Finding Aid for the Brandon J. Grigsby Iraq War correspondence 2017.066.w.r
Andrew Harman
Center for American War Letters Archives
10/22/2019
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Brandon J. Grigsby Iraq War correspondence
source:
Konowal, Nancy
Creator:
Grigsby, Brandon J.
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.066.w.r
Physical Description:
.08 Linear feet
(1 folder)
Date: 2003
Abstract: This collection contains two correspondence written by Brandon J. "BJ" Grigsby to his Spanish teacher, Nancy Konowal, during
the Iraq War.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: Afghan/Iraq 1
Container: 6
Container: 1
Container: 2017-066-w-r_Grigsby, Brandon
This collection is open for research
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Nancy Konowal.
Brandon J. "BJ" Grigsby, United States Marine Corps was a student of Ms. Konowal's at South Beloit High School in Illinois
and graduated in 1997. According to the donor he joined the Marines shortly after in 1998 and served in Iraq during the early
part of the war. He later lived and worked in Denver, Colorado.
[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Brandon J. Grigsby Iraq War correspondence (2017.066.w.r), Center for American
War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.
This collection contains two correspondence written by Brandon J. "BJ" Grigsby, USMC to his Spanish teacher, Nancy Konowal,
during the Iraq War. Brandon wrote his letters while he was in Kuwait and Baghdad. Both letters are undated. Also included
is one copy of a photograph of Brandon in his dress blues uniform.
In the first letter apologizes for not writing back while he was in Japan because he was travelling all over Southeast Asia,
but the letter was written while in Kuwait awaiting "for the word to move on Saddam [Hussein]" into Iraq; "and it's pretty
boring for the most part." He discusses vaccinations and spending time in class for "military stuff," including the laws of
war. He tells her that Kuwaiti citizens are contracted to do all of the cooking, laundry and other duties.
In the second letter, he said, "The war is about over and the humanitarian effort is kicking in. The war was pretty intense
for about two weeks with many coalition forces dying for their country. Luckily I'm O.K. but I would've given my life for
any of those great men that passed." He also mentions conditions, including heat and sandstorms while loading cargo planes,
as well as asking about people protesting the war back home; "What do they expect to get out of that?"
There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the
responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Iraq War, 2003-2011
Iraq War -- (2003-2011) -- Correspondence
Photographs
Konowal, Nancy