Gerald S. Thompson correspondence
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Gerald S. Thompson correspondence
- Date
- 1943-1968, undated (inclusive)
- Extent
- 0.45 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Ardennes, Battle of the, 1944-1945
- Love-letters
- Soldiers -- Correspondence
- Soldiers -- Kentucky.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged chronologically.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms195: Gerald S. Thompson correspondence, 1943-1968, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Gerald S. Thompson (circa 1915-circa 1988), from Clark County, Kentucky, was a Staff Sergeant in Company A of the 550th Airborne Infantry during World War Two. His unit was based in Maxton Army Air in North Carolina and deployed to Europe in June, 1944. It took part in the Allied invasion of Southern France and the Battle of Bulge in 1944. Thompson was hospitalized after the Battle of the Bulge for frostbite or trenchfoot and did not return to the front.
- Thompson's girlfriend, Harryette Rupard of Richmond, Kentucky, became a cadet nurse in 1944 and then lived in Philadelphia and Washington, DC.
- Scope and Content
- The Gerald S. Thompson correspondence (dated 1943-1968, undated; 0.45 cubic feet; 1 box) comprises letters written by Gerald S. Thompson of Clark County, Kentucky, to his girlfriend, Harryette Rupard, documenting his service in the United States, Italy, and France with Company A, 550th Airborne Infantry in World War II. The letters mostly deal with Thompson's feelings for Rupard, whom he calls "Duchess", but also include descriptions of daily life as a soldier. Thompson's letters to Harryette cover Thompson's experience in the Battle of the Bulge, and a foot injury (frostbite or trenchfoot) he suffered. The subsequent letters detail his stays in military hospitals throughout Europe and eventually in North Carolina. In addition there are two letters adressed to Harryette, now Harryette Sosbee, from 1967-68.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment
- Use Restrictions
- The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Contents of the Collection
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Table of Contents
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
