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Ralph Jaffe in uniform, Newport, RI [n.d.]

Veterans History Project Service Summary:

  • War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
  • Branch of Service: Army
  • Location of Service: Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Meade, Maryland; Fort Devens, Massachusetts; Manila (Philippines); Pacific Theater
  • Highest Rank: Private First Class
  • Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/20740

View full service history

"I swore to myself many, many times that if I were spared, the rest of my life would be all for you." (Letter to Betty, 9/20/1945).

Drafted into the Army at the age of 37, Private First Class Ralph Samuel Jaffe departed his home in Rhode Island for basic training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in late 1944. Keeping up with his cohort, some of whom were nearly 20 years younger, proved immensely physically and emotionally challenging. Also difficult was the separation from his wife, Betty, and his two children, and the loneliness and lack of connection he felt as an older man among teenagers. The nearly 600 letters that he exchanged with Betty offer perspective not only on his experience, but also on Betty's, as she coped with managing the family hardware store back in Rhode Island.

[ Photo Album ]

More Resources

[ Daily News Digest [3/29/1945] ]
[ Memo from Ralph Jaffe requesting transfer [12/29/1944] ]
[ Enlisted man's temporary pass [6/7/1945] ]
[ Daily News Digest [4/6/1945] ]
[ Daily News Digest [4/23/1945] ]
[ Handwritten account of his military service, addressed to his wife, Betty [9/20/1945] ]

Show more resources (575)

[ Letter to his wife from Ralph Jaffe [12/21/1944] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [12/20 - 12/23/1944] ]
[ Letter from Jaffe's daughter Rita [12/27/1944] ]
[ Letter to his wife from Ralph Jaffe [12/22/1944] ]
[ Letter to his wife from Ralph Jaffe [12/23/1944] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [12/23 - 12/25/1944] ]
[ Letter to his wife from Ralph Jaffe [12/24/1944] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [12/25 - 12/26/1944] ]
[ Letter to his wife from Ralph Jaffe [12/25/1944] ]
[ Letter to his wife from Ralph Jaffe [12/26/1944] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [12/26 - 12/27/1944] ]
[ Letter from Jaffe's daughter Rita, written on a store receipt [12/28/1944] ]
[ Letter to his wife from Ralph Jaffe [12/27/1944] ]
[ Letter to his wife from Ralph Jaffe [12/28/1944] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [12/27 - 12/28/1944] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [12/29/1944] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [12/29 - 12/30/1944] ]
[ Letter to his wife from Ralph Jaffe [12/29/1944] ]
[ Letter to his wife from Ralph Jaffe [12/31/1944] ]
[ Hallmark anniversary card for Jaffe and his wife from their children [1/1/1945] ]
[ Anniversary card from Betty to Ralph [1/1/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [12/30/1944 - 1/1/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/1/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/2/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/1 - 1/2/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/2 - 1/3/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/3/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/3 - 1/4/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/4/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/4 - 1/5/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/5/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/5/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/5/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/7/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/6/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/7/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/7/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/7/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/7/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/7/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/8/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/8/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/9/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/9/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/9/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/10/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/11/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/12/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/12/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/13/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/13/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/14/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/14/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/15/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/15/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/16/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/16/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/17/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/17/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/18/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/18/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/18/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/19/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/20/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/20/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/21/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/21/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/22/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/22/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/23/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/23/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/25/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/24/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/26/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/25/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/26/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/27/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/27/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/28/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/28/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/28 - 1/29/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/29/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/30/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/30/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [1/31/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [1/31/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/1/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/1/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/2/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/2/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/3/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/3/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/4/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/4/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/4/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/5/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/5/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/5/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/7/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/7/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/8/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/8/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/9/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/9/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/9/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/10/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/10/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/11 - 2/12/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/11/1945] ]
[ Valentine's Card to Ralph from Betty [2/14/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/12/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/13/1945] ]
[ Valentine's Day card for Betty [2/14/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/13/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/14/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/14/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/15/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/15/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/16/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/16/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/17/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/17/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/18/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/18/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/18/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/17 - 2/18/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/19/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/20/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/20/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/21/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/21/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/22/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/21 - 2/22/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/22/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/23/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/23/1945] ]
[ Postcard from Jaffe's son, Stanley [2/24/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/24/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/24/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/25/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/25/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/26/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/26/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/26/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/27/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/27/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/28/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [2/28/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [2/28/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/1/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/1/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/1 - 3/2/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/2/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/3/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/3/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/3 - 3/4/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/4/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/4 - 3/5/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/5/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/6/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/6/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/7/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/7/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/8/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/8/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/9/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/9/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/10/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/10/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/11/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/12/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/12/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/12/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/13/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/13/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/13/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/14 - 3/15/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/14/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/15/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/15/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/17/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/16/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/17 - 3/18/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/17/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/18/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/19/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/19 - 3/20/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/19/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/19/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/20/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/21/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/21/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/21 - 3/22/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/22/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/22/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/23/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/23/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/23/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/25/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/25/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/24 - 3/25/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/27/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/27 - 3/28/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/26/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/27/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/28 - 3/29/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/28/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/28/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/29/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/29/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/30/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/30/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph Jaffe from Mr. and Mrs. Louis Occas [3/26/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [3/31/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [3/30 - 3/31/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/1/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/1/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/1 - 4/2/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/2/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/2 - 4/3/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/3/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/4/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/4/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/5/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/5/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/6/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/5/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/7/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/6/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/7 - 4/8/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/7/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/9/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/8/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/9/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/9/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/10/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/10/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/10 - 4/11/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/11/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/12/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/12/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/12 - 4/13/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/13/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/14/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/14/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/14 - 4/15/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/16/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/16/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/17/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/17/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/18/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/18/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/18/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/18/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/19/1945] ]
[ Letter from Jaffe's daughter Rita, concerning the death of President Roosevelt [4/13/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/20/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/20/1945] ]
[ Letter from Jaffe's daughter Rita [4/21/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/21/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/21/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/22/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/21 - 4/22/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/23/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/22 - 4/23/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/23/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/23 - 4/24/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/24/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/25/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/24/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/25 - 4/26/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/25/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [4/27/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/26/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/27/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/28/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [4/29/1945] ]
[ Telegram to Betty [5/2/1945] ]
[ Letter and Mother's Day card to Betty [5/13/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [5/12 - 5/13/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/14/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/14/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [5/14/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [5/14 - 5/15/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/15/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [5/15 - 5/16/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/16/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [5/16 - 5/17/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/17/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [5/17 - 5/18/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [5/18 - 5/19/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [5/19/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [5/20 - 5/21/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/20/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [5/21 - 5/22/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/21/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/21/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [5/22 - 5/23/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/22/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/22/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [5/24/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [5/24 - 5/25/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/23/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/24/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/24/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [5/25 - 5/26/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [5/27/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/28/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/28/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/28/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [5/28/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [5/28 - 5/29/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/29/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/29/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/29/1945] ]
[ Postcard from Jaffe's daughter Rita [5/30/1945] ]
[ Telegram to Betty [5/30/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [5/29 -5/30/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/30/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [5/31/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/31/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/31/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [5/31/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [5/31/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/1/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/3/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/4/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/4/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/4/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/4/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/4 - 6/5/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/4/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/5 - 6/6/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/6/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/7/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/7/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/8/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/8/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/8/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/8 - 6/9/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/9/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/9/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/9/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/9 - 6/10/1945] ]
[ Letter from Jaffe's son, Stanley [6/10/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/10/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/10/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/10/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/11/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/10/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/11 -6/12/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/11/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/11/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/11-16/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/12 - 6/13/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/13/1945] ]
[ Postcard from Rita Jaffe to Ralph [6/13/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/13 - 6/14/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/14/1945] ]
[ Letter from Jaffe's daughter Rita [6/15/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/14 - 6/15/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/15 - 6/16/1945] ]
[ Telegram to Betty [6/17/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/16 - 6/17/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/17/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/17 - 6/18/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/17/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/18 - 6/19/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/18/1945] ]
[ Father's Day card from Betty to Ralph [n.d.] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/18/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/18/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/19 - 6/20/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/19/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/20 - 6/21/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/20/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/21/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/21/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/21 - 6/22/1945] ]
[ Letter from Jaffe's daughter Rita [6/21/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/21/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/22 - 6/23/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/21/1945] ]
[ Letter to Senator Green from unidentified writer [6/22/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/22/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/23 - 6/24/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/22/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/25 - 6/26/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/23/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/23/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/24/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/24/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/25 - 6/26/1945] ]
[ Telegram to Betty [6/25/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/26 - 6/27/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/25/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/25/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/27 - 6/28/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/26/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/28 - 6/29/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/27/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/29 - 6/30/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [6/30/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [6/30 - 7/1/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/1/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/1 - 7/2/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/3/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/2 - 7/3/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/5/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/3 - 7/4/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/4 - 7/5/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/5 - 7/6/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/6 - 7/7/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/8/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/7 - 7/8/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/9/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/9/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/9 - 7/10/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/11/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/10 - 7/11/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/11 - 7/12/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/13/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/12 - 7/13/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/15/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/13 - 7/14/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/16/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/14 - 7/15/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/16/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/16 - 7/17/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/17 - 7/18/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/17/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/18 - 7/19/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/19/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/20 - 7/21/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/20/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/21 - 7/22/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/23/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/22 - 7/23/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/23/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/23 - 7/24/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/24/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/24 - 7/25/1945] ]
[ Telegram to Betty [7/25/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/25 - 7/26/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/25/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/26 - 7/27/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/26/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/27 - 7/28/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/27/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/27/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/29 - 7/30/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/28/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/30/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/29/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/29/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/30 - 7/31/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/30/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [7/31/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [7/31/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/1 - 8/2/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/1/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/2 - 8/3/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/2/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/3 - 8/4/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/3/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/4 - 8/5/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/4/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/5 - 8/6/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/5/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/6 - 8/7/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/6/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/7/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/7/1945] ]
[ Letter on business stationary from Jaffe's son, Stanley [7/3/1945] ]
[ Letter from Jaffe's son, Stanley [7/9/1945] ]
[ Letter from Jaffe's son, Stanley [7/27/1945] ]
[ Letter from Jaffe's son, Stanley [8/1/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/8/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/8 - 8/9/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/9/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/9 - 8/10/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/10/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/10 - 8/11/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/11/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/11 - 8/12/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/12/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/13/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/12/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/13/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/13/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/14/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/14/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/14 - 8/15/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/15/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/15 - 8/16/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/16/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/17/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/17/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/17 - 8/18/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/18/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/18 - 8/19/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/19/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/20/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/20/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/20 - 8/21/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/21/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/21 - 8/22/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/22/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/22 - 8/23/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/25/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/23 - 8/24/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/24/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/24 - 8/25/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/25/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/25 - 8/26/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/25/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/26 - 8/27/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/27/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/27 - 8/28/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/28/1945] ]
[ Letter to Ralph from Betty [8/29/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/29/1945] ]
[ Telegram to Betty [8/30/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/30/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [8/31/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [9/1/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [9/2/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [9/3/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [9/4/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [9/5/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [9/6/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [9/7/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [9/8/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [9/8/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [9/9/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [9/10/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [9/11/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [9/12/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [9/13/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [9/14/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [9/15/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [9/16/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [9/15 - 18/1945] ]
[ Telegram to Betty [10/5/1945] ]
[ Telegram to Betty [10/6/1945] ]
[ Telegram to Betty [10/8/1945] ]
[ Telegram to Betty [10/9/1945] ]
[ Letter to Betty [11/12/1945] ]
[ Letter from Jaffe's daughter Rita [7/3/1945] ]
[ Letter from Jaffe's daughter Rita [7/6/1945] ]
[ Letter from Jaffe's daughter Rita [7/17/1945] ]
[ Letter from Jaffe's daughter Rita [8/1/1945] ]
[ Letter from A. L. Greenberg [12/27/1944] ]
[ Letter to Jaffe from his father [12/28/1944] ]
[ Form letter to Jaffe's wife from Charlie Davis [1/17/1945] ]
[ Postcard from Ralph Jaffe to his wife, advising her of his change of address [6/11/1945] ]
[ Letter from Rabbi Jules Lipschutz [8/27/1945] ]
[ Invitation to a "Sweet Sixteen" party for Betty Kosloff [12/2/1924] ]
[ Letter to Betty "Bess" Kosloff [5/29/1925] ]
[ Letter from Rita; includes art work [2/11/1945] ]
[ Poem, "Ralph Jaffe wireless operator on destroyer [Israel?]" ]
[ San Francisco Map ca. 1940 ]
[ "This Week in Chapel Hill" program of activities 3/31 - 4/6/1945 ]
[ Admittance card for a Passover seder [3/28/1945] ]
[ Advertisement for Jaffe's business ]
[ Advertisement for Jaffe's business ]
[ Training notes [?] labeled "Recovery Teams" ]
[ Domain of the Golden Dragon membership card, with a 1945 calendar on the reverse ]
[ Ten centavo post-war Japanese scrip ]
[ Note in red pencil on the reverse of a "Jaffe's" business receipt [n.d.] ]
[ Three toll telephone and telegraph bills from ca. 1945 ]
[ Envelope with writing in pencil on the front side ]
[ Subscription form for a newspaper ca. summer 1945 ]
[ Two advertisements for Jaffe's business ]
[ Advertisement for Jaffe's business ]

About this Item

Title

  • Ralph Samuel Jaffe Collection

Names

  • Jaffe, Ralph Samuel
  • Jaffe, Stanley B.

Home State

  • Rhode Island

Headings

  • -  Jaffe, Ralph Samuel
  • -  World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
  • -  United States. Army.

Repository

  • Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Gender

  • Male

Race

  • White

Status

  • veteran

Service History

  • World War, 1939-1945

    • Branch of Service: Army
    • Location of Service: Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Meade, Maryland; Fort Devens, Massachusetts; Manila (Philippines); Pacific Theater
    • Highest Rank: Private First Class
    • Dates of Service: 1944-1945
    • Entrance into Service: Drafted
    • Military Status: veteran
    • Service History Note: At the outset of World War II, Jaffe was living in Newport, Rhode Island, with his wife, Betty, and their two children, Rita and Stanley. The proprietor of a hardware store, Jaffe was drafted into the United States Army in 1944 at the age of 37, leaving his wife to attend to the family business. While in the Philippines, he served as a clerk in a recovered personnel detachment. He achieved the rank of Private First Class. At the end of his enlistment in 1945, Jaffe returned home to Rhode Island and resumed operation of his store.

Materials

  • Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [2 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1945)
  • Manuscript: Maps [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 1945)
  • Manuscript: Printed matter [6 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1945)
  • Photograph: Original photographic print [22 items] -- Photograph (collected 1944-1945)
  • Manuscript: Clippings [22 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1945)
  • Manuscript: Creative works [1 item] -- (collected unknown)
  • Manuscript: Correspondence [540 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1944-1945)
  • Manuscript: Diaries and journals [1 item] -- (collected 1945-09-20)
  • Artifact: Artifact [8 items] -- (collected unknown)

Collection Number

  • AFC/2001/001/20740

Cite as

  • Ralph Samuel Jaffe Collection (AFC/2001/001/20740), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Online Format

  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

Using VHP Material in Publication or Exhibition

The Veterans History Project (VHP) at the Library of Congress collects, preserves and makes accessible the firsthand recollections of U.S. military veterans who served from World War I through more recent conflicts and peacekeeping missions, so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand what they saw, did and felt during their service. The Veterans History Project Collection includes oral histories along with documentary materials such as original letters, diaries, photographs, and memoirs.

Veterans and interviewers contribute these materials to the Library for scholarly and educational purposes, retaining any copyright they may hold. Therefore, permission must be obtained before using the interview or other materials in exhibition or publication. Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these materials should contact the Veterans History Project for assistance.

As a publicly supported institution, the Library generally does not own rights to material in its collections. Therefore, it does not charge permission fees for use of such material and cannot give or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute material in its collections. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item from the Library’s collections and for securing any necessary permissions rests with persons desiring to use the item.

Please contact us with questions.

Obtaining Copies of VHP Materials

In order for VHP materials to be duplicated, we must receive written permission from the interviewee for you to obtain a copy of the recording unless the proposed use is limited to personal use, research, or other uses permissible by copyright law. If the interviewee is deceased, their next-of-kin may grant written permission.

Please contact VHP for assistance if you need to contact a veteran for permission to use their materials in exhibition or publication, or if you have received permission from the veteran and need access to high-resolution copies of VHP collection materials.

Citing VHP Materials

Please use the following formats when citing Veterans History Project materials (substituting the appropriate name and collection ID number).

Materials as a whole:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Manuscript material:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Memoirs (MS02), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Transcript (MS04), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Correspondence (MS01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Recording:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Audio recording (SR01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Video recording (MV01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Photograph:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Photographs (PH01), photographer unknown, Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Photographs (PH03-PH14), Ralph Williams photographer, Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Computer file:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Computer file (CF01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Artifact:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Artifact (AR01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Jaffe, Ralph Samuel, and Stanley B Jaffe. Ralph Samuel Jaffe Collection. 1944. Personal Narrative. https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.20740/.

APA citation style:

Jaffe, R. S. & Jaffe, S. B. (1944) Ralph Samuel Jaffe Collection. [Personal Narrative] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.20740/.

MLA citation style:

Jaffe, Ralph Samuel, and Stanley B Jaffe. Ralph Samuel Jaffe Collection. 1944. Personal Narrative. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.20740/>.