- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 2
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes a valentine and postcards Ralph sent to his parents from various Army camps)
n.d.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 3
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (include letters and postcards Ralph sent from various Army camps)
1941
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 4
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes letters and postcards Ralph wrote to his parents from Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania while
working at a local gas station) (Before His Army Induction)
1941/February
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 5
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes postcards Ralph wrote to his parents while travelling to his first basic training camp
at Fort Meade, Maryland) (Before and After His Army Induction)
1941/March
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 6
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes postcards and letters regarding camp life, army training and studying the Browning Automatic
Rifle, a valued weapon in WWII) (During Basic Training at Camp Croft, South Carolina)
1941/April
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 7
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes postcards and letters regarding the local towns and people, Ralph's first payday in the
Army and his scores on the rifle range, qualifying for "Marksman", missing "Sharpshooter" by one point)
1941/May
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 8
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes clippings from "The Journal and Carolina Spartan" newspaper, June 28, 1941, reporting
a review of the troops at Camp Croft)
1941/June
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 9
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes news of Ralph changing location to Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania and his transfer to a
medical unit) (During Basic Training at Camp Croft, South and Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania)
1941/July
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 10
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes clippings regarding war games at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia) (During Training at Indiantown
Gap, Pennsylvania)
1941/August
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 11
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John (In training near Fredericksburg, Virginia and Lilesville, North Carolina)
1941/September
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 12
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes postcards and letters describing various duties such as Hospital Duty) (During training
near Fort Bragg and Lilesville, North Carolina)
1941/October
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 13
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes Ralph's description of his trip back to camp in North Carolina, returning from his grandfather's
funeral in Mt. Morris
1941/November
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 14
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes Ralph's mentioning of the changes of attitudes in the soldiers since the United States
entered the war, such as the First Sergeant announcing there will now be a moment of silent prayer before each meal) (During
training near Fort Bragg and Lilesville, North Carolina and Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania)
1941/December
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 1
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes Ralph's impressions of the Deep South) (During training at Camp Livingston, Louisiana)
1942/January
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 2
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes Ralph's attending various churches, finding friends from Mt. Morris at camp and discussions
of hometown news)
1942/February 3rd-18th
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 3
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes clippings from Louisiana newspapers, regarding the 28th Division, Ralph's description
of camp life and a USO Club he visited during a weekend pass, the cost to spend the night at the Club was $.25)
1942/February 19-28
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 4
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John
1942/March 1-15
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 5
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes Ralph's comments on his one year anniversary in the army, the huge increase of new draftees
in camp, also includes an Easter card and a church bulletin)
1942/March 16-31
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 6
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes the news of an army plane crash near camp and Ralph's usual comments regarding lack
of news to write home due to army censorship)
1942/April
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 7
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes a Mother's Day card)
1942/May 1-15
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 8
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John
1942/May 19-30
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 9
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes Ralph's description of Hospital Ward Duty and the types of illnesses being treated)
1942/June 2-13
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 10
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes a Father's Card and the news of hometown friends in the army and "over a thousand" Japanese
POWs being held at Camp Livingston)
1942/June 16-27
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 11
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes Ralph's plans for coming home on furlough and questions about gas rationing)
1942/July
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 12
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes a description of revue in honor of the new commanding general, Omar Bradley and 2 postcards)
1942/August
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 13
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John
1942
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 1
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes a clipping regarding the 28th Division's Labor Parade, in Alexandria, Louisiana for General
Bradley)
1942/September 1-13
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 2
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes Ralph's description of local towns and church services while on maneuvers)
1942/September 16-30
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 3
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes four postcards and Ralph's comments on hometown news, the weather and inflated prices,
one bottle of coke costs $.10
1942/October 1-18
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 4
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes reports from Ralph regarding army life in Texas and Louisiana backcountry while on maneuvers)
1942/October 20-30
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 5
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John
1942/November 2-15
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 6
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes one postcard and a church bulletin from a worship service Ralph attended)
1942/November 17-29
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 7
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes one postcard and one telegram from Ralph explaining furloughs had been delayed and he
would be home late)
1942/December
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 8
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John
1943
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 9
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes explanation of Ralph's Division being sent to Camp Carrabelle, Florida, on the coast
of the Gulf of Mexico for amphibious training) (During training at Camp Livingston, Louisiana and Camp Carrabelle, Florida)
1943/January
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 10
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John (During training at Camp Gordon, Johnston, Florida)
1943/February 1-13
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 11
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes reports of training off-shore in boats and swimming lessons)
1943/February 14-28
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 12
To Mr. amd Mrs. Ross John; (includes one postcard and church bulletin)
1943/March 4-16
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 13
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John
1943/March 16-28
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 1
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes one postcard)
1943/April 2-16
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 2
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John
1943/April 16-30
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 3
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes church bulletins and a "certificate" awarded to Private John by his Commanding Officer
for completing the "prescribed hikes"
1943/May 1-10
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 4
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John
1943/May 18-28
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 5
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes information regarding the transfer of Ralph's Division to Camp Pickett, Virginia) (during
training at Camp Gordon, Johnston, Florida, and Camp Pickett, Virginia)
1943/June
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 6
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John (during training at Camp Pickett, Virginia)
1943/July 3-14
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 7
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes comments on a Typhoid epidemic in Western Pennsylvania)
1943/July 18-31
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 8
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes Ralph's descriptions of mountain training in West Virginia) (During training in the West
Virginia mountains)
1943/August 2-18
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 9
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John (during training at Camp Pickett, Virginia)
1943/August 19-31
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 10
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes Ralph's comments regarding training on a LST ship, [Landing Ship Tank])
1943/September 2-22
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 11
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John
1943/September 23-30
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 1
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes the 28th Division's embarkation to England and Ralph's first V-mail) (during preparation
for embarkation to England and arrival in England)
1943/October
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 2
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes Ralph's apology for writing "dull and uninteresting letters", explaining censorship prohibited
writing about even the weather, so "blame it, (the dull letters), on Hitler") (during training "Somewhere in England")
1943/November
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 3
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John (during training "Somewhere in England")
1943/December
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 4
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John
1944/January
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 5
To Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes Ralph's week long visit to London and his descriptions of the historic sights and landmarks)
1944/February
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 6
Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes clipping photograph of soldiers praying at mealtime)
1944/March
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 7
Mr. and Mrs. Ross John
1944/April
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 8
Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes a clipping photograph of Medics training on the English coast for the Normandy Invasion,
Ralph's comments pertaining to the photograph were cut out by the censor)
1944/May 1-12
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 9
Mr. and Mrs. Ross John
1944/May 18-29
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 10
Mr. and Mrs. Ross John; (includes Ralph's June 6th letter reporting to his parents he was fine and not involved in the first
wave of the invasion, his letter has been censored)
1944/June
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 11
Mr. and Mrs. Ross John, the last letter in the collection from Private Ralph John; (includes Ralph's comments regarding his
affection for his parents and how much he misses home) (somewhere in France, after deployment to the frontlines)
1944/July
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