Main content
James D. Reap, Jr. World War II Collection
Notifications
Held at: Villanova University: Special Collections [Contact Us]Falvey Library, 800 E Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Villanova University: Special Collections. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
James Domenico Reap, Jr., was born on February 25, 1923. He graduated from Berwick High School (Berwick, PA), where he was co-captain of the football and basketball teams, in 1942. Reap received an athletic scholarship to Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, PA and enlisted in the Army there in November 1942. He was honorably discharged from the Army in February 1943 and entered the V-12 Navy College Training Program at Villanova University. He wanted to serve as a pilot, but was diagnosed with astigmatism, which prevented him from becoming a pilot.
Reap enlisted in the Navy in November 1943 and underwent training at Bainbridge, MD and Fort Lauderdale, FL. He was then ordered to San Diego to join the Japanese invasion force. The USS White Marsh took Reap to Pearl Harbor, HI, where he was assigned to the USS Proteus, a submarine tender, as a radar and communications technician. The USS Proteus arrived at Yokosuka Naval Base in August of 1945 and was then ordered to Tokyo Bay, where the Proteus was anchored near the USS Missouri for the formal signing of Japanese surrender.
After the war, Reap was honorably discharged from Naval service on April 6, 1946. He returned to Berwick, PA and married Carmella Cerullo on June 26, 1946. Reap was the owner of an electrical appliance store, an electrician, a teacher, an inventor, and a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, the Maria Assunta Society, and the Berwick community.
Reap was stationed at or visited at various times the following locations: Bainbridge, Maryland; Florida; California; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Guam; Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands; Japan; and Panama.
This collection comprises various papers and realia pertaining to the Pacific Theater of World War II. The realia consists of American military service artifacts as well as electrical devices, primarily for communications purposes, and a rifle from the Japanese Army. The papers consist of notebooks, photographs, maps, currency, and published ephemera.
Collection donated by Carmella Jean (Cerullo) Reap, widow of James Domenico Reap, Jr., and James J. Reap, son of James Domenico Reap, Jr., in February 2013.
Additional materials donated by James J. Reap in November 2021.
Subject
- United States. Army. Enlisted Reserve Corps
- United States. Naval Reserve
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Japan
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Pacific Area
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Realia
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Sources
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Technology
- World War, 1939-1945
- Valley Forge Military Academy
- Nanking Massacre, Nanjing, Jiangsu Sheng, China, 1937
- Publisher
- Villanova University: Special Collections
- Finding Aid Author
- Laura Bang and EAD revisions by Beaudry Allen
- Finding Aid Date
- 2020
- Use Restrictions
Collection Inventory
Interior markings: Reap, J.D. 1677
Folded American flag from veteran's funeral.
Japanese aviator's hat with ear flaps and detachable chin strap, fur lining.
Recognition of military service, framed. "The United States of America honors the memory of James D. Reap This certificate is awarded by a grateful nation in recognition of devoted and selfless consecration to the service of our country in the Armed Forces of the United States. Ronald Reagan President of the United States"
"Honorable Discharge from the Army of the United States Enlisted Reserve Corps [U.S. seal] To All Whom It May Concern: This is to certify, that James D. Reap (13184740) Private, unassigned Enlisted Reserve Corps, Army of the United States, as a testimonial of honest and faithful service, is hereby honorably discharged from the military service of the United States by reason of convenience of government, section X, AR 615-360 Said James D. Reap was born in Berwick, in the State of Pennsylvania When enlisted he was 19 9/12 years of age and by occupation a student He had brown eyes, brown hair, ruddy complexion, and was 5 feet 9 inches in height. Given under my hand at Baltimore, Maryland this 10th day of February, one thousand nine hundred and forty-three [signature] James A. Weaver, 2nd Lt., AUS"
"Honorable Discharge from the United States Navy This is to certify that James Domenico Reap, Jr. a Electronic Technician's Mate Third Class USNR is honorably discharged from the U.S.N. Personnel Separation Center Bainbridge Md. and from the Naval Service of the United States this 6th. day of April 1946. This certificate is awarded as a Testimonial of Fidelity and Obedience. [signature] M.E. Friot Lieut. (jg), USNR Assistant Records Officer By Direction of Commanding Officer"
Canvas bag with art and writing: sketch of woman (Carmella Cerullo) on one side; list of places Reap was stationed (Bainbridge, Florida, California, Pearl Harbor, Guam, Saipan, Japan, Panama) and mailing address from Reap aboard USS Proteus to Mrs. James Reap Sr.
Canvas bag with writing: Sep. Center -- Bainbridge, Maryland Jim D. Reap E.T.M 3/c USS Proteus, Div. 12-E c/o F.P.O., N.Y., N.Y. or: 707 Freas Ave. Berwick, Penna.
Metal Label tag reads "Portable" Volt and Current meter in wooden case. Manufacturer: Yokogawa Electric Company** Tokyo, Japan" Manufacturer Serial #: 45 In custom wooden box with metal closures with leather carrying handles. Wooden box dimensions: 32 cm. W x 24 cm. D x 16 cm. H See Yokogawa Global—Corporate History: http://www.yokogawa.com/pr/corporate/pr-corp-history-en.htm "1933: Started research and manufacture of aircraft instruments and flow, temperature, and pressure controllers"
Electric generator (Yokogawa Electric Company). "Generating Resistance" "Guide to How to Use" instructions Manufacturer: Yokogawa Electric Company September 1943 Wood and metal. Dimensions: 19 cm. W x 11 cm. D x 12 cm. H
Ammeter. Equipment Refers to Circuit, Current, Resistance and Voltage / Alternating current "Guide to How to Use" instructions: in Kanji characters appears on piece In custom wooden box with metal closures and leather carrying handle. Wooden box dimensions: 19 cm. W x 17 cm. D x 14 cm. H
Pair of electric sconces. Metal and wood.
Sonar device in wooden storage box with tongue and groove sides.
Metal label: Hearing machine Manufactured by Oki Electric Company,* March, 1944 Manufacturer #: SA-66 Weight: 9.1 kilograms Belonged to: Navy Technical Research Institute "Jim Reap" carved on top of box. Box dimensions: 46 cm. W x 27 cm. D x 16 cm. H *See OKI History: http://www.oki.com/en/profile/history/ OKI and the Changing Times: Part 4: A wartime economy http://www.oki.com/en/130column/04.html " . . . At the request of the army and the navy, OKI set out to produce radio and sonar devices . . . " " . . . In 1936, the Naval Technical Research Institute, which expressed interest in OKI's research on underwater ultrasonic telecommunication, asked the company to produce an underwater sound locator for submarine detection. . . ."
Magnifying glass with horizontal [indicator] Manufactured: January, 1945 Manufacturer #: indecipherable Ordered from the Navy for manufacturer to be made Belonged to: Navy Equipment Department
Small transformer Black small; Displays "+ -" voltage
Sextant - Compass. Belonged to: Naval Dockyard, Navigation Experimental January 1944 Series #: 22 Weight: 840 kilograms In custom wooden box. Wooden box dimensions: 20 cm. W x 20 cm. D x 11 cm. H
Tiger Calculator No 36782 appears on upper left carriage Tiger Logo stamped on cylinder Words: Add, Multiplication, Subtraction, Division See: The History of Japanese Calculators: 4.1 Tiger Calculating Machine http://www.xnumber.com/xnumber/japanese_calculators.htm Tiger Calculating Machine Co. http://retrocalculators.com/tiger.htm + Tiger Mechanical Calculating Machine Serial Numbers http://www.rechenmaschinen-illustrated.com/pictures_tiger.htm
Serial number Year 34001-38000 1942
http://www.rechenmaschinen-illustrated.com/Tiger%20Kihon.htm 1940
Portable Direct Current Voltmeter Manufacturer Yokogawa Electric Metal with plastic knobs. FYI: Yokogawa Portable Analog Instruments http://tmi.yokogawa.com/products/portable-and-bench-instruments/portable-analog-instruments/
Wooden stick used for testing water salinity.
Rifle and attached cloth tag Repair tag written in kanji characters Cloth: "125 Squad Gun handle is broken"
Commemorative Box with Sake cup -- Celebrating the Invasion of Nanking, China.
Box: Cover top displays 2 flags: Japanese Army and Navy; "1st telegraph corps"
Cup: Inside cup contains illustration map of Nanking, China region highlighted in yellow indicating Japanese stronghold. The word, "Triumph," written in Kanji characters, appears Outside cup: series of 5 fans with a word written in each fan: faith, bravery, loyalty, civility and humble
Item 11 Content List of items and # each piece Arabic numbers Contents related to electric Identified following: 4 electric fuse ; cord 1 meter plastic label
Item 12 Cloth Identity Label: Blood Type A Service: Navy Identifies rank: first class seaman Identifies position: office clerk Stitched to clothing to provide info in medical emergencies Cloth on cardboard backing.
Item 13 Battery Attached to Battery – How to Use Belonged to: Naval Dockyard For an office and not an individual
Item 14 Torn out page – last page of book Biographical info on author: University, Teacher at Middle School, 1939 Army, Present Teaching Army School
Item 15 Currency – different denominations Military Currency "Military payment certificate"
Item 16 Envelope and insert Belonged to: Naval Experimental Department, Naval Dockyard City: Yokosuka "Please send if you find" Who finds this please send back Information on naval base Yokosuka Naval District. Wikipedia. " . . The location of Yokosuka at the entrance to strategic Tokyo Bay " http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yokosuka_Naval_District ". . . 1 balloon corps. . . 10 balloons . . ." Chapter: "Army Navy and Aviation: 2. Naval Aviation."The Japan Year Book Complete Cyclopaedia of General Information and Statistics on Japan and Japanese Territories for the Year 1929. By Y. Takenobu. Tokyo : Japan year book office, 1929, p. 194-195. http://books.google.com/books?id=CJFKAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA195&lpg=PA195&dq=%22naval+balloons%22+japanese+yokosuka&source=bl&ots=4wBDgOOf7A&sig=7PCTw7Zt_JX4rlVfu2oC_F1Y2Xg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=iGdPUYPFDYvk4AOnuIBY&ved=0CGkQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=%22naval%20balloons%22%20japanese%20yokosuka&f=false "Major General James Doolittle's raid on Tokyo. Yokosuka Japan Naval base taken from B-25, April 18, 1942. Image and caption: Pacific Air Forces." [photo] http://www.commandposts.com/2012/04/doolittle-raid-reading-and-viewing-list/major-general-james-doolittle%E2%80%99s-raid-on-tokyo-yokosuka-japan-naval-base-taken-from-b-25-april-18-1942/
Item 17 Map: China: with cities identified
Item 18 World Map: note—Japan is centered on page ; Countries identified, e.g. US, UK, and identified # of ships, in red ink stamped, next to each country. January 1939
Item 19 Pamphlet. "How to Use" manual for Ammeter Most likely belongs to Item 8 Equipment Refers to Circuit, Current, Resistance and Voltage Manufacturer: Shimadzu Shimadzu: "1917 (Taisho 6) Onwards" : " . . . In 1933, Shimadzu began to manufacture Japan's first industrial X-ray device (the WELTES), which opened the way to non-destructive testing in Japan. . . . http://www.shimadzu.com/visionary/history/1917.html
Item 20 Postcard with painted scenic Japanese landscape Dated: 1933 July 25. Sent from Japan to Korea Most likely written in child's hand to his/her Uncle in Korea. Personal greetings Mentions Pusan Korea Parent writes along border on front of postcard: "trip to Ōtsu, Shiga prefecture it is very hot, take care, wish all health & happiness" " . . The treaty was proclaimed to the public (and became effective) on August 29, 1910, officially starting the period of Japanese rule in Korea. . . ." Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan-Korea_Annexation_Treaty " . . . is the capital city of Shiga Prefecture, Japan . . . main port of Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. . . . " Ōtsu, Shiga. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Ctsu,_Shiga