Francis Mastrototoro Letters to Eva Mikelonis
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
Copyright 2010
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
spcoll@ucsd.edu
Descriptive Summary
Languages:
English
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Title: Francis Mastrototoro Letters
Identifier/Call Number: MSS 0726
Physical Description:
1 Linear feet
(3 archives boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1942-1945
Abstract: Letters from Francis "Pete" Mastrototoro to his girlfriend, then wife, Eva Mikelonis over the course of Mastrototoro's military
service in World War II from 1942 to 1945. The letters primarily deal with his day-to-day life on bases in California, Texas,
and the Southwest Pacific, and Mikelonis's personal life in Massachusetts.
Scope and Contents of Collection
Collection contains 420 handwritten letters by Francis Mastrototoro to Eva Mikelonis, his fiancée and later wife, during his
service in World War II. Letters date from 1942 to 1945 and detail the daily life of a soldier during the war. From December
7, 1942 to March 30, 1943, the letters were posted from Camp McQuaide near Monterey, California. Letters dated between March
31 and October 31, 1943 were posted from Camp Hulen near Palacios, Texas, and letters dated between November 6 and December
8, 1943 were posted from Oakland, California. Mastrototoro often decorated accompanying with the acronym "S.W.A.K." ("sealed
with a kiss") or other derivations of that theme, and less frequently included short rhyming poems inside the lip of the envelope.
Mastrototoro was stationed on a base in the Southwest Pacific between January 1, 1944 and January 26, 1945, and the final
thirteen months of letters originated from there.
Biography
Francis "Pete" Mastrototoro was a Private First Class, then Corporal who was drafted into the United States Army during World
War II. From December 7, 1942 to January 26, 1945, he was stationed on bases in California, Texas, and the Southwest Pacific,
and never saw significant military action. He was married to Eva Mikelonis on August 21, 1943 in Worcester, Massachussetts
on a brief leave from the Texas base. Mikelonis assumed the name Eva Mastrototoro on their wedding date. The envelopes containing
the PFC's letters were postmarked to a new address in Worcester shortly after the wedding date, where Eva purchased a house
for the couple to begin their married life together.
Preferred Citation
Francis Mastrototoro Letters to Eva Mikelonis, MSS 726. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
Acquisition Information
Acquired 2010.
Publishing Rights
Publishing rights are held by the creator of the collection.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Soldiers -- Correspondence
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American
Mikelonis, Eva -- Correspondence
Mastrototoro, Francis -- Correspondence
