The Neal Garrison Collection
Dublin Core
Title
The Neal Garrison Collection
Description
This is a collection of WWII relics compiled from the Garrison family. It includes WWII articles from both Lonnie Garrison and Robert Ranger, two veterans who participated in WWII.
Robert Ranger joined the U.S. army in 1936. He was stationed in Alaska when the war broke out and participated in the Aleutian Islands Campaign when the Japanese invaded Alaska. Ranger earned his first purple heart during this campaign when he was shot in the arm. After the campaign, he was sent to the officers candidate school (OCS) because he had some college education. This training allowed him to become a lieutenant and soon after he transferred into the 82 airborne as a paratrooper. He was present during the 82nd airborne attacks in Sicily, Italy, Anzio, and Normandy. His participation in the war ended after he was shot and partially paralyzed in Holland. For the remainder of his life he lived in Boise, Idaho with his wife Margaret and daughter Frances.
Lonnie Garrison was born in 1917 to Martin Columbus Garrison and Minnie May Garrison in Missouri. He was living as a farmer in Idaho when the United States entered the war in 1941. After he was drafted into the army air corps and went through basic training, Garrison was sent to England. During his stay in England, he witnessed a blitzkrieg attack on London. Not much is known about his participation in WWII. However, it is known that he participated in the Battle of the Bulge and D-Day. The highest rank Garrison earned while in the army air corps was a staff sergeant. After the war he returned to Idaho and lived the remainder of his life with his wife June and his three sons, Neal, Russell, and Lonnie.
Robert Ranger joined the U.S. army in 1936. He was stationed in Alaska when the war broke out and participated in the Aleutian Islands Campaign when the Japanese invaded Alaska. Ranger earned his first purple heart during this campaign when he was shot in the arm. After the campaign, he was sent to the officers candidate school (OCS) because he had some college education. This training allowed him to become a lieutenant and soon after he transferred into the 82 airborne as a paratrooper. He was present during the 82nd airborne attacks in Sicily, Italy, Anzio, and Normandy. His participation in the war ended after he was shot and partially paralyzed in Holland. For the remainder of his life he lived in Boise, Idaho with his wife Margaret and daughter Frances.
Lonnie Garrison was born in 1917 to Martin Columbus Garrison and Minnie May Garrison in Missouri. He was living as a farmer in Idaho when the United States entered the war in 1941. After he was drafted into the army air corps and went through basic training, Garrison was sent to England. During his stay in England, he witnessed a blitzkrieg attack on London. Not much is known about his participation in WWII. However, it is known that he participated in the Battle of the Bulge and D-Day. The highest rank Garrison earned while in the army air corps was a staff sergeant. After the war he returned to Idaho and lived the remainder of his life with his wife June and his three sons, Neal, Russell, and Lonnie.
Contributor
Stephanie Brimson
Collection Items
The 82nd Airborne Arrive in New York
This is a newspaper clipping that shows the Victory Parade for the return home of the 82nd Airborne Division in New York.
American Flag
This small patriotic flag stood outside the homes of several American citizens. One may notice that there are only 48 stars on this American flag. During the war, Hawaii and Alaska were not yet a part of the United States. This particular flag was…
Military Uniform of Robert Ranger
This was Robert Ranger's uniform. It is decorated with various ribbons and medals showing where Ranger had served. The bottom row of ribbons on the left side of uniform represent an American Defense medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal, and a…
German Reichsmark
This is a picture of a German Reichsmark brought back to America by WWII veteran Robert Ranger. Ranger had received this reichsmark as a field promotion gift from his platoon. One will notice upon close examination of the reichsmark that several…
Airborne Vets Honor Their Invasion Dead in Holland
This is a newspaper clipping that describes a memorial service held in Nijmegen, Holland for the 82nd airborne division war dead. Veteran Robert Ranger was a paratrooper for the 82nd airborne division and it had been believed that he was a victim of…
WWII German Luftwaffe Collar Tab
This is a German Luftwaffe collar tab that shows the rank of captain. It was brought back to America by WWII army veteran Lonnie Garrison, however, the circumstances behind its attainment is unknown by his descendants. It is known that Lonnie…
9th Air Force Patch
This patch signifies a membership to the 9th Air Force division in the United States Air Forces.
Army Service Forces Patch
This is an Army Service Forces patch that army men would wear on their uniforms to show that they belonged to the Army Service Force division. This patch belonged to army veteran Lonnie Garrison.
Piece of Parachute
This was a piece of parachute preserved by WWII veteran Robert Ranger. There is a small hole in the parachute that is believed by the family to be a bullet hole caused by a tracer bullet when Ranger was parachuting in Normandy.