Silver Star

Scope and Contents

This collection relates to Technician Fifth Grade Rowland G. Bush, who served as a medical corpsman with the 104th Infantry Division, and was killed in action on October 25, 1944. The collection contains his Purple Heart and Silver Star, as well as their accompanying certificates, a Western Union telegram notifying his mother of his death, condolence letters, correspondence requesting his body be moved from Belgium to California, photographs of Rowland and his family, and the 48-star flag from his burial service.

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.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains an unpublished biography of Joseph Peters entitled "An Ordinary Hero." Peters served as a medical doctor in the Philippines during World War II and retired a Colonel. The collection also includes a letter about his 1952 retirement and a letter to his daughter about an injury stating that the initial injury was sustained upon capture by the Japanese in 1942.

Scope and Contents

The Peter R. Durland papers illustrate Captain Peter R. Durland's experiences during his time as a member of the 70th Infantry Division and 29th Infantry Division of the United States Army from 1943-1946. From 1945-1946, Durland served as Major General Leroy Watson's aide, completing various tasks for the General and accompanying him to the Nuremberg Trials. The collection includes an oral history interview transcript, photographs, and papers related to the war crime trials.

Scope and Contents

This collection relates to Russell Homer Johnson who served as Operations Officer with 1st Battalion, 242nd Infantry Regiment of the 42nd "Rainbow" Infantry Division during and after World War II and was discharged with the rank of Major. This collection contains various ephemera containing German money, "Rainbow Division" unit patch, memorabilia, a sketch of Russell, Western Union telegram, and official letters, family correspondence, military documents, photocopies of a scrapbook, and original photographs. Photographs include two of Johnson with Medal of Honor recipient Vito R. Bertoldo, scenes from the aftermath of the Battle of Hatten France, and the occupation of Austria.

Scope and Contents

This collection relates to Viva Simmons and husband Staff Sergeant Roy Samuel Simmons, 152nd Infantry Regiment, 38th Infantry Division who was killed in action on May 16, 1945 in Luzon, Philippines. This collection contains letters, documents, photographs, ephemera, artifacts, name engraved Silver Star Medal, and name engraved Purple Heart Medal related to U.S. Army Infantry service of Roy S. Simmons and homefront wife Viva Simmons.

Scope and Contents The collection of Carlton K. Smith, who served with the 185th Field Artillery during World War II, contains an oral history transcript of an interview provided by the Reichelt Program for Oral History.  This collection also contains a World War II history magazine, correspondence with French General Pierre Denis, summaries of unit actions, personal letters to family, newspaper clippings, unit newsletters, a binder with photocopies of newspaper articles, and one copy of Liberty's Victorious Conflict: A Photographic History of the World War I. In the oral history interview, Smith discusses the combat situations in which he was involved including the...

Scope and Contents

This collection relates to Sergeant Tillman Joe Rutledge, who served in the 31st Infantry Regiment of the United States Army in the Far East's Philippine Division. After the fall of Bataan in April 1942, he was captured as a prisoner of war until 1945. This collection consists of one box of personal papers, including the original diary he kept during his internment and photocopies. It also contains an original draft and signed copy of his book My Japanese POW Diary Story; a 36-page oral history transcript; letters to and from his family; newspaper clippings; various government documents; and photographs.

Content Description

This collection relates to Alan and Rita Wold. Alan served as a Staff Sergeant with Company F, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division in the European Theater during World War II. He received the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Silver Star Medal. Rita Wold attended high school in Cleveland, Ohio during the war. The collection contains photographs, military documents, personal documents, marriage papers, and medals.