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May 5, 2000
In 1943, my dad, Domenic Marvin ("Marv")
Corgiat, left Wayne University, Detroit, Michigan--where he had
studied Fine Arts for 2 years--to enlist in the US Army.
These pictures and memorabilia are from
a scrapbook that his mother kept during his World War II military service.
The scrapbook didn't turn up until years after my dad died. The handwritten
captions that appear below many of the images were written by his mother
directly on the pages of the scrapbook.
I decided to create this online album
to tell a story of what I believe might represent many front-line
soldiers' experiences during World War II.
Nancy
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Dad entered the Enlisted Reserve Corps
on August 22, 1942.
Post Card Written by My Dad
The above post card was
sent by my dad ("Marv") to his family, who were living in Detroit, Michigan.
The above caption was written
by his mother, my grandmother.
Here's hoping that the best of luck
Will stick with you each day,
Until the lucky, happy time
When you come back to stay!
And all the time that you are gone,
Please remember too,
You're in the thoughts of all the folks
Who are so PROUD OF YOU!
Leola and Ray
April 1, 1943
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The above card was sent
to my dad from his sister, Leola, and her husband, Ray.
The inside text is reprinted
in the above box.
Fort McClellan, Anniston,
Alabama
Basic Training
Post card from dad to his family.
July 12, 1943
My dad, "Pvt. D.M. Corgiat, Communications"
Fort McClennan, Alabama
July 25th 1943
My dad is in the top row on left.
My dad is on the left.
Dad, "Cleaning up for inspection"
"Ready for Chow"
"Last snap at Ft. McClellan"
(Dad is on left.)
Caption: Enlisted White Men's Service
Club
Fort McClellan - Anniston, Alabama
Camp Shenago, Greenville,
Pennsylvania
To read letter click
here.
Some Dates in History
| Dec. 7, 1941 |
Planes from six Japanese aircraft carriers
sink six American battleships at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, destroy 164 U.S.
planes on the ground and kill five times as many sailors. This is
my mother's 18th birthday. |
| Aug. 22, 1942 |
Dad, age 20, enters Enlisted Reserve
Corp. |
| April 1, 1943 |
Dad enters Active Service, sent to Fort
McClellan, Alabama. |
| July 10, 1943 |
Italian campaign begins with the invasion
of Sicily, which led to the downfall of Mussolini a couple of weeks later.
The Allies were stopped south of Cassino at the German's highly fortified
Gustav Line. To break the stalemate, an amphibious operation was
planned at Anzio. |
| July 12, 1943 |
Post card from dad: "Confined to quarters." |
| Aug. 16, 1943 |
Dad arrives at Camp Shenago, Greenville,
Pennsylvania. |
| Sept. 8, 1943 |
Italy surrenders to the Allies.
Allies are stopped south of Cassino, Italy. |
| Sept. 1943 |
Dad is sent to Italy. |
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