Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Noel Trahern papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Noel Trahern papers
- Date
- 1944-1966 (inclusive)
- Creator
- Trahern, Noel, 1915-1977
- Extent
- 0.37 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Veterans -- Alcohol use -- United States.
- World War, 1939-1945.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Alaska -- Aleutian Islands.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Philippines.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged chronologically. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0099: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Noel Trahern papers, 1944-1966, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Noel Trahern (1915-1977) was born in Oklahoma to William T. Trahern (1891-1971) and Lou Ann Christopher (1889-1974). He was drafted into the U.S. Army on March 11, 1941 and reported to Fort Sill, Oklahoma the same day. Initially, he was assigned to D Battery, 29th Artillery Battalion before being transferred to the 57th Field Artillery at Fort Ord, California. He participated in the Aleutian Campaign in 1943 but did not see combat. After a brief stay in Honolulu, his unit sailed for the Marshal Islands but remained there for only six days before sailing back to Hawaii. After stopping in the Admiralties, his unit participated in the invasion of Leyte, Philippine Islands on October 20, 1944. He received a citation for a Bronze Star Medal for his actions during the invasion of Leyte. After the war, on July 30, 1946, he reenlisted as a sergeant in the Army Air Corps, which later became the U.S. Air Force and spent the next fifteen years serving overseas and in the States at various air bases as an engine mechanic specializing in the P-51 and the B-47. He was married on three separate occasions and suffered from alcoholism, for which he was hospitalized several times.
- American Letters collector Wade Hall (1934-2015) was a native of Union Springs, Alabama. Starting in 1962, he lived in Louisville, where he taught English and chaired the English and Humanities/Arts programs at Kentucky Southern College and Bellarmine University. He also taught at the University of Illinois and the University of Florida. He held degrees from Troy State University (B.S.), the University of Alabama (M.A.), and the University of Illinois (Ph.D.). He served for two years in the U.S. Army in the mid-fifties. Dr. Hall was the author of books, monographs, articles, plays, and reviews relating to Kentucky, Alabama, and Southern history and literature. His most recent books include A Visit with Harlan Hubbard; High Upon a Hill: A History of Bellarmine College; A Song in Native Pastures: Randy Atcher's Life in Country Music; and Waters of Life from Conecuh Ridge.
- Scope and Content
- The Noel Trahern papers (dated 1944-1966; 0.37 cubic feet; 14 folders) comprise diaries and materials that document the military service of his service during World War II and later in the Army and Air Force. There are three diaries that detail Trahern's experiences serving in the Army in World War II, predominantly in the Pacific Theatre. Additionally, there are two folders documenting his health issues and experiences at a VA hospital, and two folders containing awards, certificates, and citations he received during his military service.
- The Noel Trahern papers are part of the Wade Hall Collection of American letters, which includes correspondence and diaries from all over North America covering the time period of the Civil to Korean Wars. The materials were collected by Wade Hall and document everyday men and women.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- The collection is open to researchers by appointment. Access to the medical records in this collection is restricted until 2027.
- 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
World War II diary, 1944 May 10-October 19
World War II diary, 1944 October 20-1945 March 31
World War II diary, 1945 June 26-October 4
Medical records DD 742 file, 1950-1961
Narrative of V.A. hospital care, 1961-1966
Awards, certificates, and copies of orders, undated
Photographs, 1942, 1957
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.
