"The Book"

The Book: A Visual Chronicle of Service 

Throughout his military letters home, Wesley Andrew Hochgraber often referenced “the book” — a cherished scrapbook of his wartime journey. This collection wasn’t just a personal keepsake; it became a living history of his experiences during World War II. As Wes wrote home from airfields, camps, and battle theaters across the Pacific, he made special note of newspaper clippings, base letterhead graphics, humorous cartoons, and memorabilia that were to be saved in this evolving compilation.

This section stands as a tribute to Wes’s foresight in capturing these memories and his family’s dedication in preserving them. His story, told through “the book,” is a remarkable blend of service, art, and love — now shared with future generations. 

“Keep that for the book.”
“You can paste that in with the rest.”
– Notes from Wes’s letters, 1943–1945

What Was "The Book"? 

"The Book" was a physical archive created by Wes’s family using the material he mailed back during his service. These included:

• Cartoons and Illustrations: Many hand-drawn cartoons, often humorous or satirical, illustrated daily life at bases like Camp Avon Park, Hunter Field, and Lowry Field.

• Stationery Art & Letterheads: Vivid military-themed headers and logos from locations such as:

  • Buckley & Lowry Field, Colorado

  • Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia

  • Camp Avon Park, Florida

  • New Guinea airfields

• Newspaper Clippings: War reports, military updates, and cultural snapshots from U.S. and Australian publications.

• Postcards & Maps: Wes occasionally included location postcards or sketch maps, helping orient his journey across the globe.

• Base Passes & Field Orders: Temporary travel passes and orders revealing movement between bases or assignments.