James W. George papers

Collection — Container: Single Folder Collections - 2011 Box 1 (11.0001-11.0095), Folder: 11.0029 - Folder 1

Identifier: 11.0029

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection relates to James W. George who served as a Chief Master Sergeant in the 9th U.S Army Air Force. Wilmot R. George was James George's brother and also served in the European Theater. He served as a Tech Sergeant and received a Silver Star. This collection contains a one-page handwritten summary of James George's military service and ten-page memoir of his brother Wilmont's service during the Second World War.

Dates

created: 1940-1970
Other: Majority of material found in 1944
Other: Date acquired: 03/30/2011

Creator

George, James W. (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

James W. George was raised in Williston, Florida. He volunteered for the U.S. Army in 1940. James W. George learned mechanics from his father and was assigned to the ground crew, serving during the invasion of North Africa in 1943. He followed the air bases into Sicily, Italy, and later England. He discusses in his manuscript the seriousness of ground fire. After the War, James George graduated from the University of Florida in 1950. He re-entered the Air Force in 1951 and worked as an evaluator with an instructional team that visited air bases all over the U.S. He also served a couple of years at the Pentagon on special duty. During his career, he received 12 medals, a Bronze Star, and a special citation for meritorious service. Wilmont George served in the European Theater. He served as a Tech Sergeant and received a Silver Star. He trained at Camp Blanding, Florida, Fort McClelland, Alabama, and Mississippi State College in the Army Specialized Training Program. After this, he was sent to North Ireland, and then Liverpool, England. During the attack of 6 June 1944, Wilmot George was in Chester, England. Afterward, he was sent to Normandy. On Christmas 1944, he went to Bastogne with the 4th Armored Division to relieve the 101st Airborne Division which had been trapped since the German Ardenne Blitzkrieg had begun. He also tells of George Patton's son-in-law being held at a prison camp near the Saale River and how Col. John Waters was wounded during his rescue.