University of Oklahoma Libraries Western History Collections John Colby Collection John Colby joined the 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division as a private. Later, he served as rifle platoon leader and company commander. Colby fought in Normandy, at the Moselle crossing, and through the Ardennes to the Rhine, where he was wounded a third time. After a career as a technical writer/editor, Colby decided to write a history of the 90th Division. This collection contains the correspondence, hand-drawn maps, and other data which Colby used in creating his history of the 90th Division. The collection is divided into series concerning certain battalions, regiments, and battles. It also contains article about the 90th Division such as "Re-assessing a Reputation" by Martin Blumenson, and "This Fort is Ours," Cosmopolitan (May 1945). Stories and memoirs of Colby's former comrades also make up a large section of this collection. Finally, the John Colby Collection includes unit journals such as the 915th Field Artillery Unit Journal from June 1944 to May 1945, the 357th Infantry Regiment Journal from June 1944 to May 1945, and the 358th Infantry Regiment, Battalions 1 and 2, Journals from June 1944. Box 1 Paperwork and Correspondence 1 Aid Station Ledger, 1st Bn., 358th Regt., Book I. June 8, 1944 - July 5, 1944. 2 Aid Station Ledger, 1st Bn., 358th Regt., Book II. Dec. 9, 1944 - Sept. 24, 1945. 3 "Battle of Metz and the Saar-Moselle," Jim Smith, N/D. 4 "Breakthrough" and other papers, 712th Tank Bn., 90th Division, Ray A. Griffin, N/D. 5 Cannon Company, 357th Inf., printed materials, N/D. 6 Co. D., 357th Inf. Regt., personal memories, 1992. 7 Co. E., 357th Inf. Regt., personal memories and articles, 1988-95. 8 Co. G., 357th Inf. Regt., personal memories, 1991. 9 Comments regarding George Barth, by LTC Ed Hamilton, N/D. 10 Correspondence, Murray Franklin, 359th Inf. Regt., 1989-90. 11 Correspondence regarding 2nd Bn., 358th Inf. Regt., 1990
12 Correspondence regarding the 359th Inf. Regt. 1944-45, 1990 13 Correspondence with POW's, 1984-85, 1990, 1995 14 Correspondence, "The Battle of the Moselle," in French, 1986 15 "Crossing of the Saar River and Capture of Dillingen," by Merton E. Munson, 1990. 16 "Dillingen, Germany," Dec. 6, 1944, "The Crossing of the Moselle," Nov. 9, 1944, by Arthur Voos. 17 Diary-915th Field Artillery Bn., 90th Division, May 9, 1945 - Nov. 19, 1945. 18 Falaise Gap, personal story, Aug. 16-21, 1944. 19 Field Orders and Messages, 357th Inf, Oct., Dec. 1944. 20 General William DePuy's account, 1991 21 Headquarters - 915th Field Artillery Bn., 90th Division, Feb. 29, 1944. 22 History of the 915th Field Artillery Bn., 90th Division, N/D. 23 Journal, Co. G., 357th Inf. June 13 - Oct. 7, 1944. 24 Journal, 357th Inf., June - Dec. 1944. 25 Journal, 357th Inf. Jan. - May 1945. 26 Journal, 1st Bn., 358th Inf., June 1944. 27 Journal, 1st Bn., 358th Inf., June 1944. 28 List of 90th Division members that received the Distinguished Service Cross during WWII, N/D. 29 Memories of the 712th Tank Bn., Clegg Caffery, 1985, 1990. 30 Memories, Orwin C. Talbott, 359th Inf. Regt., 1989-90. 31 Operational Record, 2nd Bn., 357th Inf. Regt. June 8, 1944 - May 7, 1945. 32 Paperwork - 915th Field Artillery Bn., 90th Division, 1942-45. 33 "Re-assessing a Reputation," Martin Blumenson, N/D.
34 Recollections by John H. Cochran, Jr., 359th Inf. Regt. N/D. 35 Regarding the Generals, various newspaper clippings, articles, and correspondence, 1962, 1992-95 36 Replacements' stories from 1944-1945, N/D. 37 Saar River, 358th Inf. Regt., personal memory & list of men, June 1945. 38 Sample of Awards, paperwork describing them, Aug. 7, 1944. 39 The Sniper, 90th Division newsletter, 1942, 1945. 40 "The 90th-A Problem Division," by MG Frank W. Norris, N/D. 41 "This Fort is Ours," Cosmopolitan, May 1945. 42 Thomas A. McGrowan, Jr.'s story, 1990. 43 Untitled - A study of the 90th's early combat, C. Blastos, student, N/D. 44 "Why the 90th Failed at Normandy," from Battle Cry, Nov. 1964. 45 Wilton Barger's story, 1976. 46 Yvette Hamel's story, newspaper clippings, articles, 1980-81, 1991. 47 2nd Bn., 358th Inf. Regt., personal memory, 1990. 48 3rd Bn., 358th Inf. Regt., personal stories, N/D. 49 50th Anniversary of D-Day edition of the 90th Area Reserve Command's newspaper, Sept. 1994. 50 315th Engineer Bn., 2nd platoon, Co. A., personal memory by C.M. Hartwell, 1944-45. 51 358th Inf., 90th Division, battle history and research notes, 1945, 1991. 52 775th Bombardment Squadron, personal memory by John V. Bodin, 1944-45. Printed Materials
1. A Heritage of Honor - A 90th U.S. Army Reserve Command History. 2. History of the 712th Tank Battalion. 3. "I Dug A Thousand Foxholes!" by Pfc. Jack E. Ammons, Co. C, 357th Inf., 90th Division. 4. Summary of Operations in WWII (90th Division). 5. 345th Field Artillery Battalion, Unit History. Box 2 Paperwork, Correspondence, and Maps 1 Assorted photos and drawings, N/D. 2 Contributions from Benedict Battista, medic, 358th Inf.; Elvis Magnuson, Co. G, 357th Inf.; Arthur Voos, 2nd Bn., 358th Inf.; Ralph O. Sinamon, Co. L, 357th Inf., 1986-1990. 3 Correspondence between Carl P. Keiser and Ed Hamilton, Feb. 23, 1962. 4 Correspondence and hand-drawn maps, Lt. Col. Eames Yates, 1991 5 Correspondence, various 'I remember' stories, 1990 6 Hand-drawn maps, N/D. 7 Information from Dr. Morris D. Marcus, surgeon, 1st Bn., 359th Inf., N/D. 8 Letter from Lt. Col. Ed Hamilton re George Barth, CO 1st Bn., 357th Inf., April 11, 1990. 9 Max Kocour, letter re cowardice of Lt. Col. Leroy F. Lester, CO 2nd Bn., 357th Inf. May 9, 1990 10 Max Kocour's story, Nov. 1991. 11 Misc. papers and correspondence, 1944-45, 1990. 12 "My story with the Tough Ombres," by Jack B. Prince, Co. L, 359th Inf., 1985. 13 Personal history of 343rd FA Bn. from June 8, 1944 to May 8, 1945, by Col. Ken Reimers, 1990. 14 Preface to "90th Division in WWII," MG Frank W. Frank W. Norris, N/D.
15 Saar Crossing by Noel Robinson, Co. L, 358th Inf., May 1990. 16 Various Articles by F.W. Norris, CO 345th FA Bn., N/D. 17 343rd FA Bn., by Sgt. Julius Yuhasz, HQ Battery, March 1990. 18 537th AAA-AW Bn., Battery B, Unit History By Charles Auerbach (Anti-aircraft unit attached to the 90th Div.), 1989. 19 915th FA Bn. - Historical Record - S-3 Journal - Unit Journal, June 1944. 20 915th FA Bn. - Historical Record - S-3 Journal - Unit Journal, July 1944. 21 915th FA Bn. - Historical Record - S-3 Journal - Unit Journal, August 1944. 22 915th FA Bn. - Historical Record - S-3 Journal - Unit Journal, September 1944. 23 915th FA Bn. - Historical Record - S-3 Journal - Unit Journal, October 1944. 24 915th FA Bn. - Historical Record - S-3 Journal - Unit Journal, November 1944. 25 915th FA Bn. - Historical Record - S-3 Journal - Unit Journal, November 1944. 26 915th FA Bn. - Historical Record - S-3 Journal - Unit Journal, January 1945. 27 915th FA Bn. - Historical Record - S-3 Journal - Unit Journal, February 1945. 28 915th FA Bn. - Historical Record - S-3 Journal - Unit Journal, March 1945. 29 915th FA Bn. - Historical Record - S-3 Journal - Unit Journal, April 1945. 30 915th FA Bn. - Historical Record - S-3 Journal - Unit Journal, May 1945. 31 Correspondence between Robert E. Moore and Ross J. Novelli re. the death of Lt. Col. James A. Costain, Sept. - Oct., 1996 Printed Materials 1. A History of the 90th Division in WWII. 2. "Bringing Up Father - Diary of a WWII Chaplain," by Rev. Donald J. Murphy. 3. Feet of Battle by John Colby.
4. "Following Orders in the Infantry," by Pfc. Eugene N. Robinson, Co. L, 358th Inf., 90th Division. 5. "Story of a Citizen Soldier," by Charles B. Bryan, CO 3rd Bn., 358th Inf. 6. "Upfront with U.S.," by Walter L. Brown, Co. L, 358th Inf. 7. Upstarts by Robert E. Moore, 1995. 8. Upstarts, second edition, by Robert E. Moore, 1997. 9. War From the Ground Up by John Colby. 10. "90th Division Band," by Lin Arison.
SOUND RECORDINGS 91. COLBY, JOHN COLLECTION (Cassette Tapes) Sgt. Luther C. Carroll discusses combat at Ardennes, 1336 Col. Red Andrews discusses WWII and 90th Division, 1337-38 Arthur Franke discusses WWII and 90th Division, 1339
MAPS 963. Metz area, France. "Fortified Group 'Koenigsmacker'." Topographic map compiled from aerial photographs flown by Tenth Reconnaissance Group, U.S.A.A.F. 20th September 1944. War Department, Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army, DRAWER 8505 964. Metz area, France. "Picture Plan of 'Koenigsmacker'." Compiled and reproduced by 652nd Engineer (Top) Battalion, U.S. Army, 1944, DRAWER 8505 965. Dillingen area, Germany. Compiled and reproduced by the 652nd Engineer (Top) Battalion, U.S. Army, 1944, DRAWER 8505. 966. Europe. "Battle Route of the 90 INF DIV in the European Theater of Operations." Included in "The History of the 315th Engineer Battalion, 90th Division from D- Day to VE-Day." Format is large-type, all capital letters, computer print-out, ca. 1960, DRAWER 8505.