Resource Type
Partner
Collection
World War Two Collection
139
T. B. Willis Collection
90
World War Two Newsmaps
44
Carolyn Itri Collection
4
Abilene Library Consortium
3
Harris and Eliza Kempner
2
Rescuing Texas History, 2007
2
The 12th Armored Division Photograph Collection
2
Oklahoma Publishing Company Photography Collection
1
Texas History Collection
1
States
Year
Month
Language
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, August 1, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on August 1, 1944. He advises his parents that air mail is faster than V mail, and tells them who his tent mates are.
Date:
August 1, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, August 2, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on August 2, 1944. He sends some pictures they wanted back, and says he and Harmon Gilbreath may go to the Red Cross and then go swimming in the evening when they have their half day off. He bought a bathing suit a few months ago from the army, but it hasn't arrived yet.
Date:
August 2, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, November 7, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on November 7, 1944, hoping that he'll be back soon to go fishing. He also says that it's been cold, but it hasn't been raining. He also mentions that he had a letter from Robert Evans, Jr. and that they'll probably visit again soon.
Date:
November 7, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, January 1, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on January 1, 1944. He thinks back about believing the war would be over soon when he joined the army, and hopes it will end this year. He also asks for more pecans.
Date:
January 1, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, February 18, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on February 18, 1944. He says he bought a war bond and sent it home, and that he's going to visit Wilbur Crawford in the hospital soon. He got a lighter, a box of pecans, and the film sent from home. He asks after his parents' broken ice box, and says it might be hard to get a new one.
Date:
February 18, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, November 12, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on November 12, 1944, telling them about a visit he had from some soldiers who are also from Waco. They went to the friend's camp and talked. Willis mentions that it's been very cold, so much so that he sleeps with four blankets and is still cold.
Date:
November 12, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, January 18, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on January 18, 1944. He discusses letters he's received, and asks to be sent candy and pecans.
Date:
January 18, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, September 11, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on September 11, 1944. He has a three day vacation, but nowhere to go, as tourism into Rome is restricted, so he intends to sleep for most of his time off. Someone is printing pictures of him in Africa and Italy to send to his parents, and he asks them if they received the packages he sent.
Date:
September 11, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, March 21, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on March 21, 1944. He reports the receipt of several letters from them, and sends his condolences for one of them who recently had a tooth pulled. He comments that he needs to get one or two teeth filled soon. He is planning on taking Wilbur Crawford to a U.S.O. show soon, and tells his parents to inform Mrs. Crawford, Wilbur's mother, that he'll probably be put in a unit in the rear once he's well enough.
Date:
March 21, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, August 4, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on August 4, 1944. He hopes to see Robert Evans, Jr. when he gets to Italy, and asks his parents to tell Wilbur Crawford to write to him, or give Willis his address. He also asks for a box of short bread.
Date:
August 4, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, July 21, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on July 21, 1944. He apologizes for not writing more, but the war seems to be winding down and there isn't much to say. He thinks Germany will fold soon and the army will be home by spring. He wishes he could have gone fishing with his friends in Waco, and says he received a box of short bread.
Date:
July 21, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, December 11, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on December 11, 1944, telling about a movie he saw recently. He says it was pretty good, but he's seen better. He also complains about the cold, but he's put paper between his mattress and the bed springs, so he thinks he'll be warmer.
Date:
December 11, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, February 26, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on February 26, 1944. He informs them that Wilbur Crawford, whose leg was injured, had the bandages taken off and just needs exercise to recover. He plans to have his picture taken and send them to his parents. He's had letters from a friend at A&M and Margaret Willis from Abilene.
Date:
February 26, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, May 13, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on May 13, 1944. He thanks them for the flint they sent him, and asks for a few more boxes. He sends his condolences on all the rain Waco had received, noting that it'll take a while for the river to recede and the fishing to improve. He mentions seeing Wilbur Crawford recently, and the two of them deciding they want to go on a camping trip. He sends well wishes to his mother.
Date:
May 13, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, August 14, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on August 14, 1944, telling them that he recently got a letter from Robert Evans, Jr. and they hope to meet up soon. He also received a letter from Jimmie Kendrick, who wishes he was stationed in a city. Willis mentions that Bob Milam's mother heard a rumor that her son was wounded, and reassures his family that the only way anyone in his outfit could be hurt would be by falling out of bed. He asks them to tell Mrs. Milam that Bob is okay if they see her.
Date:
August 14, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, May 19, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on May 19, 1944. His friend Wilbur Crawford now works at the hospital and gets Thursdays off, so Willis takes Thursday off as well. He looks forward to going swimming with Crawford, although it rains frequently. He wishes his mother well.
Date:
May 19, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, February 29, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on February 29, 1944. He sends reassurances to Wilbur Crawford's mother that he's fine, and tells his parents not to worry about him, since he's not at the front lines.
Date:
February 29, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, August 6, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on August 6, 1944. He mentions a friend, Charles S., who has come to visit, whom he and another friend have taken in. Charles S. is homesick, but John, Jr. believes they will all come home soon. He expresses excitement at getting a rare half day at work, and details all the things he likes to do with his time off. He tells a story of a fellow soldier who fell and broke several ribs, and whom John, Jr. plans to visit in the hospital later. He asks for a new fountain pen in a postscript.
Date:
August 6, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, July 26, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on July 26, 1944. The mail has all but stopped, and his work schedule has become a little more lax. He's not sure how the war can go on for much longer, and vows that they'll never get him to fight in another one.
Date:
July 26, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, March 29, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on March 29, 1944. He lays out plans to spend his day off with Wilbur Crawford. He is excited about the opening of an enlisted men's club for his battalion soon.
Date:
March 29, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to John T. Willis, Sr., August 12, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to John T. Willis, Sr. on August 12, 1944, asking his father if he knows a man named Marvin George who used to work at First National Bank in Waco. George sends on his regards to a Miss Todd who used to work at the bank. Willis wishes he could be home to help his father with fishing, and goes on to say he had a letter from Robert [Evans] Jr. and they hope to see each other soon.
Date:
August 12, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, March 26, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on March 26, 1944. He tells of a visit to a friend in a hospital who knows some of Willis' relatives.
Date:
March 26, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, April 30, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on April 30, 1944. He summarizes a few letters he's received from friends, asks after what his parents have decided about selling their house, and mentions a camping trip he and Wilbur Crawford are planning to go on after the war is over.
Date:
April 30, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his Parents, June 2, 1944]
Letter from John Todd Willis, Jr. to his parents Clara and John T. Willis, Sr. on June 2, 1944. He asks his mother to write him so he knows she is doing well, and mentions plans to go swimming the next day. He explains how he and the men who live with him refloored their tent and put up mosquito netting and a screen door.
Date:
June 2, 1944
Creator:
Willis, John Todd, Jr.
Object Type:
Letter
System:
The Portal to Texas History