Zeddie P. Barron, Jr. papers
Scope and Contents
This collection pertains to Technician Fifth Grade Zeddie P. Barron, Jr., who was stationed in Virginia, Kentucky, Ireland, Britain, France, Holland, Belgium, and Germany between 1943 and 1945. As a clerk in the 552nd Railhead Company, Barron was attached to the First Engineer Special Brigade. The collection contains personal letters sent from Barron to his wife throughout his period of service, military documents including a ration book, Barron's military record and entrance physical, as well as newspaper clippings, envelopes, and an unpublished poem by Eugene S. Masters reacting to the use of the atomic bomb.
Dates
- Majority of material found within 1943-1945
- 1939-1945
- Other: Date acquired: 2007-06-12
- Other: Date accessioned: 2020-04-22
Creator
- Barron, Virginia C. (Person)
- Barron, Zeddie P., Jr. (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
Zeddie P. Barron Jr. was born in Newnan, Georgia on November 4, 1911, and had a career as a store manager before joining the United States Army in 1943. He married Virginia Dixon Culbreath on January 14, 1940. Due to this administrative background, he was made an Induction Leader and entered technical school at Camp Lee. Barron was then moved to Fort Knox and entered the 552nd Railhead Company as a replacement. He was then shipped to Northern Ireland and made the crossing on the Monarch of Bermuda, or the "Showboat," so called because it carried the cast of Irving Berlin's "This is the Army." In May 1944 he was attached to the First Engineer Special Brigade Force U for the D-Day invasion and landed on D+3. He served in locations such as St. Marie du Mont, St. Mere Eglise, St. Lo, Soissons, Liege, Frankfurt, and Cassel.
It is likely that his company replaced the combat engineers from the First Engineer Special Brigade who were lost in Exercise Tiger, as he mentions that he had to replace trained combat engineers who were lost in an "attempted invasion or a dry run a few weeks before the invasion (D-Day)." Notably, Barron had no amphibious combat training prior to his involvement in the beach landing. By the time of his discharge, Barron had received what he called the "Sea-Horse" patch awarding his participation in an amphibious landing, the Croix de Guerre, Bronze Arrowhead, Good Conduct Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation, a Presidential Unit Citation, and 5 Battle Stars.
After the war, Barron, Jr. entered Clemson University then returned to Rome, GA after graduating. He entered banking and was elected to the Board of Directors for the Citizens Federal Savings and Loan in 1960. He was named Director Emeritus of Citizens First Bank in 1992. Barron, Jr. passed away on April 30, 1993, in Rome, GA.
His letters describe his combat experiences, particularly involving German V-1 ("Buzz") Bombs, as well as his interactions with Irish, French, Belgian, and German civilians and prisoners of war. He also includes an opinion on African-American servicemen, the points system, and the use of the atomic bomb.
Extent
1.5 Linear Feet (1 half box, 1 full box)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement Note
Barron's letters are arranged chronologically and the other documents are arranged categorically.
Custodial History
This collection was donated by Thomas A. Barron, son of Zeddie P. Barron, Jr. The collection was acquired by the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience on June 12, 2007.
Custodial History
Transferred from the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience to FSU Libraries Special Collections & Archives in July 2022.
- Armagh (Northern Ireland : County) Subject Source: Lcnaf
- Atomic bomb in literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Atomic bomb--History--20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Black Market Subject Source: Local sources
- Fort Knox (Ky.) Subject Source: Lcnaf
- Fort Lee (Va.) Subject Source: Lcnaf
- Gillem, Alvan Cullom Jr.
- Luce, Clare Boothe, 1903-1987
- Racism Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- This is the Army (Production) Subject Source: Local sources
- United States. Army. Infantry, First Engineer Special Brigade
- United States. Army. Quartermaster, 552nd Railhead Company
- V-1 bomb Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- V-mail Subject Source: Lctgm
- World War, 1939-1945 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--African Americans Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Belgium Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Europe Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--France--Normandy Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--France--Normandy--Exercise Tiger Subject Source: Local sources
- World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Saar River Valley (France and Germany) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects--United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--Equipment and supplies Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--Prisoners and prisons, German Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--Prisoners and prisons, Italian Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--Religious aspects Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Zeddie P. Barron, Jr. papers
- Author
- Lee Morrison
- Date
- 07/21/2018
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the FSU Special Collections & Archives Repository
116 Honors Way
PO Box 3062047
Tallahassee FL 32306-2047 US
850-644-3271
lib-specialcollections@fsu.edu
