Letters addressed to Stella Chavez and Mrs. Mike J. Chavez from Mike J. Chavez and [Joe F.] Chavez, October 1944

The Mike J. Chavez World War Two Letters collection (January 1944-December 1945; 2001; undated) contains correspondence written during Mike J. Chavez’s World War Two tour. In this collection, Mike J. Chavez writes from New York, France, England, Germany, and Belgium. The letters to and from Mike J Chavez and Stella Chavez detail the extent to which the couple miss each other, their kids, and also includes details about Mike’s daily tasks, such as "KP" (kitchen patrol) duty. Mike writes about his military friends which he says all but one have died by 1945. In addition to the letters Mike wrote to his wife Stella there are letters to his children, Rick and Delores. Letters also included are from Percy Chavez and Joe F. Chavez to “Mrs. Mike Joe Chavez” and Stella Chavez; letters to Mrs. R.A. Nagan, and Nora Chavez; and correspondence from Anne [Krizan], a fellow army wife to Stella Chavez from September 1944. The letters in this collection suggest that Mike J. Chavez entered the military before 1944, when Mike writes to his wife that he was pleased to receive Christmas cards in January 1944. By May 12th, 1945 Mike writes to his wife that he is in Germany and they have been informed the war is over. Also included in this collection is a draft of a eulogy for Mike Chavez written by one of his children; a copy of a program for the "Jubilee of Liberty, Normany Beach 1944" award ceremony; one copy of "Stars and Stripes" Vol. 5, No. 195; and empty War Department envelopes.