writes "We eliminated a few more Nips of late and got one alive and kicking" and "So far, no wounded in our Company. That's good especially when land mines and booby trap bombs started going off. You can't trust the Nips. We try to take as many prisoners as possible but sometimes they don't give us a chance." "You must believe in me when I say the Nips are very bad people - Don't let the newspapers fool you." In November 1944 he asks his father "Do you think this is the world wide war the Bible talks about? It seems to me that it is." (11/27/44) -- A Los Angeles Times article from 3/31/45 about 40th U.S. Infantry Division activity in the Philippines. Postcards from Baguio, Philippines (April 1945) "I'm Ok but a little tired of chasing Japs." His last letter is dated 6/20/45 from the Philippines "Plenty of fighting going on all over this Far East area;" not hopeful of getting home in near future; includes self-portrait pencil sketch. -- Robert's records include one newspaper clipping from the LosAngeles Times, 03-31-1945 and an undated photograph of himself in uniform located in the back of folder dated March 1941 - December 1942. This series contains 95 letters, postcards and v-mail.

Physical Description: .01 Linear feet(1 folder)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains the correspondence of Cpl. Stuart W. Clark, USA, written principally to his parents Donald Sr. and Celia Nunn Clark in Orange, CA during his service during the Second World War. The earliest letters, beginning in 1937, are written to his parents from San Francisco where he works in accounting/bookkeeping for a stock brokerage, later for Pontiac, then for Fairbanks-Morse Co. He describes his "fairly modern" apartment made "homey" by a Zenith radio, Kelvinator refrigerator, steam heat and hot and cold running water. In April 1939 he writes "This war has put us all back to work and how ... everything points to a really prosperous period ahead." 19 September 1940 he writes of getting a job with Pontiac but that he doesn't "intend to stay there as ... the automobile business is to (sic) unstable in times like these" but that he sees "a great deal of activity in the shipbuilding yards." He tells of wanting to see a San Francisco Seals game and of attending "the Fair" (Golden Gate International Exposition) on Treasure Island. By January 1941 he is working for Fairbanks-Morse Company where there are many orders from the Army and Navy for engines and pumping equipment. In September he writes of taking a course in diesel theory at Samual Gompers Trade School.

On December 11, 1942 he sent a telegram to his mother "Am entering Army today." Following initial processing at the Presidio of Monterey, he writes of being sent to Fort Knox, KY and of basic training and guard duty. He writes he is ineligible for tank duty because he wears glasses, but is assigned to driving Jeeps. After brief time at Camp Campbell, KY he writes of being sent back to California and then on to Hawaii - "a small camp in the midst of the sugar cane fields." He writes he is working in the orderly room "and otherwise doing my best to keep these cane fields and pineapple fields intact." In December 1943 he writes of being at a new camp "located in a coconut and banana grove in the middle of a Park." In April 1944 he writes of seeing his brother Joe, Bill McNeil and brother-in-law Stuart Struck, and of having not much to write about except ongoing gunnery and tank training. In June 1944 he writes of a week of jungle training and of following "the Invasion of France" with interest. In May 1945 he writes "Now that the European War is over I suppose you're looking forward to seeing Neil and David home ..." Of his own work he writes" This is a very routine job we're in here. Supplying the Army's gasoline and fuel needs isn't exciting and is a long road from being in tanks." In June he writes "At present I'm working as a supply clerk which is about the fourth job in the past six months." In his last letter in the collection, August 1945, he writes of seeing his brother Donald and having a tour of his ship. -- Two letters at the end of the collection are from others. One is from a friend, Sgt. Dan Boardman who writes of his assigments around the Pacific. Another letter is from Stuart's mother, Celia Clark. Dated Sept. 4, 1945, she writes about the locations and health of all her sons, none at home yet. She writes also of things at home - a new puppy, cooking a roast in the pre-dawn coolness, irrigation of the orange groves, the crepe myrtle in bloom, Rosamond's boyfriend deciding to go to Cal, "We have so much to be thankful for, indeed ..." There are 52 letters, postcards and v-mail in this series.

Physical Description: .01 Linear Feet(1 folder)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains correspondence of Rosamond Clark written primarily to her mother Celia Nunn Clark, but also to her brother David. It includes two letters written to Rosamond. Her correspondence includes postcards from Balboa and from Big Bear, CA, letters home as she traveled to New York and letters to her mother when her mother was hospitalized in Loma Linda, CA. The collection also contains Rosamond's Orange Union High School commencement program (1942) and handwritten notes about newspaper copy editing.

Physical Description: .02 Linear Feet( 2 folders)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains personal correspondence written to Donald Sr. and Celia Nunn Clark from family and friends, not including their sons' correspondence (See Series 1 - 7). Topics include family news, relationships, births, deaths, marriages, travel, and friends' military assignments. This series contains 60 letters and postcards.

Physical Description: .05 Linear Feet(3 folders)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains biographical material about the Donald Clark family. It includes a photocopy of a page from the bylaws of the Santa Ana Valley Irrigation corporation meeting Sept. 6, 1877 signed by Albert Barnes Clark; an original copy of the Orange Daily News, May 31, 1943, that includes an article about the Clark family history and especially the nine sons' military service; a photocopy of the May 31, 1943 article that includes photographs of the nine Clark sons and a caption listing their military service; an original article from The Register, August 11, 1963, which is an interview with Celia Nunn Clark describing the Clark family ranch, Yale Grove, the original home on West Palmyra and history of the Clark and Nunn families in Orange; a photocopy of an Orange County Register article, Nov. 4, 1991, in which Albert Clark is briefly interviewed about his participation in the Orange County Marathon, his 125th marathon; seven photographs of Albert's participation in various marathon races; a email, March 21, 2004, containing an obituary for Albert M. Clark. The series also includes a book by Mary Teegarden Clark titled "Pioneer Ranch Life in Orange: A Victorian Woman in Southern California," edited by Paul F.Clark, published by The History Press, 2013. This personal history includes information about the city of Orange, CA and citrus farming there in the late 19th century. The author of the book was the mother of Donald Clark (Sr.) and the book includes information about Donald and Celia Nunn Clark and their 11 children.

Physical Description: .01 Linear feet(1 folder)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains photographs of Clark family members, perhaps Nunn family, and fellow service members and friends of Clark family sons. It also contains two photo postcards of airplanes and one of an unidentified military bugle player. The photos are primarily snapshots of single subjects and of groups. Some are identified on the reverse of the photograph, principally of George Clark and Oliver "Joe" Clark. None of the images have specific dates, but uniforms, clothing styles and events indicate they are from the late 1930s to mid-1940s. Additional family photographs can be found in Series 5, Records of George H. Clark, Photographs and Scrapbook.

Physical Description: .01 Linear Feet(1 folder)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains material from various Clark family members. It includes war ration books issued to Oliver Joseph Clark, Rosamond Clark, Donald Clark, Stuart Struck and Suzanne Clark, two sugar purchase certificates issued to Suzanne Clark Struck; a typed list of the Clark sons' military addresses; an American Red Cross Map of London; an anonymous poem about military service; blank postcards; a Christmas greeting card, a Reader's Digest article about fish farming; a 9/1/1942 copy of The Islander newspaper from the Coast Guard Training Station at Alameda, CA; directions and diagram for making a compass; a letter from Albers Experimental Kennels promoting Friskies dog food.

Physical Description: .01 Linear Feet(1 folder)

Language of Material: English.

This series contains personal financial records including water bills; a receipt for cost of probate for estate of Mabel Nunn; loan document from Bank of America for purchase of an "electric refrigerator;" a letter from Shell Oil Co. regarding a service station lease; various receipts, notes, figures and calculations.