A complete wartime-to-postwar archive documenting the service and home-front life of U.S. soldiers from New England. Spanning 1942 – 1949, the collection traces the path from draft induction to European occupation and veteran reintegration.

Contents

European Theater: original postcard mailed Sept 7 1945 through A.P.O. 339 U.S. Army (Ninth Army, Limburg Germany), linking directly to post-VE-Day occupation.

Induction & Training: 1942 draft order from Hancock Co. ME, base postcards and photos from Camp Stewart, Fort Screven, Daniel Field, and Fort Dix.

Home-Front Rationing: complete OPA ration books A16–A17 with red and blue tokens, gasoline permits, and mileage-ration cards tied to New Hampshire issuance.

Field & Language Guides: seven original War Department pocket manuals—Great Britain, Belgium & Luxembourg, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, and North Africa (Arabic).

Veterans Administration & Readjustment: signed 1947 readjustment-allowance application, VA insurance slips (1943–49), and official envelopes documenting post-service correspondence.

Additional Ephemera: 1954 commendation letter, United States News Oct 10 1945 with Gen. Marshall’s Biennial Report, and assorted wartime paperwork.

Condition

Archival preservation throughout; paper uniformly toned but fully legible, inks clear, tokens retain color. All items original—no reproductions or modern inserts.

Significance

Together these materials form a research-grade narrative of one soldier’s full cycle: draft → training → European service → veteran status. It bridges the combat and civilian experience and stands as a tangible record of mid-century American duty and return.

Origin / Provenance

Compiled from the preserved records of New England servicemen active between 1942 and 1949, this archive traces induction through postwar readjustment. Primary materials originate from Maine and New Hampshire, with field correspondence routed through A.P.O. 339 U.S. Army (Ninth Army, Germany). Maintained in private custody since the war and now released as a unified historical set.