World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--France--Alsace

Scope and Contents This collection pertains to Herman C. Giles (Combat Infantry Rifleman with the 103rd Infantry Division), who served in the European Theater. He served as a corpsman with a medical detachment to the 66th Infantry Division according to his typed "Background" statement. His discharge papers note that he was a rifleman in Company G, 411th Infantry Regiment, 103rd Infantry Division, serving in the European Theater, 1943-1945. Giles was stationed at Camp Blanding in 1943, Columbus, GA, for Air Corps training in 1943, and then Texas for infantry training. This collection contains a number of letters on Camp Blanding stationery. He describes Camp Blanding as "a mile and a half in the middle of...

Content Description

This collection includes three written biographical histories and a personal memoir transcript by Thelma McNeill of family members' and her own service during the Second World War. These narratives detail the lives of a captured Merchant Mariner during the Battle of the Atlantic, an injured tank officer during the Battle of France, a U.S. Naval officer, and a McNeill who served as a Red Cross volunteer in the Pacific Theater.

Content Description

This collection relates to Sergeant Jack Rifkin who served with the 324th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division, in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. Rifkin received the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantry Badge. The collection includes an oral history interview transcript, military documents, newspaper, photograph of Rifkin in uniform, artifacts, and a digital compact disc recording of the award ceremony for the posthumous presentation of the Bronze Star Medal to Rifkin's family.

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 Staff Sergeant Bascom Walden Sparkman who served with Service Company, 753rd Tank Battalion, in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Southern France, and Germany during World War II. The 753rd served as a detached unit assigned as armored support for both the 36th and 45th Infantry Divisions.  The collection includes letters sent from Sparkman to his wife Eleanor and his family.  Letters from his family to Sparkman are also included.  Furthermore, the collection includes documents, unit newspapers, diaries, postcards, personal items carried by Sparkman, and artifacts.

Scope and Contents

Leonard J. Travaline (also spelled Traveline in some records) served in the United States Army as an Artilleryman from 1941 to 1945. He served with the 166th Field Artillery Battalion and later the 938th Field Artillery Battallion in the Mediterranean and European Theaters. He served as a front line observer in Oran, North Africa, Italy, France, Germany, and Austria. The collection contains a transcribed daily journal that Travaline kept from the time of his landing in North Africa until the end of the war and his arrival back in the States in September 1945.