{"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Oehlman%2C+Walter+F.\u0026f%5Blevel%5D%5B%5D=Collection","last":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Oehlman%2C+Walter+F.\u0026f%5Blevel%5D%5B%5D=Collection\u0026page=1"},"meta":{"pages":{"current_page":1,"next_page":null,"prev_page":null,"total_pages":1,"limit_value":10,"offset_value":0,"total_count":1,"first_page?":true,"last_page?":true}},"data":[{"id":"viw_repositories_2_resources_8178","type":"collection","attributes":{"title":"Walter F. Oehlman Letters","creator":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/viw_repositories_2_resources_8178#creator","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"Prestia, Brett","label":"Creator"}},"abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/viw_repositories_2_resources_8178#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eThe collection consists of 173 letters written by Walter F. Oehlman, Pvt., U.S. Army, to his wartime sweetheart, Grace Brunjes, of Glendale, Long Island, New York. The first letter is dated April 10, 1943; the last one is dated September 21, 1945. These letters span the period from his enlistment in November 1943 to his discharge in October 1945, when he was 32-34 years old.\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/viw_repositories_2_resources_8178#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"id":"viw_repositories_2_resources_8178","ead_ssi":"viw_repositories_2_resources_8178","_root_":"viw_repositories_2_resources_8178","_nest_parent_":"viw_repositories_2_resources_8178","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WM/repositories_2_resources_8178.xml","title_filing_ssi":"Oehlman, Walter F. Letters","title_ssm":["Walter F. Oehlman Letters"],"title_tesim":["Walter F. Oehlman Letters"],"unitdate_ssm":["1942-1945"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1942-1945"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["MS 00257","/repositories/2/resources/8178"],"text":["MS 00257","/repositories/2/resources/8178","Walter F. Oehlman Letters","World War, 1939-1945","World War, 1939-1945--Germany","Love letters","The letters were written on paper available to Oehlman, ranging from plain sheets to imprinted ones. Some sheets bore the \"U.S.O.\" logo; others had a \"Camp Croft\" or a \"Red Cross\" imprint. Still others bore the imprint of \"A-A-A-0,\" which represented the slogan of the 39th Infantry Regiment, \"Anything, Anywhere, Anytime - Bar Nothing.\" Some letters were sent via \"V-Mail,\" the government's way to expedite mail service for American military personnel overseas. In general, all of his wartime letters had to pass military censorship. During the Spring 1945, some of them show he was \"somewhere in Belgium\" or \"somewhere in Germany.\" After Germany's surrender, the letters are more location specific.","Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.","Walter F. Oehlman received two Purple Hearts among other service recognitions.","Description enhancement by Robert Browne in July 2019.","The collection consists of 173 letters written by Walter F. Oehlman, Pvt., U.S. Army, to his wartime sweetheart, Grace Brunjes, of Glendale, Long Island, New York. The first letter is dated April 10, 1943; the last one is dated September 21, 1945. These letters span the period from his enlistment in November 1943 to his discharge in October 1945, when he was 32-34 years old.","Other noteworthy letters are two from his mother, which he subsequently enclosed in letters to Grace. \n  \nIn the letters, Oehlman relates his experiences at Boot Camp at Fort Dix and subsequent training at Camp Croft.  He also writes while stationed overseas while he was embedded with Company K in the 39th Infantry Regiment in Belgium and Germany. Generally, the topics are (1) his training experiences (first at Ft. Dix, New Jersey and then at Camp Croft, South Carolina), (2) his illness and hospitalization at Camp Croft, (3) his longing to see Grace and ongoing frustration about not being able to obtain furloughs; (4) his wartime experiences in Europe (including the fighting at Remagen and the Battle of Hürtgen Forest), (5) his eagerness to return home once Germany had surrendered, and possible options (specifically, his ranking under the army's point system or obtaining a dependency discharge based on his mother's situation); and always (6) his abiding love for Grace.","In places, he confides his wartime state of mind: apprehension (\"not knowing about what is going to happen is what is driving me nuts\"); worry (\"please try to keep it [his going overseas] from her [his mother] for a little while longer\" or \"please try to keep my mom in the best spirits possible\"); resignation (\"I think the best thing is to take things as they come, there is not much else we can do, and hope and pray for an early victory\"); mental stress (\"I do need a rest as my nerves are a little shaky and have been in the hospital twice. Once for frozen feet and once for being hit in the arm with shrapnel . . . . Please don't tell my mom about this.\"); antipathy (\"We have now seen the handiwork on some of these slave laborers here. Anything you have read about their treatment you can believe if you ever had any doubts in your mind about it. These people deserve no mercy from us at all.\"); post-VE angst (\". . . there seems to be only one big black cloud now, and that is going to the [C.B.I.] theatre\" or \"I wonder how it would feel to be home, and trying to act like a human being again.\"); and hope, fears and optimism (\"please wait for me\"; then \"you will marry me won't you Gracie? Even if I am a broken down wreck\"; and later \"it makes me feel pretty good to know that you are waiting for me.\")","Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.","Special Collections Research Center","Prestia, Brett","Oehlman, Walter F.","English"],"unitid_tesim":["MS 00257","/repositories/2/resources/8178"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Walter F. Oehlman Letters"],"collection_title_tesim":["Walter F. Oehlman Letters"],"collection_ssim":["Walter F. Oehlman Letters"],"repository_ssm":["College of William and Mary"],"repository_ssim":["College of William and Mary"],"creator_ssm":["Prestia, Brett","Oehlman, Walter F."],"creator_ssim":["Prestia, Brett","Oehlman, Walter F."],"creator_persname_ssim":["Prestia, Brett","Oehlman, Walter F."],"creators_ssim":["Prestia, Brett","Oehlman, Walter F."],"access_terms_ssm":["Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Gift of Brett Prestia, '14, in memory of his grandfather, Robert A Nebel."],"access_subjects_ssim":["World War, 1939-1945","World War, 1939-1945--Germany","Love letters"],"access_subjects_ssm":["World War, 1939-1945","World War, 1939-1945--Germany","Love letters"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["The letters were written on paper available to Oehlman, ranging from plain sheets to imprinted ones. Some sheets bore the \"U.S.O.\" logo; others had a \"Camp Croft\" or a \"Red Cross\" imprint. Still others bore the imprint of \"A-A-A-0,\" which represented the slogan of the 39th Infantry Regiment, \"Anything, Anywhere, Anytime - Bar Nothing.\" Some letters were sent via \"V-Mail,\" the government's way to expedite mail service for American military personnel overseas. In general, all of his wartime letters had to pass military censorship. During the Spring 1945, some of them show he was \"somewhere in Belgium\" or \"somewhere in Germany.\" After Germany's surrender, the letters are more location specific."],"extent_ssm":["0.5 Linear Feet"],"extent_tesim":["0.5 Linear Feet"],"genreform_ssim":["Love letters"],"date_range_isim":[1942,1943,1944,1945],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eCollection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWalter F. Oehlman received two Purple Hearts among other service recognitions.\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["Walter F. Oehlman received two Purple Hearts among other service recognitions."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWalter F. Oehlman Letters, Special Collections Research Center, William \u0026amp; Mary Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Walter F. Oehlman Letters, Special Collections Research Center, William \u0026 Mary Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eDescription enhancement by Robert Browne in July 2019.\u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Description enhancement by Robert Browne in July 2019."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe collection consists of 173 letters written by Walter F. Oehlman, Pvt., U.S. Army, to his wartime sweetheart, Grace Brunjes, of Glendale, Long Island, New York. The first letter is dated April 10, 1943; the last one is dated September 21, 1945. These letters span the period from his enlistment in November 1943 to his discharge in October 1945, when he was 32-34 years old.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eOther noteworthy letters are two from his mother, which he subsequently enclosed in letters to Grace. \n  \nIn the letters, Oehlman relates his experiences at Boot Camp at Fort Dix and subsequent training at Camp Croft.  He also writes while stationed overseas while he was embedded with Company K in the 39th Infantry Regiment in Belgium and Germany. Generally, the topics are (1) his training experiences (first at Ft. Dix, New Jersey and then at Camp Croft, South Carolina), (2) his illness and hospitalization at Camp Croft, (3) his longing to see Grace and ongoing frustration about not being able to obtain furloughs; (4) his wartime experiences in Europe (including the fighting at Remagen and the Battle of Hürtgen Forest), (5) his eagerness to return home once Germany had surrendered, and possible options (specifically, his ranking under the army's point system or obtaining a dependency discharge based on his mother's situation); and always (6) his abiding love for Grace.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eIn places, he confides his wartime state of mind: apprehension (\"not knowing about what is going to happen is what is driving me nuts\"); worry (\"please try to keep it [his going overseas] from her [his mother] for a little while longer\" or \"please try to keep my mom in the best spirits possible\"); resignation (\"I think the best thing is to take things as they come, there is not much else we can do, and hope and pray for an early victory\"); mental stress (\"I do need a rest as my nerves are a little shaky and have been in the hospital twice. Once for frozen feet and once for being hit in the arm with shrapnel . . . . Please don't tell my mom about this.\"); antipathy (\"We have now seen the handiwork on some of these slave laborers here. Anything you have read about their treatment you can believe if you ever had any doubts in your mind about it. These people deserve no mercy from us at all.\"); post-VE angst (\". . . there seems to be only one big black cloud now, and that is going to the [C.B.I.] theatre\" or \"I wonder how it would feel to be home, and trying to act like a human being again.\"); and hope, fears and optimism (\"please wait for me\"; then \"you will marry me won't you Gracie? Even if I am a broken down wreck\"; and later \"it makes me feel pretty good to know that you are waiting for me.\")\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Content Description"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The collection consists of 173 letters written by Walter F. Oehlman, Pvt., U.S. Army, to his wartime sweetheart, Grace Brunjes, of Glendale, Long Island, New York. The first letter is dated April 10, 1943; the last one is dated September 21, 1945. These letters span the period from his enlistment in November 1943 to his discharge in October 1945, when he was 32-34 years old.","Other noteworthy letters are two from his mother, which he subsequently enclosed in letters to Grace. \n  \nIn the letters, Oehlman relates his experiences at Boot Camp at Fort Dix and subsequent training at Camp Croft.  He also writes while stationed overseas while he was embedded with Company K in the 39th Infantry Regiment in Belgium and Germany. Generally, the topics are (1) his training experiences (first at Ft. Dix, New Jersey and then at Camp Croft, South Carolina), (2) his illness and hospitalization at Camp Croft, (3) his longing to see Grace and ongoing frustration about not being able to obtain furloughs; (4) his wartime experiences in Europe (including the fighting at Remagen and the Battle of Hürtgen Forest), (5) his eagerness to return home once Germany had surrendered, and possible options (specifically, his ranking under the army's point system or obtaining a dependency discharge based on his mother's situation); and always (6) his abiding love for Grace.","In places, he confides his wartime state of mind: apprehension (\"not knowing about what is going to happen is what is driving me nuts\"); worry (\"please try to keep it [his going overseas] from her [his mother] for a little while longer\" or \"please try to keep my mom in the best spirits possible\"); resignation (\"I think the best thing is to take things as they come, there is not much else we can do, and hope and pray for an early victory\"); mental stress (\"I do need a rest as my nerves are a little shaky and have been in the hospital twice. Once for frozen feet and once for being hit in the arm with shrapnel . . . . Please don't tell my mom about this.\"); antipathy (\"We have now seen the handiwork on some of these slave laborers here. Anything you have read about their treatment you can believe if you ever had any doubts in your mind about it. These people deserve no mercy from us at all.\"); post-VE angst (\". . . there seems to be only one big black cloud now, and that is going to the [C.B.I.] theatre\" or \"I wonder how it would feel to be home, and trying to act like a human being again.\"); and hope, fears and optimism (\"please wait for me\"; then \"you will marry me won't you Gracie? Even if I am a broken down wreck\"; and later \"it makes me feel pretty good to know that you are waiting for me.\")"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eBefore reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library."],"names_ssim":["Special Collections Research Center","Prestia, Brett","Oehlman, Walter F."],"corpname_ssim":["Special Collections Research Center"],"names_coll_ssim":["Prestia, Brett"],"persname_ssim":["Prestia, Brett","Oehlman, Walter F."],"language_ssim":["English"],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":2,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-21T12:19:10.631Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"viw_repositories_2_resources_8178","ead_ssi":"viw_repositories_2_resources_8178","_root_":"viw_repositories_2_resources_8178","_nest_parent_":"viw_repositories_2_resources_8178","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WM/repositories_2_resources_8178.xml","title_filing_ssi":"Oehlman, Walter F. Letters","title_ssm":["Walter F. Oehlman Letters"],"title_tesim":["Walter F. Oehlman Letters"],"unitdate_ssm":["1942-1945"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1942-1945"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["MS 00257","/repositories/2/resources/8178"],"text":["MS 00257","/repositories/2/resources/8178","Walter F. Oehlman Letters","World War, 1939-1945","World War, 1939-1945--Germany","Love letters","The letters were written on paper available to Oehlman, ranging from plain sheets to imprinted ones. Some sheets bore the \"U.S.O.\" logo; others had a \"Camp Croft\" or a \"Red Cross\" imprint. Still others bore the imprint of \"A-A-A-0,\" which represented the slogan of the 39th Infantry Regiment, \"Anything, Anywhere, Anytime - Bar Nothing.\" Some letters were sent via \"V-Mail,\" the government's way to expedite mail service for American military personnel overseas. In general, all of his wartime letters had to pass military censorship. During the Spring 1945, some of them show he was \"somewhere in Belgium\" or \"somewhere in Germany.\" After Germany's surrender, the letters are more location specific.","Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.","Walter F. Oehlman received two Purple Hearts among other service recognitions.","Description enhancement by Robert Browne in July 2019.","The collection consists of 173 letters written by Walter F. Oehlman, Pvt., U.S. Army, to his wartime sweetheart, Grace Brunjes, of Glendale, Long Island, New York. The first letter is dated April 10, 1943; the last one is dated September 21, 1945. These letters span the period from his enlistment in November 1943 to his discharge in October 1945, when he was 32-34 years old.","Other noteworthy letters are two from his mother, which he subsequently enclosed in letters to Grace. \n  \nIn the letters, Oehlman relates his experiences at Boot Camp at Fort Dix and subsequent training at Camp Croft.  He also writes while stationed overseas while he was embedded with Company K in the 39th Infantry Regiment in Belgium and Germany. Generally, the topics are (1) his training experiences (first at Ft. Dix, New Jersey and then at Camp Croft, South Carolina), (2) his illness and hospitalization at Camp Croft, (3) his longing to see Grace and ongoing frustration about not being able to obtain furloughs; (4) his wartime experiences in Europe (including the fighting at Remagen and the Battle of Hürtgen Forest), (5) his eagerness to return home once Germany had surrendered, and possible options (specifically, his ranking under the army's point system or obtaining a dependency discharge based on his mother's situation); and always (6) his abiding love for Grace.","In places, he confides his wartime state of mind: apprehension (\"not knowing about what is going to happen is what is driving me nuts\"); worry (\"please try to keep it [his going overseas] from her [his mother] for a little while longer\" or \"please try to keep my mom in the best spirits possible\"); resignation (\"I think the best thing is to take things as they come, there is not much else we can do, and hope and pray for an early victory\"); mental stress (\"I do need a rest as my nerves are a little shaky and have been in the hospital twice. Once for frozen feet and once for being hit in the arm with shrapnel . . . . Please don't tell my mom about this.\"); antipathy (\"We have now seen the handiwork on some of these slave laborers here. Anything you have read about their treatment you can believe if you ever had any doubts in your mind about it. These people deserve no mercy from us at all.\"); post-VE angst (\". . . there seems to be only one big black cloud now, and that is going to the [C.B.I.] theatre\" or \"I wonder how it would feel to be home, and trying to act like a human being again.\"); and hope, fears and optimism (\"please wait for me\"; then \"you will marry me won't you Gracie? Even if I am a broken down wreck\"; and later \"it makes me feel pretty good to know that you are waiting for me.\")","Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.","Special Collections Research Center","Prestia, Brett","Oehlman, Walter F.","English"],"unitid_tesim":["MS 00257","/repositories/2/resources/8178"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Walter F. Oehlman Letters"],"collection_title_tesim":["Walter F. Oehlman Letters"],"collection_ssim":["Walter F. Oehlman Letters"],"repository_ssm":["College of William and Mary"],"repository_ssim":["College of William and Mary"],"creator_ssm":["Prestia, Brett","Oehlman, Walter F."],"creator_ssim":["Prestia, Brett","Oehlman, Walter F."],"creator_persname_ssim":["Prestia, Brett","Oehlman, Walter F."],"creators_ssim":["Prestia, Brett","Oehlman, Walter F."],"access_terms_ssm":["Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Gift of Brett Prestia, '14, in memory of his grandfather, Robert A Nebel."],"access_subjects_ssim":["World War, 1939-1945","World War, 1939-1945--Germany","Love letters"],"access_subjects_ssm":["World War, 1939-1945","World War, 1939-1945--Germany","Love letters"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["The letters were written on paper available to Oehlman, ranging from plain sheets to imprinted ones. Some sheets bore the \"U.S.O.\" logo; others had a \"Camp Croft\" or a \"Red Cross\" imprint. Still others bore the imprint of \"A-A-A-0,\" which represented the slogan of the 39th Infantry Regiment, \"Anything, Anywhere, Anytime - Bar Nothing.\" Some letters were sent via \"V-Mail,\" the government's way to expedite mail service for American military personnel overseas. In general, all of his wartime letters had to pass military censorship. During the Spring 1945, some of them show he was \"somewhere in Belgium\" or \"somewhere in Germany.\" After Germany's surrender, the letters are more location specific."],"extent_ssm":["0.5 Linear Feet"],"extent_tesim":["0.5 Linear Feet"],"genreform_ssim":["Love letters"],"date_range_isim":[1942,1943,1944,1945],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eCollection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWalter F. Oehlman received two Purple Hearts among other service recognitions.\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["Walter F. Oehlman received two Purple Hearts among other service recognitions."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWalter F. Oehlman Letters, Special Collections Research Center, William \u0026amp; Mary Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Walter F. Oehlman Letters, Special Collections Research Center, William \u0026 Mary Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eDescription enhancement by Robert Browne in July 2019.\u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Description enhancement by Robert Browne in July 2019."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe collection consists of 173 letters written by Walter F. Oehlman, Pvt., U.S. Army, to his wartime sweetheart, Grace Brunjes, of Glendale, Long Island, New York. The first letter is dated April 10, 1943; the last one is dated September 21, 1945. These letters span the period from his enlistment in November 1943 to his discharge in October 1945, when he was 32-34 years old.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eOther noteworthy letters are two from his mother, which he subsequently enclosed in letters to Grace. \n  \nIn the letters, Oehlman relates his experiences at Boot Camp at Fort Dix and subsequent training at Camp Croft.  He also writes while stationed overseas while he was embedded with Company K in the 39th Infantry Regiment in Belgium and Germany. Generally, the topics are (1) his training experiences (first at Ft. Dix, New Jersey and then at Camp Croft, South Carolina), (2) his illness and hospitalization at Camp Croft, (3) his longing to see Grace and ongoing frustration about not being able to obtain furloughs; (4) his wartime experiences in Europe (including the fighting at Remagen and the Battle of Hürtgen Forest), (5) his eagerness to return home once Germany had surrendered, and possible options (specifically, his ranking under the army's point system or obtaining a dependency discharge based on his mother's situation); and always (6) his abiding love for Grace.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eIn places, he confides his wartime state of mind: apprehension (\"not knowing about what is going to happen is what is driving me nuts\"); worry (\"please try to keep it [his going overseas] from her [his mother] for a little while longer\" or \"please try to keep my mom in the best spirits possible\"); resignation (\"I think the best thing is to take things as they come, there is not much else we can do, and hope and pray for an early victory\"); mental stress (\"I do need a rest as my nerves are a little shaky and have been in the hospital twice. Once for frozen feet and once for being hit in the arm with shrapnel . . . . Please don't tell my mom about this.\"); antipathy (\"We have now seen the handiwork on some of these slave laborers here. Anything you have read about their treatment you can believe if you ever had any doubts in your mind about it. These people deserve no mercy from us at all.\"); post-VE angst (\". . . there seems to be only one big black cloud now, and that is going to the [C.B.I.] theatre\" or \"I wonder how it would feel to be home, and trying to act like a human being again.\"); and hope, fears and optimism (\"please wait for me\"; then \"you will marry me won't you Gracie? Even if I am a broken down wreck\"; and later \"it makes me feel pretty good to know that you are waiting for me.\")\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Content Description"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The collection consists of 173 letters written by Walter F. Oehlman, Pvt., U.S. Army, to his wartime sweetheart, Grace Brunjes, of Glendale, Long Island, New York. The first letter is dated April 10, 1943; the last one is dated September 21, 1945. These letters span the period from his enlistment in November 1943 to his discharge in October 1945, when he was 32-34 years old.","Other noteworthy letters are two from his mother, which he subsequently enclosed in letters to Grace. \n  \nIn the letters, Oehlman relates his experiences at Boot Camp at Fort Dix and subsequent training at Camp Croft.  He also writes while stationed overseas while he was embedded with Company K in the 39th Infantry Regiment in Belgium and Germany. Generally, the topics are (1) his training experiences (first at Ft. Dix, New Jersey and then at Camp Croft, South Carolina), (2) his illness and hospitalization at Camp Croft, (3) his longing to see Grace and ongoing frustration about not being able to obtain furloughs; (4) his wartime experiences in Europe (including the fighting at Remagen and the Battle of Hürtgen Forest), (5) his eagerness to return home once Germany had surrendered, and possible options (specifically, his ranking under the army's point system or obtaining a dependency discharge based on his mother's situation); and always (6) his abiding love for Grace.","In places, he confides his wartime state of mind: apprehension (\"not knowing about what is going to happen is what is driving me nuts\"); worry (\"please try to keep it [his going overseas] from her [his mother] for a little while longer\" or \"please try to keep my mom in the best spirits possible\"); resignation (\"I think the best thing is to take things as they come, there is not much else we can do, and hope and pray for an early victory\"); mental stress (\"I do need a rest as my nerves are a little shaky and have been in the hospital twice. Once for frozen feet and once for being hit in the arm with shrapnel . . . . Please don't tell my mom about this.\"); antipathy (\"We have now seen the handiwork on some of these slave laborers here. Anything you have read about their treatment you can believe if you ever had any doubts in your mind about it. These people deserve no mercy from us at all.\"); post-VE angst (\". . . there seems to be only one big black cloud now, and that is going to the [C.B.I.] theatre\" or \"I wonder how it would feel to be home, and trying to act like a human being again.\"); and hope, fears and optimism (\"please wait for me\"; then \"you will marry me won't you Gracie? Even if I am a broken down wreck\"; and later \"it makes me feel pretty good to know that you are waiting for me.\")"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eBefore reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library."],"names_ssim":["Special Collections Research Center","Prestia, Brett","Oehlman, Walter F."],"corpname_ssim":["Special Collections Research Center"],"names_coll_ssim":["Prestia, Brett"],"persname_ssim":["Prestia, Brett","Oehlman, Walter F."],"language_ssim":["English"],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":2,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-21T12:19:10.631Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/viw_repositories_2_resources_8178"}}],"included":[{"type":"facet","id":"repository_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Repository","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"College of William and Mary","value":"College of William and Mary","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Oehlman%2C+Walter+F.\u0026f%5Blevel%5D%5B%5D=Collection\u0026f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=College+of+William+and+Mary"}}]},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/facet/repository_ssim.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Oehlman%2C+Walter+F.\u0026f%5Blevel%5D%5B%5D=Collection"}},{"type":"facet","id":"collection_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Collection","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"Walter F. 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