Title: Robert T. Sasman Papers and Photographs
Inclusive Dates: 1943-1983

Creator:

• Sasman, Robert T.

Call Number: WVM Mss 695

Quantity: 2.2 ln. ft. (3 archives boxes and 2 flat boxes) of papers and 0.4 ln. ft. (1 folder and 2 flat boxes) of photographs.

Repository:

Wisconsin Veterans Museum
Have questions? Contact the Reference Archivist

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Veterans Museum (Map)

See the catalog entry for current shelf locations and additions.

Abstract:

Papers and photographs of Robert T. Sasman, an officer in the Army during World War II and in the Army Reserve during the second half of the twentieth century. The collection consists largely of the letters that Sasman wrote home to his parents describing his stateside training and his occupation duty in the Philippines immediately following the Japanese surrender. He wrote about soldiers' reactions to the dropping of the atomic bombs and the end of the war, the independence of the Philippines and the inauguration of their president Manuel Roxas, and recreational activities available to soldiers in the Philippines. The collection also contains an autobiography, a diary from the Philippines, and military papers such as medical records, pay slips, and orders that fill in some details about both his World War II service and his later service with the Army Reserve. Two scrapbooks contain ephemeral items that he sent to his mother, Nina, including newspaper clippings, photographs, and programs from his time in the R.O.T.C. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison through his service in the Philippines. Several programs highlight the independence and inaugural celebrations in the Philippines in 1946. Photographs include two albums of soldiers, scenery, recreation, and ceremonies during his time in the Philippines.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.wvm-mss00695

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Robert Thomas Sasman was born in Plattsburgh, New York on July 23, 1927. His family moved soon after to Madison, Wisconsin where he attended local schools and graduated from Madison West in 1940. He began attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the fall of 1940 and enrolled in the R.O.T.C. program. He enlisted into the Army in May 1942 and was called to active duty in June 1943. He received some initial training at Camp Custer, Michigan and then basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas. After a brief return to Madison, he went to Fort Benning, Georgia for Officer Candidate School, graduating in August 1944 as a 2nd Lieutenant. His first assignment as an officer was with the 201st Infantry Regiment at Camp Carson, Colorado which moved shortly thereafter to Fort Jackson, South Carolina. In March 1945 they transferred to Camp Rucker, Alabama for final training and then moved on to Fort Ord, California in preparation for departure to Japan.

Sasman and his unit set sail on August 10, 1945. They learned of the Japanese surrender while en route and arrived in the Philippines on September 15. He served occupation duty there with several different infantry replacement companies until June 1946. While there, he witnessed the inauguration of President Manuel Roxas and Philippine independence from the United States. Upon returning to the States, Sasman signed up for the Army Reserve and then returned to Madison to complete his senior year at the UW with a degree in agriculture. Throughout his professional career he worked at analyzing soils and water. He married Julia (Judy) Vos on July 5, 1951 and the couple lived in Indiana before settling in Wheaton, Illinois. Sasman remained in the Army Reserve, rising in the ranks until he achieved Colonel in March 1970. He transferred to the Retired Reserve in 1975 and fully retired in 1983. Sasman's wife, Judy, passed away in 1996 and he married Margaret (Mardy) Heal in 1997.

The papers of Robert T. Sasman are divided into three series: Correspondence, Military Papers, and Photographs.

Correspondence (1943-1946) consists almost entirely of the letters that Sasman wrote home to his parents during his stateside and overseas service. Starting during his officer training in the states, through his preparations to go overseas, Sasman described his daily activities, impressions of Army life, and recreational activities at numerous bases throughout the country. He asked for news of home and advice on various matters from his parents, and acknowledged receiving both. In August 1945 he began writing letters while traveling across the Pacific to fight the Japanese. About half way over he heard the news of the Japanese surrender, and his letters speculate about whether the ship will just turn around. He also wrote that many soldiers were skeptical about the atomic bomb and its effects. Upon arriving in the Philippines he described his occupation duty there and his sense of boredom. The one major event Sasman described from the Philippines was the inauguration of President Manuel Roxas, which required security from the US Army.

The final letters written from overseas describe his wait to return home. The series also includes two letters written to his grandmother.

Military Papers (1943-1983) contains the orders, pay records, and other military documentation of Sasman's career in the Army and Army Reserve. The majority of the records relate to his World War II service and provide details of his officer training and occupation duty in the Philippines. A diary provides additional information about his service in the Philippines, with daily entries describing his duties and the recreational activities he enjoyed, such as movies and short trips. Other military papers provide details about his 30-year service with the Army Reserve as an instructor and officer. Also included in this series are two scrapbooks filled with ephemeral items and some photographs that Sasman sent home to his mother during his World War II service. In chronological order, the scrapbooks start with his R.O.T.C. service at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and go through his time in the Philippines. An autobiography details his military service and provides other biographical information about Sasman. Programs from the inauguration ceremonies in the Philippines in 1946 shed light on that important event.

Photographs (1943-1946) include two scrapbooks filled with photographs from Sasman's service in the Philippines, which include many shots of fellow soldiers on occupation duty, local scenery, and photos from the inauguration of President Manuel Roxas. The photos in the album are identified and provide an interesting view of post-war service in the Philippines. Two loose photographs show Sasman in his R.O.T.C. uniform and his Army uniform.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Robert Sasman, Wheaton, IL, 2001. Accession Number: TR1225. This collection was organized as a result of the National Historic Publications and Records Commission project grant (2003-075).

Processing Information

Processed by Russell Horton in 2004.

	Series: Correspondence
	Subseries: From Robert Sasman
Box   1 Folder   1	To Ethel Sasman (grandmother), 1945
Box   1 Folder   2-15	To Louis and Nina Sasman (parents), June 1943-July 1946
Box   2 Folder   1	Transcribed, Sept. 1945-July 1946
	Series: Military Papers	⇧
Box   2 Folder   2	Autobiography, undated
Box   2 Folder   3	Awards/Certificates, 1947-1976
Box   6 Folder   1	Oversized, 1952-1972
Box   2 Folder   4	Diary, 1945-1946
Box   2 Folder   5	Individ. Performance of Res. Duty Training Records, 1974-1975
Box   2 Folder   6	Letters of Commendation, 1946-1972
Box   2 Folder   7	Medical records, 1944-1983
Box   2 Folder   8	Military coursework, 1948-1974
Box   2 Folder   9	Military papers, 1943-1975
	Subseries: Orders	⇧
Box   2 Folder   10	1944-1949
Box   3 Folder   1-2	1950-1975
Box   3 Folder   3	Pay records, 1953-1974
Box   3 Folder   4	Personal service records, 1943-1976
	Subseries: Programs	⇧
Box   3 Folder   5	Officer Candidate Class, 1944
Box   3 Folder   6	Philippine Inauguration, 1946
Box   3 Folder   7	Promotions, 1944-1970
Box   3 Folder   8	Retirement, 1950-1975
	Subseries: Scrapbooks	⇧
Box   6 Folder   2	1943-1944
Box   7 Folder   1	1945-1946
	Series: Photographs	⇧
Ph   11 Folder   36	Robert Sasman, 1943-1944 [2]
	Subseries: Scrapbooks of service in Philippines	⇧
Box   4 Folder   1	1945-1946
Box   5 Folder   1	1946