J.C. Faulkner Family Papers

This collection contains correspondence between J.C. Faulkner and many of his family and friends over a span of about a year, between December 1944 and December 1945. Some of his letters are on USO and military stationery. Faulkner’s letters first discuss his travel across the country by train, from New York to Camp San Bruno, California. He writes letters along the way to his wife Bonnie, writing about his trip, sights he sees, card games played on the train, people who support them with food and letters at their train stops, and travelling through the cities like Chicago and the beautiful scenic country of Wyoming. After arriving in San Bruno, a Naval Advance Base Personnel Depot and Classification Center outside of San Francisco, he receives the job of “store keeper technician.” He gets news that he will likely be transferred overseas. When it comes time for his group to be sent to Guam, they are confined to their barracks and only given ten minutes notice when it is time for them to leave. Censors read all of their letters and cut up any part revealing too much information. Once in Guam, he is reunited with people he knows from the United States and is eating fresh coconut. He bears the frequent rain and sees many USO sponsored plays and movies and attends monthly beach parties organized by the Spare Parts Distribution Center. He discusses the point system for discharge announced by the Navy that occurred a few hours after news of Japanese surrender on August 14, 1945. He received the news August 16, 1945 and all the ships blew their horns and free beer was passed out. J.C. Faulkner’s incoming correspondence includes many letters from his wife discussing daily life in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and the construction of the Goodrich Rubber Company plant being built. Other letters are from other servicemen and family members and include many holiday cards. Faulkner's personal notebook includes pay ledgers and a record of his letter writing as well as jokes and personal notes. Religious pamphlets and newspaper articles are also included.