Carl Bretz World War II Letters
This collection consists of 39 letters written by Carl Bretz to his parents during World War II. Bretz served in the United States Army and was stationed in the Pacific theatre during the war. His parents lived in Pennsylvania. The letters document his daily life as a soldier in World War II writing to the family back home. Bretz journey started in San Francisco, California before being transferred to Japan.
Dates
- 1945 September 20-November 8
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
0.2 Linear Feet
Abstract
This collection consists of 39 letters written by Carl Bretz to his parents during World War II. Bretz served in the United States Army and was stationed in the Pacific theatre during the war. His parents lived in Pennsylvania. The letters document his daily life as a soldier in World War II writing to the family back home.
Biographical/Historical Note
Carl V. Bretz was born in 1925 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Bretz graduated from high school in 1943 and shortly after was drafted into the Army. His official enlistment date was February 28, 1944. Bretz served as a typist and because of his typing skills, he was able to avoid combat. He was sent to work as a clerk typist at Army camps in Pennsylvania, Alabama and Mississippi. Bretz was stationed on Oahu Island in Hawaii when the atomic bombs fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.
After the war with assistance of the GI Bill, Bretz attended and graduated from Albright College in Pennsylvania. He then attended Boston College where he earned a master’s degree in the psychology of religion. Bretz became an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister and held chaplain or parish positions in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Iowa.
Bretz married Rosemary Burns from Oak Ridge, Tennessee and the couple had three children. Bretz currently resides in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Previous Citation
This collection was previously listed as CSWS.WWII.2.0007.
Acquisition Note
Special Collections acquired this collection via the Center for the Study of War and Society. Materials were donated by veterans and their families.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository