Myers (James Conrad) letters, 1943-1949

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Summary

Title:
James Conrad Myers letters
Dates:
1943-1949
Creators:
Myers, James Conrad, 1924-1986
Abstract:
Letters to family members relating to American military operations in China and India during World War II.
Extent:
3 manuscript boxes (1.3 Linear Feet)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], James Conrad Myers letters, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

The James Conrad Myers letters consist of letters (accompanied by cartoons, sketches, and portraits in pencil and water color of Myers, acquaintances, and various locations), postcards, a photograph, and clippings related to American military operations in China and India during World War II. Also includes a copy of a memo from Japanese General Yasuji Okamura to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek on negotiations for the surrender of Japanese forces in China on August 17, 1945.

The majority of the letters in the collection are to Myers' parents and detail his daily routine as a radio operator and Technician 5 with the 993rd Signal Service Company along the Indo-China border. While he does not describe any combat experience in his letters, Myers does give detailed accounts of base operations. He also includes a number of sketches and illustrations of his travels, as well as portraits of relatives and acquaintances back home. The collection is notable for its level of detail and fullness, and it contains nearly one letter for every month of the war from July 1943 to December 1945.

Biographical / historical:

Technican 5, United States Army Signal Corps; member, 993rd Signal Service Company, 1944-1945.

Date Event
1924 October 10
Born in Anaheim, California
1943 June 15
Graduated from Withrow High School, Cincinnati, Ohio
1943 July - December
Stationed at Camp Callan, California
1944 March 5
Deployed to Pacific Theater out of Long Beach, California; ports of call included Perth, Australia and Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
1944 March - May
Stationed at Camp Angus (Calcutta, India) as Army private
1944 May 29
Transferred to Kunming Province, China, as a radio operator with the 993rd Signal Service Company
1944 May - December
Stationed in Kunming Province, China, and various parts of the Indo-China border
1944 December
Promoted to Technician 5 with the 245th Signal Operation Company, China Combat Command
1944 January - March
Stationed at Fort Ord, California
1945 October
Relieved of duty; departed from Calcutta, India, to return to the U.S.
1945 January - October
Stationed in various provinces along the Indo-China border, including 2 months with the 18th Army Division
1986 September 14
Died in Burlingame, California
1949
Married Elna (maiden name unknown)
1945 December 30
Returned to his hometown near Cincinnati, Ohio, as a civilian
Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1996.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Theresa Berger
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2022-02-04 15:44:07.892466

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], James Conrad Myers letters, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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