Assorted World War II Military Keepsakes, circa 1941-1943
The keepsake items in the William Richardson collection embody how one Newark, Delaware family dealt with the deployment of their son and friend, William Richardson (1919-1948). Richardson graduated from Newark High School in 1937, earned his B.A. from the University of Delaware in 1941 and was commissioned into the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant before being deployed to England in 1942 and eventually to North Africa and Sicily.
Items saved from these years include Richardson’s dog tag, his published military photo in the local Newark Post newspaper, his immunization record, and photographs of his time serving in Italy and North Africa. Though Richardson survived the war, he died at the age of 29, just four years after returning home.
As precious mementos of a pivotal era in her son’s life, Richardson’s mother, Leila R. Little, lovingly preserved and treasured these items. They also provide a firsthand account of the war and signify the impact of WWII deployments on the local Newark community, whose hometown heroes were called to military service.
Mementos of Military Service in Hawaii, circa 1941-1942
Bamboo eye goggles. A hand-held spear thrower. A cloth wallet to cinch around your arm. Philadelphia native Thomas F. Jones Sr. (b. 1920) saved these items in a cigar box, mementos of his military service during World War II. Notably, Private First Class Jones was stationed in Hawaii as a member of Battery C, 15th Coast Artillery during the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.
Three days after the attack, Jones wrote a chronological report of the events of that day at Fort Barrette, a day when the normal routine of reveille and breakfast was quickly disrupted by light bombs and machine gun fire. Jones’ notes strikingly capture the chaos of the scene, detailing the casualties he witnessed and remarking upon the insufficient number of men available to operate the machine guns mounted on deck. Jones concludes his report by observing that a blackout was enforced at 18:00 hours (6:00 pm), approximately 10 hours after the attack began.
Jones was stationed in Hawaii through at least December 1942 and honorably discharged from the Army on July 12, 1945.
Assorted French Souvenir Patches, 1944-1945
Much like the humble postcard, embroidered patches have a long history as inexpensive souvenirs collected during vacations and sightseeing. Among those serving in the military, such patches also can be a popular way to document travel during their tour of duty.
Originally from Smyrna, Delaware, Harriet Elizabeth Hutchison (b. 1917) was enlisted in the United States Army as a general duty nurse both in the active service and the reserves from 1943 to 1954. While stationed in Europe during World War II, Hutchison collected 38 souvenir patches from various provinces in France, including Aquitaine, Auvergne, Champagne-Ardenne, Corsica, Limousin, and Midi-Pyrenees. The patches feature intricate renderings of notable landmarks, such as châteaux, cathedrals, and ancient ruins, as well as natural features like gorges.
After completing her tour of duty in 1946, Hutchison took a civilian job as a nurse at the Delaware Hospital and later re-entered active duty for a two-year period during which she was stationed at Fort Meade in Maryland.
WWII and Delaware Keepsakes, circa 1940s & 1990s
Dale E. Wolf (1924-2021) was a military veteran and agricultural research biologist at DuPont who became involved in Delaware politics in the 1980s and 1990s. The items on display here represent two distinct periods of his life: his service in World War II and his career in politics and public service, which included his time as Lieutenant Governor of Delaware (1987-1992), and his brief stint as acting Governor from December 21st, 1992 to January 19th, 1993.
Wolf’s military keepsakes include his identification card, a report detailing his bravery under fire as an artillery forward observer at the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, and his Japanese ration stamps used in Okinawa between 1944 and 1946. Such items provide glimpses into his personal experiences and the historical realities he faced as a soldier serving in WWII.
Mementos related to Wolf’s time in public office highlight his political career and his relationship with the Delaware communities he served. These objects include a ceremonial brass key to the Town of Smyrna, a “Liberty and Independence” pewter license plate cover, and a Blue Hen beer bottle from the Blue Hen Beer Company (1990-1998), the first beer company to operate in the state since the 1940s.
