Personal Narrative 3D Object Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Ralph Samuel Jaffe Collection
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
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.
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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
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Fort Bragg, North Carolina
- Fort Devens, Massachusetts
- Fort Meade, Maryland
- Manila (Philippines)
- Pacific Theater