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Scrapbooks, Letters, and V-Mail

The primary source of information used as the foundation for developing this website came from my father's scrapbooks. These scrapbooks contained a large number of photographs, post cards, greeting cards, and other memorabilia that he gathered from the late 1930's through 1945. Although the scrapbooks deteriorated during the more than 60 years since he first started putting them together, almost all of the material contained in them was salvaged and put on this site. However, due to the time elapsed and Dad's unfortunate choice in archiving techniques, some of the material may not be of the highest quality.

In addition to the information obtained from Dad's scrapbook, his sister Mae kept all the letters and V-mail that she received from my Dad during the war. In these letters Dad revealed his innermost thoughts, fears, as well as his hopes for the future. Excerpts from these letters are included.


 

In many of the letters that Dad wrote, he mentioned "Blondie", the girl he met before going overseas. Blondie later became his wife and mother to his three sons. Pictured to the right is Mel, otherwise known as "Blondie" or our Mom.

Blondie (Mom or Mel)

BLONDIE

Since Dad did not talk much to his family about his childhood or what his life was like during the war, the photographs and other material contained in his scrapbooks were not that meaningful to his active young sons. Unfortunately, when Dad did eventually talk to his us about the war, we were either too young to fully understand or appreciate the significance of what he described, or we were too busy with school, sports, or other activities to discuss the major events that occurred during Dad's early life. Today, these scrapbooks and letters that were originally perceived to be just a collection of pictures, names, and other material that Dad collected during the war, have become a real treasure for me and my brothers.


Print Resources

The Story of a New Ship of War, Robert W. Kirsch, USS LCI (R) 74, Editor (Landing Craft Infantry)

History of U.S. Naval Operations in World War II, Samuel Eliot Morison, Volumes I-XV)

D-Day June 6, 1944 - The Climatic Battle of World War II, Stephen E. Ambrose, Touchstone (1994), Rockefeller Center, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10020

World War II - A Visual Encyclopedia, General Editor - John Keegan, Sterling Publishing Co, Inc (1999), 387 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016

The Greatest Generation, Tom Brokaw, Random House Inc. (1998), NY, NY

Coming of Age in the Great Depression, The Civilian Conservation Corps Experience in New Mexico, 1933- 1942, Richard Melzer, Yucca Tree Press (2000), Las Cruces, NM 88005-3305

 
Scrapbook Cover
SCRAPBOOK COVER

 Letters - V Mail from Sister Mae

LETTERS AND V-MAIL

SENT TO SISTER MAE

Stanley Galik with Sister Mae - Before Going Overseas

PHOTO OF STAN AND SISTER MAE

BEFORE HE WENT OVERSEAS IN 1943
 

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