Walter Paas Papers, 1943-1945
(Manuscript Collection #705)
Descriptive Summary
| Title: | Walter Paas Papers |
| Creator: | Paas, Walter |
| Repository: | ECU Manuscript Collection |
| Languages: | English |
| Abstract: | Papers (1943-1945) including correspondence, references made to signaling, semaphore operations, mail delivery problems, etc. |
| Extent: | 0.055 Cubic feet, 10 items, consisting of correspondence. |
Administrative Information
Accessions Information
May 22, 1995, 10 items; Personal correspondence (1943-1945) of sailor serving with U. S. Naval Armed Guards. Gift courtesy of the Friends of the ECU Library.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions
Copyright Notice
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.
Preferred Citation
Walter Paas Papers (#705), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Acquisition Information
- Gift of Friends of ECU Library
Processing Information
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Encoded by Apex Data Services
Description
Correspondence in the collection consists of letters from Walter Paas, Seaman 2nd Class in the U.S. Naval Armed Guards, from Bronx, New York, during his tours of duty in the Pacific aboard the U.S. Army Transport WILLIAM L. THOMPSON and the SS WILLIAM F. EMPEY, an American merchant ship used during World War II. References are made to signaling and semaphore operations, ship food and activities aboard ship and in ports, leisure activities, problems with mail delivery, observations on women in port towns, unwillingness to marry in wartime, and air raids.
Preliminary Inventory
Below is material taken from a preliminary inventory and represents content from the collection that is unprocessed.
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Box 1#0705.1
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Folder a#0705.1.a
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Paas, Walter, Signalman 3rd Class, Armed Guard Center (Pacific), San Francisco, CA V-mail letter to "Dear Mom" M. A. Paas, Bronx, New York, NY (9/15/1943) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p. Note: Interesting comments: on standing watch on ship, use of semaphores & signals, making flags, repairing halyards, shipboard food, asks about rationing at home, hair regrowing after "scalping" at the Equator. (item #1)
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Paas, Walter, Signalman 3rd Class, Armed Guard, U.S.A.T. WILLIAM L. THOMPSON, at sea. V-mail letter to "Dear Mom" M. A. Paas, Bronx, New York, NY (4/28/1944) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p. Note: Interesting comments: on receipt of cards & note of 17 April before leaving Seattle, Gerald Field is now a sergeant & married, clipping about camp, good Navy food, hearing from friends. (item #2)
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Paas, Walter, Signalman 2nd Class, U. S. Naval Armed Guard, U.S.A.T. WILLIAM L. THOMPSON, at Sea. V-mail letter to "Dear Mom" M. A. Paas, Bronx, New York, NY (5/2/1944) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p. Note: Interesting comments: Mothers Day poem. (item #3)
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Paas, Walter, Signalman 2nd Class, U. S. Naval Armed Guard, U.S.A.T. WILLIAM L. THOMPSON, San Francisco, CA. V-mail letter to "Dear Mom" M. A. Paas, Bronx, New York, NY (8/28/1944) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p. Note: Interesting comments: on receipt of letter dated 22 August, dinner with Harry O'Grady, saw "Going My Way" film, glad you had a picnic in the country, source of the chocolates, message for "Weegie." (item #4)
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Paas, Walter, Signalman 2nd Class, U. S. Naval Armed Guard, U.S.A.T. WILLIAM L. THOMPSON, at Sea. V-mail letter to "Dear Mom" M. A. Paas, Bronx, New York, NY (9/16/1944) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p. Note: Interesting comments: on receipt of letter of 6 September, congratulations on getting job, experience working on Burroughs Billing machine, letter from Nick, is Gloria back with the family, soldiers getting seasick. (item #5)
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Paas, Walter, Signalman 2nd Class, U. S. Naval Armed Guard, U.S.A.T. WILLIAM L. THOMPSON, at Sea. V-mail letter to "Dear Mom" M. A. Paas, Bronx, New York, NY (9/22/1944) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p. Note: Interesting comments: on receipt of letter of 12 September, glad of your progress at new job, liked hearing about your picnic, fresh air at sea, weather has been "busy" for the last month, longing for the South, hopes to get leave at same time as Howard, may go ashore this evening and see a show and drink a few beers. (item #6)
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Paas, Walter, Signalman 2nd Class, Armed Guard, SS WILLIAM F. EMPEY. Airmail letter from a Southwest Pacific Port to "Dear Dot" Miss Dorothy Farrell, Huntington Station, Long Island, NY (12/7/1944) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p. Note: Received letter of 7 October. Interesting comments: on girls in Alaska & Seattle. (item #7)
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Paas, Walter, Signalman 2nd Class, Armed Guard, SS WILLIAM F. EMPEY. Airmail letter from a Central Pacific Port to "Dear Mom" M. A. Paas, Bronx, New York, NY (12/22/1944) Holograph. 1 item. 3 p. Note: Interesting comments: on receipt of letter dated 14 Dec., in "best of spirits" explanation of "puzzling" behavior while on last leave, have aged, Christmas cards, changes of address, received slippers, sunbathing. (item #8)
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Paas, Walter, Signalman 2nd Class, Armed Guard, SS WILLIAM F. EMPEY. Airmail letter from a Southwest Pacific Port to "Dear Dot" Miss Dorothy Farrell, Huntington Station, Long Island, NY (1/3/1945) Holograph. 1 item. 3 p. Note: Partly in French. Interesting comments: birthday gifts, film "Miss Parkington", use of French language skills, losing Alaska "pale-face look", swimming in island beach, beers. (item #8)
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Paas, Walter, Signalman 2nd Class, Armed Guard, SS WILLIAM F. EMPEY. Airmail letter from a Central Pacific Port to "Dear Mom" M. A. Paas, Bronx, New York, NY (1/13/1945) Holograph. 1 item. 3 p. Note: Interesting comments: on advisability of marriage during wartime, swimming in Pacific lagoons, softball games, Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, air raids. (item #9)
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Folder a#0705.1.a
Online access to this finding aid is supported with funds created through the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). These funds come through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services which is administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. This grant is part of the North Carolina ECHO, Exploring Cultural Heritage Online, Digitization Grant Program.
