Arthur L. Adler Papers Military Papers

Dates

Majority of material found within 1936-1950

Scope and Content Note

The Arthur L. Adler papers comprise two manuscript boxes and include items dated 1936-1950, with the bulk of the collection concentrating on 1940-1945, the years Adler served in the U.S. Navy. The papers are organized in seven (7) series.

MILITARY SERVICE RECORDS, which include subseries for Adler's retained copies of records and reproductions of the Government's copies, are official records that include letters addressed to Adler or other individuals, official forms and records such as medical examinations and letters of commendation, and training information, CORRESPONDENCE, which includes subseries broken up by letters sent from Adler and letters sent to Adler (which is further divided into letters to the Adler family and letters to others) was written by Adler himself, his parents Mr. and Mrs. Louis Adler, Johanna Adler, Sidney Adler, Billie and Sidney Lurie, Ollie, Nick Santora, Nick's parents Mr. and Mrs. Santora, an Uncle Spitz, Nelda, Harry Hurley, Randall Jacobs, Miriam Falk, and William Sama. JOURNAL ENTRIES contains two journals, one probably written towards the end or after the war. NAVY COMMUNICATIONS, which is broken down into subseries by those addressed to Adler and those addressed to other personnel, contains official correspondence from the Navy. NAVAL INSTRUCTIONAL LITERATURE AND INVENTORIES includes ship inventories, instruction sheets, and illustrations of ships' layouts. PHOTOGRAPHS contains several black and white photos of Adler himself, as well as of other ships, scenic locations, and Adler's friends. EPHEMERA includes newspaper clippings, foreign currency, pamphlets, and other souvenirs from Adler's years in the service.

The Adler papers do not shed much light on military history, which the military censors made sure of. However, they might prove useful in studies of the social history of World War II. Adler's letters are marked by censors, and he often discusses which rules are being imposed by the censors. He is greatly concerned by the effect the war is having on his family back in New York, such as shortages of material for dresses for his sister and what food they are able to get. Adler's letters also reveal what daily life was like at sea for US seaman, and the rather routine details of life at sea. Any research being done on how the war affected the average sailor should include a review of Adler's papers. The inclusion of Adler's official military records also shed some light on military bureaucracy when compared with his letters home, particularly during the times when his ships were sunk by the enemy, his letters delayed, and addresses with held for periods of time while the ships moved to new sectors of the war. Social historians, as well as those just interested in the details of everyday life for those who fought during World War II, should find Adler's papers of considerable usefulness.

The collection focuses nearly exclusively on the years Adler was in the US Navy. His four years in the New York Merchant Marines are ignored by his correspondence, and only surface in a few official documents and discharge papers. There is also little discussion of his civilian life after the war, save for a few inquires to the US Navy for benefits and posthumous awards. The collection reflects Adler's experiences during World War II.

Extent

0.8 Cubic Feet (2 Manuscript Boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Biographical Sketch

Arthur Leslie Adler was born on June 30, 1916 in Boston, Massachusetts. His given name was Adolph, which he would later change before joining the Merchant Marines, as Adolph was not a popular name in the military in the late 1930s. Adler was a member of a rather large family, which included his parents, brothers Sidney and Julius, and sisters Billie, Polly, Miriam, and Johanna, who was the youngest of the family. The family later moved to New York, where Adler attended Brooklyn Technical High School. Before the war, the family eventually settled on Long Island.

Partly as an attempt to help his parents cover the costs of raising such a large family, Adler enlisted in the New York Naval Militia in 1936, lying about his age to do so without parental consent. Adler served in the militia for 4 years, serving aboard the USS Roper in 1938 and the USS Tuscaloosa in 1939. He was discharged in May of 1940 with the rank of Seaman, First Class.

Adler enlisted in the US Navy in April 1940, and received his initial training aboard the USS Illinois and on the section base in Tompkinsville, New York, shortly before the American entry into World War II. 1942 proved a trying year for Arthur, He was stationed in Chicago and Brooklyn, and his mother died in July. He found himself serving aboard the SS Oregonian. On September 13, 1942, the Oregonian was hit and went down. Adler survived, and was picked up by a British destroyer. However, that ship was also sunk by the Germans, and another British destroyer delivered him safely in Glasgow. Adler received a Presidential Citation for his bravery during the ordeal. He next served on the SS Nishama, where he was in charge of a gun crew.

Adler sailed around the world in 1943, starting from New York, and passing by Cuba and Panama, reaching Perth, Australia in March. He found himself in the Middle East the following month. In July of that year, his freighter went down off the coast of Murmansk, Russia, and Adler was one of only two survivors. He was sent stateside following his recovery, and attended the Naval Mine Warfare School in Virginia during October of that year. In December, he was involved in the invasion of Sicily onboard the SS George Cleeve, manning a 20mm gun. For the third time, Adler's ship went down due to enemy fire. Adler and the others were picked up by the SS William T Barry.

By March of 1944 Adler was at sea, serving onboard the USS General A.E. Anderson. Adler returned to North Africa aboard the Anderson, and yet again, he was forced to abandon ship, this time on March 22. He was sent back to the United States again, serving at Camp Bedford, Virginia. He was serving aboard LST 593 by September and set out into the Pacific Theater, crossing the equator for the first time on October 31.

1945 found Adler in New Guinea, and he served throughout the South Pacific, including the Philippines and Manila campaigns. For his bravery while under fire near Luzon, the Philippines, Adler received the Bronze Star. Following the armistice with Japan, Adler was sent to Miami, Florida for a well deserved rest, and was awarded a honorable discharge on October 10, 1945 in Long Island, New York. He was discharged holding the rank of Chief Boatswain's Mate, having also held the ranks of Coxswain, Boatswain's Mate 211d and 1st class, and Leading Boatswain. Adler, in the course of the war, received countless campaign ribbons, and two Purple Hearts.(1)

Three days prior to his discharge, Adler met his future wife, Ethel, who he would marry in 1947 and had a long, happy marriage. He and Ethel would have two daughters. They first lived in Greenwich Village, but soon moved to New Jersey, where they spent the rest of their lives.

After the war, Adler became a highly skilled jeweler. His diamond settings were always in demand. He continued to work until late in life, and then he worked as a school crossing guard. Adler also kept in touch with some of the friends he had made during the war, particularly Nick Santora, who remained his best friend throughout his life. Later in his life Adler entered politics, serving as a Democratic Committeeman for Teaneck, New Jersey, where he made his final home. Arthur Adler, according to his daughter, was a funny, honest, intelligent man who served his country both in times of war and peace. (2) He passed away on December 17, 1996 at the age of 80. (3)

Biographical Sketch Notes

(1) Information on Arthur Adler's early life and military career was found within the collection itself, both Adler's copies and reproduced copies provided by the National Archives.

(2) Information on Arthur Adler following the war was gained from a phone conversation with his daughter, Merri Adler-Ross, on April 3, 2000.

(3) Arthur Adler's date of death was located in the Social Security Death Index.

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title: Inventory to the Arthur L. Adler Papers Military Papers
Status: Edited Full Draft
Author: Special Collections and University Archives
Date: April 2000
Language of description note: Finding aid is written in English.
Sponsor: Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University received an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.