William A. Kummerer papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 07.0135

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection relates to Staff Sergeant William A. Kummerer who served with the 463rd Field Artillery Battalion, 101st Airborne Division during World War II. The majority of this collection concerns the reunions of the 101st Airborne, 463rd Field Artillery Battalion, on the creation of the division shoulder patch.

Included in the collection are many reunion photographs, photographs of the patch, Mr. Kummerer's decorations, and several captured German insignias. There are several newsletters or magazine articles that describe not only the unit's history but its efforts against the German offensive at Bastogne in December 1944. The collection further contains files and documents of the 101st Airborne Division's 463rd Artillery Battalion's reunion organization, their adoption of their "Bugs Bunny" Battalion patch, memorials in Bastogne, and photographs from the war and postwar reunions. Also, there are many reunion newsletters of the unit and its members in the 1980s. There are also numerous personal narratives and accounts of the 463rd Battalion's combat service in Europe (ETO). The collection also includes military documents and certificates for William A. Kummerer, and also his father, William A. Kummerer, who fought in the Spanish-American War (Company "G", 9th New York Volunteer Infantry).

Dates

Created: 1941-1987
Other: Majority of material found in 1944
Other: Date acquired: 11/20/2007

Creator

Kummerer, William A. (Family)

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

William A. Kummerer, a lifetime resident of New Rochelle, N.Y. who was born on November 21, 1919, served as Staff Sergeant during World War II in the 463rd Parachute Field Artillery Battalion - 101st Airborne - seeing action in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, Belgium (the Battle of the Bulge), and Germany. He was honorably discharged from the Army on February 6, 1946. Kummerer passed away on February 17, 2006.