Summary Information
Warren Norkofski Papers and Photographs
1942-1999
WVM Mss 22
0.1 linear ft. (4 folders and 36 negative flaps) of photographs, and 1 phonograph record.
Wisconsin Veterans Museum (Map)
The papers and photographs of Warren L. Norkofski, a private in Company A, 106th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division during World War II who was wounded on Saipan and spent over fifteen months convalescing at a stateside hospital. A large part of the collection consists of correspondence exchanged between Norkofski and girlfriend Gene Wetterau while he recovered in O'Reilly General Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. He wrote about his recreational activities, therapy, frustrations at delays in being discharged, and hopes for a future with Wetterau. Also included are scattered letters Norkofski wrote to his parents while stationed in Hawaii. These letters briefly touch upon his battle experience but focus mainly on recreational activities due to censor's restrictions.
Other wartime materials include a Catholic missal and prayer card, pay records, and a discharge form. The veteran benefits Norkofski received following the war are documented through correspondence relating to a subsistence allowance, vocational training, medical care, and insurance. Papers showing his active involvement in veteran organizations, particularly the Florian-Lampert Post 1908 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, can also be found in this collection. Norkofski was elected commander of the post in 1955 and served in several other positions. Photographs include prints and negatives of Norkofski in uniform during his service and with Wetterau while visiting Oshkosh on furlough. A phonograph record contains a message Norkofski recorded at a Red Cross station in Springfield in November 1944.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.wvm-mss00022 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Warren Leo Norkofski was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin on June 2, 1922 to Louis and Irene Norkofski. He attended local schools and entered the United States Army on November 11, 1942. He was assigned to Company A, 106th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division, a unit made up largely of men from the state of New York. He joined the unit as they trained in Hawaii in December 1942, preparing for an invasion of the Marshall Islands.
Norkofski took part in the assault on Eniwetok Island in February 1944 and then returned with his unit to Hawaii in April. On June 20 the regiment landed on the island of Saipan and engaged in heavy fighting to gain control of Mount Tapotchau. On July 4, 1944 a Japanese sniper shot Norkofski in the right leg. He was treated briefly at the 38th Field Hospital on Saipan, transferred to the North Sector General Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii on July 6, and sent to O'Reilly General Hospital in Springfield, Missouri at the end of August 1944. His wound caused nerve damage, which required prolonged treatment and rehabilitation.
Following over fifteen months of treatment, he received a discharge with disability on January 23, 1946. Norkofski returned to Oshkosh and found work as a lens grinder for a local optical company. He married Gene Wetterau on June 22, 1946 and the couple had four children. Norkofski became very active in the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Florian-Lampert Post 1908. He was elected post commander for 1955-1956 and subsequently served in several other elected positions. Norkofski passed away in Oshkosh, Wisconsin on January 15, 2001.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Warren L. Norkofski are divided into 5 series: World War II, Veterans Benefits, Veteran Organizations, Photographs and Audio.
World War II (1942-1946) contains materials from his service during the war. The majority consists of correspondence exchanged between Norkofski and girlfriend Gene Wetterau while he recovered from a leg wound in a stateside hospital. Initial letters show that the two were mere acquaintances but through the correspondence they quickly formed a romantic relationship and would go on to marry following his discharge. The letters Norkofski wrote to Wetterau described his activities while convalescing at O'Reilly General Hospital, located in Springfield, Missouri. He described attending movies, U.S.O. shows, and going out to bars at night. He expressed his frustrations with the delays in obtaining a discharge from the Army, inquired about events at home, and expressed his growing feelings for Wetterau and the hopes that they would marry soon. For her part, Wetterau relayed news from home, especially about her increasing interactions with Norkofski's parents, in addition to expressing her love for him and hopes that they might marry. Other correspondence includes some letters Norkofski wrote to his parents while he was stationed in Hawaii awaiting deployment to the front. These letters described recreational activities in Hawaii, briefly mentioned his first combat experience in the Marshall Islands, reported on local men he encountered, and asked about news from home. Other materials in this series include military papers from his service, such as the notification of his Purple Heart medal, draft registration cards, pay records, and discharge form. A missal and prayer card reflect his Catholic faith and war savings bond receipts show his participation in that program.
Veterans Benefits (1944-1999) consists of documents revealing some of the benefits Norkofski received following the war as a veteran. Correspondence with the Veterans Administration (V.A.) documents that he received a subsistence allowance in the years immediately after the war that varied based on any part-time wages he received, his marital status, and number of children. A card of introduction to prospective employers and appointment notices show that Norkofski received vocational training from the V.A. as well as leads to potential jobs. Appointment slips and receipts reveal his need for medical benefits due to the continuing effects of his war wound. Additional papers suggest that Norkofski received financial assistance for the purchase of an automobile through the V.A.
Veteran Organizations (1951-1999) contains materials that document Norkofski's involvement in several veteran organizations. The majority of the materials come from Veterans of Foreign Wars (V.F.W.) Florian-Lampert Post 1908, located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Newspaper clippings document his election as post commander in 1955 and as post chaplain in 1993. Post membership records show the efforts put forth by the V.F.W. in the mid-1950's to increase membership. Handwritten notes contain the names of hospitalized or homebound members who Norkofski visited. Membership cards reflect his membership in the Military Order of the Cootie, an honorary society within the V.F.W. A newspaper article from the 1980s highlights Norkofski's continued participation in Memorial Day parades through the V.F.W. Scattered documents show that Norkofski also belonged to the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Disabled American Veterans. Materials from a reunion of the 27th Division Association in New York reveal that Norkofski stayed in touch with some of the men from his unit.
Photographs (1943-1945) consists of unidentified photographs and negatives of Norkofski in World War II uniform taken somewhere in the Pacific Theater. Other photographs show him with future wife Gene Wetterau while he was home on furlough. An undated photograph shows an elderly Norkofski marching for the V.F.W. in a Memorial Day parade.
Audio (1944) contains one recorded message that Norkofski sent home to his parents. The message, recorded November 2, 1944 by the Red Cross, is on a cardboard and paper record that appears badly damaged.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Dr. and Mrs. Paul Allen, Markesan, WI, 1979, 1982. Accession Number: V1979.12, VI1982 Sept. 29. This collection was organized as a result of the National Historic Publications and Records Commission project grant (2003-075).
Processed by Russell Horton in 2003.
Contents List
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Series: World War II
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Biographical data, undated
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Correspondence
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From Warren Norkofski
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Box
1
Folder
2
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To Louis and Irene Norkofski (parents), 1943-1945
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Box
1
Folder
3-7
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To Gene Wetterau (girlfriend), 1945-1946
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Box
1
Folder
8
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To Warren Norkofski, 1945
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Box
1
Folder
9
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From Irene Norkofski (mother), 1944
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From Gene Wetterau (girlfriend)
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Box
1
Folder
10-13
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April-September 1945
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Box
2
Folder
1-2
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December 1945-April 1946
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Box
2
Folder
3
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Others to Louis and Irene Norkofski, 1943-1945
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Box
2
Folder
4
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Others to Gene Wetterau, 1945-1946
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Military papers
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Box
2
Folder
5
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Army medals, 1944
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Box
2
Folder
6
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Discharge form, 1946
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Box
2
Folder
7
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Draft registration cards, 1942, 1946
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Box
2
Folder
8
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Ephemera, undated
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Box
2
Folder
9
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Newspaper clippings, 1944-1946
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Box
2
Folder
10
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O'Reilly General Hospital, 1944
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Box
2
Folder
11
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Pay records, 1942, 1945
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Box
2
Folder
12
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Religious materials (Catholic), circa 1944
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Box
2
Folder
13
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Rifle scorebook, undated
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Box
2
Folder
14
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War savings bonds, 1942, 1946
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Series: Veterans Benefits
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Box
2
Folder
15
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Veterans benefits, 1944-1954, 1996-1998
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Box
2
Folder
16
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Automobiles, 1951-1952
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Box
2
Folder
17
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Medical, [1946-1999]
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Box
2
Folder
18
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National Service Life Insurance, 1945-1952
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Box
2
Folder
19
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Vocational training, 1946
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Series: Veteran Organizations
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Box
3
Folder
1
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27th Division Association, 1982, 1984
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Box
3
Folder
2
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Disabled American Veterans (D.A.V.), 1995, 1998
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Box
3
Folder
3
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Ground Observation Corps, 1954
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Box
3
Folder
4
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Military Order of the Purple Heart, undated
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Box
3
Folder
5-8
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Veterans of Foreign Wars (V.F.W.) Florian-Lampert Post 1908 (Oshkosh, WI), [1951-1997]
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Box
3
Folder
9
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Election as commander, 1955
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Box
3
Folder
10
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Envelopes, undated
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Box
3
Folder
11
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Installation as chaplain, 1993
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Box
3
Folder
12
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Meeting invitations, 1954-1955
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Membership
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Box
3
Folder
13
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Applications (blank), undated
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Box
3
Folder
14
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Cards, [1959-1973]
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Box
3
Folder
15-16
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Drives, 1953-1956
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Box
3
Folder
17
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Lists, circa 1955
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Box
3
Folder
18
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Memorial Day parades, 1985
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Box
3
Folder
19
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Military Order of the Cootie, 1956, 1995-1999
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Box
3
Folder
20
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Sick call records, 1985-1988
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Series: Photographs
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Ph
17
Folder
1
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Warren Norkofski [4] , circa 1944
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Ph
17
Folder
2
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Candids [3] , circa 1944
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Ph
17
Folder
3
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Memorial Day parade [1] , undated
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PhN
1
Folder
98-133
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Negatives , circa 1943-1945
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Ph
17
Folder
4
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With Gene Wetterau [5] , circa 1945
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Series: Audio
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LP
1
Folder
1
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Red Cross recorded message, 1944
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