Theresa Allen Gulf War correspondence

This collection contains approximately 10 photocopied letters written by Theresa Allen to her pen-pals during the Gulf War. She wrote these letters from November 15, 1990 to February 15, 1991. This collection also contains 18 letters from seven total servicemen addressed to Theresa Allen during the Gulf War.

Allen wrote about her desire to support the US military through letter writing, her daily-life living in Nashville, TN, and her career goals as a recent University graduate who was unsatisfied with her job at time of correspondence. Soldiers include (in order of appearance):

Sergeant Scott Schoenbauer, United States Army

• Schoenbauer wrote 5 letters from December 22, 1990 to May 17, 1991. He served in Saudi Arabia with the 82nd Airborne Division. Throughout his correspondence with Allen, he shared details about coping with war in the Saudi Arabian desert as a "sniper in the Recon platoon." In his January 23, 1991 letter, Schoenbauer stated that "I'm living out in the middle of the desert in a tent and haven't seen much yet. I did see Scuds get shot down by some Patriot missiles late at night near Riyadh [Saudi Arabia]."

Fire Control 3rd Class Mark Cox, United States Navy

• Cox wrote 5 letters from December 11, 1990 to June 6, 1991. He served in the Persian Gulf with the Gunner's Mate Division aboard the USS Wisconsin. Cox wrote with concern about breakout of war in the Middle-East in both of his December 1990 letters. By January 17, 1991 Cox wrote that at "0100 in the AM on the 17 the first US miss[i]le was fired from a ship over here. We started shooting at 2:15 AM and ended at 240. Then we started again at 7:43 AM and just now ended at 11:55 [AM]. We are [supposed] to shoot another one at 7:30 PM and that will be the end till the next day or so."

Corporal Mike J. Flinn, United States Marines

• Flinn wrote 5 letters from December 29, 1990 to March 6, 1991. He served with the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Battle Service Group-4 in Saudi Arabia. In his February 1, 1991 letter, Flinn updated Allen that he participated in a "five day operation in the desert" and that he had "been moved from the carrier to an amphibious assault ship in preparation for an assault on Kuwait City in the near future." Flinn's last letter to Allen was dated March 2, 1991 included four photographs. Each photograph was folded to fit in an envelope by either Flinn or Allen but has since been flattened for ease of access.

• Sergeant Travis Query, United States Army
• Specialist Jason Goss, United States Army
• Private Michael O'Shea, United States Army
• Sergeant First Class David L. Butler, United States Army

• 1. Photograph of Flinn in front of a Camp Gray sign, with inscription on verso that reads "me!"
• 2. Photograph of a Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight that was either landing or taking off from a naval vessel. Contains an inscription on verso that reads"a CH-46 piloted by 2 women!"
• 3. Photograph of the Kuwait coast with inscription on verso.
• 4. Photograph of an oil refinery with inscription on verso that reads "Oil refinery, Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia."