John A. Courtney, 2nd Division, 1st Battalion World War II Collection, 1938-2004, MS 3116

 

Finding Aid to the John A. Courtney, 2nd Division, 1st Battalion World War II Collection, MS 3116

H. Furlong Balwin Library, Maryland Historical Society

 

 

Collection Summary

 

Title

John A. Courtney, 2nd Division, 1st Battalion, World War II Collection

Creator

USNR John A. Courtney

Call number

MS 3116

Inclusive dates

1938-2004

Bulk dates

1940-1945, 1987-2004

Extent

3 boxes, 31 folders

Abstract

A collection of personal histories, ephemera, and photographs of the members of the 2nd Division, 1st Battalion, 5th Naval District, U.S. Naval Reserve, who served in the Panama and the Pacific theater of World War II.

 

Administrative Summary

 

Repository

H. Furlong Baldwin Library

Maryland Historical Society

201 W. Monument St.

Baltimore, MD 21218

www.mdhs.org

special_collections@mdhs.org

Access restrictions

No restrictions.

Use restrictions

Permission to quote must be received in writing from the Special Collections Librarian.

Provenance

Gift of USNR John A. Courtney Sr.; Fall 2012

Accession number

 

Processing note

The collection was processed and finding aid created in the winter of 2012 by Ben Koshland.

 

Historical Note

 

 

In 1937, Governor Nice reinstated the Maryland Naval Militia via executive order in an act of mobilization against the growing commotion in Europe and Asia. With this executive order, the unit would also function as a part of the National Guard under the US Naval Reserve with the title of 2nd Division, 1st Battalion, 5th Naval District. Following three years of training in which these Marylanders won multiple competitive honors, the Navy called the 2nd Div. into active duty.

 

On October 18, 1940, the division set out for the Panama Canal Zone where they along with other reserve units would police the highly trafficked waters. Over the next five years, the 2nd Div. men would see action all over the Pacific Theatre from Panama to the East Indies to the Japanese surrender at Tokyo Bay.

 

Following their discharge the 2nd Div. men established an annual reunion organized each year by Ensign John A. Courtney. Over the years William Evans and Courtney would compile and edit the personal histories of their fellow servicemen to create a complete history of the 2nd Division’s involvement in WWII.   

 

 

Scope and Content

 

 

This collection consists of 5 series based upon the organization of the donor and chronology. Series I: Personal Naval Histories contains written histories of the men who served in the Navy’s 2nd Division, 1st Battalion, 5th District during WWII collected by Ensign John A. Courtney and Lt. Cdr. William W. Evans (1945 - 1997). These are generally short biographies arranged alphabetically with histories of ships associated with the 2nd division interlaced. Sailors that did not return Courtney and Evans’ questionnaire are represented by their incomplete forms. This series also contains a history of the Division itself, researched and written by a collection of authors. Series II: Reunion Papers contains lists of attending rosters, mailers, envelopes, and letters regarding the 2nd Division’s annual reunion in Maryland. The series also contains a list of the ships 2nd Div. sailors served upon (1986 - 2004). This series is arranged in the order received from Mr. Courtney. Series III: Subject Files consists of newspaper clippings, ephemera, and naval instruction manuals (1940-1965). This series was rearranged first by likeness of medium type and second by date. Series IV: Photographs is a collection of photos of the 2nd Division during wartime and at their reunion parties (1940-2001). This section was arranged by content likeness and date. Series V: Audio Visual is a home VHS tape made of a 2nd Div. reunion (1993).

 

 

Series I: Personal Naval Histories

            Box I, Folders I – XIV

 

Series II: Reunion Papers

            Box II, Folders I – II

 

Series III: Subject Files

            Box II, Folders III – X

 

Series IV: Photographs

            Box III, Folders I – VI

 

Series V: Audio Visual

            Box III

 

Container List

 

Contents

Span Dates

Box

Folder

Series I: Personal Naval Histories

 

 

 

Dedication, Questionnaires, Naval Request Forms, Sailor Roster, Ship Roster, Photos

No Date

1

1

Ephemera, Personal Histories Capt. Gardner - Bak

1940

1

2

Personal Histories Bar – D

1940

1

3

Personal Histories E – He

1940

1

4

Personal Histories Ho – Kr

1940

1

5

Personal Histories L – Mor

1940

1

6

Personal Histories Mou – Sa

1940

1

7

Personal Histories Sc – Tr

1940

1

8

Personal Histories Ty – Z, Ship Roster, Photos

1940

1

9

Sailor Roster, 2nd Division Early History

1940

1

10

2nd Division WWII History Pt. I

1940

1

11

2nd Division WWII History Pt. II

1940

1

12

2nd Division WWII History Pt. III, Ephemera

1940

1

13

2nd Division WWII History Pt. IV

1940

1

14

 

 

 

 

Series II: Reunion Papers

 

 

 

Reunion Papers

198? - 2004

2

1

Reunion Papers, Letters,

1995

2

2

 

 

 

 

Series III: Subject Files

 

 

 

Newspaper Clippings [1940 – 1965]

1940 – 1965

2

3

Newspaper Clippings [undated] I

No Date

2

4

Newspaper Clippings [undated] II

No Date

2

5

Ephemera [1940 – 1950]

1940 – 1950

2

6

Naval Cook’s Manual

1938 – 1939

2

7

Seaman Instructional Manual

1940

2

8

Petty Officer Manual

1942

2

9

Raider Identification Booklet

1942

2

10

 

 

 

 

Series IV: Photographs

 

 

 

Miscellaneous War Photos Undated

No Date

3

1

War Photos, Panama Photos

1940-1955, 1983

3

2

Reunion Photos Undated  I

No Dated

3

3

Reunion Photos Undated II

No Date

3

4

Reunion Photos 1970 – 2001

1970 – 2001

3

5

Large Photos

1956 – 1957 

3

6

Oversized Photos Pacific Theatre Photos

1941 – 1946

 

Removed to Oversized Holdings

Oversized Photos A. Aubrey Bodine

1970

 

Removed to Oversized Holdings

 

 

 

 

Series V: Audio Visual

 

 

 

1993 Reunion Home Video

1993

3

No Folder

 

 

 

Index of Folders

 

Note: The subjects within each folder are arranged according to J.A. Courtney’s original collection. (n/h) stands for no history as these men did not complete Courtney’s questionnaire.

 

Name, Ship, Article Title

Box/Folder Location

 

 

Gardner, Captain Robert “Bob” Neal

1.2

Evans, William Westbrook, Sr.

1.2

Francis, Duncan F.

1.2

Freer, Jay D.

1.2

Joerg, Robert Conrad, III

1.2

Shoaf, William W. (n/h)

1.2

Adcock, Henry T. (n/h)

1.2

Ahern, John Fancis

1.2

Aikenhead, James Malcolm

1.2

Akehurst, George Evrie

1.2

Amelang, Robert Lee

1.2

Amos, David Arthur

1.2

Baker, George Frank

1.2

 

 

S.S. Conte Biancamano

1.2

 

 

Baker, William Everett

1.2

Barnes, E. Howard, Jr.

1.3

Bauman, Frank Theodore

1.3

Beacham, Frederick Broughton

1.3

Beacham, Robert Sawyer (n/h)

1.3

Bechtel, Jacob Hortter, III

1.3

Bessent, Burnis Duard

1.3

Benicewicz, Casimir E. (n/h)

1.3

Blanchard, Ellis Kenard

1.3

Bracken, Eugene Eason

1.3

Bracken, Robert Emmet

1.3

Brown, Martin Joseph (n/h)

1.3

Button, Frank Toy

1.3

Callahan, James Augur

1.3

Campbell, Robert Vernon (n/h)

1.3

Chambliss, Sizer

1.3

Courtney, John A.

1.3

Cucina, Frank Eddie (n/h)

1.3

Curle, William Taylor (n/h)

1.3

Cummings, Francis “Frank”

1.3

 

 

U.S.S. Sturtevant, DD-240

1.3

Article on U.S.S. Sturtevant by Sheldon Kinney

1.3

 

 

Davies, William Richard (n/h)

1.3

Davis, William Leonard (n/h)

1.3

Delcher, Charles M.

1.3

Dugdale, William Morris (n/h)

1.3

Dulaney, Walter Guy, Jr. (n/h)

1.3

Durham, Robert Nelson (n/h)

1.3

Elliot, Robert Jacobi, Sr.

1.4

Finley, Robert Carroll

1.4

Fitch, James Jacob

1.4

Floyd, Eugene William

1.4

Fossler, Charles L. (n/h)

1.4

Fossler, Jerome P. (n/h)

1.4

Forquer, Charles Joseph

1.4

Franke, Joseph Lehnan (n/h)

1.4

Gerwig, John Raymond, Jr.

1.4

Gray, Biscoe L., Jr. (n/h)

1.4

Grelli, Victor Vincent (includes letter of recommendation)

1.4

Griffin, Frank Albert (n/h)

1.4

 

 

U.S.S. Biloxi

1.4

 

 

Gross, Frederick G., Jr. (n/h)

1.4

Gruss, Karl W., Jr.

1.4

Gunter, Donald J. (n/h)

1.4

Hankoff, Sydney David

1.4

Harroll, Charles Thomas

1.4

Heaver, Stephen G.

1.4

Hopkins, Henry Powell

1.5

Horan, Marion Robert

1.5

Hughes, Alfred S. (n/h)

1.5

Jacobs, Michael (n/h)

1.5

Kaiser, Frank S.

1.5

Kaiser, William “Bill” B.

1.5

Kay, Richard Blackinston (n/h)

1.5

Kerins, Edward A. (n/h)

1.5

Koenig, Albert A., Jr. (includes newspaper clipping)

1.5

Koenig, George Andrew (includes newspaper clipping)

1.5

Kothe, Raymond Hopkins

1.5

Kramer, Walter Roland

1.5

 

 

U.S.S. Marquette

1.5

 

 

Kroeger, William Robert

1.5

Lang, Albert L.

1.6

Lawton, Robert Lee (n/h)

1.6

Love, Thomas W. (n/h)

1.6

Luber, David Howard

1.6

McComas, Harry G.

1.6

McDowell, Robert LeRoy

1.6

McGovern, Edward A., Jr.

1.6

McKinney, Robert Lee

1.6

Malone, Everett Lionel

1.6

Major, Walter Muse

1.6

Martinet, Howard L. (n/h)

1.6

Meier, George Roland

1.6

Miller, William J.

1.6

Millman, Paul Leonard

1.6

Moore, Donald Albert

1.6

Moore, Eugene Bedford

1.6

Moore, George F. ‘Roxy”

1.6

Morris, Thomas Joseph, Jr.

1.6

 

 

U.S.S. Borie

1.6

 

 

Moulton, William G.

1.7

Moylan, David F. (n/h)

1.7

Mullen, James C. (n/h)

1.7

Neunsinger, John H. (n/h)

1.7

O’Hara, Edward W. (n/h)

1.7

O’Neill, Bernard Joseph (n/h)

1.7

O’Neill, George Joseph

1.7

Passapae, Charles O. (n/h)

1.7

Patterson, James March

1.7

Patterson, Paul “Jock” Jarvis

1.7

Pine, Jonathan Woodworth

1.7

Pipitone, Vito Russ

1.7

Ponder, William McDowell

1.7

Poole, Roland Charles

1.7

Prior, Carl Werner, Jr.

1.7

Pryce, Frederick B. (n/h)

1.7

Rafferty, Richard J. (n/h)

1.7

Reid, Clayton A. (n/h)

1.7

Reid, Harold Clayton, Jr.

1.7

Reis, John William

1.7

Riefner, Warren Louis

1.7

Rollman, Richard W. (n/h)

1.7

Rosenthal, Paul, Jr. (n/h)

1.7

Rustig, John B.

1.7

Saunders, Albert T.

1.7

Schertle, Charles William

1.8

Schlickenmaier, Charles Louis

1.8

Schlosser, Frank, Jr.

1.8

Schuster, Arthur George

1.8

Schuster, John G.

1.8

 

 

U.S.S. Cushing

1.8

 

 

Schwartz, Milton J. (n/h)

1.8

Sellers, L.M. (n/h)

1.8

Shea, John A. (n/h)

1.8

Sherin, James W.

1.8

Shure, John Ferree

1.8

Siegrist, Robert H. (n/h)

1.8

Smith, Edward Eugene

1.8

Sommerwerck, Robert William

1.8

Spicer, Chester M. (n/h)

1.8

Spicer, William A. (n/h)

1.8

Stern, Theodore Sanders

1.8

Steinfelt, Robert Lester

1.8

Swope, Carey B.

1.8

Taylor, Ward J. (n/h)

1.8

Tickner, Charles H., Jr. (n/h)

1.8

Tiemeyer, Henry C., Jr. (n/h)

1.8

Trate, Robert J.

1.8

Travers, Irving E. (n/h)

1.8

Trumpler, Raymond L.

1.8

Tydings, Ernest W. (n/h)

1.9

Tydings, Walter J. (n/h)

1.9

Underwood, John W. (n/h)

1.9

Wajbel, Paul Joseph

1.9

 

 

U.S.S. Wisconsin

1.9

 

 

Watson, Paul M. (n/h)

1.9

Watts, John M. (n/h)

1.9

Weber, Joseph E. (n/h)

1.9

Wheeley, Charles Robert, Sr.

1.9

Whitehurst, Francis D. (n/h)

1.9

Williss, John Thomas (includes news clipping)

1.9

Wilson, R.B.

1.9

Wright, Fred

1.9

Zeithen, Frederick Adolph, Jr.

1.9

 

 

U.S.S. Maryland

1.9

Navy Synonyms

1.9

Navy Stories (hand written)

1.9

Roster of Ships (2nd Division men served on)

1.9

Reunion Photos (26 photos)

1.9

Sailor Roster

1.10

Early History of 2nd Division of Baltimore, MD. USNR

1.10

The Maryland Naval Militia, 1891-1940 by Merle T. Cole

1.10

Early Marine History of Maryland

1.10

2nd Division, USNR Part of WWII in the Pacific

1.11

Naval Ship Photos (5 photos)

1.11

The 2nd Division of Baltimore “Don’t Ask Us, Tell Us”

1.12

U.S.S. Borie’s Last Battle by John Hersey

1.12

Enlistment Days by James J. Fahey

1.12

Miscellaneous Copies

1.13

The Maryland Naval Militia 1891 - 1940 Copy

1.14