Walter R. Ervin Collection
Scope and Content
The Walter R. Ervin papers (WRE) span from 1935 to 1988 and document WRE's military life during World War II. The collection includes correspondence, newspaper clippings, Army training manuals, and song books. The majority of the correspondence is letters from 1941 to 1945 between WRE and his wife, and a 1988 letter concerning Ervin's eligibility for the Prisoner of War Medal. The newspaper clippings relate to local events, one issue of the Camp Maxey Times, two issues of Beachhead News (July and October 1944) from Anzio, and a copy of the European edition of Time for U.S. servicemen, dated May 14, 1945. In addition the collection contains an Ohio University record book from 1939, four 1941 Army training manuals, and three song books from World War II.
Dates
- Creation: 1935-1988
Creator
- Ervin, Walter R. (Person)
Language of Materials
The records are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Ohio University Libraries.
Conditions Governing Use
Ohio University retains all property rights to the collection.
Ohio University retains all copyrights unless retained by the donor, other correspondents, or other artists.
Biography of Walter R. Ervin
World War II veteran and prisoner of war Walter R. Ervin was born on August 8, 1914 in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. At the age of five his family moved to Athens County, Ohio and settled near Ervin Road in Athens Township. After graduation from Athens High School in 1933 he went to work for the Athens Ice and Storage Company until the United States entry into World War II. He reported for duty with the Army on December 8, 1941.
Ervin completed basic training at Camp Roberts, California. His first duty station was with C Company, 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, Western Defense Command in Gilroy, California. He was attached to the S-2 section (intelligence) and was trained as an infantry scout.
In June of 1943 he married Helen Sheridan. She was a 1939 BSED graduate of Ohio University and worked for the university as a secretary for football coach Don Peden.
In February 1944 Ervin began intensive training in preparation for overseas duty. In March 1944 he shipped out to North Africa and then went on to Naples, Italy. There he joined K Company, 3rd Battalion, 30th Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. His first combat experience was during the breakout from the Anzio beachhead in late May 1944.
On August 15, 1944 he took part in Operation ANVIL, the invasion of southern France. His division, part of the 6th Army Group, fought up the Rhone River valley and became the left flank of the 3rd Army Group. Ervin was captured near Colmar, France on January 23, 1945. He spent the next two and a half months as a German prisoner of war at Stalag VII near Freiberg, Germany. He was freed from captivity on May 11, 1945 and discharged from the Army as a corporal on October 18, 1945 at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. He was awarded the European Theater Ribbon with three bronze stars (denoting a major campaign), two overseas bars, Good Conduct Medal, and the Combat Infantryman's Badge.
On Ervin's return to Athens he went back to work for the Athens Ice and Storage Company. In 1955 he bought the Athens Culligan Company. He lived in Millfield, Ohio until his death.
Extent
1 cubic feet
Abstract
The Walter R. Ervin papers (WRE) span from 1935 to 1988 and document WRE's military life during World War II.
Statement of Arrangement
These records are organized into the following series:
- Series 1: Correspondence
- Series 2: Publications
- Series 3: Miscellaneous
Other Finding Aid
A paper copy of the folder list is available.
Acquisition Information
The Ohio University Archives received the collection in March 1990 as a gift.
Existence and Location of Copies
Ohio University will entertain requests to photocopy reasonable amounts of material from the collection for the convenience of individual researchers.
Description Note
Original, legacy collection inventories may contain inaccuracies or be incomplete. Collection descriptions may change or be updated as they are verified. Please contact Mahn Center staff if you note any errors or discrepancies.
Subject
- Ervin, Walter R. (Person)
- Title
- Finding aid for the Walter R. Ervin Collection
- Author
- Charles Arp processed the collection in April 1990.
- Date
- 2020
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
- Sponsor
- The finding aid was converted into EAD with funding support from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Revision Statements
- 5 January 2024: Subjects and other notes added from ALICE MARC records and Mahn Center Microsoft Office finding aids by Ohio University Libraries Metadata Services Department Python scripts.
Repository Details
Part of the Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections Repository
