Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, August 24, 1944
United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th
World War, 1939-1945
Soldiers -- Michigan
Correspondence
Love letters
Honeymoons
Motion pictures--1940-1950
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated August 24, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. "K," Det. of Patients, 4167 U.S. Hospital Plant, A.P.O.-514-A, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated circa August 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes with great excitement as he daydreams of their future honeymoon and as he approaches his final week of recovery in the hospital. He also mentions the most recent films he has seen including "Thousands Cheer" and "The Cross of Lorraine."
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, August 26, 1942
Air mail service
Great Britain
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated August 26, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated August 27, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after receiving two of her Air Mail letters, and shares his recent travels around London to many of the famous historical sights, in addition to his overall reflections on being stationed in England.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, August 28, 1944
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated August 28, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. "K," Det. of Patients, 4167 U.S. Hospital Plant, A.P.O.-514-A, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated August 31, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to his future "wife to be" as he looks forward to their future together and while hoping that Agnes can help him to live in happiness once again after fighting in the war.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, August 28, 1946
Furloughs
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated August 28, 1946. The envelope is sent from 1190 Reed Pl., Detroit, Michigan, dated August 29, 1946. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes letting her know that all is well while he is away for work and hopes she is the same at her job. He also writes how he misses her and her cooking and gives his regards to her family back in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, August 29, 1942
V-mail
Handwritten V-mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated August 29, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated September 7, 1942. In the V-mail letter, Joe writes a brief message to Agnes expressing his appreciation for the recent Air Mail letters he received from her while stationed in England, in addition to how much he misses and thinks of Agnes each day.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, August 30, 1942
Handwritten V-mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated August 30, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated September 8, 1942. In the V-mail letter, Joe writes a brief message to Agnes after receiving her third Air Mail letter, hoping for her continued well-being and his best regards for her parents back home.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, August 30, 1943
Sicily (Italy)
Hope, Bob, 1903-2003
Langford, Frances
Handwritten letter with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated August 30, 1943. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while stationed in Sicily and covers numerous topics including the most recent news from their families back home in Michigan, the latest movies he has seen, and the entertaining show Bob Hope and Frances Langford put on for the troops. He also writes that he has been stationed overseas for the past fourteen months and missing Agnes every moment of their time apart.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, August 30, 1944
Grand Haven (Mich.)
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated August 30, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. "K," Det. of Patients, 4167 U.S. Hospital Plant, A.P.O.-514-A, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated September 6, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes as he looks forward to their future home together, in addition to receiving the package she sent with a watch and pen inside and the card from Grand Haven, Michigan.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, August 7, 1944
Sad Sack
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated August 7, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. "K,"Det. of Patients, 4167 U.S. Hospital Plant, A.P.O.-514-A, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated August 10, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while daydreaming of their future together and thinking of her on a lovely sunny day. He also writes with news regarding his good friend in the Pacific, whom he hopes to have as his best man at their wedding one day.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, August 9, 1943
United States. Navy--1940-1950.
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated August 9, 1943. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated August 14, 1943. In the letter, Joe writes from the Mediterranean island of Sicily and describes his job while on detached service with the Navy. He also describes his excitement in receiving fourteen of Agnes' letters and the many surprises written within them including her new job and her parents move to Michigan.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, December 10, 1941
Fort Devens (Mass.)
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 12, 1943
England
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated December 12, 1943. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated December 24, 1943. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes to Agnes from England while hoping to receive another letter from her during the holiday season.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, December 13, 1943
V-Mail
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated December 13, 1943. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated December 27, 1943. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes to Agnes letting her know he misses her and her letters and confides that his morale has been down while stationed overseas.
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 16, 1943
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated December 16, 1943. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated January 4, 1944. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes to Agnes while sick with a chest cold and his patience tested after not hearing from her in a while.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, December 16, 1944
Handwritten letter with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated December 16, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while located in Belgium and asks for her forgiveness for not writing as often in recent weeks, sharing the news that he is being treated in the hospital and will be reclassified for "non-combatant duty" upon his return.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, December 17, 1941
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 18, 1943
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated December 18, 1943. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated December 21, 1943. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes from England during the week before Christmas and wishes he was back home with her in the United States. He also notifies Agnes of the photographs he had taken and his plans to send two of them to her in the near future.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, December 23, 1942
Africa, North
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated December 23, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated December 26, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after receiving two of her Air Mail letters while stationed in North Africa and sharing the news of his safety, while wishing their loved ones a "Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" back home in the United States.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, December 24, 1942
United States. Army--Guard duty
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated December 24, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated December 27, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes upon receiving five of her letters that were written back in October and his enjoyment in reading them despite the delay. He also reassures her about the continued delay in their correspondence and how his platoon will be spending Christmas Eve on Guard Duty.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, December 25, 1942
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated December 25, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated December 27, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes on Christmas Day while stationed overseas in North Africa and expresses the holiday's special meaning to him that year while experiencing profound gratitude for his life. He continues to write while focusing on positive news such as the swell sermon he attended and the delicious holiday dinner.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, December 28, 1944
Christmas
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated December 28, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated December 30, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while in a hospital in France, awaiting his operation and reassuring her for the reason behind his recent lack of communication. He also writes asking Agnes if she had an enjoyable Christmas and wondering what Santa brought her this year.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, December 29, 1943
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated December 29, 1943. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated January 10, 1944. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes to Agnes after receiving six of her latest letters and hearing from her for the first time in over two and a half weeks. He also expresses his gratitude for being in good health and for being brought back to safety while stationed overseas.
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated December 29, 1943. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated January 10, 1944. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes his second message to Agnes on that day, reminding her to send pictures and sharing the news of a surprise photograph that is headed her way.