Gentges Family collection, 1937-2018, Date accessioned: 2018-05-07
Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Gentges, Charles R., 1918-2006
- Gentges, Florence Schwartz, 1914-2011
- Gentges, Mary Elizabeth, 1947-2017
- Extent:
- 8 Linear Feet 14-1/2 boxes, 1-full box
- 1 items flag box
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Box and Folder number], Gentges Family collection, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. http://purl.fcla.edu/fsu/WWII_18_0014
Background
- Scope and content:
This collection relates to Staff Sergeant Charles R. Gentges who served with the 34th Infantry Division in the North African and Italian campaigns during World War II. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal with two oak leaf clusters and the Bronze Star Medal. The collection also relates Charles R. Gentges' wife Florence, and daughter, Mary Elizabeth Gentges.
- Biographical / historical:
Charles R. Gentges was born on February 12, 1918, in Farmington, Missouri. Prior to his enlistment in April of 1941, he worked as a laundry foreman who enjoyed classical music and writing. At the age of 23 the Selective Service Act of September 1940 required him to enlist. By April 1941 he was training at Camp Claiborne in Louisiana where he became a rifleman and staff sergeant for the Infantry's 113th Regiment in the 34th Infantry Division nicknamed "Red Bull Division." From February 1942 to October 1944 he served in the European African Middle Eastern Theatre in the Tunisian Campaign, Rome-Arno campaign, and North Apennines Campaign. His service ended abruptly on October 19, 1944 in Cecina, Italy when he received a gunshot wound which broke his femur, for which he was awarded his third Purple Heart Medal. Aside from Purple Heart, Gentges was also awarded a Bronze Star Medal, 5 overseas service bars, one three-year service stripe, a combat infantry badge, an American defense service ribbon, and maintained good conduct throughout his service. The details of his service can be found in his memoir compiled by his daughter in 2001 and contained in the collection.
- 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
Indexed terms
Access and use
- Restrictions:
This collection is open to all researchers.
This collection is in an offsite storage location. Please contact lib-specialcollections@fsu.edu with requests for access or for more information.
- 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], Gentges Family collection, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. http://purl.fcla.edu/fsu/WWII_18_0014
- Location of this collection:
-
116 Honors WayTallahasseeFL32306-2047USA
