Title: Harry E. Baumgartner Papers and Photographs
Inclusive Dates: 1941-2003

Creator:

• Baumgartner, Harry E.

Call Number: WVM Mss 1030

Quantity: 0.1 linear ft. (2 folders) of papers and 0.6 linear ft. (2 archives 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 from the World War II service of Harry E. Baumgartner, a Madison native who served with the 135th Medical Regiment. Majority of the collection consists of Baumgartner's photographs from his basic training at Camp Shelby (Mississippi) through his overseas service in Australia and New Guinea. The majority of photographs are unidentified but have been grouped into either Camp Shelby or Pacific. The Camp Shelby photographs include shots of the regimental band, soldiers in various poses, tents, vehicles, local scenery, and a chaplain performing a religious service. In general they provide a feel for the atmosphere of training in Mississippi in 1941. The Pacific photographs feature aboriginal people, some Japanese prisoners of war, and members of the regiment providing medical care to wounded soldiers. There are also numerous unidentified shots of scenery, buildings, vehicles, and soldiers in uniform. These photographs show the backdrop of his service in the Pacific, focusing on recreation and military life rather than battles and military aspects. Papers are scattered and consist mostly of membership materials for the 135th Medical Regiment Association, a veterans' organization that held reunions for past members of the unit. Also includes obituary, discharge form, and scattered military documents from Baumgartner's service.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.wvm-mss01030

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Harry E. Baumgartner was born on October 7, 1917 in Madison, Wisconsin and attended local schools, graduating from Central High School in 1936. He began working at Harry S. Manchester Department Store in downtown Madison in the floor covering department. He was a member of the 135th Medical Regiment of the Wisconsin National Guard and, as such, was called into federal service in January 1941 as part of the 32nd “Red Arrow” Infantry Division.

Baumgartner received training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi and went overseas with his regiment in March 1942. Stationed in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, he served as a mechanic in Australia, New Guinea, and the Philippines. He returned to the United States in December 1944 and was honorably discharged in August 1945, having attained the rank of sergeant. Baumgartner's service earned him the Asiatic-Pacific Theater service medal, the American Defense medal, five overseas service bars, a Good Conduct Medal, and a Presidential Unit Citation badge.

Returning to Madison, Baumgartner worked at Petterson's Carpetland through 1958 and F.E. Seybold's floor covering business through his retirement in 1982. He was heavily involved in the 135th Medical Regiment Association, a veterans organization that kept him connected to his fellows following the war. He was also an active member of the community, being a life-long resident of Madison/Monona. Baumgartner passed away on February 8, 2003.

The papers of the Harry E. Baumgartner are divided into two series, Papers and Photographs.

Papers (1941-2003) consists of scattered documents from Baumgartner's military service and veteran life. A military discharge form and obituary provide biographical information about his life and Army service. An informal timeline of the 135th Medical Regiment's World War II service provides an idea of where they were and what they were doing throughout the war. There are other ephemeral items from his military service such as identification cards and some military orders. The remaining papers in the series document his involvement in the 135th Medical Regiment Association. They include membership cards, annual reunion flyers and invitations, memorial service programs, and blank stationery. As a whole, this series compliments the more comprehensive Photographs series.

Photographs (1941-1943) document two aspects of Baumgartner's World War II service: his training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi and his overseas service in the Pacific Theater. The Camp Shelby photographs include many candid shots of Baumgartner and other members of his unit, as well as many views of buildings and vehicles at the military training facility. The regimental band and a chaplain performing a religious service are also represented. There are humorous shots of a soldier pinning staff sergeant insignia to another soldiers rear end and of a soldier taking an open air shower. There are also some photographs of a local cotton farm that provides a glimpse of rural life in the deep South in the 1940s.

The Pacific Theater pictures have similar photographs of Baumgartner and fellow soldiers as well as military vehicles including planes and ships. The shots focus more heavily on camaraderie and recreation than on battles and more traditional aspects of active military service. Three photographs show a group of Japanese prisoners of war being guarded on a beach. There are shots of aboriginal people and tropical scenery typical of most men who served in the Pacific and of American soldiers receiving medical care, likely from members of Baumgartner's unit.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Menzi Behrnd-Klodt, Madison, WI, 2003-04. Accession Number: Mss 2003.176; Mss 2004.118..

Processing Information

Processed by Russell Horton in 2007.

	Series: Papers
Mss   37 Folder   23	Biographical information and military papers, 1941-2003
Mss   37 Folder   24	135th Medical Regiment Association papers, 1964-1993
	Series: Photographs	⇧
Box   1 Folder   1-3	Harry E. Baumgartner [18] , circa 1941-1943
	Subseries: Camp Shelby, Mississippi	⇧
Box   1 Folder   4	135th Medical Regiment signs [6] , circa 1941
Box   1 Folder   5	Band [3] , circa 1941
Box   1 Folder   6	Buildings [6] , circa 1941
Box   1 Folder   7	Candids [6] , circa 1941
Box   1 Folder   8	Camp work [6] , circa 1941
Box   1 Folder   9	Marching [5] , circa 1941
Box   1 Folder   10	Chaplain [3] , circa 1941
Box   1 Folder   11	Cotton farm [4] , circa 1941
Box   1 Folder   12	Death Valley trip [3] , circa 1941
Box   1 Folder   13	Louisiana Maneuvers [1] , 1941
Box   1 Folder   14	Open-air shower [2] , circa 1941
Box   1 Folder   15	Scenery [4] , circa 1941
	Soldiers
Box   1 Folder   16-17	Group shots [13] , circa 1941
Box   1 Folder   18-19	Individual shots [12] , circa 1941
Box   1 Folder   20	Staff Sergeant insignia hijinx [2] , circa 1941
Box   1 Folder   21-22	Tents [10] , circa 1941
Box   1 Folder   23	Vehicles [4] , circa 1941
	Subseries: Pacific Theater	⇧
Box   2 Folder   1-3	Aboriginal people [13] , circa 1943
Box   2 Folder   4-8	Buildings [26] , circa 1943
Box   2 Folder   9-12	Candids [18] , circa 1943
Box   2 Folder   10	Japanese prisoners of war [3] , circa 1943
Box   2 Folder   11	Medical care [4] , circa 1943
Box   2 Folder   15-20	Scenery [30] , circa 1943
	Soldiers
Box   2 Folder   21-29	Group shots [46] , circa 1943
Box   2 Folder   30-34	Individual shots [24] , circa 1943
Box   2 Folder   35-38	Vehicles [24] , circa 1943