This collection contains six letters and postcards written by brothers Cornelius L. and Anthony J. Brigel to their families during their service in World War II. Cornelius wrote the first three letters to his wife Ada, and described his arrival at Fort Thomas, Kentucky, in two postcards from December 1942. He mentioned trading in his civilian clothing and receiving a vaccination, and promised a friend: "I get to Germany, I will get Hitler's mustache and use it for a shoe brush" (December 19, 1942). In his third letter, written on stationery from Camp Roberts, California, he described a trip to Santa Barbara, California, while on 36 hours' leave (February 8, 1943).
Anthony composed two letters to his "Brother and Sister" from his post with the 758th Railway Shop Battalion, then stationed in India. He wrote about his disappointment with his St. Patrick's Day celebrations (March 17, 1944) and offered his condolences for a family member's death, via a v-mail message (May 26, 1944). A final postcard, addressed to Cornelius and postmarked Detroit, Michigan, announced the birth of a baby girl, signed by "Pink" (October 29, 1944).
Leopold Brigel, a German immigrant, and his wife Johannah lived in Columbus, Ohio, in the early 20th century. They had three children: Cornelius L., Anthony J. (1907-1975), and Catherine. Cornelius, who signed himself "Neil," lived in Columbus with his wife Ada at the beginning of World War II. He joined the United States Army and spent time at Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and Camp Roberts, California; by 1944, he had been moved to a veterans' hospital in Dayton, Ohio. Anthony became a sergeant during the war, and served in the 758th Railway Shop Battalion.
