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Hand-illustrated cover
Object Details
- Description
- This envelope, without postage or postmark, was sent to New York from APO 926 (Morotai, Moluccas, Netherlands East Indies), and was passed by censor (#31527).
- Given that this illustrated envelope does not have postage or postal marks, it is likely that it Corporal Jack Fogarty sent it inside a package or another envelope.
- The watercolor of an axe-wielding soldier who shrugs with incredulity at the enormity of the tropical tree is captioned, “’Woodman, woodman, spare that tree’ G.I. – ‘What else can I do?’” The caption is adapted from George Pope Morris’ 1837 poem and serves as a humorous comment on the challenges faced by US troops deployed to the jungle environment of the South Pacific.
- Jack Fogarty served with the US Army’s 98th Evacuation Hospital during World War II. While working in the hospital’s administrative office, Corporal Jack Fogarty (later promoted to Sergeant) struck up a life-long friendship with Chief Warrant Officer John MacDonald and his wife, Mary. Jack and John both wrote regularly to Mary as the war took them to the Pacific Theater. John MacDonald also served as a censor for the unit, and the illustrated covers by Jack Fogarty bear MacDonald’s censor stamp and signature. In his correspondence with Mary, Jack filled the envelopes with scenes in watercolors, ink, and pencil. The illustrated covers show Jack’s life at the Desert Training Center in Yuma, Arizona, and his overseas service in New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan. In addition to illustrating his personal correspondence, Jack contributed artwork to the 98th Evacuation Hospital’s newsletter, The Bulletin. After the war, Fogarty’s artistic career took him into acting and his prolific correspondence with friends sometimes included illustrations.
- References:
- Fogarty, John. Little Boy-Short Trousers-Eaton Cap: This I Remember. AuthorHouse, 2005.
- Data Source
- National Postal Museum
- Date
- c. 1944
- Object number
- 2012.2006.26
- Type
- Covers & Associated Letters
- Medium
- paper; ink; watercolor
- Dimensions
- Height x Width: 4 1/8 x 9 7/16 in. (10.5 x 24 cm)
- Place of Origin
- Netherlands New Guinea (Dutch overseas territory)
- Place of Destination
- New York
- See more items in
- National Postal Museum Collection
- Topic
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Covers & Letters
- Record ID
- npm_2012.2006.26
- Usage
- CC0
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