The Gerald and Barbara Dowdy Collection Processed by Joan Cannon 2013 Memphis and Shelby County Room Memphis Public Library and Information Center 3030 Poplar Avenue Memphis, TN 38111 SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTES GERALD AND BARBARA DOWDY COLLECTION The Gerald and Barbara Dowdy Collection was donated to the Memphis and Shelby County Room in January, 2013 by G. Wayne Dowdy. Comprising one 2 ½ inch box, the collection contains letters written by Gerald McLain Dowdy to his wife, Barbara Ann Nance Dowdy, and his parents John and Lucile Dowdy while he was on active duty with the Tennessee Army National Guard from October 1960 to July 1963. Also included in the collection are a letter and postcard to Barbara Ann Nance Dowdy from Myra Gale Brown Lewis, wife of rock ‘n’ roll performer Jerry Lee Lewis, as well as photographs and other miscellaneous items. The Gerald and Barbara Dowdy Collection provide a fascinating glimpse into the life of a soldier during the Cold War years of the early 1960s. The letters chronicle many of Dowdy’s day-to-day activities during Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and while he was on active duty at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and Fort Stewart, Georgia. Gerald M. Dowdy was born on October 17, 1942 in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Moving to Memphis with his parents during World War II, Dowdy joined the Tennessee Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 115th Field Artillery Regiment, 30th Armored Division in July 1960 after graduating from Whitehaven High School. Achieving the rank of first sergeant, he served on active duty at several posts including Camp Shelby in Mississippi and Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Later he served in the Army Reserve where he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal. In a letter to his wife written in July, 1963 he described a typical day in an artillery regiment: “I fired 61 rounds at the forward position, the others fired 88 rounds. We went tactical at 1700 (5:00 PM) today and will be tactical until tomorrow at 1700. Tactical means no lights (I’m using a flashlight to write by)...no noise, wearing helmet, gas mask, rifle, canteen, first aid pouch and raincoat. Well, the capt. just came in and said to turn out my light.” Barbara Ann Nance Dowdy was born in Ripley, Mississippi on July 3, 1943 to William Herbert and Lurline Griffin Nance. As a young girl Barbara Nance Dowdy relocated to Memphis where she graduated from South Side High School in 1962. In addition to raising her sons Gerald Wayne and William Johnathan, Barbara Dowdy worked as a legal secretary for 24 years before her death on November 8, 2010. Researchers interested in the Cold War and Memphis during the 1960s will also want to consult the Jerry Lee Lewis, Everett R. Cook Oral History, John William McAfee, Hunter Lane, Jr., Marvin and Mary Bazemore and Memphians during War collections which are also housed in the Memphis and Shelby County Room. While the Memphis Public Library & Information Center may house an item, it does not necessarily hold the copyright on the item, nor may it be able to determine if the item is still protected under current copyright law. Users are solely responsible for determining the existence of such instances and for obtaining any other permissions and paying associated fees that may be necessary for the intended use. Any image from the library's collection published in any form must cite as the source: Memphis and Shelby County Room, Memphis Public Library & Information Center. For all requests, please contact the History Department at 901.415.2742 or [email protected]. CONTAINER LIST Box One Folder 1 Items 10 Correspondence October – December 1960 Folder 2 Items 14 Correspondence January – February 1961 Folder 3 Items 4 Correspondence May 20, 1961 Folder 4 Items 7 Correspondence July 15 – 18, 1962 Folder 5 Items 9 Correspondence July 20 – 25, 1962 Folder 6 Items 3 Correspondence July 1963 Folder 7 Items 8 Miscellaneous Items Folder 8 Items 12 Photographs GERALD AND BARBARA DOWDY COLLECTION BOX 1 Folder 1 Items 10 Correspondence October – December 1960 October 26, 1960 To: Miss Barbara Nance, Memphis, Tennessee From: Private Gerald M. Dowdy, Columbia, South Carolina Received your letter today. Surprised to hear from you. Won’t get to come home until Christmas. I get a pass every weekend and go to my Grandmama’s. Heard about Westside High School goofing up and glad to hear South Side is winning, but not really. Begin our work after exercising and eating. Went through the infiltration course and have been in two parades. My rank is corporal and I am a squad leader in charge of eleven other goof- offs. Don’t forget to write and tell everybody hello. With envelope cover stamped October 27, 1960, Columbia, South Carolina. (2 items) November 13, 1960 To: Miss Barbara Nance, Memphis, Tennessee From: Private Gerald M. Dowdy, Fort Sill, Oklahoma Did not answer sooner because I was in the field. I will have two weeks off at Christmas and will be out of the army March 10, 1961. Would like to WHS and South Side play. Hope you’ll win the championship. Have to be ready for inspection any time of the day or night. Have a nice day room with pool tables, shuffleboard, ping pong tables, television, etc. Will go to school for six to eight weeks and then assigned to a battle group. Tell everybody hello, especially the girls. With envelope cover stamped November 14, 1960, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. (2 items) November 26, 1960 To: Miss Barbara Nance, Memphis, Tennessee From: Private Gerald M. Dowdy, Fort Sill,, Oklahoma Glad to receive your letter yesterday. Presently I am at the guard house (where the guys on guard stay). Walk two hours and then off for four hours. Goes on for twenty-four hours. Had a nice Thanksgiving dinner including the trimmings. Hope to be in Memphis the twenty-second or twenty-third and will ride the train. Tell Donald , Charlie and Tommy to write. Close by saying, “I’m thinking of you. With envelope cover stamped November 28, 1960, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. (2 items) Barbara Ann Nance, 1962 December 10, 1960 To: Miss Barbara Nance, Memphis, Tennessee From: Private Gerald M. Dowdy, Fort Sill, Oklahoma Glad to hear from you. Got through our weekly inspection by four lieutenants and passed. It is now snowing. Also been raining and sleeting for the last four days. Were out in the field yesterday and almost froze. Snow is falling harder now and is beginning to stick. The temperature is thirty-four degrees. Had a test yesterday morning and made ninety-six. Will get home on the twenty-second. Tell everybody hello. With envelope cover stamped December 18, 1960, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. December 11, 1960 To: Miss Barbara Nance, Memphis, Tennessee From: Private Gerald M. Dowdy, Fort Sill, Oklahoma Glad to hear from you. Hope it doesn’t snow until January 5, because if conditions are bad out here they won’t let us take our leave. Snowed Tuesday night and covered the ground completely. Rough week for classes. Had three exams this week. Were in the field all day yesterday. In less than five days I’ll be home. Will give you a picture of me in uniform when I get home. Be good and I’ll see you in five days. With envelope cover stamped December 12, 1960, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Private Gerald M. Dowdy Folder 2 Items 14 Correspondence January – February 1961 January 4, 1961 To: Miss Barbara Nance, Memphis, Tennessee From: Private Gerald M. Dowdy, Fort Sill, Oklahoma (Artillery & Guided Missile Center) Arrived this afternoon. Bus was late. Went into town with friends and saw the movie, “Where The Boys Are”, starring Connie Francis. Came straight back to the barracks. Did you miss me not calling and arguing with you? I was kinda mean to you, but I was just aggravating you. I like you a lot and hope you feel the same. Hated to tell you good bye. Thinking of you always and waiting on your letter. With envelope cover stamped January 5, 1961, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. January 12, 1961 To: Miss Barbara Nance, Memphis, Tennessee From: Private Gerald M. Dowdy, Fort Sill, Oklahoma (Artillery & Guided Missile Center) Received your letter today. Before I left Memphis I thought you did care a little bit, but it seems you don’t. Sorry to hear Larry and Sandra had picked up our habit of arguing. Have just five more days in this Battery. Shipping the 20th to the Sixth Battallion. Grade dropped to eighty-eight today. Did you pass your exams? Saw the picture, “Mr. Roberts”, last night and “Where The Boys Are” last week. Some friends and I plan to go to Oklahoma City for the weekend if we get our Class A pass, if not we’ll go to Lawton. We were put on red alert about 4:30 this afternoon and stay ready until taken off or shipped out. I’m sorry if I have written anything to make you mad. If you do not plan to write me anymore, drop me line and let me know. With envelope cover stamped January 13, 1961, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. January 22, 1961 To: Miss Barbara Nance, Memphis, Tennessee From: Private Gerald M. Dowdy, Fort Sill, Oklahoma (Battery “A”, 6th TNG. BN., USATG-FA) Received your letter today. I’ve been shipped to a new outfit and in the last phase of training. I have just six more weeks of training. Our equipment is packed and ready in case of an emergency.