[Archive]: World War II Army Engineering Company Letters

An archive of 383 letters between Richard Carlson and his family and girlfriend during his tour of duty with the Army in World War II. All items very good or better with tears from opening. A collection of letters to and from Ohio native Corporal Richard Carlson while serving with the Army during World War II between 1944 and 1948. Most of the letters are between Richard and his girlfriend and future wife, Fannie, with a few earlier letters from his father, August. Richard was part of the 1005th Engineering Spec Construction Company and later the 2813th EngineerPetroleum Dietributing Company. His father, a plumber in Ohio, writes to tell him of life at home and what his brothers, four of which were also serving, were up to. In one letter dated May 15, 1944, he congratulates Richard on his current post writing, "so you are going to be a pipefitter now well it is dirty but it is good paying and if you be a good one you always have a job." In another letter he ends by saying, "be a good boy and watch out for bad girls." August passed away in July of 1945 while Richard was overseas. A majority of the letters are between Richard and Fannie who was home in Chicago while he was training in California and later shipped to the Pacific. A theme throughout their letters is their religion, both were devote Christians, and they often quote the Bible and discuss attending services. In one letter he thanks Fannie for a gift writing, "thanks for the medal I will keep it with me all the time it will not only make me think of our Lord but you also." He also discusses the difficulty being in the Army and being religious poses. "They respect me for what I stand for and they think I am a pretty clean cut fellow and I try to be but they tease me about not going out and get fresh with the girls and go the limits of you know what I mean so you see Fannie its not easy to live a Christian life in the Army and I praise the Lord that he has kept me the way he has so far." Richard spends the rest of the war in the Philippines, returning home in the spring of 1946. "The job is coming along pretty good (I’m not doing much work). I have four Philips doing the chipping for me so alls I do is tell them what to chip. I like any job where I can sit down and take it easy." Richard and Fannie marry after the war settling in Chicago. An interesting collection of letters between a devote couple during World War II.…