Horseshoe Lake, 2016

Browse Items (4 total)

  • Tags: armed forces
Thumbnail Title Description Date Date Added
1943 Letter from Spencer T. Olin to Armond L. Hutchens This letter is an original letter from Spencer T. Olin, Vice President of Western Cartridge Company in East Alton, Illinois to Armond L. Hutchens. Hutchens, an employee of the Western Cartridge Company was leaving employment to join the armed forces. Olin sends Hutchens well wishes from the entire Western organizations as Hutchens was leaving to fight in World War II. Olin asks for information about the functioning of firearms and ammunition in regards to any failures and malfunctions. Olin’s letter has Hutchens’ last name spelled incorrectly. Western Cartridge Company became Olin, Winchester. May 3, 1943 August 4, 2017
Nazareth Donjoian Oral History Interview This oral history interview with Nazareth Donjoian was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History.

Naz, as he is better known by, was bom November 22, 1924. His father was a chef and ran a tavern and boarding house for many years. Naz also owned and ran a tavern for a number of years. While in high school, Naz got a job at the U.S. Army depot just down the street and worked there for part of his senior year. After graduation, he worked there a short period of time at the depot before being drafted, he entered the U.S. Army in June 1943 and was assigned to the U.S. Army Air Corps. He received training as a airplane and engine mechanic and spent a total of32 months in the military. The war ended before he was shipped overseas and upon discharge he returned to Granite City. He had return rights to his former job at the depot. After being home for two weeks and listening to his dad constantly asking him when he was going to get a job, Naz returned to work a the depot. He held a number of jobs and over the years suffered a number of Reduction In Force (RIF) realignments of personnel. However, after each RIF he was fortunate enough to move up in pay grade and after forty two years of combined military and civilian service, retired as a GS-12.
November 3, 2001 February 20, 2018
Hagop Varadian  Oral History Interview This oral history interview with Hagop Varadian was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History.

Hagop (Jake) Varadian was born on April 12, 1938 to Armenian immigrants and has been a lifelong resident of the Lincoln Place neighborhood. In this interview, he talks about his parent's life in Armenia during World War One and his mother’s experience in the Armenian Genocide which resulted in her having to live in the desert where her sister was born. He also touches on aspects of his own life that include being in the Army and teaching school for the Granite City School District.
November 6, 2001 March 18, 2018
Souvenir-Album of Our Boys In the Great World's War, 1914-1918: St. Paul Lutheran Church This book was produced by St. Paul Lutheran Church of Hamel, Illinois to honor the church's members who served in the United States Armed Forces during World War I. The book pictures every member who served along with a brief biography and description of their service in the war. Other WWI-era documents produced by church members are also featured in this album. Circa 1920s April 11, 2019