Awesome WW2 Memory Album!

[PaidInFull24]

Hey Everybody,
Well, here is the latest addition to my WW2 collection. This is a SPECTACULAR album from the war. Unfortunately, the album is not named (I'm working on tracking down the name of the Veteran). According to the lady that I bought it from, it was bought several years ago at the estate auction of a high-ranking officer who used to live here in Oklahoma City. Comments are MUCH appreciated, especially if they pertain to identifying some of the pictures in the album. There are a ton of really neat things (many of which I will pciture below) including a "Safe Conduct" pass for German soldiers, a leaflet in French which I believe was dropped over France just after the D-Day invasion started (someone please clarify), an original copy of Eisenhower's famous D-day letter to the troops, 2 copies of Eisenhower's farewell letter to the troops, various Christmas cards from 1944-45, information on both the Italian and D-Day invasions, and the list goes on and on. Among other things are some pictures of a German general surrendering to an American general (if anyone can identify either, please advise!) and also a picture which I believe to be original of General Patton on the floor with another General reviewing a map of what appears to be a map of the Rhine or some other River. I am so excited about this addition to my collection. Comments are more than welcome!

Here are the two great letters from Eisenhower:
The D-Day letter to the troops


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And a named copy of Eisenhower's farewell to the troops:


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A letter to the members of the 15th Army Group in regards to their victory over the Nazis in Italy:


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A letter to the men in the Mediterannean signed by A.H.Alexander regarding the Allied victory in Italy:


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A Safe Conduct pass for German soldiers:


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Cards belonging to Captain (and Major) Choice R. Rucker of the 82nd Airborne Division. I did some research and found that Captain Choice R. Rucker was the commander of F Battery, 80th Abn AA Bn, 82nd Abn Division on Utah Beach, June 6, 1944


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Letter from John C. H. Lee to truck drivers of the "Red Ball Express" commending them for their work in transporting gasoline and supplies to the front:


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[PaidInFull24]

German general and soldiers surrendering to American general. The inscription on the back of one of the photos says: "German General and Col J.H. Phillips at collapse of Ruhr Pocket, Fredeburg, Germany, About 15 April 1945". Can anyone help identify the German general?


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Various members of the 45th Infantry Division. Photos labeled "Munich, Germany 1945"


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[PaidInFull24]

This picture is hand-written labeled on the back: "Major General John Millikin greeting Belgian Prime Minister at Martilauge, Belgium"


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This one is hand-written labeled; "General Eisenhower talking to soldiers in hallway of III Corps CP at Line 3, Germany"


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Can anyone identify anyone in this picture? It looks like the III Corps HQ but I'm not positive:


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This picture is my favorite one of them all and I believe it to be an original print. It is on the correct photo paper, the correct weight, etc. I looks to me like General Patton with a 2-star general of the III Corps reviewing a map on the floor of a river. Maybe the Rhine? This picture is almost too good to be true, especially if it is original. It definitely is not a postcard. It is printed on the same paper as some of the Signal Corps photos in this album as well as some of the other personal pictures. That being said, I think it might be original. I'm taking it to a friend of mine tomorrow to attempt to find out for sure. Even if it is a re-print, it is a great photo of Patton showing his drive and determination to continue forward with the task of WW2. Notice how the name placcard on the desk has been blacked out. Would this be a sign that it was censored by the Army censor?:


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[PaidInFull24]

There are WAY too many things in this album to post. I have tried to capture some of the highlights. Here are a few more items.
An original leaflet in French which I believe was dropped immediately after the D-day invasion started to alert French Citizens to the fact that the Allied Armies were invading against the Germans. Does anyone have any more info on this leaflet? I have seen reproductions of it selling online for $25 but have been unable to find any information on the document:


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The back of the leaflet:


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A Chrimas letter to the men of the XV Corps Hand-Signed (not stamped) by Edward S. Ott, Brigadeer General Commanding:


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[Kitty_Sheridan]

Fabulous collection.....

 

[Taz-man]

That's a great collection of memorabilia. Wish I had that collection.

 

[PaidInFull24]

OK, here is what I have found out so far...
On my 3rd post in this thread, starting with the picture of Major General John Millikin greeting the Begian Prime Minister I have discovered some very interesting facts about the photos. First, I took them to my friend at the WW2 museum here in town to verify their authenticity. He confirmed that they are definitely war-time printed photos, so these are in fact original photographs...
On the 3rd picture down in that thread, I had yet to identify the men in the picture. I have now identified them, and it is almost too good to be true!!! From left to right is Major General James Van Fleet (was later promoted to General and became commander of 8th Army and UN forces during the Korean War), Lieutenant General Omar Bradley (promoted on March 12th 1945 to General), General Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Lieutenant General Courtney Hodges (promoted on April 15th 1945 to General). Judging by the fact that Omar Bradley still only has 3 stars on his uniform in this photo, this picture would be dated sometime before his promotion on March 12th, 1945. The last picture in that thread is a picture of General George Patton with Major General James Van Fleet (then the commander of III Corps).

On another page of the album, there is a Charter Member card to the 82nd Airborne Division Association named to a Major Choice R. Rucker. I called the 82nd Abn Div Assn today and they confirmed that he was in fact a member. Not only was he a member, he was an ORIGINAL member. On the charter member card, and on the card that the 82nd Abn Div has on file, the member number is 1775, meaning that he was the 1775th member of the 82nd Abn Assn. The Assn records show that he joined in 1942 with a rank of Captain and was later promoted. There are numerous cards in the album with the name "Choice R. Rucker" on them, some with a rank of Captain and some with a rank of Major. There is also a picture of some 82nd Abn men, with a line drawn to one of the men labeled "Me". Could it be that this is the album of a Major in the 82nd Abn? That would explain the documents from Italy AND the D-day letter from Ike with other items from northern France. Who knows for sure...

 

[nvasquez]

Was googling my family members and this popped up. Choice Rucker was my grandma's brother. Do you still have stuff relating to him? Would LOVE to get copies!!!