Category: Military Records

The Beginnings of the United States Army’s Japanese Language Training: From the Presidio of San Francisco to Camp Savage, Minnesota 1941-1942

by ddancis, posted in Asian Pacific American Heritage, Military Records, World War II

Today’s post is written by Dr. Greg Bradsher, Senior Archivist at the National Archives at College Park The United States Army, realizing the need for Japanese language specialists, in 1908, began a language program in Tokyo, with four officers, including George V. Strong. When they completed their program in 1911, a new group began that … Continue reading The Beginnings of the United States Army’s Japanese Language Training: From the Presidio of San Francisco to Camp Savage, Minnesota 1941-1942

So, what did the U.S. Army do with the Prussian Regimental Flags found at Bernterode?

by ddancis, posted in Military Records, Monuments Men, World War II

Today’s post is written by Dr. Greg Bradsher, Senior Archivist at the National Archives at College Park During 2013 I published in Prologue an article about the disposition of the caskets of Field Marshal and Weimar President Paul von Hindenburg and of his wife, Frederick the Great, and Frederich Wilhelm I, that had been recovered … Continue reading So, what did the U.S. Army do with the Prussian Regimental Flags found at Bernterode?

The Sinking of the Japanese Submarine I-1 off of Guadalcanal and the Recovery of its Secret Documents

by ncurrie, posted in Military Records, Navy, Marines, & Coast Guard, WWII Pacific

Today’s post is written by Dr. Greg Bradsher, Senior Archivist at the National Archives at College Park Just a little over 75 years ago, in early August 1942, American forces landed on Guadalcanal with the mission of pushing the Japanese forces off the island.  By the end of December, the Imperial General Headquarters (IGH) decided … Continue reading The Sinking of the Japanese Submarine I-1 off of Guadalcanal and the Recovery of its Secret Documents

A Most Remarkable Accomplishment: Changing the Name of a NATO Working Group

by ddancis, posted in Army, State and Foreign Affairs

Today’s post is written by Dr. Greg Bradsher, Senior Archivist at the National Archives at College Park. In late 1962, Lt. Col. John TeSelle, U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps, then assigned to the United States Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), made a suggestion that the name of a NATO Working Group, … Continue reading A Most Remarkable Accomplishment: Changing the Name of a NATO Working Group

The Office of Strategic Services and the SIMCOL Operation in Italy October 1943

by ncurrie, posted in Military Records, World War II

Today’s post is written by Dr. Greg Bradsher, Senior Archivist at the National Archives at College Park. At the time of the Italian Armistice on September 8, 1943, there were almost 80,000 Allied prisoners of war in Italian prisoner of war camps.[1]  When the Allied prisoners of war learned of the Armistice, most were in … Continue reading The Office of Strategic Services and the SIMCOL Operation in Italy October 1943

Stories of American Escapees from Prisoner of War Camp 59, Servigliano, Part II

by ncurrie, posted in Military Records, World War II

Today’s post is written by Dr. Greg Bradsher, Senior Archivist at the National Archives at College Park. While many American escapees returned to Allied lines in 1943, once having escaped from Camp 59, as was seen in Part I, many were not able to return until 1944. These are some of their stories. Left, Camp … Continue reading Stories of American Escapees from Prisoner of War Camp 59, Servigliano, Part II

Stories of American Escapees from Prisoner of War Camp 59, Servigliano, Italy – Part I

by ncurrie, posted in Military Records, World War II

Today’s post is written by Dr. Greg Bradsher, Senior Archivist at the National Archives at College Park. At the time of the Italian Armistice on September 8, 1943, there were almost 80,000 Allied prisoners of war in Italian camps.  Among these prisoners of war were 1,310 Americans; many were soldiers captured in North Africa and … Continue reading Stories of American Escapees from Prisoner of War Camp 59, Servigliano, Italy – Part I

“Let’s Make a Movie:” The Allied Screening Commission (Italy) and the documentary Onore al Merito (To Whom Honor is Due), 1946

by ncurrie, posted in Hollywood and Film, Military Records, World War II

Today’s post is written by Dr. Greg Bradsher, Senior Archivist at the National Archives at College Park. During World War II, over 100,000 Italians helped at least 10,000 Allied escapees and evaders, by providing material and financial assistance to them in their efforts in avoiding being seized by the Germans and Fascists, as well as … Continue reading “Let’s Make a Movie:” The Allied Screening Commission (Italy) and the documentary Onore al Merito (To Whom Honor is Due), 1946

The Dunkirk Story, May-June 1940, and A French Perspective

by ncurrie, posted in Military Records, World War II

Today’s post is written by Dr. Greg Bradsher, Senior Archivist at the National Archives at College Park. During early May 1940, British, French, Dutch, and Belgian forces were fighting to stem the German advances, which had begun May 10, into France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. During May 11, much of the Dutch Army was put … Continue reading The Dunkirk Story, May-June 1940, and A French Perspective

“See Something, Say Something”: UFO Reporting Requirements, Office of Military Government for Bavaria, Germany May 1948

by ncurrie, posted in Military Records

Today’s post is written by Dr. Greg Bradsher and Dr. Sylvia Naylor, Archivists at the National Archives at College Park. In May 1948 the Office of Military Government for Bavaria, Germany, issued instructions for reporting sightings of “flying discs.”  These instructions were issued as a result of requirements from higher headquarters in Germany and in … Continue reading “See Something, Say Something”: UFO Reporting Requirements, Office of Military Government for Bavaria, Germany May 1948