Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
John Stenger 104th Infantry Division WII materials, 1942 - 1999, bulk 1942 - 1946 |
Catalog Number |
18.1.001 |
Object Name |
Manuscript Collection |
Donor |
Stenger, Jack D. |
Scope & Content |
COLLECTION TITLE: John Stenger 104th Infantry (Timberwolf) Division WII materials, 1942 - 1999, bulk 1942 - 1946 BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: John Stenger, 1922 - 2014, was a decorated U.S. Army veteran who served with the 104th Infantry "Timberwolf" division on the German front during WWII. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star among other honors. Growing up in Akron, Ohio, he enrolled in Akron University in September 1940 as a Chemistry major. Having been enrolled in the ROTC and Enlisted Reserve Corp, he left Akron University in 1943 in May of his Junior year for active duty. He returned to graduate from the University of Ohio after the war and enjoyed a successful worldwide career in the rubber industry. Roughly six weeks after his honorable discharge, he married Ayleen Miller. They were married for 68 years and had a son and a daughter. John Stenger had three sisters and an identical twin brother, Charles A. Stenger, 1922 - 2018, also a decorated veteran. Charles Stenger served as a medic in the 423rd Infantry Regiment, which was attached to the 106th Infantry Division during the Battle of the Bulge. He was taken as a POW at St. Vith, Belgium, and held in Berlin. Charles Stenger was awarded the POW Medal in 2016. He had earlier received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Both brothers were briefly reported to their parents as MIA during the war. SCOPE AND CONTENTS: The bulk of the materials were created and collected by John Stenger while serving in the 104th Infantry Division of the US Army on the German front of WWII. The group also contains a few supplemental materials on WWII, collected later in life by John Stenger and a few materials relating to the service of Charles A. Stenger. The materials are linked with an endowed scholarship generously provided to Bridgewater College in John E. Stenger's honor. COLLECTION INVENTORY: Series I: Archival Documents and Booklets, consists of a document box with archival records and memorabilia. They include the following: Folder 1: Autobiographical writings by John E. Stenger about his life and especially his experiences in WWII Folder 2: John E. Stenger's WWII military forms Folder 3: Stars and Stripes U.S. Armed Forces newspaper, Germany Edition, with "HITLER DEAD" headline, May 2, 1945. Stars and Stripes U.S. Armed Forces newspaper, Extra, with "VICTORY: Nazis Reveal Surrender to Western Allies, Russia" headline, May 8, 1945. Folders 4,5,6: John E. Stenger's 104th Infantry (Timberwolf) Division paper memorabilia with 106th Infantry Division book, circa 1944. It also includes a Walt Disney entertainment program signed by performers. Folder 7: John E. Stenger 104th (Timberwolf) Infantry Division Bronze Star Medal Citation certificate, undated. Awarded for rescuing wounded comrades during the night of February 25, 1945. Folder 8: Photograph of soldier John E. Stenger in Cologne, Germany, after capture of the city by his 104th "Timberwolf" Infantry Division, March 1945. Folder 9: John E. Stenger Army of the United States honorable discharge certificate, December 1, 1945. Given at Camp San Luis Obispo, California. Signed by Major David E. Ring. Issued to John E Stenger 15 301 136 Sergeant Company K 415th Infantry. Series II: twelve folders of letters from John E. Stenger, mostly to his future wife Ayleen Miller, September 6 - December 31, 1944. There are also a few letters from Miller to Stenger. Series III: fifteen leaves of photographs from John E. Stenger's WWII German front photograph album, 1945. The original order of the acidic album was recorded before the images were removed for better preservation. Printed photographs showing the layout of the original album are included. John Stenger used the album for scenes of he and his friends as American G.I.s in Germany from February - June, 1945. Included are tourist scenes of Cologne, Germany; images of Villanich (Willich?), Germany; images of WWII destruction of German infrastructure; photographs of the Roer (Rur) River and Mulde River; photographs of friendly Russian troops in Germany with whom Stenger visited; photographs taken at the railroad station near Maing (Main?), Germany, prior to departure to France post Allied Victory in Europe; images from Camp Lucky Strike in France while awaiting shipping home; and images taken on the ship home to New York, New York after Allied Victory in Europe. The last images are a formal soldier's portrait of John Stenger, 1943, and another formal hand colored portrait of John Stenger and twin brother Charles Stenger in uniform. A caption on the reverse states that this image was probably taken in 1943 or early 1944 after basic training. Series IV: John and Mable Stenger scrapbook about their identical twin sons John E. Stenger and Charles A. Stenger, circa 1942 - 1945. It contains multiple pieces of ephemera including the following: German bank notes, stamps and postcards; a post WWII postcard from Charles at the University of Michigan to his parents, Army Hit Kit of Popular Songs, December 1943, with marganelia comments from John or Charles Stenger to his girlfriend; multiple newspaper article clippings on Charles and John Stenger and their time at Akron University pre and post WWII and their service as U.S. Army soldiers during WWII; and newspaper clippings about the wedding of John Stenger and Ayleen Miller. Also included are transcripts of news stories relating to the U.S. military during WWII. Some newspaper clipping stories relate to the twenty-third birthday party of Charles and John Stenger while they were on furlough. The birthday stories record how Charles was a POW and this was the first time the brothers saw each other since their training. A notable April 25, 1945 form letter to all the members of the 104th (Timberwolf) Infantry Division from Commanding Major General Terry Allen gives an excellent summation of the activities of the division in its previous six months of continuous combat. There are also some newspaper accounts with images of German abusive treatment of POWs, especially American G.I.s. There is an envelope of UA military telegrams to John Stenger related to his sons' statuses. A copy of John Stenger's 104th (Timberwolf) Infantry Division Bronze Star medal citation certificate is glued to one of the last pages. Series V: Records and Books contains two folders of books and personal records that John Stenger carried in WWII. John Stenger's Soldier's Individual Pay Record Combination rifles score book. Basic Field Manual, Soldier's Handbook, 1941-1942 John Stenger soldier's address book, circa 1943 - 1945 Sectional New Testament Well-worn military issued New Testament Series VI: Box of books about WWII collected by John E. Stenger Series VII: German materials collected by Stenger during WWII Folder1: Set of German photographic postcards collected by John E. Stenger while serving in WWII. Includes Nazi party issued views and earlier scenes, some with German captions on reverse. Folder 2: German folk and military song booklet- Was Deutschland Singt! Berlin, 1935. Handwritten German lyrics to Silent Night and printed German map laid in center. Folder 3: Packet of German snapshots made into a photograph booklet. A note on the cover states these were taken from a deserted German home, possibly in Halle, Germany, or the pictures show a vacation near Halle. They appear to be scenes of a country vacation prior to WWII. Folder 4: German roadmap. Dessau region. Folded and taped segments with blue canvas backing. Folder 5: Two Nazi election propaganda handbills, possibly from an album of such posters issued later by the Third Reich. Women! Your Men without Work, Your Children without a Future/ Save the German Family, Vote Adolph Hitler- original circa 1931 Wir Bauen Auf! [We're Building Things Up!] social order flyer, original circa 1932 Folder 6: Paper Falkenstein Coffee coaster. Found grouped with early 1930s Nazi election propaganda collected by Stenger. Folder 7: European currency collected by Stenger during WWII. Collection of German, Belgian and French bank notes and bonds circa 1904 - 1940s. Six stamps from the Netherlands. NOTE: See artifacts catalog for records of John Stenger's Eisenhower uniform jacket, military insignia and German items as well as Charles A. Stenger's POW medal. |
Collection |
Alexander Mack Memorial Library Special Collections |
People |
Miller, Ayleen Stenger, Ayleen Miller, 1925 - 2015. Stenger, Charles A., 1922- 2018. Stenger, John E., 1922 - 2014. |
Subjects |
Stenger, Ayleen Miller, 1925 - 2015. Stenger, Charles A., 1922- 2018. Stenger, John E., 1922 - 2014. Soldiers. World War (1939-1945). World War, 1939-1945 Personal narratives, American. |