Thomas E. Havel Second World War correspondence

Collection — Box: WWII 172, Folder: 1-6, Folder: 1-6

Identifier: 2022-173-w-r

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains approximately 70 letters written by Capt. Thomas E. Havel, USA to his wife Elizabeth Havel née Shilts during the Second World War. This collection also contains one transcribed letter from Havel to Pie Johnson on April 29, 1945 that discussed his encounters with survivors of Nazi concentration camps. This collection also includes Nazi propaganda leaflets and booklets intended for US servicemembers in the European Theater of Operations. This collection also contains postcards, photographs, photocopied documents and photocopied photographs of Capt. Havel's medals.

Dates

1944 June 4 - 1945 August 21

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

Captain Thomas Earl "Tom" Havel, United States Army (1911 - 1989) was born in Montgomery, Minnesota to Thomas Nichols Havel and Henrietta Cecelia Havel née Thaler. He was the second eldest of 5 children, two brothers, and two sisters. Havel graduated from Sherman High School in 1929 and graduated from Creighton University Medical School in 1935.

Havel met Elizabeth Shilts while studying at Creighton University Medica School. Shilts earned her degree as a registered nurse from St. Catherine's hospital in 1935 and, in 1936 married Havel.

Capt. Havel served as a general surgeon with the 110th Medical Battalion attached to the 35th Division between 1942 through 1945. According to the donor he "was Platoon Leader supervising evacuation of casualties and emergency medical treatment [and] . . . . Performed emergency operations." He was awarded the Bronze Star for "meritorious service from July 11, 1944 to April 24, 1945 in the European Theater."

Thomas E. and Elizabeth Havel moved their family to Santa Monica, CA in 1950 after he accepted a position with St. John's Hospital. Together they raised five children. In 1964, Havel was "recognized by his peers and selected to serve as Chief of Staff for St. John's [Hospital]."

Extent

1 Linear Feet (6 folders)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection contains approximately 70 letters written by Capt. Thomas E. Havel, USA to his wife Elizabeth Havel née Shilts during the Second World War. This collection also contains one transcribed letter from Havel to Pie Johnson, Nazi propaganda leaflets and booklets, postcards, photographs, photocopied documents, and photocopied photographs of Capt. Havel's medals.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by material type, and chronological order:

Series 1, Thomas E. Havel correspondence
Series 2, Ephemera
Series 3, Other papers

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Richard W. Havel.

Subjects

Battle of the Ardennes (1944-1945) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945 Subject Source: Local sources
Propaganda -- History -- 20th century. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
V-E Day (1945) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
V-J Day, 1945 -- England Subject Source: Local sources
World War (1939-1945) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War (1939-1945) -- Concentration camps -- Germany Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War (1939-1945) -- France Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War (1939-1945) -- Germany Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War (1939-1945) -- Photography Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War (1939-1945) -- Propaganda Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings