Thompson Family Second World War and Gulf War correspondence
Content Description
This collection contains an assortment of original letters written during the Persian Gulf War and transcribed letters from the Second World War. The Gulf War correspondence was written by Master Gunnery Sergeant Terry Summers, United States Marine Corps to Jo and Bill Thompson. Summers writes about the activities on the military base in Bahrain, the activities leading up to the air campaign, and the challenges that Marines face being far away from home.
The Second World War correspondence consists of transcribed letters that were written by Lt. Durand R. Miller, USMC who was the father of Jo Thompson. The letters describe the Battle of Iwo Jima and include a description of the various stages of the campaign. The letters were published in the Nassau Daily Review-Star.
Miller fought with the 5th Marines and, according to the donor, was "said to be the only surviving 2nd Lieut. to walk off of IWO."
Dates
- Creation: 1945 - 1991
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1990 - 1991
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions. For further copyright information, please contact the archivist.
Biographical / Historical
According to information provided by the donor, Lieutenant Durand R. Miller, United States Marine Corps (b. 11/1922) was born in New York and raised on Long Island. He graduated from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut in 1944 and attended Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia. A story in the April 26, 1945 edition of the Nassau Daily Review-Star says Miller also had a brother, Burton F. Miller, who served in the Army Air Forces.
He served as a lieutenant with the 5th Marine Division and fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima. The donor writes that Miller was "said to be the surviving 2nd Liet. to walk off of IWO."
Miller was later recalled during the Korean War and served stateside. He left the Marine Corps in 1952 as a captain.
Extent
.16 Linear feet (2 folders)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection contains an assortment of letters written during the Persian Gulf War and the Second World War that were donated by Willard and Jo Thompson. The Persian Gulf War correspondence includes 16 letters that Master Gunnery Sergeant Terry Summers wrote to Jo Thompson while he served with the Marines in Bahrain during the Persian Gulf War. The Second World War correspondence consists of transcribed letters that were written by Marine Lieutenant Durand R. Miller, father of Jo Thompson, and describe the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by material type, author, and date. Series 1: Gulf War Correspondence from Terry Summers – Series 2: Durand R. Miller Second World War Correspondence.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Willard and Jo Thompson.
- Title
- Finding Aid for the Thompson Family Second World War and Gulf War correspondence
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Robert
- Date
- 8/12/2017
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Center for American War Letters Archives, Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives Repository
