Ward Family Letters

The Ward Family letters containing less than one document box, approximately 100 letters, and .02 cubic feet consist of letters from Robert P. Ward (“Bobby" or "Bob"), Lawrence ("Larry") Ward, and David (“Duke”) Ward and his wife, Aldine, to their mother, Dona E. Ward in Richford, New York. Robert is in the Navy on the U. S. S. Missouri during the Korean War, Lawrence is entering naval training at the United States Naval Training Center at Great Lakes, Illinois, and David ("Duke") Ward and his wife Aldine are raising their young children in California. The collection of letters open a window into the life of a divorced mother, and her grown children, two of which are on the verge of adulthood, experiencing life in the Navy during the Korean War. Robert Ward writes on U.S. S. Missouri stationary about his day to day life on the ship. He briefly mentions the two cruises to Europe, a trip to Cuba, and mostly his concerns about his family and his future. While he mentions specific important events such as the Wonsan operation, he does not give any details. He also writes that he is taking courses to improve his situation by becoming a quartermaster striker, but he is basically disappointed with the Navy. He gives advice to his brother in an effort to make his navy experience better than his own. Robert Ward briefly mentions General James Van Fleet, Vice Admiral Charles Turner Joy, the blockade in Wonsan, Korea in December of 1952 and Inchon Harbor, Chinese Nationalists, and comments about “giving the Commies a good run for their money”.