Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 24, 1942
United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th
World War, 1939-1945
Soldiers -- Michigan
Correspondence
Fort Devens (Mass.)
Camp Blanding (Fla.)
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.
Olexa, Joseph P.
Joseph P. Olexa WWII memoir and correspondence, (RHC-93)
Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
In Copyright
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 16, 1942
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.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 9, 1942
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.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 4, 1942
Tear gas
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.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, January 26, 1942
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.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, January 19, 1942
Postal service--Censorship
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.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, January 15, 1942
First aid
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.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, January 5, 1942
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.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, December 17, 1941
Motion pictures--1940-1950
Tierney, Gene
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.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, December 14, 1941
Guard duty
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.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, December 10, 1941
United States. President (1933-1945 : Roosevelt)
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.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, December 7, 1941
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated December 7, 1941. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, dated December 8, 1941. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after arriving back at Fort Devens and filling her in on the latest news regarding furloughs over the holidays and his Thanksgiving spent in the field.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, November 9, 1941
Greensboro (N.C.)
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated November 9, 1941. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, dated November 9, 1941. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while staying at a YMCA in Greensboro, North Carolina on a hospitality trip and sharing the news that he most likely won't be able to return home for Thanksgiving that year.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, November 3, 1941
Fort Bragg (N.C.)
Military maneuvers
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated November 3, 1941. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, dated November 4, 1941. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes as he is leaving for his last maneuver at Fort Bragg before returning back to Fort Devens in Massachusetts. He also writes in great detail telling her the story of his latest manuever, which illustrates some of his most focused and impassioned writing and causes him to wonder why he hadn't become a news writer for his profession.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, October 26, 1941
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated October 26, 1941. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, dated October 27, 1941. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while being visited by a dog at camp and sharing his harrowing experience during their five day manuever, while anticipating the twelve day problem that is to follow the next day.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, October 19, 1941
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated October 19, 1941. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, dated October 21, 1941. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes thanking her for her recent "novel" of a letter and letting her know more about his trip down south to North Carolina and his life at Fort Bragg so far.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, October 8, 1941
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated October 8, 1941. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, dated October 9, 1941. In the letter, Joe writes multiple pages to Agnes discussing how he and his peers compare with the young men of 1917 that preceeded them, the difficult maneuvers they are facing, and how he hopes to see Agnes and her folks before he leaves for North Carolina.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, October 6, 1941
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated October 6, 1941. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, dated October 6, 1941. In the letter, Joe writes briefly to Agnes discussing his recent time spent going to the movies and Whalom Park, in addition to packing for their future move to Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, September 30, 1941
Grand Rapids (Mich.)
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated September 30, 1941. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, dated October 1, 1941. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after an enjoyable weekend together with her parents, thanking them for their hospitality and wondering what her plans will be when she returns to living in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, September 25, 1941
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated September 25, 1941. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, dated September 26, 1941. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after being on K.P. duty and discusses his upcoming transition to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and his potential visit to see her that upcoming Saturday. Joe also mentions he is going to see the film "Navy Blues" after writing Agnes and requests that she send another photograph of herself in her next letter.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, September 15, 1941
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated September 15, 1941. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, dated September 18, 1941. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes to let her know he made it back to camp safely after visiting with her and her folks, possibly at their home in Ashburnham, Massachusetts or an other unidentified location.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, September 11, 1941
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated September 11, 1941. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, dated September 12, 1941. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes in response to her most recent letter and discusses his experience with Guard Duty and the regular Army routines, the weather at Fort Devens, in addition to seeking her forgiveness in anticipation of seeing her in person on Sunday.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, September 8, 1941
Handwritten letter with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated September 8, 1941. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while stationed in Fort Devens, Massachusetts with an apology for not coming down to visit her over the weekend while he was on Guard Duty. Joe reassures her that he will visit on the next available opportunity, while writing how pleased he was to meet her and hoping that her feelings were the same.
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