3 24 297 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/daefc4d89361df8f32343bc82d1fcb71.pdf 2f02a284619c3e663973433e289edf71 PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/2d69846f65e2048fa0ed9f6556f4e9dc.pdf 72ccfa2ac7e01c2a0f45093ef392e338 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-05-13] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} U.S. ARMY Co. L, 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Fla. May 13, 1942. Dear Agnes, Rec’d your three letters and was glad to hear from you. I probably will not answer the three of them for news is kinda scarce in these parts. Anyway, it’s the same old routine. I did receive your package a couple of days back and forgot to mention about it in my last letter. Thanks very much for sending it. It’s still as hot as ever down here and once in a while, we have a little rain. I’m glad you like the gift I sent you. Roy got your letter today and said he was awfully surprised to get it. It was a surprise to him about the locket and bracelet set for I [Page 2] hadn’t said a word to him about it. From rumors going around and the packing, checking of what each company has on hand, that we are going to move somewhere again. [sic] As usual, the Army keeps a secret. Furloughs will not be given out after the 14th of June, so don’t forget to keep your fingers crossed and hope that I pull a high card. I guess if I don’t get it, I’ll be just as disappointed as anyone. Today, I was in charge of a working detail and for once I didn’t have to work but give orders. Not bad, Eh? Tomorrow, I’m on charge of quarters [sic] and don’t regret it, for we have a twenty-mile hike. Getting lucky. Young lady, I don’t like to be called “Joey.” It's sissified and just plain Joe will be the ticket. You should have thanked me for not going to “Eileen’s” that cold day, for if we would have went, we still be [sic] [Page 3] {Stationary letterhead} �U.S. ARMY like icicles. When you see Eileen again, give her my regards. How’s my cutie-pie Gloria? Isn’t she going to write? How [text strikethrough] {said} sad I will be, if she doesn’t? We are going on a two week’s maneuver somewhere soon, so if you don’t hear from me, you’ll know I can’t write. I’ll try to let you know though. Roy just came in and said to give you all of his love. He also stated to tell Carolyn to go {hand drawn symbols depicting the spelling of an expletive}. Ha! Ha! Maybe Carolyn wants you to get acquainted with one of them other soldiers. Eh! Claypool is still trying to get me a date and it's another gal. Maybe, if I have the time I may take a gander around them parts. Ha! Ha! Did you hear from my brother [Page 4] Ollie lately? Well I haven’t much to write which I hope you will excuse. Will close and I’ll try to find something to write, to answer one more of your letters, which I have here. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Give the folks my best regards and tell them I envied them when I found out they had Polish sausage. [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa Co. L, 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Florida U.S. Army {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING MAY 14 3 PM �1942 FLA. FREE {Signature accent mark} Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-05-13 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-05-13 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, May 13, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated May 13, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated May 14, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after receiving three of her letters and her latest package, and writes of his hopes for a furlough in the future and rumors of an upcoming move. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) Furloughs Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/24e038224d8dc9ee47917ef983fb252c.pdf 513c45635094fbe48804cf25928b7094 PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/9ff44f29c4ddbeb305f5a8e2cb129be1.pdf 6f735829f192a5b64d60f2dd48a8f7ac PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-05-08] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} U.S. ARMY Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Fla. May 8, 1942. Dear Agnes, Rec’d your two letters and was glad to here from you. [sic] I suppose you [text strikethrough] {were} really got a surprise when you opened that package. How do you like it? If the bracelet and locket tarnish then I’ll know that I got a jipping. [sic] I sure was surprised to get that note from Gloria. In fact, it was the shortest letter I ever did get. Must be that she’s awful lazy not to write more. Today, we had a parade and for the rest of the day, we got ready for tomorrow’s inspection. We just got thru [sic] cleaning and scrubbing our tent floor. Right now, we could eat from [text strikethrough] it. Well, it finally happened. My brother Ollie wrote to me and [Page 2] I nearly took a fit from fright to get it. [sic] Yes, I am graduated from doing K.P. or work on details. I [text strikethrough] now have to take charge of quarters, be in charge of work details and last of all be corporal on guard duty. So, Roy is in Australia, boy I sure had to laugh at that. Where did you get the fancy writing paper? It is nice. I’m nearly out of writing material myself and will get some tomorrow. From your statement of being afraid of water, I’ve come to the conclusion that when I get there, I’ll have to go swimming by myself. That’s going to make me mad. You state that you don’t get mad at me. Well, I’m not writing anything but doing a little thinking. Can you remember the incidents? Ha! Ha! My brother Ollie said he hadn’t heard from you but admitted he owed you a letter. [Page 3] {Stationary letterhead} �U.S. ARMY Young lady, you’re still trying to flatter me and I will be just as mean as you are and not believe it to get even. Ha! Ha! Incidentally, Roy is still the same old “Larkinvar” [?] and don’t know what to do. [sic] I told him about you stating I was the best chubby soldier in the Army, and he said you were getting silly. What do you think of that? I don’t know where you find a lot to write in your letters. I can’t and at that you tell me about my short letters. We are cutting cards in the platoon to see who goes on furlough. Two from each platoon can go, just as soon as the others get back. Most of the boys want to go in June, just the same as I, so don’t forget to keep your fingers crossed. I’ll try for it in the first week of June. [Page 4] I see where you aren’t putting the curly-cue under your name. [sic] Did you get disgusted trying to make a good one? Ha! Ha! It rained today and we are sure glad it did. Anyway, it’s cool and the dust has settled, so that we won’t eat it for a day or so. Well, I shall close and don’t forget to keep your fingers crossed. Give the folks my hello. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. I’ve still got 2 books of stamps, so I’m sending you one of them. [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Florida U.S. Army {Postmark} �CAMP BLANDING MAY 9 3 PM 1942 FLA. FREE {Signature accent mark} Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-05-08 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-05-08 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, May 8, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated May 8, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated May 9, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after receiving two of her letters and shares his excitement over Agnes receiving the gifts he sent her and his potential upcoming furlough, in addition to the day's events including a parade and preparing for inspection. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) Furloughs Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/095e100da3cab0d4cafa7f257c27c6de.pdf a320b39d46e122cecf3822c360d98985 PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/9cb4eee96a6c692e26c473d077f79069.pdf cc739dc37085fd3b24f6ad9aa662ce6f PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-05-05] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} AMERICA FOREVER Co. L, 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Florida May, 1942. Dear Agnes, Rec’d your second letter but the package hasn’t arrived as yet. Maybe it became invisible on the way. Ha! Ha! I received a letter today from my brother at college and just got through answering it. So, you don’t like the flattery? My, most women do in a long run. [sic] O.K. no more flattery from me, since you women disapprove of it. I’m shipping that surprise package with this letter. Watch out, when you [Page 2] open it, for there may be a rattle snake in it. How’s my little Chick a dee, Gloria, getting along nowdays. [sic] Well, I’m still mad at her for not writing. Roy just yelled to give his regards to all of you. Claypool is back from the Bakeries School. [?] His only regret is that he starved while being there. He’s got a lot of pictures of these southern belles and they’re all good looking. He gave me a big build up to one of them without me knowing it and she wants to meet me. Well, I haven’t the time since my invisible beach is in progress. [Page 3] I ran out of my other writing paper so, I’ll use the few sheets I have left that you sent me. I guess you must have spring-fever. The stamps of your last two letters were upside-down and on one the date April 29, 1941. What next? So, you found my misspelled word. I just did that to see if you were looking for something like that. Now, young lady, you’ve got a war started, so watch your spelling. I’ve even misspelled Corporal in my last letter. Leave it to the women to find something wrong. The time the snowstorm up there in Mass. about the 1st of April was �[Page 4] caused by me sneezing like the blazes when I had my cold. Your name is engraved on the back of your bracelet or did you find that out. I ought to get a big hug for that gift but since you are so hard hearted, I’ll overlook it. Ha! Ha! Will close and write when you can. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Don’t forget to give the folks my regards. Will you. [sic] Also, to go swimming when I get there. {Signature accent mark} [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa Co. L, 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Florida U.S. Army {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING MAY 5 11 AM 1942 FLA. FREE {Signature accent mark} Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-05-05 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-05-05 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, May 5, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated May 5, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated May 5, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after nearly running out of writing paper and fill sher in on the latest news, such as the letter he received from his brother at college and the special engraving on the bracelet he sent her. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/4cbe850d640c8dbcde2896bbab47e133.pdf 010273013f1501ae15dbbec8fc402f36 PDF Text Text ������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/426e58c1fde835c7e7a3208f1398019d.pdf 35a0c640fcc9dd28a9d31a6caa172172 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-05-02] [Page 1] Co. L, 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Fla. May 2, 1942. Dear Agnes, Rec’d your letter and the pictures last nite. [sic] I was really surprised and puzzled to see that you did change quite a lot. I showed them to Roy and he had to look at them quite a few times before he was convinced. I’m going to keep the two of you in your suit and one of Gloria. The pictures of Junior are very good, also, but I suppose [Page 2] your folks want them to send away. I like the way you have your hair, so don’t get any ideas of changing it. Your letter was kinda late and I had thought your quick temper came up again, of something I had written. What color is your suit? It better be blue or I’ll chew your ears a bit, like a rabbit, when I get my furlough. I had planned to get my furlough around the first of June or the second week in June. [Page 3] When I get there, I’ll have 6 or 7 days and do you think your mother could find enough work around there to pay for room and board? So, my cutie still doesn’t believe me!! It’s just like the women anyway. That Fitchburg girl is the least of my thoughts. You can look for a surprise sometime this week or next. You’ll never guess what it will be in a million years, so don’t try. I’ve got my Army promotion warrant paper and now I’m a full-fledged Corporal. [Page 4] You can at least congratulate me. I didn’t handshake for it, either. The Lover is back with us being a little pale but in good health. [sic] Friday, we had another Divisional parade review for the Chief of Staff from Washington, D.C. He’s General Marshall. The weather down here is very hot and it's hard to fall asleep at nite sweating. [sic] Incidentally, when I get up there on furlough, you’ll have to go swimming with me. No ifs, buts or ands, you’ll go even if I have to throw [Page 5] �you in with your clothes on. Ha! Ha! So, my young lady, get your swimming suit out. Roy wrote a letter to Carolyn a couple of days back that will make her hair stand up. I read it and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a little fur [?] fly inside her house when she gets it. He really told her off. Before I forget, I want to compliment you taking a very good picture and at that looking your best yet. How’s at? [sic] I’m not kidding either. So, Gloria is still persistent of having me to stay in a mad [Page 6] mood. Wait till I get there. She must have been thinking of someone to lose that check, don’t you think so? I didn’t get the package as yet but I may tonite. [sic] Give your folks my regards and don’t forget to ask your mother about what I had written earlier in my letter. Will close, Sugar, and don’t forget to write sooner. [sic] As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Sending some more stamps since my mail is free. {Signature accent mark} [Envelope front] Cpl. Joe Olexa Co. L, 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Florida {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING MAY 3 3 PM [?] 1942 FLA. �FREE {Signature accent mark} Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-05-02 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-05-02 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, May 2, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated May 2, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated May 3, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes in surprise after receiving a letter and photographs from her on the previous night, and noticing how much she had changed. He also writes of his planned furlough in June, where he will be spending nearly a week visiting her and her family, and his Army promotion as a "full-fledged Corporal." Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) Furloughs Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/55d9809a33b98be219cf3e8610fcee1a.pdf 2132ae3fbd144beeb258bfeac389d79a PDF Text Text ��������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/4ec9203bcac9d7b029b73d803c2f781b.pdf 6cc729745b3287cf24577a42d1b5bd17 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-04-27] [Page 1] Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Fla. April 27, 1942. Dear Agnes, Rec’d your letter and was glad to hear from you. So, my young lady states she knows what mood I’m in when I write. If you took that letter serious, you’re wrong, for I was quite gay that day even though I was on K.P. Now I don’t know how to write my letters to you. You take me serious when I’m not and jolly when I’m serious. So, what can I do? Oh! Well, you women wouldn’t understand. As for my brother’s girlfriend [Page 2] I’ve known her a long time, in fact, ever since she was as big as Elaine. Yes, she writes to me once in a while and believe it or not, I haven’t heard from her in a month. Well, I see you don’t believe what I had written about who was writing to me, either? I can’t convince you, so I’ll let it go at that, and be a liar. If you really want to know how much mail I received this week, I’ll tell you. Two letters from you and one today from my brother at college. [Page 3] Last week was the same. Believe it or not. Now I’ll explain of why I’m undecided in taking a furlough and hope you can understand what a position I am in. [sic] A ten-day furlough isn’t much time for a visit and most of it will be traveling. To get to Boston from here, takes 36 hours (1 ½ days) one way. About the same or a little more to Detroit a different way, which I would have to take to get there. If I were to go home and spend a short visit from here to Detroit and back, I wouldn’t go to New York City. Now if I were to buy a ticket to Fitchburg, I’d be quite [Page 4] ways from home then. [sic] In between Detroit and Fitchburg takes about 20 hours and if I were to visit both places, it's still a round trip (40 hours). If I bought a ticket to Detroit then visit you, I’d still have to go back there to catch a train for Camp. It would be the same if I bought a round trip to Fitchburg. I’d still have to buy a round trip ticket to Detroit then come back to start for �camp. In other words, I’ll be traveling 132 hours (6 days) in the round trip and 4 days of visiting, which isn’t much. Now, if I were to visit you and not go home, my folks would be mad and if I were to go home without visiting you, you’d get mad. [Page 5] So, what am I to do? Roughly, the trip would cost me about a hundred dollars to visit both places. Put yourself in my place and figure out some sort of a suggestion. I’ve been figuring it out but the more I think, the worse it gets. I’d like to be home for my mother’s birthday which is the 2nd of May but I can’t. I also like to be home on “Mother’s Day” but I’m not sure to be [sic] picked out of the Platoon to get a furlough. I’ve based my thoughts on getting the trains on time but if I were to wait longer for a train, my furlough wouldn’t be worth the trip and I’ll be saving money. Well that’s my explanation [Page 6] of being a pickled herring. Roy just came in and I told him what you said to tell him. Now for some news which will surprise you a plenty. My Company Commander sent in a report of my “promotion” to a “Corporal” for approval and that will make me a Corporal about Wednesday. Now, ain’t that sumtin. [sic] You're the first one to get this fresh news and nobody else knows about it, except the First Sergeant and the Company Commander. Wait till Roy hears of it! Yesterday, we had a divisional parade review and that sure was a long one. The papers in Mass. and vicinity are stating that [Page 7] the first division is going back to Fort Devens. How true this is, I don’t know. I doubt it though, but the Army does funny things. I met a friend of mine today who used to go to school with me. He’s a Sergeant and in the same Regiment. I sure was surprised and this is a small world. I have a tan which is fair and hope to get darker as time goes along. I’ve gone off of the Camp grounds to town once since we came down here and my time isn’t much. I usually go to the second show when I go and it starts at 9 o’clock and then getting out at 11 o’clock, missing [Page 8] a little sleep now and then but I enjoy it. �Well, Sugar, I shall close till I hear from you again. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Give the folks my regards and don’t get that quick temper of yours up at things you read. Think twice, one of your version, the other at a different slant. [Envelope front] P.F.C. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Inf. Camp Blanding, Fla. U.S. Army {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING APR 27 5 PM 1942 FLA. FREE {Signature accent mark} Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-04-27 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-04-27 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 27, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 27, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated April 27, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes discussing the letters he received that week and the reasons why he is undecided in taking a furlough at that time. He also writes of his recent promotion to "Corporal" by his Company Commander and the news of the First Division's return to Fort Devens. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) Furloughs Fort Devens (Mass.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/deae37aee963a23ccd5dc3055a2135be.pdf 027df3a244b5551effe7d8f2b5082249 PDF Text Text ��������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/ce90e9d0a9324241e4ba71a7a106bfbc.pdf b030088bb11069c79ef9c0fa39e4e810 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-04-22] [Page 1] Co. L, 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Fla. April 22, 1942. Dear Agnes, Rec’d your letter today and writing since I’m not going to the show. I saw two movies which were fair. One was “The Remarkable Andrew” and the other “The Male Animal.” Saturday nite [sic], I’m going to see Charlie Chaplin in “The Gold Rush.” I saw this picture about 12 years ago and can remember some parts of it. I had two days of K.P. instead of one because they didn’t send anyone to relieve [Page 2] us. I get credit for it though and won’t be on K.P. for two months now. Tomorrow, we have a 20mile hike which isn’t so bad for we are going to hike out 10 miles and then 10 back. We hiked out to the grenade range today and practiced throwing them. It’s about 5 miles from here. We came back in early and ran through an obstacle course. It consists of a rope over water, two logs, a 10-foot fence, hand bar erection, two pipes to crawl through, and a mad dash for the [Page 3] ending point. It isn’t very big but it’s a great exercise. We have a bigger one but we’ll have to work ourselves a little for that one. There is a rumor of us boys going to Georgia for a 20-day maneuver. It will start the 9th of May, but I’m from Missouri so I’ll wait till then. The First Division is the best in the world and we’re going to clean up on the Japs and then lick the Germans. [sic] No kidding, can I catch a cold under an apple tree? Well, now you’ve got me curious, so now I’ll get me a blonde and find out. Ha! Ha! [Page 4] So, my little cutie is stealing stamps and of all things using it to write to another fellow. Boy! Now, I’m disgusted, humiliated and mad. She threw me over like a ton of bricks. It’s just like the women. [sic] Ha! Ha! I thought this eagle or goose that you sent was a paper doll at first, but when I opened it, I was fooled. �It’s just like [text strikethrough] women to look for sympathy when they fall and hurt themselves a little. If they were in the Army, they would learn to take it and laugh, just as I did. When I get hurt, I don’t want sympathy and I always blame [Page 5] it to clumsiness or from being injured more seriously. We have a church for each Regiment and I attend church regularly. My brother hasn’t written as yet and I’m just as stubborn as he. I wrote to him though when my folks sent me a package and thanked them for it. Roy hasn’t taken his furlough but he may this pay, providing he gets picked to go. It’s too far for me to go on a ten-day furlough not unless I change my mind but I’m not taking one as yet. I haven’t seen hide nor hair [Page 6] of Claypool in a coon’s age. He’s still at the baking school. My friend, the lover, is in the hospital with a touch of flu or pneumonia. I’m going to visit him Saturday providing he isn’t too sick. Still haven’t received them pictures and I’ll bet you didn’t take any. Carolyn sent some pictures of herself, Larry, mother and father to Roy in her last letter. Larry had his uniform on and he looks swell in it. I’m sending you some more stamps for I’ve got a lot more left and don’t forget [Page 7] to hide them in a better place. Ha! Ha! Forgot to tell you today is my brother’s birthday. Some fellow came over and said I write a lot. I do and if people I write to aren’t too lazy, I’d get a lot more of mail. [sic] No hear-ee, from me, if they don’t answer, is my motto o o o o o o. [sic] Did you get a letter from Roy? He said that he sent you one and funny for he was in the mood. [sic] I also forgot to tell you that I got a new supply of blue lead or didn’t you notice it. You did, well ain’t that sumptin. [sic] Ha! Ha! [Page 8] When I sat down, I thought this letter wouldn’t be a long one but my brains rattle once in a while, ya know. [sic] How is Florence? I haven’t heard from her yet, have you? Well, I shall close and write when you can. As Ever, �Joe {Signature accent mark} You need 2 more years of practice {with arrows pointing to his signature accent mark}. P.S. Give the folk[s] my best regards and tell Gloria, I’m not on speaking terms with her anymore. Not unless she writes and gives me a good explanation. Ha! Ha! Soo - long - [sic] [Envelope front] P.F.C. Joe Olexa Co. L, 26th Inf. A.P.O. #1 Camp Blanding, Fla. U.S. Army {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING APR 23 3 PM 1942 FLA. FREE {Signature accent mark} Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-04-22 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-04-22 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 22, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 22, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated April 23, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after two days of K.P. duty and discusses the recent movies he had seen, the training activities planned for the days ahead, and the rumor regarding their trip to Georgia for a 20-day manuever. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) Military maneuvers Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/6306f2cffb14015546547ef19268e6e5.pdf 0c027d45b7c12d0e7402b1c2b65df16f PDF Text Text ��������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/189a5c5a600de547035954e082b1f275.pdf a29cf058c2f41bcdf5866db2c15a20ec PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-04-20] [Page 1] Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Fla. April 20, 1942. Dear Agnes, Rec’d your letter today and was glad to hear from you. I feel O.K. now since my cold went away. On that hike last week, we hiked 22 miles to start it off, then two days of rest and another long hike back to camp, getting ready for Saturday's inspection. Tonite [sic] we are going out on a problem which will last till dawn. That hike we had last week made us boys tired even [Page 2] though we are used to hiking. At present, I’m on K.P. and just got a break, so I decided to answer your letter. Saturday afternoon, I got a light tan and will keep sunning myself till I get darker. Nothing of interest to write this time and it's the same old routine. Roy was saying to me today that he is going to write you a letter. Carolyn writes to him about three times a week and [Page 3] he doesn’t answer them. I also saw a very good picture which has a lot of laughs in it. The name of it is “The Fleet’s In” with Dorothy Lamour. Where are those pictures you were going to send me? You’ll have to take one wearing your suit so I can see what kind of a man you are. Ha! Ha! So, you think my brother is different, well, I say he isn’t, for I’ve known him a long time. He’s a flattering fool and who can’t be? Not my nature. Tee! Hee! [Page 4] His girlfriend writes to me so that makes us even. I’ve known her since she was knee high to a grasshopper. Nice kid and going to be a school teacher. She’s at college now. So, you have the impression men can’t keep a budget and don’t know where their money goes. You’d be surprised and he can account for every cent. That’s more than women can do? Ha! Ha! [sic] �The weather down here is swell and I’ll bet it's kinda cold up there. How is my cutie pie, Gloria? Haven’t heard from her in a coon’s age? [Page 5] - mistakenly written as page 6 with roman numerals “VI” I’m a wondering if she’s still living. [sic] When is she going to break her heart and write, to bring up my mail percentage. Mail service is free to me, ya know. Ha! Ha! My brother hasn’t written me a letter as yet, except for two cards and I’m going to give him a lecture for not writing. My father was visiting also at my sister’s in Buffalo and only a few miles away from there. We have been wearing our summer clothes a week and it sure is a relief. [Page 6] Ran out of blue lead so I’ll finish with this. What were you trying to do, fool me by writing a letter in pencil and the address with ink? My! My! Well, it's getting around to the time that I’ve got to go to work again, so I’ll close. Give the folks my best regards. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Roy said to give all of you his regards and a big Hello. [Page 7] P.S.S. You ought to see my haircut now. Just as short as I could get it without getting a baldy. [sic] Ha! Ha! I’ve been listening to a woman squealing like a pig on the radio and I wish she were in front of me right now, so that I could throw rotten tomatoes at her. Roy yelled for K.P.’s so off I go. [Envelope front] �P.F.C. Joe Olexa U.S. Army {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING APR 21 3 PM 1942 FLA. FREE {Signature accent mark} Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. [Envelope back] P.F.C. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Fla. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-04-20 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-04-20 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 20, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 20, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated April 21, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while taking a break on K.P. duty and discusses the recent 22 mile hiking trip during training, in addition to their families and the agreeable weather in Florida. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/7f609b8deb88cd4f91ae5d666c3833c6.pdf 841a31441ae737a51002763374d09354 PDF Text Text ���������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/046d52efcd23bb10bbbde0fbab9b275b.pdf eb7f294ff2b497b2e47d66818b445a09 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-04-13] [Page 1] Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Fla. April 13, 1942. Dear Agnes, Rec’d both of your letters and was surprised to get two. Yesterday, some of us boys were invited to attend church in Jacksonville and naturally I went too. We were invited out to dinner by some of the people there and I must say I had a very enjoyable time. Coming back at nite [sic] it was very chilly and now I have a beautiful head cold. I’ve had a nagging headache all day and just about blew Camp Blanding off of the map sneezing. I don’t feel so well at present [Page 2] but in good spirits. Tomorrow we are going on an 18-mile hike and staying [text strikethrough] out there for a 3-day problem. So, I decided to write since we came in a little earlier than usual. The parade was a great success but very hot for us boys who done the marching. It was 2 hours before we got through parading and what a crowd watching us. Our training [sic] is hard as usual and the same. Especially getting into the mud and marsh. Saturday, I put on my swimming trunks and laid out on my invisible beach to get a sun tan. I got burned a little and red, but now I’m just as white as I was before so I’ll try again. [Page 3] I nearly fainted when I got 2 cards from my brother Ollie. He was visiting the place in Ohio where we used to live. The Army is still giving out 2 furloughs in a platoon each week now and if I can scrape up enough money, I may take one, although I don’t want anyone to count on it. I suppose my brother sent you a card or two, too, or am I wrong. That note you got and sent to me was taken from a book, for I took business writing in school and the book I had as a reference gave love letters in the same degree as this one you sent. Believe it or not. I was taught, to put, commas, in sentences, whenever needed, when I went, to school and I readily, can understand, the teachings of “Cushing Academy.” [sic] Ha! Ha! Anyway, it doesn’t, cost, me a cent, �[Page 4] to add, it in. [sic] I’ve come to the conclusion that you count the words in my letters to see how long they are. My! My! - What next? Ha! Ha! So, you’ve set the law on me. Eh! Well, they’ll have a hard time to keep up with me in this man’s Army and I could lose them in these swamps. I believe I know where every mud hole is in these parts, for I haven’t missed a single one of them. So, I’m not afraid. I’ve borrowed Roy’s pen and must say it's a good one. He’s still in the kitchen and we are surviving from his cooking. He’s going to Texas to get married when he gets a furlough. Anyway, the love bug has bitten most of these boys here, for they all are writing to they’re girlfriends [Page 5] and proposing to them. I’ll bet my last dollar you can’t bake a cake as good as I can? Now, you’ve got a challenge. I haven’t looked around yet to see who smokes Kools or Raleigh cigarettes but I shall give an answer about it in my next letter. I can’t remember when Beasie and I gave you a scare, not unless it was riding on the toboggan when I was there. I was referring to the time when Beasie had to give me a kiss to get her money back. I sure get a kick out of that when I think of it. How is my little “Chick a dee” Gloria these days? [sic] Give her my regards and tell her I’m sneezing my tears away for her. Ha! Ha! [Page 6] Between you and I, have you got change for two gun patches? You haven’t? Well, don’t send me any wooden nickels, either, for them. Since I have plenty of stamps and can’t use them, I’m sending you a few, so that you will not have an excuse for not writing. Ha! Ha! How do you like my small writing? Not bad, I must admit and saving a lot of space. When you do make your first million, call me up and I’ll handle the business and [text strikethrough] financial transactions free of charge. Did you get that mannish jacket and skirt yet? I’ll bet you didn’t! You’ve sent this letter and another one with the stamps upside down. I take it as a mistake, but yet I wonder. [Page 7] �Don’t mind me, I’ve known all along. In other words, I’m not blind. How is the weather up there? It’s fine down here and it isn’t a season for ducks either. Don’t forget to give the folks my best regards and a big Hell----o, will you? [sic] The Wennebergs [?] still write to Roy, but I guess he isn’t interested in them anymore. He’s [text strikethrough] {good} got quite a few from Carolyn but hasn’t answered one or two of them so far. I’m about due for Guard duty and kitchen police so I’ve come to a distinct conclusion it will be Saturday and Sunday. I’ve sneezed over fifty times since I started to write this letter and my head feels as if it were like a big balloon. So, I will close till I hear from you again. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} {Signature accent mark} {Signature accent mark} You’d better give up {arrow pointing to his additional signature accent mark mimicking hers} Perfect {arrow pointing to additional signature accent mark} P.S. Where are those pictures you were going to send me? Huh! {Signature accent mark as underlining} Excuse the mistakes for it was my sneezing. {additional signature accent marks} [Envelope front] P.F.C. Joe Olexa U.S. Army {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING APR 14 5 PM 1942 FLA. FREE {Signature accent mark} �Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. [Envelope back] P.F.C. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Florida � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-04-13 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-04-13 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 13, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 13, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated April 14, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while in good spirits, yet feeling under the weather, while at Camp Blanding and after attending the parade and church services in Jacksonville, Florida. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) Jacksonville (Fla.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/2a32331fde24e860e02ff17fd2858499.pdf 71ac9513fa0917513f1ccdb00bcc8b7d PDF Text Text ���������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/1f58dda69944c24009c1a8ec544f6f53.pdf 4f6aa7ba04ba1106bce3d270b10b2a8e PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-04-05] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} AMERICA FOREVER Co. “L,” 26th Inf. Camp Blanding, Fla. April 5, 1942 Dear Agnes, Rec’d your letter today and was glad to hear from you. I’m fine as usual and hope you are the same. You are probably surprised to see that I’m writing in ink. So, am I and its about time. Ain’t it? [sic] We are having the usual hard training and I’ve lost about 10 pounds. I’m as hard as a concrete road nowdays. [sic] I’ll bet if I were to fall down on it, that it would crack. [Page 2] About that furlough, they are giving some out but as I have written before, I won’t be able to take one. Reason: “I’m financially embarrassed.” Ha! Ha! As for receiving a lot of mail, I’ve come to the conclusion that if I should receive many letters, I may break my glass arm writing. Ha! Ha! Anyway, I haven’t much time writing during the week. [sic] So, I finally succeeded in haunting Gloria in her sleep. Well, it was about time for them letters have almost gotten me to a point of being [Page 3] touched in the head. [sic] Ha! ha! All women like tall, dark and handsome men, so I’m proud [to] be short, fat and homely. That proves all women think the same. Ha! Ha! Confidentially, my brother is tall, dark and handsome. Even blue eyes. I should be jealous but I’m not, and want to remain the same as I’ve always been. Am I making you jealous? My, I must be a real meany, ain’t that the card? As for you wringing my neck, you’d have to travel a long [Page 4] �ways to do it. Seems though I’ve read that same sentence in a letter sent to me by you, the 11th of September. I’ve still got my neck in one piece so I’ll pat myself on the back, just for a good measure. The weather here is very hot and I believe I shall take my swimming trunks out of the moth balls and go in for a dip next Sunday. We go swimming every day, though, in the mud and it reminds me of Cowboys and Indians. I used to play that game a running [sic] all of the time and it seems like the Army should grow out of it someday. Ha! Ha! [Page 5] Monday is Army day and our Regiment is going to parade in Jacksonville. “Boy!” I’ll surely [text strikethrough] throw out my chest then. And to think of having a lot of pretty southern belles watching us. Say, just between you and I, confidentially, “what do you think of the rise of price of rice in China?” Ha! Ha! I think the same thing too. I didn’t get out to buy some Easter cards, so I’ll wish all of you a very happy Easter now before I forget. I haven’t written or heard from [Page 6] my brother as yet and that proves I can be as stubborn as he when it comes to a showdown. It runs in the family. Ha! Ha! This free mail service is the ticket for us boys, but when no one cares to write, we’ll just ride along. Got a letter from Florence today and she states that she’s fine and asking how I ain’t and use-to was. [sic] I was almost in the belief that she wasn’t going to write but I was fooled. Did you make your first million yet working? Well, if you didn’t, try again. Ha! Ha! [Page 7] I got a carton of cigarettes from my sister in Buffalo and a card which was swell. I also got a swell card from my brother at college and I didn’t even send a single one. I went to the movies last nite [sic] and saw “Ride ‘Em Cowboy” with Abbott & Costello. I really enjoyed the picture. As yet, we don’t know when we will move from here and I hope it is soon for I’m sick of running around, shooting at nobody. I went to town the other day and the outside world gave me a bad scare, so I ran back to camp and made it in a minute flat. �[Page 8] Roy is a cook nowadays and I’m wondering how us boys will make out with his cooking. I can remember the time when you and he made a cake. I ain’t a saying nuttin [sic], but, boy, how I can, tink. [?] [sic] Ha! Ha! News and thoughts are getting scarce so, I shall close. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} Like this {arrow pointing to his signature accent mark} P.S. Give the folks my best regards. Say, how is Beasie? Did she get over the fright? I don’t think I’ll ever live that day down. Har! Har! [?] [Envelope front] P.F.C. Joe Olexa U.S. Army {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING APR 6 3 PM 1942 FLA. FREE {Signature accent mark} Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. [Envelope back] P.F.C. Joe Olexa Co. L, 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Florida � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-04-05 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-04-05 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, April 5, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated April 5, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated April 6, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while he continues to undergo hard training at Camp Blanding and has lost ten pounds to show for it. He also writes about their escaping the southern heat by swimming in their downtime, the upcoming parade in Jacksonville, Florida for "Army Day," and the recent film he had seen. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) Jacksonville (Fla.) Motion pictures--1940-1950 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/3338ad7d89e2f9c223f45ab50f4dad37.pdf 17e2a792b82610a86c9912bf2f218faa PDF Text Text ������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/1988fd2322ce6fe0aeb2b452a0070609.pdf 6236b8e810cc4a23df2674fc3b79d05a PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-03-28] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} AMERICA FOREVER Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Fla. March 28, 1942 Dear Agnes, Rec’d your letter today and was glad to hear from you. I was surprised to hear that my brother wrote to you. Could you really figure out his writing? I do not owe him a letter, instead he owes me one and I am quite stubborn, at times, if anyone doesn’t answer my letters. [Page 2] What happened to my “Little Sweetie” Gloria? Now I feel awful blue and I guess I’ll have to write and find out whether she is sick or whether Frankie is beating me to the draw. Ha! Ha! Boy, I’ll bet you could wring my neck, if I were there for writing what I did? “Eh.” Ha! Ha! We still are going through our hard training as usual and I must admit my muscles are sore all over. I usually hit the hay early for the rifle I carry now is a lot of weight for carrying about [Page 3] twelve hours a day. We are under orders of immediate action to move out at any time, so our furloughs and passes are discontinued. So, none of us could not leave if we wanted to. We are sleeping out in the open and training in the rain whether it rains or not and at times it gets very annoying but we just grin and bare it. [sic] We have a few reptiles called snakes down here consisting of rattlers, coral snakes, king snakes, and Black snakes. The rattlers and coral snakes are the poisonous ones, while the [Page 4] others are not harmful. We have a venom [?] for rattle snakes but none for a coral snake. The coral snake has bright colors of red, black, and yellow around its body and its bite is a 100% deadly [sic] for no one can be saved. It’s only about a foot long and hangs in the vicinity of pine trees. Some of the boys have killed three so far, but we haven’t seen a rattler as yet. It’s getting a lot warmer, so those writhing things will be out in a little while and I hope that I don’t fall on one while taking up a little of combat trainning [sic], of advancing and hitting the ground. [Page 5] �{Stationary letterhead} AMERICA FOREVER My letters should be longer nowadays [sic] since I write on a Saturday nite [sic] or a Sunday and it depends on what day I get my letters. So far, your letter was the only one this week and I can look back a few months to where I received two a day from the ones I usually write to. Now, the percentage has decreased 98%. Roy just popped in for a chat and asked who I was writing to. [Page 6] He wanted to read your letter, but I didn’t let him. The movies down here at present are old ones and not fit to see, so I’ll have to wait till some good ones come around. I read about those fellows in Australia too and I believe the girls wait till they see someone they like, then nab them so that they can’t get away until they take the steps of matrimony. Well, if I should happen to go there, I’ll let them know I prefer a blonde. Ha! Ha! How is Florence nowdays? [sic] Boy, it’s been a coons age since [Page 7] I’ve heard from her. Give her my regards when you drop her a line. Will close and write when you can. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} You’d better give up. {arrow pointing to his signature accent mark} Ha! Ha! P.S. Give the folks my regards and motto to shut my trap and kill a Jap. [sic] Enclosed is a note to Gloria. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-03-28 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-03-28 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, March 28, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated March 28, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes during a time of hard training at Camp Blanding, where he carries a rifle for twelve hours a day and his division trains rain or shine. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/6450d76931db8a7d4227b0a9365f93f2.pdf ff9c7aef0de9d399ee398a7538ba75c4 PDF Text Text ��������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/2c9a1daa84f48c91b23776dbef049645.pdf 9127dafba7be1c4797363ce24ed214fe PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-03-22] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} AMERICA FOREVER Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Florida March 22, 1942 Dear Agnes, Rec’d your letter today and was glad to hear from you. I sure was surprised to get that one-page letter from Gloria. Confidentially, I think she’s trying to save up on writing paper by writing only one sheet. Ha! Ha! Well, I’m fine as usual and everything on my invisible beach is O.K. The weather is fair and hot with rain mixed in to keep up our morale. We are still training hard and this week will be about twice as hard. [Page 2] We are going to have combat firing at surprise targets which will pop up any place while we are in fighting formations. We are going to use live ammunition. The surprise targets are the shape of a man’s head and shoulders. They represent mortar men and machine gun men. So, when they appear, we will fire at them. Thursday, we had a hike and we trotted most of the way. We’d walk about a 100 yds. then trot. [sic] We covered the same amount of miles in 2 hours as we usually do walking in four and we still carry our equipment with us. I fired the automatic rifle on the range and made high expert. Out of a possible score of 200, I [Page 3] made a 186 only losing 14 points. Of course, we have so many seconds to get a certain number of rounds fired and it isn’t so easy as one might think. My Company Commander complimented me on the good shooting and boy, did I put out my chest. Ha! Ha! Friday, I was on guard duty, which made me very tired and Saturday when I got back, I was put on K.P. and today I am on table waiting, so now, I’m answering your letter in between meals, and besides that we are on alert call for a week at a time. I started to write you a letter in ink and my fountain pen went on the blint, making blots, so, I just got through breaking it to pieces and �[Page 4] now I’ll write in pencil till I can buy a new one. I got a letter from my brother at college and I still haven’t heard from home since the day I was on pass at your place. I don’t see much of Roy nowdays [sic], so I can’t write any news about him. There is a rumor going around that we are going to get a 10-day Easter furlough. I probably will not take one, for it will cost me at least 70 dollars for a round trip home in a day coach. So, I believe you wouldn’t want to come down here for Easter. Not unless you have a good thumb to hitch-hike. Ha! Ha! What were you trying to do, make me feel good by writing that? [Page 5] {Stationary letterhead} AMERICA FOREVER I heard over the radio that General MacArthur sent President Roosevelt a telegram requesting him to send the “Fighting First Division,” which he needs to show the Japs what a hard-hitting force we are. Well, I sure would like to be there with him and I may be there sometime in the near future. The first division’s motto is: No mission, too hard, No sacrifice, too great, Duty first. Our Regimental motto is, “When in doubt, Attack.” [Page 6] My motto is to “Shut my trap and kill a Jap.” Ha! Ha! [sic] Boy, I should have been a novelist, for when the rocks rattle, I can think of a lot of things to write. Ha! Ha! Have to get out on my invisible beach for I heard one of my bathing beauty call for “Help.” [sic] Got out there just in time for some big lug was trying to carry her away. Well, some boys just went by carrying him on a stretcher, so I guess everything is under control again. Have you heard the “latest”? Oh! Neither have I, for it hasn’t come out yet! Ha! Ha! I haven’t written to my brother for he still owes me a letter and don’t blame me if he doesn’t write to [Page 7] you. You will have to excuse my poor writing for I’m writing on a small stand and can’t get the full arm swing at writing. �The automatic rifle magazine holds 20 rounds of ammunition and between the gunner and assistant gunner, we carry 30 such magazines. Well, I shall close and don’t forget to give them my regards. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} Still wrong!! Like this {arrow pointing to his signature accent mark} Ha! Ha! P.S. Remember my motto about the Japs. Oh! You had to read it over. I knew you’d forget what you read. My! My! [Envelope front] {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING MAR 23 3 PM 1942 FLA. {Postage Stamp} UNITED STATES POSTAGE Thomas Jefferson 1801-1809 3 CENTS 3 Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. [Envelope back] P.F.C. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Infantry A.P.O. #1 Camp Blanding, Florida � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-03-22 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-03-22 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, March 22, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated March 22, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated March 23, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes describing the various training activities that are planned for the week including combat firing, hiking with equipment, and firing an automatic rifle on the range. He also continues to write about the "Fighting First Division" and their motto, in addition to their Regimental motto, and his personal thoughts on the subject. Please note, this portion of the letter includes harmful and offensive language toward the Japanese people and should be viewed with awareness and cultural sensitivity. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) Guard duty Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/976728bb6fd87d1d625a1619b6b62cc9.pdf 032de9d927df660b15bf51269c9f1cdd PDF Text Text ��������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/f2dfe9357077fb9b41d55386455f7a00.pdf f277afde1a195ea00c64014acb151bdf PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-03-15] [Page 1] Camp Blanding, Fla. March 15, 1942 Dear Agnes, Rec’d your two letters and I finally got a chance to write. We are doing a lot of hard training since we came down here and I mean it is tough. We are out rain or shine and at present it gets very hot and then it rains to make it all the more miserable. We are having bayonet training, hikes, combat problems, rifle firing, drilling, and so forth. We are on the move nearly every minute. Well if they keep this up, us boys will be ready for anything. After supper I usually hit the hay, for I’m quite tired after a hard day’s work. [Page 2] You have stated the 1st Division is taking life easy, well you are wrong, for we are the only ones doing this so called easy training. On my leisure time which is Sunday and I’m lucky to have the day off. [sic] I usually write unanswered mail and rest a bit. I haven’t gone away from the Post as yet but I’m going to get a 3 day pass just to break up the Army monotony. I believe when the Army hardens us up enough to take a lot, they will ship us to the Front somewhere. It may be in six weeks or a little longer. I’ll bet my new pair of shoes on it too. Well it will not be any too soon for me [sic], for I’m pretty anxious to line my sights on a few Japs. I do not have a rifle anymore. Instead I carry a Auto-matic rifle [sic] which shoots a normal rate of 120 bullets a minute. [Page 3] It can shoot 550 rounds a minute providing a man can load it fast enough. It weighs 21 lbs. and that’s quite a load with your other equipment, without any ammunition. That’s all about the Army situation at present. I weighed myself a week ago and I surely was surprised to tip the scales at 180. I’ve lost some weight since then, though, doing training. Have you written to my brother yet? I’ll bet if you did he doesn’t answer. �Roy has gone crazy again and has proposed to another girl in his hometown. The way he states it, the both of them are coming down here and there sure will be feathers flying if they should get here at the same time. I hope they do, just to see a little fun. [Page 4] He told me last nite [sic] that Carolyn has written about six letters to him already and that he didn’t answer any of them. Another fellow here gets tattooed every chance he gets, so I believe in time the Army will make us all loose in the head one way or another. Well I shall close to flirt with the bathing beauties on the invisible beach outside of our tent. Ha! Ha! As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} like this and not like this Ha! Ha! P.S. Your last letter gives me a lecture and a little praise. Which way shall I take it? Ha! Ha! Don’t forget to give the folks my regards. [Enclosed note to Gloria] [Page 1] Camp Blanding, Fla. March 15, 1942 Hello Sweetie!! Remember me? Oh! Ya do, well that’s fine, it’s only me, the Pest. [sic] It’s your fault for you didn’t write, so here I am writing some more. Sh--- Sh--- Sh. [sic] This letter is a secret and confidential. Oh! It isn’t, well, I figured it would turn invisible before it reached you. My! I read your mind and you said I must be crazy. Well you’re wrong, for I am. Now ain’t that funny. Ha! Ha! Well, see if you can read this {arrow pointing to message written backward} To find the meaning to it, put this letter in front of a mirror, then read it. [Page 2] �Now, for a little of my great adventures. You didn’t think I would forget about it, did you? My! My! Well here it goes, one bright day, in the middle of the nite [sic], two dead boys went out to fight me, and a deaf and dumb policeman heard the noise, went out to kill the two dead boys. Another time, I had a haircutting experience with the Indians. This time I was running like a horse with an Indian chasing and throwing tomahawks at me like rain and every one of them shaved the hair off of my head. Oh! Ya don’t believe it, well neither did I when the barber woke me up after getting a haircut. Ha! Ha! Well, I have to get to work so I’ll close, continuing in the next letter. Don’t forget to write or I shall write [Page 3] some more. As Ever, the Pest P.S. Did I hear you say you were going to write? Boy! That’s fine. Ha! Ha! The work I am to do is to safeguard any prowlers who may try to steal my invisible bathing beach. My next adventures will be about my Flea and Ant Circus and my two trained boxing Bed Bugs. [Envelope front] {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING MAR 16 5 PM 1942 FLA. {Postage Stamp} UNITED STATES POSTAGE Thomas Jefferson 1801-1809 3 CENTS 3 �Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. [Envelope back] P.F.C. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Infantry A.P.O. #1 Camp Blanding, Florida � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-03-15 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-03-15 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, March 15, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated March 15, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated March 16, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after receiving two of her letters and finally finding a chance to respond during a period of hard training in intense heat and rain. He continues to describe their training exercises during the week and his leisure time on Sundays, in addition to his upcoming three-day pass and being shipped to the front in the months ahead. Enclosed in his letter is an additional note to Agnes' younger sister, Gloria. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/153486e4a35715053f4ca612db749417.pdf 0a6bc878562169e2dcd983ece6718be6 PDF Text Text ������ https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/7870963f5e696fdf23b4eba8d7a77860.pdf c58218e64708f5f30ebf212b1ac6c3ad PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-03-08] [Page 1] A.P.O. #1 Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Camp Blanding, Fla. March 8, 1942 {Stationary Letterhead} U.S. ARMY Dear Agnes, Rec’d your letter and the package. The skull cap is just the ticket and thanks a million for it. Also for the cigarettes, candy and cookies. The cookies were broken to crumbs but they were good. We go swimming nearly every day down here. The reason being that it rains about 5 days a week and we are out doing training in it. The days with sunshine are swell and they usually are weekends. I haven’t been off of the post as yet but I may go next Saturday to see what the outside world is like. No, we don’t have a ration on ink and I seldom use it for I don’t like to write with a pen. Things around here are pretty quiet and I don’t like it that way. No [Page 2] rumors as yet about us leaving and we don’t know what the Army will do. I don’t express my feelings much so I just like to keep them all guessing. As for writing to my brother, you can, and if he answers your letters he will be doing a lot. For I usually have to speak my mind for him to write. How are the folks and don’t forget to give them my best regards? Has your mother become fond of that stove your Dad bought? I went to the show last nite [nite] and saw Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn in “Woman of the Year.” It was a good picture and it knocked down hard on the women. Boy! That tickled me! Well I shall close till the next time. As Ever, �Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Writing a note to Gloria. [Enclosed note to Gloria] [Page 1 - front] {Stationary letterhead} U.S. ARMY Hello “Sweetie,” Agnes wrote and told me you were mad for writing a sarcastic letter. When I went to school my teacher always said only dogs get mad and I still believe in that old saying. She also stated that you aren’t going to write to me anymore. Not even a Hello or Hi Pest. Well that makes me feel awful sad. You didn’t even write and here I am writing and that proves that I don’t get mad. Did you enjoy your stay in Gardner? I enjoyed a few days down here myself swimming and crawling in the water, in a pouring rain. After getting in I went to wash and looked myself into a mirror. [sic] Staring a few minutes with a grunt of approval, I finally decided it was only my shadow. Another time I was walking around [Page 1 - back] with my head off and in my hands, when the Company Commander just happened along. He asked me the silly question of what I was doing. So, I put my head back on and said, “Sir, I was just looking for some loose bolts that seemed to rattle every once in a while.” Oh! You don’t believe it, well I thought you wouldn’t anyway. Did I ever tell you about a whale and me? Oh! There wasn’t much to it, because he had a big tail. Ha! Ha! That sure was funny and don’t laugh will you. I’ll continue my great experiences in the next letter, so don’t miss the next chapter. Will close and if you don’t write, I’ll write some more. Ha! Ha! As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} or Pest as you call me. For Gloria �{Signature accent mark} [Envelope front] {Postmark} CAMP BLANDING MAR 9 5 PM 1942 FLA. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. [Envelope back] P.F.C. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Infantry A.P.O. #1 Camp Blanding, Florida � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-03-08 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-03-08 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, March 8, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated March 8, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated March 9, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes sharing his experiences at Camp Blanding including their training during the rain-filled weekdays and their weekends spent swimming in the sunshine. Enclosed in his letter is an additional note to Agnes' younger sister, Gloria. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Camp Blanding (Fla.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/6f3907ad760f1d2b9b188ba4e4271214.pdf 6e322bab9ae2e0476e4fd399b520512c PDF Text Text ���������� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/ca587a75a75d12dadf837cbc84960596.pdf ac3c7788a3094eada9b49f7fdbdc1e74 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-02-24] [Page 1] February 24, 1942 Co. L, 26th Inf. A.P.O. #1 Camp Blanding, Fla. {Hand-drawn sketch of a U.S.A. fighter plane with letters spelling “VICTORY” underneath} Dear Agnes, Rec’d your letter today and was surprised to get. [sic] In fact, it beat me down here. We left Sunday morning and got down here Monday nite. [sic] The trip wasn’t so bad but it was raining when we got off of the train. We had to hike in it about a mile and a half to our tents. Our living quarters isn’t so bad and we have hot [Page 2] showers. This Camp is bigger than Devens and further away from town. I like that. {arrow pointing to previous sentence} We are forty miles from the city of Jacksonville near a little town called Starke. The sun is shining today and most of the boys are on details about the camp. [sic] Gloria told me all about you falling down the steps and the way she wrote it made me chuckle. Roy went down to Wenneberg’s [?] Friday and got his camera which they hadn’t sent to him. [Page 3] He said they didn’t mention a thing about the feud. By the way he talks, they treated him quite nice; he got a letter from them today. I haven’t seen my blonde yet but all I need is a little time to get situated. Ha! Ha! Well, I’m a wondering [sic] how long it will be before we will have to move again. They say that some of the men out of each company are going to be transfered to make up new outfits. I guess the boys that do go will get ratings. I don’t believe that I shall get transferred although I’m not sure. [Page 4] I got some cookies from a woman I know today and they tasted good. At least I had a couple of them before they were gobbled up. �Well, I’ve run out of news, so I will close and write when you can. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. I’m enclosing a note [to] Gloria. What do you think of that sub that shelled the oil refinery in California? Give the folks my regards. [Enclosed note to Gloria] [Page 1 - front] Gloria {Signature accent mark} {Hand-drawn letterhead with “V” made up of stars} Hello Sweetie, Now is that nice to correct me on my spelling. [sic] “Oh!” me, seems as though I’ll have to recheck my letters and I hate to do that. So, you’re not worried anymore about your debt from what I hear. Well, I’m full of surprises, so if I haunt you in your sleep, it’s only “me.” Surprised you, didn’t I, when I collected two kisses. Well, you ought to know that I’m not bashful or even blush. I laughed up my [Page 1 - back] sleeve for I nearly took your breath away. What was the matter? Didn’t think I would do it? “Eh!” Just give me a little time on the Blonde situation, after all - I just got here. A little time ought to do it. Claypool comes over every 5 minutes to look at that picture of yours and if he keeps a comin’ over, I might give it to him. �Don’t you even envy me a little for being down where it is like summer! “Boy”!! [sic] I hope it snows like the dickens up there. While you’re shoveling snow, I’ll be swimming or better yet, set in the shade and take life easy. [sic] Isn’t that going to be ducky. Oh! Boy!! [sic] [Page 2 - front] {Hand-drawn sketch of an open book with the words “Victory or Bust Trying”} Don’t mind my writing for this weather is getting me. In fact, I don’t believe this is Florida or is it. Well, I will close and write again sometime. Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Don’t call me pest anymore or I’ll raise the debt. I just put the drawing on to take up a little writing space. [Envelope front] {Postmark} STARKE FEB 25 8:30 AM 1942 FLA. {Postage Stamp} UNITED STATES POSTAGE Thomas Jefferson 1801-1809 3 CENTS 3 Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. [Envelope back] P.F.C. Joe Olexa Co. L, 26th Inf. A.P.O. #1 Camp Blanding, Florida � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-02-24 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-02-24 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 24, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 24, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Camp Blanding, Florida, dated February 25, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes sharing the news of her latest letter awaiting him as he made the train trip down to Camp Blanding. He also discusses the conditions they experienced as they hiked to their new living quarters, how their new camp compares to Fort Devens, and his thoughts on a potential transfer in the future. Enclosed in his letter is an additional note to Agnes' younger sister, Gloria. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Fort Devens (Mass.) Camp Blanding (Fla.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/d5379081e41c69bb71d5249823884788.pdf c9cf55a2b28df19580fca4617ec9250f PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/128e862b63a83a30b13f2c7016e7f24e.pdf 1a4160c8d3f071d595695441b9e6ad7d PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-02-16] [Page 1] Co. L, 26th Inf. Fort Devens, Mass. February 16, 1942 Dear Agnes, Got to Camp O.K. but missed that bus I wanted to take at 10:30. I went down to the Park Square and bumped into Roy and that fellow you saw down at Whalom. I had K.P. today and I sure made up for that 3 day pass I took. We are leaving Thursday for our company has to police up the whole Regimental Area. After the 20th, my address will be as I have written on the next page. [Page 2] P.F.C. Joe Olexa (12016893) Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O. #1 Camp Blanding, Florida I forgot to thank your mother and Dad for the use of the car, so I shall thank them for everything in the next few lines. First, I want to express my heartfelt thanks for their kindness, which is beyond words. I’ve enjoyed every moment of my visits up there and I shall always remember it. Last, yet, not the least, I am very grateful for the trouble of taking me to Fitchburg on Sundays. [Page 3] Anyway in a simple form of words, Thanks a million and at that, I’m not half giving my true expressions and feelings. [sic] I haven’t much to write, so I will close. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Tell Gloria I’ll collect the debt she owes me the next time I get around this way. Ha! Ha! I shall write again when we get to our new home. When I get my first [?], I'll send [?] him to you for a souvenir. �[Envelope front] {Postmark} - partially illegible AYER FEB [?] 12 PM 1942 MASS. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. [Envelope back] P.F.C. Joe Olexa Co. L, 26th Infantry Fort Devens, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-02-16 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 1942-02-16 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 16, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 16, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, dated February 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after returning to camp at Fort Devens and sharing the news of their next move to Camp Blanding, Florida. He also writes to express his sincere gratitude towards Agnes' parents for the kindness they have shown him during his visits and travels. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Fort Devens (Mass.) Camp Blanding (Fla.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/5d42037ea129c840d2a22fe2d723bc5b.pdf 0cfa23dfad645a9d54a191b73c344d0b PDF Text Text ���� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/e2a4415b330ebae267c32ffd7c1b256b.pdf 9c9eeb9fa38ee395bf16bae2e97e7dee PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-02-09] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} 26th Infantry Co. “L” Fort Devens, Mass. February 9, 1942 Dear Agnes, Got back to camp O.K. and I did write a few letters till the lites went out last nite. [sic] Today we had inside classes but tomorrow we have a full-field hike. Roy is in good spirits but I believe he won’t go to see Carolyn anymore. He wants you to get him a date with another girl around there so that he can walk by “Wennebergs” and make them burn up all the more. Well, the girl he has in Texas may be his bride providing he can get down there. Ha! Ha! Inside information. We are getting ready to leave again and they say we will move before the 22nd of this month. [Page 2] When I got back, I found one pair of shoe laces which I had intended to give your father. Instead I gave him four pairs and not five, which I thought I had given him. I’m putting in for a 3 day pass and hope I get it. If not, I’ll come up after the Dentist is through working on me. How is Gloria now days [sic]? Is she still in a gloom about Cushing losing the basketball game? She had better wish for a lot of snow in order to buy us the ice cream and losing the bet. [sic] Ha! Ha! Will close, for I haven’t much to write. Give the folks my regards. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Answer when you can. Claypool sends his best regards to you and Gloria. Ha! Ha! �[Envelope front] {Postmark} - partially illegible AYER FEB 12 1942 MASS. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. [Envelope back] P.F.C. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Fort Devens, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-02-09 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 1942-02-09 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 9, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 9, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, dated February 12, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after returning to camp at Fort Devens on the previous day and discussing that day's indoor classes in addition to the following day's full-field hike for their military training. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Fort Devens (Mass.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/b3a225c2b9785bd6fcc97de0f7d310e4.pdf 2c929bf7764da817df4701171ee94ddf PDF Text Text ������ https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/e4eaca4de725d4788a3bc49ba1c93181.pdf 84c9f12a83b2b5b0ac496eadf5fd3984 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-02-04] [Page 1] Fort Devens, Mass. Co. “L,” 26th Infantry February 4, 1942 Dear Agnes, After I got out of your dad’s car Sunday I had to wait till 11:30 for the bus. I missed the other one about 5 minutes before I got there. This morning we had a 4 hour hike and it sure was cold. We could hardly keep warm walking. It was so cold the water in my canteen froze solid. In the afternoon we went through a tear gas chamber to test our gas masks for leaks or flaws. It wasn’t bad with a gas mask on but when we got outside and took the masks off our eyes smarted a little. This was due to the gas being on our clothes. Two fellows didn’t have their masks adjusted right and they sure did get out [Page 2] of the Chamber in a hurry. They coughed and cried. You should have been here to go through. [sic] From the way Claypool talks he put me in a bad spot again. I know all about the letter he sent Gloria. He claims he did it just for meanness. I hope you and Gloria don’t take them letters serious. [sic] I’m starting out to apologize but the circumstances, at present, make me feel unpleasant and in an uneasy position. So if both of you are mad, don’t forget to cuss at me loud enough to hear it. Carolyn’s mother has written to Roy and she claims Carolyn cries quite a lot and said that Carolyn didn’t go to that skating party. She also stated that you talk and lie too much and that is why Carolyn [Page 3] doesn’t go with you anymore. I kinda laugh to myself thinking about Carolyn missing him. Roy says he isn’t going up there anymore but time will tell. They also sent him a telegram to have him call them up. He called them last Saturday but I don’t know what they said to him. I’m kinda hurrying to write this letter for the lights will be out in twenty minutes. I went to the show tonite [sic] and saw Dr. Kildare’s Victory. It was pretty good. �This Sunday (Feb. 8) we go on alert at 4 o’clock till Monday at 4 o’clock. If I get out of the dentist’s early enough, I’ll come down. If I don’t, I will not be able to come. I still haven’t heard from home so tomorrow I’m going to write and find out the [Page 4] reason. Well, the lights will be out pretty soon so I shall close. Don’t forget to write soon and if you don’t I’ll know that you are mad. Give the folks my regards and tell them the weather is the same now as it was this morning which is very cold. Ha! Ha! As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. I’m not re-reading this, so overlook the mistakes and writing. [Envelope front] {Postmark} AYER FEB 4 11:00 AM 1942 MASS. {Postmark} FORT DEVENS STA. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. [Envelope back] P.F.C. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Fort Devens, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-02-04 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 1942-02-04 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 4, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 4, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, dated February 4, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes discussing his most recent military training exercises including a 4-hour hike in the freezing cold and their experience testing their gas masks in a tear gas chamber. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Fort Devens (Mass.) Tear gas 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/f9de3971fd42a99220b904cc0fcb8039.pdf ea22fa554dce041780bf49fc91bd6585 PDF Text Text ������ https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/5894f1587b5b2d8868a64b4df7e949c3.pdf 6334551715dd2811f0c66cccc98d0e68 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-01-26] [Page 1] Fort Devens, Mass. Co. “L,” 26th Infantry January 26, 1942 Dear Agnes, Got back to Camp O.K. last nite and very sleepy. [sic] Since I told you what I knew it will be kinda hard to write. Today, we had rifle exercise, close order drill, a lecture on gas and instructions on the machine gun and mortar. Tomorrow, we are going on an all day hike with a full field pack. I guess us boys will feel tired when we get back. Roy is feeling quite spry at present for he’s lying on a bunk, singing his blues away. Last nite [sic] coming home he had the [Page 2] blues and tries to tell me he isn’t going to Carolyn’s anymore. It’s the same old story for me. I forgot to thank your father for the ride to Fitchburg, so you can thank him for me. I’m getting absent-minded now days. [sic] I got a letter from my brother who is at college and now he’s studying hard to pass some of his mid-year exams so you’re not the only one. Claypool don’t believe me [sic] about him writing to you and getting acquainted. Now ain’t that something. I liked the frame your dad made for the big picture I gave you. Well, I must admit, I wish I could make them myself. This Saturday is pay-day and I’ll be flooded with money until I [Page 3] make an appointment to have my teeth fixed. I shall try to get down there by six o’clock Saturday nite [sic] but I’m going to do some shopping first. Gloria forgot to hold hands with me last night, so tell her I’m going to wait until next week. She better not blush either. Ha! Ha! Well I shall close for I’ve run out of news. Write soon. �I’ll bet your mid-year marks will be low. I hope you get 0. Ha! Ha! As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Roy’s gone crazy singing here trying to make me miserable while writing. [Page 4] Don’t forget to give me the news of myself when you write for someone knows more about me than I do myself. [sic] This letter isn’t the one I had written Sunday. [Envelope front] {Postmark} - partially illegible AYER JAN [?] 11 AM 1942 MASS. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. [Envelope back] P.F.C. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Fort Devens, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-01-26 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-01-26 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, January 26, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated January 26, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, dated January 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after returning back to camp at Fort Devens and shares the military exercises he had completed that day, in addition to the all-day hike planned for their training activity the following day. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Fort Devens (Mass.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/2bb6b016b33518f37ec03d00200bad3d.pdf ac99b55c43aeb933b110bc3bf14fc22a PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/b8bfaad08c9ff69ed7ff3bfdcd825152.pdf d3bb90e13c0bdd6b462e3a0a94f993a6 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-01-19] [Page 1] Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Fort Devens, Mass. January 19, 1942 Dear Agnes, Arrived here from our trip early this morning. We were plenty tired and I don’t mean maybe. I had written you a letter while on the boat. Did you get it? Our mail was being censored coming in and going. We were not allowed to write anything about the trip or even how the weather was where we were. We went on a boat trip and made one boat landing and stayed in Port at Norfolk, Virginia till the 17th. The ship was a palace compared with the one we had in July and August. I don’t know why we didn’t stay [Page 2] there longer and I really did think that we wouldn’t come back to Ft. Devens. By the way you wrote, I thought sure that [sic] the snow was plentiful but it’s all gone. Instead it’s raining like the dickens out now. Did you get the pictures? If you didn’t, send me the receipt and I will go down to get them. I’ll try to come down this Saturday providing I am not on K.P. or special duty. My hair got into my eyes while on maneuvers, so I had it cut short. So, my curl is gone till my hair grows longer. Did I read your letter correctly for you stated you’re not bashful? I believe that! Ha! Ha! Well, if Gloria is going to have [Page 3] another boyfriend, she should practice holding hands with me on occasion to get used to it. Ha! Ha! Will close for I haven’t much to write. Don’t forget to send the receipt, providing you didn’t get the pictures. Give the folks my regards. �As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Write soon. [Envelope front] {Postmark} - partially illegible AYER MASS. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. [Envelope back] Pvt. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Fort Devens, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-01-19 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-01-19 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, January 19, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated January 19, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, dated January 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after returning back to Fort Devens from their boat trip and recent stay in Norfolk, Virginia, and discusses how he wrote to her aboard the boat and how the mail continues to be censored between them. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Fort Devens (Mass.) Postal service--Censorship 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/c7b61ada1f79c6d9f5106394a562d48b.pdf 5472c8cbb7c4b8061e1576d2330168b9 PDF Text Text ���� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/291345c53f687b125389677880ceca57.pdf 5982b07ea3925973a1f6cfc914c7922b PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-01-15] [Page 1] January 15, 1942 Dear Agnes, Received your two letters and was glad to hear from you. I’m fine as usual and hope you are the same. Did you get the portrait pictures of me yet? You should have, if you didn’t. So, you are taking up first aid. I’ll bet at the sight of blood on a little cut, you’d faint. [sic] Am I right? Carolyn can cook up a lot of rumors and it surprises me to hear she knows more about me than I do myself. I got a letter from my sister and I must say she is quite prompt. You’ll have to excuse my [Page 2] writing for I’m in an awkward position. Gloria must have been thinking of Charlie when she put her boots on the wrong feet. Ha! Ha! I don’t think I shall need anything for a while but when I do, I’ll let you know. Has Richard still got the watch I gave him? I’ll bet Junior took it away from him. Our mail is censored coming in and going out. I don’t blame them for doing it, either. Well, I shall close and write when you can. Give my regards to the folks. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} [Envelope front] {Postmark} - partially illegible �U.S. JAN 17 1942 CANCELLED [?] Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. [Envelope back] Pvt. Joe Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Infantry A.P.O. #1 Fort Devens, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-01-15 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-01-15 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, January 15, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated January 15, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, dated January 17, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after receiving two letters from her and discusses various subjects such as Agnes taking First Aid training, the portrait photographs that he mailed to her, and how their mail is censored in the Army. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence First aid Postal service--Censorship 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/a8994b7da9c2ebedc1aa039bb0a76b3d.pdf 1d4c039d50900be05a578d32233d52c9 PDF Text Text ����� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/12e874965692be19cf2e0a0c52f8230e.pdf 3ce45ac607e410f6adadb2593fec1231 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1942-01-05] [Page 1] Co. “L,” 26th Infantry A.P.O. #1 Fort Devens, Mass. January 5, 1942 Dear Agnes, Got back to camp O.K. and very sleepy at that. The rumor is that we are going to leave Thursday. If I get the chance, I will come up but I cannot promise. Carolyn’s mother has the impression that you made me stay at your house and wouldn’t let me visit them. How do you like that? Roy must have talked quite a lot and I could kick his teeth in. Well, how did you make out with your Oral topic? I’ll bet a quarter you didn’t go to [Page 2] school today. Is that nice!! Our address has changed again from the one I gave you, so I’ll write the new one at the end of this letter. I am sending you the dollar, so when you get the pictures you can send them to my home. Now, don’t write a flattering letter to my brother or I’ll get pretty mad. Ha! Ha! We are having the usual training to brush up on what we had forgotten and I must say that I know most of it. [Maybe I’m bragging] Boy, Roy sure tries to make himself big around Carolyn’s, but here its a different story. It sure makes me laugh. Did you get enough sleep Sunday nite [sic]? If you didn’t, [Page 3] it’s your own fault. I’m pretty tired myself at present and I’m going to bed early tonite [sic]. Believe it or not. Well, I shall close although this is a short letter, yet I haven’t much to write. Give the folks my regards and tell them, I think they’re tops. So long and write soon. �As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. Don’t lose that receipt. Address Pvt. Joe Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Infantry A.P.O. #1 Fort Devens, Mass. [Envelope front] Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. [Envelope back] Pvt. Joe Olexa (12016893) Co. “L,” 26th Infantry A.P.O. #1 Fort Devens, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1942-01-05 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-01-05 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, January 5, 1942 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated January 5, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, dated January 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after returning back to camp at Fort Devens, providing her with his latest address and discussing his confidence in their usual training activities. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Fort Devens (Mass.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/82656a3f014450d49d9129f054acff49.pdf d09bee0503658b7dbc1d11fec8ff7b1c PDF Text Text ������ https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/512f17a0c72c24cc3ad265f877316378.pdf 7a582bd30a111be23430fa64ca9abc8c PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1941-12-17] [Page 1 - front] {Stationary letterhead} 26th Infantry Co. “L,” Fort Devens, Mass. December 17, 1941 Dear Agnes, Rec’d your note and two letters that you sent. I had just begun to answer your first letter when I got your last one. So, I’m writing a new one. By your first letter I sure was undecided whether I should, if I had the chance, to come up. I might have been afraid to lose my neck if I did. I was plenty sore myself when Roy got his pass and I didn’t. I don’t know how he does it but I guess a little handshaking does the trick. I don’t handshake is probably why I don’t get along. [sic] Anyway, I’m not like that and if I can’t get one without handshaking I don’t want it. [Page 1 - back] We were on the alert last Saturday and Sunday. Every three days we are supposed to go on the alert. This Friday and Saturday we fire on the range and by the time we get in and clean our rifles, it is quite late. I shall try to make it Saturday nite [sic], if it isn’t too late. I hope I’m not put on K.P. for Sunday and if they do, I may blow my top. Us boys, who haven’t had a furlough yet, might as well stop thinking of getting one. This also makes me mad for I deserve one just as much as the rest. They might break they’re [sic] heart and give us a pass for Christmas but at present, I have my doubts for that too. I haven’t been off of the Post since we came back from North Carolina, believe it or not. We even have to sign our name in the orderly room to go to a show on the Post, so they will know where we are at if they need us. [Page 2 - front] {Stationary letterhead} 26th Infantry The two shows I liked best were “Swamp Water” and “Sundown.” Gene Tierney was in Sundown and she’s a gal that would make any man’s heart go pitter-patter. Most of the time we are kept busy doing something. �I got a letter and a gift from one of my sisters. Well, I sure was surprised. She sent me stationary and a lovely box and stamps. She said another package would follow. She wants me to spend a few days with her providing I get my furlough. Her husband and I used to go to school together. I also heard from my two brothers and they also want me to visit them. Well, to visit the four of you I’d have about 2800 miles to cover in a round trip. My folks don’t worry so much about me for they know that I have been away from home long enough to take care of myself. So, you couldn’t figure out the answers to the riddles? My! My! I thought you were smarter than that. They are easy. That bet we made was 5 dollars, so I think you’re in debt. However, I’ll settle for a home made cake providing I see you make it. Don’t you think that I’m being fair? I have a few items in mind in the line of a Christmas present and each one I think would make a nice present, so I’m undecided on which one you’ll like the best. I haven’t forgotten the things you sent to me, so my present will make it even. Now, just because I’m getting you a present, I don’t want you to figure on getting me one. If you do, I’ll get mad. Roy has Carolyn’s present already. He told me Carolyn was mad at him again! If I cannot make it Saturday nite [sic] up to Ashburnham, I’ll try [text strikethrough] Sunday, that is if I don’t have to do duty. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} Answer when you can. P.S. Excuse the writing, for a fellow just made me do it. [arrow pointing to text strikethrough] [Envelope front] {Postmark} AYER DEC 18 4:00 PM 1941 MASS. {Postmark} FORT DEVENS STA. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. �[Envelope back] Pvt. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Fort Devens, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1941-12-17 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 1941-12-17 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, December 17, 1941 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated December 17, 1941. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, dated December 18, 1941. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while his hopes of receiving a furlough or a pass for the Christmas season are diminishing. He also writes of the recent movies he has seen, including "Swamp Water" and "Sundown" featuring Gene Tierney, and his hope for visiting Agnes in Ashburnham that weekend. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Motion pictures--1940-1950 Tierney, Gene 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/7fdccc32c5be6ec8adf0b05db1ca2d33.pdf 0fc8e45e7d165cca21fdd9c0e945b905 PDF Text Text ���� https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/845543e35474c99068ae684b7baf8392.pdf 488ee55ecc576aa71007e074d33e5999 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1941-12-14] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} 26th Infantry Co. “L,” Fort Devens, Mass. Dec. 14, 1941 Dear Agnes, I am so sorry that I could not get away from the Post. I didn’t get my pass and I sure was mad. We are on an alert every second day for Sentry duty on the outside, if we are called. Roy must have a horseshoe in his pocket to get a pass. This Friday and Saturday, I am to go out on the firing range but if I get back early enough, I will try to make it up to your place. You probably have the impression by now that I don’t want to go up. If you have, you’re wrong, for I’m not mad. All furloughs have been cancelled for the present. [Page 2] I’m getting a lot of tough breaks nowdays [sic], so I just grin and bear it. I have heard from home and they said that they would like to see me for Xmas. If I don’t get my furlough they will be disappointed. I’m expecting most anything to happen nowdays. [sic] Have you figured out the riddles yet? Well, I shall close and I am sorry that I couldn’t come. The old saying is, you can’t depend on soldiers. Write to me soon. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} P.S. If there are no more furloughs in the future, I shall come down to your place for Christmas. Am I invited? �[Envelope front] {Postmark} - partially illegible AYER DEC. [?] [?] MASS. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. [Envelope back] Pvt. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Fort Devens, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1941-12-14 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 1941-12-14 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, December 14, 1941 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated December 14, 1941. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, dated December 1941. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes during a period of being on alert for sentry duty and a series of "tough breaks" while all furloughs are being cancelled, but still holding onto hope that he can visit his family or Agnes for the Christmas holiday. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Guard duty Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)</a> Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/a657b495703c436dddfd07e88ef99ef1.pdf 293418fbe9c5080fbe5cdbf6fac82f67 PDF Text Text ������ https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/606711c004f66d5997d4baa42761c99d.pdf 0a8ba98faa05a5ac59baf92ca0297cd0 PDF Text Text [RHC-93_Olexa_1941-12-10] [Page 1] {Stationary letterhead} 26th Infantry Co. “L,” Fort Devens, Mass. December 10, 1941 Dear Agnes, Rec’d your letter today and was glad to hear from you. Most of the boys went on furlough today and since there are not many here at present, we don’t have much to do. Us boys don’t take the war situation too hard and we are ready to leave when told. All we can do at present is to keep our chin up. How long we will remain in Fort Devens will be a question. I’m still undecided whether I should go home or stay here. My wish was that if I was away from home when war was declared, I wouldn’t go home. If I did go home it would be hard on myself, as well as my folks. I have no worries and one life to live so I’m going to make the best of it. [Page 2] I’ve been away from home a long time so I believe my folks will not take this situation so hard. If I do go on furlough, I’ll spend my time with a few friends that I know. Well, that’s all about my little troubles at present and I’ve won my bet with you so pay up. Ha! Ha! I knew Roy’s folks were writing to Carolyn and her mother but Roy had a hard time to have his folks write to them. I shall try to be down this Saturday providing I am not on duty or Guard. No civilians are allowed to come on the Post, since we are at war. I even have to get a special pass to leave the Post myself, so you see the Army is getting strict. So, you gave me a ring by telephone! I might believe it and I may not. Ha! Ha! Yes, I got your last letter and card while in Carolina but I was quite busy believe it or not, and didn’t have time to write. [Page 3] �{Stationary letterhead} 26th Infantry Punchy went home today on furlough and I believe he has graduated from smelling furniture. I have heard from my brother at College [sic] and expect a letter from home and sisters sometime this week. My, it’s too bad that Gloria and Charlie are on the outs. I’ll bet she still likes him but won’t admit it. I did hear Pres. Roosevelt’s speech Monday and most of us were sure that he would ask for a declaration of war. All of the boys have to be back by the 2nd of January and I believe we will do a lot of training. How are your marks in school? I hope they’re all zero’s, just to be mean. I am trying to make this letter a little longer but you know, I’m running out of brains again. [Page 4] Will close and write when you can. Give my regards to the folks. As Ever, Joe {Signature accent mark} Just thought of a few riddles. Can you answer them? P.S. 1. How far can a man go into the woods? 2. If a man had a hay field with 3 ⅓ hay stacks in one corner and 4 16/17 hay stacks in the other corner? How many hay stacks would he have if he put them all together? 3. If a lot of trees are a forest! What is a single tree? 4. A man had a fox, a goose and a bushel of corn. He came to a river and had to take them across by a boat one at a time. How did he do this without the fox eating the goose or the goose eating the corn? [Envelope front] {Postmark} AYER DEC 11 11:00 AM 1941 �MASS. {Postmark} - partially illegible FORT [DEVENS] STA. Miss Agnes Van Der Weide 11 Main Street Ashburnham, Mass. [Envelope back] Pvt. Joe Olexa Co. “L,” 26th Infantry Fort Devens, Mass. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joe Olexa letters Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Olexa, Joseph P. Van Der Weide, Agnes Description An account of the resource Collection of letters between Joseph Olexa and Agnes Van Der Weide, dating from 1941 to 1946. Olexa fought in the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Division, Company "L", and eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Over the course of World War II, Olexa was engaged in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Belgium, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. While deployed abroad, Olexa maintained regular correspondence with Agnes Van Der Weide, a young woman he met through mutual friends. Agnes was the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie (Ter Meer) Van Der Weide. The Van Der Weide family lived in Jamestown, Michigan and Ashburnham, Massachusetts until moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943. While the letters do not contain details relating to Olexa's military activities, due to heavy censorship of soldiers' correspondence by the U.S. Army, the letters do depict the daily activities of an infantry soldier and illustrate the blossoming romance between the two. Joseph and Agnes were married July 23, 1945, and lived in West Michigan until Agnes's death in 1993. Joseph Olexa died December 3, 2000. They were survived by their son, Karl Olexa. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1941/1946 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/543">Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence (RHC-93)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93 Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-93_Olexa_1941-12-10 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 1941-12-10 Title A name given to the resource Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, December 10, 1941 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated December 10, 1941. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, dated December 11, 1941. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while most of "the boys" are out on furlough, questioning how long they will be stationed at Fort Devens, and wondering about a potential declaration of war during President Roosevelt's recent speech. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th World War, 1939-1945 Soldiers -- Michigan Correspondence Fort Devens (Mass.) United States. President (1933-1945 : Roosevelt) 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