From Shirley Minker to Ralph L. “Lee” Minker, Jr.
Table of Contents
Folder 20: Shirley Minker, March – December, 1943
Date: March 6, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Shirley writes that Ruth’s brother Donald had been commissioned as a first lieutenant. She talks about her school [A. I. du Pont High School] magazine, the Echo, which will try to print as many pictures of servicemen from the school as possible. She wants Lee to send a picture for the magazine.
Names: Donald (Ruth’s brother)
Date: March 11, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
The war is ever-present for teenagers: Dick Silver is leaving for the Marines, as well as Harry Hickey leaving for the Navy Air Corps. Bill Rhodes also went into the Navy. Meiter Metzger became an ensign in the Navy Air Corps as well. John Clark was home on leave. Also mentions getting her exam schedule for senior year finals.
Names: Dick Silver, Harry Hickey, Bill Rhodes, Meiter Metzger, John Clark. [a Jacob Silver was killed in action on Nov. 12, 1944], [Harry Hickey was lost at sea, July 30, 1945], [2nd Lt. James Clark was killed in action on Nov. 27, 1944, possibly the same person or a brother]
Date: March 16, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Shirley, Bernice, and mother saw Claudia at the local playhouse, they all enjoyed the play. Complains about a heavy snowfall which came right after a warm spring-like day. Glady’s husband, Howard, is home on leave. She also mentions seeing a Miss Julia Ann Lattomore, who was an old flame [of Lee’s] from Dickinson College.
Names: Howard {Glady’s husband)
Date: March 19, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Talks about her upcoming graduation, the class will wear regular clothes at commencement. The impact of the war on young people is apparent as she mentions how many in the class will be going into the military shortly after graduation. Went to a Red Cross dinner with her mother. Several boys in the service are home, Eddie Glennor and Bill Grunier.
Names: Eddie Glennor, Bill Grunier [Wilmington boys in the service.]
Date: March 24, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
They have received Lee’s photos, teases him about how he looks with his military haircut. They had a recent snowfall, it is ruining their spring. Shirley tells Lee about the novel The Keys to the Kingdom, which she highly recommends. She and Bernice went to a basketball game, the school has a good team.
Date: April 13, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Shirley is concerned about mail reaching Lee as he travels the country since he has moved to Lincoln, NE. Spring is coming late this year as there still is frost in the mornings. There was a surprise blackout drill, but the family did not see the signal right away, which Shirley was not pleased about. One of her teachers, Miss Lamb, is joining the Red Cross.
Names: Miss Lamb [teacher at A.I. du Pont High School]
Date: April 26, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Shirley tells Lee about their Easter church service and the choir. She saw the movie Star Spangled Rhythm, which she found to be hilarious. She also talks about tests that all the male seniors took for the Army and the Navy. The senior ball is coming up but it is informal, so Shirley does not like to call it a ball. A number of young men are going to Fort Dix.
Date: May 2, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Shirley talks about the dance, and how much she enjoyed it. She loved the orchestra, one of the best she had ever heard. She talks about more men going into the Navy and Army including Joe Toomey, Billy Baird, Gordon Lang, Glade Brendle, and Cliffton Medders. She also talks about a Jim Buchanan who was severely wounded.
Names: Joe Toomey, Billy Baird, Gordon Lang, Glade Brendle, Clifton Medders, Jim Buchanan. [Robert H. Toomey, brother? Killed in action Feb. 5, 1945]
Date: May 15, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Shirley talks about prom, which she enjoyed, but was over too quickly. Norman Cook got his notice to leave for the Army, which his girlfriend Jean was not happy about. She mentions Henry DiDonato and Franny Mac Allister who are home on leave.
Names: Norman Cook, Henry DiDonato, Franny MacAllister
Date: June 23, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Shirley reacts to the photos that Lee sent the family, mentioning how young-looking Lee’s instructor is. She asks her brother what he thinks about home front issues, such as the current race riots and coal strikes. Bernice is starting to teach Sunday School and has joined the Junior AWVS.
Date: July 3, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Shirley is concerned about the mail and whether Lee got his letters. She also asks whether Lee likes Santa Ana, where he is currently stationed. She mentions seeing a number of his friends home on leave, such as Gordon Lang, Billy Baird, Glade Brendle, Joe Toomey, and Hannon O’Neal. She also talks about not having done anything for college yet.
Names: Gordon Lang, Billy Baird, Glade Brendle, Joe Toomey, Hannon O’Neal
Date: July 6, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Shirley is going to start work at the airport as a general assistant in the mail department. She is excited to be making $95 a month. She was pleasantly surprised to get a phone call from Ben.
Date: July 10, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Shirley congratulates Lee on news of his promotion. She also asks if he is able to watch many movies on the base, or if is he allowed to leave to watch them. Their cousin Billy had appendicitis, which is serious since he is only 9 years old. She still has not decided about college, because she has not found anything yet.
/vc_column_text]
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Shirley talks about piloting and aviation, since she is up to date due to her job. She talks about some aircraft that she has seen at the airport, such as a C-47 being repaired. The band from the nearby air base will be playing for the servicemen. She listened to Glenn Miller playing live on the radio, which she loved.
Date: July 27, 1943
Original Letter
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Shirley has seen glider training at the airport. People are being given rides in them, she wants to give it a try. She asks if Lee has had any glider training.
Date: August 3, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Shirley is closing in on a decision on which college to attend, which is Boston University. She wants to take medical secretarial courses at college as well. There is an upcoming baseball game where the Yankees will be playing the Blue Rocks.
Date: August 7, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Shirley is finishing work at the airport in order to prepare for college. She saw Reed Gerald who was on leave from Aberdeen. She tells him about the Blue Rocks who have been on a decline recently, which is exemplified by a game with the Yankees.
Names: Reed Gerald
Date: August 25, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Shirley talks about her friends and their futures, concerning going to college. She also mentions the Blue Rocks finally doing well, by beating Lancaster in two straight games.
Date: September 5, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
The family [Ralph Sr.] is questioning Shirley going to Boston due to morality issues there concerning servicemen. Therefore, she is going to go the Dickinson Junior College in Williamsport, PA. Her friend Allen sent her a letter from Sicily. She then briefly talks about the situation in Italy.
Date: September 20, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Shirley is disappointed that she was not able to talk to Lee on the phone recently. Dickinson Junior [College] is postponing the opening a week. She is encouraging brother, telling him not be so tense about learning to fly, and just to relax a little.
Date: October 1, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley describes the campus and living arrangements; despite the college being rather small, she enjoys it. There are more than 350 air cadets attending college [air cadet training program] with her. She discusses the classes she is taking.
Date: October 9, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley tells Lee about going to a community concert with her roommates, which she thoroughly enjoyed. She writes about football, and how excited she is to know a Notre Dame football star. She is getting ready for monthly tests for college. The Miller boys are in training camp but will soon be going overseas.
Names: Dick Miller, Leonard Miller
Date: October 12, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley tells Lee about her classes, especially biology and the field trip to a local stream. There are dances with the air cadets nearly every week. She is now the freshman representative to the student government.
Date: October 19, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley is getting ready for her exams and papers for class. She describes her surprise when her mother, father, and Bernice came to Williamsport for a visit. She encourages her brother in flying training, insists he is will get better.
Date: October 30, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley saw The Phantom of the Opera starring Nelson Eddy. The letter tells her brother about the first weeks at college, feels she is finally ‘in’ at the college. She gives Lee a progress report on her grades.
Date: November 17, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Exam week is coming up. She will not go home for Thanksgiving break, the end of the semester is not until December 22, she’ll have to do her Christmas shopping in Williamsport.
Date: November 25, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley describes her Thanksgiving day, and her progress report; she had an A in all her classes except English, where she has a B. Shirley finds the semester getting increasingly difficult which her dorm mates agree with. She consoles Lee on having to get his wisdom teeth removed. There is a discussion of Christmas plans, including advice for Lee in getting a present for Bernice.
Date: November 29, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley talks about going back to classes and beginning the final stretch until finals. She talks about English and chemistry tests that she did very well on. She also mentions seeing the film Bachelor’s Sister, which she found to be quite good.
Date: December 7, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley reminisces about the war having lasted 2 years at this point. She also talks about her birthday, and that she has received a lot of cards. She mentions a Taylor Edler who is now in the Marine Corps.
Names: Taylor Edler
Date: December 14, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley is doing final shopping for Christmas, which she offers to do for her brother. There was a blackout drill at the college, which is only the second one they have had that semester.
Date: December 22, 1943
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley talks about her evening, which was the last one on campus for the semester. She had a large dinner, a pageant, among other events. She also mentions a Johnny Carlett, who is stationed at Camp Maxey in Texas guarding German POWs.
Names: Johnny Carlett
Folder 21: Shirley Minker, January – December 1944
Date: January 2, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Shirley describes Christmas with the family, as well as her winter break from college. She is not ready to go back to school yet, has hardly seen any of her friends, due to being busy. She mentions getting five As on her report card.
Date: January 7, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley describes her train ride back to campus. She injured her foot at the gym recently, which had to be taped. Their friend Allen is still in Sicily, but is okay.
Date: January 13, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley talks about going to a graduation ceremony of air cadets. Three of her housemates were engaged over the Christmas break. There was a car accident of A.I.[du Pont High School] boys in Unionville.
Date: January 7, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley describes her train ride back to campus. She injured her foot at the gym recently, which had to be taped. Their friend Allen is still in Sicily, but is okay.
Date: January 17, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley discusses going to the graduation dance, as well as the man that she went with. She went to see Higher and Higher with Frank Sinatra which she adored.
Date: January 26, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley complains about classes, especially biology and English. When visiting Bucknell she met some girls from Wilmington.
Date: February 2, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley is concerned about the lack of correspondence from Lee recently. She talks about the air cadets on campus moving to a different college in May. She talks with Lee about his upcoming graduation from flight school, asks what he wants as a present and whether he will go overseas immediately.
Date: February 8, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley discusses classes, taking exams, and starting a new class about bible study. She mentions that their father knew the teacher of the class, as he preached in Williamsport at one point. She will attend another graduation of air cadets on campus.
Date: February 12, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley talks about a show that the cadets put on for the college and a transatlantic broadcast which Bernice will be in.
Date: February 21, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley brings college life to her brother with complaints about the hellish week she had, including a terrible student council meeting, and Admiral Dewey. Her friend Fred is starting flight school, he envies Lee being almost done with training.
Date: February 28, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley tells Lee about Frank and his flight training, as well as reminding him that today is the anniversary of Lee joining the Army. She talks about her monthly tests which were more difficult than usual.
Date: March 5, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley is disappointed that she cannot go see Lee get his wings at his graduation ceremony [Pecos, TX] and expresses her sisterly pride in his commission. She compares Fred’s training to Lee’s and Shirley realizes how stressful Lee’s training must have been, even more than originally. She lets him know how successful her play was.
Date: [March 10?, 1944]
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley sent a telegram to her brother telling him she wished she could be at his graduation [from pilot training
Date: March 26, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place:Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley was glad she was able to see Lee [on leave in Wilmington, DE the week of March 12] and misses him already, but is happy to be back in Williamsport. The ever-present news of friends in the service: Allen, who is still in Italy and seeing alot of action, Frank will be eventually going to Santa Ana, where Lee did some of his training as well.
Names: Allen Cavender
Date: April 16, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley tells Lee that Fred, along with his entire squadron, is out of the air corps due to an issue with the psychological test. She talks about her Easter break at home. She is procrastinating on an English paper, which she and everyone else are now rushing to finish.
Date: April 28, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley visited her housemate’s town of Roaring Springs, near Altoona. She talks about having a lot of rehearsals for upcoming performances. There are only two squadrons on campus left, and those that are left have nothing to do. She is surprised that her freshman year is almost over. She then finds out that Fred is now in the Army infantry.
Date: May 8, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Bernice coming to visit, the play Shirley was in was a big success. She describes Greet Day, which is where the students dress up for the prospective students to show off the college.
Date: May 31, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley is finishing her finals, the students leaving campus for summer break. She is getting a small prize for scholarship in the freshman class. She mentions her trip back home, as well as what she has been doing for the beginning of her break.
Date: July 14, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Shirley has a new job which she really enjoys, despite being busy and singing with the Brandywiners. She mentions Dey White who is in the Navy now.
Names: Dey White
Date: July 30, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Shirley talks about Brandywiners and how demanding it is. She mentions another friend in the service, Gordon, who was home recently. Shirley discusses her hesitation of going back to school and is thinking about focusing on her music instead.
Date: August 7, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Her performances of the operetta with the Brandywiners was successful. Ginger’s puppies are growing fast.
Date: August 27, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, DE
Shirley talks about going to Rehoboth and the growing puppy, they are having difficulties trying to think of a good name for him. She mentions a Mr. Gassaway who was killed in action and Harry Wilson who was listed as missing in action.
Names: [Fred] Gassaway [killed in action, August 25, 1944], Harry Wilson, Clarence Deakyne (KIA)
Date: September 14, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, DE
Shirley talks about her trip to the shore, which she enjoyed. She talks about her final days of vacation until she goes back to Williamsport. She mentions Raymond Harding was released from a German prison camp.
Names: Raymond Harding
Lee Minker left for combat duty in England on October 6, 1944.
Date: October 8, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Sorry that she missed seeing him [when he flew over the house on the way to England], talked with mother and Bernice. Sympathizes with him over his original co-pilot getting sick. Teases about how young the cadets are who are on campus in training. Going home for a music lesson.
Names: Johnny Corbett
Date: October 11, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley reports on her classes at school. There is a serious outbreak of polio with 11 new cases. Not certain how the campus will handle it. Asks for a present from Oxford [England] for her room. As always, lovingly signs her letter “good night and good luck.”
Date: October 22, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
The dramatic club put on a play to raise money. There is a formal reception at the President’s this weekend. She brings the fun of college life to her brother with a description of going to the lake on their day off for the annual chestnut hunt. There were problems with the boat so it turned into quite an adventure. Everyone on shore was laughing.
Date: October 30, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
She got a letter from mother with the change in his address, hopes her earlier letters have reached him. Shirley is annoyed that she had to get dressed up in evening clothes to go to a formal reception for the president when there was no dancing.
Date: November 7, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Her greeting, “Dear Looie” is a tease for her brother who is a Lieutenant. She has not been able to do any homework as she is listening to the election returns. Wished she had been able to vote. She is taking a friend home for the Thanksgiving break. Went to hear Carmen, her very first opera, and loved it. Tells Lee how much she misses him.
Date: November 20, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Has not written to him because of her tests, was quite surprised that she got in A on her psychology exam. The sextet she sings with sang at a dinner for the Masons, she was pleased that they received $2 each for their performance. Glad he likes England, another sisterly tease calling Lee, “drip.”
Date: December 1, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley talks about her visit home, where she and some of her friends went out for the evening and shopping for Christmas gifts. The puppy is active, now 4 months old. She will be the typing editor for the college yearbook
Date: December 9, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
This is a hectic time for Shirley with finals nearing and her Christmas play. She celebrated her birthday [Dec. 7] on campus the previous week. She mentions that Fred was at a talk by General Marshall. She is getting ready to return to Wilmington for Christmas break.
Note: The handwritten comment at the top of the letter was added by Lee Minker sometime in the early 1990s.
Date: December 14, 1944
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley talks about testing and getting a poor grade in psychology. She is continuing to practice for the Christmas play.
Date: Sunday afternoon [December 14, 1944]
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Shirley describes getting ready for Christmas, she has finished shopping and wrapping presents. She is getting ready for the play, doing mostly final preparations.
Note: continuation of previous letter dated December 14, 1944
Folder 22: Shirley Minker, January – August 1945
Date: January 6, 1945
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley is getting back to school for the second semester. She saw a number of films such as Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo. Thinks he will love the new movie on the air corps. Got her first letter from him in about a month. Admonishes him to take care of himself.
Date: January 13, 1945
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Getting ready for exams, which start soon. Shirley has ridden a horse named Buster, which she found enjoyable. New members have joined the church she attends at school.
Date: January 20, 1945
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Describes the snow and wonders what the weather is like in England. Shirley has a lot to do to study for exams. She mentions having to type a lot for her classes, instead of writing for them. Many of the men at the college expect to be drafted after the semester is over. She briefly mentions Allen is in France now, among other updates on their friends in the service.
Names: Allen [Cavender], Justin Keyser, O. Durman
Date: February 3, 1945
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Has heard Bing Crosby, wonders if they get the latest music over there. She discusses her exams and how they went and talks about going home for the weekend to Wilmington with a few friends. She was excited to see Jane Withers, a famous movie star. She talks about her grades for the semester, in which she got As and Bs.
Date: February 9, 1945
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley congratulates Lee on being awarded an Oak Leaf Cluster. She mentions Fred, who is now in France, who says that most of the country is unnecessarily in ruins. She also mentions Gene Kelly and some film crews are in town to make Navy movies.
Names: Gene Kelly [movie actor]
Date: March 14, 1945
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Wondering about his coming home after completing the tour of duty. Practicing for the play is keeping her busy. Bernice came to visit for the weekend, which they both enjoyed. Realizes that without the war, each of them would have been graduating from a different school in June. She mentions Allen is safe, despite seeing a lot of action. She has heard a number of other friends recently.
Names: Allen Cavendar, Irving Carpenter
Date: March 23, 1945
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley saw the movie Keys of the Kingdom, which impressed her. She is getting ready for Easter break in a few weeks. The air cadets at the college got their wings.
Date: April 13, 1945
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley is playing tennis a lot during the spring. She writes about Fred’s travels into Germany with General Patton’s Third Army. She is starting to practice the Spring play, Craig’s Wife. There is a church conference being held in Williamsport where 150 ministers are staying. Wishes him “good flying.”
Date: April 22, 1945
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley discusses the church conference, where the students had to serve about 400 people. She refers to Dr. Ralph Sockman, [senior pastor of Christ Methodist Church in New York City] who was the guest speaker. She saw God is my Co-Pilot, which she thought was wonderful. Told Lee that she met two ministers who had gone to Dickinson College with him, one of whom was named Kenneth Rose.
Names: Kenneth Rose
Date: May 6, 1945
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
She is getting ready to perform Craig’s Wife, their spring production. She went home for the weekend, met with some air base people to show them a “submarine sandwich.” The wife of the English department head committed suicide. Her awareness of the lingering war is expressed, hard to see how the Germans can go on fighting.
Date: May 21, 1945
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Shirley talks about the surrender of Germany, and the continuing war with Japan. She talks about the play they performed, which went well. She mentions that Fred is still in Germany, and that he does not know what is going to happen to him. She also talks about getting ready for Brandywiners practice.
Date: May 30, 1945
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Sisterly love comes through with her greeting to her “big brother.” Shirley talks about returning home from college, and what she has been doing since coming back. She mentions going to church with the family. She is getting ready for Bernice’s graduation on June 13. Hopes to see him soon.
Date: June 7, 1945
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
Shirley talks about what she has been doing during the summer, which she says it not much. She is learning how to drive. She went to a Blue Rocks game with her father, which they lost against Trenton.
Date: August 21, 1945
Original Letter
Transcription
Writer: Shirley Minker
Recipient: Lee Minker
Place: Wilmington, Delaware
They are all eager to see him and getting ready for Lee to come home. Sympathizes with how disgusted he must be with all the waiting. She excitedly tells her brother about George Wolf, who she had been seeing recently; she and George are engaged to be married. Wanted to let him know her news and hopes Lee likes him.
Names: George Wolf
