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Tillman Joe Rutledge collection, 1924-2002, Date acquired: 08/17/1998, bulk 1941 - 1945

 

Summary

Creator:
Rutledge, Tillman J.
Extent:
1.00 boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Box and Folder number], Tillman Joe Rutledge collection, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. http://purl.fcla.edu/fsu/WWII_98_0464.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection relates to Sergeant Tillman Joe Rutledge, who served in the 31st Infantry Regiment of the United States Army in the Far East's Philippine Division. After the fall of Bataan in April 1942, he was captured as a prisoner of war until 1945. This collection consists of one box of personal papers, including the original diary he kept during his internment and photocopies. It also contains an original draft and signed copy of his book My Japanese POW Diary Story; a 36-page oral history transcript; letters to and from his family; newspaper clippings; various government documents; and photographs.

Biographical / historical:

Tillman Joe Rutledge was born on February 29, 1924, in Goodman, Texas to Daniel Tillman "Pete" Rutledge and Alvajoe Phillips. The eldest of three, he had two younger brothers who also served in the armed forces during the Second World War: Waymon and Lloyd. His parents separated at an undisclosed time, and he grew up in nearby Merkel with his father and stepmother, Velma. Tillman did not complete his senior year of high school, choosing instead to enlist in the U.S. Army. Because he was only seventeen at the time, he had to do so with his father's permission. He was sworn in on March 14, 1941, in Abilene, Texas. By April 22, he had crossed the Pacific on the U.S. Republic and become a member of the 31st Infantry Regiment of the United States Army in the Far East's (USAFFE) Philippine Division, also known as the "Polar Bears." He was assigned to F Company at Estado Mayor, the U.S. Army headquarters in Manila. During this time, he frequently wrote letters home to his father, brothers, and girlfriend Peggy.





Acquisition information:

Tillman Joe Rutledge

Donated by Tillman Joe Rutledge

Custodial history:

Transferred from the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience to FSU Libraries Special Collections & Archives in July 2022.

Processing information:

Processed January 2018

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], Tillman Joe Rutledge collection, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. http://purl.fcla.edu/fsu/WWII_98_0464.

Location of this collection:
116 Honors Way
Tallahassee
FL
32306-2047
USA