John and Mary McLeod Grier Family World War II Collection

1936-1949, undated
Manuscript Collection #1099
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Creator(s)
Grier, Mary Adell McLeod; Grier, John Davidson
Physical description
3 Cubic Feet, 6 boxes, consisting of correspondence, photographs, and a banner
Preferred Citation
John and Mary McLeod Grier Family World War II Collection (#1099) East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
The collection is open for research.

Correspondence (1942-1945) between Mary A. McLeod, through her work in South Carolina with the USO, and several members of the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II; and correspondence (1936-1949, undated) between Lt. John D. Grier and his family in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area during his military service before and during World War II. Other correspondence in the collection is between Grier and his brother who was a prisoner of war in Germany during World War II. The collection spans 1936-1949 and includes correspondence, photographs, and a Blue Star Service Banner which would have been displayed in the front window of a home where a family member was serving in the U.S. MaryArmed Services during World War II. Mary A. McLeod and John D. Grier were married in 1948.

Biographical/historical information

John Davidson Grier was born March 14, 1920, in Rutherfordton, North Carolina, to Reverend James Chalmers Grier and Julia Cork Grier of Rock Hill, South Carolina, and grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina. He served as a 1st Lieutenant in the US Army Air Forces during World War II. In 1948 he married Mary Adell McLeod and in 1949 they settled in Greenville, North Carolina. She was born on March 10, 1920, in Kershaw County, South Carolina, to Add Ladson McLeod and Minnie Grier McLeod, and raised in Camden, South Carolina. The Griers had two daughters: Rebecca Loraine Grier Kay and Mary Adele Grier. John Davidson Grier died on November 1, 2002, and Mary McLeod Grier died on November 29, 2008, and they are buried in Camden, South Carolina.

Sources: Obituaries for John Davidson Grier and Mary Adell McLeod Grier and Ancestry.com.

Administrative information
Custodial History

November 11, 2025 (unprocessed), 3 cubic feet; Correspondence (1942-1945) between Mary A. McLeod, through her work in South Carolina with the USO, and several members of the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II; and correspondence (1936-1949, undated) between Lt. John D. Grier and his family in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area during his military service before and during World War II. Other correspondence in the collection is between Grier and his brother who was a prisoner of war in Germany during World War II. Also included are photographs, and a Blue Star Service Banner which would have been displayed in the front window of a home where a family member was serving in the Armed Services during World War II. Mary A. McLeod and John D. Grier were married in 1948. Gift of Mary McLeod Grier.

Source of acquisition

Gift of Mary McLeod Grier

Copyright notice

This material is made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to taking precautions against infringement of copyright and respecting the publication rights of reproduced materials. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards. Any materials used should be fully credited with their source according to the example given in the Preferred Citation note. Requests for assistance with citations and images of publication quality should be directed to specialcollections@ecu.edu. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state law. The user assumes full responsibility for using such information and is advised that the disclosure of such information about identifiable living individuals without their consent may have legal ramifications.

Metadata Rights Declaration
Container list
Box 1 Folder a Bradley, Thomas A., PFC, 35th MAT Squadron., 25th Air Base Group, Orlando, FL letter to Mary McLeod, Florence, SC. , 1942
Box 1 Folder b Busch, Albert I., Cpl., 651st Bomb Squadron., 411th Bomb Group, F.A.A.F., Florence, SC., letter to Mary McLeod, Florence, SC. , 1943
Box 1 Folder c Chandler, Ernest J., 59th T. G., Squadron. 207, Kessler Field, Miss. letter to Mary McLeod, Florence, SC. , 1943
Box 1 Folder d Floyd, Jack A., PFC, K Battery, AA Artillery Troop, 2d Defense Battalion, U.S.M.C., San Francisco, CA. letters to Mary McLeod, Florence, SC. , 1943
Box 1 Folder e Greene, Henry J., Oak Ridge, TN, letters to Mary McLeod, Florence, SC. , November - December 1945
Box 1 Folder f Hill, Hoyt B., Jr., Lt., 126th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, Camp Livingston, LA, letters to Mary McLeod, Florence, SC. [Includes newspaper clipping and photo of unit marching in Australia] , 1941-1942
Box 1 Folder g Honea, Crump B., Cpl., 673d Bomb Squadron (L.), New Guinea, Philippines letters to Mary McLeod, Florence, SC. 15 items. [Includes photographic prints of Honea & Mary McLeod] , 1943-1945
Box 1 Folder h Jackson, Chesley Carlyle, Capt., 2d Battalion, 133d Infantry Regiment, North Africa, Sicily, Anzio, Italy, letters to Mary McLeod, Florence, SC. [Includes V-Mail] , February 1943-1944
Box 1 Folder i Jackson, Chesley Carlyle, Capt., 2d Battalion, 133d Infantry Regiment, Northern Ireland and England letters to Mary McLeod, Florence, SC , 1942-January 1943
Box 1 Folder j McClam, Marvin, Ensign, USS LCT (6) 820, Somewhere in the Philippines letters to Mary McLeod, Florence, SC. , January-July 1945
Box 1 Folder k Tachet, Maurice, Jr., Sgt., Squadron. O, 127 B. U., F. A. A. F., Florence, SC, letters to Mary McLeod, Florence, SC. , 1945
Box 1 Folder l Dennis, Raymond L., Lt., Camp Lee, VA, and Camp Ellis, IL, letters to Mary McLeod, Florence, SC. , March-May 1943
Box 1 Folder m Dennis, Raymond L., Lt., Camp Lee, VA, letters to Mary McLeod, Florence, SC., June-December 1943
Box 1 Folder n Dennis, Raymond L., Lt., 608th QM Gr., Reg. Co., Camp Ellis, IL., New England, Northern Ireland, letters to Mary McLeod, Florence, SC. [Includes V-Mail] , January-March, 1944
Box 1 Folder o Dennis, Raymond L., Lt., 608th QM Gr., Reg. Co., Camp Ellis, IL., Northern Ireland, England, Germany, France, letters to Mary McLeod, Florence, SC. [Includes V-Mail] , April-June 1944
Box 1 Folder p Dennis, Raymond L., Lt., 608th QM Gr., Reg. Co., Camp Ellis, IL., France, Belgium, Holland, Letters to Mary McLeod, Florence, SC. [Includes V-Mail] , July-September 1944
Box 2 Folder a Dennis, Raymond L., Lt., 608th QM Gr., Reg. Co., Camp Ellis, IL., France, Belgium, Holland, Letters to Mary McLeod, Florence, SC. [Includes V-Mail] , October 1944-January 1945
Box 2 Folder b Dennis, Raymond L., Capt., Headquarters, 9th Army, QM Section, Holland, Germany, France, Letters to Mary McLeod, Florence, SC [Includes V-Mail] , February-April 1945
Box 2 Folder c Dennis, Raymond L., Capt., Headquarters, 9th Army, QM Section, Germany, France , Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Letters to Mary McLeod, Florence, SC. [Includes V-Mail] , May-September 1945
Box 2 Folder d Photographic Prints (n.d., 1944-1945) of Raymond Dennis in Ireland, Holland & Germany. Various sizes. Black & white. 5 items. 5 p. , 1944-1945
Box 2 Folder e Photographic Prints of street scenes in Paris, France taken by Raymond Dennis. 2.5" x 3.5". Black and white. Includes views of Arch de Triumph, Opera House, Petit Palaise, Notre Dame de Paris, Grand Palaise, Royale Palaise, Gallia Palace Hotel, Eiffel Tower, Université de Paris , ca. May 13, 1945
Box 2 Folder f Grier, John D., Lt. Photographic print, black and white , ca. 1942
Box 2 Folder g Postcard Correspondence , 1934, 1936
Box 2 Folder h Grier, John D., Lt. Letter of recommendation for Army training. Draft typescript. , ca. 1942
Box 2 Folder i Grier, John D., Lt., Hunter Field, GA. Family passes. , March 22-23, 1945
Box 2 Folder j Grier, John D., Lt. Postcards with Scenes of Ft. Riley, KS; Scott Field, Belleville, IL. , 1942, undated
Box 2 Folder k Grier, John D., Lt., Telegrams, 1942-1943, 1945
Box 2 Folder l Grier, John D., Aviation Cadet Detachment, Scott Field, Belleville, IL. Letters to family, Charlotte, NC. Note: Rev. and Mrs. James C. Grier (parents); Miss Julia Grier (sister); James C. Grier, Jr. (brother) , January-April 1942
Box 2 Folder m Grier, John D., Aviation Cadet Detachment, Scott Field, Belleville, IL and Marshall Field, Ft. Riley, KS. Letters to family, Charlotte, NC. Note: Rev. and Mrs. James C. Grier (parents); Miss Julia Grier (sister); James C. Grier, Jr. (brother) , May-July 1942
Box 2 Folder n Grier, John D., Lt., Marshall Field, Ft. Riley, KS. Letters to family, Charlotte, NC. Note: Rev. and Mrs. James C. Grier (parents); Miss Julia Grier (sister); James C. Grier, Jr. (brother) , August-December 1942
Box 3 Folder a Grier, John D., Lt., Marshall Field, Ft. Riley, KS and Keystone Army Air Field, Keystone Heights, FL Letters to family, Charlotte, NC. Note: Rev. and Mrs. James C. Grier (parents); Miss Julia Grier (sister); James C. Grier, Jr. (brother) , January 4-April 26, 1943
Box 3 Folder b Grier, John D., Lt., Tactical HQ, Alachua Army Air Field, Gainesville, FL Letters to family, Charlotte, NC. Note: Rev. and Mrs. James C. Grier (parents); Miss Julia Grier (sister); James C. Grier, Jr. (brother) , May 17-September 6, 1943
Box 3 Folder c Grier, John D., Lt., 75th Airdrome Squadron., Hunter Field, GA Letters to family, Charlotte, NC. Note: Rev. and Mrs. James C. Grier (parents); Miss Julia Grier (sister); James C. Grier, Jr. (brother) , Sept. 14-Nov. 29, 1943
Box 3 Folder d Grier, John D., Lt., 75th Airdrome Squadron., Hunter Field, GA Letters to parents and to Miss Julia Grier (sister), Charlotte, NC. Note: Rev. and Mrs. James C. Grier (parents) , Dec. 1943-February 13, 1944
Box 3 Folder e Grier, John D., Lt., Signal Section, HQ 93d Sub-Depot, Hunter Field, GA Correspondence with family, Charlotte and Montreat, NC. Note: Rev. and Mrs. James C. Grier (parents); Miss Julia Grier (sister); James C. Grier, Jr. (brother) , Feb. 27-June 19, 1944)
Box 3 Folder f Grier, John D., Lt., Physical Training Dept., Hunter Field, GA Correspondence with family, Charlotte and Montreat, NC. Note: Rev. and Mrs. James C. Grier (parents); Miss Julia Grier (sister); James C. Grier, Jr. (brother) , June 26- Sept. 11, 1944)
Box 3 Folder g Grier, John D., Lt., Physical Training Dept., Hunter Field, GA Correspondence with family, Charlotte and Montreat, NC. Note: Rev. and Mrs. James C. Grier (parents); Miss Julia Grier (sister); James C. Grier, Jr. (brother) , Sept. 19-Nov. 7, 1944)
Box 4 Folder a Grier, John D., Lt., Physical Training Dept., Hunter Field, GA , Correspondence with parents, Charlotte NC. Note: Rev. and Mrs. James C. Grier (parents) , November 8-December 15, 1944
Box 4 Folder b Grier, John D., Lt., Physical Training Dept., Hunter Field, GA. Correspondence with parents, Charlotte NC. Note: Rev. and Mrs. James C. Grier (parents) , December 16, 1944-February 26, 1945
Box 4 Folder c Grier, John D., Lt., Physical Training Dept. and Station Hospital, Hunter Field, GA. Correspondence with family, Charlotte and Montreat, NC, etc. Note: Rev. and Mrs. James C. Grier (parents); Miss Julia Grier (sister); James C. Grier, Jr. (brother) , March 1-August 24,1945
Box 4 Folder d Grier, John D., Lt., Hunter Field GA and New York City, NY. Letters to parents, Charlotte and Montreat, NC Note: Rev. and Mrs. James C. Grier (parents) , Sept. 5, 1945-April 22, 1946
Box 4 Folder e Grier, John D., Lt., New York City and Jacksonville, North Carolina. Letters to parents, 1946-1949
Box 4 Folder f Grier, James C., Jr., PFC, HQ Company, 112th Infantry Regiment. Correspondence relating to military service and prisoner of war experiences; also clippings. Originals and transcripts. Note: Son of Rev. and Mrs. James C. Grier of Mulberry, near Charlotte, NC. James C. Grier, Jr. was captured by Germans during the Battle of the Bulge, 12/17/1944; he was liberated from Stalag No. 9B, at Bad Orb, Germany, 4/5/1945. , 1944-1945
Box 4 Folder g Grier, James C., Jr., PFC, HQ Company, 2nd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment Letters to John D. Grier (brother). Note: Includes V-Mail , 1943-1944
Box 5 Folder a Grier, James C., Jr., PFC, HQ Company, 2nd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment Letters to John D. Grier (brother). Note: Includes V-Mail , 1944
Box 5 Folder b Grier, James C., Jr., PFC, HQ Company, 2nd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment Letters to John D. Grier (brother). Note: Includes V-Mail. Correspondence relating to military service and prisoner of war experiences. James C. Grier, Jr. was captured by Germans during the Battle of the Bulge, (12/17/1944); he was liberated from Stalag No. 9B, at Bad Orb, Germany, (4/5/1945). , 1944-1945
Box 5 Folder c Museum Object: Blue Star Window Banner and Hanging Rod with String (ca. 1942-1945) Note: Displayed by parents with children serving in the Armed Forces., ca. 1942-1945