Norborne P. Gatling, Jr., World War II diary transcription

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
Preston Library
Virginia Military Institute
345 Letcher Ave.
Lexington, VA 24450-0304
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Jeffrey S. Kozak
Phone: (540) 464-7516
Phone: (540) 464-7566
Fax: (540) 464-7089
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions

Terms of access:

Manuscript Collections in the VMI Archives are made available for noncommercial educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information.

Preferred citation:

Norborne P. Gatling, Jr., World War II diary transcript, 1941-1945. MS 0514. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
1 items
Creator:
Gatling, Norborne P., Jr. (Norborne Pescud), 1901-1988
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Norborne P. Gatling, Jr., World War II diary transcript, 1941-1945. MS 0514. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of one diary transcription [typescript, photocopy] titled "My Military Service, 11 August 1941 to 1 November 1945." It is a detailed account of Norborne P. Gatling, Jr.'s life in the United States Army, including information about:

  • Stateside training
  • Traveling by convoy to England
  • Preparation for the Normandy, France invasion
  • D-Day and immediate aftermath
  • Subsequent campaigns in France and Central Europe

Biographical / historical:

Norborne Pescud Gatling, Jr. (1901-1988) graduated from VMI in 1922. He subsequently earned an Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Columbia University School of Law and spent his career as an attorney in New York City firms.

During World War II Gatling served as an officer in the United States Army (1941-1946). From August 1941 to March 1945 he was with the 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division and was at Normandy (D-Day), northern France, Rhineland, and Ardennes. From March to July 1945 he served as G-5, Headquarters 65th Infantry Division, in central Europe and Austria. From July to September 1945 he served with the Military Government Detachment, Nurnberg, Germany. Gatling left active duty as a Lieutenant Colonel on January 21, 1946.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Werner Kleeman, who served with Gatling during World War II.
Physical location:
Manuscripts stacks