Finding Aid for the George B. Coffill Second World War correspondence 2018.025.w.r
Sharon Clairemont
Center for American War Letters Archives
3/22/2018
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: George B. Coffill Second World War correspondence
Creator:
George B. Coffill
Creator:
Mary Coffill
source:
Daniel Bouck
Identifier/Call Number: 2018.025.w.r
Physical Description:
1.8 Linear feet
(33 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1944 - 1946
Abstract: Correspondence between Capt. George B. Coffill, USAAF and his wife, children and mother during the Second World War.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 135
Container: 1-7
Container: 1-7
Container: WWII 136
Container: 1-8
Container: 8-15
Container: WWII 137
Container: 1-8
Container: 16-23
Container: WWII 138
Container: 1-10
Container: 24-33
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Daniel Bouck
This collection is arranged by material type, author and date.
- Series 1, Correspondence from George to Mary
- Series 2, Correspondence from Mary to George
- Series 3, Correspondence between Richard Coffill and George Coffill
- Series 4, Correspondence between Susan Coffill and George Coffill
- Series 5, Correspondence between Ida Coffill and George Coffill
- Series 6, Photographs
- Series 7, Ephemera
Captain George B. Coffill, United States Army Air Force (1934 - 4/1957) married Mary Coffill (b. 1/27/1906 - 2/1/1987)) on
December 27, 1931 in Clay County Kansas.
Reno Gazett-Journal, Sept. 5, 1956 - Sue Coffill Becomes Bride At St. John's ... in an afternoon ceremony on Sunday, Aug.
26, was Miss Sue Coffill, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George B. Coffill, 765 Capitol Hill, who became the bride of A1C Gerald
R. Bouck. USAAF, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lowell II. Bouck of Corunna, Mich. The double-ring rite took place in St. John's Presbyterian
church with the Rev. Richard Denton officiating. Family members and friends were in attendance, and the candle-lighted altar
was decorated with arrangements of... THE TRADITIONAL wedding cake is cut by the newly-married couple during the reception
which followed the double-ring rite held at St. John's Presbyterian church. The bride is the former Miss Sue Coffill, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. George B. Coffill of Reno, and the bridegroom is A1C Gerald R. Bouck, stationed at Stead Air Force base near
Reno as a survival training instructor, and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lowell H. Bouck of Corunna, Mich. The reception took place
in the Twentieth Century club house immediately following the ceremony.
[Item title, Box number, Folder number], George B. Coffill Second World War correspondence (2018.025.w.r), Center for American
War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
This collection contains correspondence of Capt. George B. Coffill, USAAF with his wife Mary Coffill, children Richard and
Susan, and his mother Ida Coffill during the Second World War. At the beginning of the correspondence Coffill writes about
his travel from Portland to North Carolina and then to Italy. In camps and bases he writes about housing, food, weather, entertainments,
fellow officers, little about his work as an intelligence officer, but comments often on family activities and concerns back
home. Coffill turns 45 years old during his tour of duty and as such is older than most of the other men with whom he serves.
His correspondence makes reference to his pre-war career in the "Narcotics Bureau." Capt. Coffill serves with the 49th Fighter
Squadron, 14th Fighter Group and writes most of his correspondence from Triolo Field, near Foggia, Italy. -- Correspondence
from Coffill's wife, Mary, and their children Richard and Susan, give insight on daily life on the homefront. Mary's letters
especially detail her routine, housekeeping chores, food rationing, shopping and preparation, clothes shopping, and entertainments.
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) -- Italy
World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations, American
World War (1939-1945) -- Homefront
Clothing and dress -- World War, 1939-1945
Daniel Bouck
box WWII 135, folder 1-7, folder 1-7, box WWII 136, folder 1-3, folder 8-10
Series 1, Correspondence from George to Mary 1944 December 7 - 1945 October 8
Physical Description: .6 Linear Feet(10 folders)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains typed and handwritten correspondence from Capt. George B. Coffill, USAAF to his wife Mary Coffill at
their home in Portland, Oregon during the Second World War. His salutations frequently include his children Richard and Susan.
George is also called "Jackie." The first letter, Dec. 6, 1944, is written on the train while traveling from Portland to Greensboro,
NC.
On Dec. 9 he writes from the Officers' Club at the AAF Overseas Replacement Depot, Greensboro. He writes of movies, dances,
training and vaccinations while awaiting orders to proceed to an unknown point of embarkation. He asks about the children
Richard (Dick, Dickie) and Susan, remarks on their school grades, health and helping around the house. He comments on news
of family and friends, complains about the cold weather and about having to wash his own clothes. He makes reference to his
job prior to war as federal narcotics agent. He writes his last letter from Greenboro on Dec. 31st in anticipation of traveling
to his point of embarkation the next day. Letters are numbered beginning with letter dated January 4, 1945. On that day he
writes from "Somewhere on the East Coast" that he has been very busy.
Jan. 27, 1945 he writes for the first time from "Somewhere in Italy" where he is with the 49th Fighter Squadron, 14th Fighter
Group. After V-E Day he is able to reveal his location at Triolo Field in southeastern Italy. He writes of having seen the
opera "Madame Butterfly," but also of the "poverty and filth" and "beautiful buildings just ruined by incessant bombings."
In Italy, he writes daily. He writes of the cold weather, rough accomodations "shaving in my helmet," no electricity in his
tent, the good fortune of being issued a sleeping bag and thinking it wasn't so bad back home at the Portland Air Base. He
asks Mary to send cigars and candy. He doesn't specify his job, but writes they "work seven days a week if the weather is
good." He sends a valentine in Jan. 1945 that is a cartoon of man with hair glued to his chest.
On Feb. 17, 1945 he writes "Well, tomorrow I will celebrate my 45th birthday in Italy, of all places!" He comments on news
of friends and fellow servicemen.
Feb. 23, 1945 - "...I wish I might get into some outfit where I could make use of my 22 years experience in the Narcotic Bureau,
which is certainly NOT what I am doing here."
March 6, 1945, about food "I hope you will eat ALL the Spam you have in the house before I come home as I have had fried Spam,
cold Spam, stewed Spam, Spam and cheese on it, chopped Spam, in fact I have eaten Spam in every possible way that it could
be served and I am SICK OF IT." As he can't write about his work, he writes about his daily schedule of waking and sleeping,
and especially about what he eats everyday.
March 8 - writes his opinion of Germans and Japanese.
March 18 - "It is not easy for me to write to you to-night because one of my 'boys' didn't return this evening. He was such
a fine chap ... One never knows if you eat breakfast with a man if you are going to eat supper with him."
His March 29 letter contains his Army Exchange Service Ration Card for Jan. - March 1945 and a v-mail letter from his mother,
Ida Coffill. March 30 he writes "Due to a new regulation and the fact that I a 45 years of age, I may get the opportunity
to get back to the states and out of the Army sooner than I anticipated...if I am fortunate enough to be released...it would
probably take three or four months..."
April 1 - he offers some insight on his job - "tomorrow it will be my turn to interrogate the pilots and write the mission
report."
April 12 - "I think the 14th Fighter Group is going to get the Presidential Unit Citation in a short while for all the locomotives
our pilots have destroyed."
April 16 - he writes of going to "Rest Camp" and subsequently describes his accomodations overlooking the ocean "Somewhere
in Southern Italy." May 2 he writes of news of Hitler's death and the surrender of the German army in Northern Italy. May
8 he writes of celebrating V-E Day with drinking as well as with a Thanksgiving service.
May 12 - "Well, just three years ago today in San Francisco I received the telegram telling me I was a Captain in the Army
- well, anyway, I am STILL a Captain ... and I am ready to become a civilian as soon as possible." May 17 - "Well, three years
ago today I reported to Hamilton Field and entered on active duty in the air corps. I enjoyed those two monthes at Hamilton
very much too."
May 25 letter includes a love poem (not written by Coffill). He writes his application for discharge, due to his age and rank,
was returned without approval because there were too many intelligence officers like him, also serving and requesting discharge.
June 2 - he writes from Rest Camp in Rome at the Alexandra Hotel, encloses a lunch and dinner menu, tells of buying orchestra
seat tickets for the opera La Traviata for $3.60. On a later trip he writes of seeing "Carmen" and "Faust." His letters after
V-E Day contain speculation on the future for him and for his unit. He writes about men who have been reassigned, sent to
the Pacific, or sent home. He continues to write about weather, food, Italy and Itlaians, and entertainments such as smoking
cigars, movies and playing cards.
July 5 - "I am hungry all the time it seems. They told us about a month or so ago they were going to cut down on our food
since our pilots are not flying combat missions anymore and they have evidently kept their word all right." Coffill's letters
often reveal his resentment of other servicemen receiving promotions and "soft" assignments. Of men he doesn't like he expresses
hope they are sent to the Pacific theater.
July 15 he writes from Rest Camp on Capri where he watches troop ships leave for the U.S. and wishes he was going home, too.
July 26 he writes of a plane from his squadron crashing near their camp - "I went over to the scene of the crash with our
squad surgeon but there was nothing that could be done..." He often writes how he prefers traveling by land or water and has
turned down rest trips if flying was required.
Aug 3 he writes about going to Rest Camp in Switzerland and agrees to fly as "it would be a terrible hard trip to drive all
the way up there."
Aug. 5 - 10 he sends postcards from Milan, Montreux, Geneva, Lucerne and Meiringen and writes about the itinerary, scenery,
food and people on the tour. He writes of buying his wife Chanel #5 and Shalimar cologne at a reasonable price.
Aug. 10 in Lugano, Switzerland he writes of hearing of the Japanese surrender "We could hardly believe it ... Of course, we
all hope that it is true but want to see it in the Stars & Stripes to make sure."
Aug. 29 he writes of being transfered to another group that is scheduled to leave for the States in September. "Isn't this
wonderful news?" He writes about breaking down the Triolo Field camp and packing up equipment. Sept 8. - "Well, this is the
last letter I will write to you from Triolo, Italy ... The 14th Fighter Group is...inactivated at midnight tonight." He writes
of waiting for orders in a camp just outside Foggia - "I just eat, sleep, and watch it rain."
Sept. 16 - "I am so happy tonight .. we finally received our orders today ... we are leaving here for Naples .. Sept. 18."
Sept. 18 - 20 - he describes the staging area in the woods outside Naples - living in tents, washing and shaving in their
helmets, Spam for too many meals.
Sept 21 he writes of getting word they will leave Naples on the USS Noah Webster on Sept. 29. "There is a barber shop here
but they cut hair for negro troops too and I am not too anxious to patronize it."
Sept. 29 comes and goes with no ship.
Oct. 1 -"It's the same old stuff day in and day out - just wait, wait and wait."
Oct. 8 - "LAST LETTER FROM ITALY"
box WWII 136, folder 4-8, folder 11-15, box WWII 137, folder 1-8, folder 16-23, box WWII 138, folder 1-5, folder 24-28
Series 2, Correspondence from Mary to George 1944 December 6 - 1945 October 15
Physical Description: .8 Linear Feet(18 folders)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains typed and handwritten correspondence from Mary Coffill to her husband Capt. George B. Coffill, USAAF
during his service in the Second World War from Dec. 1944 through mid-September 1945.
Her letters offer insight on what life was like for a middle class family back on the homefront. She writes nearly daily from
their home in Portland, OR to him first at a Greensboro, NC air base and then in Italy. She writes about the family's daily
routine, activities, meals, movies, their children's health, grades, hobbies and helping around the house, rationing, and
about news of family and friends. Her letters repond to thoughts written by her husband, George in his letters to her.
Dec. 15 - She sends a Christmas card "To My Husband in the Service." She writes about Christmas preparations and shopping,
opening presents, details of gifts she and the children received and of Christmas cards received from family and friends.
She writes about the prevalence of polio - a friend's child died from polio Christmas eve, reports of many cases of polio.
She writes of missing him, the unreliability of mail, her joy of hearing his voice at Christmas in a phone call.
January 3, 1945 she writes upon receiving his letter telling her he is soon shipping out "Well, dear, I feel a bit sad tonight
but guess you probably have the same feeling too so won't say too much about it...Of course I have been expecting it but felt
a bit let down..." She writes of household chores, weather, shopping, news of friends, concern about a troop ship sunk (newspaper
article enclosed in Jan. 28 letter). "I'll sure be darn glad when I know you have landed at your destination and that everything
is o.k." She sends three birthday cards in late January and his children send one also. She writes of celebrating her 39th
birthday on Jan 26.
In early February she writes how happy she is to finally have received letters from him. About current fashion for boys she
writes on Feb. 10 - "Then I also bought him a pair of these denim pants (like overalls without the straps) and they call them
cow punchers and the cuffs turn way up at the bottom...The boys here are beginning to wear these cow puncher pants all the
time even to school..." She often writes how she misses him in the evenings and on weekends when they used to spend the most
time together. "I wonder how it will feel to live a normal life once again. Bet you wonder the same thing." -- About the challenging
physical condition of his living quarters in Italy "Guess you have to be thankful for some of the things you get that others
don't. No doubt plenty others put up with a lot worse things. However, realize all of it is plenty tough to take."
Happy to have a photograph of him she writes on March 1 - "We received the picture today of you standing in front of your
office and honestly dear think it is wonderful. You looked just grand and made us feel so much better knowing you were o.k.
and still could smile! I am so proud of it and the kids were so pleased too."
Although she writes frequently of the meals she and the children enjoy alone and in company of family and friends, after hearing
of the food he gets she feels guilty and regretful. She writes often of the promotions, moves and changes in family circumstances
of many acquaintences. She writes about visits to the base (Portland Air Base), the PX and officers club, playing cards at
a weekly women's luncheon and of making bandages for the Red Cross. She travels on foot or by bus unless friends offer her
an occasional ride in their cars. Sh often metions the names of products she uses by brand name such as Rinso, Spry, and Birdseye.
She especially writes about liquor, beer and cigar products by brand name.
March 29 "Don't know that I have told you but points are so high on everything that one has to do some figuring to make ends
meat (sic) on points. Butter is 24 points a pound and beginning Sun. Spry is going from 4 points a pound to 6 points a pound
and several kinds of meat are going up. Bacon is nearly impossible to get and only half a pound at a time when you are able
to buy it... Guess one won't be able to entertain for meals much any more.. By buying fish, rabbit and chickens helps to stretch
the points..."
About getting her hair done and the cost .. " up to the beauty parlor to have my hair done... I paid $1.50 for a hair cut,
$1.50 for a wave set and $1.25 for the shampoo, making $4.25 for the whole thing. Sure a lot of money just to be made beautiful
isn't it. However, as you know I only have it done about once or twice a year so guess it won't kill me that often. Sure don't
know how these people keep up the expense of having it done every week or every two weeks though."
About death of FDR April 12 she writes "The radio is all about President Roosevelt's death... Really it is a shame to think
the President couldn't live to finish the task but just hope Truman is man enough to carry it on..."
April 23 she writes "Each day they keep talking on the radio as though any minute the war in Germany will end but still it
doesn't come through. This war sure is hard on nerves. Think mine are about shot, or so it seems at times." May 1 - "We have
had rumors today that Hitler is dead."
May 2 - "Well, dear, today we heard that the Germans in Italy and Austria have surrendered and sure hope the rest of them
surrender soon."
May 7 - "...it sure is wonderful to think the war in Europe is really over... but haven't been able to get overly enthused.
Guess all I can think about is your getting home."
May 8 she writes about her day which typifies many of her weekdays. "After the kids went to school I washed the kitchen and
dinette curtains and then washed what clothes were dirty, in fact managed to get most everything clean. Then was noon and
after noon I worked on ironing a while and then started ironing the bedroom curtains. They were a big job and surely took
lots of time. Finally finished the curtains for the bedrooms and the bathroom by about 5:30. Have most of the ironing done
but the sheets and handkerchiefs. Didn't attempt to iron the things I washed today or the kitchen curtains. I still have the
kitchen to clean windows and venetian blinds before I attempt to put the curtains back up but was such a grand day for washing
clothes. At least have them clean and can do the other things as I find the time. Have the dishes done, the lawn watered (what
a chore) and now nearly too tired to even write a letter but wouldn't go to bed without writing you at least a few lines."
May 12 - "Yes, dear, I have made all the arrangements to have Susan's tonsils removed and will be done before July 1st if
everything goes as I plan but I won't tell you the set day until it is over as you might worry too much about it."
May 22- "I must say that I doubt if many fellows will be able to have the wonderful record you have had of writing to me every
day while you are overseas. You have no idea just how much that has ment to me." -- All the letters after V-E day contain
speculation on when soldiers, especially Capt. Coffill will come home. He hopes for special consideration for discharge due
to his age.
June 2 - " ... I hope when you do get home it will be to stay as I am tired of shouldering all the responsibility of these
two youngsters ..."
June 18 - She describes Susan's tonsillectomy, respecting his wishes not to know about it until it was over and Susan had
recovered. Throughout the summer she relates their daily activities, chores, meals, shopping, finances, the children's behavior,
news and gossip about acquaintences, friends and family.
July 4 - "I have been busy all day but didn't seem like the Fourth of July and seem to feel so darn lonesome tonight more
than ever... I suppose seeing all the officers and their wives and children together made me feel even more lonesome than
ever... The kids both looked so nice today and just know you would have been more than proud of them."
July 7 - "Everywhere you go these days you see young fellows, middle aged, etc. wearing the discharge pin and I can't help
but be envious... I saw such a good looking couple today and they looked so happy ... made me feel blue to think I couldn't
be just that happy too. Oh well, dear, our turn will come eventually and so guess we shouldn't complain."
Aug. 5 - "Guess in some ways I should be thankful you aren't among the first to come back as they all seem to be slated to
go to the Pacific and you might be one of the unlucky ones since your luck has been sort of lousy since you were commissioned
in the army."
August 8 - "... tonight they tell of the second atomic bomb being dropped on Japan. Things are happening so fast and many
seem to think the war will end within a matter of days or weeks ..."
August 9 - "I get so thrilled and excited every time I think that at this very minute you are in Switzerland. Just doesn't
seem possible. Do hope you are having a perfectly wonderful time and enjoying every minute of it."
August 14 - she writes about the V-J Day celebration in Portland and at the Portland Air Base.
August 16 - "Guess you know by now that gas rationing has been taken off and done away with already, also fuel oil, so they
say. I intend to hang on to the coupons anyway but they claim we won't need the, also canned goods or the blue points are
no use anymore. However, sugar, and fats and meats are still rationed. They even claim we will be able to get Nylon stockings
by Xmas but I wonder."
Sept 5 - "We are getting so anxious to know something definite though and will be so happy when we know you are definitely
on your way home.... I just can't realize it might be possible for you to be home actually this month."
There is a gap in her correspondence between Sept. 17, 1945 and Oct. 15, 1945.
Oct. 15 - "I truly hope you are aboard ship and on your way home ... However, I just can't believe you are STILL there....
I'm so terribly sorry to think I haven't continued to write to you all along. Of course I had no idea you would be stuck in
Naples all this time. The last letter I wrote you was #260 written on the 17th of Sept... We miss you terribly and get more
impatient every day just hoping you will arrive soon. This suspense is about to get me down."
box WWII 138, folder 6, folder 29
Series 3, Correspondence between Richard Coffill and George Coffill 1944 December - 1945 August
Physical Description: .2 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains correspondence between Richard Coffill, age 11, and his father. In the earliest correspondence Richard
(aka Dick) tells his father about Christmas plans and sends a Christmas card. Dec. 25 - "Today we got up at 6:30 and we all
got a lot of presents." He writes about chores, his school grades, errands, playing with friends, movies, learning to play
the coronet, learning to make things with wood in manual arts class, and jobs around the neighborhood to make a little money.
Jan. 22 he sends a Valentine and birthday card to his dad and sends an Easter card postmarked March 12. May 22 he sends a
Father's Day card. There are two letters and four postcards from George Coffill to Richard interspersed with the letters from
Richard to his father. The postcards are from George's trip to Swizerland in August 1945.
box WWII 138, folder 7, folder 30
Series 4, Correspondence between Susan Coffill and George Coffill 1944 December - 1945 August
Physical Description: .1 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains correspondence between Susan Coffill, age 7, and her father, George Coffill. Her correspondence includes
some art work and drawings. She sends him a valentine and a birthday card. She writes about some family activities and about
how much she misses him. -- April 15 - "If I had wishing shoes I would wish that you were here right now." In May she sends
a Father's Day card. On June 22 she writes "I have had my tonsils out and am up and feeling fine." August 22 - "The other
day we went downtown ... Mother bought me two new dresses ... Just think, it's almost time to go back to school." Her correspondence
is interspersed with two letters and three postcards from her father.
box WWII 138, folder 8, folder 31
Series 5, Correspondence between Ida Coffill and George Coffill
Physical Description: .1 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains correspondence from Ida Coffill to her son George Coffill, August - November 1946. She writes to him
in San Francisco, CA from her home in Manchester, NH. She writes of her health and that of family members, an outbreak of
polio postponing school opening in Sept., the weather, her church, the cost of butter and sugar and of other household news.
The series also contains two v-mail Mother's Day 1945 greetings from George to his mother and two empty envelopes addressed
to Ida from George postmarked in June and August 1945.
box WWII 138, folder 9, folder 32
Series 6, Photographs 1945
Physical Description: .1 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains photographs (informal snapshots) primarily of George Coffill's children, Richard and Susan, and a few
of his wife, Mary Coffill. There is also a group photo that includes Susan and Richard Coffill, family friend Maribelle Stratton,
Maribelle's daughter, Marianne Stratton, and Maribelle's mother, Jennie, photographed on a road trip along the Columbia River.
Correspondence from Mary Coffill to George Coffill (see Series 2) describes the photos in this series. Many were taken to
show the children's new clothes. Most of the photographs are dated either by hand or by a date stamp on the reverse.
box WWII 138, folder 10, folder 33
Series 7, Ephemera
Physical Description: .1 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.
This series contains 42 business cards and a notebook. The notebook contains Mary Coffill's listing of all the dates of letters
written to George Coffill, his addresses, and dates packages were mailed. The business cards primarily relate to George Coffill's
career as a narcotics officer before and after his service in the Second World War.