David Neal Tigert Letters
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of letters written by Corp. David Neal Tigert to his parents, W. D. and Floy Tigert, when he was in the Military Police and stationed in Texas, New Mexico, Washington, and Korea from 1951-1954. Tigert highlights day-to-day life at camp, as well as notes his relationships with other soldiers and thoughts on the Korean War. In a letter postmarked March 28, 1951 (Box 1 Folder 3), Tigert enclosed the Fourth Army Shoulder Patch. Tigert served in both Korea and Japan, and he details life in both these areas. Of note are his connections with Koreans who were employed in service to American soldiers like Tigert. Tigert also discusses President Eisenhower’s visit to the 212th M. P. Company at Changam-Ni, Korea and extensively responds to news from home. Other items in the collection include a World War I letter written by W. D. Tigert and miscellaneous documents pertaining to David Neal Tigert’s service in the military.
Dates
- 1918
- 1951-1954; 1957
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
Noncirculating; available for research.
Conditions Governing Use
This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).
Biographical / Historical
Corp. David Neal Tigert (1931-1954) was the son of William D. Tigert and Floy Caldwell of Laurel, Mississippi. He served in Company A, 307th Military Police Battalion at Fort Sam Houston Texas, and he was also stationed at Sandia Base, New Mexico; Fort Hood, Texas; and Fort Lawton, Washington before his deployment to Korea in late 1952. Tigert served in Korea in the 212th Military Police Company and was stationed near Seoul. He returned to the United States in January 1954; however, Tigert died May 31, 1954 when he was shot by a stray bullet from a fight that had broken out in the Stardust Grill, a tavern in Laurel, Mississippi. He is buried at Indian Springs Cemetery in Laurel.
Extent
1.00 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The David Neal Tigert Letters consist of approximately 200 letters written by Corp. David Neal Tigert to his parents when he served in the Korean War in the Military Police. There is also one World War I letter composed by Tigert’s father, W. D. Tigert, as well as other miscellaneous documents. This collection would be of particular interest to researchers studying World War I, the Korean War, and life at home in Laurel, Mississippi.
Arrangement
The letters are arranged chronologically with undated letters at the end of the collection. Many of the letters have topical descriptions, but these topics are not meant to summarize each letter in its entirety. Likewise, letters written while Tigert was in Korea detail his daily experiences but were often too varied to have exact topical labels. The last folder consists of miscellaneous documents relating to David Neal Tigert’s military service.
Provenance
Given by Nathan Bush, February 25, 2011.
Existence and Location of Copies
For Digitized Materials from this collection, see: External Documents link at bottom of page.
Sources
“2 Laurel Men Face Manslaughter Count,” Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Mississippi), June 2, 1954.
“Bystander Dies of Bullet Wound After Laurel Club Brawl,” The Delta-Democrat Times (Greenville, Mississippi), June 1, 1954.
“Federal Prisoner May Be Returned for Murder Trial,” Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Mississippi), October 21, 1954.
David Neal Tigert Korean War Letters, M573, Historical Manuscripts, Special Collections, The University of Southern Mississippi Libraries.
Photograph Log
M573-002 Six people posing. Enclosed in letter dated December 18, 1957 Undated B/W 2 x 4
- Korean War, 1950-1953. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Laurel (Miss.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Letter. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Personal narratives. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Records (Documents). Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Tigert, David Neal, Corporal, 1931-1954
- United States. Army. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1914-1918. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- David Neal Tigert Korean War Letters
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Collection processed and finding aid written by Jonathan Puckett
- Date
- 16 December 2019
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Historical Manuscripts and Photographs Repository
118 College Drive - 5148
Hattiesburg MS 39406-0001
601.266.4345
