271 24 26018 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/94c8a269dc6466481f79989661c86d46.pdf a6c11d8e158c89d120e31c0be7d63deb PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/07106fabfa4bb56038cb0a85a5689961.pdf bed14d70f8a2f540879d35a8cbdb08b8 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-07-06] [Page 1 - front] {Stationary letterhead} CORPORAL JOE OLEXA Co. “L,” 26th Infantry [text strikethrough] {1st Infantry Division} U.S. Infantry A.P.O. #1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. July 6, 1942. Hello “Honey,” Arrived here O.K. but plenty tired and sleepy. It took us 10 hours from Boston which isn’t bad with a train. I got into Harrisburg at 4 o’clock Monday morning and of all things there were so many soldiers waiting for a bus, that I was convinced for a long while that I would miss “reveille.” I tried to get a taxi but no soap, then I went back and stood in line for a bus. I guess, every bus in Harrisburg was in use taking the soldiers to camp. Anyway, I got here 3 minutes before reveille which is at 5:50 and I’m not kidding. I’m still tired and sleepy and only a half a day to do duty, then to bed. Well, sweet I don’t know when I shall get another chance to see you again and when I do, I’ll let you know. Anyway, [text strikethrough] we both got to see each other even though it was for a few [Page 1 - back] hours. Do you know that I didn’t get to set [sic] with you under the apple tree, sweet? That makes me disappointed too. I guess that was because of us both trying to crowd in most everything in the small amount of time we had together. Ha! Ha! “Ain’t” I right? I also forgot to thank your father for letting us have the car and I’ll bet he thought I was pretty rude and I admit it was. Don’t forget to thank him for me, won’t you? I probably had somebody on my mind who, by the way, was with me that afternoon. Ha! Ha! Don’t forget “sweet” to send me the pictures when your folks get them, so I can see how they came out? I’m not going to re-read my letter to you, so excuse the mistakes for my bunk seems to reach out every once in a while to crab me. Ha! Ha! [sic] �I thought I would have a letter from home when I got here but I was fooled. I got a card from my buddy in Texas though and that was something. I have 4 coupons for Beasie so don’t forget to give them to her. Where was that special hug and kiss I [Page 2 - front] {Stationary letterhead} CORPORAL JOE OLEXA Co. “L,” 26th Infantry 1st Infantry Division was supposed to get? Huh!!! I’m going to charge a six percent interest for your forgettable ability, on “demand,” the next time I get up that way. How’s ‘at? Ha! Ha! I had a swell time, only it wasn’t a long enough of a stay, so I hope it's longer the next time. [sic] I almost forgot to tell you that my friend came just after you left and it wasn’t long after that the train pulled out. Everything was O.K. except my hair, isn’t that right. Now don’t think up a lot of fault about me, just to be a meany. I cannot use the envelopes that you sent to me for it gives our outfit away, so I cannot use them. I save them though just in case. [sic] I guess the Wenneburg’s [?] got their eyes full for once and I’ll bet their awful curious. Hope they got their “bellies” full. Ha! Ha! Now don’t get the idea if I don’t answer or write a long letter on time that I’m in a hurry to go somewhere. Maybe sometime I won’t be able to [Page 2 - back] write and which will be reasonable enough. This isn’t a slam, either. Ha!! I started your letter this noon but couldn’t finish it because of a hike so now the day is done. Will close “sweet,” and write soon. Sincerely yours, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Give the folks my regards. There will be no special trains on weekends anymore on the account of men being A.W.O.L. This was announced this noon but I hope that we shall have them again. �P.S.S. Remember to put down the address I gave you and not the way I have it on the letter. [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa (12016893) United States Infantry A.P.O. #1209 ℅ Postmaster New York, N.Y. {Postmark} INDIANTOWN GAP JUL 7 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_1942-07-06 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 1942-07-06 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, July 6, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated July 6, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1209, New York, New York, dated July 7, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after a whirlwind visit together for a few hours and shares the details of his return back to camp in Pennsylvania. 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/cac6e2699d3eb5b9b9026d05c2277fc3.pdf 414c5cf2b2bb4c97d84bf160434d3356 PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/6d37a6b6136b1454536fb77cc1cc4c7a.pdf 62621d2842329f27fc497ad5ec467f35 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-06-25] [Page 1 - front] {Stationary letterhead} CORPORAL JOE OLEXA Co. “L,” 26th Infantry 1st Infantry Division Indian Town Gap Military Reservation Pennsylvania June 25, 1942. Dear Agnes, Rec’d your letter and the package. Thanks, sweet, I’ll remember you too sometime again. The candy was melted and crushed but it was good. I sure was surprised to see my name and address on the paper. We had to get rid of our identification of property that had our regiment and division stamped on it. I hope that I can use up most of this writing paper while we are here. We can never tell when we shall leave from here anyway. The Army is having a train for the soldiers on weekends to go home, if they live in New York City. That wouldn’t be enough time for me to go up to see you and that’s the way luck runs for me. Ain’t that the card though, “sweet.” When Roy comes around now he just ignores me and all of the time I thought he was a friend of mine. There is a very old saying that [Page 1 - back] I look upon and it goes like this. The truth, always, comes out somehow. Well, that’s so much of that. [sic] You know “sweet,” a girl looks natural when she has nice bushy hair and the way some of these girls nowadays [sic] have their hair reminds me of an old mop. I may be fussy but if they wear it that way it’s none of my business. I should say, you are getting lazy going to bed after supper. Seems as though women have a life of leisure. Ha! Ha! If I get a furlough, I’ll come up to see you first, “sweet.” What do you think of that? I’m just about as far from Buffalo as I am from Fitchburg so that isn’t any too close. [sic] This state is noted for a lot of Indian wars and so on. Must be you haven’t studied your history very much. Ha! Ha! �Haw! Haw! if you think I can’t be successful in chewing your nose [sic], I’ll have to prove it then when I get there. Don’t put it past me for I shan’t forget it, either. Ha! Ha! I’m going to give you a big bear [Page 2 - front] {Stationary letterhead} CORPORAL JOE OLEXA Co. “L,” 26th Infantry 1st Infantry Division hug for the package you sent when I get a furlough. How’s ‘at, for a start? “Huh!” [sic] My increase in pay is O.K. but the more money a person gets, the more they spend. I haven’t heard from Ollie as yet and it isn’t worrying me any. I’m hoping that he gets into the Army to find out just what it is. Ha! Ha! Laziness is his middle name but that don’t run in the family. Ha! Ha! [sic] No military information is supposed to be given out, so I guess it would be a wise thing to censor mail from soldiers sending out information innocently. A slip of the lip may sink a ship and I sure wouldn’t want to be on it. So, when you are working, you claim that you think of a lot of things to write. Well, that’s good news, why not write what you think? Still, reading your mind, “sweet.” Ha! Ha! [sic] I don’t know whether I can write a lot and it keeps me quite busy to try and answer all of yours. [sic] I don’t know where I’m going for the 4th but I hope it’s on furlough to see you “sweet.” [Page 2 - back] So, Gloria and Beasie are bookworms nowadays. If they done their homework with as much interest as a storybook, that would be something! “Eh!” Ha! Ha! I haven’t written to my sister or buddy since we came here so I guess I’ll have to get busy. Will close, “sweet” and write real soon. Sincerely yours, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. When are you going to get a furlough to come and see me. I’d fall over from surprise if you did, “sweet.” Ha! Ha! �[Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Infantry 1st Infantry Division Indian Town Gap, Military Reservation, Pennsylvania. {Postmark} INDIANTOWN GAP JUN 26 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_1942-06-25 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 1942-06-25 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, June 25, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated June 25, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Indiantown Gap, Military Reservation, Pennsylvania, dated June 26, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after receiving her latest letter and package, discussing how he will give her a big bear hug upon receiving his furlough someday and how no military information is to be given out moving forward. 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/76a02cdfc5a7b26c22404ac00b361b33.pdf b683799153967ae218f64635c8dc6c78 PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/f005cd2da6c677343b685a3d4d565dd5.pdf f36c5206b5f956b29ffca97be1d00577 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-06-24] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} INDIANTOWN GAP MILITARY RESERVATION PENNSYLVANIA June 24, 1942 Hello Sweet, Rec’d your letter and the card you sent to me and was pleased to hear from you. I had some ice cream for supper and since you weren’t here to get your share, I ate it for you. It was really good, too. So, you lost 12 pounds working, “Eh”! I’ll bet you did. In fact, you may have gained that much. Ha! Ha! Listen, “sweet,” I know all about the old-fashioned spankings, so don’t fool yourself. I got quite a few myself. Ha! Ha! We are going to have a blackout tonite which will last all nite, so it doesn’t handicap us much. [sic] I’ll bet you were brave when that storm was a going on. I just can imagine your bravery, with your head under the covers, hoping that [Page 2] the storm would go away. Ha! Ha! All of the while I was thinking that you were taking care of cutting the grass under the apple tree and now I’ve come to the conclusion that it wasn’t cared for at all. My! My! Women sure have a lot of ambition. Ha! Ha! You don’t mean to tell me, “sweet,” that you’re forgetting of what I look like already, do you? What next? Ha! Ha! Roy don’t speak to me now since we came here. He goes home every time he gets a chance. I don’t think that I shall go to his home, so, don’t worry none. By the way, there are a lot of Dutch gals down here and pretty too. Ha! Ha! I’ll have to be careful or they might kidnap me someday. We have a highway about a block from here and they ride up and down, waving at the soldiers. What do you think of that, “sweet”? I didn’t get the package with your letter but I probably will get it tomorrow. Incidentally, dear, that card was a good one and you hit my [Page 3] {Stationary letterhead} �INDIANTOWN GAP MILITARY RESERVATION PENNSYLVANIA excuses of not writing on the head. Ha! Ha! Women are hard-hearted not to see both sides of the story, anyway. Ha! Ha! My chances are pretty slim at present of getting a furlough. Isn’t that mean, Sugar? All I can do is hope. Well, if I don’t get one, you ought to come down, but since you are a working girl now, you can’t get the time. Well, that’s life with its ups and downs ain’t it, sweet? No, I don’t think we will go back to Devens but it would be a miracle if we did. I haven’t heard from my brother Ollie and I’m not writing to find out anything that happens up that way. It gets me mad to wait so long for him to write, which happens every time. I got a letter from my other brother who was at college and he is out to where we used to [Page 4] live near Buffalo. So, my Chick-a-dee doesn’t feel well every time she comes home. Well, tell her to stop daydreaming. Ha! Ha! Well “sweet,” I will close and don’t forget to write real soon. Sincerely yours, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Be good and get up some ambition to cut that grass, sometime. [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Inf. - 1st Inf. Div. A.P.O. #1 Indian Town Gap Military Reservation Pennsylvania {Postmark} INDIANTOWN GAP JUN 24 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_1942-06-24 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 1942-06-24 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, June 24, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated June 24, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Indiantown Gap, Military Reservation, Pennsylvania, dated June 24, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes ahead of having a "blackout" at the military reservation that evening and discusses various subjects including his hopes for a furlough and how it would be a miracle to return to Fort Devens. 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 Fort Devens (Mass.) 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/9e58822fcad7aac126e350052876af08.pdf 7dc52445b11279b7a3fbb52aa180877f PDF Text Text ������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/bb9bd044e0b58c2c460dbb84ee5c096b.pdf fc8390f43998c3ca913133d733752db9 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-06-19] [Page 1 - front] Co. “L,” 26th Inf. - 1st Inf. Div. A.P.O. #1 Indian Town Gap, Military Res. Pennsylvania June 19, 1942. Dear Agnes, Got your letter today which was transferred here. We left Georgia Wednesday and got hear [sic] early this morning. This place is very nice and too good to be true. There are a few big cities around here such as Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Reading, and a couple of others where we can go for recreation. It’s much cooler up north here than down in Georgia and I don’t mean maybe. We had a good trip coming up but it got tiresome riding. [Page 1 - back] The maneuvers came out O.K. but I am not to write or talk about it. In fact, I’m not allowed to give any information about anything. Our letters will be censored from now on and by the looks of things something is a cooking in the pot. [sic] I hope that when we get straightened around, that the Army will give us a furlough. Anyway, I am counting on it. The trains out of Harrisburg for New York are speedy and it takes about 4 hours and from New York to Boston it’s about 6 hours. It takes about 14 hours to Detroit too so I’m going to try and visit you and at home [Page 2 - front] but one can never tell on how many days I shall get. So, sweetness, you haven’t been swimming yet? “Eh!” Well, I’ll be the one who's going to throw you in then, clothes and all. Ha! Ha! Now don’t give me an alibi about you working and don’t have much time. Women make up more excuses than a barrel of wheat. Ha! Ha! Your hair better be pretty and bushy on the sides or I’ll chew on your nose. I’m going to chew your ears sweet, so I might as well chew on your nose too. Ha! Ha! Roy lives about 30 miles from here and what a [Page 2 - back] lucky man he is. He went home tonite [sic] for a visit. He also showed me another picture of his future wife by mail and I must admit, she is very nice. �Did you hear from my brother Ollie as yet? [sic] I haven’t in 4 ½ weeks and that makes me mad. He’ll probably write saying I owe him a letter. That’s the way it goes when I hear from him. Well, I haven’t heard from my Chick-a-dee and I guess I’ll have to get even with her, too, providing I get a furlough. How’s your mother’s garden nowadays, has she got any red radishes planted? [Page 3 - front] Well if she has, I can maneuver in them pretty good with a salt shaker to boot! Ha! Ha! How’s the apple tree, sweet? Think you’ll make a go of it, till I get there? Ha! Ha! Ain’t I mean. So, you call four months a long time, “Eh”! That’s just a drop in the bucket for me. It seems like a week ago that I left Ft. Devens. Time flies by in the Army. Forgot to tell you my hair is still cut short and it sure is a relief during the hot summer months. I never told you how good of a swimmer I am, did I, sweet? Well, I dive like a feather and swim [Page 3 - back] like a concrete rock. Ha! Ha! That’s swimming, ain’t it? Well sugar I will close and don’t forget to write real soon. Give my regards to the folks and stick your tongue out at Gloria for me, just to let her know I’m thinking of her. Ha! Ha! Sincerely yours, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. I hope to get my furlough for the fourth of July but that can be a disappointment too. [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa Co. L, 26th Inf. - 1st Inf. Div. A.P.O. #1 Indian Town Gap, Military Reservation, Pennsylvania U.S. Army �{Postmark} INDIANTOWN GAP JUN 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_1942-06-19 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 1942-06-19 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, June 19, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated June 19, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Indiantown Gap, Military Reservation, Pennsylvania, dated June 20, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes upon arriving in Indiantown Gap Military Reservation in Pennsylvania and discusses how his letters will be censored from then on, in addition to the cooler temperatures up north. He continues to write about his hopes for a furlough and the convenient travel options out of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 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 Military maneuvers 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/db66e0c7b20b01c320373afd47cc96fb.pdf df3397dd056c61d1451a248179ff21a2 PDF Text Text ������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/10f694f8eecebe86df21100bc50d1473.pdf 60c6bdb221239411e1e5367b300ff6d9 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-06-14] [Page 1 - front] Co. L, 26th Inf. - 1st Inf. Div. Fort Benning, Georgia June 14, 1942 Hello Sweet, Rec’d your two letters and am sorry I hadn’t had the time to answer sooner. The maneuvers are over and we expect to leave here about Wednesday. I don’t know where we are going but will drop you a line when we get there. I hope that I shall be able to get a furlough then also. Don’t you hope so too? Yesterday it poured and the water sure did run all around. Most of my clothes in the Barracks bag got wet so I put them out to dry today. [Page 1 - back] I also went swimming today and the water was swell. Most of the time around here it’s so hot that a person gets lazy and don’t want to do anything. [sic] We usually get all wet from sweat in no time while hiking. I haven’t heard from Ollie which isn’t unusual since I wrote to him last when we came here. I got a letter from my sister stating that he had to appear before the draft board for a physical exam. Whether he is in the Army or not I don’t know. So, my young lady is going to be selfish and not share the million she’s going to make, “Eh!” [Page 2 - front] Well, when I make mine you won’t get any of it, neither. Ha! Ha! That boyfriend of Carolyn’s must have a lot of nerve to go up there in the condition he was in. It takes only one soldier such as he, to make people think and have the wrong impression of the Army. So, you haven’t gone swimming as yet, well young lady, I sure can throw you in, so you better not refuse if I get a furlough and want to go. The Army always says, these aren’t threatening words but a word to the [Page 2 - back] �wise is sufficient. Ha! Ha! Everybody is good when they sleep sweetness, so the other time is unaccounted for. Ha! Ha! Worry makes gray hair, so worrying isn’t in my line. If the grass under the apple is getting big, it will be a good place for me to grab some sleep while you’re working and also to keep the neighbors from gossiping. Ha! Ha! The flies and the sand fleas drive a fellow crazy around here. No one can set [sic] in peace till it’s time to go to bed. I gave up hopes of hearing from Gloria but I’ll get even with her [Page 3 - front] when I get my furlough. I’ll demand the debt she owes me and if she doesn’t cough up, I’ll give her an old-fashioned spanking. Roy is about the same and comes around once in a while for a short talk, then off he goes. Must be he has ants in his pants or something. Ha! Ha! I’m on Charge of Quarters tomorrow and I’m going to the show tonite [sic] since it's going to be torn down Tuesday and I won’t be able to go while on C.Q. We have one show nitely [sic] starting at 9:45 and ending 11:45. [Page 3 - back] It’s an open-air show with more soldiers getting in around the canvas wall than there are paying to see it. We set [sic] on the ground most of the time and if we are lucky to find a box [?] to take, so much the better. Well sugar, I will close and will write when I get to our new destination. Adios Sincerely yours, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Hope it’s Devens, don’t you? Ha! Ha! [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Inf. - 1st Inf. Div. A.P.O. - 1 Fort Benning, Georgia �{Postmark} COLUMBUS, G.A. JUN 15 11 - 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_1942-06-14 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 1942-06-14 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, June 14, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated June 14, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Fort Benning, Georgia, dated June 15, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after receiving two of her letters and experiencing a delay in his response due to military maneuvers. He also writes about his upcoming move and hopes of receiving a furlough, and the open-air show that he hopes to attend that evening. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Fort Benning (Ga.) Furloughs Military maneuvers 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/b4bc00eefe4ce3d8fe5d5d6926afaede.pdf 1ed543be0229a62dc376bc3c04e45572 PDF Text Text ������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/a230ae1b89e21dc047f1a3f93131c378.pdf cf3830912f94ce885028e61bf973b06d PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-06-07] [Page 1 - front] Co. L, 26th Inf. - 1st Inf. Div. Fort Benning, Ga. June 7, 1942. Hello Sugar, Rec’d your letter today and believe it or not I knew it was coming. I dreamt about getting your letter and today it was here. The color in my dream of the envelope was the same as it is, with your handwriting. So, ya don’t believe it, Eh, sweet? Well it’s that true. I came off of Guard today and I’m very tired. I didn’t get much sleep which is the usual thing on Guard. I had a relief of 8 men to past every four hours [sic] and had to stay awake most of the time. During the day I couldn’t sleep for the flies nearly drove me [Page 1 - back] crazy. Instead of sleep, I killed them and put them in a pile. We had to sleep on the ground with one blanket for 25 men couldn’t sleep in one tent that held six. No sweet I’m not Black for I have a light tan and now the Army won’t let us take our shirts off. So, they have Indians and Mexicans at Fort Devens now. You’d better watch out or they might go night riding for scalps. [sic] Roy got a letter from Mrs. Wenneburg [?] today or I should say a short note. She wants to know where he is and what he is doing. He spit at the letter after[Page 2 - front] -ward. You can tell your father that the easiest way to lose weight is to get back into the Army routine. Such as hiking on your stomach without a meal, double timing every now and then, doing exercises, drilling, hitting the dirt, walking till you can’t walk no mo [sic] from sore feet and so forth. Ha! Ha! If he don’t lose weight within a week, I’ll chew my Sunday hat and eat it. Ha! Ha! A fellow just brought in a snake that measures six feet and as big around as my arm. Well you may think I’m kidding but I ain’t for I only write the latest news. [Page 2 - back] I saw a picture Friday nite [sic] which I forgot to mention in my other letter. It was “Tortilla Flat” with Spencer Tracy, John Garfield, and Hedy Lamarr. This picture was a good one and if it gets to Gardner or Fitchburg you ought to go and see it. �So, my little Chicka-dee has to work. Now, I won’t be able to hear from her. Oh! What a sad day. Well, maybe she can sometime. Ha! Ha! You must be getting lazy now by taking it easy, huh, sweet. Pretty soft, I must say after pushing a pencil once in a while in the shop and not working at home. How do you do it? Let me in on the secret and I’ll try it out on the Army. Ha! Ha! [Page 3 - front] The fellows are [?] running around just now chasing a couple of fellows who are afraid of snakes. The fellow held it high while running and still the snake dragged on the ground. [sic] Well, my nephew has to take after the Olexa’s or we’d disown him if he didn’t. As for the devilish twinkle in his eye, sweet, there is only one whose got that and that’s me. Ha! Ha! So a woodchuck is beating me to the drawing of stealing things out of the garden, “Eh”! Well just wait till I get my hands on him for chisling in on my future racketeering. [Page 3 - back] Find his hole for it’s around there then set a steel trap to get him. One thing about a woodchuck, don’t let him get the first bite or someone may have a nice chunk of meat missing. Well honey it’s getting quite dark so I’ll close and write soon. Sincerely yours, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Be good, sweet. I might get that furlough yet. At least I’m a hoping. [sic] {Signature accent mark} [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa Co. L, 26th Inf. - 1st Inf. Div. A.P.O. #1 Fort Benning, Georgia {Postmark} COLUMBUS, G.A. JUN 8 2:30 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_1942-06-07 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 1942-06-07 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, June 7, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated June 7, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Fort Benning, Georgia, dated June 8, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after receiving her latest letter and dreaming that it would arrive that day. He also writes about his experience on Guard Duty, the health benefits of Army training, and the recent movie he saw starring Spencer Tracy. Please note, a portion of this letter contains language that is harmful and offensive and should be viewed with awareness and racial and cultural sensitivity. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Fort Benning (Ga.) 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/f0fcad933c29b6cc59ae37003e1afdfb.pdf 6469b669ffba65db64fb8e9d5e1d976c PDF Text Text ������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/03d9235be08b996881059b8c1ee7349f.pdf 2098e76cacc8756b6493449480988a5d PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-06-06] [Page 1 - front] Co. L, 26th Inf. - 1st Inf. Div. Fort Benning, Georgia June 6, 1942. Hello Sweet, Rec’d both of your letters and was glad to hear from you. Didn’t have any spare time this week so I couldn’t answer your first letter. However, I'll try to write another a little later. I’m on guard duty this afternoon until tomorrow nite. [sic] We had an inspection today which wasn’t so tough. Still looking for sympathy, Eh, “Sweet.” Well don’t knock on my door, for I haven’t any to give. Ha! Ha! I wouldn’t put it past you to say that I gave it to you. Ha! Ha! [Page 1 - back] Well, dear you must have been under the apple tree with someone else to catch a cold. I can just imagine you not getting mad at me. I’ll laugh at that one. Ha! Ha! So, you started to work without a vacation. Well, Roy says it’s a lazy job to set and take down dictation in Shorthand. I agree with him. Ha! Ha! I also told him of Carolyn being engaged. He nearly fell over when he heard it. He was saying that she is a fast go-getter and then with a smile on his face, “I don’t know what I saw in her.” Well sweetness we don’t have on electric lights but a nice full moon so you can come [Page 2 - front] down if you want. You can put yourself in the package with the stationary “sweet,” which will be enough. So, you got 5 dollars for shorthand, “Eh!” Well don’t forget to let me know when you make that first “million” and then “we’ll” live on easy street. Ha! Ha! [sic] So you’d be hanged before you’d go chasing after a husband. My, all women say that but it's a lot different when their [sic] married. Ha! Ha! You don’t mean to tell me, “sweet,” that you have a lot of strength, do you? Boy, I’ll have to watch out then, “huh!” Well you couldn’t hurt me any so I shan’t worry none. Ha! Ha! [Page 2 - back] We are doing the usual training which isn’t new at any time except when you are a recruit. We are getting some more Typhoid shots and another vaccination. By the time I get out of the Army, I’ll be full of needle holes. �Has your bracelet or locket tarnished yet? If they did I’ll go down and give that jeweler my calling card. The fellows are still gambling around here every time they get a chance. One fellow won 700 dollars in an hour which isn’t a bad hour’s pay, is it. Yes, I like to go to the Non-Com school for it is interesting and very helpful. [Page 3 - front] How’s my little Chick a dee, Gloria? [sic] Isn’t she going to break her heart and write me a real long letter? Well, if she don’t I’ll get mad at her again. I didn’t get any mail this week except your two. Haven’t heard from home since my brother’s last letter. I’m not particular in what you send in a package to me sweet and I won’t be choosie. [sic] How’s your mother’s garden? Is there anything be enough there for me to steal? [sic] Well if there is, let me know. I didn’t say to let your mother know, but me. Ha! Ha! [Page 3 - back] Will close sweetness for there isn’t much to write. Give the folks my regards and don’t forget to write real soon. Sincerely yours, Joe {Signature accent mark} [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa Co. L, 26th Inf. - 1st Inf. Div. A.P.O. #1 Fort Benning, Georgia {Postmark} COLUMBUS, G.A. JUN 6 8:30 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_1942-06-06 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 1942-06-06 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, June 6, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated June 6, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Fort Benning, Georgia, dated June 6, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes during a rare moment of spare time ahead of being on Guard Duty at Fort Benning. He also writes about their training activities and vaccinations, in addition to inquiring about her family and their wellbeing. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Fort Benning (Ga.) 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/ad349c2469dbe44fd4a35c57617fdc5b.pdf 0dc49788e0df6924e031d962ca183a7a PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/f1bb1471ba7c36e049fc8687484d7213.pdf 45a915ed3b123ab8b42b6284423a2430 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-05-23] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} CAMP BLANDING, FLORIDA Co. “L,” 26th Inf. - 1st Inf. Div. A.P.O. #1 Fort Benning, Georgia May 23, 1942. Dear Agnes, Rec’d your letter today and writing again even though I had written yesterday. So, my young lady was getting mad because she didn’t hear from me on the exact day. “That’s somethin.” [?] Ha Ha! I don’t know where you got the idea I have it pretty soft. I have to do a lot besides having a squad of 11 men. When I was on Charge of Quarters it was easy but that’s only for a day. While I’m on maneuvers I’ll be a lucky man to have a little of time to write. [sic] Anyway, you think I have loads of time to write so I won’t explain. It probably will be quite a long while before we will be able to get a furlough, but when we do I’ll try to be the first one. I probably won’t stick my nose out of camp, except on maneuvers, while we are here. If I did want to go it will be an awful long walk and at that [Page 2] I’m not that anxious. Young lady if you feel like going out, you can and after all, it’s none of my business. I don’t want you to feel that way, “sweetness,” for I’m just another guy. I don’t want you to feel hurt, either. I should be jealous but I’m not and blame it to my nature. I don’t hold no grudge against it, at any time. [sic] Lots of things in the Army happens to men, while we are at war and I don’t want to see you being sorrow[ful] for something that will be hard to forget. [sic] I’m still as mean as ever, ain’t I? I’m going to get mad at Gloria again if she don’t hurry up and write to me. Wait till I get my hands on the soldier who through [sic] his address to her? Ha! Ha! Anyway, she’s pretty lazy for writing letters so I won’t worry. Ha! Ha! �Have you decided to take a furlough to come here to see me, yet? “I’ll bet ya don’t come.” Ha! Ha! I’m going swimming after I write this letter. We have a lake about a mile and a half from here. Joseph is a little better on your letter heading but “Joe is the best.” Ha! Ha! [Page 3] {Stationary letterhead} CAMP BLANDING, FLORIDA The ground is mighty hard to sleep on since we aren’t used to this hilly country. I sleep on 3 hills at a time. In the morning, I call a doctor to get me out of the “kinks.” Ha! Ha! Wish you’d send your bed down, but you’re too hard hearted to do that. Ha! Ha! How is your mother’s garden? Has she gotten everything planted? I’ll be around after the work is all done and everything ready to eat. Ha! Ha! I didn’t see much of Roy lately, but when he comes around, I’ll give him your regards. Your curly-cues, “Sweetness,” are terrible, but a little more of practice will do the trick. [sic] Ha! Ha! I got some Sunday School stories from Torrie’s [?] sister and if you hadn’t told me she was going to send them it would of made me curious. [sic] [Page 4] Did you hear from my brother yet? I told you he was lazy. Ha! Ha! I’m glad that I’m not that lazy. I didn’t buy any writing paper as yet, so I’m around borrowing it, till we can get some. [sic] Well, “Sugar,” I shall close and don’t forget to write real soon. Sincerely Yours, Joe {Signature accent mark} {with hand drawn arrow pointing to it with the word “Perfect”} P.S. You owe me a lot of mail now young lady. Don’t you? [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Inf. - 1st Inf. Div. A.P.O. #1 Fort Benning, Georgia �{Postmark} COLUMBUS, G.A. MAY 23 8:30 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_1942-05-23 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 1942-05-23 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, May 23, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated May 23, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Fort Benning, Georgia, dated May 23, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while reasuring her of his responsibilities at Fort Benning, including being on Charge of Quarters and maneuvers when he has little time to write, and his down time spent swimming at a nearby lake. He also writes of the furlough he hopes to be able to take and his encouragement over Agnes taking one of her own. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Fort Benning (Ga.) Furloughs Military maneuvers 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/96bc0ef877c921f572bcc48fbfeb1609.pdf bfb9d6c301b520735e3340b26768b50c PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/3eab871d1ea7eb70dbbbc16d3225657e.pdf 1640ab03cc962452ec9dea90de0ccd21 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-05-22] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} U.S. ARMY Co. L, 26th Inf., 1st Inf. Div. Fort Benning, Georgia May 22, 1942. Dear Agnes, Arrived here O.K. and since we were the advance company, we sure did work, getting things ready for the rest of the outfit. Boy, it sure does rain up here and I got soak and wet three times. [sic] Not only that but a lot of red mud to make it perfect. The rest of the outfit just came in this afternoon. We are going to be here five weeks and where it will be after that is beyond me. Now, I’ll tell you just where we are at. [sic] We are in the hills so far that it would take a ten-day furlough to get out. The nearest town is 17 miles and it's about the same to Fort Benning. Of all of the places I’ve been with the Army, this takes [Page 2] the cake. Our sleeping quarters are small pup tents, which is our roll we carry. What’s a buzzin up that way? My writing paper and the things in my barracks bag got all wet so don’t blame me if you can’t read my writing. I heard from home, my sister and brother at college. My sister sent some pictures and I’m sending you one of her, husband and their baby. This fellow is the one who went to school with me. Your pictures you sent to me are turning brown. Must be the finish on them wasn’t so good. Well, sweetness, you’ll owe me a little mail now? Won’t you? I put my sister’s address on the picture, so if you would want to write to her, you can. I got a real surprise the other day [Page 3] when I got a letter from a buddy of mine who was mad at me for 3 years. Now ain’t that something. �It will be a long time, “sweetness,” before I can get a furlough and I’m disappointed too. Well, the Army sure can mess things up within a short notice. I had a small hatchet stolen from me today and it looks as if I’ll have to help myself to get one just like it. Ha! Ha! It sure makes me mad when something happens like that. Incidentally, for company while sleeping or sitting down, we have thousands of ants, sand fleas, chiggers, and etc. The snakes sure are big around here. We killed four already and they average about four and a half feet long and big around as a shovel handle. When I was washing myself in the middle of a stream, which is a [Page 4] mile and a half from here, a fellow was chasing a big snake, trying to kill it, swimming in the water. I didn’t know it at that time, for I thought he was chasing a big fish. After he killed it, my eyes sure did open up when he brought it to me. How’s my little “chick-a-dee” Gloria? Isn’t she going to drop me a line, after a fine letter I sent her. Well, sugar, I will close and write soon. Sincerely yours, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Give the folks my regards. My new addressCpl. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Inf. - 1st Inf. Div. A.P.O. #1 Fort Benning, Georgia [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Inf. - 1st Inf. Div. A.P.O. #1 Fort Benning, Georgia �{Postmark} FORT BENNING, G.A. MAY 24 2:30 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_1942-05-22 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 1942-05-22 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, May 22, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated May 22, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Fort Benning, Georgia, dated May 24, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes upon arriving at Fort Benning and shares that they will be staying there for five weeks, in a location so remote that the nearest town is 17 miles away. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Fort Benning (Ga.) 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/289454904068ef8ea09e46e14fde25f2.pdf a58ae7faec09e3aab10010dcab7f73a7 PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/4c06e9f21346ca7983db9458f845ef2f.pdf 5635073e0c2efae4cc4a805186573a40 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-05-16] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} U.S. ARMY Co. L, 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Fla. May 16, 1942. Hello “Sweetness,” Your letter I just received seemed like you were awfully down hearted. From your letters at times, it’s that way. I think I know the reason why? Sometimes or the majority of the time, you look at my future which is darkness or blank. Am I right? Off hand when you forget about it, which you should do, you’re a lot happier. Of course, this is my idea and I’ll bet I’m not very wrong. There are times, when you express yourself in “thoughts” of wanting to make something of it, then thinking of things in general, you will kinda shake and try to occupy your mind with something else. How do I know? It’s a [text strikethrough] secret. In reference to your letter on May 7th, it was very impressive to me and you expressed your feelings happily which you should do all of the time. [Page 2] Of course, young lady I’m confidentially writing this and most of the time I’m usually hard hearted. Ha! Ha! You ought to know. Whatever you see in me is beyond my [text strikethrough] thoughts? What is it???? I still read your thoughts, “sweetness.” Ha! Ha! Well that’s that of the situation, so, my young lady, why “hesitate” with your expressions? Huh! I hope to look forward in receiving more letters such as the one you wrote May 7th. Yesterday was bad news for me and that was, we are moving again. [sic] No furloughs to be given out and all the ones that are home now are being called back. Yesterday and today we spent our time packing and we are to leave Monday morning at 5 o’clock. I think we are going to Fort Benning, Georgia on maneuvers for a few months. When we get there and I can’t get a furlough, you’ll have to take one and come to see me or don’t you like to travel. Well it is disgusting to hear that no �[Page 3] {Stationary letterhead} U.S. ARMY more furloughs will be given out for a while yet. Talk about the weather being hot up there, you should be here right now. The sweat is rolling off of me in beads. I hope it will be cooler at our new destination. Well, sweetness, if you didn’t go swimming with me, I’d make sure that you would go in, clothes and all. Ha! Ha! What do you think of that? I must be mean, ain’t I. What are you trying to do? Kill me with hard work, such as scrubbing floors. I ain’t used to hard work. Ha! Ha! I’m a lazy man. I’m glad to hear you like the bracelet & locket. I’ll bet a lot of the girls around there envy you. Do they? My brother hasn’t written or answered my last letter to him. Did he answer yours? [Page 4] No, the 1st Division isn’t broken up and it never will be. I shall drop you a card or a letter when we get to our new home. Our Company is the advance company and we are leaving earlier than anyone else. Well, “Sugar” I will close till the next time. Don’t write down hearted letters which will make mine the same. Yours “Sincerely” Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. I’m still a going to chew your ears, for not getting your suit in blue, when I get a hold of you. I’ll bite, hard too. [sic] [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Florida U.S. Army �{Postmark} CAMP BLANDING MAY 17 5 PM 1942 FLA. 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_1942-05-16 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 1942-05-16 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, May 16, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated May 16, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated May 17, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while worrying about her letters seeming downhearted on his behalf and encourages her to not worry about the future. He also writes of their upcoming move to Fort Benning, Georgia for a few months and encourages her to take a furlough to visit him at his new location. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) Fort Benning (Ga.) 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/cd441b404ad43bfc9a2c2f572d5e3585.pdf c6c5e6e6295cd9e91b6c430321f87289 PDF Text Text ��� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/341dd2fd2d01ccf21e0e371bb19c3131.pdf bc3fe20c328081bc8044524b89c3c590 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-05-14] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} U.S. ARMY Co. L, 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Florida May 14, 1942. Dear Agnes, Writing again since I have a few spare moments while on Charge of Quarters. We had some rain this morning which made it a little cooler, but I guess it will rain again, for it’s getting hot and muggy. I weighed myself the other day and since we are having tough training, I lost 15 pounds. I weigh 164 now. You have misspelled a lot of words in your recent letters, young lady. I forgot to mention it to you in my last letter which I had written yesterday. Did you wear your bracelet and locket to school? I’ll bet you made sure that Carolyn got a good look at it. Or didn’t you. Roy was just in to see if he had any mail. He went out disappointed and I told him to see the Chaplain. Ha! Ha! [Page 2] The Company is out on the hike and I’m pretty lucky setting around here. [sic] Have you still got your fingers crossed hoping that I’m lucky enough to get a furlough around the 1st of next month. I have and I’m a hoping a plenty. [sic] We have some new men that just came in (44) to be exact. [sic] This will bring our Company strength to normal. Some of our Sergeants are leaving tomorrow to new outfits which are being made. One of the Sergeants told me that within five weeks from now we’d be into action somewhere. It may happen but I doubt it. Well, cutie, I shall close even though this letter may be short. At least you can give me credit for trying to write. I know you won’t. You’re too hard-hearted. Ha! Ha! As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Don’t forget to give my regards to my cutie-pie, Gloria. �[Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Florida U.S. Army {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING MAY 14 5 PM 1942 FLA. 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_1942-05-14 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 1942-05-14 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, May 14, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated May 14, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated May 14, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while on "Charge of Quarters" and hopes that she still has her fingers crossed regarding his potential furlough in June. He also writes of the 44 new men that joined their company and the Sergeants relocating due to new outfits being made, in anticipation for their being sent into action in the upcoming weeks. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) 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/daefc4d89361df8f32343bc82d1fcb71.pdf 2f02a284619c3e663973433e289edf71 PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/2d69846f65e2048fa0ed9f6556f4e9dc.pdf 72ccfa2ac7e01c2a0f45093ef392e338 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-05-13] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} U.S. ARMY Co. L, 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Fla. May 13, 1942. Dear Agnes, Rec’d your three letters and was glad to hear from you. I probably will not answer the three of them for news is kinda scarce in these parts. Anyway, it’s the same old routine. I did receive your package a couple of days back and forgot to mention about it in my last letter. Thanks very much for sending it. It’s still as hot as ever down here and once in a while, we have a little rain. I’m glad you like the gift I sent you. Roy got your letter today and said he was awfully surprised to get it. It was a surprise to him about the locket and bracelet set for I [Page 2] hadn’t said a word to him about it. From rumors going around and the packing, checking of what each company has on hand, that we are going to move somewhere again. [sic] As usual, the Army keeps a secret. Furloughs will not be given out after the 14th of June, so don’t forget to keep your fingers crossed and hope that I pull a high card. I guess if I don’t get it, I’ll be just as disappointed as anyone. Today, I was in charge of a working detail and for once I didn’t have to work but give orders. Not bad, Eh? Tomorrow, I’m on charge of quarters [sic] and don’t regret it, for we have a twenty-mile hike. Getting lucky. Young lady, I don’t like to be called “Joey.” It's sissified and just plain Joe will be the ticket. You should have thanked me for not going to “Eileen’s” that cold day, for if we would have went, we still be [sic] [Page 3] {Stationary letterhead} �U.S. ARMY like icicles. When you see Eileen again, give her my regards. How’s my cutie-pie Gloria? Isn’t she going to write? How [text strikethrough] {said} sad I will be, if she doesn’t? We are going on a two week’s maneuver somewhere soon, so if you don’t hear from me, you’ll know I can’t write. I’ll try to let you know though. Roy just came in and said to give you all of his love. He also stated to tell Carolyn to go {hand drawn symbols depicting the spelling of an expletive}. Ha! Ha! Maybe Carolyn wants you to get acquainted with one of them other soldiers. Eh! Claypool is still trying to get me a date and it's another gal. Maybe, if I have the time I may take a gander around them parts. Ha! Ha! Did you hear from my brother [Page 4] Ollie lately? Well I haven’t much to write which I hope you will excuse. Will close and I’ll try to find something to write, to answer one more of your letters, which I have here. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Give the folks my best regards and tell them I envied them when I found out they had Polish sausage. [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa Co. L, 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Florida U.S. Army {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING MAY 14 3 PM �1942 FLA. 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_1942-05-13 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 1942-05-13 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, May 13, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated May 13, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated May 14, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after receiving three of her letters and her latest package, and writes of his hopes for a furlough in the future and rumors of an upcoming move. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) 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/24e038224d8dc9ee47917ef983fb252c.pdf 513c45635094fbe48804cf25928b7094 PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/9ff44f29c4ddbeb305f5a8e2cb129be1.pdf 6f735829f192a5b64d60f2dd48a8f7ac PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-05-08] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} U.S. ARMY Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Fla. May 8, 1942. Dear Agnes, Rec’d your two letters and was glad to here from you. [sic] I suppose you [text strikethrough] {were} really got a surprise when you opened that package. How do you like it? If the bracelet and locket tarnish then I’ll know that I got a jipping. [sic] I sure was surprised to get that note from Gloria. In fact, it was the shortest letter I ever did get. Must be that she’s awful lazy not to write more. Today, we had a parade and for the rest of the day, we got ready for tomorrow’s inspection. We just got thru [sic] cleaning and scrubbing our tent floor. Right now, we could eat from [text strikethrough] it. Well, it finally happened. My brother Ollie wrote to me and [Page 2] I nearly took a fit from fright to get it. [sic] Yes, I am graduated from doing K.P. or work on details. I [text strikethrough] now have to take charge of quarters, be in charge of work details and last of all be corporal on guard duty. So, Roy is in Australia, boy I sure had to laugh at that. Where did you get the fancy writing paper? It is nice. I’m nearly out of writing material myself and will get some tomorrow. From your statement of being afraid of water, I’ve come to the conclusion that when I get there, I’ll have to go swimming by myself. That’s going to make me mad. You state that you don’t get mad at me. Well, I’m not writing anything but doing a little thinking. Can you remember the incidents? Ha! Ha! My brother Ollie said he hadn’t heard from you but admitted he owed you a letter. [Page 3] {Stationary letterhead} �U.S. ARMY Young lady, you’re still trying to flatter me and I will be just as mean as you are and not believe it to get even. Ha! Ha! Incidentally, Roy is still the same old “Larkinvar” [?] and don’t know what to do. [sic] I told him about you stating I was the best chubby soldier in the Army, and he said you were getting silly. What do you think of that? I don’t know where you find a lot to write in your letters. I can’t and at that you tell me about my short letters. We are cutting cards in the platoon to see who goes on furlough. Two from each platoon can go, just as soon as the others get back. Most of the boys want to go in June, just the same as I, so don’t forget to keep your fingers crossed. I’ll try for it in the first week of June. [Page 4] I see where you aren’t putting the curly-cue under your name. [sic] Did you get disgusted trying to make a good one? Ha! Ha! It rained today and we are sure glad it did. Anyway, it’s cool and the dust has settled, so that we won’t eat it for a day or so. Well, I shall close and don’t forget to keep your fingers crossed. Give the folks my hello. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. I’ve still got 2 books of stamps, so I’m sending you one of them. [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Florida U.S. Army {Postmark} �CAMP BLANDING MAY 9 3 PM 1942 FLA. 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_1942-05-08 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 1942-05-08 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, May 8, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated May 8, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated May 9, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after receiving two of her letters and shares his excitement over Agnes receiving the gifts he sent her and his potential upcoming furlough, in addition to the day's events including a parade and preparing for inspection. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) 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/095e100da3cab0d4cafa7f257c27c6de.pdf a320b39d46e122cecf3822c360d98985 PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/9cb4eee96a6c692e26c473d077f79069.pdf cc739dc37085fd3b24f6ad9aa662ce6f PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-05-05] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} AMERICA FOREVER Co. L, 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Florida May, 1942. Dear Agnes, Rec’d your second letter but the package hasn’t arrived as yet. Maybe it became invisible on the way. Ha! Ha! I received a letter today from my brother at college and just got through answering it. So, you don’t like the flattery? My, most women do in a long run. [sic] O.K. no more flattery from me, since you women disapprove of it. I’m shipping that surprise package with this letter. Watch out, when you [Page 2] open it, for there may be a rattle snake in it. How’s my little Chick a dee, Gloria, getting along nowdays. [sic] Well, I’m still mad at her for not writing. Roy just yelled to give his regards to all of you. Claypool is back from the Bakeries School. [?] His only regret is that he starved while being there. He’s got a lot of pictures of these southern belles and they’re all good looking. He gave me a big build up to one of them without me knowing it and she wants to meet me. Well, I haven’t the time since my invisible beach is in progress. [Page 3] I ran out of my other writing paper so, I’ll use the few sheets I have left that you sent me. I guess you must have spring-fever. The stamps of your last two letters were upside-down and on one the date April 29, 1941. What next? So, you found my misspelled word. I just did that to see if you were looking for something like that. Now, young lady, you’ve got a war started, so watch your spelling. I’ve even misspelled Corporal in my last letter. Leave it to the women to find something wrong. The time the snowstorm up there in Mass. about the 1st of April was �[Page 4] caused by me sneezing like the blazes when I had my cold. Your name is engraved on the back of your bracelet or did you find that out. I ought to get a big hug for that gift but since you are so hard hearted, I’ll overlook it. Ha! Ha! Will close and write when you can. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Don’t forget to give the folks my regards. Will you. [sic] Also, to go swimming when I get there. {Signature accent mark} [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa Co. L, 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Florida U.S. Army {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING MAY 5 11 AM 1942 FLA. 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_1942-05-05 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 1942-05-05 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, May 5, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated May 5, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated May 5, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after nearly running out of writing paper and fill sher in on the latest news, such as the letter he received from his brother at college and the special engraving on the bracelet he sent her. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) 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/4cbe850d640c8dbcde2896bbab47e133.pdf 010273013f1501ae15dbbec8fc402f36 PDF Text Text ������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/426e58c1fde835c7e7a3208f1398019d.pdf 35a0c640fcc9dd28a9d31a6caa172172 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-05-02] [Page 1] Co. L, 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Fla. May 2, 1942. Dear Agnes, Rec’d your letter and the pictures last nite. [sic] I was really surprised and puzzled to see that you did change quite a lot. I showed them to Roy and he had to look at them quite a few times before he was convinced. I’m going to keep the two of you in your suit and one of Gloria. The pictures of Junior are very good, also, but I suppose [Page 2] your folks want them to send away. I like the way you have your hair, so don’t get any ideas of changing it. Your letter was kinda late and I had thought your quick temper came up again, of something I had written. What color is your suit? It better be blue or I’ll chew your ears a bit, like a rabbit, when I get my furlough. I had planned to get my furlough around the first of June or the second week in June. [Page 3] When I get there, I’ll have 6 or 7 days and do you think your mother could find enough work around there to pay for room and board? So, my cutie still doesn’t believe me!! It’s just like the women anyway. That Fitchburg girl is the least of my thoughts. You can look for a surprise sometime this week or next. You’ll never guess what it will be in a million years, so don’t try. I’ve got my Army promotion warrant paper and now I’m a full-fledged Corporal. [Page 4] You can at least congratulate me. I didn’t handshake for it, either. The Lover is back with us being a little pale but in good health. [sic] Friday, we had another Divisional parade review for the Chief of Staff from Washington, D.C. He’s General Marshall. The weather down here is very hot and it's hard to fall asleep at nite sweating. [sic] Incidentally, when I get up there on furlough, you’ll have to go swimming with me. No ifs, buts or ands, you’ll go even if I have to throw [Page 5] �you in with your clothes on. Ha! Ha! So, my young lady, get your swimming suit out. Roy wrote a letter to Carolyn a couple of days back that will make her hair stand up. I read it and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a little fur [?] fly inside her house when she gets it. He really told her off. Before I forget, I want to compliment you taking a very good picture and at that looking your best yet. How’s at? [sic] I’m not kidding either. So, Gloria is still persistent of having me to stay in a mad [Page 6] mood. Wait till I get there. She must have been thinking of someone to lose that check, don’t you think so? I didn’t get the package as yet but I may tonite. [sic] Give your folks my regards and don’t forget to ask your mother about what I had written earlier in my letter. Will close, Sugar, and don’t forget to write sooner. [sic] As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Sending some more stamps since my mail is free. {Signature accent mark} [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa Co. L, 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Florida {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING MAY 3 3 PM [?] 1942 FLA. �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_1942-05-02 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 1942-05-02 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, May 2, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated May 2, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated May 3, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes in surprise after receiving a letter and photographs from her on the previous night, and noticing how much she had changed. He also writes of his planned furlough in June, where he will be spending nearly a week visiting her and her family, and his Army promotion as a "full-fledged Corporal." Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) 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/55d9809a33b98be219cf3e8610fcee1a.pdf 2132ae3fbd144beeb258bfeac389d79a PDF Text Text ��������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/4ec9203bcac9d7b029b73d803c2f781b.pdf 6cc729745b3287cf24577a42d1b5bd17 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-04-27] [Page 1] Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Fla. April 27, 1942. Dear Agnes, Rec’d your letter and was glad to hear from you. So, my young lady states she knows what mood I’m in when I write. If you took that letter serious, you’re wrong, for I was quite gay that day even though I was on K.P. Now I don’t know how to write my letters to you. You take me serious when I’m not and jolly when I’m serious. So, what can I do? Oh! Well, you women wouldn’t understand. As for my brother’s girlfriend [Page 2] I’ve known her a long time, in fact, ever since she was as big as Elaine. Yes, she writes to me once in a while and believe it or not, I haven’t heard from her in a month. Well, I see you don’t believe what I had written about who was writing to me, either? I can’t convince you, so I’ll let it go at that, and be a liar. If you really want to know how much mail I received this week, I’ll tell you. Two letters from you and one today from my brother at college. [Page 3] Last week was the same. Believe it or not. Now I’ll explain of why I’m undecided in taking a furlough and hope you can understand what a position I am in. [sic] A ten-day furlough isn’t much time for a visit and most of it will be traveling. To get to Boston from here, takes 36 hours (1 ½ days) one way. About the same or a little more to Detroit a different way, which I would have to take to get there. If I were to go home and spend a short visit from here to Detroit and back, I wouldn’t go to New York City. Now if I were to buy a ticket to Fitchburg, I’d be quite [Page 4] ways from home then. [sic] In between Detroit and Fitchburg takes about 20 hours and if I were to visit both places, it's still a round trip (40 hours). If I bought a ticket to Detroit then visit you, I’d still have to go back there to catch a train for Camp. It would be the same if I bought a round trip to Fitchburg. I’d still have to buy a round trip ticket to Detroit then come back to start for �camp. In other words, I’ll be traveling 132 hours (6 days) in the round trip and 4 days of visiting, which isn’t much. Now, if I were to visit you and not go home, my folks would be mad and if I were to go home without visiting you, you’d get mad. [Page 5] So, what am I to do? Roughly, the trip would cost me about a hundred dollars to visit both places. Put yourself in my place and figure out some sort of a suggestion. I’ve been figuring it out but the more I think, the worse it gets. I’d like to be home for my mother’s birthday which is the 2nd of May but I can’t. I also like to be home on “Mother’s Day” but I’m not sure to be [sic] picked out of the Platoon to get a furlough. I’ve based my thoughts on getting the trains on time but if I were to wait longer for a train, my furlough wouldn’t be worth the trip and I’ll be saving money. Well that’s my explanation [Page 6] of being a pickled herring. Roy just came in and I told him what you said to tell him. Now for some news which will surprise you a plenty. My Company Commander sent in a report of my “promotion” to a “Corporal” for approval and that will make me a Corporal about Wednesday. Now, ain’t that sumtin. [sic] You're the first one to get this fresh news and nobody else knows about it, except the First Sergeant and the Company Commander. Wait till Roy hears of it! Yesterday, we had a divisional parade review and that sure was a long one. The papers in Mass. and vicinity are stating that [Page 7] the first division is going back to Fort Devens. How true this is, I don’t know. I doubt it though, but the Army does funny things. I met a friend of mine today who used to go to school with me. He’s a Sergeant and in the same Regiment. I sure was surprised and this is a small world. I have a tan which is fair and hope to get darker as time goes along. I’ve gone off of the Camp grounds to town once since we came down here and my time isn’t much. I usually go to the second show when I go and it starts at 9 o’clock and then getting out at 11 o’clock, missing [Page 8] a little sleep now and then but I enjoy it. �Well, Sugar, I shall close till I hear from you again. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Give the folks my regards and don’t get that quick temper of yours up at things you read. Think twice, one of your version, the other at a different slant. [Envelope front] P.F.C. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Inf. Camp Blanding, Fla. U.S. Army {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING APR 27 5 PM 1942 FLA. 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_1942-04-27 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 1942-04-27 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 27, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 27, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated April 27, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes discussing the letters he received that week and the reasons why he is undecided in taking a furlough at that time. He also writes of his recent promotion to "Corporal" by his Company Commander and the news of the First Division's return to Fort Devens. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) Furloughs Fort Devens (Mass.) 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/deae37aee963a23ccd5dc3055a2135be.pdf 027df3a244b5551effe7d8f2b5082249 PDF Text Text ��������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/ce90e9d0a9324241e4ba71a7a106bfbc.pdf b030088bb11069c79ef9c0fa39e4e810 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-04-22] [Page 1] Co. L, 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Fla. April 22, 1942. Dear Agnes, Rec’d your letter today and writing since I’m not going to the show. I saw two movies which were fair. One was “The Remarkable Andrew” and the other “The Male Animal.” Saturday nite [sic], I’m going to see Charlie Chaplin in “The Gold Rush.” I saw this picture about 12 years ago and can remember some parts of it. I had two days of K.P. instead of one because they didn’t send anyone to relieve [Page 2] us. I get credit for it though and won’t be on K.P. for two months now. Tomorrow, we have a 20mile hike which isn’t so bad for we are going to hike out 10 miles and then 10 back. We hiked out to the grenade range today and practiced throwing them. It’s about 5 miles from here. We came back in early and ran through an obstacle course. It consists of a rope over water, two logs, a 10-foot fence, hand bar erection, two pipes to crawl through, and a mad dash for the [Page 3] ending point. It isn’t very big but it’s a great exercise. We have a bigger one but we’ll have to work ourselves a little for that one. There is a rumor of us boys going to Georgia for a 20-day maneuver. It will start the 9th of May, but I’m from Missouri so I’ll wait till then. The First Division is the best in the world and we’re going to clean up on the Japs and then lick the Germans. [sic] No kidding, can I catch a cold under an apple tree? Well, now you’ve got me curious, so now I’ll get me a blonde and find out. Ha! Ha! [Page 4] So, my little cutie is stealing stamps and of all things using it to write to another fellow. Boy! Now, I’m disgusted, humiliated and mad. She threw me over like a ton of bricks. It’s just like the women. [sic] Ha! Ha! I thought this eagle or goose that you sent was a paper doll at first, but when I opened it, I was fooled. �It’s just like [text strikethrough] women to look for sympathy when they fall and hurt themselves a little. If they were in the Army, they would learn to take it and laugh, just as I did. When I get hurt, I don’t want sympathy and I always blame [Page 5] it to clumsiness or from being injured more seriously. We have a church for each Regiment and I attend church regularly. My brother hasn’t written as yet and I’m just as stubborn as he. I wrote to him though when my folks sent me a package and thanked them for it. Roy hasn’t taken his furlough but he may this pay, providing he gets picked to go. It’s too far for me to go on a ten-day furlough not unless I change my mind but I’m not taking one as yet. I haven’t seen hide nor hair [Page 6] of Claypool in a coon’s age. He’s still at the baking school. My friend, the lover, is in the hospital with a touch of flu or pneumonia. I’m going to visit him Saturday providing he isn’t too sick. Still haven’t received them pictures and I’ll bet you didn’t take any. Carolyn sent some pictures of herself, Larry, mother and father to Roy in her last letter. Larry had his uniform on and he looks swell in it. I’m sending you some more stamps for I’ve got a lot more left and don’t forget [Page 7] to hide them in a better place. Ha! Ha! Forgot to tell you today is my brother’s birthday. Some fellow came over and said I write a lot. I do and if people I write to aren’t too lazy, I’d get a lot more of mail. [sic] No hear-ee, from me, if they don’t answer, is my motto o o o o o o. [sic] Did you get a letter from Roy? He said that he sent you one and funny for he was in the mood. [sic] I also forgot to tell you that I got a new supply of blue lead or didn’t you notice it. You did, well ain’t that sumptin. [sic] Ha! Ha! [Page 8] When I sat down, I thought this letter wouldn’t be a long one but my brains rattle once in a while, ya know. [sic] How is Florence? I haven’t heard from her yet, have you? Well, I shall close and write when you can. As Ever, �Joe {Signature accent mark} You need 2 more years of practice {with arrows pointing to his signature accent mark}. P.S. Give the folk[s] my best regards and tell Gloria, I’m not on speaking terms with her anymore. Not unless she writes and gives me a good explanation. Ha! Ha! Soo - long - [sic] [Envelope front] P.F.C. Joe Olexa Co. L, 26th Inf. A.P.O. #1 Camp Blanding, Fla. U.S. Army {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING APR 23 3 PM 1942 FLA. 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_1942-04-22 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 1942-04-22 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 22, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 22, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated April 23, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after two days of K.P. duty and discusses the recent movies he had seen, the training activities planned for the days ahead, and the rumor regarding their trip to Georgia for a 20-day manuever. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) Military maneuvers 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/6306f2cffb14015546547ef19268e6e5.pdf 0c027d45b7c12d0e7402b1c2b65df16f PDF Text Text ��������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/189a5c5a600de547035954e082b1f275.pdf a29cf058c2f41bcdf5866db2c15a20ec PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-04-20] [Page 1] Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Fla. April 20, 1942. Dear Agnes, Rec’d your letter today and was glad to hear from you. I feel O.K. now since my cold went away. On that hike last week, we hiked 22 miles to start it off, then two days of rest and another long hike back to camp, getting ready for Saturday's inspection. Tonite [sic] we are going out on a problem which will last till dawn. That hike we had last week made us boys tired even [Page 2] though we are used to hiking. At present, I’m on K.P. and just got a break, so I decided to answer your letter. Saturday afternoon, I got a light tan and will keep sunning myself till I get darker. Nothing of interest to write this time and it's the same old routine. Roy was saying to me today that he is going to write you a letter. Carolyn writes to him about three times a week and [Page 3] he doesn’t answer them. I also saw a very good picture which has a lot of laughs in it. The name of it is “The Fleet’s In” with Dorothy Lamour. Where are those pictures you were going to send me? You’ll have to take one wearing your suit so I can see what kind of a man you are. Ha! Ha! So, you think my brother is different, well, I say he isn’t, for I’ve known him a long time. He’s a flattering fool and who can’t be? Not my nature. Tee! Hee! [Page 4] His girlfriend writes to me so that makes us even. I’ve known her since she was knee high to a grasshopper. Nice kid and going to be a school teacher. She’s at college now. So, you have the impression men can’t keep a budget and don’t know where their money goes. You’d be surprised and he can account for every cent. That’s more than women can do? Ha! Ha! [sic] �The weather down here is swell and I’ll bet it's kinda cold up there. How is my cutie pie, Gloria? Haven’t heard from her in a coon’s age? [Page 5] - mistakenly written as page 6 with roman numerals “VI” I’m a wondering if she’s still living. [sic] When is she going to break her heart and write, to bring up my mail percentage. Mail service is free to me, ya know. Ha! Ha! My brother hasn’t written me a letter as yet, except for two cards and I’m going to give him a lecture for not writing. My father was visiting also at my sister’s in Buffalo and only a few miles away from there. We have been wearing our summer clothes a week and it sure is a relief. [Page 6] Ran out of blue lead so I’ll finish with this. What were you trying to do, fool me by writing a letter in pencil and the address with ink? My! My! Well, it's getting around to the time that I’ve got to go to work again, so I’ll close. Give the folks my best regards. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Roy said to give all of you his regards and a big Hello. [Page 7] P.S.S. You ought to see my haircut now. Just as short as I could get it without getting a baldy. [sic] Ha! Ha! I’ve been listening to a woman squealing like a pig on the radio and I wish she were in front of me right now, so that I could throw rotten tomatoes at her. Roy yelled for K.P.’s so off I go. [Envelope front] �P.F.C. Joe Olexa U.S. Army {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING APR 21 3 PM 1942 FLA. FREE {Signature accent mark} Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. [Envelope back] P.F.C. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Fla. � 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_1942-04-20 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 1942-04-20 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 20, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 20, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated April 21, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while taking a break on K.P. duty and discusses the recent 22 mile hiking trip during training, in addition to their families and the agreeable weather in Florida. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) 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/7f609b8deb88cd4f91ae5d666c3833c6.pdf 841a31441ae737a51002763374d09354 PDF Text Text ���������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/046d52efcd23bb10bbbde0fbab9b275b.pdf eb7f294ff2b497b2e47d66818b445a09 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-04-13] [Page 1] Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Fla. April 13, 1942. Dear Agnes, Rec’d both of your letters and was surprised to get two. Yesterday, some of us boys were invited to attend church in Jacksonville and naturally I went too. We were invited out to dinner by some of the people there and I must say I had a very enjoyable time. Coming back at nite [sic] it was very chilly and now I have a beautiful head cold. I’ve had a nagging headache all day and just about blew Camp Blanding off of the map sneezing. I don’t feel so well at present [Page 2] but in good spirits. Tomorrow we are going on an 18-mile hike and staying [text strikethrough] out there for a 3-day problem. So, I decided to write since we came in a little earlier than usual. The parade was a great success but very hot for us boys who done the marching. It was 2 hours before we got through parading and what a crowd watching us. Our training [sic] is hard as usual and the same. Especially getting into the mud and marsh. Saturday, I put on my swimming trunks and laid out on my invisible beach to get a sun tan. I got burned a little and red, but now I’m just as white as I was before so I’ll try again. [Page 3] I nearly fainted when I got 2 cards from my brother Ollie. He was visiting the place in Ohio where we used to live. The Army is still giving out 2 furloughs in a platoon each week now and if I can scrape up enough money, I may take one, although I don’t want anyone to count on it. I suppose my brother sent you a card or two, too, or am I wrong. That note you got and sent to me was taken from a book, for I took business writing in school and the book I had as a reference gave love letters in the same degree as this one you sent. Believe it or not. I was taught, to put, commas, in sentences, whenever needed, when I went, to school and I readily, can understand, the teachings of “Cushing Academy.” [sic] Ha! Ha! Anyway, it doesn’t, cost, me a cent, �[Page 4] to add, it in. [sic] I’ve come to the conclusion that you count the words in my letters to see how long they are. My! My! - What next? Ha! Ha! So, you’ve set the law on me. Eh! Well, they’ll have a hard time to keep up with me in this man’s Army and I could lose them in these swamps. I believe I know where every mud hole is in these parts, for I haven’t missed a single one of them. So, I’m not afraid. I’ve borrowed Roy’s pen and must say it's a good one. He’s still in the kitchen and we are surviving from his cooking. He’s going to Texas to get married when he gets a furlough. Anyway, the love bug has bitten most of these boys here, for they all are writing to they’re girlfriends [Page 5] and proposing to them. I’ll bet my last dollar you can’t bake a cake as good as I can? Now, you’ve got a challenge. I haven’t looked around yet to see who smokes Kools or Raleigh cigarettes but I shall give an answer about it in my next letter. I can’t remember when Beasie and I gave you a scare, not unless it was riding on the toboggan when I was there. I was referring to the time when Beasie had to give me a kiss to get her money back. I sure get a kick out of that when I think of it. How is my little “Chick a dee” Gloria these days? [sic] Give her my regards and tell her I’m sneezing my tears away for her. Ha! Ha! [Page 6] Between you and I, have you got change for two gun patches? You haven’t? Well, don’t send me any wooden nickels, either, for them. Since I have plenty of stamps and can’t use them, I’m sending you a few, so that you will not have an excuse for not writing. Ha! Ha! How do you like my small writing? Not bad, I must admit and saving a lot of space. When you do make your first million, call me up and I’ll handle the business and [text strikethrough] financial transactions free of charge. Did you get that mannish jacket and skirt yet? I’ll bet you didn’t! You’ve sent this letter and another one with the stamps upside down. I take it as a mistake, but yet I wonder. [Page 7] �Don’t mind me, I’ve known all along. In other words, I’m not blind. How is the weather up there? It’s fine down here and it isn’t a season for ducks either. Don’t forget to give the folks my best regards and a big Hell----o, will you? [sic] The Wennebergs [?] still write to Roy, but I guess he isn’t interested in them anymore. He’s [text strikethrough] {good} got quite a few from Carolyn but hasn’t answered one or two of them so far. I’m about due for Guard duty and kitchen police so I’ve come to a distinct conclusion it will be Saturday and Sunday. I’ve sneezed over fifty times since I started to write this letter and my head feels as if it were like a big balloon. So, I will close till I hear from you again. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} {Signature accent mark} {Signature accent mark} You’d better give up {arrow pointing to his additional signature accent mark mimicking hers} Perfect {arrow pointing to additional signature accent mark} P.S. Where are those pictures you were going to send me? Huh! {Signature accent mark as underlining} Excuse the mistakes for it was my sneezing. {additional signature accent marks} [Envelope front] P.F.C. Joe Olexa U.S. Army {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING APR 14 5 PM 1942 FLA. FREE {Signature accent mark} �Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. [Envelope back] P.F.C. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Florida � 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_1942-04-13 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 1942-04-13 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 13, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 13, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated April 14, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while in good spirits, yet feeling under the weather, while at Camp Blanding and after attending the parade and church services in Jacksonville, Florida. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) Jacksonville (Fla.) 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/2a32331fde24e860e02ff17fd2858499.pdf 71ac9513fa0917513f1ccdb00bcc8b7d PDF Text Text ���������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/1f58dda69944c24009c1a8ec544f6f53.pdf 4f6aa7ba04ba1106bce3d270b10b2a8e PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-04-05] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} AMERICA FOREVER Co. “L,” 26th Inf. Camp Blanding, Fla. April 5, 1942 Dear Agnes, Rec’d your letter today and was glad to hear from you. I’m fine as usual and hope you are the same. You are probably surprised to see that I’m writing in ink. So, am I and its about time. Ain’t it? [sic] We are having the usual hard training and I’ve lost about 10 pounds. I’m as hard as a concrete road nowdays. [sic] I’ll bet if I were to fall down on it, that it would crack. [Page 2] About that furlough, they are giving some out but as I have written before, I won’t be able to take one. Reason: “I’m financially embarrassed.” Ha! Ha! As for receiving a lot of mail, I’ve come to the conclusion that if I should receive many letters, I may break my glass arm writing. Ha! Ha! Anyway, I haven’t much time writing during the week. [sic] So, I finally succeeded in haunting Gloria in her sleep. Well, it was about time for them letters have almost gotten me to a point of being [Page 3] touched in the head. [sic] Ha! ha! All women like tall, dark and handsome men, so I’m proud [to] be short, fat and homely. That proves all women think the same. Ha! Ha! Confidentially, my brother is tall, dark and handsome. Even blue eyes. I should be jealous but I’m not, and want to remain the same as I’ve always been. Am I making you jealous? My, I must be a real meany, ain’t that the card? As for you wringing my neck, you’d have to travel a long [Page 4] �ways to do it. Seems though I’ve read that same sentence in a letter sent to me by you, the 11th of September. I’ve still got my neck in one piece so I’ll pat myself on the back, just for a good measure. The weather here is very hot and I believe I shall take my swimming trunks out of the moth balls and go in for a dip next Sunday. We go swimming every day, though, in the mud and it reminds me of Cowboys and Indians. I used to play that game a running [sic] all of the time and it seems like the Army should grow out of it someday. Ha! Ha! [Page 5] Monday is Army day and our Regiment is going to parade in Jacksonville. “Boy!” I’ll surely [text strikethrough] throw out my chest then. And to think of having a lot of pretty southern belles watching us. Say, just between you and I, confidentially, “what do you think of the rise of price of rice in China?” Ha! Ha! I think the same thing too. I didn’t get out to buy some Easter cards, so I’ll wish all of you a very happy Easter now before I forget. I haven’t written or heard from [Page 6] my brother as yet and that proves I can be as stubborn as he when it comes to a showdown. It runs in the family. Ha! Ha! This free mail service is the ticket for us boys, but when no one cares to write, we’ll just ride along. Got a letter from Florence today and she states that she’s fine and asking how I ain’t and use-to was. [sic] I was almost in the belief that she wasn’t going to write but I was fooled. Did you make your first million yet working? Well, if you didn’t, try again. Ha! Ha! [Page 7] I got a carton of cigarettes from my sister in Buffalo and a card which was swell. I also got a swell card from my brother at college and I didn’t even send a single one. I went to the movies last nite [sic] and saw “Ride ‘Em Cowboy” with Abbott & Costello. I really enjoyed the picture. As yet, we don’t know when we will move from here and I hope it is soon for I’m sick of running around, shooting at nobody. I went to town the other day and the outside world gave me a bad scare, so I ran back to camp and made it in a minute flat. �[Page 8] Roy is a cook nowadays and I’m wondering how us boys will make out with his cooking. I can remember the time when you and he made a cake. I ain’t a saying nuttin [sic], but, boy, how I can, tink. [?] [sic] Ha! Ha! News and thoughts are getting scarce so, I shall close. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} Like this {arrow pointing to his signature accent mark} P.S. Give the folks my best regards. Say, how is Beasie? Did she get over the fright? I don’t think I’ll ever live that day down. Har! Har! [?] [Envelope front] P.F.C. Joe Olexa U.S. Army {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING APR 6 3 PM 1942 FLA. FREE {Signature accent mark} Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. [Envelope back] P.F.C. Joe Olexa Co. L, 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Florida � 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_1942-04-05 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 1942-04-05 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 5, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 5, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated April 6, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while he continues to undergo hard training at Camp Blanding and has lost ten pounds to show for it. He also writes about their escaping the southern heat by swimming in their downtime, the upcoming parade in Jacksonville, Florida for "Army Day," and the recent film he had seen. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) Jacksonville (Fla.) 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/3338ad7d89e2f9c223f45ab50f4dad37.pdf 17e2a792b82610a86c9912bf2f218faa PDF Text Text ������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/1988fd2322ce6fe0aeb2b452a0070609.pdf 6236b8e810cc4a23df2674fc3b79d05a PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-03-28] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} AMERICA FOREVER Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Fla. March 28, 1942 Dear Agnes, Rec’d your letter today and was glad to hear from you. I was surprised to hear that my brother wrote to you. Could you really figure out his writing? I do not owe him a letter, instead he owes me one and I am quite stubborn, at times, if anyone doesn’t answer my letters. [Page 2] What happened to my “Little Sweetie” Gloria? Now I feel awful blue and I guess I’ll have to write and find out whether she is sick or whether Frankie is beating me to the draw. Ha! Ha! Boy, I’ll bet you could wring my neck, if I were there for writing what I did? “Eh.” Ha! Ha! We still are going through our hard training as usual and I must admit my muscles are sore all over. I usually hit the hay early for the rifle I carry now is a lot of weight for carrying about [Page 3] twelve hours a day. We are under orders of immediate action to move out at any time, so our furloughs and passes are discontinued. So, none of us could not leave if we wanted to. We are sleeping out in the open and training in the rain whether it rains or not and at times it gets very annoying but we just grin and bare it. [sic] We have a few reptiles called snakes down here consisting of rattlers, coral snakes, king snakes, and Black snakes. The rattlers and coral snakes are the poisonous ones, while the [Page 4] others are not harmful. We have a venom [?] for rattle snakes but none for a coral snake. The coral snake has bright colors of red, black, and yellow around its body and its bite is a 100% deadly [sic] for no one can be saved. It’s only about a foot long and hangs in the vicinity of pine trees. Some of the boys have killed three so far, but we haven’t seen a rattler as yet. It’s getting a lot warmer, so those writhing things will be out in a little while and I hope that I don’t fall on one while taking up a little of combat trainning [sic], of advancing and hitting the ground. [Page 5] �{Stationary letterhead} AMERICA FOREVER My letters should be longer nowadays [sic] since I write on a Saturday nite [sic] or a Sunday and it depends on what day I get my letters. So far, your letter was the only one this week and I can look back a few months to where I received two a day from the ones I usually write to. Now, the percentage has decreased 98%. Roy just popped in for a chat and asked who I was writing to. [Page 6] He wanted to read your letter, but I didn’t let him. The movies down here at present are old ones and not fit to see, so I’ll have to wait till some good ones come around. I read about those fellows in Australia too and I believe the girls wait till they see someone they like, then nab them so that they can’t get away until they take the steps of matrimony. Well, if I should happen to go there, I’ll let them know I prefer a blonde. Ha! Ha! How is Florence nowdays? [sic] Boy, it’s been a coons age since [Page 7] I’ve heard from her. Give her my regards when you drop her a line. Will close and write when you can. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} You’d better give up. {arrow pointing to his signature accent mark} Ha! Ha! P.S. Give the folks my regards and motto to shut my trap and kill a Jap. [sic] Enclosed is a note to Gloria. � 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_1942-03-28 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 1942-03-28 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, March 28, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated March 28, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes during a time of hard training at Camp Blanding, where he carries a rifle for twelve hours a day and his division trains rain or shine. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) 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/6450d76931db8a7d4227b0a9365f93f2.pdf ff9c7aef0de9d399ee398a7538ba75c4 PDF Text Text ��������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/2c9a1daa84f48c91b23776dbef049645.pdf 9127dafba7be1c4797363ce24ed214fe PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-03-22] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} AMERICA FOREVER Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Florida March 22, 1942 Dear Agnes, Rec’d your letter today and was glad to hear from you. I sure was surprised to get that one-page letter from Gloria. Confidentially, I think she’s trying to save up on writing paper by writing only one sheet. Ha! Ha! Well, I’m fine as usual and everything on my invisible beach is O.K. The weather is fair and hot with rain mixed in to keep up our morale. We are still training hard and this week will be about twice as hard. [Page 2] We are going to have combat firing at surprise targets which will pop up any place while we are in fighting formations. We are going to use live ammunition. The surprise targets are the shape of a man’s head and shoulders. They represent mortar men and machine gun men. So, when they appear, we will fire at them. Thursday, we had a hike and we trotted most of the way. We’d walk about a 100 yds. then trot. [sic] We covered the same amount of miles in 2 hours as we usually do walking in four and we still carry our equipment with us. I fired the automatic rifle on the range and made high expert. Out of a possible score of 200, I [Page 3] made a 186 only losing 14 points. Of course, we have so many seconds to get a certain number of rounds fired and it isn’t so easy as one might think. My Company Commander complimented me on the good shooting and boy, did I put out my chest. Ha! Ha! Friday, I was on guard duty, which made me very tired and Saturday when I got back, I was put on K.P. and today I am on table waiting, so now, I’m answering your letter in between meals, and besides that we are on alert call for a week at a time. I started to write you a letter in ink and my fountain pen went on the blint, making blots, so, I just got through breaking it to pieces and �[Page 4] now I’ll write in pencil till I can buy a new one. I got a letter from my brother at college and I still haven’t heard from home since the day I was on pass at your place. I don’t see much of Roy nowdays [sic], so I can’t write any news about him. There is a rumor going around that we are going to get a 10-day Easter furlough. I probably will not take one, for it will cost me at least 70 dollars for a round trip home in a day coach. So, I believe you wouldn’t want to come down here for Easter. Not unless you have a good thumb to hitch-hike. Ha! Ha! What were you trying to do, make me feel good by writing that? [Page 5] {Stationary letterhead} AMERICA FOREVER I heard over the radio that General MacArthur sent President Roosevelt a telegram requesting him to send the “Fighting First Division,” which he needs to show the Japs what a hard-hitting force we are. Well, I sure would like to be there with him and I may be there sometime in the near future. The first division’s motto is: No mission, too hard, No sacrifice, too great, Duty first. Our Regimental motto is, “When in doubt, Attack.” [Page 6] My motto is to “Shut my trap and kill a Jap.” Ha! Ha! [sic] Boy, I should have been a novelist, for when the rocks rattle, I can think of a lot of things to write. Ha! Ha! Have to get out on my invisible beach for I heard one of my bathing beauty call for “Help.” [sic] Got out there just in time for some big lug was trying to carry her away. Well, some boys just went by carrying him on a stretcher, so I guess everything is under control again. Have you heard the “latest”? Oh! Neither have I, for it hasn’t come out yet! Ha! Ha! I haven’t written to my brother for he still owes me a letter and don’t blame me if he doesn’t write to [Page 7] you. You will have to excuse my poor writing for I’m writing on a small stand and can’t get the full arm swing at writing. �The automatic rifle magazine holds 20 rounds of ammunition and between the gunner and assistant gunner, we carry 30 such magazines. Well, I shall close and don’t forget to give them my regards. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} Still wrong!! Like this {arrow pointing to his signature accent mark} Ha! Ha! P.S. Remember my motto about the Japs. Oh! You had to read it over. I knew you’d forget what you read. My! My! [Envelope front] {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING MAR 23 3 PM 1942 FLA. {Postage Stamp} UNITED STATES POSTAGE Thomas Jefferson 1801-1809 3 CENTS 3 Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. [Envelope back] P.F.C. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Infantry A.P.O. #1 Camp Blanding, Florida � 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_1942-03-22 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 1942-03-22 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, March 22, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated March 22, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated March 23, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes describing the various training activities that are planned for the week including combat firing, hiking with equipment, and firing an automatic rifle on the range. He also continues to write about the "Fighting First Division" and their motto, in addition to their Regimental motto, and his personal thoughts on the subject. Please note, this portion of the letter includes harmful and offensive language toward the Japanese people and should be viewed with awareness and cultural sensitivity. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) Guard duty 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/976728bb6fd87d1d625a1619b6b62cc9.pdf 032de9d927df660b15bf51269c9f1cdd PDF Text Text ��������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/f2dfe9357077fb9b41d55386455f7a00.pdf f277afde1a195ea00c64014acb151bdf PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-03-15] [Page 1] Camp Blanding, Fla. March 15, 1942 Dear Agnes, Rec’d your two letters and I finally got a chance to write. We are doing a lot of hard training since we came down here and I mean it is tough. We are out rain or shine and at present it gets very hot and then it rains to make it all the more miserable. We are having bayonet training, hikes, combat problems, rifle firing, drilling, and so forth. We are on the move nearly every minute. Well if they keep this up, us boys will be ready for anything. After supper I usually hit the hay, for I’m quite tired after a hard day’s work. [Page 2] You have stated the 1st Division is taking life easy, well you are wrong, for we are the only ones doing this so called easy training. On my leisure time which is Sunday and I’m lucky to have the day off. [sic] I usually write unanswered mail and rest a bit. I haven’t gone away from the Post as yet but I’m going to get a 3 day pass just to break up the Army monotony. I believe when the Army hardens us up enough to take a lot, they will ship us to the Front somewhere. It may be in six weeks or a little longer. I’ll bet my new pair of shoes on it too. Well it will not be any too soon for me [sic], for I’m pretty anxious to line my sights on a few Japs. I do not have a rifle anymore. Instead I carry a Auto-matic rifle [sic] which shoots a normal rate of 120 bullets a minute. [Page 3] It can shoot 550 rounds a minute providing a man can load it fast enough. It weighs 21 lbs. and that’s quite a load with your other equipment, without any ammunition. That’s all about the Army situation at present. I weighed myself a week ago and I surely was surprised to tip the scales at 180. I’ve lost some weight since then, though, doing training. Have you written to my brother yet? I’ll bet if you did he doesn’t answer. �Roy has gone crazy again and has proposed to another girl in his hometown. The way he states it, the both of them are coming down here and there sure will be feathers flying if they should get here at the same time. I hope they do, just to see a little fun. [Page 4] He told me last nite [sic] that Carolyn has written about six letters to him already and that he didn’t answer any of them. Another fellow here gets tattooed every chance he gets, so I believe in time the Army will make us all loose in the head one way or another. Well I shall close to flirt with the bathing beauties on the invisible beach outside of our tent. Ha! Ha! As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} like this and not like this Ha! Ha! P.S. Your last letter gives me a lecture and a little praise. Which way shall I take it? Ha! Ha! Don’t forget to give the folks my regards. [Enclosed note to Gloria] [Page 1] Camp Blanding, Fla. March 15, 1942 Hello Sweetie!! Remember me? Oh! Ya do, well that’s fine, it’s only me, the Pest. [sic] It’s your fault for you didn’t write, so here I am writing some more. Sh--- Sh--- Sh. [sic] This letter is a secret and confidential. Oh! It isn’t, well, I figured it would turn invisible before it reached you. My! I read your mind and you said I must be crazy. Well you’re wrong, for I am. Now ain’t that funny. Ha! Ha! Well, see if you can read this {arrow pointing to message written backward} To find the meaning to it, put this letter in front of a mirror, then read it. [Page 2] �Now, for a little of my great adventures. You didn’t think I would forget about it, did you? My! My! Well here it goes, one bright day, in the middle of the nite [sic], two dead boys went out to fight me, and a deaf and dumb policeman heard the noise, went out to kill the two dead boys. Another time, I had a haircutting experience with the Indians. This time I was running like a horse with an Indian chasing and throwing tomahawks at me like rain and every one of them shaved the hair off of my head. Oh! Ya don’t believe it, well neither did I when the barber woke me up after getting a haircut. Ha! Ha! Well, I have to get to work so I’ll close, continuing in the next letter. Don’t forget to write or I shall write [Page 3] some more. As Ever, the Pest P.S. Did I hear you say you were going to write? Boy! That’s fine. Ha! Ha! The work I am to do is to safeguard any prowlers who may try to steal my invisible bathing beach. My next adventures will be about my Flea and Ant Circus and my two trained boxing Bed Bugs. [Envelope front] {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING MAR 16 5 PM 1942 FLA. {Postage Stamp} UNITED STATES POSTAGE Thomas Jefferson 1801-1809 3 CENTS 3 �Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. [Envelope back] P.F.C. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Infantry A.P.O. #1 Camp Blanding, Florida � 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_1942-03-15 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 1942-03-15 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, March 15, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated March 15, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated March 16, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after receiving two of her letters and finally finding a chance to respond during a period of hard training in intense heat and rain. He continues to describe their training exercises during the week and his leisure time on Sundays, in addition to his upcoming three-day pass and being shipped to the front in the months ahead. Enclosed in his letter is an additional note to Agnes' younger sister, Gloria. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) 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/153486e4a35715053f4ca612db749417.pdf 0a6bc878562169e2dcd983ece6718be6 PDF Text Text ������ https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/7870963f5e696fdf23b4eba8d7a77860.pdf c58218e64708f5f30ebf212b1ac6c3ad PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-03-08] [Page 1] A.P.O. #1 Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Fla. March 8, 1942 {Stationary Letterhead} U.S. ARMY Dear Agnes, Rec’d your letter and the package. The skull cap is just the ticket and thanks a million for it. Also for the cigarettes, candy and cookies. The cookies were broken to crumbs but they were good. We go swimming nearly every day down here. The reason being that it rains about 5 days a week and we are out doing training in it. The days with sunshine are swell and they usually are weekends. I haven’t been off of the post as yet but I may go next Saturday to see what the outside world is like. No, we don’t have a ration on ink and I seldom use it for I don’t like to write with a pen. Things around here are pretty quiet and I don’t like it that way. No [Page 2] rumors as yet about us leaving and we don’t know what the Army will do. I don’t express my feelings much so I just like to keep them all guessing. As for writing to my brother, you can, and if he answers your letters he will be doing a lot. For I usually have to speak my mind for him to write. How are the folks and don’t forget to give them my best regards? Has your mother become fond of that stove your Dad bought? I went to the show last nite [nite] and saw Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn in “Woman of the Year.” It was a good picture and it knocked down hard on the women. Boy! That tickled me! Well I shall close till the next time. As Ever, �Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Writing a note to Gloria. [Enclosed note to Gloria] [Page 1 - front] {Stationary letterhead} U.S. ARMY Hello “Sweetie,” Agnes wrote and told me you were mad for writing a sarcastic letter. When I went to school my teacher always said only dogs get mad and I still believe in that old saying. She also stated that you aren’t going to write to me anymore. Not even a Hello or Hi Pest. Well that makes me feel awful sad. You didn’t even write and here I am writing and that proves that I don’t get mad. Did you enjoy your stay in Gardner? I enjoyed a few days down here myself swimming and crawling in the water, in a pouring rain. After getting in I went to wash and looked myself into a mirror. [sic] Staring a few minutes with a grunt of approval, I finally decided it was only my shadow. Another time I was walking around [Page 1 - back] with my head off and in my hands, when the Company Commander just happened along. He asked me the silly question of what I was doing. So, I put my head back on and said, “Sir, I was just looking for some loose bolts that seemed to rattle every once in a while.” Oh! You don’t believe it, well I thought you wouldn’t anyway. Did I ever tell you about a whale and me? Oh! There wasn’t much to it, because he had a big tail. Ha! Ha! That sure was funny and don’t laugh will you. I’ll continue my great experiences in the next letter, so don’t miss the next chapter. Will close and if you don’t write, I’ll write some more. Ha! Ha! As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} or Pest as you call me. For Gloria �{Signature accent mark} [Envelope front] {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING MAR 9 5 PM 1942 FLA. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. [Envelope back] P.F.C. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Infantry A.P.O. #1 Camp Blanding, Florida � 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_1942-03-08 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 1942-03-08 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, March 8, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated March 8, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated March 9, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes sharing his experiences at Camp Blanding including their training during the rain-filled weekdays and their weekends spent swimming in the sunshine. Enclosed in his letter is an additional note to Agnes' younger sister, Gloria. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) 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