Nancy [Dole] Poche Collection of WWII-era Letters, 1938-1963 | Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections

The Nancy (Dole) Poche letter collection contains 172 letters written between 1938 and 1963. Most of the correspondence is between Senator Dole's brother, Kenneth "Kenney" Dole, and his parents, Doran and Bina Dole of Russell, Kansas, during World War II. The letters offer a glimpse into Kenney’s daily life as a private (later promoted to corporal) in the United States military during World War II, as well as what things were like on the Kansas home front. Kenneth was stationed in the Pacific theater of the war, although specific locations are never mentioned.

Highlights of the collection include letters from Bina Dole to Bob Dole in April of 1945, after he had been injured in Italy. There is also correspondence between Kenneth and Bob and other family members regarding Dole's extended recovery process, as well as a few other letters.

It may be helpful to know that there were four Dole children: Kenneth, Bob, Norma Jean (referred to as N.J. or Norma) and Gloria. Gloria's husband was named Larry, and their son (whose birth and first year are chronicled in these letters) was Larry Ray, also referred to as "Punky." Nancy (Dole) Poche is the daughter of Kenneth Dole and a niece of Senator Bob Dole.