Finding Aid for the Joseph DeHaan Korean War correspondence 2015.084.w.r

Andrew Harman

Center for American War Letters Archives

6/16/2016

Leatherby Libraries

Chapman University

Orange, CA 92866

speccoll@chapman.edu

URL: http://www1.chapman.edu/library/archives/

Contributing Institution: Center for American War Letters Archives

Title: Joseph DeHaan Korean War correspondence

source: Grover, Dorothy M.

Identifier/Call Number: 2015.084.w.r

Identifier/Call Number: 1296

Physical Description: 0.5 Linear Feet (1 document box)

Date (inclusive): 1950 April - 1951 June

Abstract: This collection contains correspondence between PFC Joseph DeHaan, USA, and Dorothy Page during the Korean War as well as photographs and other documents.

Language of Material: English .

Container: Korea 3

Container: 1-7

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Dorothy M. Grover.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by material type and date:

Series 1, Correspondence to Dorothy Page
Series 2, Correspondence from Dorothy Page
Series 3, Photographs
Series 4, Postwar documents
Series 5, Clippings

Biographical / Historical

Corporal Joseph "Joe" DeHaan, United States Army (12-6-1930 - 2/19/1952) was born in Chinook, Montana to John and Gertrude DeHaan. They moved to Red Lake Falls in 1934 and lived on a farm until he graduated from Northwest Agricultural School in Crookston and enlisted in the US Army in 1950.

DeHaan served with Company D, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, 75MM Recoilless Rifle Platoon during the Korean War. He was captured by the enemy on May 18, 1951 while fighting Chinese troops on Hill 1051. After falling ill, he died as a prisoner of war in a make-shift hospital in Chong Song from intestinal tuberculosis on February 19, 1952. His mother, listed as emergency addressee, was listed as notified of his death on October 26, 1953; however a Western Union telegram sent to Dorothy Page dated August 16, 1953 informs her that Mrs. DeHaan had already been notified of his killed in action status.

DeHaan was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Prisoner of War Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal. It appears, according to his death certificate, DeHaan was posthumously promoted to corporal.

In the letter dated April 22, 1951, Joseph De Haan mentions that he received the news of his father's death.

Preferred Citation

[Item title], Joseph DeHaan Korean War correspondence (2015.084.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 URL's, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Content Description

This collection contains correspondence between PFC Joseph DeHaan, USA and Dorothy Page during the Korean War. A majority of the collection was written by PFC Joseph DeHaan. Inventory:

138 correspondence, personal

7 photographs

1 program, memorial service

1 statement of death

2 correspondence, photocopy, postwar

2 biographical/historical documents

15 newspaper clippings

3 newspaper clippings, photocopy

Conditions Governing Use

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

Korean War, 1950-1953.

Korean War -- (1950-1953) -- Correspondence

United States. -- Army.

Prisoner of war

Grover, Dorothy M.

DeHaan, Joseph

Dorothy Page

box Korea 3, folder 1-3

Series 1, Correspondence to Dorothy Page 1950 April - 1953 August

Physical Description: 0.25 Linear Feet(3 folders)

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains 104 correspondence from PFC Joseph DeHaan, USA to Dorothy Page during the Korean War. The last correspondence in the series is a Western Union telegram notifying Dorothy of PFC DeHaan's death, dated August 16 1953.

DeHaan wrote initially from April to December 1950 while training at Fort Ord in California, then the ordinance school at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland and Camp Stoneman, California before deployment overseas. His correspondence continued for two letters written in January 1951 in Tokyo, Japan after a twelve-day transit over the ocean which debarked at Yokohama Bay.

Shortly after, DeHaan reached Pusan, South Korea on January 16, 1951 and after some time with a replacement company joined a transportation railroad operations battalion before being reassigned to an infantry training regiment. He trained with the infantry for one month in "Tent City," ten miles north of Pusan and later moved north, describing his location in one letter as "Halfway between Pusan and hell."

From March to May 1951 DeHaan moved frequently, sometimes moving to the front and sometimes spending his time in rear areas in houses or tent cities, often watching movies. In May he described his location as being on a mountaintop. The last letter sent before his capture was dated May 14, 1951.

box Korea 3, folder 4

Series 2, Correspondence from Dorothy Page 1951 February 8 - 1951 June 16

Physical Description: 0.025 Linear Feet(1 folder)

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains correspondence written to PFC Joseph DeHaan, USA from Dorothy Page during the Korean War. All of the correspondence in this series was returned to sender.

The first seven returned for unknown reasons, apparently forwarded to Madigan General Hospital in Tacoma, Washington though DeHaan was never there. The remaining 27 letters were returned due to DeHaan's missing in action status. The last letter is not stamped return to sender, and includes Dorothy lamenting not hearing from "Joe" for several months and hoping he is okay.

34 correspondence, personal

box Korea 3, folder 5

Series 3, Photographs

Physical Description: 0.025 Linear Feet

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains eight photographs pertaining to PFC Joseph DeHaan, USA during and after the Korean War. Inventory:

1 photo, headstone of Joseph DeHaan

1 photo, copy, PFC DeHaan getting a haircut, April 3 1951

1 photo, framed medals

1 photo, Warren D. Duncan

1 photo, b/w, Joseph DeHaan and Dorothy Page, December 1950

1 photo, b/w, three men in uniform

1 photo, technicolor, Joseph DeHaan and Dorothy Page, Summer 1950

1 photo, color, portrait, PFC Joseph DeHaan in uniform, 1950

box Korea 3, folder 6

Series 4, Postwar documents

Physical Description: 0.025 Linear Feet(1 folder)

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains documents and photocopied correspondence created after the Korean War pertaining to PFC Joseph DeHaan's service during the war. Inventory:

1 program, memorial service for Joseph DeHaan

1 statement of death, Joseph Nicholas DeHaan

1 map, Battle Below the Soyang, 16-20 May 1951

1 narrative, Warren Duncan's experience finding out about PFC DeHaan's death in 1995

1 list, casualties during the Korean War from D Company, 38th Infantry, 2nd Div., Recollis Rifle Platoon, 1951

1 letter, photocopy, to Gerard DeHaan (brother) from Warren Duncan, 6/24/1998

1 letter, photocopy, to Mrs. DeHaan (mother) from Mike Zimomra (same Company as PFC DeHaan)

box Korea 3, folder 7

Series 5, Clippings 1951 - 1998 1951 - 1952

Physical Description: 0.025 Linear Feet(1 folder)

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains 15 newspaper clippings from the time PFC Joseph DeHaan, USA spent in captivity during the Korean War and following his death. There are also two photocopies of newspaper articles remembering PFC DeHaan years later thanks to the work of fellow soldier and friend, Warren Duncan.