Skip to main content
Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

The Navy Department Library

Related Content
Acknowledgement

Content adapted from text provided by the Naval History Foundation.

Topic
  • Theater of Operations--Pacific
Document Type
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
File Formats
  • Image (gif, jpg, tiff)
Location of Archival Materials

Pearl Harbor Survivor Postcard

Background

This postcard was sent by Robert Willis to June Staley less than a week after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. These postcards were an effort by military authorities to permit servicemembers to notify their loved ones of their status. Because of the uncertainties of the ongoing conflict, communication was limited to a choice of standard responses. The member was required to cross off statements that were inapplicable. Luckily, Willis indicates that he survived the attack without major injury.

In a time when Hawaii was a remote, hardship duty station, many of these postcards took an agonizing six weeks to reach the mainland. Little is known about the relationship between Willis and Staley, but it is believed that Willis was Staley’s high school friend.

Pearl Harbor Survivor Postcard (front)

THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS

TO          Miss June Staley

                915 Tujunga Ave.

                Burbank, California

                U.S.A.

Pearl Harbor Survivor Postcard (back)

I am well                               (sick[crossed out]           -(serious[crossed out]

I have been admitted to hospital as (wounded[crossed out]       -(not serious[crossed out]

Am getting on well. Hope to return to duty soon[crossed out]

                                                (Letter dated November 10

I have received your       (Telegram dated[crossed out]

                                                (Parcel dated[crossed out]

Letter follows at first opportunity.

I have received no letter from you (for a long time[crossed out]

                                                                   (lately[crossed out]

Signature Robert H. Willis

Date December 12, 1941

NOTHING IS TO BE WRITTEN ON THIS SIDE EXCEPT TO FILL IN THE DATA SPECIFIED. SENTENCES NOT REQUIRED SHOULD BE CROSSED OUT. IF ANYTHING ELSE IS ADDED THE POSTCARD WILL BE DESTROYED.

Ans. Dec. 17

 

[END]

Published: Tue Jun 30 12:08:44 EDT 2015