Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 2, 1944
United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th
World War, 1939-1945
Soldiers -- Michigan
Correspondence
V-mail
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 2, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 11, 1944. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes to Agnes after receiving a message from her the previous day, inquiring about how her family are doing and how he hopes to hear from her soon.
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 20, 1944
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 20, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 24, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes on a beautiful Sunday in England and wishes they were together sharing their stories in person.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 21, 1945
Love letters
Lipstick
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 21, 1945. The envelope is sent from Det. of Patients, 4152 U.S. Army Hospital Plant, A.P.O.-63, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 23, 1945. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes sharing his love and his appreciation of her lipstick kisses, in addition to daydreaming about a proper in-person proposal upon his return home to Michigan.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 22, 1944
Motion pictures--1940-1950
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 22, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 26, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes after seeing the film "Seven Sweethearts," which is set in Holland, Michigan and shares how he wishes they were able to see it together.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 23, 1944
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 23, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 28, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while stationed in England and discusses the photos from her visit with his family in Michigan, noticing how tall she looks in comparison with his short stature.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 24, 1942
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.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 25, 1944
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 25, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 26, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes sharing the news of his parents' new house and their upcoming move, in addition to the news of their friend Roy's upcoming wedding in England.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 27, 1944
Church services
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 27, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated March 1, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes from England as he approaches his 25th birthday, 7 years her elder, and missing her as much as ever while stationed overseas.
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, February 4, 1943
Africa, North
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 4, 1943. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated February 15, 1943. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while stationed in North Africa and after receiving four of her letters written back in January, while also sharing how much he misses her after seven months apart.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 7, 1944
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 7, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 10, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes many pages to Agnes from England sharing how he has been overseas for 18 months and 5 days and is heavyhearted about the time they have been apart. He also writes about her being his birthday wish for the following month and how he wishes she could be with him on his special day.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 8, 1944
V-Mail
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 8, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 18, 1944. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes to Anges while awaiting another letter from her, sharing how he wrote her a long letter the previous night and how he loves her as much as all the stars in the sky.
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 9, 1943
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 9, 1943. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated February 13, 1943. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes while stationed in North Africa, hoping she will soon receive the French money he sent to her, and the recent news regarding the delivery of packages overseas.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 9, 1944
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 9, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 19, 1944. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes to Agnes sharing the titles of movies he had recently seen and how he hopes she will write to him with a list of popular songs while he is overseas without a radio.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, February 9, 1945
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated February 9, 1945. The envelope is sent from Det. of Patients, 4152 U.S. Army Hospital, A.P.O-63 c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated February 19, 1945. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes a brief message to Agnes, sharing how much he misses her and her letters and discussing how he will be placed on "limited service" upon leaving the hospital instead of returning to combat once again.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, January 1, 1943
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated January 1, 1943. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated January 2, 1943. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes reassuring her of his health and safety while stationed overseas in North Africa and reminiscing about being on furlough and visiting her house the previous year. He also writes about how he carries their 4th of July photographs with him everywhere and how he is in need of photograph reinforcements.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, January 1, 1944
New Year
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated January 1, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated January 13, 1944. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes to Agnes on New Year's Day after thoroughly celebrating the night before and shares his hope that she would be visiting his parents that day.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, January 10, 1944
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated January 10, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated January 19, 1944. In the V-Mail letter, Joe is pleased to hear from Agnes and learn that the flowers he sent to her were well received.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, January 11, 1944
Hit parade (Radio program)
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated January 11, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated January 19, 1944. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes to Agnes and shares his excitement in finally hearing the news of her meeting his parents and wonders what popluar songs are on the hit parade at the time.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, January 12, 1944
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated January 12, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated January 21, 1944. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes to Agnes after returning from a visit to the barber and shares how his work days are the same day after day, but he still thinks of her often.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, January 13, 1944
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated January 13, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated January 23, 1944. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes to Agnes while having a headache and informs her of the most recent news including the film he saw called "My Heart Belongs to Daddy."
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, January 14, 1944
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated January 14, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated January 25, 1944. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes to Agnes as he enjoys a beautiful sunny day overseas and discusses the song "You'll Never Know" as a means to keep him in her thoughts.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, January 15, 1942
First aid
Postal service--Censorship
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.