Robert D. Hanni, Jr. Second World War correspondence
Content Description
This collection contains three correspondence by Pvt. Robert D. Hanni, Jr., USA to Helen Skinner, during the Second World War. Also included is an anecdote about an American Free Mason.
Pvt. Hanni wrote his letters to Helen from France while serving with her husband, Clifford Skinner. He wrote in a humorous manner, usually being depricating about his Cliff and thanking her for her packages that they share. In his last letter he gives some details about himself to stave off a perceived negative image that Clifford may be writing her.
The anecdote is about a lieutenant that was also a Free Mason. He was captured in the Battle of the Bulge, only to be set free by a German officer when he found his Masonic card in his wallet. This relationship led to the American testifying during the war crimes trials on the German's behalf, leading to his release. This anecdote was typed and sent to Helen because Clifford was a Mason and the sender "Jan" thought he would be interested in the story.
Dates
- 1945 January 4 - 1945 February 10
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.
Biographical / Historical
Private First Class Robert D. "Bob" Hanni, Jr., United States Army (1/24/1909 - 12/28/1960) was born and lived in Youngstown, Ohio and worked as a structural engineer for Truscon Steel Company before being drafted into the Army, enlisting on October 9, 1943. He was married to Anne and they had two sons. Hanni served with the Ground Force Replacement System Truck Battalion, Company A, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division, and was honorably discharged on November 17, 1945 as a PFC after earning the Bronze Star Medal. He passed away in 1960 and is interred at Lake Park Cemetery in Youngstown.
Clifford "Cliff" Skinner, United States Army (1/29/1911 - 11/4/1974) in New Jersey and was married to Helen Evelyn Skinner neé Kerr in 1939. The two lived in Bloomfield, NJ and they had a son C. Alan, referred in Hanni's letters as Alan. Skinner enlisted on September 23, 1943 and served with PFC Hanni in France and was discharged on December 2, 1945.
Extent
.025 Linear feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection contains three correspondence and one anecdote written by Pvt. Robert D. Hanni, Jr., USA to Helen Skinner, during the Second World War.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of C. Alan and Martha Skinner.
- Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945 Subject Source: Local sources
- World War (1939-1945) -- France Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Finding Aid for the Robert D. Hanni, Jr. Second World War correspondence
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Andrew Harman
- Date
- 2/22/2019
- 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 Repository
