Philip Sperling collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 17.0011

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection relates to Staff Sergeant Philip Sperling who served with Headquarters Detachment, 325th Medical Battalion, which was assigned to the 100th Infantry Division during World War II. The collections primarily contain letters. Also included in the collection is currency, postcards, newspaper clippings, photographs, artifacts, and souvenirs. The collection also includes his government correspondence before and after his discharge from the Army. This collection focuses on the events which occurred in the middle to later years of the war. A few select letters contain references to Operation Overlord and one includes an official Army announcement of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The remainder of the letters make references to the events that occurred in Southern France in 1944 and the events in Europe through the end of the war. Some of these Battles include Operation Nordwind and the Bitche Offensive. Many of these letters focus on his training in the US, but he also sends letters from overseas Europe; specifically France and Germany.

Dates

1942-1946
Other: Date acquired: 2017-06-29
Other: Date accessioned: 2017-07-11

Creator

Sperling, Philip (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical or Historical Information

Philip Sperling was born June 15, 1911, in New York City, NY. Sperling received his major in English Studies at the City College of New York, NY. He worked in New York City as a purchasing agent for A.L. Cahn and Sons, Inc. from 1935 to 1942. On February 16, 1944, Philip married his long-time fiance, Sylvia Rudder. Sperling entered his military service on June 6, 1942, and began his training at Fort Dix, NJ. Sperling spent some time at Fort George G. Meade and was eventually transferred to Fort Jackson, SC in October of 1942. In 1943, he spent 8 weeks at Fort Jackson training to be a personnel clerk. On December 6, 1943, he arrived in Lebanon, TN for more training. While in Fort Bragg, TN, Sperling trained for conditioning against "jungle warfare" in the event of a Japanese attack. On July 7th, he began specialized training against wartime gases. This includes tear gas, chlorine gas, mustard gas, and the like. On July 7, 1944, he began rifle training with the M1 Garand. On October 6, 1944, the 100th Infantry Division was shipped to Southern France, specifically Bitche, France. He spent his service in Eislingen, Bad Cannstatt, and other areas of Europe. He left the ETO (European Theater of Operations) for the US January 7, 1946, and arrived Jan. 26, 1946. Philip Sperling passed away on January 9, 1997, in New York, New York.

Extent

3.5 Linear Feet (7 half boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement Note

Creator

Custodial History

This collection was donated by Amy R. Sperling (daughter of Philip Sperling). The collection was acquired by the Insitute on World War II and the Human Experience on June 29, 2017.

Custodial History

Transferred from the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience to FSU Libraries Special Collections & Archives in July 2022.

Source of Acquisition

Amy R. Sperling (Daughter of Philip Sperling)

Method of Acquisition

Donation

Related Materials

Link to a copy of "Medics of the Century: The History of the 325th Medical Battalion" http://marshallfoundation.org/100th-infantry/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2014/06/Medics_of_the_Century_The_History_of_the_325th_Medical_Battalion.pdf *Note: Pages 16 - 22, titled "Combat Operations," were written by Philip Sperling.

Subjects

Army Specialized Training Program (U.S.)
Bad Cannstatt (Stuttgart, Germany) Subject Source: Lcnaf
Bitche (France) Subject Source: Lcnaf
Eislingen (Germany) Subject Source: Lcnaf
Fort Bragg (N.C.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Fort Dix (N.J.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Fort George G. Meade (Md.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Garand rifle Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Hiroshima-shi (Japan)--History--Bombardment, 1945 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Mustard gas Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Nagasaki-shi (Japan)--History--Bombardment, 1945 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
New York (N.Y.) Subject Source: Lcnaf
New York (State) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Operation Nordwind, 1944-1945 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Operation Overlord Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Salzburg (Austria) Subject Source: Lcnaf
Southampton (England) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
U.S. Army Training Center (Fort Jackson, S.C.)
United States. Army. European Theater of Operations
United States. Army. Infantry Division, 100th
World War, 1939-1945--England--London Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--France Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Germany Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Jungle warfare Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Medical care Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings