Collections

Collection includes personal letters William A. Swink wrote home (Jacksonville, Florida) during his time of service as a Navy radio operator for the Blue Raiders, VPB-117. He discusses his training at Camp Kearney, San Diego, California, starting in April 1943. Collections also includes an oral history transcript in which William Swink (served 1942?-45?) and Gerald Wegner (served 1943-45?) discuss their experiences as naval aviators during World War II. Swink (radio operator) and Wegner (gunner) served together on a Navy bomber crew on VPB-117. They flew patrols all over the South Pacific in the closing stages of the war. Jacksonville, FL, letters to Mom, information on VPB-117, "The Blue Raiders."

The collection includes Yoshitake Horie on his service in the Japanese Imperial Army. "Fighting Spirit-- Iwo Jima." 146 pages, 5 appendixes, 2 volumes

Florida Southern College hosted the Cockcroft Forum from 1985-2002. The Foundation encountered financial difficulties after 2002 and the forums were discontinued. Guest speakers included A. Thomas Young, president of Martin Marietta Aerospace, Dr. Joseph Boyd, chairman of Harris Corporation, and Dr. Alan Keyes, former ambassador, presidential candidate, and radio host. In most years, the Cockroft Forum was hosted twice, during the fall and spring semesters, respectively.

William Carrier served as an Assistant Turret Officer aboard the USS Nashville from 1944-46 in the Pacific Theater during World War II. During Carrier's time aboard the Nashville, General Douglas MacArthur was transported twice by the Nashville. At this time, Carrier was able to capture candid photographs of MacArthur. This collection contains those photographs as well as photographs of Pacific scenery and crew, along with handwritten notes by Carrier of battles in which the USS Nashville participated. A photograph book is also included that details the history, Combat, the Aleutians, Pacific coast and crew during the 1942-1945 cruise. Also included are two reunion books that contain the names, addresses, and status of those who served on the Nashville.

This folder contains the oral history of William Coleman recorded on May 15, 2003.  Coleman served with the 101st Airborne Division in England and participated in the June 6, 1944 D-Day airborne operation into Normandy, France.  He was later captured by German troops and spent time in a prisoner of war camp.

This collection relates to United States Marine Corps Private First Class William C. Erler who served as a Paramarine, and later with the 26th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division during World War II.  William C. Erler was killed in action at Iwo Jima on March 2, 1945.  The collection consists of photographs and several personal letters and papers, as well as artifacts, a parachute, gas mask, pins, marksmanship badges, and medals, including his posthumously awarded Purple Heart.

This collection concerns William C. Chaddock, who served in Company F, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division during World War II. The collection consists of letters and documents relating to William Chaddock's court-martial for assault in May of 1945, as well as his subsequent attempt to gain clemency. Most of the collection's letters are from William Chaddock to his brother, Richard. The collection also contains correspondence between Richard Chaddock and Senator Wayne Morse, Senator C. Douglass Buck, Senator James M. Tunnell, the office of the Secretary of War, and several US Army officers. The collection also includes several references to Resolution 195, Senator Wayne Morse's proposed investigation and reform of the court-martial system.

This collection relates to William Clayton Greene who served in the U.S. Army during World War II in Belgium and Germany. The collection includes informaton about his experience there. There are letters to his family, a friend, as well as letters from Nuns from a Belgian convent that Greene befriended. Also included is a German publication entitled Sparta: Der Lebenskampf Einer Nordischen Herrenschicht which is signed by Heinrich Himmler.

4 Seminole patchwork shirts, a rattle, two infant hats, three framed illustrations/prints, FSU Handbook Nakinchoke 1976-77, photographs of Vernon Windfield Tiger and Perce Wayne Harrell, 4 papers written by William Clutter, books on Seminoles.