[Christmas Card from the USS Appalachian, 1944] (open access)

[Christmas Card from the USS Appalachian, 1944]

Christmas card issued by the USS Appalachian (AGC-1) for those aboard to send to family and friends back home. The front of the card features an illustration of a sailor sitting on a pier near the shore. The shore is covered in palm trees and other flora. Above the sailor is a thought bubble containing images of a fireplace with a wreath and stockings hung above it and a cabin covered in snow with trees and a shining star in the distance behind it. In the upper left corner of the front is text saying "U. S. S. APPALACHIAN, Somewhere in the Pacific". Inside the card is a short rhyming poem and holiday greeting.
Date: 1944~
Creator: USS Appalachian (AGC-1)
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from A. V. Arnold to the 7th Division Landing Force, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from A. V. Arnold to the 7th Division Landing Force, 1944]

Letter from Major General A. V. Arnold, second in command of the Seventh Infantry Division, to the men of the Seventh Division Landing Force giving them words of encouragement in preparation for the United States Philippines campaign, beginning with the Battle of Leyte on October 20th, 1944.
Date: 1944~
Creator: United States Army Seventh Infantry Division
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Betrice Kirkland to Charles Stasny, August 25, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Betrice Kirkland to Charles Stasny, August 25, 1944]

Letter from Betrice Kirkland to Charles Stasny informing him of the death of her brother, Theodore H. Kirkland, on August 16, 1944. She asks Stasny to notify as many of Theodore's friends as possible in hopes that they will be able to provide her with more information.
Date: August 25, 1944
Creator: Kirkland, Betrice
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Betrice Kirkland to Charles Stasny, September 6, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Betrice Kirkland to Charles Stasny, September 6, 1944]

Handwritten letter from Betrice Kirkland to Charles Stasny thanking him for the letter he sent her following Theodore Kirkland's, her brother, death in the war and reminisces on memories she had with him. She encloses a copy of the chaplain's letter and mentions that her brother, Theus Kirkland, will be returning to service soon either to the Islands or pilots' training in California.
Date: September 6, 1944
Creator: Kirkland, Betrice
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Charles Stasny to his Parents, August 1, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Charles Stasny to his Parents, August 1, 1944]

Letter from Charles Stasny to his parents discussing his participation in the bombardment and landings on Guam. He also discusses several people from back home, the possibility of calling his parents, and the possibility of getting leave, and sends his parents some money orders. This letter is written on United States Navy stationery.
Date: August 1, 1944
Creator: Stasny, Charles, 1921-2014
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Charles Stasny to his Parents, January 3, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Charles Stasny to his Parents, January 3, 1944]

Letter from Charles Stasny to his parents discussing life during the war. He mentions receiving a package from Dottie, his parents going into the cutlery business, the success of the garden, and requests they have some photo prints made for him.
Date: January 3, 1944
Creator: Stasny, Charles, 1921-2014
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Charles Stasny to his Parents, May 16, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Charles Stasny to his Parents, May 16, 1944]

Handwritten letter from Charles Stasny to his parents discussing life during the war. He mentions leaving the island and returning to living on aboard a ship. He also mentions returning some money his parents had lent him and the possibility that he and three other crewmates may go home. He asks his parents to have the Eagle change his address and discusses the protestant chaplain on board making him unsure when he'll be able to attend catholic mass.
Date: May 16, 1944
Creator: Stasny, Charles, 1921-2014
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Charles Stasny to his Parents, November 30, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Charles Stasny to his Parents, November 30, 1944]

Letter from Charles Stasny to his parents discussing life during the war. He discusses mail coming through, people back home, the new liberties he has in Nouméa, New Caledonia, his plans to listen to the Texas A&M game broadcast, his parents cutlery business, and his Christmas gift for Dottie.
Date: November 30, 1944
Creator: Stasny, Charles, 1921-2014
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Theodore H. Kirkland to Charles Stasny, July 12, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Theodore H. Kirkland to Charles Stasny, July 12, 1944]

Handwritten letter from Theodore H. Kirkland to Charles Stasny updating him on his life during the war. He discusses being sent to a new outfit, his activities on liberty, being over seas again soon, and his plans to get married. Envelope addressed to Charles Stasny from Theodore H. Kirkland.
Date: July 12, 1944
Creator: Kirkland, Theodore H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from William Halsey, Jr., to the South Pacific Area, April 21, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from William Halsey, Jr., to the South Pacific Area, April 21, 1944]

Letter from Admiral William Halsey, Jr., to the South Pacific Area thanking them for a job well done with the South Pacific campaign nearing completion.
Date: April 21, 1944
Creator: Halsey, William, Jr.
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Souvenir Card from Charles Stasny to his Parents, September 24, 1944] (open access)

[Souvenir Card from Charles Stasny to his Parents, September 24, 1944]

Souvenir card from Charles Stasny to his parents with a handwritten message discussing Amphibious Group Three's occupation of Northern Japan. The card has a map of Amphibious Group 3's path through Northern Japan beginning in Aomori and travelling to Otaru. Envelope from Charles Stasny to his parents with text celebrating Amphibious Group Three and the USS Appalachian's (AGC-1) occupation of Northern Japan.
Date: 1944-09-24/1944-09-25
Creator: Stasny, Charles, 1921-2014
System: The Portal to Texas History