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Preferred Citation:

Kenneth J. Kestenholtz Letters, 1943- 1945, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Content Description

72 letters from Kenneth James Kestenholtz to his family, usually addressed, "Sis and all", dated 1943- 1945. During World War II, Kestenholtz served as a Private in the 117th Stateion in the Philippine Islands and New Guinea in the South Pacific. Kestenholtz describes the weather, scenery, and wildlife of his Pacific surroundings. He also comments on food rations, particularly that they receive gum but no candy and only one pack of smokes per day. Most of his letters inquire about friends back home and consist of reports to his sister regarding friends he has heard from. Toward the end of his letters, Kestenholtz tells his sister of the large amount of Japanese prisoners his battalion takes in to their stockades but mostly refrains from reporting much about his activities at his station.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• World War, 1939-1945
• World War, 1939-1945--Pacific Area
• World War, 1939-1945--Prisoners of War