Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, October 28, 1944
United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th
World War, 1939-1945
Soldiers -- Michigan
Correspondence
Love letters
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated October 28, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated October 31, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while stationed in Germany, sharing how he looks forward to their marriage and living an enjoyable life together. He also writes about his hopes and prayers that he can one day forget about the war and return home to his beloved Agnes.
Olexa, Joseph P.
Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)
Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
In Copyright
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, October 30, 1944
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated October 30, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated November 3, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes from an undisclosed location in Germany, sharing the reasoning behind his secrecy, and how nice it has been to be back with "the boys" after being away in the hospital for so long.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, November 1, 1944
Wedding rings
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated November 1, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated November 6, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while in Germany and shares his feelings regarding their future together, dreaming of the day he can put a ring on her finger and properly propose to the woman that he loves so dearly.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, November 2, 1944
Weddings--Planning
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated November 2, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated November 6, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes as he thinks of all the hugs he has missed while being overseas and how he plans to sweep her off of her feet as soon as he returns home to Michigan.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, November 13, 1944
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated November 13, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated November 16, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes sharing the news that he received the card she sent from Grand Haven, Michigan and hopes to receive a "bushel of mail" from her to continue improving his morale. He also discusses his dream for future children and well-wishes for Agnes' mother and new baby sibling.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, December 3, 1944
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Handwritten letter with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated December 3, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes for the first time in a long time and reassures her that he isn't injured or in the hospital. He shares with her that he hasn't written any letters in a long time due to suffering from "war nerves," needing rest and relief from the front lines and holding onto her lovely picture for hope during challenging times.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, December 16, 1944
Handwritten letter with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated December 16, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while located in Belgium and asks for her forgiveness for not writing as often in recent weeks, sharing the news that he is being treated in the hospital and will be reclassified for "non-combatant duty" upon his return.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, December 28, 1944
Christmas
Sad Sack
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated December 28, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated December 30, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while in a hospital in France, awaiting his operation and reassuring her for the reason behind his recent lack of communication. He also writes asking Agnes if she had an enjoyable Christmas and wondering what Santa brought her this year.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, December 30, 1944
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated December 30, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated January 2, 1945. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes during the holiday season, sharing the news of his slow recovery in France and how much he misses receiving her letters while in the hospital.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, January 21, 1945
Church services
Handwritten letter with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated January 21, 1945. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while back in England, where his health is slowly improving and his nervous system is in need of healing. He notes that the absence of her letters has affected his morale and how a furlough back home would help him recuperate after two and a half years spent overseas.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 9, 1945
V-mail
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 9, 1945. The envelope is sent from Det. of Patients, 4152 U.S. Army Hospital, A.P.O-63 c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 19, 1945. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes a brief message to Agnes, sharing how much he misses her and her letters and discussing how he will be placed on "limited service" upon leaving the hospital instead of returning to combat once again.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, August 30, 1943
Sicily (Italy)
Motion pictures--1940-1950
Hope, Bob, 1903-2003
Langford, Frances
Handwritten letter with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated August 30, 1943. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while stationed in Sicily and covers numerous topics including the most recent news from their families back home in Michigan, the latest movies he has seen, and the entertaining show Bob Hope and Frances Langford put on for the troops. He also writes that he has been stationed overseas for the past fourteen months and missing Agnes every moment of their time apart.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 14, 1945
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 14, 1945. The envelope is sent from Det. of Patients, 4152 U.S. Hospital Plant, A.P.O.-63, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 16, 1945. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while recovering in the hospital in England and after receiving the first forwarded letters from her in over three months. He continues to write that he will be leaving the hospital in the near future and placed on "Non-Combatant" duty, in addition to updating Agnes on his latest news.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 15, 1945
Valentine’s Day
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 15, 1945. The envelope is sent from Det. of Patients, 4152 U.S. Army Hospital Plant, A.P.O.-63, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 16, 1945. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes from England hoping she received the Valentines he sent and sharing how he spent his Christmas holiday thinking of her while traveling on a hospital train from Paris, France.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 19, 1945
Handwritten letter with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 19, 1945. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while recovering in the hospital in England, highlighting the nearly three years they have been apart and his plans to make up for lost time. Joe also writes teasing Agnes about his early retirement plans upon returning home to Michigan.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 21, 1945
Lipstick
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 21, 1945. The envelope is sent from Det. of Patients, 4152 U.S. Army Hospital Plant, A.P.O.-63, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 23, 1945. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes sharing his love and his appreciation of her lipstick kisses, in addition to daydreaming about a proper in-person proposal upon his return home to Michigan.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, March 4, 1945
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated March 4, 1945. The envelope is sent from 522nd Co. 65th Repl. Bn., A.P.O.-551, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated March 12, 1945. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes a brief message to Agnes just two days before his third birthday spent overseas, sharing the news of his new assignment away from the front lines and all of his love to his bride-to-be.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, March 5, 1945
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated March 5, 1945. The envelope is sent from 522nd Co. 65th Repl. Bn., A.P.O.-551, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated March 7, 1945. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes on the day before his birthday, sharing how he is homesick for her and wishing they could celebrate his special day together.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, March 9, 1945
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated March 9, 1945. The envelope is sent from 6916 Reinf. Co. (Prov.), 6903 Reinf. Bn. (Prov.), A.P.O.-551, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated circa March 1945. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes sharing the news of his new job and his furlough request for a thirty-day return home to the United States.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, March 12, 1945
Handwritten letter with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated March 12, 1945. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes on a beautiful Sunday in England, sharing the news of how he is getting along well and enjoying his new job, in addition to missing her as much as ever.
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated March 12, 1945. The envelope is sent from 6916 Reinf. Co. (Prov.), 6903 Reinf. Bn. (Prov.), A.P.O.-551, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated March 19, 1945. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes a brief message to Agnes informing her of his new address and positive experience with his new assignent.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, March 25, 1945
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated March 25, 1945. The envelope is sent from 6916 Reinf. Co. (Prov.), 6903 Reinf. Bn. (Prov.), A.P.O.-551, U.S. Army, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated March 30, 1945. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes with positive news of his recovery upon leaving the hospital, in addition to his feelings for his future wife as they approach the one year anniversary of their engagement.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 8, 1945
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 8, 1945. The envelope is sent from 6916 Reinf. Co. (Prov.), 6903 Reinf. Bn. (Prov.), A.P.O.-551, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated April 11, 1945. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes sharing his feelings of homesickness while in England and holding onto her letters and photographs to keep him company.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 21, 1945
Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945
Pyle, Ernie, 1900-1945
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 21, 1945. The envelope is sent from 6916 Reinf. Co. (Prov.), 6903 Reinf. Bn. (Prov.), A.P.O.-551, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated April 22, 1945. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes for the first time in over a week, sharing his appreciation for the package she sent him in addition to the news of President Roosevelt and American journalist and war correspondent, Ernie Pyle, passing away.