Corporal Edward A. Psulkowski letters

Table of Contents

Summary Information

Scope and content note

Administrative Information

Controlled Access Headings

Collection Inventory

Summary Information

Repository

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Creator

Psulkowski, Edward A.

Title

Corporal Edward A. Psulkowski letters

ID

3123

Date

1942-1968

Extent

1.8 Linear feet ; 5 boxes

Author

Finding aid prepared by Weckea Dejura Lilly.

Language

English

Text [Box]

1-5

Abstract

This collection consists primarily of a series of love letters between Edward Psulkowski and Gladys Kramer. The letters narrate the story of two pen pals who fell in love during World War II and married in 1946. The correspondence and greeting cards from relatives and friends reflect the married life of Gladys and Edward in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania.

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Scope and content note

Edward Psulkowski (1922-2010) and Gladys Kramer began corresponding in December 5, 1942 when Edward, a 19-year-old Army Air Corps recruit, stationed in Amarillo, Texas, requested the mailing address of Gladys from a fellow barrack mate. Edward wrote to Gladys, “I guess that you are wondering who in the world is writing to you. I doubt very much if you ever saw me or know who I am. But we seem to be even on that score up until Tommy got [your] picture. That started it all, I just could not figure out [how] a lovely female like you[r]self hadn’t meet [sic] any of the fellows I know in Philadelphia . . . that fair city.” Eventually he explains the reason for sending the letter—to obtain a picture of Gladys similar to the one that she had previously sent Tommy.

Gladys replied with a Christmas card, which Edward mentions in his letter of January 4, 1943, “. . . thanks a million for the swell Christmas card and also for answering my letter. I just did it to see what would happen, and I was quite [surprised] to [receive] a reply and I must add also very glad. I’m almost willing to bet that you never saw a name like mine, they just picked out a mess of letter[s], mixed them up and you have seen the results.” In these letters they share with each other the day-to-day: what they ate, what they did, who they met, etc. Their daily summaries are filled with other musings and observations. They often amused each other in the openings and closing of their letters and suggested that they were “haunting” each other, which precisely described Edward’s initial desire to reach out to Gladys through letter.

It was not until Edward’s leave a year later, during the Christmas of 1943, that the couple first met face to face. When Gladys found out that he would be coming home she wrote about their first anticipated meeting in every letter. On November 14, 1943 she wrote, “Honestly, I have been dreaming so much about the first time we meet, and the swell times we will have together that my dreams almost seem real. It is wonderful to be able to think that very soon all of our dreams will be coming true.” On December 5, 1943 (the anniversary), she wrote more extensively, “Just think, exactly one year ago today, your first letter was being sent to me, and when I received it I never thought for one tiny-winy second that you would ever come to mean as much to me as you do now. I’ll always cherish that letter cause if it hadn’t been for that very first letter I would never have known you and honestly Eddy, that is a horrible thought.”

Throughout the course of their “courtship” – through letters – they managed to sustain and develop a loving and committed relationship. Edward was stationed in many parts of the country for training including Wendoner Field in Utah; San Francisco, California; Brooksville Air Base in Florida; Amarillo Field in Texas; Mt. Home Army Airfield in Idaho; and Orlando, Florida. He was also stationed abroad; however, the letters from overseas do not contain locations. This information was deemed a threat to national security at the time and the letters written to and from military personnel during the war were censored by the Army examiner. The evidence of such intrusion is revealed in the empty spaces that were cut out of Edward’s letters.

Edward became a member of the 494 Bombardment Group (H), 864th Squadron, and flew 37 successful missions “without abort.” In July of 1945 Edward was recommended by Colonel Laurence B. Kelley for the Bronze Star for his service in air battles. Other members of the squadron would also speak of their success:

Then came the peace. First, that wild hilarious celebration the night of 10 August 1945, when word first was flashed from “Radio Tokyo” that Japan desired to surrender; then the waiting period--three weeks long--until finally V-J Day, 2 September 1945, was announced. We of the 494th knew we had completed a task and felt that we had done our part very well. We were ready to go home. ¹

While the country celebrated the close of World War II, Psulkowski received notice of his rejection for the Bronze Star Medal. The notification was sent by H. P. Bonnewitz from the command of Brigadier General M. C. Daniel that Psulkowski was “Not favorably considered.” Although this may have been a shock to Psulkowski, his letters to Gladys do not indicate in any way what he thought about the rejection or even the recommendation. His letters took on the same style and sentiments, expressing his love to her and discussing daily affairs. However, in later years, other squadron members petitioned the United States military for proper recognition for having served. ²

At the close of World War II Edward returned to Philadelphia to marry Gladys. The ceremony was held at the St. Ambroses Church in Philadelphia on June 1, 1946. Letters from family and friends mention their son, Raymond, as well as other family affairs. The bulk of the letters from family members are from Gladys’s mother and father during their travels and from their home in Texas.

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¹ From http://raysestak.com/494bga/494history/written.htm, accessed June 16, 2010.

² According to The 494th Bomb Group “Kelley’s Kobras” website, they have received some kind of recognition since then. See the following link: http://raysestak.com/494bga/.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

 Historical Society of Pennsylvania , 2009.

Revision Description

 Collection rearranged; Word finding aid transcribed into Archivists' Toolkit. October 2021

Access restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Provenance

Purchase, 2004.

Accession number 2004.103.

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

• United States. Army Air Forces. Bombardment Group (H), 494th.
• United States. Army. Air Corps.
• Wendover Army Air Field (Utah).

Geographic Name(s)

• Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs--20th century.

Personal Name(s)

• Kramer, Gladys.

Subject(s)

• Love-letters.
• Spouses--Correspondence-–20th century.
• Spouses--Correspondence.
• World War, 1939-1945.

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Collection Inventory