World War II Letters - 24 June 1945 - Written by Stan Cooper

Stan continues to encourage his Queens Village family to visit him at the Annapolis Naval Academy stating that September would be the best time as by that time he would be accustomed to his new routine.

World War II Letters - 12 June 1945 - Written by Stan Cooper

Stan is now a midshipman plebe at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

He fills his parents in on the details of his first forty-eight hours of adjusting to his new lifestyle.

He informs the family that "Pathe News took pictures of us fleet men being sworn in. In one 'take.' I am on the extreme right of the first row (without any hair too!)"

I tried looking for an actual copy of the film Stan was referring to with no luck. 

Stan also encourages his family with Bud to come visit him on a Sunday afternoon. 

World War II Letters - 26 May 1945 - Written by Stan Cooper

Stan is extremely excited along with his family that he has passed his mental exams and is enthusiastic about his upcoming physical exam.

Both letters to and from his parents cross in the mail.

"Annapolis Naval Academy here I come!"

Tecumseh Statue in front of Bancroft Hall
taken from my father's photo album.

World War II Letters - 10 Mar 1945 - Written by Stan Cooper

Stan, Bud and Steve

Stan writes his weekly letter to family filling them in with his "always persisting tension" lifestyle of serving in the military.

During preparation for his exams, he is persistent in going out one evening to attend theater at William and Mary College with 100 other "Naps." The program was enclosed with the letter as he does not mention the name of the play.

Stan hopes to hear soon from his older brother, Bud, who is serving in the European front in Germany. "I certainly hope he gets across the Rhine without getting his feet wet."

Bud Cooper, standing in back left with two war buddies. Bud sent
this photo (dated 15 May 1945) to Stan in a letter. 

During this time, Stan's future brother-in-law, Stephen J. Gabuzda, was also fighting in Germany along the west side of the Rhine. He was a radio-man with his fellow soldiers in the famous battle for the Remagen Bridge. He was rewarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service. 

"Freeland Radio Man Decorated." The Plain Speaker, (Hazleton, Pennsylvania), Monday, 13 August 1945, page 5, column 3. Newspapers.com on Ancestry.com : Accessed 22 Apr 2018. 

Back in 2004, my mother was watching television on the History channel. A series of programs airing all day about World War II caught her attention. She was immediately grabbed by a section covering the battle of Ramadan Bridge.  She saw a close up of her brother as he waved his arms just for a few seconds. She recalls, "He filled the whole screen of his torso and head,  a good close-up, full face, waving his arm in complete circles with his half smile on his handsome face with his beautiful eyes. He was vigorously waving either troops or vehicles (not shown) across the bridge. The clip was long enough for me to get a good look." 

The Color of War. The History Channel. 

Episode 4 - Battleground. 2001

World War II Letters - 27 February 1945 - Written by Stan Cooper

Stan returns to Camp Peary from another visit to his hometown in Queens Village, New York. He relates to his parents his travel back to his barracks. This time he returned on time and avoided AWOL.

It is "interesting" to read that Stan received nine letters from his father all at once the next Monday.