Conditions Governing Use

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.

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions

Online Access

This diary transcript is available online.

Preferred Citation

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

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Werner Kleeman, who served with Gatling during World War II.

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.

Scope and Contents

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

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Diaries
• Germany (Territory under Allied occupation, 1945-1955 : U.S. Zone). -- Office of Military Government
• Operation Overlord
• United States. -- Army. -- Infantry Division, 4th
• United States. -- Army. -- Infantry Division, 65th
• United States. -- Army. -- Infantry Regiment, 12th
• Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1922
• World War, 1939-1945
• World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- France -- Normandy
• World War, 1939-1945—Campaigns—Europe
• World War, 1939-1945—Personal narratives