Eva Sacks

INTRODUCTION

The Sacks-Lediger family correspondence is a collection of over 600 letters and V-mails, mostly handwritten, the bulk of which spans the years 1942-1945. The collection also includes a newspaper clipping from 1932, a letter from a family member from 1951 and a 1996 obituary.

The Sacks-Lediger family was centered around the Philadelphia area, but the war stretched their communication lines across the globe. Eva Sacks (later Lebby) served in the Army Nurse Corps in North Africa and Europe during the war. Eva's sister Lena (Sacks) Lediger and her husband Hennan Lediger remained in Philadelphia. Hennan and Lena's daughter Marcia ("Marty") lived at home with her parents and her daughter Ellen during the war while her husband Sander Sacks served in the Far East as an Army veterinarian. Hennan and Lena's daughter Henrietta ("Henri") was married to Myron ("Mike") Gordon and resided in New York City. Hennan and Lena's third daughter, Cecelia Lediger, was also in the Army Nurse Corps and served in the Pacific.

The bulk of the letters in the collection were received by Herman and Lena Lediger from Eva and Cecelia. Eva and Cecelia also corresponded with each other, as well as with other family members and friends. The two women also frequently sent batches of letters they had received from others home for safekeeping, resulting in the wide range of correspondence represented.

EVA SACKS: LETTERS SENT

Also included in the collection is an article entitled "The Medics Also Fought," by Ivan H. Peterman from Liberty magazine, February 26, 1944 which includes a handwritten note by Eva explaining that the author of the article was treated in her ward. There is also a newspaper article from July 13, 1943 by the same author reporting on the Allied invasion of Sicily.

A newspaper clipping, "Army Nurses in Africa Homesick but Wouldn't Come Home if They Could," by Ernie Pyle, is undated but ca. April 19, 1943 and describes the 48th Surgical Hospital in Tunisia, and mentions Eva's name and home address. A revised and considerably expanded version of this piece was later published in as "The Medical Front" in Pyle's book Here Is Your War (Henry Holt and Company, 1943).

There is also a clipping marked as being from the Philadelphia Teacher's Association Newsletter, February, 1944, which mentions a letter it received from Eva.

Also included in the collection is Eva Sacks' membership card to the Army Officers' Club, circa 1943-1944.

Cecelia's letters to Eva discuss military and medical issues, with some talk of the family. Cele's letter of November 18, 1943 mentions a patient suffering from sulphonamide sensitivity, and her letter of July 13, 1944 mentions that she has begun working with War Neurosis patients as well as "the plain, unadulterated cowards." Cele also gives an account of her travels in her letter from January 16, 1944 and gives a longer description of the setup and activity at her new location, the 18th Station Hospital. On September 24, 1944, Cele mentions that she is "scrounging" for supplies for her Occupation Therapy program and that she is now training nurses in Neuropsychiatric work. She also gives a very long account of a secret island-style wedding that was held for two of her staff. In her letter of January 31, 1945 Cele expresses her negative opinion about promotions: "I feel that the system stinks too much to be a part of it," and in a letter dated "The Ides of March," certainly dating from 1945, she congratulates Eva on her recent marriage, and continues on with a "grim letter" about the medical and mental problems of two fellow nurses.

EVA SACKS: LETTERS RECEIVED

Eva also received letters from Ma1jorie Hillerson, who writes about "suspecting the truth" that Sayre had been killed, (October 31) wanting details about Sayre's grave and cause of death (December 20, 1944) and details about her new daughter, Lee Sayre.

Letters from Eva's brother Samuel Sacks, Sayre's father-in-law, deal mostly with Sayre's death and the family reaction to it.

A few letters from M.D. "Mamie" Sacks of Philadelphia (Eva's sister-in-law, wife of her brother Solomon Sacks), mostly about her sons Sidney ("Butze") and Bernard ("Bim") who had joined the service. She also mentions a Bob Reinish who just returned home after being wounded, and who had been a patient of Eva's: "You certainly were an angel for what you did for him, but as every[one] who hears of it says, what else could you expect from Eva Sacks. She would travel a thousand miles to help a sick dog if she had to. Not all nurses carry faithfully thru the tradition of their profession, but [I] am proud that I can call you one of my own family." (September 5, 1944)

Eugene Sacks, Eva's nephew, also wrote a few letters, one of which briefly describes his experience of joining the Navy (physical, getting measured for uniforms, etc.)

Also included is a letter from a woman named Barbara Sheldon, who wrote after seeing Eva's address in Here Is Your War by Ernie Pyle, as well as a letter from Hubley R. Owen of the Philadelphia School Board, acknowledging that Eva has married William Lebly [sic] and looking forward to her return. (April 24, 1945)

LETTERS RECEIVED BY HERMAN AND LEDA LEDIGER

The Ledigers also received a letter from a Lt. Anna M. Klein on stationary from the Mayo General Hospital in Illinois, in which she writes that she met Cecelia in New Guinea and that she is well.

Also included are two ration books belonging to Herman and Lena Lediger, as well as a small hardcover book titled The Chain of Command, which is a parody of Army bureaucracy written by a soldier.

LETTERS RECEIVED BY MIKE AND HENRIETTA (LEDIGER) GORDON

The Gordons received one letter from Eva, mostly about buying gifts in Italy and sending them home. They received considerably more letters from Cecelia, and a description of these is included below in the section "Cecelia Lediger: Biographical Sketch and Letters Sent."

The Gordons also received one V-mail from Sander Sacks, writing from the Far East. He briefly mentions current family news and talks about being anxious to come home, taking some consolation in that "At least I am seeing how the 'worst' half of the world lives."

LETTERS RECEIVED BY SANDER AND MARCIA SACKS

Maity received three letters from Eva Sacks, including a V-Mail which reproduces the lyrics and notation for a song called "Christmas Greetings, Happy New Year": "Christmas greetings, Happy New Year, tho' I am overseas/ Happy New Year Merry Christmas, pardon the V-Mail please .... "

Letters received from Cecelia deal mostly with mentions of family-related news as well as Cele's shopping for souvenirs to send home. Her letter of December 23, 1943 mentions how happy she was to hear of Sander's promotion, and expresses concern over "the tremendous increase in the cost of living," offering Matty some of her allotment if she needs it. Her letter of March 3, 1944 (marked as "con't" but with no preceding part) gives a detailed description of a shopping trip and "morning tea." She also mentions her lack of war experiences and urges Matty not to feel guilty over the luxuries at home but instead that "we want you all to be comfortable - it makes us feel as though we are doing something for somebody by helping you to have your nice things and your fun."

Also included is a birthday card sent to Sander by someone named Frida, and which features Franklin D. Roosevelt as an American Indian Chief, with text calling for the defeat of the Axis.

CECELIA LEDIGER: LETTERS SENT

The earliest letters in the collection date from Cecelia's arrival at Fort Devens. In a letter from September 14, 1942, she summarizes her first day and in another undated letter from around the same time she gives an amusing description of how she is still learning how to salute properly. In a letter dated November 20, 1942, Cecelia briefly describes undergoing gas mask training at Fort Devens.

There is a gap in Cecelia's letters from January to July, 1943, but on July 18, 1943 Cecelia left Fort Devens, arriving in Camp Stoneman, California on July 25. Undated letters from this period chronicle the assembly of Cecelia's first unit, the 9th General Hospital.

In addition to the letters, the collection contains two folders of biographical materials about Cecelia, including a newspaper clipping showing Cecelia as class president, Philadelphia High School for Girls, 1932. her military service record ( 1942-1946), a handwritten letter detailing an altercation with a patient (August 5, 1944), as well as her obituary.

Several wartime photographs of Cecelia are also included, as well as a few photographs and negatives of unidentified scenery and individuals. Also included in an envelope addressed to "Engineer Lieut. Sutton" is a photograph of a crew of an Australian ship, the H.M.A. M.L. 801. The photograph probably dates from 1944 and is signed on the back by each of the sailors.

CECELIA LEDIGER: LETTERS RECEIVED

Cecelia received letters primarily from the Eva Sacks, the Ledigers and the Gordons. Eva's letters contain some discussion of Army hospital settings and practices, as well as observations on Army life and advice on wartime romance. In a letter of January 11 , 1943 Eva writes that she wanted Cecelia to get her Ph.D. instead of joining the Army, and worries that after the war there will be an "abundance of nursing power." She mentions the benefits of General Hospitals over Evacuation Hospitals in her letter from April 25, 1943 and warns Cecelia about falling in love during wartime. Eva's letter of October 4, 1943 warns Cecelia about alcohol and "staying on the straight and narrow," while her letter of October 6 retracts the earlier sentiments, saying that the letter "sounded like an old maid's letter to an adolescent instead of one woman to another" and advises Cecelia to see as many different places as possible."

Lena Lediger was the main author of letters sent by the Ledigers, and wrote primarily about family members and events with repeated wishes for a speedy victory so that their loved ones can return home safely. In her letter of January 24, 1944 she mentions that "very few" things are rationed and that "We in America honestly don't know there is a war on." She also mentions the Philadelphia Transit Strike of 1944, saying that "Hitler is surely laughing at the Americans fighting for the suffering, and some lousy kind here are making our own American[ s] suffer." (August 7, 1944)

The letters from the Gordons, written primarily by Cecelia's sister Hemietta, also deal primarily with reports of family news and events, and details about their children and new baby.

She also received letters from other members of the family, especially the Sacks, with updates about themselves and other family news. Included are a letter from Marjorie Hillerson, in which she tells Cele that she was finally told that her husband Sayre had been killed in Europe (December 20, 1944), brief letters from Dr. Sander Sacks who was a military veterinarian in the Pacific and who mentions family and war news, the fact that he is treating men in addition to horses (June 6, 1944) and his wish for an end to the war and a family reunion. His wife Marty Sacks also wrote a few letters to Cele containing family news and details about her daughter Ellen.

Throughout the war Cecelia also remained in contact with other nurses whom she met during her time with the 9th General Hospital. Of particular interest are the letters of Am1a Marie Noll, who was stationed at the 9th General Hospital with Cecelia and who later went on to the 17th Station Hospital and the 41 st Field Hospital which were also in the Pacific. Anna Marie's letters deal mostly with gossip about other nurses from the 9th, and her letter of October 13, 1944 gives details about the mergers of different units. Her letter of September 23, 1944 describes the "hurry up and wait" of Army travel as well as details of the setup of the 17th Station Hospital. She also sent Cele a flyer, dated September, 1944, from Christian Missionaries on Kwato Island in New Guinea.

Other letters from other Nursing friends of Cele's include two letters from Mildred Pence, who talks about her camp setting (February 5, 1944) and two letters from a woman named Jane, who discusses promotions and a controversial officers' party. (June 9, 1944 and September 9, 1944)

Cele also received some letters from former patients, including a letter from October 29, 1944 from "Morris and Jensen" thanking her for her kindness. The envelope includes a handwritten note from Cele which reads: "This letter means a lot to me - will tell you about it some day." Also included is another grateful letter from a patient, Private Frederick Abraham, dated October 31, 1944 and on which Cecelia pe1med the comment "My very special boy."

Other letters that may be of interest are from Augusta Poliakoff, a friend of Cele's or of the Ledigers, whose letters deal mainly with her training for the Red Cross, as well as current legislation and how it affects the American Medical Association. There is also a letter from D.A.J. Cardozo who was apparently a Rabbi in Philadelphia, which mentions that Cecelia's name is listed on plaque in the Synagogue: "We are indeed very proud that you are one of those mentioned on the plaque and doing honor to the name of the Congregation." (April 4, 1944) A letter from Ida Moyerman mentions to Cele that "I gave the dirt to Jeff Keen for his column and it was mentioned - that is you were mentioned," but it is unclear what the "di1t" is and to what column she is referring.

Also included is page nine of a letter from Paul Friedman, an Australian Flyer mentioned by Cele in letters from April 12, 1944, May 9, 1944 and August 2, 1944. The fragment of Paul's letter is dated February? 29, 1945 and is possibly part of the letter mentioned by Cele to her parents on March 11, 1945: "I received a long, involved letter from Paul which I'll have to put some thought to about answering."

CECELIA LEDIGER: PERSONAL MISCELLANY AND EPHEMERA

Cecelia's personal miscellany includes a certificate she received, probably for crossing the equator, from August, 1943. An undated fable about a Chinese lamp, apparently written by Cecelia, also exists in a handwritten and typescript version, as well as two typescript pages of humorous pieces, probably transcribed to be sent home. One was taken from the Tempo newsletter, the source of the other is unknown. [ l 94 ?] Two Clothes Ration Books belonging to Cecelia and her friend Anna Marie Noll are also included, dating from 1943, as well as a folder containing a few typed and handwritten lyrics to military songs and a folder containing two documents related to Voluntary Allotment.

Ephemera in the collection relating to Cecelia consists of three folders of newsletters from various military bases in Australia, New Guinea and from unidentified locations. Also included are government and military communications, which includes items such as a three-page memorandum regarding the mobilization of the 9th General Hospital as well as a pamphlet which details "Safety Rules for Use on Transports" and an informational brochure on saving money while in the military ("Greenbacks When We Get Back.") Other ephemera included in the collection consists of a guide to Brisbane, Australia and its suburbs and an unsent postcard containing fold out illustrations of Brisbane, both ca. 1943-1944. A handkerchief embroidered by Filipino women and sent home by Cele as a gift to family members is also included, as well as a printed handout that was given to patients upon their admission at the 18th Station Hospital (1944) and a flyer from Johns Hopkins University entitled "Regulations Pe1taining to Nurses' Homes" (circa 1937)