While we were preparing for our military exhibit, we came across a large cache of letters dating from World War II. Realizing that some of these letters are quite moving, and that families likely do not know we have them, we have decided to offer to make copies of the letters, for a donation, should someone want one.
The letters were written by local servicemen and women to a local chapter of a national organization called The Mothers of World War No 2. This was a national organization originally founded in Indianapolis. This organization of women was concerned with the welfare of veterans, widows and orphans. They monitored bills coming out of Washington to ensure no national legislation detrimental to veterans and their families would be passed. They provided relief and rehabilitation in hospitals aiding sick and disabled veterans, they supported needy orphans, and sent care packages to local men and women serving in the military around the world.
The local chapter was called the Mothers of World War No. 2 Hugh Middaugh Unit #17. Middaugh, the son of Albert J. Middaugh, was a Navy radio operator and the first man from Princeton to lose his life while serving during World War II. Middaugh, and other sailors who survived the sinking of two U.S. Navy ships, took to the sea in a whaleboat and two rubber rafts in August 1942. They floated for 13 days before spotting land. Middaug, 28, died when he became violently ill after 10 days adrift on August 31, 1942. He was buried at sea off the coast of the Philippines.
We believe these individuals are primarily from Princeton, although other towns in the county may be represented here as well. We have 171 letters written by 142 different people. Excerpts of some of the letters are currently quoted on the wall in the World War II room at Newell-Bryant for this exhibit.
Please go to the link below to view the list of names of those we have letters from. If you see the name of a family member, and you would like a copy of their letter, we will gladly provide you with one. However, given the hours of work that have gone into preserving these letters, we would appreciate a donation of $10.00 to support our ongoing work to save these and other precious historical items from Bureau County.
Copies can be made of the transcribed letter or the original, or both. Transcribed letters are available for viewing anytime during museum hours.
Thank you. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Asterisks next to names denotes those letters have already been provided to family members.
Donald H. Ackerson
R.E. Aldrich
George R. Allen
Harold H. Allen
Virgil H. Anderson
Earl L. Angle
Richard Arling
John F. Becker (2 letters)
Leroy Becker
John Bergin
Blossom Brems
Pete J. Buchwald
Charles Burr
Robert H. Burr (2 letters)
R.L. Campbell
Roy E. Campbell
Howard S. Carroll
Raymond B. Carter
Wilma Jean Cass
Burton Cole
Stanely Cole (2 letters)
P.L. Conkling
Robert E. Conkling
James S. Cowley
James E. Crandell
Ralph C. Crownover
Del. R. Cushman
Gertrude Daniels
Harold Davis
Marjorie Dawson
Glenn E. Dean
Harold Dean
William DeBord
Forrest H. DeRose
Louis Eaton
Roger L. Eickmeier (6 letters)
Daxon Eldridge
Carl C. Ellberg
Herbert Erickson
Doris Espel
Stanley Etheridge
Herbert Fahlberg
Clifford R. Farrell
Delmar R. Farrell
Donald M. Farrell
Curtis Fetrow
Howard Finn
Gilbert H. Fiste
Russel W. Flaherty
Arthur N. Fleming
Clifford A. Frantzen
George F. Gibons
Glenn V. Gleason
Irving Gleason
D.W. Goodale
Howard Greene
Fred W. Gross
Hobart W. Gunning
Paul A. Haberkorn
Robert L. Hade
Robert C. Halberg
H. Hamm
Clarence Hansoncx
Robert S. Harris
Harold Hassler
Clifford L. Hayden
Claude C. Henning
Matthew Harold Hensel (2 letters)
Melvin Herbolsheimer
Paul Hildebrand
Floyd Hornback
Victor C. Hubbard
Conrad Hudson (2 letters)
Kenneth Huffaker
Raymond Huffaker
Ben L. Huffstodt
Ned R. Huffstodt
Robert W. Huffstodt (2 letters)
Carl H. Hultine
Ray F. Husser
Roland C. Johnson
Fred R. Gibbs, Jr
J.V. Kasbeer
Charles B. Krone (2 letters)
J.E. Krone
Ernest A. Lack (2 letters)
Harold P. Larson (2 letters)
Raymond E. Mabry
Mervin McCoy
Hallie R. Mead
Clifford F. Meyer (2 letters)
Charles E. Miller
Ronald A. Miller
Robert H. Moline (2 letters)
Max O. Morel (2 letters)
Glenn R. Mulvane
Carl O. Nelson*
Vincent A. Nelson
Joseph W. Nelson (2 letters)
Kenneth Nelson
Leland R. Nelson (2 letters)
Clarence Olson
H.E. Parr
Dick Paschen
Robert Petersen*
Robert L. Pierson
Oren D. Pomeroy
Howard F. Prather (2 letters)
Joseph A. Pratt
William Prince
Leland Puttcamp
Donald F. Ricci (2 letters)
Hubert E. Ricci
Howard W. Roggy (2 letters)
Robert R. Roggy
Howard R. Ruberg
Dale B. Russman
Harold Rutherford
Donald L Sabe (2 letters)
E.R. Schmitt
William R. Schoenberger
Clayton Shipp
Kenneth E. Shipp (2 letters)
Carter Shives
Robert B. Simon (2 letters)
Laurence E. Simpson
Richard M. Skinner
Earl Slutz
Charles A. Smith
Robert J. Smith
George R. Snell
Howard Swan
John S. Swan (2 letters)
Ernest P. Swango
Dick Swanson (3 letters)
William Swind
Roger Walstrom
Victor E. Watson
Clifford L. Wolf
John Wood
Robert B. Yates
Jack Yepsen (2 letters)