Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, October 3, 1942
United States. Army. Infantry Division, 26th
World War, 1939-1945
Soldiers -- Michigan
Correspondence
V-mail
United States. Army Promotions
Handwritten V-mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated October 3, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated October 27, 1942. In the V-mail letter, Joe writes a brief message to Agnes after gladly receiving three of her letters and sharing the news of his recent promotion to the rank of "Sergeant."
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, October 30, 1944
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated October 30, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated November 3, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes from an undisclosed location in Germany, sharing the reasoning behind his secrecy, and how nice it has been to be back with "the boys" after being away in the hospital for so long.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, October 6, 1941
Fort Bragg (N.C.)
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, October 6, 1944
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated October 6, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated October 9, 1944. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes a brief message to Agnes while stationed in Germany and shares the news that he received the photograph she sent of her new puppy, in addition to his family's anniversary pictures and letters from his buddies stationed in the Pacific.
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 8, 1942
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated October 8, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated October 11, 1942. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes sharing how he passes the time with a phonograph and a radio playing popular recordings, the news, and swing music from the United States.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, October 9, 1943
Sicily (Italy)
Grand Rapids (Mich.)
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated October 9, 1943. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated October 12, 1943. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes from Sicily and inquires about her move to Grand Rapids, Michigan and her hopes to work in a defense plant while getting acquainted with her new hometown.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, September 1, 1941
Fort Devens (Mass.)
Travel
National parks and reserves--United States
Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.)
Handwritten letter with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated September 1, 1941. The letter is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry of Fort Devens, Massachusetts. In the letter, Joe writes of his surprise visit home to see his family in Detroit and his prior travels across the western United States and North America while working various jobs in the years prior to enlisting in the Army.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, September 1, 1943
Motion pictures--1940-1950
Errol, Leon, 1881-1951
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated September 1, 1943. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated September 2, 1943. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes from Sicily and expresses his happiness in receiving his first letter in two weeks. He also describes his recent visit to see two films called "Ice-Capades Review" and "Mexican Spitfire at Sea."
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, September 10, 1944
Love letters
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated September 10, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated September 11, 1944. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes from France to let her know he is safe and healthy and traveling back to his old outfit in England. He also reminisces about the time they first met three years prior in Whalom and how happy he will be when they are together once again and able to build their life together.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, September 11, 1941
Guard duty
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 14, 1943
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated September 14, 1943. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated September 16, 1943. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes a brief message to Agnes from Sicily inquiring about her family in Michigan and sharing news of the five souvenir handkerchiefs he packaged and sent to her with love.
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 15, 1943
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated September 15, 1943. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated October 4, 1943. In the V-Mail letter, Joe is happy to hear Agnes' family made it safely to Michigan and he shares news of the packages he sent back home to Agnes, his mother, and sister Helen.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, September 17, 1943
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated September 17, 1943. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated September 20, 1943. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes from Sicily and wonders how her family are settling into their new home in Grand Rapids, MI. He also writes of his experiences with the relentless flies in Italy while keeping a good sense of humor and expressing his adoration of Agnes.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, September 19, 1943
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated September 19, 1943. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated October 6, 1943. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes a brief message to Agnes emphasizing how she has been in his thoughts and how he wishes he could give her a big bear hug because she is deeply missed.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, September 20, 1943
Detroit (Mich.)
Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated September 20, 1943. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated September 23, 1943. In the letter, Joe writes to Agnes from Sicily and encourages her to visit his family in Detroit, Michigan and wonders how her family are settling into Grand Rapids.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, September 22, 1943
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated September 22, 1943. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated October 4, 1943. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes a brief message to Agnes updating her on the gift he sent her and his sister Helen and how he hopes to send something to her mother as well. He also inquires about when Agnes will be moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan and how her family are liking their new environment.
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 26, 1943
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated September 26, 1943. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated October 12, 1943. In the V-Mail letter, Joe reaches out to Agnes with a brief message emphasizing how he misses her and how he hasn't received any mail in the past five days so he hopes to hear from her soon.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, September 29, 1944
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated September 29, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated October 10, 1944. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes to Agnes to let her know he is still safe and well, although he is currently out of Air Mail stamps and will be writing V-Mails until he receives stamps from his sister, Helen, in the near future.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, September 30, 1941
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 30, 1944
Handwritten V-Mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated September 30, 1944. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry A.P.O.-1, c/o Postmaster New York, New York, dated October 5, 1944. In the V-Mail letter, Joe writes a brief message to Agnes after receiving a letter from her mother, letting her know he appreciates the photographs she sent and how he longs to be with Agnes once again.
Letter from Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, September 6, 1942
Handwritten V-mail letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated September 6, 1942. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. #1, New York, New York, dated September 17, 1942. In the V-mail letter, Joe writes a brief message to Agnes hoping for her wellbeing and appreciative upon receiving her latest letter, along with one from her younger sister, Beasie. He also writes about Agnes being back at school and his anticipated absence for her future graduation.