Letters, [1943]-1945.

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Letters, [1943]-1945.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/46888513

The collection comprises 375 letters, a few newspaper clippings and empty envelopes, written by Davis to his wife, Eve, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, from the various places he was stationed: basic training in [1943] in Camp Silbert, Alabama, and Camp Jackson, South Carolina; and in 1944-1945 from various locations in France, as well as Wurzburg and Nurnburg, Germany. Davis was approximately 36 years old when he began basic training and had been married for about 11 years. In Europe he guarded trucks and prisoners of war; he did not experience combat. Consequently, his letters have a domestic focus. They offer small glimpses of an older soldier who discusses the weather; pines for his wife and teases her in equal measure; has sore feet; asks for tobacco from home; gossips about other family members; worries about the uneven mail delivery; and complains about the bureaucracy and strict regimentation of the army. Davis also peppers his letters with negative stereotypes about negroes, the French, Germans, and Poles. For instance, he writes: "Say have you been being a good dog. You ask me but you don't say about you. Don't worry about me for I miss you too much and these European negro lovers are very disgusting." Davis is able to visit Paris and Brussels; he spends most of his time looking for souvenirs. Although he does describe the destruction of the towns and cities he sees and the plight of refugees and other civilians who will trade anything--cameras, daggers, pistols, steins--for cigarettes and candy, after the unit censorship is lifted in May 1945, he is able to write more specific details about Nurnburg and other "ghost cities." But Davis' overriding concern is getting a discharge and going home. Even though he remains in Europe until October 10, 1945, he barely mentions the Japanese surrender--except to welcome it--and the war crimes trials in Nurnberg. Acquired as part of the George Washington Flowers Collection of Southern Americana. (01-013).

375 items.

Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 7571188

Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library

Related Entities

There are 4 Entities related to this resource.

George Washington Flowers Collection of Southern Americana

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w67h57fs (corporateBody)

The George Washington Flowers Collection of Southern Americana (sometimes referred to as the George Washington Flowers Memorial Collection) honors George Washington Flowers, a trustee of Trinity College (Durham, N.C.) from 1897-1918. Some of his children graduated from Trinity College, including Robert Lee Flowers, President of Duke University from 1941-1948. The collection was established and endowed by his children for the purpose of collecting materials concerning the history and literature o...

Davis, Clarence W.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6df9xrg (person)

Davis, from Winston-Salem N.C., was a Corporal in the 4265th Quartermater Truck Company during World War II. From the description of Letters, [1943]-1945. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 46888513 ...

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United States. Army. Quartermaster Corps

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6643g00 (corporateBody)

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