Jack Rifkin collection, 1889-1999, Date accessioned: 1999-10-07, bulk 1943-1946
Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Rifkin, Jack, 1922-2002
- Extent:
- 1 folders
- 2 items German Walther PP pistol with holster and German Fireman's dress dagger with leather frog and portepee.
- 1 boxes This box contains objects.
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Box and Folder number], Jack Rifkin collection, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. https://purl.lib.fsu.edu/fa/02-99-0626
Background
- Scope and content:
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.
- Biographical / historical:
Jack Rifkin was born on January 7, 1922 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents were Russian Immigrants who spoke Russian, Yiddish, and English in his household. He had three brothers William, Abraham, and Joseph, as well as one sister, Marion. His family subsisted below the poverty line for most his childhood. Jack was working at the Frankford Arsenal in Philadelphia manufacturing ammunition when he was drafted into the U.S. Army on October 10, 1942. He entered the Army Specialized Training Progam at the University of St. Louis from July 20, 1943 until March 16, 1944. He held various assignments within the Continental United States until he was shipped overseas to the European Theater of Operations with the 324th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division, as a Squad Leader (E-5, Sergeant) of a light weapons squad. He landed in France with the Division on September 15, 1944 and participated in campaigns in France and Germany, eventually earning five "battle stars," the Combat Infantry Badge, and a Bronze Star Medal.
- Custodial history:
Transferred from the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience to FSU Libraries Special Collections & Archives in July 2022.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
This collection is open to all researchers.
- Terms of access:
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.
- Preferred citation:
[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Box and Folder number], Jack Rifkin collection, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. https://purl.lib.fsu.edu/fa/02-99-0626
- Location of this collection:
-
116 Honors WayTallahasseeFL32306-2047USA
