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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterAccessioned and minimally processed by Benjamin Bromley, SCRC Public Services Archives Specialist. Organization and item level description by Jane Snyder, SCRC Graduate Student Apprentice. Finding aid revised and published by Jacob Hopkins, SCRC Mosaic Fellow.
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George S. Hochberg Letters, Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, William & Mary Libraries.
Approximately eighty letters, written from 1944 to 1945, received by George S. Hochberg, of East Orange, New Jersey, primarily during his officer training in the Marine Corps at Parris Island, South Carolina and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Before joining the Marine Corps, Hochberg was a student at Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut. This collection includes letters from George Hochberg's parents, Rose and Benjamin Hochberg, in New Jersey and brother Jerry in the Pacific, as well as letters from other servicemen and friends. While Hochberg's letters are not included, the replies he received hint at his persistent physical, mental, and emotional struggles in training. Encouragement to build up his mental health is a prevalent theme. His mother's letters highlight how women's lives changed during World War II, particularly her explicit transformation from "someone's mother" to her own person who becomes a volunteer hospital nurse. It is suspected that the Hochberg family was Jewish, as mention is made of contact with a rabbi and the collection includes a pamphlet describing Jewish activities at Camp Lejeune. Also includes photographs and football game tickets.
A Guide to World War II Resources in the Special Collections Research Center
Information about related materials is available at http://guides.swem.wm.edu/WorldWarII
V-mail addressed to Private George S. Hochberg in New Haven, Connecticut. From Lt. W.H. ("Bill") Klein of New York, New York. Klein writes about life on board a military ship, including USO shows, seasickness, and medical care. He discusses family and friends at home and his aviation job assignment in the war.
Addressed to George Hochberg in Parris Island, South Carolina. From B. Hochberg in East Orange, New Jersey. Signed by "Dad & Mom" but written by Mom. Hochberg's mother writes about the realities of wartime mail and social life at home, and she compares the weather of the South with the North. She assures him that every other trainee is struggling just as much as he is with the physical and mental exhaustion of training.
Addressed to Hochberg in Parris Island, South Carolina. From Ellen C. Stein, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. Stein gives advice for surviving exhausting training and dealing with a "nasty sergeant." She talks about social life at home, what items soldiers have sent back from Europe, the life of a student, and her eagerness to get married. She mentions not knowing how to deal with comforting the loved ones of a friend killed overseas.
Addressed to Hochberg in Parris Island, South Carolina. From Hochberg's parents in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother writes about the realities of mail during wartime and items to be sent in a care package.
Addressed to Hochberg in Parris Island, South Carolina. From Hochberg's parents in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother writes about recent elections, donating old schools books to children because they've become so expensive, and the rowdy atmosphere in movie theaters.
Addressed to Hochberg in Parris Island, South Carolina. From Hochberg's parents in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother gives news of people from home, relates a day trip to New York City to visit family, and mentions sending cheese in her next package to Hochberg.
Addressed to Hochberg in Parris Island, South Carolina. From Ellen Stein, South Orange, New Jersey. Stein writes about her desire for Hochberg to be at her wedding reception on January 14. She also discusses going back to school and her New Year's Eve plans. Stein mentions a soldier friend who got demoted for talking back to a higher-ranking officer.
Addressed to Private First Class George S. Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's parents in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother writes about how proud she is of her son for making the "best platoon" and mentions friends who send their love.
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's parents in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother writes about receiving Hochberg's phone call, his infant niece, and her desire to visit him based on the experience of a friend who visited the same camp. She asks what food he wants sent in the next package, specifically what flavor cake he prefers. She jokes that he is living under better conditions than he is used to.
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From his mother in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother writes about social life at home and family friends who have been stationed all over the country without knowing how long they will be away. She asks if he has received the evening newspaper that she has sent to him.
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From his mother in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother mentions she is glad to hear of his better living conditions and that she is still waiting to hear when he will have time off.
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From his parents in East Orange, New Jersey. The letter informs Hochberg about friends at home eager to hear how he is doing. In a postscript, Hochberg's mother mentions a friend saying the image of him as a real soldier is funny.
In a letter addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, his mother talks about social life back at home, including a bridge game.
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From his mother in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother writes about going to a wedding reception and everyone drinking a toast to him. She mentions that only one of his male friends could be at the wedding, then lists other guests who could make it despite driving through snow.
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From his mother in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother mentions she is glad to have received his phone call even though he is busy. She encourages him to not let what other people say affect him. She updates him on social life at home and promises to open an account for him if he needs money. A note signed "Dad" at the end tells him not to underestimate himself.
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From his mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She gives news about people from home and wants to know if she can come see him.
Addressed to Private First Class George S. Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Private E.A. Cahill in New Haven, Connecticut. Signed "Ed." Written on United States Marine Corps stationary. Cahill writes about life at school then at training camp, and asks about the girls in North Carolina.
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Benjamin Hochberg in East Orange, New Jersey. Benjamin Hochberg is the father of George Hochberg, but the letter is written primarily by his mother. She talks about social life at home and items to be sent in a care package.
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's parents in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother writes about how smart her infant granddaughter (George's niece) is for her age, and social life at home. She asks when she can visit.
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's parents in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's parents tell him about a letter received from his brother, Jerry, which said he wants to go home but knows he probably won't be able to for a long time.
Addressed to George S. Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Lieutenant William H. Klein in New York, New York. Signed "Bill." Klein describes life as a soldier. He relates the sadness of having to spend New Year's Eve without old friends and laments there being nothing to do except going to the movies and playing cards. He writes about practicing flying bomb raids. Klein optimistically mentions he is being sent to Italy soon and promises to tell George about Rome when he returns.
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's parents in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother talks about a friend who is fighting in the Pacific and hasn't been home since last March. She also describes a trip to the movies to see Ms. Parkington .
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's parents in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother mentions his saying he's lonesome, and she says his parents miss him too. She talks about social life at home and the financial trouble of a friend sending their son to Yale Law School.
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From George's brother, Lieutenant J.J. Hochberg, USS Shipley Bay, San Francisco. Signed "Jerry." Jerry writes about the difficulties of receiving mail in wartime. He says he is proud of his brother and confident that he will make it through his training. Mentions friends who are fighting in France and Italy. Includes six photographs. Five are of women and one is of an unidentified man, perhaps Jerry himself.
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Benjamin Hochberg in Newark, NJ. Signed by "Mother & Dad" but written by Hochberg's father. The stationery letterhead reads, "Real Estate Consultant." Benjamin Hochberg encourages George through the rough time he is having in officer training. He writes about the unconditional love of parents and about everyone making mistakes sometimes, even Marines.
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's parents in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother writes about social life at home, and she mentions friends asking how he is doing.
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's parents in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother updates him on family news and mentions people who have asked how he is doing.
Addressed to George at New River, North Carolina. From Hochberg's parents in East Orange, New Jersey. Dated only as "January 1945." Hochberg's parents write about how hard it is not to hear from him, and cancelling plans so they can stay at home in the evenings in case he calls. They describe social life at home. No envelope attached.
Addressed to George in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's parents in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother describes staying with a relative in New York for a night and being read aloud from a letter received at home in New Jersey from Hochberg's brother Jerry. She mentions mailing him cookies, and promises they will turn out better next time. She talks about apologizing to his friends on his behalf because he is too busy to write constantly.
Addressed to George in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's parents in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother talks about family, particularly someone who had to drop out of school for a few weeks to take care of an older relative. She describes letters from a relative in McArthur's army fighting in Luzon, Japan. She figures he must not be on the front lines because he writes more about local women and children than fighting.
Addressed to George in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's parents in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother describes social life at home and running into friends who affectionately ask about him. She talks about being encouraged by news that the war will be over sooner than they thought, but still concerned about the Japanese.
Addressed to George in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She encourages him to not worry about negative feedback he is receiving in training. She decides to send him a package of cookies and hard candies.
Addressed to George at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother talks about helping out his father by learning to type, as she is practicing in this letter. She also mentions medicine she has mailed him.
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Bill Klein in Maplewood, New Jersey. Stationery printed with "Orange Screen Company" letterhead. Klein says he and Hochberg have been friends since being born on the same day in the same hospital, and he is excited that they will be able to legally drink soon. Klein writes about friends of theirs fighting or training in Italy, England, Luxembourg, and Greenland, describing their experiences and the last time he has heard from them. One friend in Greenland is not coping well with his isolated location. Klein asks for Hochberg's hat size so his father can get him an officer's hat when he finishes training.
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother's doctor, Charles W. Wunder of New York, New York. Postmarked 5 February. Envelope only. Upper left corner of envelope reads, "After five days return to The Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company."
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She writes about social life at home and opening Hochberg a bank account to make sending money easier.
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She talks about having the worst winter in memory and the difficulty of buying household goods because of how infrequently they are being made during war. She asks when she can visit.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She tells Hochberg about seeing the movie Winged Victory. She fills Hochberg in on local gossip and encourages him through difficult training by saying that disappointments often turn out for the best.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Bill in Maplewood, New Jersey. Stationery letterhead reads, "Orange Screen Company." Bill reassures Hochberg that he can make it through the tough officer training by staying positive and remembering that no one worth keeping as a friend will think any less of him if he fails to make officer. Bill mentions times he has had to talk himself out of similar feelings of despair. Bill talks about a friend stationed in Italy, new recruits fresh from college who are humbled by military harshness, and working long hours.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She writes about social life at home and a friend of Hochberg who has joined up with a medical unit.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She relates her trip going to auctions in New York City, as well as an update from Hochberg's brother Jerry who is stationed in the Pacific. She attaches a letter from Yale College that arrived for Hochberg. William C. De Vane, Dean of Yale in New Haven, Connecticut, certifies that Hochberg left school in good standing to do his patriotic duty, as so many Yale students have done before him.
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Forwarded from a Parris Island, South Carolina address. From Bobbi at State College, Pennsylvania. Valentine's Day card printed with drawings of a dog and a poem. Signed inside.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She fills Hochberg in on the details of a recent blizzard, as well as Hochberg's father's encouraging her to quit smoking despite continuing to buy her cigarettes.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother writes about social life at home and seeing a Humphrey Bogart movie in New York. She mentions George has been hit in the face, but encourages him not to wear a brace because it only reminds others of the accident. She enquires about his health.
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From "Bill." Stationery letterhead reads, "Orange Screen Company." Includes short handwritten note explaining that his letter got sent back to him, and attaches the letter in question, dated 5 January. Bill describes an experience with a "mystic" in New York who guessed his friend George would get a commission in the Marines before June. Bill encourages Hochberg to stop worrying because it must be true. He talks about what he did on New Year's Eve, a friend stationed in Italy, and another friend who was demoted to private for talking back to a major.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. Includes three ticket stubs not mentioned in the letter from a Columbia vs. Yale football game on 1944 October 14.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She writes about the war in the Pacific, particularly a cousin who has come home on leave and Hochberg's brother Jerry, who has not been writing as frequently because he is so busy.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She relates a story about being recognized as "George the Marine's mother," but assures him she is not sharing his worries about finishing officer training. She says even if he is unsuccessful, people will know it was not his fault but the poor judgment of someone else.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She writes about her opinions of the movie Ministry of Fear and the previews she saw before it, social life at home, and the story of a friend who is worried her soldier's real experience is being withheld from letters to spare her feelings.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother writes about her starting to take classes to contribute to the war cause and a visit Hochberg had with his father.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She talks about her husband being recognized as "Rose's husband" and remarks on finally being her own person instead of someone's wife and someone's mother. She mentions wanting to be with her son in his tough time, and Jerry being angry about how his brother is being treated.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She mentions his brother Jerry being mad about unjust things happening to Hochberg. She encourages him to keep his spirits up until the war is over and he can finally start his life.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She writes about staying at home all day in the hopes that he will call, and not being able to send him food this week.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She writes about staying in every night waiting for his call.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She writes about the difficulties of sending and receiving mail during wartime and not being able to send cookies this week because of the ration on butter.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's brother, Lieutenant J.J. ("Jerry") Hochberg, USS Shipley Bay, San Francisco. Jerry encourages his brother to not let his negative training experience depress him or stifle his self-esteem.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She writes about taking care of her infant granddaughter (Hochberg's niece), making plans for the possibility that George's officer training does not end well, and the continued shortage of butter.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother writes about finishing her classes soon and starting training in the hospital.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's parents in East Orange, New Jersey. Empty envelope. Address includes multiple levels of company names scratched out and changed.
Typed letter addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. Typed. She writes about hearing from Chaplain Rubenstein who had met George. A handwritten note at end of letter signed by "Mom" apologizes for not writing more because she is preparing to take her first exam in a long time.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She talks about receiving his call and being happy about his good news. The letter ends with a note from Hochberg's father thanking Hochberg for calling on his birthday. Attached is a note written by "Aunt Paul" to George, sent along with Hochberg's mother's letter.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She writes about working at St. Mary's hospital a few days a week even though she has not finished her course yet. She also mentions some of George's friends who are going through military training in the Pacific, and how her social life is changing because of her nursing course. She includes a letter written by Hochberg's brother Jerry dated 1945 March 31.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She praises how much better he sounds over the phone now than he did earlier in his training. She agrees to pick back up her social life now that she has heard from him.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She writes about buying things to give to family members on their birthdays and saying they are from George, and she describes the movie National Velvet.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She is enjoying her work at the hospital even though the course is tiring, and she details her weekly course and nursing schedule. She describes seeing the movie The Thin Man Goes Home and liking the dog actor more than the human actors.
Typed letter addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother writes about finding birthday gifts for her granddaughter, Hochberg's niece, and having to get her a war bond as one of her presents because there's not much else to buy. She mentions a lack of time for social life after starting nursing.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She writes, "There is nothing new here."
Typed letter addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother writes about President Franklin D. Roosevelt's death and hearing from Hochberg's brother Jerry stationed in the Pacific that he thinks it will be a long time before he is home.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She mentions that only the beginning of the letter is typed because some friends stopped by and now it is too late to use the loud typewriter. She says she hopes this will be the last birthday Hochberg's brother Jerry will be away from home.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, New River, North Carolina. From Private R.H. "Bob" Bolton in Parris Island, South Carolina. Written on Marine Corps stationery. Bolton talks about George's recent misfortune of being moved down a company, but assures him there will soon be others in even worse companies. He describes feelings of depression that come with training, the mix of men in his legion, and how training changes your view of friendship. He mentions a mutual professor of his and George's at Yale, Ray Kennedy, and says he is eager to talk with another one of his protégées. Bolton asks George to send details about what life will be like in Camp Lejeune in terms of workload and free time. He complains of a sore knee and trigger finger from shooting practice.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Private E.A. "Ed" Cahill in Parris Island, South Carolina. Cahill talks about his difficulty with shooting his target and his anxiety about the upcoming testing. He describes with overcrowding problems in his training camp and getting less time off than was promised. He mentions the bad reputation of Camp Lejeune not helping him look forward to it.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's father, Benjamin Hochberg in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's father expresses his disappointment at not receiving a phone call from Hochberg. He conveys his love and hopes Hochberg is taking care of himself.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She writes about social life at home and how it feels to be a grandmother.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's mother talks about passing her nursing practice tests but dreading the upcoming exams. She appreciates the feeling of satisfaction nursing gives her, and looks forward to revisiting her social plans once classes free up some of her time again.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's mother in East Orange, New Jersey. She writes about the difficulty realities and anxieties that come with living through a war. She writes, "What more can one seek for these days than to keep busy, and feel that you are really being helpful."
Addressed to Hochberg in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Chaplain B. Rubenstein in the Office of the Chaplain of Camp Lejeune. Includes The Camp Lejeune Jewish Bulletin, which gives details of a Sabbath service led by Chaplain Rubenstein to be held on 1945 April 21 in memory of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Other sections of the bulletin describe participation in Jewish life while in the military and a schedule of Jewish services. Thoughts on German Nazis, the possibility of a Jewish university, and Palestine are also discussed. The bulletin describes itself as an effort to reach out and connect Jewish marines in the camp.
Addressed to Hochberg at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From Hochberg's father, Benjamin Hochberg in East Orange, New Jersey. Hochberg's father talks about how proud he is of his son for making it forward to the next step of training, but that he is just as proud of him for being a good person no matter what his military rank. He mentions George will be going to Quantico, and advises that being himself once there will help him succeed.
Small note ripped from larger piece of paper. Written to George Hochberg from his mother, saying that his father will arrive on Saturday afternoon.
Letter from the Hochberg family doctor, Charles W. Wunder, of New York, New York, to George Hochberg. Composed by piecing together words and phrases cut from magazines, in the style of a ransom note. Dated as simply "Saturday." Wunder makes recommendations for how to relieve typical military training ailments. He advises Ice-Mint to soothe calloused feet, getting plenty of rest, and eating cake.