John Dean to Ira Fowler 5

Archive

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St. Mary's County Historical Society, Leonardtown, MD

Name/Title

John Dean to Ira Fowler 5

Entry/Object ID

2010.007.0006

Scope and Content

1 letter ; 9 1/2"h x 6"w John Dean wrote Ira Fowler seven letters during World War II. Both men were from the Hollywood, Maryland area and both were serving in the infantry. Dean was in training in Mississippi. Fowler was in a replacement depot in Pittsburgh, California. Their girlfriends were sisters. Both were deeply religious men, members of the Church of the Nazarene. December 29, 1943 The return address on the cream envelope indicated Dean was a private in a training program at Clemson College in South Carolina. The letter was on four sheets of folded cream paper with a black logo of Clemson College in the center top of each sheet. The text was handwritten. Dean explained that his rank changed nearly every week so as to practice commanding troops. He was living in a dormitory with three men to a room. He said the school work was hard, but did not say what he was studying. He had found a Church of the Nazarene about thirty miles away. He sympathized with Fowler just waiting for deployment and being disappointed in missing Christmas. Dean had to ride the bus for 25 hours to get home for part of one day. He took the train back south. In response to Fowler's question, Dean confessed he had asked Ruth to marry him and she had said yes. He encouraged Fowler to write to him about any troubles Fowler had and to put his trust in God.

Collection

Dean/Fowler Wartime Letters

Archive Items Details

Date(s) of Creation

December 29, 1943

Location

Container

Small Collections, Box 1

Shelf

Rack 17, Shelf 4

Rack

Rack 17

Wall

North wall

Room

Archives 2

Building

Tudor Hall

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Dean, John C.

Person or Organization

Fowler, Ira E.

Person or Organization

Thompson, Ruth2