306 24 26018 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/bc9e6dd6bce9c4aa3e4552b8371e858c.pdf 604be029023401377f9bc745a115f43d PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/74542ecb0706072cc285a40fe71c8f3a.pdf 6fd3783a1bd91db46b8e80ad4f6da929 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-04-03] [Page 1] England April 3, 1944. Hello “Darling,” Got your lovely letter dated Mar. 21st and was very pleased to hear from you again. Have been thinking of you all day today and love you more each minute that slips by. I still miss you terribly and still waite [sic] for the day we shall be together again. I wrote you a nice long letter yesterday. Did you get it? I guess some of my letters to you got lost for you haven’t mentioned anything of the clippings I sent in your letters. Your letters are really swell and they make things tingle like little bells inside of me. I like your kisses too and bring them to my lips [Page 2] before I read your letters. When one of your letters don’t have an imprint in them I get very disappointed. I miss them too. When I bring them to my lips, I feel the warmth of your kisses and love for me. I also imagined that you are here and bite your ears or knip [sic] your nose. I kiss your picture each morning and at nite [sic] before going to bed. It makes me love you more and feel my nearness to you. You needn’t worry “Darling,” I’ll love you always and shall overlook our quarrels if we have any and live happy together. I’m very pleased to hear you are doing some cooking and its very encouraging to hear that you are doing your best. You bet it’s going [Page 3] to be swell when we can be alone and make our thoughts aloud. It’s going to be grand to plan so much together and live in happiness. I still say there isn’t a better girl in England than you and there never will be. All of my love and kisses are for you “Darling” and each day I’m away they keep adding up. No other girl will take them from you either because it’s grand to have a swell girl like you to love. Sending you one of my paper dolls, don’t you think it’s cute? The other is of me trying to write when I don’t hear from you. Ha! Ha! It sure is a relief to get a letter from you when I haven’t rec’d any in a long time. I always keep hoping that you aren’t ill and patiently waite [sic] for your letters. [Page 4] I also got a V-mail from Helen and she says that she hasn’t heard from you in a long while. Did you see the picture “Robin Hood.” It’s a swell picture. I saw it yesterday just after the little stroll I took. I took you with me too “Darling” in thoughts and we had a grand time together. Easter is this coming Sunday and how I wish that I could spend it with you. I’d also like to see your spring suit. Will close for this time “Darling” and remember that I shall love you always. Write real soon. Yours forever, �With Loads of ( )’s and x’s Joe {Signature accent mark} [Envelope front] S/Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. U. S. Army Free {Signature accent mark} {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE 1 APR 7 1944 A.P.O. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. [?] � 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_1944-04-03 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1944-04-03 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 3, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 3, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated April 7, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after being pleased to receive her latest letter and writing her a long letter the day before. He continues to describe his appreciation for her lipstick imprints and his happiness as they make plans for the future. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Love letters Motion pictures--1940-1950 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/a6d47d404e1056dc7cbdae71ac4e3819.pdf 152f1ad541432752114286d83b6c2d5c PDF Text Text ��������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/203935df0a67b3867db910f31f18aecb.pdf 57ce04dee2d74f15dd55b5e98ee0e422 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-04-02] [Page 1] England April 2, 1944. Hello Darling, Just got back from Church and how I wished that we could have gone together. Rec’d three of your letters a couple of days ago and was very pleased to get them. I did miss them and your kisses and hope both of our mail doesn’t get on a banana boat. Ha! Ha! I keep reading your letters over and over, which makes everything tingle inside of me. I look at your pictures and it is very tempting to try and bite your ears and mess your curls. Wish you were here “Darling” so I wouldn’t have to write about it. I love you very much “Darling,” miss you a plenty and [Page 2] my thoughts are always of you. When I return all of my writing will be put in use and squeeze you ever so much and tell you how much I have missed you. It will be swell, to be together again and talk over our future plans. Days that we have missed being together will be forgotten. My hopes, thoughts and wishes will never cease to be with you always. See!! What you have done to me young lady? So, you’re blaming me again for your cold. What an awful meanie you are but young lady, there will be a day that I shall get even? Ha! Ha! If I were there now, I’d knip that nose of yours just for a starter? [sic] Ha! Ha! I did it anyway on the picture. Did you feel it? I’m so pleased to hear my [Page 3] folks asked you down for Easter and hope you can visit them? I can’t be there but you can look at the pictures I have at home and think of me and you being together. I read in a paper not so long ago of a fellow who returned from the front and broke two ribs squeezing his mother so hard. Now if I were to squeeze you and my mother that hard I’d get credit for four ribs. Gee!! That’s going to be swell and then I could bring flowers and candy every day for the both of you. See!! What the both of you are in for? Ha! Ha! It’s misty out today and when I go for a stroll this afternoon, you’re going to be my sunshine. I take you with me everywhere whether you want to go or not and when I climb a hill [Page 4] and see all of the scenery below you are with me to enjoy all the things that mother nature makes and at times people don’t even notice. Sometimes, I hate to leave for everything in the countryside is so beautiful. Just think for a minute of being on a high hill looking down and far into the horizon. What do you see? The first thing that could catch your eye is the countryside filled with trees, patches of ground that look white, tan, and brown. From there you may gaze at the green trees, the vastness of grass, a twisting creek in the valley below, a winding road perhaps that brought you to the top of the hill you are on. Nothing seemed to be interesting as �you came up but when your gaze went in the direction you came, everything sprang to life. It’s so peaceful and quiet, no noise [Page 5] to interfere with your thoughts. You may see a town far off with tiny houses of different colors that were so large an hour or two ago. Your eyes then will shift to a big prominent building or a church that stands all alone and say Gee!! I didn’t know that building was so big? Only a short time ago mother nature wasn’t very interesting but you see it now and it’s all yours to look at from day to day. Time passes swiftly and you hate to leave, for everything was so nice, as you start on your way down the road the buildings and trees get bigger; they stand alone now but way up they were tiny and together. Coming into town wasn’t half as nice, as it was on the hill, for you heard a lot of noises, saw people running to and fro, the world seemed to be in one block crowded with hardly [Page 6] room to walk, your mind then wonders, to the different objects you picked out while on the hill, you seem to forget the people and everything about you. With a sudden jolt you awaken to see who bumped into who, an apology of “I’m sorry,” and then on your way, again toward home. Of course you’ll say I’m going up there again, it was so nice to get away from your daily work and the buildings that were so big. Well “Darling” I could go on but don’t you think one trip is enough for today? Ha! Ha! Gee!! I’m tired? Ha! Ha! I saw Roy last nite [sic] and gave him your regards. As yet I haven’t met his wife but I will when I meet him again. He didn’t have much to say, so I didn’t visit with him long. I got a letter and a package from Helen yesterday. Her cookies sure were good. Every time she sends me some I think of the first ones she ever baked and [Page 7] she wasn’t discouraged by the taste of her cookies now. Can you bake any for me? If you can, I’ll promise to send a request every two weeks. I like fat ones, thin ones, big ones, and small ones. What kind can you make? I don’t mean to be a tease and I’m really serious. After all I haven’t eaten any you made so don’t forget to get up a lot of courage and a little bit of confidence and make some. Will you? I also heard from my brother Johnny but as yet no word from home. I guess they are still busy with the moving. How is your mother and dad? Don’t forget to give them my regards and hello. Is Venna back from New Jersey? I suppose she hated to leave. Well I wouldn’t blame her. Give her a hello for me when you see [Page 8] her again. I must say, I did surprise myself by writing so much but it is always for a swell girl, like you, be they short or long of my thoughts and love for you. Will close “Darling” and write real soon. Yours forever, �With Loads of Hugs & Kisses Joe {Signature accent mark} [Envelope front] S/Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 c/o P.M. - New York, N. Y. U. S. Army Free {Signature accent mark} {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE 1 APR 5 1944 A.P.O. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. [?] � 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_1944-04-02 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 1944-04-02 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 2, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 2, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated April 5, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes discussing his family's upcoming Easter and his latest stroll around the countryside where he appreciated the beauty of Mother Nature and imagined being together with Agnes. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Love letters Easter Nature 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/9a636f905304b15134defce522354b7d.pdf ec3f193166e1f0c2a235b568878411e1 PDF Text Text ���� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/e7c83f47862bec0dd4579c5d59b9349d.pdf 6808616acc4487c5a34092b5a5d67c57 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-03-27] [Page 1] England March 27, 1944. Hello “Precious,” Here I am again and still no letters from you. I miss them very much “Darling” and hope you are not ill? Thought of you all day today and love you more than I can write. I hope by now that you are getting all of my letters I have written. Easter is two weeks away and I sure wish that I were there to spend it with you. I’d take you for a nice stroll just to take in all of the beautiful things Mother Nature has made. This month is nearly ended and it will not be long till summer. [Page 2] I got two Easter V-mails today, one is from Ollie’s girlfriend and the other, a friend of mine. If I don’t hear from you soon, “Darling,” I don’t know what I’m going to do? I’ve done practically everything I could think of while [text strikethrough] {waiting} for your letters but it’s getting exhausted. I’m not giving up, though, at least not that easy. Well Sugar, what have you been doing today? Now young lady tell the truth, for I may read your mind? Ha! Ha! It better be of us or I’m liable to bite your ears in front of everybody. Do you want me to do that? I will anyhow just to be mean. How are your folks these fine days? Don’t forget to give them [Page 3] my regards and hello. Has your mother written to me yet? Wish she would? Has Richard been a good boy lately? He better be? [sic] Well “Sweets” I will close for I don’t know what to write since I haven’t heard from you. Yours forever, With Loads of Love & Kisses “Joe” {Signature accent mark} P.S. Write as often as you can “Sweets”? [Envelope front] S/Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. U. S. Army �Free {Signature accent mark} {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE 1 MAR 29 1944 A.P.O. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. [?] � 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_1944-03-27 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 1944-03-27 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, March 27, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated March 27, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated March 29, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while missing her and her letters, hoping that she is in good health and wishing he could spend the upcoming Easter with her. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Easter Nature 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/b8c2d0d0db824f1f8f84d55d720898b3.pdf ff98c5402d79a26f99b0f4f0d3907ba1 PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/ed1473269e51cf2a43f9909a9457c09e.pdf d3b538a4944a6221ea8a9412b8d5c7fc PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-03-26] [Page 1] England March 26, 1944. Hello “Darling,” Today was a lovely day to go for a stroll, so I took you with me. Gee! I miss you terribly “Darling” and I could squeeze you ever so much if you were here. As I walked along I could hear the birds sing and saw a lot of trees full of blossoms. The flowers are peeping through and the countryside is turning a light green. Some people who went rushing by haven’t noticed it’s spring but I did. I was in no hurry to go anywhere and imagined you were walking with me. I had so much to [Page 2] talk about that I didn’t even finish them in my thoughts of you. I will love you always, “Darling” and patiently waite [sic] for the day I return. I always keep saying that there isn’t a better girl in England than I have back home. When I get back it will be a great inspiration filled with happiness and joy to be with you again. I shan’t ever let you go till I tell you of how much I love you and missed you. That’s going to be a grand day when we shall hold each other and our longing for each other has come to an end. We shan’t have any rest but it will be worth it. Don’t you think so? Sometimes I get so [Page 3] disgusted and blue and when I get that way, I read your old letters and look at your pictures. All heaviness disappears and you keep wiggling deeper and deeper inside of me. Then I’d say wish I could knip [sic] your nose and muss your curls? Today I asked you to go walking with me and this clipping shows what you did, but I took you with me anyhow? Ha! Ha! Later on we came to a pool and I asked you to go swimming, and when you felt the water you were stubborn and didn’t go in. What a meanie you are but young lady, I shall get even some day. Your March letters haven’t arrived yet but I’m still hoping to hear from you “Darling.” I miss them very much too. The only thing I got from you this month [Page 4] was the birthday card and your pictures. I know you have written and keep hoping you aren’t ill? When I don’t hear from you I always say well I will tomorrow. Saw Roy today and he’s coming along fine. I just missed meeting his wife by five minutes. I’m getting a small wedding picture from him and will send it to you when I get it. Will close for this time Darling with all my love and a big hug for you. Yours Always, With Loads of ( )’s & x’s �Joe {Signature accent mark} PS. If you don’t hurry and send me some more pictures, I may get another pin-up girl? You wouldn’t want me to do that would you? Ha! Ha! [Envelope front] S/Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. U. S. Army Free {Signature accent mark} {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE 1 MAR 29 1944 A.P.O. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. [?] � 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_1944-03-26 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1944-03-26 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, March 26, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated March 26, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated March 29, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes from England and shares his appreciation of the natural beauty of spring after his stroll around town, including the bird songs and blossoming trees he witnessed in the countryside. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Love letters Nature Spring 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/d257cda3cbdd7ba5c459bd0ecfd6ed46.pdf d0fb993e45e67d5a67a5796066207883 PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/0180e22bc1e6f155766bd162e92af388.pdf c4f23f552bf3e9e150cb3c2b4813c440 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-03-19] [Page 1] England March 19, 1944. Hello “Darling,” Haven’t received any mail since I got your picture and birthday card from you but I guess it will reach me soon. I think of you always “Sweets” and love you more each day. That is why I am so anxious to hear from you. I did intent to write yesterday but went downtown. I saw two good shows which are ‘The Destroyer’ and ‘Sweet Rosie O Grady’. Did you get a chance to see them? I still keep wishing that we were together “Darling” which would be grand. Then, I could tell you all of what I have to say. I keep looking at your picture and I’m very tempted to knip [sic] your nose. Not only that but [Page 2] to give you a real big hug. That would please me very much not to say anything about biting your ears Ha! Ha! Have you rec’d any of my letters as yet? Hope you did? Got a long letter from Helen last nite [sic] and two birthday cards from home. By the way Helen writes, my sister Nell is coming along fine after having two operations. She also states that she cannot waite [sic] for your vacation to roll around so you can visit her. Wish I could go with you but I will in thoughts. Ha! Ha! You are very pretty in the picture “Darling,” and I shall be very disappointed if you get worried and don’t be that way. Someday I shall return and then we’ll be together always. I don’t want you to change either and if you do I’ll only love you a tiny bit less? Ha! Ha! [Page 3] What do you think of that? Since you wiggled deep down in my heart and threw the key away all of my thoughts of you and I rush to my mind. When I get back young lady I’m going to get even by making my threats come true. Oh, so you still doubt it? Just waite and see? [sic] Everywhere I go, you are with me and there is none better than the girl I love back home. Know who she is? I’ll give you three guesses and the last two don’t count! Ha! Ha! My, what a meanie you are? You keep jumping in and out of my thoughts and wiggling inside so I can’t have any rest. I can’t chase you out since you had the key so I’ll have to make the best of it and let my heart keep on [Page 4] beating for you. Roy is supposed to be back today, so when I meet his wife I’ll let you know what she’s like. Have you been thinking of us today? You haven’t, well young lady you shouldn’t sleep so much? Ha! Ha! How are your folks? Has your mother written to me? I’m still waiting. Ha! Ha! Well, “Darling” I shall close, with all my love to a “Sweet girl” like you. Yours Forever, With Loads of x’s and ( )’s. �Joe {Signature accent mark} PS. Hope you fill my mailbox chuck full of letters. I can’t fill yours though because you don’t leave them in there! Ha! Ha! [Envelope front] S/Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. U. S. Army {Postmark} PASSED BY BASE 1031 US ARMY EXAMINER Free {Signature accent mark} {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE 1 MAR 22 1944 A.P.O. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. [?] � 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_1944-03-19 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 1944-03-19 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, March 19, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated March 19, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated March 22, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes sharing his latest news including going to see a double feature at the movie theater downtown and receiving birthday mail from his family back home in the United States. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Love letters Motion pictures--1940-1950 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/cce655da2cc1d5b3a603e28db6db5f3f.pdf 150376066b30126320df5d7be728cc52 PDF Text Text �������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/19085309aa482b6a6d6aabb79eaaaf1e.pdf 86c886e27179afb955d8fb55032ff8ce PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-03-15] [Page 1] England March 15, 1944. Hello Darling, Got your lovely birthday card with the picture and the curl in it. The picture is a very good one and you seem to get prettier every day to me “Sweets.” I liked the way you have your hair “Darling” and hope you will never change it. It was a grand surprise and well worth the waiting. I have matched your hair with the recent curl you sent and it is a darker brown compared with the one I had for two years. Well “Darling” you’ve gone down deeper in my heart and my love and thoughts will never cease for you. Wish I could [Page 2] squeeze you to show you how much I appreciate your picture and the curl you sent. Just waite [sic] till I get back young lady then you’ll know. I guess our mail gets on a banana boat going both ways and what a suspence [sic] it is when we don’t hear from each other? Isn’t it? Wish you wouldn’t worry so much about me “Darling” after all worrying wouldn’t make you as pretty as I want you to be. I could not attend Roy’s wedding but I did get a one-day pass to come down to tell him I wouldn’t be able to make it. I did not see the girl he is married [Page 3] to but will see her when he returns. He’s only a short way’s from where I am now. He wrote to Carolyn breaking the engagement so I guess that is why she and her mother wrote them awful letters to you. Boy, they got the nerve, haven’t they? He also showed me the pictures of you and Gloria that Carolyn sent. You still win my heart “Darling” and I’m longing to see you again. Two years is sure a long time “Sugar” and wish the army would smarten up and let me go home. Ha! Ha! That would be swell. I don’t want to be discouraging but I don’t know when I will return. When I [Page 4] do though, I’m going to give you all those hugs and kisses I missed while being away from you. It’s going to be fun to knip [sic] your nose and bite your ear. What do you think of that? It’s just like me. Ha! Ha! From morning till nite [sic], you keep jumping in and out of my thoughts and during the nite you haunt me so I can’t get any rest. What a meanie, you are? I’m going to get even though so young lady take heed to my warning. Ha! Ha! I’ll never give you any rest so long as I’m with you. Thoughtful of me isn’t it? But then we’ve missed each other so long that I don’t think you [Page 5] �wouldn’t mind or would you? Ha! Ha! I keep looking at your picture “Darling” and wish I could take you out of it. That would be swell for I have so much to say, yet don’t want to write about it. I’m just an old meanie too, to keep you in suspence. [sic] Oh! Yea! Ha! Ha! Your kisses are swell and when I bring them to my lips, it brings me closer to you. Yes, “Sugar” I shall write as often as I can and make that heart of yours miss a beat. Ha! Ha! Wish you would stop wiggling down inside so I can concentrate to write. See, what you do to me and I’m still going to get even. If you can stand to have a tooth pulled “Darling” you might be able to [Page 6] take all of the hugs I’m going to give you. Well, I’m going to give you all of them anyway when I get back. Did you think about us today? You did, well that’s what I did and I’m just checking up. Ha! Ha! Just had mail call and as usual no mail. I’m a little discouraged but yet tomorrow is another day. Especially when I hear from you “Sweets” my morale jumps sky high. By the pictures that Roy showed me Gloria has grown a lot since I saw her last. Is she still a Tom Boy? I’ll bet she is? Did your mother write as yet? Hope she does soon? Last nite [sic] I got a letter from Helen. Everything is fine with her and she states that they [Page 7] are having a lot of snow. Has Francis and Ollie been up to see you again “Sweets”? I hope that they will visit you real soon. Well “Precious” I haven’t anything else to write at present so I shall close hoping to hear from you real soon. Yours Always, With Loads of Love & Kisses Joe {Signature accent mark} PS. Give your folks my regards? Excuse my scribbling for I’m getting worse every day. [Envelope front] S/Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. U. S. Army Free {Signature accent mark} {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE �1 MAR 17 1944 A.P.O. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. [?] � 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_1944-03-15 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 1944-03-15 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, March 15, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated March 15, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated March 17, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after receiving her lovely birthday card including a new photograph and a lock of her hair. He continues to describe his great affection for her and how her letters boost his morale while stationed overseas in England. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Love letters 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/1481a0abf24de750ae7796496b641803.pdf b6ab8f64c55a7af07a080ad93c805d4d PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/9afa05281068cd48c4cfd136a060043b.pdf 8fabebc10af1f3f11198e93b65ea9c21 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-03-08] [Page 1] England March 8, 1944. Hello “Darling,” I’m [in] the mood for writing and love, so here I am. Was whistling “I’m in the mood for Love” and it has made me think of you which isn’t unusual. One word left out already, “Sweets”, watch out, or you might catch the same sickness? I miss you very much and could bite that left ear of yours in your picture which is exposed and very tempting. I did it anyway, just to be mean. Ha! Ha! What were your thoughts of today “Sweets”? About us? Mine were. I’d like to pull at your curls right now just so I could have you fix them over. I’m in a good mood tonite [sic] and why shouldn’t I be [Page 2] having a girl waiting for me back home like you. That ought to warm my affections into your heart a little or didn’t it? Well if it didn’t, don’t blame for trying. Ha! Ha! I may go as far as to say that if I were there I’d squeeze you ever so much and dig your ribs just to be an oldfashioned meanie. Threating ain’t I? Of course, I might get a little soft hearted once in a while just long enough to whisper in that tempting ear of yours that I love you. Then I’d squeeze some more. Gee!! That would be swell. Hope you will forgive me for being such a teaser “Darling” but just waite [sic] till I return and then tell me about it. You’ve wiggled [Page 3] way down in my heart and every time I think or hear from you, it jumps. See!! What you’ve done to me, Meanie? But remember young lady, that I have a trick or two up my sleeve to get even though, so don’t let it slip your mind. If it does I’ll have yours, then what would you do? I was just wondering, is all. Ha! Ha! That little surprise you sent hasn’t arrived as yet and I’m very very anxious to get it. [sic] What a big meanie, you are for not letting me know what it is? I’ll get even with you for that too, just wait and see?!! Today has been a lovely day and warm too. It would have been much better if I would of [sic] had you to blend in with sunshine, “Sweets.” You keep jumping [Page 4] in and out of my thoughts “Sweets” that I can hardly concentrate on my writing. Wish you would stop it just long enough for me to finish this letter? Ha! Ha! I shall anyway with oceans of love, not lotions, and a kiss on each wave. Yours Always, With plenty of ( )’s Joe �{Signature accent mark} P.S. Write real soon [Envelope front] S/Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. U. S. Army {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE 1 MAR 11 1944 A.P.O. U.S. POSTAGE 6¢ VIA AIR MAIL Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. [?] � 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_1944-03-08 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 1944-03-08 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, March 8, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated March 8, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated March 11, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes from England expressing his love for her and his good mood in knowing she is waiting for him back home in Michigan. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Love letters 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/09be812f0c24a0aca2f3e29a2545befc.pdf 41f929c1875697c6b2cbd50f7d376a8a PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/7a8f88942e7634ef1fea972305dcb47b.pdf fc5f345231ab75b71fcf1151a216eb86 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-03-07] [Page 1] England March 7, 1944. Hello “Darling,” Got three of your letters today and was very pleased to get them. I was disappointed though for two of them didn’t have a kiss in them. Ain’t, I awful? [sic] Well young “Lady,” I don’t know what I’m going to do with you for being so forgetful. Still miss you as much as ever “Sweets” and thought of you most of the day. I sure did wish, that you could be here to spend my birthday with me and if you were I would of had a better time. [sic] By the way “Sugar” your kisses were grand and I enjoyed them very much. Please send some more? Have you been thinking about us lately? I’m [Page 2] going to get even if you didn’t. Ha! Ha! I wish, I were there with you to talk about all the things, I want to tell you “Sweets.” [sic] I don’t want to be rude but I think I could tell you more than what I could write so I’m hoping and praying that I shall some day in the near future get back to be with you. Then!!?? What do you think “Sweets”? I was very pleased to hear also that you understand my explanation of my neglecting to tell you of my [text strikethrough] {broken} engagement. I did so much want to tell you about it while being with you instead of my writing about it. I always did believe you “Sweets,” and it has made me very happy to hear you trust and have faith in me. I’d squeeze you ever so much if you were here to prove it too. [Page 3] I got a letter from Francis today stating that she and Ollie planned to visit you but my sister Nell had an operation and my mother went down to take care of her, so Francis had to stay home to take care of the house. They are going up to visit you probably as soon as my mother gets back. I hope that you will not think that they resent your invitation to visit you but I know they will. Well “Darling,” I’ve got your picture out again and wish you would leave Ollie standing there in the picture and come to me. I’m not asking for much, am I “Sweets”? Ha! Ha! All you’ve got to do “Precious” if you want me bite your ears is to take out one of my pictures and hold it, I might jump and just long enough [Page 4] to do it. Ha! Ha! Wouldn’t that be swell? How are your folks these wintery days? Give them my regards and a hello for me “Sweets”? Will close for this time hoping to see you again in my dreams, so I can chew that left ear of yours. I’ll bite hard too. Ha! Ha! Meanie, ain’t I? I’m very anxious to get that little surprise you are sending and for being so mean not to tell me what it is, I’m going to haunt you in your dreams. What do you think of that? Write soon “Darling” for I long for your letters hoping that they will reach me real soon. �Yours Always, With loads of Love & Kisses & Plenty (H)(U)(G)(S) [sic] Joe {Signature accent mark} [Envelope front] S/Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. U. S. Army Free {Signature accent mark} {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE 1 MAR 9 1944 A.P.O. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. [?] � 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_1944-03-07 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 1944-03-07 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, March 7, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated March 7, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated March 9, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes of his excitement in receiving three of Agnes' letters that day, wishing they could have been together for his birthday, and sharing the news that his siblings plan to visit her in Grand Rapids. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/7300d492e5963312124be001294bf6e6.pdf 2db6aca5635ca334320fcf4c9940221b PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/fa0bff83293a5775234fb412e9497dd3.pdf 9cefbc67a268790bf6be84bfd2ddddbe PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-03-05] [Page 1] England March 5, 1944. Hello “Sugar,” Thought of you all day and wished you were here with me. I miss you very much “Sweets” and wish I could see you again. Someday I will and may it be real soon. Went to church today as usual and must say the services were very good. Well, what has my Darling been doing all day? Has she been thinking of me as much as I think of her? You did, well then we are even. Wish, I could pull one [Page 2] of your curls out of the picture I have in front of me, with the scissors I have. I’d take it right off of the top just to be mean. If I could I’d also bite that ear you have showing. Ha! Ha! I love you very much, “Darling” and could squeeze you a plenty for all of the times we didn’t spend together. But I’ll have to wait and it will be worth it. Don’t you think so? It would be grand if you could celebrate my birthday with me tomorrow but it can’t be done. Anyway “Sweets,” I’ll think of you oodles and oodles. How’s at? [sic] I keep reading your latest letter over and [Page 3] over and it seems to me that I haven’t read it enough. I’m putting all of the blame on you for it too. Ha! Ha! How about some of those hugs right now. Oh! You meanie I didn’t feel them. Didn’t know you were so weak? Ha! Ha! I’m sending some more clippings and hope you enjoy them. Did Ollie and Francis visit you as yet? I wrote and told them to. Haven’t heard from home in over a week but expect to soon. Sometimes, they’re real lazy. I guess, I’ll hear from Roy again for I think he wants me to be an usher. I don’t know who his best man will be but think it will be [Page 4] a friend of his from this company. I’m surprising myself again for I wrote you a long letter last nite. [sic] Will use your stationary just as soon as I use this other paper up. Well, “Darling” I shall close with all my Love for you. “Yours Always,” With Loads of Hugs & Kisses, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Write real soon. �[Envelope front] S/Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. U. S. Army Free {Signature accent mark} {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE 1 MAR 7 1944 A.P.O. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. [?] � 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_1944-03-05 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 1944-03-05 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, March 5, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated March 5, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated March 7, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes from England on the day before his birthday, sharing how much he wishes they could be together and the latest news on their friend Roy's wedding. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/58651d4c54a8fc71393ec2e4bb5b725f.pdf cb8ba87adb6b74a485ff424c6aaf2ce6 PDF Text Text �������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/fc8e8af9fd23fbd214573da43dabc234.pdf 47d4c39fb2262a413a58c42d9573dce9 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-03-04] [Page 1] England March 4, 1944 Hello “Precious,” Just got back from town to find a letter from you. It seemed like a year since I heard from you last and I keep ready the letter over and over. It’s dated Feb. 14th and I’m anxious to get the other letter you mentioned. I was very blue and depressed for some reason until I saw your letter and to find two kisses in it all for me. Well “Sweets,” up went my blood pressure and I could squeeze you ever so much for I really miss you terribly. I love you more than ever and waiting for [Page 2] the day when we shall be together again. I’m just waiting to see just how hard you can squeeze and I shan’t forget either. It will be a big job to box my ears, so I shan’t worry. Ha! Ha! Went to the show today and saw a double feature. The first one was “[The] Squeaker” with Edmund Lowe and the other was Roy Rogers in “Sun Rise [Sunset] Serenade”. They were fair. Today has been a lovely day and how I wished that you could have been here with me. I didn’t see the picture “Lassie come home” but will keep it in mind and see it when it comes around. [Page 3] Yes, “Sweets,” I went on pass and had a fairly good time. Would have had a better one though, if I were with you. See!! What you’ve done to me? Ha! Ha! You bet, that I can remember the times, we were together and I’m always thinking of them. Waite till, I get back? [sic] I’m going to be like a “termite.” Ha! Ha! Now, you’ve got me in suspense again telling me of your little surprise. I ought to knip [sic] your nose, a few times for that, just for telling me about it. Meanie!! I’ve got that picture of you and Ollie out again and how I sure do envy him being with you and not me. [Page 4] Your package did arrive “Sweets” and I’m very pleased. The pen writes O.K. and I’m using it now. Don’t blame the pen for my scribbling for it’s just me? Ha! Ha! Two more days till my birthday and wish I could spend it with you. We’d really celebrate and not by drinking too much, either. I plan to go on pass if I can and spend it away from camp. Will take in the movies and save all of my thoughts, thinking of you then. See, how generous, I am? [sic] I have not as yet written to thank your Aunt & Uncle for the swell birthday card. I’ve tried to write twice but just can’t �[Page 5] seem to think of enough to write about. Anyway, “Sweets,” you can thank them for me and in the meantime I’ll try to make another attempt. I know, I’ll enjoy meeting all of your relatives “Sweets,” and hope they will enjoy meeting me. So, Carolyn is trying to blame you and I for her broken engagement. No wonder they were so anxious to write such letters. Roy must have written to them, breaking the engagement. I see the whole thing now and must say they are pretty cheap. [sic] It’s none of my business what Roy does but I [Page 6] kinda suspected something like that when I heard he was engaged to a girl over here. You needn’t pay any attention of what she writes about me because she is only trying to get you disgusted and discouraged. Remember, “Darling,” that I love you and don’t care who knows about it. So don’t let her chisel [?] in our affairs. My how rude she is, isn’t she? Shows her ignorance and wants to spread a lot of gossip. Well I shall forget about her and write more about you “Sweets.” You’re the one, I’m greatly interested in and want you to believe me and I know you will. Well, how are your folks, [Page 7] these fine days? Don’t forget to give them my regards and hello! I think of them often and really think they are swell. Can’t express my appreciation which is beyond words and if I did, I might spoil them. Ha! Ha! Will close for now “Darling” hoping to hear from you real soon. Yours Always With Loads of Love & Kisses Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Never you mind the imprints “Sweets” because they’re swell. [Envelope front] S/Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. U. S. Army Free {Signature accent mark} {Postmark} �U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE 1 MAR 7 1944 A.P.O. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. [?] � 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_1944-03-04 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 1944-03-04 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, March 4, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated March 4, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated March 7, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes many pages to Agnes sharing his most recent news including how happy he was to finally receive her letter dated February 14th, in addition to the package of writing supplies she sent to him. He also updates her on the most recent double feature he saw including the films "The Squeaker" and "Sunset Serenade." Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Motion pictures--1940-1950 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/11351837a9e15b8f6ae4581cfaf88613.pdf 94e06b51a5809d08500a0a9b4ca1dfc7 PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/d57880c4a42e7be41543cc2e217e5b7e.pdf f60c184b5cb9636e9b672e701f74d1b8 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-02-27] [Page 1] England Feb. 27, 1944. Hello “Darling,” Have been thinking of you most of the time, today, so I’m writing to tell you again that I really miss you. Not mentioning the hugs, you’d get and how many times I would knip [sic] your nose and bite your ears. I love you as much as ever, “Darling” and long for the day when I can whisper it in your ear. Not only that but to talk about us. Wouldn’t that be swell, “Sugar”? I’m hoping and praying that we shall be together again and see each other more often. The suspence [sic] is great and at times we maybe impatient but its going to be worthwhile [Page 2] when that day comes. Don’t you think so? Went to church this morning as usual and hoped that you could have been here to go with me. I sure do remember the times we went to church together and will again when I return. I started to write to you last nite [sic] but was feeling discouraged because I didn’t hear from you so, I didn’t finish the letter. I usually get your letters in a bunch and often wish I could get them at least two or three days apart. I usually ration myself on your letters I manage to keep to read so when I don’t hear from you I start reading the letters I already [Page 3] have. Do you, do that? I still can’t get over the idea of how much you have changed, “Sweets.” You’re growing like a weed and it’s getting me worried. If this keeps up I’ll have to carry a box around to give you all of those hugs I promised. I keep looking at the pictures my sister Francis sent of you and wish I could squeeze you ever so much. What do you think of that? I haven’t heard whether you sent me that curl or not but I’m hoping it’s in the package. If you did mention it in one of your letters then I didn’t get it. As yet the package hasn’t arrived but it may on my birthday. I’ll be 25 this birthday, just 7 years older than you. I don’t think it’s terrible to be that much older than [Page 4] you. What do you think? How did you like the clippings I sent, “Sweets”? Wish I had a few magazines for I’d send more. So you see young lady I’m always thinking of you. You needn’t worry about me having a girl on the string over here. In the first place I don’t go out much and second I don’t have any time to think of anyone else but you. Will close “Darling,” with loads of Love and Kisses. Yours Always, With Plenty of ( )’s. �Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Sending you a picture of a German 88mm gun. This gun was used against us in the past. [Envelope front] S/Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. U. S. Army {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE 1 MAR 1 1944 A.P.O. U.S. POSTAGE 6¢ VIA AIR MAIL Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. R. Ostwald � 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_1944-02-27 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 1944-02-27 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 27, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 27, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated March 1, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes from England as he approaches his 25th birthday, 7 years her elder, and missing her as much as ever while stationed overseas. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Love letters Church services 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/cfcf2f2e1b6110af152029cbd2d531e8.pdf 38ffed3c3fa9922c07926aec2080a181 PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/8dfb47d1d5fe48bf2ed2f571636b1686.pdf 037833fef0bf02d32553a93fb5cbad3b PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-02-25] [Page 1] England Feb. 25, 1944. Hello “Sugar,” Thought to write a few lines since I didn’t get any mail and that I have been thinking of you. I still miss you very much and love you more than what I could write. I hope you sent me a lot of letters, “Darling” for I’m always anxious to receive them. My folks are planning on moving soon for they sold the house we live in now. I guess they’ll move to the other house but I never saw it for I haven’t been home since my folks bought it. They sure do mention of how nice you are and how much they enjoyed meeting you. I’m very pleased too “Sweets” and could [Page 2] give you a lot of hugs right now for visiting them. I wrote and told Francis to visit you and I believe they will. Maybe they did already. Now for some news I got today. Roy sent me an invitation to his wedding which is the 14th of March. He’s marrying an English girl and from what I hear she’s very pretty. I’m going, too, providing I can get the time off. If, I can go, I’ll write and tell you all about it. I don’t know whether he broke the engagement with Carolyn or not. But, I guess he did. Maybe that is why Mrs. Henenburg [?] wrote such a nasty letter to you. She may think you or I had something to do with it. If she does, I don’t [Page 3] care and will say I never did like her much. Sometime later on, I’ll send you the invitation to keep for me. It’s really lovely. You needn’t worry about me having a girl on the string over here “Sweets.” In the first place, I don’t go out much and second I already have a swell girl friend [sic] who lives at 1913 Berkley Ave. that I’m very interested in. I hope that you will not doubt me, “Sugar.” Now if I were to write some of my thoughts, you may be interested but I’ll waite [sic] till I can talk with you. The suspence [sic] is getting me down too, but it will be worth the waite. At least, I’m praying for my return and hope it will be real soon. I haven’t received your package and hope it will be in this week. I need the writing paper, pen and the other things you sent so I’ve got [Page 4] my fingers crossed. Well, how is your mother and dad? Give them a hello for me and tell your mother to write. If she don’t tell her I’ll never eat any of her lemon pies again. Will close “Sweets,” with oodles of hugs and kisses, for you. Yours Always, With Loads of Love “Joe” �{Signature accent mark} [Envelope front] S/Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. U. S. Army {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE 1 FEB 26 1944 A.P.O. U.S. POSTAGE 6¢ VIA AIR MAIL Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. [?] � 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_1944-02-25 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 1944-02-25 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 25, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 25, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 26, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes sharing the news of his parents' new house and their upcoming move, in addition to the news of their friend Roy's upcoming wedding in England. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/933068f16440836854877e82f3fd2e97.pdf de9e83fa60d83c223175fc30f4a53b55 PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/5be3ce45717841428a4d48e1cbf82998.pdf 2ad6132f17db3823e1437e97a1dedc11 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-02-23] [Page 1] England Feb. 23, 1944. {Stationary letterhead featuring the American flag and the words “ONE FLAG ONE COUNTRY} Hello “Sugar,” Got a letter from you dated the 1st of Feb. and a V-mail Feb. 10th and was very pleased to hear from you. Young Lady, I did try to answer all of your questions so don’t be impatient and I’ll answer them providing I didn’t forget them. I’ve got an inflamed ear and have cotton put into them to hold whatever stuff the doctor dropped in there. I can’t hear out of one and it aches a little. I’ll probably be all right [sic] in a couple of days. I still have a cold too. Its just like me to get everything at once [Page 2] anyway. I got a letter from Francis today and everything is fine at home. She also sent me the pictures of you & Venna, Ollie, my mother and Francis. They were very good but to me, you looked a lot different from the recent pictures you sent me. I’m still very anxious to get that package “Sweets” because this pen is driving me crazy. You have me worried now “Sugar,” from the picture you took with Ollie you seem to be pretty tall. I’m short so now to be a little taller than you, I’ll have to put on stilts. If you grow much taller I don’t know what I’ll do. Venna took a nice picture and I’m still very anxious to meet [Page 3] her. I’d like to see you with the mumps “Sweets”? [sic] But, I don’t wish you to have them. Before I forget you didn’t send me a kiss either in this letter. I don’t know what I’m going to do with you “Sweets.” I’ll just have to knip [sic] your nose a little more when I get back, just for a little punishment. How’s at? [sic] If I haunt you in your sleep “Sugar,” it’s only a little warning of what I’m going to do when I see you again. I’ll haunt you all the more. Ha! Ha! I dreamt of you once, wearing a white strapless evening gown and young lady you looked very pretty in it. The light was shinning [sic] on your hair and it was fixed in a way I’ve always asked you to fix it. Your hair was bushy and down to your [Page 4] shoulders. It was beautiful and so were you, “Darling.” I sure did get mad at myself for waking up too. Ain’t I terrible? I’m very pleased to hear that you take such good care of your clothes and I shall be interested in a lot of things. What are they? Guess? Still keeping you in suspence [sic], I hope? Ha! Ha! I’m an awful meanie, nowadays? Well “Gorgeous,” I shall close for now and �write real soon. Remember “Sweets,” I still miss you and love you more & more each day that goes by. Yours Always, With “Oodles” of Love & Kisses Joe {Signature accent mark} [Envelope front] S/Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. U. S. Army {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE 1 FEB 28 1944 A.P.O. U.S. POSTAGE 6¢ VIA AIR MAIL Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER [?] � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1944-02-23 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 1944-02-23 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 23, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 23, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 28, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while stationed in England and discusses the photos from her visit with his family in Michigan, noticing how tall she looks in comparison with his short stature. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/adfbfab865536491656e6a2649cf463a.pdf 09fb9db7cad88ad9d0215d8f38da073c PDF Text Text ��� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/d06842e5c7241ea82e8afefca507b6ac.pdf 4b5a5f65c86d5eec301cbe1e1499a42e PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-02-22] [Page 1 - front] England Feb. 22, 1944. Hello “Sweets,” Just got back from the show in town and was it ever swell. It was called the “Seven Sweethearts.” Did you see it “Sweets”? Well, if you didn’t you’re a poor Dutchman because that’s what this picture is about. It starts with a man who had seven daughters and they all had boys names. Reason, he wanted boys but got girls instead. Another thing it was about Holland, in Michigan. Do you know where that is? I thought of you all through the picture Sugar and wished ever so much to have you with me, instead I was holding the arm rest. Ha! Ha! Getting bad, ain’t I? I love you more than I can write and miss you thrice as much. Got one of your letters dated Feb. 7 and was I ever disappointed not to see any lipstick kiss, just for poor little me, anywhere in the letter. Now if I were there right now I’d take all of the lipstick you have on your lips and just squeeze you, till I think you were punished enough for neglecting me. What do you think of that? That’s not all either for you’re not going to get off so easy so, I’ll just have to dig your [Page 1 - back] ribs a little too, to be satisfied. Now see what you are in for “Sweets”? Yes, “Darling” you have changed a lot to me in your recent picture and why it is, is because I haven’t seen you in such a long time that I’m getting very impatient? I’ll have to waite [sic] though but it will be worth it. Don’t you think so? You’d better watch that heart of yours young lady for I’m the villain whose out to snatch it from you. If, I can’t do that, I’ll make it skip a beat or two. Ha! Ha! Now, “Precious,” I don’t want to be resentful, but what I plan to talk over with you, will be done when I’m there in person. The suspense may be great but I think it will be work the waiting. I may sound indifferent but I’d rather be there and hope “Darling” that you will understand. Well I shall close with all my love to you. Give your folks my best regards and Hello. Yours Always, With Plenty of x x x x’s & ( ) ( ) ( )’s Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Haven’t rec’d your package as yet but I’ve got my fingers crossed? [Envelope front] S/Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. �U. S. Army Free {Signature accent mark} {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE 1 FEB 26 1944 A.P.O. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. [?] � 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_1944-02-22 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 1944-02-22 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 22, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 22, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 26, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after seeing the film "Seven Sweethearts," which is set in Holland, Michigan and shares how he wishes they were able to see it together. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Motion pictures--1940-1950 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/f5812a10bb8e88039a712adf98668928.pdf 85288c916721118065e483ed3e2a7b52 PDF Text Text ��� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/1d874278e8cbf545e45d4be98c68956f.pdf 0e1fee4f0a061dea45a4d2ee45dd655f PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-02-20] [Page 1 - front] England Feb. 20, 1944 Hello “Sugar,” Today is Sunday and how I wish that I was there with you. There would be a million things I could do, at least I think, I would. Ha! Ha! It’s very nice out today and could imagine you walking along with me and telling me all of the things you wrote about. I miss you as much as ever “Sweets” and long to be with you again. Oh! happy day when it does come. [sic] I’ve reread your letters so much that they might growl at me if I took them out again. Ha! Ha! The other day I saw a sign which read “America” 3000 miles, so I climbed inside of it and sat there, for two hours but the darn thing never moved. Ha! Ha! I also sent you a picture of myself but for fear of it getting lost, I took it out. Hope you like it? Ha! Ha! This ought to bore the censor some, oughtn’t, “Sweets.” Just to bore him still, I’m going to send a few more paper dolls. I really pity them at times. Intended to see a movie tonite [sic] but at present don’t feel like going. It would amuse me greatly to knip [sic] your ears and pull your curls apart, to get you peeved from me teasing you. See! what you’ve done to me. [sic] I’ve just answered most of my mail so all I have to now is to wait for some more to arrive. [Page 1 - back] Don’t pay any attention of what my brother Ollie writes to you for its just his way and he’s a lot of fun. He’s always doing something to humor himself. Well “Sugar” have you been good at work? I mean you haven’t busted any more Catsup and so forth, or have you? Ha! Ha! Bet, you did? [sic] Don’t lie now and give me the truth? If you did I’ll bet you were daydreaming of me again. Ha! Ha! I think I’d better stop before you throw something at me. Will close “Darling” with all my love from lug like me. Yours Always, With Plenty of ( ) ( ) ( ) & X X X X Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Write real soon. [Envelope front] S/Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. U. S. Army �Free {Signature accent mark} {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE 1 FEB 24 1944 A.P.O. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. W. R. [?] � 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_1944-02-20 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 1944-02-20 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 20, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 20, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 24, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes on a beautiful Sunday in England and wishes they were together sharing their stories in person. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/a0fb0e4f76fd69bd137a8d561ac5539b.pdf 1cb955f1175f73a4ecac7d0b53a586c3 PDF Text Text ��� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/38add4f17c683a1d7bc5035e3f64574e.pdf 5831cbb8fb531f731a9d94e2c88f1479 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-02-19] [Page 1 - front] England Feb. 19, 1944. Hello “Darling,” Got your Valentine and an old letter from you today. The valentine is very “sweet” and must say you were very generous giving me two kisses. I sure was tickled. I love you as much as ever “Darling” and still miss you terribly. When I get you in my arms again, I don’t think I’ll ever let you loose. I also got a letter from Ollie and it must of came on the banana boat yours did. I’m going to put it in with my letter and have you read it. In one place he says you invited him down to visit you. He’s trying to make an excuse but I’ll bet he’ll pay you a surprise visit. My oldest brother Amen [?] used to call me Beer [?] belly when I was about 8 and still does in fun. I also got a letter from my sister Nellie and this is what she had to say. “I heard your girlfriend was up to see the folks. I always am missing out on those things but when you get back you’ll have to bring her down for a visit.” I haven’t seen her or the baby in four years. I’m going to have plenty of [Page 1 - back] troubles when I get back and hope to visit everybody. I’m going to spend half of my leave with you though, “Sweets” because I miss you so. Maybe you’ll get sick of looking at me and throw me out. Will you? Ha! Ha! I’ve washed a lot of dishes “Sweets,” so helping you with a few won’t bother me none. Although, I might be lazy. Ha! Ha! What do you think of that? I feel a lot better today and hope this cold is going away. I still haven’t rec’d your packages “Darling” but it will get here alright. [sic] You’ll have to congratulate me on my promotion “Sweets,” and will do my best for getting it. You needn’t worry about the imprints, Sugar, for I like them whether they are good or smudge. Well “Precious,” I will close with all my love for you. Yours Always, With Loads of Kisses & ( ) ( ) ( ) Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Give my regards to your folks [Envelope front] S/SGT. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. U. S. Army �Free {Signature accent mark} {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE 1 FEB 24 1944 A.P.O. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. W. R. [?] � 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_1944-02-19 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 1944-02-19 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 19, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 19, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 24, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes from England after receiving her Valentine in the mail in addition to letters from his siblings expressing their hopes to meet her one day. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Valentine’s Day 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/f8023bb3d2974996d3127057f2ef3964.pdf 9d02289593744c23336a1b540b33f036 PDF Text Text ��� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/2e87a73a5afcec8bfcac71f46fbabbc4.pdf 8e4aeb465096d3336c595c05162eb01e PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-02-18] [Page 1 - front] England Feb. 18, 1944. Hello Gorgeous, Writing a few lines before I retire because this cold is miserable. Hope to feel better tomorrow though. Got a letter from my older brother Amen [?] today and was really surprised. He said you were adorable and nice “Sweets.” I think so too, “Honey” and miss you terribly. I was appointed to the rank of Staff Sergeant and the order came through today. It surprised me I must admit. Well all I can do, is to do my best in the responsibility and so forth in my work. You’d better tell you [sic] dad, I’ll beat him yet. Ha! Ha! Anyway I’ll get him worried. Didn’t get any mail from you today but still am pleased with the one I got from you yesterday “Sweets.” Well, how is every little thing with you? If you didn’t think of me today, I’ll call you a meanie? Ha! Ha! Still love you as much as ever “Darling” and keep praying that we shall see each other again soon. Wish you were here to take care of [Page 1 - back] me. Would you care if I gave you a cold? You would, eh!, well I’d give it to you anyhow. Getting mean again ain’t I? I washed my laundry tonite [sic] and now I’m done for another week. I didn’t feel like doing it but thought I’d better. I don’t intend to write a long letter tonite [sic] so you’ll have to forgive me just a tiny bit. If I go walking this weekend would you care to come along “Sugar.” Remember, it’s a date. Might go to the movies in town. Well “Darling” I shall close and write real soon. Yours Always, With Loads of Love & Kisses Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Give my regards to your folks. [Envelope front] Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. U. S. Army Free {Signature accent mark} �{Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE 1 FEB 29 [?] 1944 A.P.O. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. [?] � 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_1944-02-18 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1944-02-18 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 18, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 18, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated circa February 29, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while feeling under the weather with a head cold in England and shares the good news that he had been appointed to the rank of Staff Sergeant. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/fbda453a99512d2ffc70336b72c0df70.pdf 7b750b3d49410f34913398518a1a77a0 PDF Text Text ���� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/322985429e0a223052e790f2a50bf8f3.pdf 568e1370073fbfbd526e0bdcd28fa9f6 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-02-17] [Page 1 - front] England Feb. 17, 1944. Hello “Darling,” Got your letter of Feb. 9th and was very pleased to hear from you. I’m fine as usual “Sweets” and hope this letter finds you the same. I miss you as much as ever “Darling” and love you more each day that goes by. I also was very pleased with that kiss you sent to me. I still taste the lipstick and wish it were you here now. I have not as yet received your package but hope it gets here real soon. I also got a letter from Ollie’s girl-friend [sic] and she must have a nice personality by the way she writes. She said that she was anxious to meet me and wrote about how much she liked Helen and my folks. Don’t worry “Sugar,” she shan’t steal me away from you because I’m only interested for a girl, who lives at 1913 Berkley Ave. Ha! Ha! Nobody else either. The pen sure does write funny at times so you’ll have to excuse the writing. I’d like to see you in Slacks, “Sweets,” a lot of women really look nice in them. But I’m here and you’re over there. Guess [Page 1 - back] I’ll have to waite [sic] till I get back, Eh! “Sweets.” I also got a V-mail from Helen today, she’s still very anxious to meet you and someday she will. I’ve got another head cold and is it ever a nuisance. Wish you were here to take care of me “Darling.” Wouldn’t that be swell, “Darling.” Maybe, I’d give you one instead. Ha! Ha! If the kids still talk about me, I see where you’ll have a hard time getting them away from me. Ha! Ha! Anyway I like them but you needn’t tell them. Ollie is my mother’s pet but I give him a lot of competition. I’m my father’s pet because I resemble him a lot. I’ll bet you never noticed it, or did you? How is your mother and Dad these days? Don’t forget to tell them I think they’re swell. I imagine things are quite expensive back there and it’s the same everywhere. Well, I have another birthday coming soon and hope I don’t spend it in a fox hole this year. Getting old fast, I’d say. Ha! Ha! We were to have a movie here tonite [sic] but it was cancelled. I was just wishing that you were here to give me all of those hugs you put in your letter and I’m still waiting to receive all of them. [Page 2 – front] I’ve written two other letters a couple of days ago so I’m not doing so bad am I “Sweets.” I only hope that when you don’t hear from me in great periods of time that you will think I’ve neglected to write to you. [sic] I’ll write whenever I can and try to fill that mailbox of yours. Ha! Ha! If you keep emptying it I never will. Remember “Darling” to send me a kiss with each letter. If you don’t I’ll surely take two for everyone you don’t send me. Don’t forget to let me know when you make that million “Sweets”? For, I’ll rush right back, to be your secretary. Well “Sugar” I shall close with all my love to you. Yours Always, With Loads of Kisses & ( ) ( ) ( )’s [sic] �P.S. If you ever take anymore pictures, don’t forget poor little me. Ha! Ha! [Envelope front] Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. U. S. Army Free {Signature accent mark} {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE 1 FEB 21 1944 A.P.O. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. [?] � 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_1944-02-17 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1944-02-17 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 17, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 17, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 21, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while stationed in England and with an upcoming birthday, which he hopes to not spend in a foxhole. He also mentions his appreciation for the lipstick kisses Agnes includes with her letters and how his sister, Helen, is looking forward to meeting her someday. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Love letters Lipstick 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/9a3b02077e382cdd6426128a8c511143.pdf 0397bc45c00174edff3aa252a9bb9a54 PDF Text Text ��� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/5ebf1a501d925f809ba131a50a708e52.pdf 0143ad5a745a9358dd8f1fdf30ffb2b8 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-02-16] [Page 1 - front] England Feb. 16, 1944. Hello Sweets, Have been thinking of you all day so I thought to write again today. I didn’t get any mail today because none came in. But I hope to hear from you tomorrow. What do you think of the picture I sent “Sweets.” Nice, isn’t it? I still love you as much as ever “Darling” and miss you ever, so much. Sometimes I just sit and think of a lot of things about us and also hope it comes true. I might give away my thoughts and intentions so I’ll have to watch out. Ha! Ha! Still in suspence [sic], “Sweets.” Ha! Ha! Meanie, ain’t I? I’ve sent a package home with some of the souvenirs I had and I’m hoping it gets there alright. I still have some more coins and my brother’s wedding picture. I sure would hate to get it soiled. Would you keep them for me? Ollie’s still on strike about writing and I expect a letter from home again soon. My folks still talk about you “Sweets” and think you are very nice. I’ll go one better though and say you’re my everything and my “sweet” little Headache. [sic] I could squeeze you right now if you were here “Precious” and give you all of the kisses I’ve missed in the last 18 months. Oh! I know it would take a long time but you won’t blame me for trying, do you? I’ve answered most of your questions so far and hope you will have a lot more [Page 1 - back] so I can write a lot more to you. I’m still waiting for that package to arrive and can’t wait to open it. I still haven’t thought of anything else I needed but when I do, “Darling” I’ll let you know. Gee!! I get mad at myself for forgetting, of what, I was going to write. [sic] At that, I usually think of it when I’ve finished writing. Doesn’t this happen to you? Well, I shall close with all my love for you. Remember “Darling,” I still love you and don’t care who knows it? Yours Always, With Lots of Kisses & ( ) ( ) ( ) [sic] Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Write real soon [Envelope front] Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. U. S. Army �Free {Signature accent mark} {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE 1 FEB 18 1944 A.P.O. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. [?] � 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_1944-02-16 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 1944-02-16 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 16, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 16, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 18, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes from England inquiring about the new photograph he sent and notifying her of the package of souvenirs he sent back home to Michigan. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/bce9e4c5aec1519854ea6d40a9faa33d.pdf e70d82a62e98f353a600f729f1ac7e43 PDF Text Text ��� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/da8883e760dcc2e3229d89912b76c39d.pdf e3551a0cbcfbed682affff61102921c9 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-02-14] [Page 1 - front] England Feb. 14, 1944. Hello “Sugar,” Rec’d your other V-mail I didn’t get with the others and one dated the 31st. I also got a letter from Helen and everything’s fine with her. I sure would love to see that dress you mentioned and most of all you “Darling.” I miss you so much and think of you all of the time. I have no cards that will rhyme but will you forever, be my “Darling Valentine.” Wish you were here “Sweets” so I could whisper it in your ear. Not only that but to hold you in my arms and squeeze you ever so much. What, do you think of that? [sic] I got a little news on Roy and believe it or not he’s engaged again. You could knock my over with a feather, when a fellow was telling me about it. [sic] She’s an usherette in a Movie over here. I don’t want this spread around for it might not be true. Anyway it’s just like him to do it. Ha! Ha! I never saw the show “True to Life” but will keep it in mind to see it when it comes around. I saw the picture Appointment In Berlin and it was pretty good. [sic] I’d like to see the picture “Claudia.” Have you seen it? I’m still [Page 1 - back] waiting for your package to arrive “Sweets,” and hope it gets here real soon. You bet “Honey” I can hardly wait to get back and someday I will. I can just see you. You wouldn’t know what to say or do and last of all you may let a few tears roll down your cheeks, all for me too. I know what you’re thinking but I’ll bet you will. Ha! Ha! I may get weak in the knees myself, it wouldn’t surprise me none. Ha! Ha! Well, how is your Dad getting along with his work? You haven’t mentioned much about him. Don’t forget to let me know. If your mother don’t hurry up and answer my V-mail, I’m going to throw a lot of ink at her. Never mind, I’ll tell her myself. Say!! Mrs. Buzz Buzz, if you don’t hurry and drop me a line I’m going to buzz, buzz. How’s at? [sic] Ha! Ha! Well “Darling” I shall close with all of my love to you. Write real soon and give everyone my best regards. Yours Always, With Loads of Kisses Joe {Signature accent mark} [Envelope front] Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. U. S. Army �Free {Signature accent mark} {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE 1 FEB 17 1944 A.P.O. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. [?] � 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_1944-02-14 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 1944-02-14 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 14, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 14, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 17, 1944. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes a special Valentine's Day letter to Agnes asking her to be his "Darling Valentine" and imagining their future homecoming together. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Love letters Valentine’s Day 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/12b9564259661b3954044f93a4714695.pdf 44e2692bdc63599f824f29c373dc2b94 PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/e092fcb06b78bb397ecc711201051c6b.pdf bb534c1276cf09aee4ae6fee065279eb PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-02-13] [Page 1 - front] England Feb. 13, 1944. Hello “Precious,” Just got back from church and had a very good dinner. We had Roast Chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, creamed peas, cake and coffee. [sic] Doesn’t’ that make you hungry, “Sweets”? I sure wish that you were here to go walking with me this afternoon. What a lovely day for such a thing? I wouldn’t take in much scenery but would look at you most of the time. I’d probably hold you so tight so you couldn’t breath [sic], for I miss you so much. Yes, I’d even whisper in your ear of how much I love you and cared. Why does a war keep us so far apart when we miss each other so much. I don’t think I’ll ever give you any rest “Sweets” when I have you in my arms again. What a day that will be, with you and I waiting, patiently, for it to come. I plan to go out walking this afternoon and my thoughts will probably carry me back to you. See how generous I am!! Ha! Ha! I’m still very pleased to get all of your mail at one time yesterday. I hope that you will write as often as you can for I miss you so much “Darling.” I’ll try to do the same when ever I have the chance and hope that I [Page 1 - back] can fill your mail box chuck full of my letters. Sometimes a V-mail seems so small but when I know who wrote it, up goes my blood pressure and everything seems to tinkle [?], inside of me. I not only read it once but several times until I almost know it by heart. See, what you’ve done to me and I’m very anxious to get all of your kisses. This is why you’re not going to get any rest while I’m with you. Ain’t I a meanie, though? I’m going to knip [sic] your nose, fuss with your curls you patiently made and last of all, bite your ears which will please me most. I could go on and on telling you of the things I’d like to do but I won’t be satisfied until we are together again. Do you think, you can stand all of this that I have written about? I’ll find out though, won’t I? I’m also so pleased to hear you are doing such [text strikethrough] good work at the store. Would you have that much ambition to keep the home fires burning? I wonder? Ha! Ha! You’ve inspired me to tease you “Sweets,” and I like to see that big frown you make, when you’re peeved. Now ain’t I getting awful, but I love you more, for it. I can remember the cold winter day, you wanted me to go to “Eileen’s” with you. You got so mad but I saved you from freezing. I’ll bet you could have torn me into small pieces [Page 2 - front] that day. I often think of it and grin for you were so peeved and disappointed. All I did was tease you more and love you for it. That’s just like me isn’t it? I’m not rubbing it in and if you weren’t that way, I’d only love you half as much. Have you gotten into Gloria’s candy like she used to do to you? I’ll bet you haven’t? Ha! Ha! Remember to do it the next time she gets a box of candy. I can just imagine the results. Ha! Ha! Full of mischief ain’t I? I’ve imagined you wearing that housecoat, many times “Darling,” especially when your hair is bushy. It fits right in with the �colors and I can’t seem to waite [sic] to see you in it. That reminds me to ask if you sent me one of the curls in your package. Did you? I may give you the impression that I’m impatient but I’m not “Darling,” I just want to express all the love, I have for you. I can’t write much about it, but I sure can feel it. Ha! Ha! Don’t you? I know we shall be happy together, once when we can know each other’s ways. I have so much to talk about but will wait till we are together again. Keeping you in suspence [sic] ain’t I? But you’ll have to waite. [sic] Ha! Ha! I’m surprising myself again for I though I hadn’t much to write at first and if I keep on, I might get to the other side. Ha! Ha! Well how are your folks today? I often think of [Page 2 - back] them because they have been swell to me. I really mean it and can’t express it. Well “Sugar” I shall close hoping to hear from you real soon. (L) (O) (T) (S) (O) (F) (T) (H) (E) (M) Yours Always, With Loads of Love and Kisses Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. I hope that I have answered most of your questions. [Envelope front] Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. U. S. Army {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE 1 FEB 15 1944 A.P.O. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. [?] � 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_1944-02-13 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 1944-02-13 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 13, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 13, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 15, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes with great affection for Agnes after receiving all of her most recent letters on one day and shares his pride for her good work ethic back home. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Love letters 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/4dbc469e498bf129b28cfad4a1e6d20d.pdf 36330f71d949992cde2c36736d2afa88 PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/4216bff593ef5d47215babeb5b489833.pdf 023ebbb8818bad72ec35c0f9a43f1349 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-02-12] [Page 1 - front] England Feb. 12, 1944. Hello “Darling,” Went to town this afternoon and went to the show. I saw a double feature and the pictures were really good. One was “Lady Bodyguard” and the other one” Whistling in Dixie [?].” On my way home, I was thinking of you and wondering if I got some mail from you. Well, I sure did and must say “Darling” I could squeeze you right now if you were here. I got 3 V-mails and two of your letters. I didn’t get the 1st one you wrote but may tomorrow. Four V-mails is a lot in a day “Sweets,” and you may beat me yet. That Lipstick kiss was wonderful and I brought it to my lips as soon as I saw it there. See what you’ve done to me “Darling”? I’ve been thinking of you ever since I got back from town and Love you more than I could write at present. It’s peaceful here tonite [sic] and what a nite for romance for just you and I. It’s Saturday also and memories with you just seem like we were together again. I love you very much Darling and also pray for the day when I get back to see you again. I miss your hugs too and I’m not kidding. I want you to send me one of your kisses in every letter even if they do smudge [?]. If you [Page 1 - back] don’t “Sweets” I’m going to pull your curls when I get back. I don’t want much do I? Ha! Ha! You’ve pleased me so much “Darling” that I don’t know what to say. I keep wishing though, that I could hold you in my arms again and I don’t think I’d ever let you go. Ain’t I terrible? Ha! Ha! Why shouldn’t you be my “Sweet Little Headache” because all of my spare moments are thinking of you and what a swell time we will have when I get back. I’m only teasing you “dear” about your cooking so don’t worry none about it. If I stopped writing about it then I wouldn’t have much to write. Ha! Ha! You make good coffee so why not you and I raid the ice box tonite. [sic] I thought so, your mother put a lock on it to keep us thieves out. Ha! Ha! Well, it was a good idea, wasn’t it “Darling.” I’m hungry aren’t you? If you have anymore recent pictures of yourself “Sweets,” I hope you will send them to me. I know that film is hard to get but I’ll wait till you can get some. There very hard to get here too. [sic] My folks really think you’re swell “Darling” so you needn’t worry your pretty head about it. I knew they would and if you ever have any time off again, they sure would want to see you for they did enjoy your visit with them. You bet I’ll sweep you off of your feet and I won’t forget it either and the Mayor of Grand Rapids [Page 2 - front] can be there to watch me too. What do you think of that? I can just picture you being an old maid “Sweets.” You might be up until the time I come barging in and then what you do? [sic] I thought so, you’d go soft on the old maid theory and give me the biggest hug I ever had. So you see young lady, I shan’t worry none. I haven’t heard from the fellow who is making the bracelet I wrote about but I’ll let you know when I do. It will be a real good souvenir from England. �Souvenirs are very expensive here for it is a luxury here. Maybe, someday I will be able to get you a big bedspread just as pretty as the one I sent my mother. If, I would have had the time and wrapping material you would have had one, when I got my mother’s. I did want so much to get you one and hope you understand “Sweets.” I hope we do get a chance to go home just enough I’d say to see everyone and especially you. But I won’t count on it, till it happens. In the meantime my thoughts will be of you. What will I be doing while you are at work “Sweets”? Have you thought of that? I don’t think I would be able to set still, do you? Ha! Ha! You wouldn’t be able to work either thinking of me all of the time. So that’s another problem we’ll have to work out. Why shouldn’t I send you surprises? [Page 2 - back] To me, “you’re” the only one and that’s the only way of expressing it while I’m away. When I need anything, I’ll let you know “Darling” so you can send it to me. I was surprised to hear about Mrs. Wennerberg [?] and don’t blame you any getting mad at her. I’m also very anxious to get your package and for that I’ll give you a big hug. Did you feel it? Wish you were here to go to church with me tomorrow but I’ll have to go alone. I like that!! Well “Sweets” I shall close and will write again tomorrow. Give my regards to your folks? Yours Always, With Loads of Love & Kisses Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Write real soon. [Envelope front] Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. - 1 c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y. U. S. Army {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE 1 FEB 15 1944 A.P.O. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. �PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. [?] � 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_1944-02-12 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1944-02-12 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 12, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 12, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 15, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes with a feeling of romance in the air after receiving three V-mails and two letters from her and while enjoying a peaceful Saturday overseas. He also writes of his dreams of returning home and sweeping Agnes off her feet in Grand Rapids, in addition to his plans to send her souvenirs from England. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Love letters Motion pictures--1940-1950 Souvenir England 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/6c910ee15ecd0cf3aebfaa16c3ba885a.pdf fd4c2b56662cf2680f984292955bb89d PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/2ecba99913bde031a99a2a7e59e38005.pdf 9d087674c0805e3b939d44bca1bda9dc PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-02-10] [Page 1 - front] England Feb. 10, 1944. Hello “Darling,” I was very pleased to get a letter from you today and hope to get another one tomorrow. I just got back from a movie tonite, [sic] called The Sea Wolf, with Edward G. Robinson, John Garfield and Ida Lupino. It’s a very good picture and this is the second time I saw it. No “Sweets,” I haven’t seen the picture “Old Aquaintance” [sic] it must have came out when I left the States. If I don’t get any of them kisses, you haven’t sent yet “Darling” I’m going to get real mad and nip [?] you nose tonite while you’re sleeping. What do you think of that? I love you as much as ever “Honey” and still miss you a lot. I think of you often everyday and pray for the day when you and I can be back together again. Yes, I got your pictures as I have written before and they sure are good ones. I’ve looked at them so much, sometimes, I think you may jump right out of the picture and bite me. My folks think you a very nice and so do I. [sic] If you were here [text strikethrough] now I’d surely give you [Page 1 - back] plenty of hugs that I missed in giving you, for the last 18 months. Sometimes I have a lot to write and when I do most of it is forgotten. Just like me isn’t it? Ha! Ha! Only four more days till St. Valentines Day. I don’t have any cards to send but “will you be my Valentine”? If you won’t be, I’m going to be disappointed. Well those 2 boys sure had a nerve saying what they did and at that loud enough for you to hear it. I’d get mad myself. I don’t know of anything I need now but when I do I’ll let you know, “Sweets.” Its quite cold out tonite and my feet sure feel it. I’m getting fat lately and weigh about 180 pounds. Isn’t that awful? I usually gain a lot of weight in the winter anyway. I could go for one of your mother’s good Lemon pies right now. [sic] I’ll never forget the two she baked once and they were swell. My sister asked me to write a letter to a newspaper friend of mine where she lives but I don’t want to write about the things I’ve done and experienced. It may be hard for people to understand this but a fellow will know this if he’s been at the front. I don’t intend to talk about what I done, I want to live a peaceful life and try to forget instead of remembering. [Page 2 - front] I miss a lot of my friends which I shall never see again. I don’t want nobody to feel sorry for me or give me sympathy. I’ve found out how to live a clean life the hard way which I wouldn’t sell for all the gold in the world. I thank the “Lord” for bring me through with flying colors and my trust and faith will be in Him. Some may say, I was lucky to come out alright but to me I had faith in “God” and know that many a time, I felt that I wouldn’t make it but was spurted [?] on. I’m here today and don’t know where I’ll be tomorrow or a week from now. I don’t worry none about this for I know “God” will make it be for me, with my trust in him. I could go on and on but shan’t write more of it to worry you any. I have been awarded the Infantry Man’s [?] Combat �badge, I’ll describe it but I haven’t gotten it as yet. It’s a pin with a dark blue back ground, on it, it has cross rifles and a reath around it. [sic] Can’t send the paper but will write some words it has. The following personnel of Company L are awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge for exemplary conduct in action against the enemy or by satisfactory performance of duty in action against the enemy in a [text strikethrough] major operation as determined and announced by the [?] Commander. [Page 2 - back] I also got the year before Pearl Harbor ribbon. I forgot to write about this before and hope it isn’t censored out. Well “Darling,” I shall close with all my love for you. Yours Always, With Loads of Kisses Joe {Signature accent mark} [Envelope front] Sgt. Joseph P. Olexa (12016893) Co. L, 26th INF. A.P.O. - 1 c/o PM, New York, N. Y. U. S. Army Free {Postmark} U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE 1 FEB 15 1944 A.P.O. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave., S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. [?] � 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_1944-02-10 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1944-02-10 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 10, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 10, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 15, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes from England sharing how he recently saw the film "The Sea Wolf" for the second time and asking her to be his Valentine in anticipation for St. Valentine's Day. Joe also opens up to her about his experience overseas losing friends and how his faith has gotten him through many hard times. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Motion pictures--1940-1950 Sea wolf (Motion picture) Valentine’s Day 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/93faae58b9ae0dc29fe81e052aca3c0d.pdf b9f35c5164ebbde09c10ce0c5ce69f01 PDF Text Text �� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/c744b3c9322bf8b81352d49c32656fa1.pdf 646abd738ba425b378bb809a0000142c PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1944-02-09] [Page 1] [V-Mail Letter] {CENSOR’S STAMP} PASSED BY 20639 U.S. ARMY EXAMINER Lt. [?] Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 1913 Berkley Ave. S.W. Grand Rapids, 9 Mich. {Date stamp} 10 FEB 1944 12016893 Sgt. Joseph Olexa (Sender’s name) Co. “L,” 26th Inf. A.P.O. – 1 (Sender’s address) c/o PM. - New York, N.Y. Feb. 9, 1944. (Date) Hello Honey, Just got through writing to Helen and will write to you also. Don’t ask me whether I got any mail today, for I didn’t? I hope to soon. Ha! Ha! Well, “Darling,” I love you just as much today as I did yesterday and a little more. I’m hoping that your package will get here alright. Did you send me a list of the popular songs, out back there? We have no radio so I don’t know them. We have pin-up girls all over the place. Mostly, for morale. Ha! Ha! I saw a movie the other nite [sic] called “King of the Zombies” too much was cutout of it to make it interesting. The other one was a little better which is “Mr. Wise Guy,” with the Dead End Kids. I’m planning to see the picture, The “Seven Sweethearts,” I think it will be a good picture. [sic] Still haven’t seen or heard from Roy, but I guess he’s coming along O.K. Well “Sweets,” I shall close hoping to get a letter from you real soon. Do you save all of my letters? Give my hello to Venna and your other cousins who sent me a X-mas card. Yours always, With Loads of Love �“Joe” {V-MAIL stationary footer} [V-mail envelope] WAR & NAVY DEPARTMENTS V-MAIL SERVICE OFFICIAL BUSINESS {Postmark} U.S. POSTAL SERVICE NO. 1 FEB 19 9 - AM 1944 PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE TO AVOID PAYMENT OF POSTAGE, $300 � 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_1944-02-09 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1944-02-09 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 9, 1944 Description An account of the resource Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 9, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 19, 1944. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes to Agnes sharing the titles of movies he had recently seen and how he hopes she will write to him with a list of popular songs while he is overseas without a radio. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence V-mail 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