Frank Edgar Havens Letters, 1926-1956 (bulk 1945-1953): Finding Aid

Biography of Frank Edgar Havens

Frank Edgar Havens, the son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Edgar Havens of Dodge City, Kansas and, later, Los Angeles, was a hospital corpsman in the United States Navy shortly after World War II and during the Korean War. Havens did his initial training at the United States Naval Training Station in Great Lakes, Illinois just as World War II was coming to a close in Europe. In June 1945, Havens proceeded on to Hospital Corps School in Farragut, Idaho. Following his training at Farragut, he was attached to the hospital ship U.S.S. Repose (AH-16), stationed at Shanghai. Presumably, Havens was deactivated or resigned some time in mid to late 1946 or 1947. In late spring to early summer of 1951, Havens returned to active duty with the Navy for the Korean War. Once again, Havens was assigned to U.S.S. Repose, which was stationed in Korean and Japanese waters, making calls at Inchon, Pusan, Sasebo, and Yokosuka. Havens was scheduled to return to the United States in September 1952.

Description of Contents

The Frank Edgar Havens Letters, comprising 5 linear inches of documentation, span from 1926 to 1956. The collection consists almost entirely of letters written by Havens to his family during his career as a U.S. Navy hospital corpsman during the time periods of April 1945 through May 1946 and October 1951 through August 1952.

The letters begin in April 1945 with Havens' boot camp training at the U.S. Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois. The correspondence continues with his medical indoctrination course at the Hospital Corps School, Farragut, Idaho, and his work at the United States Naval Hospital in Farragut and at Camp Bennion. The correspondence from Havens' first tour in the Navy concludes with his transfer to the Receiving Station in Shoemaker, California in January 1946 and service aboard the hospital ship Repose in May of that year.

The correspondence resumes, in June of 1951, with Havens' apparent return to active Naval service during the Korean War. His letters offer an account of his return to and service aboard Repose, and include reflections on Pusan, Korea, as well as Sasebo and Kamakura, Japan.

In addition to the letters written by Havens, the collection includes a small number of miscellaneous items, such as materials pertaining to his parents' wedding and photographs.

Arrangement

The Frank Edgar Havens Letters are arranged chronologically. Materials other than Havens' correspondence are filed at the end of the collection.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The Frank Edgar Havens Letters are the physical property of Nimitz Library. Copyright belongs to the authors or creators of the works, or their legal representatives. For further information, consult the Head, Special Collections & Archives.

It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure written permission to publish, reprint, or reproduce material from Special Collections & Archives. The researcher assumes responsibility for infringement of copyright or literary or publication rights. Please contact the Head, Special Collections & Archives for permission to publish and for further information.

Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

Purchased from Charles Apfelbaum Rare Books and Collections in July 1990. Accession No. 90-39.

Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Additional accounts of U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsmen in the closing days of World War II in this repository are available in the Robert W. Swartz Papers, 1944-1946, MS 353.

Materials Cataloged Separately

No materials have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately.

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Frank Edgar Havens Letters, MS 260

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Mary R. Catalfamo. Finding aid written by Mary R. Catalfamo and revised by David D'Onofrio in February 2014.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Havens, Frank Edgar
• Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Medical care -- United States
• Repose (Hospital ship : AH-16)
• Sailors -- United States -- Correspondence
• United States. Naval Training Station (Farragut, Idaho)
• United States. Naval Training Station (Great Lakes, Ill)
• United States. Navy -- Hospital corpsmen
• United States. Navy -- Medical Corps

Genre Terms

• Clippings (information artifacts)
• Correspondence
• Manuscripts
• Photographs