Otto Ferdinand LevenLevenOtto FerdinandILWorld War, 1914-1918ArmyCompany E, 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th DivisionSergeantCamp Travis, Texas; Camp Mills, Long Island, New York; England; FranceNoVeteran"Believe me I sure would like to have a great big talk with you all for I’ve certainly got lots to tell." Last letter from Otto Leven, 9/27/1918Otto Leven served in the army during World War I. He was of hearty German stock (his parents immigrated to America around 1886) and spent most of his
twenty-three civilian years on his family's farms in Kay County and Newkirk, Oklahoma. Drafted in October 1917, he was assigned to the 90th Infantry Division and served in the 357th Regiment. Leven apparently wrote home
copiously, his surviving letters projecting earnestness charm, and enthusiasm. Leven was mortally wounded while on patrol on September 29, 1918 and died
two days later. His last letters home offer the reader an irony created by the contrast between Leven's generally cheery prose and the harshness of war. The
irony is further defined by Leven's description of a dream he has where he envisions his mother and sister laying out his clothes.Otto Leven during World War I [ca. 1917]World War I Remembered: Correspondence and PhotographsPhotocopied image of Otto Leven in uniformca. 1917Photocopied image of Otto Leven and familyFull length studio portrait of Otto Leven in uniformca. 1917Letter from Camp Travis, TX [11/17/1917]Letter from Camp Travis, TX [11/17/1917]Letter from Camp Travis, TX [11/29/1917]Letter from Camp Travis, TX [11/29/1917]Letter from Camp Travis, TX [05/22/1918]Letter from Camp Travis, TX [05/22/1918]Letter probably from Camp Mills, NY [06/15/1918]Letter probably from Camp Mills, NY [06/15/1918]Letter from Camp Mills, NY [07/03/1918]Letter from Camp Mills, NY [07/03/1918]Letter "Somewhere France" [07/10/1918]Letter "Somewhere France" [07/10/1918]Letter "Somewhere France" [07/21/1918]Letter "Somewhere France" [07/21/1918]Letter from France [08/03/1918]Letter from France [08/03/1918]Letter from France [08/10/1918]Letter from France [08/10/1918]Letter from France [08/15/1918]Letter from France [08/15/1918]Letter from France [08/26/1918]Letter from France [08/26/1918]Letter from France [08/27/1918]Letter from France [08/27/1918]Letter from France [09/07/1918]Letter from France [09/07/1918]Letter from France [09/23/1918]Letter from France [09/23/1918]Last letter from Otto Leven, written from France [09/27/1918]Last letter from Otto Leven, written from France [09/27/1918]Letter from Captain Neighbors, Leven's commanding officer, to his parents [11/20/1918]Letter from Captain Neighbors, Leven's commanding officer, to his parents [11/20/1918]Letter from Chaplain Magee to Otto Leven's parents [12/26/1918]Letter from Chaplain Magee to Otto Leven's parents [12/26/1918]Otto Leven's death certificate [02/03/1919]Otto Leven's death certificate [02/03/1919]Newspaper clipping reprinting Otto Leven's final letter of September 27, 1918Newspaper clipping reprinting Otto Leven's final letter of September 27, 1918Typed letter from Capt. Neighbors, Otto Leven's commanding officer [02/10/1919]Typed letter from Capt. Neighbors, Otto Leven's commanding officer [02/10/1919]Journal of Otto LevenJournal of Otto LevenTyped letter from Captain Neighbors, Otto Leven's commanding officer [02/10/1919]Typed letter from Captain Neighbors, Otto Leven's commanding officer [02/10/1919]Letter from the American Red Cross concerning Otto Leven's death in France [05/17/1919]Letter from the American Red Cross concerning Otto Leven's death in France [05/17/1919]Military orders shipping remains of Otto to Newkirk, Ok [04/26/1922]Military orders shipping remains of Otto to Newkirk, Ok [04/26/1922]Newkirk Doughboy "Uncle" Otto LevenNewkirk Doughboy "Uncle" Otto LevenLetter from France [07/27/1918]Letter from France [07/27/1918]Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congresshttps://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.49807/DLC-AFC2022-03-02loc.natlib.afc2001001.49807