270 24 26018 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/a5061918309bec200da90b60954a4a71.pdf 90c3335bdf4458c784ef08ea37181742 PDF Text Text ���� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/afba784f2e42a2842b5560eb243a7f02.pdf 0d1eaaa096a1655a2ceebe7e8948a75e PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-11-20] [Page 1 - front] Co. “L,” 26th Infantry A.P.O. - 1 ℅ Postmaster, N.Y.C. Nove. 20, 1942 Dear Agnes, Just a few lines to let you know that I am well and still in good health. It has been quite a long time since I heard from you last and hope to get some of your letters soon. Well, Honey how are you getting along? I can’t kick, for everything is going along fine. I am now in North Africa and have been in battle. I also have experienced a lot of things I shall always remember. I have been to Oran for a visit and it was surprising to me to find [Page 1 - back] it a modern city. The people that are here are French, Spanish, and Arabs. [sic] I get along pretty well with hand signals and a lot of hollering for things I want and etc. I have stopped smoking and it [has] been 3 weeks today that I [last] had a cigarette. Pretty good start isn’t it. How are your folks and the rest? Don’t forget to give them my best regards. How’s the kids getting along with their paper route? Fine, I hope, and it will supply them with some money. Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I’ll imagine myself being up to your house for a [Page 2 - front] big dinner. How’s my chick-a-dee, Gloria? Well, if I should ever hear from her again, I’d faint and be out for a week. Well, “Honey,” I still think of you and miss you a lot. Ain’t I generous? It’s been a long time since I heard from anyone, so I haven’t much to write. Anyway, there’s nothing much I can write. Well sweet, I shall close and write real soon. As Ever, With Lots of Love Joe {Signature accent mark} [Envelope front] �Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Infantry A.P.O. #1 ℅ Postmaster, New York, N.Y. U.S. Army {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE NOV 24 1942 A.P.O. Via Air Mail Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. U.S.A. PASSED BY US 11147 ARMY EXAMINER [?] � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-11-20 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-11-20 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, November 20, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated November 20, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated November 24, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes to let her know he is well and in good health during a period when he hasn't received her letters, in addition to letter her know is he now in North Africa and has been in battle. He also writes of his travels to Oran, Algeria, and how it has been three weeks since his last cigarette. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Africa, North Oran (Algeria) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/60933a3d5a48cd6cd9c67709ba59b1aa.pdf 6d3291e241032e0dec526545fd11a05f PDF Text Text �� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/0ed860156605a354c52e2fa0902e56fe.pdf 3df8ef4bcf5ecd4b6c9e1ff53bffbcea PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-10-11] [Page 1] [V-Mail Letter] No. 936521 {CENSOR’S STAMP} PASSED BY U.S. 11147 ARMY EXAMINER [?] Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. 12016893 Cpl. Joseph P. Olexa (Sender’s name) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. – 1 (Sender’s address) c/o Postmaster, N.Y.C. U.S. Army October 11, 1942 (Date) Dear Agnes, Just rec’d one of your letters dated Sept. 21 and was glad to hear from you. I enjoy hearing from you very much and always look forward to hear from you. [sic] I still miss you “Honey” and think of you often. No, there is nothing I need or want at present but you could put yourself in a package and come here. Ha! Ha! Everything here is going along swell for me, so I shan’t kick. [sic] How is everyone over there? Don’t forget to give them all my best regards. I haven’t heard from Ollie but my sister said that he was going to answer my letter. I’m surprised to think of it. My folks have sent me cigarettes and things so when they get here, I’ll have a plenty. Well, Sweets, how are you getting along? Fine, I hope. I’m always good so you need not worry none. [sic] Haven’t much to write so I shall close and write real soon. Yours, With Lots of Love Joe �{V-MAIL stationery footer} [V-mail envelope] WAR & NAVY DEPARTMENTS V-MAIL SERVICE OFFICIAL BUSINESS {Postmark} NEW YORK, N.Y. OCT [?] 2:30 PM [?] 1942 PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE TO AVOID PAYMENT OF POSTAGE, $300 GRAND CENTRAL ANNEX � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-10-11 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-10-11 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, October 11, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten V-mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated October 11, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated October 1942. In the V-mail letter, Joe writes to Agnes sharing his enjoyment in receiving one of her letters and how he always looks forward to hearing from her, in addition to inquiring about everyone back home and sending his best to them. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence V-mail Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/665a410b759e0c75c74d3e3ec54d2ea3.pdf f97905eb81ec202a80cb4937302154ea PDF Text Text �� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/7f4307c1d81033340ff31d8fd9a40ca1.pdf 98a972a3c9d44030b4e3542218b7aeb9 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-10-10] [Page 1] [V-Mail Letter] No. 898206 {CENSOR’S STAMP} PASSED BY U.S. 11147 ARMY EXAMINER [?] Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. 12016893 Cpl. Joseph P. Olexa (Sender’s name) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. – 1 (Sender’s address) c/o Postmaster, N.Y.C. U.S. Army October 10, 1942 (Date) Hello Sweets, Here I am again although I have [already] written you. Using up a little of my spare time. Ha! Ha! Well, “Sweets” how are you today? Fine, I hope, and not in an ugly mood. How is the football team making out this year? Losing I’ll bet. I wish I was there to bet for the ice cream. Ha! Ha! I still think of you often so you need not worry. How is the sweater coming along? Is it half done? Give your folks my regards and a big hello. I’m about the same and hope you are too. I’m mad at Gloria for not writing more often and just wait till I get back that way. I haven’t seen Roy as yet, so I don’t know what to write about him. You are doing right for ignoring Carolyn. She may want to blame you again. Ha! Ha! Well, “Honey” I will close and in the meantime be thinking of you. Write soon. Yours, With Lots of Love Joe {Signature accent mark} �P.S. How’s Beasie getting along with her paper route? {V-MAIL stationery footer} [V-mail envelope] WAR & NAVY DEPARTMENTS V-MAIL SERVICE OFFICIAL BUSINESS {Postmark} NEW YORK, N.Y. OCT 20 [?] PM 1942 PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE TO AVOID PAYMENT OF POSTAGE, $300 GRAND CENTRAL ANNEX � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-10-10 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-10-10 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, October 10, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten V-mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated October 10, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated October 20, 1942. In the V-mail letter, Joe writes to Agnes in his spare time while hoping to catch up on the latest news that fall, including how the football team is doing that year and how the sweater she is knitting is coming along. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence V-mail Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/0905befb7507f79cf765fc45b1f53bb8.pdf e7ce571c91ec779b5022f73bcbcb025f PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/cf554c1cdf9eeaf9aa7b74a2ed5ac76d.pdf ab8d0587ea672abdf6eb2650bfa4ebf9 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-10-08] [Page 1] Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 ℅ Postmaster, N.Y.C. October 8, 1942 Hello Honey, Writing again to let you know that I’m still O.K. and hope you are the same. I have sent you another V-mail letter and did receive all of yours. How is everything with you these days, “Honey”? I can’t complain. I still think of you often and wish I were there to give you one of my famous hugs. How are your folks? Give them my regards. How’s my little chick-a-dee, Gloria, now days. [sic] [Page 2] I still can’t get over the surprise of her sending me that card. What’s going to happen next? I’ve written to most of the folks but as yet I haven’t had a word from home. How are the Walsh’s? When you get to see them again, give them my hello. We have a phonograph and a radio to pass some time away and it sure hits the spot. We have popular recording programs such as Bing Crosby, Eddie Cantor, Red Skeleton and so forth. On the radio we get the news [Page 3] and swing music coming from the States. So, you seem to like school this year, Eh! Honey! Well I guess it’s O.K. at first but your opinion may change later on. Ha! Ha! Does my sister still write to you? Yes, she did send me your letter to her and the picture. Have you taken any other pictures of yourself lately? If you have, don’t forget to send me one of them. I haven’t seen Roy in a long time and that don’t make me mad a bit. Ollie is still as lazy as [Page 4] ever for I haven’t heard from him since I left the States. Tell Gloria not to hoard all of her money and drop me a letter once in a while. Ha! Ha! Well, “Honey” I shall close for I have nothing more to write. �Yours, With Lots of Love Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Excuse the pencil for my pen is on the blink again. [Envelope front] Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Infantry A.P.O. - 1 ℅ Postmaster, New York, N.Y. U.S. Army {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE OCT 11 1942 A.P.O. Via Air Mail Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. U.S.A. PASSED BY US 11147 ARMY EXAMINER [?] U.S.A. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-10-08 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-10-08 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, October 8, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated October 8, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated October 11, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes sharing how he passes the time with a phonograph and a radio playing popular recordings, the news, and swing music from the United States. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Music--1940-1950 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/e60a5b9f4116bf5d5cff3c70ff266394.pdf 534f8cd750304c53b3305e33bb48ea18 PDF Text Text �� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/dc21a30dae6b10e8c55dabf995273656.pdf ee503dca8bb76c392433e0134b6b5095 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-10-03] [Page 1] [V-Mail Letter] No. 804211 {CENSOR’S STAMP} PASSED BY U.S. 11147 ARMY EXAMINER [?] Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. 12016893 Cpl. Joseph P. Olexa (Sender’s name) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. – 1 (Sender’s address) c/o Postmaster, N.Y.C. U.S. Army October 3, 1942 (Date) Dear Agnes, Rec’d your three air mail letters and was glad to hear from you. I’m fine and well as usual and hope you are the same. I got the card Gloria sent me and I nearly fainted with surprise. She must have broken her heart to do that, don’t you think? Ha! Ha! Is she still two timing me? Everything here is going along fine, so I can’t kick. [sic] None of your letters so far that you sent and censored didn’t have anything cut out of them so you can write on both sides. I’ve been promoted to the rank of “Sergeant.” Two more steps and I’ll be up with your dad. Ha! Ha! I still think of you often, “Honey,” and wish you were here. Roy is the same as ever. Carolyn and her mother do write to him. He has shown me some letters from them. How are your folks and the Walsh’s? Don’t forget to give them my regards. I’ll miss them games myself this year and the bets with Gloria for ice cream. Will close and write soon. Yours, With Lots of Love Joe �P.S. Is Gloria going to write again? {V-MAIL stationery footer} [V-mail envelope] WAR & NAVY DEPARTMENTS V-MAIL SERVICE OFFICIAL BUSINESS {Postmark} NEW YORK, N.Y. OCT 27 1 AM 1942 PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE TO AVOID PAYMENT OF POSTAGE, $300 GRAND CENTRAL ANNEX � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-10-03 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-10-03 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, October 3, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten V-mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated October 3, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated October 27, 1942. In the V-mail letter, Joe writes a brief message to Agnes after gladly receiving three of her letters and sharing the news of his recent promotion to the rank of "Sergeant." Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence V-mail United States. Army Promotions Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/4692f65c92a7178ec336d22064019875.pdf 5b39d17804641487448c7c392aaa8bbd PDF Text Text �� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/8a955528c7d0e63eedaa03961602efd0.pdf 025618f24ee08cca2686da993c371862 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-09-09] [Page 1] [V-Mail Letter] No. 457025 {CENSOR’S STAMP} PASSED BY U.S. 11147 ARMY EXAMINER [?] Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. 12016893 Cpl. Joseph P. Olexa (Sender’s name) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. – 1 (Sender’s address) c/o Postmaster, N.Y.C. U.S. Army September 9, 1942 (Date) Dear Sweets, By your last letter which has making me wonder whether or not you got any of my mail I sent from here. [sic] Well, I guess it will get there and it takes a little time. I got four more of your letters and I wonder where you find so much to write about. Well, “Honey” how do you like school? I can imagine it after having a long vacation. Ha! Ha! I’m the same as usual and hope you are the same? I got a package from Helen and it sure was a surprise. The contents weren’t stale either which is hard to believe. No one as yet has gotten any of [my] mail and I guess they are a worrying about me a plenty [sic]. How is everything with you “Sweet”? Fine, I hope and as for me I can’t complain. Yes, I was quite surprised to get a letter from Beasie and I would fall over if Gloria were to drop a few lines. Well, “Honey,” I shall close and will try to write more often. Sincerely Yours, With Lots of Love Joe �{Signature accent mark} {V-MAIL stationery footer} [V-mail envelope] WAR & NAVY DEPARTMENTS V-MAIL SERVICE OFFICIAL BUSINESS {Postmark} NEW YORK, N.Y. SEP 22 11:30 AM [?] 1942 PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE TO AVOID PAYMENT OF POSTAGE, $300 GRAND CENTRAL ANNEX � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-09-09 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-09-09 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, September 9, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten V-mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated September 9, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated September 22, 1942. In the V-mail letter, Joe writes briefly to Agnes noting the backlog of mail he received from her and how family and friends haven't received any mail from his current address due to the delay in mail processing through New York City. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence V-mail Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/967c71b4ca06bb8173e3374c42ab1c06.pdf 3bbd4f941f43ef915d1eac52b4c7d34e PDF Text Text �� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/28a6363ebc3cd07c32626630a5a4c7bb.pdf ffbfda8d20fe1629c3957b70ec7db2b6 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-09-06] [Page 1] [V-Mail Letter] No. 415969 {CENSOR’S STAMP} PASSED BY U.S. 11147 ARMY EXAMINER [?] Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. Cpl. Joseph P. Olexa (Sender’s name) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. – 1 (Sender’s address) c/o Postmaster, N.Y.C. U.S. Army September 6, 1942 (Date) Hello Honey, How is my girl today? I’m fine as usual sweet and hope you are the same. I received the letter you had sent me along with Beasie’s. I sure was surprised to get a letter from her. I haven’t heard from home as yet but still waiting. [sic] Have you received any of my mail as yet “Honey.” I hope so. You’re probably going to school by now and I’ll bet you like that. I was a hoping to be present at your graduation but will have to be absent. Won’t I? Did Gloria enjoy her vacation? When is she going to drop me a line or two? I still miss you “Honey” and think of you often. I find it hard to write for I can’t seem to think of anything interesting. How are your folks? Give them my best regards. Does my sister still write to you, “sweet”? Well honey, I shall close hoping to hear from you soon. Sincerely Yours, With Lots of Love Joe {V-MAIL stationery footer} �[V-mail envelope] WAR & NAVY DEPARTMENTS V-MAIL SERVICE OFFICIAL BUSINESS {Postmark} NEW YORK, N.Y. SEP 17 [?] 12:30 AM 1942 PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE TO AVOID PAYMENT OF POSTAGE, $300 GRAND CENTRAL ANNEX � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-09-06 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-09-06 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, September 6, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten V-mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated September 6, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated September 17, 1942. In the V-mail letter, Joe writes a brief message to Agnes hoping for her wellbeing and appreciative upon receiving her latest letter, along with one from her younger sister, Beasie. He also writes about Agnes being back at school and his anticipated absence for her future graduation. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence V-mail Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/cf97c7a2470484a9109d7d93603c925c.pdf 497ed5124e262eb20baf51a794b28708 PDF Text Text �� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/bf4f81543bc9db18ffc03978b04f448d.pdf 8937156b965a3b32d4c634282846adf4 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-08-30] [Page 1] [V-Mail Letter] No. 352367 {CENSOR’S STAMP} PASSED BY U.S. 11147 ARMY EXAMINER [?] Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. U.S.A. 12016893 Cpl. Joseph P. Olexa (Sender’s name) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. – 1 (Sender’s address) c/o Postmaster, N.Y.C. U.S. Army August 30, 1942 (Date) Hello Sweets, Received your third air mail letter and was very glad to hear from you again. I’m fine as usual, “sweets,” and hope you are the same. Everything is going along swell so I can’t complain. I haven’t heard from home as yet, but hope to soon. So, Gloria is going on another vacation. She’s lucky, ain’t she? What is she trying to do, “Honey,” flatter me by saying she is going to write? I’ll bet she don’t? [sic] Roy comes around quite often but I don’t know whether he writes to Carolyn or not. I still miss you sweet and think of you often. I also like the picture “Sergeant York,” anyway, I don’t go to a movie unless it is a good one. Ha! Ha! Have you visited Eileen and her folks? When you do, don’t forget to give them my regards. Well, “Honey” I shall close and hope to hear from you real soon. Give your folks my best regards. Sincerely Yours, With Lots of Love Joe �{Signature accent mark} P.S. If Gloria does write, I’ll faint. {V-MAIL stationery footer} [V-mail envelope] WAR & NAVY DEPARTMENTS V-MAIL SERVICE OFFICIAL BUSINESS {Postmark} NEW YORK, N.Y. SEP 8 11:30 PM 1942 PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE TO AVOID PAYMENT OF POSTAGE, $300 GRAND CENTRAL ANNEX � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-08-30 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-08-30 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, August 30, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten V-mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated August 30, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated September 8, 1942. In the V-mail letter, Joe writes a brief message to Agnes after receiving her third Air Mail letter, hoping for her continued well-being and his best regards for her parents back home. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence V-mail Air mail service Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/287304a32691c74abc7878a11c3dd03b.pdf 7d94d7cb6a165343f2c3e6d9ec178745 PDF Text Text �� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/975eecd440cbb4b17ff3a57e9a08dc61.pdf 93fc81c72a62d20468c346854e73bcbc PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-08-29] [Page 1] [V-Mail Letter] {CENSOR’S STAMP} PASSED BY U.S. 11147 ARMY EXAMINER [?] Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. 12016893 Cpl. Joseph P. Olexa (Sender’s name) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. – 1 (Sender’s address) c/o Postmaster, N.Y.C. U.S. Army August 29, 1942 (Date) Hello Honey, Here I am again and still thinking of you. I’m fine as usual and hope you are the same. I have received both of your air-mail letters and was tickled to get them. They are the first that I got since I got here. How are you getting along now days, sweet? [sic] I can’t complain for things in general are O.K. for me. I still miss you sweet and think of you often. So, the kids have a paper route. Well at least they will have money for themselves. Yes, air mail is much faster and you can send it that way if you want to. I have written to all of my folks and hope they will get my letters. I told you Ollie was kinda lazy, so now I got one on you. Ha! Ha! How is Gloria and your folks? Give them my best regards and tell them I’m the same. Well, Honey, I shall close hoping to hear from you again soon. Sincerely yours, With Lots of Love Joe {V-MAIL stationery footer} �[V-mail envelope] WAR & NAVY DEPARTMENTS V-MAIL SERVICE OFFICIAL BUSINESS {Postmark} NEW YORK, N.Y. SEP 7 [?] 5:30 PM 1942 PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE TO AVOID PAYMENT OF POSTAGE, $300 GRAND CENTRAL ANNEX � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-08-29 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-08-29 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, August 29, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten V-mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated August 29, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated September 7, 1942. In the V-mail letter, Joe writes a brief message to Agnes expressing his appreciation for the recent Air Mail letters he received from her while stationed in England, in addition to how much he misses and thinks of Agnes each day. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence V-mail Air mail service Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/ffb921634c4e749151b6bfed021c4d27.pdf aa36fb91cbdd54ca2e215fb39cf221e9 PDF Text Text ���� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/4bb015113a771ce23199f85481629b59.pdf c9daef5d0c8617e930c1042d10f964e3 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-08-26] [Page 1] Co. “L,” 26th Infantry A.P.O. - 1 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. August 26, 1942 Hello Sweet, Rec’d both of your air-mail letters today and was glad to hear from you. Your letters as a matter of fact are the only ones I got so far. I’m still getting along fine and in good health. Hope you are the same? I had written to you about 3 days after I arrived and mail coming across or over will be kinda slow. I also wrote to my folks to let them know that I’m O.K. {“Cpl. Joe Olexa” written on bottom of page} [Page 2] I went to London for a visit and it was enjoying. [sic] It’s much different from New York although it has very many historical sights. I went to see the London tower, the big Zoo, Westminster Abbey, and a good view of the Buckingham Palace. The steering apparatus on the cars here are on the right side and they drive on the opposite side than what we do. Although London has been bombed in the past, it is cleaned up and things keep going as usual. They also have the subways which will take you most anywhere just as in New York. The English people are swell {“Cpl. Olexa” written on bottom of page} [Page 3] and have a great morale. I found it kinda hard to get used to English money at first and I now know it quite well. �I still think of you and miss you also. Maybe someday we will see each other again. Well “honey,” I haven’t much to write so I will close and in the meantime will be waiting to hear from you again. Sincerely Yours, With Lots of Love Joe P.S. Your air mail letters get here a lot faster of course. Give the folks my best regards. I guess Gloria was just trying to be sick to get out of work, don’t you [think]? You can tell her I’m a little farther away now and that she will be able to write. Ha! Ha! {“Cpl. Joe Olexa” written on bottom of page} [Envelope front] Cpl. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Infantry A.P.O. - 1 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE AUG 27 1942 A.P.O. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. U.S.A. PASSED BY US 11147 ARMY EXAMINER [?] � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-08-26 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-08-26 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, August 26, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated August 26, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated August 27, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after receiving two of her Air Mail letters, and shares his recent travels around London to many of the famous historical sights, in addition to his overall reflections on being stationed in England. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Air mail service Great Britain Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/60a833161006c6e4f60c4fb94cbb7d87.pdf c54ab4e4e81a126326c7a2a773ad9870 PDF Text Text ��� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/8a4971aacc08925d0cf2c3b4735f263a.pdf 9366eeccd751cd1c8c772d8477d038f1 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-08-10] [Page 1] Co. “L,” 26th Infantry A.P.O. - 1 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. August 10, 1942 Hello “Honey,” I am now in England. We had an enjoyable voyage also. I’m fine as usual and hope that you are the same. Don’t worry about me for I shan’t like it a bit? [sic] Give your folks and the rest my regards? Your letters will be censored, so don’t forget to write “only” on one side for some of the things you may write will be cut out. The only change in my address is the A.P.O. which is “One” instead of the other number. {“Cpl. JOSEPH OLEXA” written at bottom of page} [Page 2] Are you still working? Still taking it easy at work, I’ll bet? Ha! Ha! Roy is about the same and there isn’t much of a change with him. Well, “honey” I shall close and in the meantime will be thinking of you. Always Yours, With Lots of Love Joe {Signature accent mark} {“Cpl. JOSEPH OLEXA” written at bottom of page} [Envelope front] Cpl. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Infantry A.P.O. - 1 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. �{Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE AUG 11 1942 A.P.O. Free {Signature accent mark} U.S. Army Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Massachusetts PASSED BY US 11160 ARMY EXAMINER [?] U.S.A. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-08-10 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-08-10 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, August 10, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated August 10, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated August 11, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes upon arriving in England, sharing the news of his enjoyable voyage, the censorship of their letters moving forward, and the slight change of address with all of the mail continuing to be routed through New York City. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Great Britain Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/659834159cc07f9f7aef014d4335823d.pdf a8f9064a20f887f91729559319217df8 PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/f85ec421309c435e17902837281742c9.pdf 08231b81fd7634c1f06badf3ea6e53bf PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-30] [Page 1] Co. “L,” 26th Infantry A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. July 30, 1942 Dear Agnes, Rec’d your two letters and was glad to hear from you. We are ready to leave this place and where we are going is not known. When I reach to wherever we are going, I shall write to you as soon as I can. Our addresses will be the same through N.Y.C. I’ve forgiven you “sweet,” and remember to be patient if [Page 2] you shouldn’t hear from me right away. I haven’t heard from home as yet but it’s only been a short while. My sister, Nellie, doesn’t live in Detroit but is there taking up an Advanced Beauty Course. [sic] Her husband works drilling gas wells and they travel in New York, Penn., and W. Virginia. Well “sweet” since we are moving again, I still won’t get to see you but I’ll think of you. How’s ‘at? Well, I kinda had an [Page 3] idea my “cutie-pie” was a two-timing me. Wait till I see her again? I’ve got some more coupons for Beasie and was a wondering whether she will get up enough ambition to write as she had promised. I was surprised to hear the State Guard made that much money from the dance. What did they do? Draft outsiders! Ha! Ha! Well “honey” I thought of you every nite [sic] and I haven’t been a slacker. After a while women will be as thick as flies in the [Page 4] place where you work. Eh! Ha! Ha! Ollie will be in the Army someday and then we will be even. Mostly him with that glass arm. How are you folks? Give them my regards, won’t you? �Well “honey” as usual I can’t seem to find things to write so I shall close and in the meantime be thinking of you. Sincerely yours, With Lots of Love Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. I’ll try very hard the next time to write a long letter “sweet.” I usually run out of brains, anyway. [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Infantry A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. {Postmark} LEBANON, PA. JUL 30 7:30 PM 1942 Free {Signature accent mark} Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-30 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-07-30 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, July 30, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated July 30, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1209, New York, New York, dated July 30, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while anticipating his Army division's next move and reassures her that he will write as soon as he arrives at their new location. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/00034fc6768f7da946f272292b9e8f0f.pdf 72772beefbe85ef3324890c764e77ea5 PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/37b841e88c9bbd67a1672db4b571e860.pdf 7db6914ed3e208ea9e6381ff0c298edc PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-27] [Page 1] Co. “L,” 26th Infantry A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. July 27, 1942 Dear Agnes, Rec’d your letter today and was glad to hear from you. I got a letter today from my sister Helen and it was a real long one at that. She stated that she got your letter and had written to you. Sorry to hear you were sick and hope you are well again. Anyway, you should have taken it easy instead of going to work. As for me, I’m fine and couldn’t be better. I have 7 more coupons for Beasie which I am sending. I saw a real good picture last nite [sic] which is “Take a Letter Darling.” If you ever [Page 2] get the chance you ought to see it. When I say it’s good, it will be. So, you didn’t go to the dance Eh! sweet. [sic] Well, look at all the fun you missed. I was there and had a barrel of fun. Roy is still the same and just as crazy. My hair is getting longer slow but sure sweet [sic] and it will be long enough when I come up to see you. We had some rain today and it’s much cooler. I’m not a kicking any for it’s more comfortable. [sic] How is Eileen and her folks? When you see them, give them my regards. [Page 3] I wish I was as lucky as Gloria to take a vacation. Some people are mighty lucky, don’t you think? Ha! Ha! Today was an easy-going day for us and we didn’t work so hard. If you will keep a writing [sic] to my sister, she’ll answer your letters. My brother, Ollie, broke his arm again so I wouldn’t know anything about him. When is Beasie going to write to me? I don’t think she has that much ambition. She takes after Gloria a lot in ways. Ha! Ha! �You should see me now sweet. A fellow just gave me a cigar and it’s the [Page 4] first one I’ve had in a long time. Well sweet I haven’t anything of interest to write. So, I shall close and in the meantime will think of you. Sincerely yours, With Lots of Love Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Give the folks my best regards. [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Infantry A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. {Postmark} INDIANTOWN GAP JUL 28 12 [?]M 1942 PA. Free {Signature accent mark} Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-27 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-07-27 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, July 27, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated July 27, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1209, New York, New York, dated July 28, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes sending his well-wishes to her after being sick and the possibilities regarding their corresponding with each other's siblings in the future. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/4970c0083d77c64498483fa73c2275ee.pdf c3825b9917e68f7b6d76c7bf39fae71a PDF Text Text ���� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/9c36a0361359499ef2e8dfbe4ee28b98.pdf 365148fade28c27e8deb3362ee30d838 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-25] [Page 1 - front] {Stationary letterhead} CORPORAL JOE OLEXA Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. July 25, 1942 Hello Sugar, Got your letter today and was very pleased to get a long one. I suppose the letter I sent yesterday got you peeved but I guess I flew off the handle a little. Well “sweets,” I haven’t gone out this weekend and instead went to the movies. I saw the picture Sweater Girl. [sic] It was a murder picture and it was easy for me to pick out the murderer. I feel exceptionally good today “Honey,” for I thought of you and I do often. I call it “day dreaming.” Ha! Ha! I’ve lost hopes of getting a pass “sweet” for as yet we cannot get any. To my judgement we aren’t going to be here much longer. I’m always good “sugar” and only go with one girl and get a hoping that I can see her again. [sic] Do you know who she is? Ha! Ha! I’ve got the souvenir and your pictures in that holder now and it’s about [Page 1 - back] time isn't it “sweet.” Well my brother is trying to steal you away from me but he can’t. Not if I were there to hold you tight and look at your sparkling eyes and the bushy hair you have. No kidding, “honey,” I will miss you and will have to get along just to think about you. If you were here now, I’d sure squeeze you and that wouldn’t be enough. Ollie hasn’t written to me as yet and you are lucky to get a card from him. The barracks is quite dead since it’s a Saturday nite. [sic] Remember on Saturdays I used to be up to see you. I wish I was there now. I think that my sister Helen will write to you. She hasn’t written to me either but I guess she is busy at something. �I’ve got another coupon for Beasie and now it makes two. I didn’t want to send the other one till I saw whether the other fellow had some more. How’s my cutie pie? Is she still on her vacation? She’s an awful meanie if she doesn’t tell me about it. Roy is showing his colors alright and thinks he’s a big shot. One thing I will always say that a [Page 2 - front] promotion will never make me big-headed. Or to handshake without earning it. It’s still hot down here and the weather seems like rain will come again. [sic] I hope you will excuse my writing, “sweet,” for I’m writing on my bunk. Well, sweet, I don’t like to dance very much so I wouldn’t be of much enjoyment if I did go there with you. I’d rather give you a lot of kisses and big hugs. Ha! Ha! Ain’t I terrible, Honey? We haven’t sat under the apple tree together so I think that would be much better. Don’t you think so? The things that you want to do “Honey” must be to get after it and to accomplish it. Sure, you can learn how to drive. All you will have to do is to get right after it. If we had stayed at Devens you could have been able to drive by now, with me as an instructor. However, sweet, I’ll teach you how to drive when the Army lets me off. I’m surprised to hear that Beasie is going to write to me. [Page 2 - back] I’ll bet she don’t? [sic] What do you think? Who is Giggers? I never heard that name before. Well “honey” I’ve tried my best to make this letter a long one but I find nothing else to write about. Will close thinking of you always. Sincerely yours, With Lots of Love Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Write real soon won’t you sweet. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-25 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-07-25 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, July 25, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated July 25, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while having an exceptionally good day while thinking of her and discusses various subjects such as the recent movie he saw called, "Sweater Girl," and how he thinks his brother is trying to steal her away from him. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Love letters Motion pictures--1940-1950 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/55454ec709b73320a1f33ac3d5db6e84.pdf 52278fcae7633187f220cee95136ed3a PDF Text Text ��� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/cd39299919a5810c4c00fb97b5516b9c.pdf fc9773f4fc47922b6dd560d57c9086e1 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-24] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} CORPORAL JOE OLEXA Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. July 24, 1942 Hello “Honey,” Rec’d your letter yesterday and was glad to hear from you. I got kinda mad at the first part of your letter. I thought we had that part settled. I usually write as soon as I can “sweet” and if you want to feel that way, it’s O.K. with me. I’ll forgive you this time and I really have tried to explain that there are times when I have plenty to do which takes up a lot of my time. If you don’t want to believe that, I can’t make you. I’ve answered all of your letters and have tried to write more but you still call me down. [sic] I guess women aren’t satisfied? Well that’s all about that situation and let’s be a little more easier with each other and not bring up such quarrels which gets more serious as time goes along. After I came off of Guard duty, I was put on Charge of Quarters and now my squad leader was on so I had the squad for today. [Page 2] I had a very busy week and I plan to wash so more laundry tomorrow. I sure did get another surprise “sweet” for my sister Nellie sent me another letter. My brother Ollie is back to work but he hasn’t written to me yet. They liked you in the picture and wanted to know when I was going to bring you up there to meet them in person. Well it may be a long time or a short one. One can never tell, can they “honey.” If you would have asked me “sweet,” I would have gotten that mirror for you. I have only one coupon for Beasie this time for the fellow is out who is the one to give them to me. [sic] So, Gloria went for a vacation. I’ll bet she’s up seeing “Frankie.” She’s two-timing me again. Ha! Ha! I don’t know what made me forget to put the coupons in that letter but I sent them in another letter the next day. Did you get them “sweet”? I still think of you often and I’m a hoping to see you again sometime. [sic] Will close “honey” and write soon. �Sincerely yours, With Lots of Love Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Give the folks my “Hello.” P.S.S. I’m sorry that I can’t get what your dad asked for because it’s awful scarce. [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. {Postmark} INDIANTOWN GAP JUL 25 12 PM 1942 PA. Free {Signature accent mark} Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-24 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-07-24 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, July 24, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated July 24, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1209, New York, New York, dated July 25, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes reassuring her of his eagerness to write and his hopes of her understanding the delays in communication. He also writes of his busy week including doing Guard Duty and being put on Charge of Quarters. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/e31fb49c69ed0a58cb97b2dfd2b361d7.pdf 3137d9b20710725edb37ac9f78cd99de PDF Text Text ���� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/421e28c5459d0137c28cc9ed7b651b8d.pdf ae07a74c4199b142f8416196a294cb34 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-22] [Page 1 - front] {Stationary letterhead} CORPORAL JOE OLEXA Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. July 22, 1942 Dear “Sweets,” I was very pleased to hear from you, although I had written four letters and by now I hope you got them. I miss you an awful lot too, “Honey.” I still think of you often. Last nite [sic] while I was on Guard I thought of you all of the time believe it or not. I’m blaming you for making me feel the way I do about you. Ain’t I terrible? Anyway, “honey,” I keep on a hoping [sic] that I will be able to see you again real soon. At least thinking this way keeps up my morale. If you were here now I’d hold you real tight so you won’t be able to get away. What do you think of that, “sweet”? Well “honey,” blame it on the mailman for getting you disappointed from not getting my letters on time. I’m surprised at you sweet for letting a small loop-o-plane get the best of you. Ha! Ha! It’s your fault for not going with me into the spook-house, so there, meanie! [Page 1 - back] Your mail “honey” comes in two or three’s most of the time and I try to answer them when they do come. However, I find it hard to write a long letter, one after the other. I hope you can read my writing, “sweets” for I think I’m getting worse. I’m still on Guard and get relieved at 4:30 this afternoon. Anyway, I’m quite stiff, sore, sleepy, and tired at present. I’m going to take a shower and hit the hay early tonite. [sic] My hair is getting longer but it will take about a month and a half to have it long enough to have my natural wave in it again. Well, have a good time at the dance and think of me. Remember to be good for I may read your mind. Ha! Ha! I haven’t heard from home since my last letter but I may be surprised again. I wish I could go up there too “honey,” but as it is, I can’t. I can’t tell how much I miss you in words but I could if I were there or you being down here. �Tonite [sic] this state is going to have a thirty-minute black out. They aren’t saying when it will be. Wish you were here when it does go on. Roy wears Corporal stripes and I believe he didn’t make the grade of [Page 2 - front] {Stationary letterhead} CORPORAL JOE OLEXA Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} Sergeant Technician. Anyway, he likes to talk. Ha! Ha! Doesn’t he? Is the Wenneburgs [?] still trying to find out whether I was [on] a furlough. [sic] They ought to turn in their rubber necks for National Defense. Ha! Ha! How is the weather up there? It’s quite hot as yet around here. [sic] I rate the heat the same as we had in Georgia. Well, has any of your mother’s tomatoes in the garden [become] big enough to eat? So, Gloria is making the money now? Well if she makes her first million before you do, I’ll get mad. Ha! Ha! Haven’t anything more to write “honey,” so I will close and in the meantime will be thinking of you. Write real soon, won’t you “sweet”? Give my regards to the folks. Sincerely yours, With Lots of Love Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. I know why you lay awake nites [sic] and if I were there to occupy your mind, I’ll bet it would stop. Ha! Ha! What do you think? [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. {Postmark} INDIANTOWN GAP �JUL 23 12 PM 1942 PA. Free {Signature accent mark} Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-22 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-07-22 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, July 22, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated July 22, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1209, New York, New York, dated July 23, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes sharing how he thinks of her often, especially when on Guard Duty, and how thinking he will be able to see her again soon helps to keep up his morale. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Love letters Indiantown Gap Military Reservation (Pa.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/84ed9f590051efc83c96ce3d0d4fe61a.pdf fa706c6b9cf76484e0b36c0acb0e6bac PDF Text Text ��� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/5475f7c6ae1a7639ac9a31f806b3b0d3.pdf 9169a2ecf248422f210e0706d8a6e178 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-20] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} CORPORAL JOE OLEXA Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. July 20, 1942 Hello Sweets, Here I am again and feeling fine. I just got through with my wash and pressed a uniform to wear. It’s been quite hot today and all we do is sweat. It’s hotter instead of being cooler after a rain. I’ve got the pictures that you sent in my carrier and it’s about time isn’t it “sweet.” I think of you often, ain’t I getting a little better. [sic] How is everything up there? Are you still a wishing that I was there for a weekend? Well, I am, just to keep up my morale. How’s my chick-a-dee getting along? Seems though, that if she can’t write I’ll drop her for a nickel. Ha! Ha! My brother Ollie didn’t come down but I expected that. I knew that he didn’t have that much ambition. I’m on guard duty tomorrow so [Page 2] I won’t be able to answer one of your letters providing I get one. I find it hard to write long letters “sweet,” especially when I write each day or when I get two or three from you at a time. Can’t help it though for there is a lot of mail going through New York. Well “honey” are you being good and thinking of me? I am. Did you hear from my sister Helen yet? I haven’t heard from her but expect to any day now. We don’t know as yet when we are to leave here and when we do, it’s going to be in short order. How is your dad and his diet getting along? I sure was surprised to see that he lost a lot of weight. Well “honey” I shall close with a big hug and kiss for you. Write real soon, won’t you? Sincerely yours, With Lots of Love Joe {Signature accent mark} �P.S. I hope that you don’t get tired of me writing letters in pencil “sweet.” Anyway, ink isn’t a good thing to carry in a barracks bag. [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. {Postmark} INDIANTOWN GAP JUL 21 12 PM 1942 PA. Free {Signature accent mark} Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-20 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-07-20 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, July 20, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated July 20, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1209, New York, New York, dated July 21, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes sharing how it is difficult for him to write long letters when writing each day or upon receiving multiple letters all at once, but he reassures her that he is thinking of her often and wishing they could spend the weekend together. He also writes that he will be on Guard Duty the next day and how he spent the day doing laundry and preparing his uniform among other activities. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Indiantown Gap Military Reservation (Pa.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/7e0d9f0319889e0c8d4b568128f3f522.pdf ef4685c5938dcf0ab7cf97d3d985c0d6 PDF Text Text ��� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/a9dbdf5722dcd8c68826d7921892e2a2.pdf 0bd4a9df61b3eb7ae94278996ae50f3e PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-19] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} CORPORAL JOE OLEXA Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. July 19, 1942 Hello “Sweets,” Rec’d your letter and the souvenir and I am quite pleased. In fact, if you were near I’d give you one of the biggest hugs you ever had. I think of you often and you needn’t haunt me that much, do you “sweet.” Ha! Ha! I’ll get even somehow and don’t forget it neither. [sic] I went out this weekend to break up the monotony and I was very good too. I had you in my mind all of the time and was hoping that you could have been with me. I always keep a hoping [sic] that I can get a pass or a furlough so that we can be together longer and I miss you an awful lot, believe me. If I can’t get a leave, I’m going to be very very disappointed. Do you know “Honey” I could hug you all of the time and still not be satisfied? See, what you’ve got me into. I won’t forget “sweet” about being fair when I have a chance to be up that way again and hope that you don’t. After all that rain yesterday, it turned out to be very hot and we sweat doing nothing [Page 2] I don’t want you to go through all of that trouble “honey” of having an enlargement made for me. You’ve been real sweet to me always [sic] and I don’t want you to get mad because of it. Don’t think that I don’t want my folks to see you and someday I’ll take you up home to meet them. Of course, I can’t say when that shall be because of the Army not giving any leaves. I got a letter from my brother Johnny too. He says that he’s quite busy giving speeches and so forth. Well “sweet” I’m a man of my word so the next time I get to see you, I’ll prove that I can chew your ears. What do you think of that? Now if you were to meet me under the apple tree tonite [sic] I’ll make up for last time. Ha! Ha! Ain’t I a card? So, Gloria gets mad when you write and she can’t sleep. Well, that’s paying dividends getting even with her for not writing to me and, at that, two-timing me. �I shall close “honey” and write real soon. Give my regards to the folks. Will be thinking of you in the meantime. Sincerely yours, With Lots of Love Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. My letters are kinda short since I write one after another and news is scarce so don’t be a meanie and tell me about it. [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. {Postmark} INDIANTOWN GAP JUL 20 12 PM 1942 PA. Free {Signature accent mark} Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-19 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-07-19 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, July 19, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated July 19, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1209, New York, New York, dated July 20, 1942. In the letter, Joe affectionately writes to Agnes upon receiving a letter and souvenir from her, sharing how she is always on his mind, and his hopes for receiving a pass or a furlough so they can be together again. He also reassures her of his intentions of taking her home to meet his family one day and the big bear hug he will offer upon reuniting. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Love letters Indiantown Gap Military Reservation (Pa.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/d3dd0913d357b75bbd820eac6db67e35.pdf 69f8215d808818b9196d3cfc3f377ed0 PDF Text Text ��� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/34c50b4c12900ea60fabc7811d9cec6a.pdf 39d3b74f0eb48fd21ed87d5e14cc940c PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-18] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} CORPORAL JOE OLEXA Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. July 18, 1942 Hello “Honey” Here I am again feeling fine and all refreshed. How have you been since I last saw you? I’m as good as ever and still thinking of you. You made me think of you so much that I forgot to put the coupons for Beasie in my letter to you yesterday. I was surprised “sweet” to hear that you wrote a letter to my sister Helen. She probably will answer your letter for I usually hear from her once in every two weeks. Inspection is over with and it has been pouring down a lot of water all night. Anyway, we stood inspection inside. My Company Commander asked me my rifle number and how long I had. I never get a growl for an inspection for I’m always well prepared for them. Now if I were up there sweet we’d sure go out someplace or at Whalom to have a barrel of fun but I’ll stay [Page 2] in since I’m not there. I think of you an awful lot but it doesn’t help because I’m so far away. Anyway, I hope that I can get a chance to see you again. When I do, I’ll make up for lost time. Roy got a letter from Carolyn and she stated that she saw me up there and thought I had gotten a furlough. She also told him about the soldier she was going with. I guess Roy still writes to her but won’t admit it. He also got promoted to a Sergeant Technician making him a First Cook. It pays around 74 dollars a month. He still hasn’t much to say to me and I really don’t care whether he does. Well “Honey,” I shall close thinking of you and write soon. Two of your letters were short, “sweet,” so don’t blame me for not writing a longer letter. I take about 4 to 5 days to get a letter from you so that’s why I usually wait to get that letter and answer the things you have in it. Remember to write real soon. �Sincerely yours, With Lots of Love Joe {Signature accent mark} [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. {Postmark} INDIANTOWN GAP JUL 20 12 PM 1942 PA. Free {Signature accent mark} Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-18 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-07-18 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, July 18, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated July 18, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1209, New York, New York, dated July 20, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes lovingly to Agnes of how she remains in his thoughts and how he hopes to be together again, despite him being so far away. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Love letters Indiantown Gap Military Reservation (Pa.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/2b53dfee8badff6ea182d8da4e820c92.pdf 82a0ca174ebb6d7c15a3991a887b982b PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/65a7bb88befef8a576a60c0baae309f0.pdf 4c88a4e2774b982082396333bc5b9cf5 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-17] [Page 1 - front] {Stationary letterhead} CORPORAL JOE OLEXA Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. July 17, 1942 Dear Agnes, Rec’d your three letters today and was glad to hear from you. Must be that they have a lot of mail going to New York and it takes some time to sort it out. I don’t believe, “sweet,” that I can answer all of them at once but I’ll try to get them answered as quick as I can. It’s kinda hard to write without a letter from you and I usually get an idea of what to write or answer when I get your letter. I’m in a mess now “honey” with three letters to answer from you. This second set of pictures is very good. I sent the other set to my folks yesterday. I finally did hear from my sister Nellie from home and I nearly fell through the floor. It was quite a long letter and she stated that the letters they sent [Page 1 - back] to me were returned to them. Same alibis though of how busy they were. Nothing much of interest has happened since I wrote last so I’ll just have to rattle my brains some more. It’s quite hot down here and it really makes us sweat. I haven’t heard from my brother Ollie since I wrote to him last and it’s probably like I thought. He doesn’t have that much ambition. My sister Nellie is going to send me some pictures and when she does I’ll send them to you. Well, “honey,” if I were there for that blackout I’d sure make up for lost time since I saw you last. Your heart thumps so loud that I can hear it from here. You’d better learn how to cook sweet, for I may drop in sometime, very hungry and tired and then to be disappointed to find out you don’t know how to cook. My! My! What next? My dad always used to tell me, “Why when I was your age I could do most everything.” [Page 2 - front] {Stationary letterhead} CORPORAL JOE OLEXA �Co. “L,” 26th Infantry 1st Infantry Division That was his answer when I told him I didn’t know. Experience is the best policy and achievement of one’s work always satisfies. I’ll put a little manure under my feet to see if I can grow a little taller but I hardly believe I will. I guess I’m through growing up but there always is a tendency for me to grow out. Ha! Ha! So you’re trying to get me hungry, Eh! “sweet.” [sic] Well you didn’t for I have ice cream every nite? [sic] Ain’t I mean? Well! Well! Well! Am I haunting you that much “sweet”? It’s just me to do that isn’t it. Are you going to pay me my 12% interest on your forgetfulness? If you don’t I’m going to raise the interest some more. How’s ‘at Honey? I forgot to mention in my other letters “sweet,” that I liked the way you have your hair. It fills me with delight and at that, you look natural and very kissable. I’d show you what I mean when I [Page 2 - back] get the chance to see you again. Well anyway I wish I was there to hug you like I always do. Wishing doesn’t get me anywhere and if the Army would give me a furlough I’d never give you any rest. What do you think of that? Well “honey,” I’m going to get real mad if I don’t get my souvenir pretty quick. I don’t want a lock of hair from Bozo or Curly and I know the color of yours. It better be a lock of that nice bushy hair you’ve got? I’m terrible, ain’t I? I can’t help the way I am and blame it all on you. “See” Ha! Ha! [sic] Will close “sweetness” and will think of you in the meantime. I’m sending some more coupons for Beasie with this letter. Sincerely yours, With Lots of Love Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Excuse the mistakes for I’m not re-reading it. You can stick your tongue out at Gloria for me. I’m mad at her. P.S.S. Don’t blame me sweet, if I don’t write often for the Post Office holds it too long. I was thinking for a while that you got sick but when I got 3 letters at once it was a relief. {Signature accent mark} �[Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. {Postmark} INDIANTOWN GAP JUL 18 12 PM 1942 PA. Free {Signature accent mark} Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-17 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-07-17 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, July 17, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated July 17, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1209, New York, New York, dated July 18, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after receiving three of her latest letters and notes how the heavy flow of mail through New York has an affect on their communication, in addition to his hopes in receiving a furlough so he can get the chance to see her again. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Indiantown Gap Military Reservation (Pa.) Furloughs Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/8c1286339353f4314ee0351e2f30d389.pdf 88e9abd500983eff9088bef5ffbdf2f0 PDF Text Text ��� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/0e2bf181901f496d0e5bbe14175d3567.pdf 459999918de9d67ad64316c2ff882b85 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-06-28] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} CORPORAL JOE OLEXA Co. “L,” 26th Infantry 1st Infantry Division A.P.O. #1 Indian Town Gap Military Reservation Pennsylvania June 28, 1942 Dear “Sweets,” Got your letter yesterday so before I go to the show I’ll answer your letter. I just got through eating a good duck dinner too. You don’t mean to tell me “sweets'' that you haven’t traveled much. Well, I should tell you an endless yarn of my travels but just to be mean I won’t. Ha! Ha! Anyway, there would be a lot of scandal mixed with it, if you did visit me once it gets out. Although, if you were to come down, I’d get your roundtrip ticket and you could get a place to stay at the Harrisburg Y.W.C.A. But, I’ll wait to see if I can get a furlough. You’d be worrying whether you’d get lost on the way and in New York City and such, so we’ll let it go at that. I wrote 5 letters this morning already to my folks at home, my sister, brother, and the man in the moon in general. I wasn’t very ambitious yesterday so I spent the afternoon sleeping. Ain’t that nice. [Page 2] Most of the boys had the chance of going to New York city for the weekend. Yes, I bought that other stationary but I’m going to use the supply you sent first. As for knowing and getting them to where I about know them to a capital “T” is just a simple matter. I can almost feel their expressed emotion before they speak and their actions which I won’t leave out. Ha! Ha! Here I am letting you in on my secrets! That’s bad! Ha! Ha! Roy has been transferred to a new Company which is being formed although he will be with our outfit. I haven’t gone anywhere this weekend so the Dutch Gals can wait and if they can’t, well I won’t worry none. Ha! Ha! I really haven’t much to write this time sweet, so I close although this is a very short letter. Don’t be a “meaneey” [sic?] and tell me to write more or I’ll chew harder on your ears when I get a chance to see you. How’s my little chick-a-dee nowdays? [sic] Well I’m still on the outs with her �for not writing. I’m sending you a card with my crippled brother I had spoken to you about just to give you an idea of what he looks like. Sincerely yours, “Sweet,” Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. When are you going to send me some more pictures? I’m always good in my sleep. Ha! Ha! [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. {Postmark} INDIANTOWN GAP [?] 12 AM 1942 PA. Free {Signature accent mark} Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-06-28 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-06-28 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, June 28, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated June 28, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1209, New York, New York, dated July 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes discussing potential arrangements for her to travel to visit him and stay in the nearby Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, while still holding onto hope for his own upcoming furlough. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Indiantown Gap Military Reservation (Pa.) Furloughs Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/ab65d433032b7f47970595c29c431676.pdf c327c4c1843307a9011ef54e635c2cb4 PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/78af340245d685053c759beca2e9099b.pdf 54f31b2be669fe7d4d88d46ca8ca011a PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-12] [Page 1 - front] {Stationary letterhead} CORPORAL JOE OLEXA Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. July 12, 1942. Hello “Honey,” Rec’d your letter and the pictures. They really did come [out] good, and I thought probably that I was going to spoil them. Today has been quite dull for a Sunday. Not very many of the boys are here. I went to the movie this afternoon to break the monotony. The picture was “Ten Men of West Point.” It’s a pretty good picture. I also had a delicious pint of ice cream and I thought of you while eating it. Sometime if I ever get to see you again I’m going to stuff you with all of the things you like to eat so that you can’t budge. Then sweetness, I’ll be a meany and chew your ears. What do you think of that, “dear”? I’m going to try awful hard, too. Ha! Ha! Why should you worry so much about me when it’s nothing much to worry about. I admit a ride [Page 1 - back] like that without any sleep would make anyone look like that. Anyway, it wasn’t much of a stay but I can’t kick. [sic] I’m going to be very disappointed if I can’t see you again and I don’t mean maybe. Listen sweet if you don’t stop growing taller, I’ll have to get a hammer, to bring you down to my size. You’re about an inch taller than I am already. I just got back from chow and guess what we had? Well, we had turkey potato salad, sweet pickles, peaches and ice water. Boy, don’t that make you hungry? Ain’t I mean? Incidentally, I forgot to compliment you for the tasty coffee you made for me. Can you cook as good? Ha! Ha! I’ll bet you can’t? Is it a bet? You know “honey” if you were here now I’d give you one of my special bear hugs just to keep in practice. �Well, my young lady, you’re just like the Army always keeping me guessing. You’re an old meanie for not telling me. So, there meanie, meanie!! I’m going to send the pictures to my folks except the one I took of you. Anyway, it reminds me of you when [Page 2 - front] {Stationary letterhead} CORPORAL JOE OLEXA Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} I get you peeved or bored. Ha! Ha! So, the men in the shop like to kid you. Well they’ll get tired of it and you should ignore it. Maybe sometime in the future “sweet,” I will not be able to write so often and I want you to have a lot of patience? [sic] It may be for 2 or 3 months or so but when I will get the chance I’ll write. Of course, I don’t want you to think that I don’t want to write but to have patience when I couldn’t. Maybe at that time my hands will be full but I’ll be thinking of you all of the time. I’ll count on you to be my sunshine then it won’t be so bad? Will it? We aren’t going to be here much longer, which is only one of my hunches. The flies around here are terrible and it gets me mad when they buzz around. How is Eileen and her folks? When you see them again, give them my best regards. Well if my little chick-a-dee don’t hurry up and drop me a line, I’m going to give her up. I’ll try to get all of the coupons I can [Page 2 - back] for Beasie but there aren’t many who smoke Cools or Raleigh cigarettes. If my brother Ollie intends to come down it better be this weekend so that I can get it off. I’m still disappointed in not getting one of your locks of hair for a souvenir. Anyway, I should have cut it when I was there. You’re a meanie for not letting me have it. See, I put the blame on you? Ha! Ha! You’re probably thinking it’s just like the men to do that. Well “honey,” I shall close and wish that I could give you a big hug and a kiss but I’ll have to wait to [get] the benefit out of it when I see you in person, won’t I? Give my regards to the folks. Sincerely yours, With lots of Love Joe {Signature accent mark} �P.S. I haven’t re-read this letter “sweet” so excuse the mistakes if there are any. [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. {Postmark} INDIANTOWN GAP JUL 13 12 PM 1942 PA. Free {Signature accent mark} Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-12 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-07-12 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, July 12, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated July 12, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1209, New York, New York, dated July 13 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after receiving her most recent letter and pictures and fills her in on his latest news, including the movie he saw that afternoon. He also writes to prepare and reassure her for the weeks ahead when he may not be able to write as often. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Motion pictures--1940-1950 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/ee21c5fcd45d084ce4cf0429c9f797fa.pdf ed34d2d1505700b941a4a4d76372faba PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/870c1fe10593d86e67822af32e88404b.pdf cd439d39dae4fcb065c2d6ae644b7e6a PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-11] [Page 1 - front] {Stationary letterhead} CORPORAL JOE OLEXA Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. July 11, 1942. Dear Agnes, Rec’d your letter and was pleased to hear from you. You’ve probably did get my two letters and about the close shave I had getting in for reveille. [sic] I got your letter yesterday which was mailed the sixth and I got it the tenth. Must be that they didn’t know where we were at that time. Yesterday we got ready for the parade and inspection which we had this morning. We had to walk a mile and a half at right shoulder arms and believe me, my right arm ached. Yesterday I got a postcard from my brother Ollie and I nearly fell over from fright. He’s visiting my sister Helen and says he may come down to see me. I don’t think he has that much ambition. My sister Helen also wrote and she was the one to give me some [Page 1 - back] news about home. She and her husband spent a week up home. I forgot to tell you “sweet” that the blue striped blouse and skirt was nice and I liked it oodles and oodles. I had a very good time too and hope, if I ever get another chance, that I can stay longer. Don’t you hope so, too, “Honey”? O.K. sweet, I’ll let my hair grow again just for your sake. If I cannot get away again, I’ll have it cut short again. I don’t think that I will have another chance but one can never tell. I can’t go anywhere for at least two more weeks to give some of the others a chance to leave. We have been training quite hard all week and I’m kinda stiff in the joints. Must be that I’m getting old fast. Ha! Ha! I now carry a rifle like your father had. I fired it out on the range and it sure kicks like a mule. I washed and ironed all of my laundry this week after drill hours so that I could have some clean clothes. Well after that was all done the company said laundry would go out. That made me mad. What next? �[Page 2 - front] {Stationary letterhead} CORPORAL JOE OLEXA Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} Roy comes over to see a sergeant and we are like strangers. He isn’t hurting my feelings any and it makes me laugh. I plan to go to the movies tonite [sic] to pass some of the time away. How’s my little Chick-a-dee? Is she still two timing me? If she is, I’ll get even with her in some way. Ha! Ha! I’ve got two more coupons for Beasie so don’t forget to give them to her. Well, “Honey” last week at this time I was at your house and it doesn’t seem that long. Listen, sweet if you don’t quit haunting me in my sleep, I’ll pull your hair the next time I see you to get even. How did the pictures come out? I’ll bet I look like a tramp on them? Don’t forget to send them to me? I’ll bet the Wenneburgs [?] are still curious to find out where I came from. I laugh to myself when I think of their rubber necks a stretching [sic] to see what goes on in the neighborhood. [Page 2 - back] I’m going to get even by saying your letter was very short. I’m a meany too “sweet.” [sic] Ha! Ha! The barracks is empty [sic] except for a few who have to stay in the company for the weekend. Well “sweets,” I’ll close for I’ve run out of things to write. Give my regards to the folks and write soon. Sincerely yours, With Love Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. It rained pretty hard yesterday but it has cleared up quite a lot today. So-long! See ya in the funny papers!!! Ha! Ha! [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa (12016893) �Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. {Postmark} LEBANON, PA JUL [?] 4:30 PM 1942 Free {Signature accent mark} Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-11 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-07-11 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, July 11, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated July 11, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1209, New York, New York, dated July 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after a week of hard training and also a week since they were together again at her family home in Massachusetts. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/bb45a74cda28d23920f90a817b143c8f.pdf 94244a3f731119a44c29024560125602 PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/ebfe267ae25ba4400e4668bbad8011f6.pdf 550da30502f097f897a4ee9094ec219d PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-07] [Page 1 - front] {Stationary letterhead} CORPORAL JOE OLEXA (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. July 7, 1942 Dear “Sweets,” Here I am again today refreshed some [sic] because of a good night’s sleep. We had to put on a demonstration today for the Battalion out in the combat range. We were commented on our good work and that’s O.K. Although, we got bruised up a lot from hitting the ground. I heard today “sweet” that we will get our mail that is sent to us at our new destination. This is going to knock down my morale a little, if it’s true. That’s going to be fun writing ain’t it. I just got thru [sic] reading your letters over and found that I did answer your questions while I was there. Well, how are you making out since I left, “sweet.” You haven’t forgotten about me already, have you? Ha! Ha! I haven’t in case you want to know. There isn’t much that happens around here anymore of interest for you to get a laugh at. [Page 1 - back] Little Margie is the same and just about as crazy as ever. Punchy got a phone call from his girl in North Carolina and is going around strutting his stuff. Claypool was asking about his little girl Gloria and I sure told him she missed him. Ha! Ha! He really believes it too. I’ve bought all of my supplies such as razor blades, tooth paste, [tooth] brushes, and so forth to last me for quite a long time. I had enough ambition last nite [sic] to wash the two sets of clothes I got dirty riding on the train. I plan to press them tonite [sic] if I have the time. There is no laundry going out so I’m my own wash lady and presser. I haven’t heard from home as yet and I’ve come to the conclusion that they sure must be dead up that way. I’ve written to my brother Johnny though and maybe he’ll have a little news when I hear from him. �I had a pint of ice cream all by myself before I started to write and the first thing I thought of was “you.” Did your folks stop in at “Eddies” after they left the station? Don’t forget to give them my best regards? [Page 2 - front] {Stationary letterhead} CORPORAL JOE OLEXA Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} I hope that the Army will continue the special trains so I can get up that way again. Don’t you? Did the Wenneburgs [?] break their necks trying to find out where I came from and where I’m at? One thing about them is that they have elephant ears and rubber necks which are very noticeable. I suppose you are disgusted again “sweet” of my writing in pencil but I can’t help it if the pen I have and others blot so much. I’ve got 2 more coupons for “Beasie” and will send them in this letter. If I can round up more I’ll send them to her. Well, “honey” it seems like ages since I saw you last and here it is only Tuesday. I’ll blame you for that. Ha! Ha! Roy goes home every nite [sic], at least that’s what I hear from another friend of his. Anyway, I’m glad to know just what kind of a fellow he turned out to be. I know why you roll around in bed, sugar? [sic] It’s because of your thinking of me, all of the time. (A little birdie told me) Ha! Ha! Don’t tell me I’m wrong or am I? Ha! Ha! [Page 2 - back] I’m almost getting to the end of the rope for things to write so now I’ll have to think harder. “AH!!” “I got it!!” I didn’t get that souvenir from you and I’m very disappointed. This time for your forgettable ability I’m charging 12 percent. No ifs, buts or ands, either. Well sweet I’m at the end of the rope so I shall close and don’t forget to write soon. Sincerely yours, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. I’ve answered your 2 letters already, ain’t I improving a little, sweet? Hope that candy didn’t make you sick? Or were the kids at it when you were gone? �[Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} A.P.O. - 1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. {Postmark} INDIANTOWN GAP JUL [?] 12 PM 1942 PA. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-07 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-07-07 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, July 7, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated July 7, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1209, New York, New York, dated July 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes hoping to learn how she's been since they last saw each other and his hopes for the Army to continue their special train routes so he can visit again one day. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Indiantown Gap Military Reservation (Pa.) Furloughs Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. 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