AFS-BRITISH LIBERATION ARMIES, FIRST FRENCH ARMY EUROPE ADMINISTRATIVE SERIES II 1944-1945

This series contains the list of the 308 men who served with the French Armies from 1940-1945. There is Major Charles Henry Coster correspondence with Colonel Penn Long discussing plans and the role of the revived AFS French Unit in August, 1944. There is Coster correspondence concerning AFS French Unit finances, as well as material indicating the administrative structure of the military organization table in which AFS had its place. There is also correspondence indicating the part that Dunbar Hinrichs was to play in the organization of the revived French Unit in France. The series also contains Coster correspondence with Stephen Galatti on the personnel of AFS Headquarters of the French Unit, and Galatti correspondence with Coster indicating that under no circumstances should AFS be under any obligation to the American Volunteer Ambulance Corps or to Edward Deneveu of that outfit and that AFS should only take AVAC cars, (originally AFS property in 1940), if they were first turned over to the French Army.

The correspondence clearly shows the need of AFS to find some official status in the eyes of the American Army, and the need to apply for the same. There is a 6th Army Group directive concerning AFS authorization to wear Theatre campaign ribbons and battle stars. The series also contains material on recruitment of AFS drivers to serve with the British South East Asia Command.

There are letter of appreciation for the service of the AFS with the French Armies beginning with Beauvais, 1940 and continuing through 1945 by General Koenig and others.

Included in the series are Free French publications. There is a copy of Tricolor, which gives a good picture of events in occupied France as well as copies of Free France from 1943 with such articles as, "What France Contributes to the War Effort", "French Patriots Hamper the German War Machine", "News from Vichy", "News from the French Empire", and, "Collaboration".

AFS IN SYRIA-MIDDLE EAST FORCES
SERIES, 1941-1944

This series is divided into 3 major sub-sections, (1. Lt. [later Major] Henry Coster Correspondence; (2. General Administrative Correspondence and Reports; (3. Syria Reports and Interviews.

Charles Henry Coster Correspondence May 21, 1942-May 15, 1944

There is an important memo from Coster to Col. Ralph Richmond concerning the role that the AFS played before the U.S. entry to the war in arousing American interest in the war, and also giving battlefield experience to AFS men who might later become officers in the U.S. Army when the U.S. came into the conflict. Coster points to the changed nature of things when the U. S. was committed, in that from that point on, the AFS would have to be judged on its merits alone.

Coster also discusses matters of finance, specifically that the AFS should pick up the costs of AFS officers eating in the British officer's mess in that the British expected this, and it was good public relations, and a way to know one's allies. The correspondence also contains a letter to Stephen Galatti of December 31, 1942 in praise of Col. Richmond who was not, in Coster's opinion, a very fine organizer, but was responsible for the good name of the AFS with the British, and for the remarkable work done with the French at Bir Hacheim.

Coster correspondence for 1943 was from a promoted Major Coster, at first from AFS GHQ Middle East Forces, Cairo, but shortly afterwards, from his home in New York, as he was sent home from health reasons. There are opinions as to what to do with the Free French Unit in the period of its limbo status, and Coster's own unsure situation. Coster correspondence with his replacement in Cairo, Major William Perry for September 28, 1943, gives good insights into the personality of Stephen Galatti, his strengths and weaknesses.

General Administrative Correspondence and Reports February, 1942-May, 1943

This material contains, "Instructions for Night Driving" for the 2 AFS platoons operating in Syria in this period. There are requests, (mainly from Lt. John Wyllie), of the Palmyra Station. There are reports of the 1st AFS Ambulance Car Company attached to the 2/3 Australian Field Ambulance, as well as disciplinary correspondence.

An important document in this series is the "Syria Operations Chart" which shows the administrative set up of the AFS in Syria with 67 ambulances and reserve ambulance stations indicated at Haifa, Beirut and Damascus under the command of Captain DeBardeleben.

There is correspondence from Major Alex Kennedy, RANC, regarding the type of man that AFS should avoid recruiting which was directed to Col. Richmond. Col. Richmond's, "Administrative Breakdown of the AFS in the Middle East" of September 1, 1943, describes the structure, privileges and status of the AFS with a synopsis of units operating in Syria and in the Western Desert, together with the chain of command.

Also found with this material is a description of AFS-Syria Command posts at Baalbeck, Allepo, Raqqa, Deir-ez-zur, Palmyra, and Damascus, 8 December, 1942, as well as report on the conditions and equipment of AFS ambulances in Syria.

Syrian Reports and Interviews March 10, 1942-June 21, 1944

This material contains the report of Lt. Andrew Geer, Section I, 1st Ambulance Car Company, AFS, in April, 1942, to Col. Richmond, with a description of Section I's organization, with 4 sub-sections operating. It contains statistics on miles travelled, patients carried, and a list of Section I drivers.

William W. Phillips, "The AFS and the British 9th Army" is an Ms. account of appraisals of the AFS by British officers, some pro, and some con.

Arthur Lavenhar, "The Battle of Bredid", is a good account of the Free French leader, Andre Jacques Moreau. The Battle of Bredid is described as a skirmish between Bedouins and the Free French which took place in the Summer of 1942.

George Evens Tener, "The AFS in Palmyra" indicates that at Palmyra, the AFS was mainly in contact with the Free French. It gives a brief sketch of the ancient history of the region as well as an account of AFS relations with the Arab local population. Tener also indicates that the British Army viewed the work of AFS in Palmyra as reliable but eccentric.

"Instructions for AFS Men Posted to Damascus", gives advise for members of B Platoon, 485 Coy. in the 85th Sub Area Head Quarters in Damascus. It illustrates the spit and polish aspects of the British Army's well known formalism and consequent high expectations of the AFS. It also gives a good account of AFS sites and hangouts in Damascus.

William W. Phillips, Major, AFS, "Notes for a History of the AFS in Syria" is found here as well as a photo copy of the War Diary of 485 Coy., C Platoon (the original is with the War Diaries Series), detailing the personnel composition of the group, the movements of ambulances, along with other information.

"Notes on an Interview with Lt. J. N. Hobbs, June 21, 1944", describes the period of Allied reverses in the desert in July, 1942 and anticipations of an Axis invasion of Syria. Lt. Hobbs was the sole AFS man posted to the British Special Forces operating in Syria at that time.

The series concludes with 485 Company Orders of Movement, personnel problems, and routine orders for the 85th Sub Area for July-November, 1943. Also includes, "General Orders, 9th Army" on a wide variety of topics. There are some excellent sentiments found within these records on the attitude of the British Command towards the exiled Greek and French Armies, and tensions that should be avoided, the reasons being both noble and humane as well as fair.

Of special interest are materials collected here on the subject of the raising of the first American Flag to fly in the Middle East during the war which was raised by AFS Sub Section I, Lt. W. L. Marsh, Commanding, which was raised at Zahle, Syria in May, 1942. A letter to President F. D. Roosevelt is found here on this subject.

NEW YORK HEADQUARTERS SERIES, 1939-1945
PRELIMINARY PLANNING SUB SERIES,
SEPTEMBER 5, 1939-DECEMBER 3, 1942

This subseries contains organizational correspondence of the World War II Field Service, and as such, should be studied in conjunction with the France 1940 Series which can be found in this inventory. It concerns the revival of the A.F.S., specifically focussing on the use of World War I American Field Service personalities such as; Henry P. Davison, Anne Morgan, Mrs. Anne Vanderbilt, Lovering Hill, Julian Allen, Stephen Galatti, and many other former World War I drivers interested in the revival of the Service.

There is correspondence indicating that the U.S. Neutrality Laws of the mid 1930's did not prevent the A.F.S. from raising funds and sending volunteers to France as in World War I. Early coordination with the European relief efforts of the Winthrop Aldrich Committee and the American Hospital are mentioned. There are notes written to William deFord Bigelow concerning the American Volunteer Ambulance Corps in Paris, and the misrepresentations of George Washington Lopp to the French Government and the Army deliberately confusing the A.F.S. with the A.V.A.C. There are fund raising letters from Bigelow, Head of the Boston A.F.S. Committee, describing the structure of the ambulance sections, as well as Harold Willis, (S.S.U. 2, WWI), taking out Section I in 1940 which directly complements the material found on this subject in the France 1940 Series.

There is an important correspondence grouping on the proposed merger of the A.V.A.C. and the A.F.S. initiated by the former, and outlining the structure of the merger. Bigelow correspondence exists concerning why this prospect is unworkable and undesirable.

Correspondence can be found on the subject of getting Sections 2 and 3 organized, much of which is concerned with the infrastructure of the fund raising effort in the U.S. There is also correspondence in the winter of 1941 concerning the first A.F.S. African unit under the command of Peter Muir who served in France in 1940, and the shifting emphasis of the A.F.S. to the British. There are materials relating to driver deferments from U.S. service for work with the Mary Borden Spears Hospital Unit, and an inquiry from the British Consulate General to the A.F.S., concerning the possible recruitment of 400 volunteer ambulance drivers for service with the British Middle East Forces.

Within the Preliminary Planning Sub Series can be found the Correspondence of the General A.F.S. Committee, September 19, 1949-December 3, 1942. This material is concerned with the formation of the General Committee, and has a list of its members as of January, 1940. It contains a letter from John Fisher, (S.S.U. 2, WWI) on the subject of his disillusionment with the Allies isolationist sentiments, particularly that of the U.S., which he believed would prevent any good coming out of ambulance work, especially during the, "Phoney War" period.

Financial Correspondence, November 22, 1939-June 30, 1942, is largely between Stephen Galatti and Thomas Hitchcock, Treasurer of the A.F.S. relating to fund raising and control of funds for the developing ambulance sections. One document within this grouping is especially significant in that it gives a summary of the Program of the A.F.S. up to the Spring of 1941 indicating that; 58 ambulances and 63 drivers served in France in 1940, that 110 ambulances, surgical cars and mobile first aid posts served with the British since July, 1940, that the Leeds Unit of 14 Colonial Style ambulances served with the British East African Forces in Kenya, that 25 ambulances could be found in Greece, that 17 ambulance drivers were serving with the Free French in North Africa under General Wavell's command, and that A.F.S. was supporting the work of the American Eagle Club in London at this time.

NEW YORK HEADQUARTERS CORRESPONDENCE SERIES, 1939-1945

STEPHEN GALATTI CORRESPONDENCE SUB-SERIES,
MAY 25, 1940-SEPTEMBER 24, 1945

STEPHEN GALATTI-LT. E.M. BORGER CORRESPONDENCE,
JULY 30, 1943-DECEMBER 27, 1943

There is a report to Galatti from Lt. Borger of July 30, 1943 concerning the gulf between Cairo HQ, and the men in the field. Borger indicated that the same gulf existed between Company HQ and the men and that this gulf was even worse when dealing with A.F.S. New York Headquarters. Borger offers suggestions concerning remedies for the above, particularly having Hqs. staff visit the field more often to ascertain what the men are thinking. He gives this a reason for the relatively low level of reenlistment, a topic which is found throughout the entire Galatti correspondence. There is material concerning the collecting of A.F.S. material for a history of the Field Service in World War II. There are also materials found here, as in other correspondence, on the subject of repatriation after the war terminates in Europe, reenlistments for India, and also possibilities of work with occupation armies in Europe.

 

STEPHEN GALATTI-MAJOR CHARLES HENRY COSTER CORRESPONDENCE,
JANUARY 7, 1943-JUNE 23, 1945

Major Coster, first Finance Officer at Cairo Hqs. before he became commanding officer of the French Unit in Europe in 1944, writes about the poor conditions of the Free French Unit's ambulances, and the many unfulfilled promises to them. There is correspondence about the spirit of the French Unit which was more like the A.F.S. section spirit of World War I. There is Galatti correspondence on the subject of forming three major headquarters in the A.F.S.; India, Middle East, France. There is a May 19, 1943 report to Galatti on the Tunisian Campaign.

The second half of this correspondence is concerned with the French Unit in Europe, 1944-1945, of which Coster was commanding officer. There is considerable response from old A.F.S. men of World War I on the subject of the revival of the French Unit.

 

STEPHEN GALATTI-MAJOR C. W. EDWARDS CORRESPONDENCE, FEBRUARY 22, 1944-OCTOBER 31, 1944

Material exists here concerning the hard work of 485 Coy. in Italy after the Battle of Cassino, and the respect the A.F.S. earned from British and New Zealand divisions serving there. There is correspondence on the work of 567 Coy. with the Polish troops at Cassino. Correspondence is found on need for leaves to keep reenlistment levels high, on the men in Italy who would like to join the new French Unit, or, the A.F.S. units in India under the command of Chan Ives. There is correspondence on the desirability of using lighter Dodge ambulances for work in Italy rather than the heavier Fords. (The Ford was the light-weight A.F.S. ambulance of World War I).

 

STEPHEN GALATTI-DUNBAR HINRICHS CORRESPONDENCE, MAY 25, 1940-MAY 3, 1943

This correspondence begins with the early A.F.S. organizational work done in New England, and the difficulties found in raising funds for France, probably due to the capitulation of France under Pétain. There is Hinrichs’ correspondence with Galatti on the work of the Connecticut and Boston A.F.S. offices and Hinrichs' working relationship with William DeFord Bigelow. After Hinrichs leaves for the field, there are reports from him in Cairo which are long and detailed on the organization of the command structure of the A.F.S. and problems as he sees them. Such reports as are found here are; "Notes on Setting Up a Headquarters Personnel Division", "Notes on Setting Up an A.F.S. NCO's School", August, 1942, based on the experience at Meaux. France in World War I, "Report on the Hospitalization of A.F.S. Men and its Problems". Interspersed with these reports are numerous letters of a semi personal nature on topics such as; the climate of the Middle East in relation to the work of the A.F.S., the average work day at Cairo Hqs., the Maadi Club, the fact that Galatti should come to Cairo to take charge personally of the A.F.S. as Col. Richmond is not an organizer, complaints that the old A.F.S. spirit of World War I does not exist in the present war, and the administratively unclear situation of the Free French Unit which is not responsible to either the A.F.S., or to the British. Hinrichs also writes of his concern about the drain off of the best men to the British and American armies, and the fact that the A.F.S. officers lack the power of discipline over their men. Hinrichs takes credit for adjusting many of the misalignments caused by Col. Richmond's lack of administrative expertise.

Hinrichs writes of the difference between the A.F.S. of World War I, and that of World War II, the major difference being that in the first war, A.F.S. sections were small and leadership was tight. Now, sections are much larger and widely dispersed over great areas which makes communications and leadership from HQs difficult. There is much correspondence on the need for the use of rank to get on in the British command structure which in itself, was different from A.F.S., WWI. There is much correspondence on Hinrichs' work in establishing the A.F.S. Club of Cairo.

There is considerable correspondence on the expansion of the A.F.S. throughout 1942. This includes expansion of Free French Unit, and plans for expansion of A.F.S. with the British Indian Army. Galatti's point of view that the A.F.S. should be completely independent of the British, and should send its cars to areas where they are most needed are found here. There are copies of orders to Col. Richmond urging him to make every effort to secure front line work for the A.F.S. and letters to British Generals, Montgomery, Alexander and McCready requesting that this be done.

A report of February 4, 1943 to Galatti, gives the table of organization of the expanded French Unit, with a signal of February, 1943, transferring the Unit to the French independent of British command. Found also is Hinrichs' commendations of Major James King, and Captains Coster, Howe, Hoeing and Ives.

 

STEPHEN GALATTI-LT. COL. FRED HOEING CORRESPONDENCE, JULY 10, 1943-JULY 24, 1945

This correspondence contains a list of A.F.S. officers and their units in July, 1943, as well as a report on the A.F.S. in Syria. There is correspondence on the establishment of the Algiers liaison office of the A.F.S. under Lt. Robert Thomsen and Captain Ed Munce. There is Galatti correspondence with Hoeing who was Adjutant of the Cairo A.F.S. Middle East Forces HQ, concerning Galatti's opinion of rank in the A.F.S., and the necessity of a closer link between HQ and the field. There is Hoeing correspondence on the lack of spirit in the A.F.S. in World War II as distinct from the spirit existing in World War I. Hoeing felt that World War II was not an inspiring war. Long periods of waiting and inactivity made inspired leadership dangerous in his mind as there was no point in keying up the men when the inevitable let down would follow. (Actually, World War I officers complained of the same thing). Hoeing wrote concerning the inadvisability of Air Ambulances and the need of the French having their independence from British command.

Much of the correspondence in, and around the Fall of 1943, concerned the transfer of A.F.S. operations from the Middle East to Italy. Contained in this correspondence is Arthur Howe's report on the arrival of 567 Coy. in Italy. Howe’s hospitalization is mentioned as well. There is a list of citations for A.F.S. men in the Italian Campaign for January, 1944. Galatti correspondence indicate that Chan Ives' India-Burma units were seeing very heavy action.

There are details of actions in Italy that produced British Empire medals for Edgar Driver, Clifford Messinger, Walter Brethauer, and Lawrence Bigelow. There is also correspondence on the death of Robert Bryan in May, 1944, and the wounding of Norman Laden and Larry Toms. There is also material on the death of Dawson Ellsworth.

Correspondence for June, 1944 indicates that all of A.F.S.' ambulances were out of the Middle East by this point, there is also correspondence of July 22, 1944, that the A.F.S. should keep an ambulance from World War II, as it did after the First World War, that is now at the Blérancourt Museum in France. There is considerable correspondence on the demobilization after the war and transfer of such men who wish to go to Chan Ives' command in India. Material can be found here on Harvard's willingness to offer scholarships to A.F.S. men in the post war. There is information concerning 485 Coy. and 567 coy. actions and positions in Italy at the end of August, 1944.

Galatti correspondence indicated that William Phillips of the A.F.S. had been asked to collect historical materials and interviews with British for a history of the Field Service. Material can also be found on A.F.S. platoons in service in the Netherlands and Belgium as well as in Germany, with the possible transfer of whole units to the India-Burma Command.

 

STEPHEN GALATTI-LT. COL. GEORGE F. J. KING CORRESPONDENCE, NOVEMBER 20, 1941-MAY 14, 1945

Col. King's correspondence with Director General Galatti is especially significant in that it is complete from Pearl Harbor to the end of the war. Such topics that are treated in the correspondence are conditions aboard ship on the way to India, expectations of special treatment for A.F.S. men in India and the fact that the men should be informed of the realities of conditions as well as the fact that they would face long periods of inactivity. King comments that there was much unrest among the men after Pearl Harbor in that many wanted to join the American or British combatant services to get extra pay or commissions. A.F.S. actions around Tobruk are described in July, 1942, as well as comments upon how well Dunbar Hinrichs was working to instill a working and efficient administrative structure in the Middle East.

King wrote of his support for air ambulances to bring the service up to date, and his thanks for the piper cub sent out by A.F.S. Headquarters, N.Y., in order to help with long distance communications in the Middle East between HQ and the field units. An April 30, 1943 King letter refers to the structure and staffing of 567 Coy. and 485 Coy.

There are King opinions sent to Galatti that the British have regarded the Free French Forces as a political asset after the Battle of Bir Hacheim, not as a fighting force. There are also comments on the administratively disorganized state of the Free French and the subsequently unsure state of the A.F.S. French Unit. Comments about the, "Giraud French", indicated the internecine warfare between the colonial supporters of De Gaulle and those that supported General Giraud.

The correspondence also contains position papers sent to Galatti on Col. King's leadership from Russell Perkins, Bert Payne, and Major Arthur Howe. All of these stress King's administrative abilities, his knowledge of the British military administration, and his personal qualities.

 

STEPHEN GALATTI-MAJOR JOHN NETTLETON CORRESPONDENCE, JULY 30, 1943-SEPTEMBER 24, 1945

Galatti correspondence with Major Nettleton indicates that the U.S. Army will provide supplies, including ambulances and spare parts to the A.F.S. He writes that ambulances that were originally a part of the William Leeds Unit that went to Kenya in 1940, have been given to the Union of South Africa, and that some of these ambulances may be available for duty with the A.F.S. There is also correspondence that indicated that an old A.F.S. ambulance of 485 Coy. that saw much action in the Middle East and in Italy was being sent to the U.S. for the A.F.S. Museum.

 

STEPHEN GALATTI-COLONEL RALPH RICHMOND CORRESPONDENCE, FEBRUARY 21, 1940-FEBRUARY 2, 1945

The Galatti-Richmond correspondence is of the greatest importance in that these two men commanded the American Field Service in World War II. Galatti was the overall commander working out of New York Headquarters, while Col. Richmond, a veteran of the World War I service, was commander of all A.F.S. units in the field.

This correspondence begins in 1940, when Richmond volunteered to work with Lovering Hill, then commanding the A.F.S. in France before the armistice between France and Germany. Much of Richmond's correspondence from France in 1940 can be found in his folder in the A.F.S. Personalities Record Group. This particular sub-series contains much material from Cairo Headquarters dealing with action in the Western Desert and the Syrian Theaters. There is correspondence indicating that any idea of expansion of the A.F.S. to include T.M.U. units such as existed in France under the old Field Service of World War I, was not practical in the present circumstances. The correspondence includes Galatti's October-November, 1941 instructions to Richmond as he was leaving for the Middle East re; finances, ambulances, volunteers, uniforms, inoculations, and units headed for the Middle East. Included is a memorandum concerning the organization of 3 ambulance car companies, instructions concerning temporary ranks for officers, (the correspondence in filled with questions of rank which was never used in the -World War I service until militarization in 1917 and the U.S. Army takeover, and the requirements of the British service in World War II where rank became a virtual necessity).

This correspondence contains an equipment check list for all men going out to the Middle East. There is considerable correspondence on the organization of the Fighting French A.F.S. Unit under the command of Lt. Alan Stuyvesant dating from January, 1942. There is also correspondence concerning the forming of the Syrian units and how they were organized under the command of Major Jimmy King. There is a Richmond request that units serving in wide open spaces in Syria be armed to protect their patients against hostile natives, and that such arms carrying did not violate the Geneva Conventions.

There is Richmond correspondence dated 1 August, 1942 indicating that the Dodge 4 wheel drive ambulance was admirably suited for desert work but not roomy enough to carry more than 3 stretcher cases. Correspondence exists here on the wounding of driver William McLarty by bomb splinters, (he later died of his wounds), and the fact that Andrew Geer's ambulance was blown up on a land mine, but that he was unhurt. There is important material on Galatti's opinion that significant administrative details were being overlooked in A.F.S. Middle East HQ, details that were needed in New York re: pictures of ambulances for donors, immediate transmittal of casualty information, etc., all of which imitates Henry Sleeper's requests from New York to A. P. Andrew in Paris in World War I.

There is a Richmond report to Galatti about heavy action around Tobruk in which A.F.S. drivers, Sanders and Belshaw went missing in action when their convoy was cut off and heavily damaged by hostile German fire. Correspondence also is found here on Wendell Willkie's visit to A.F.S. sections in the desert.

One of the more valuable documents in this correspondence in is the A.F.S Bulletin September 1, 1942, entitled, "The American Field Service in the Middle East". This gives a detailed breakdown of the administrative structure of the A.F.S., its relationship to British forces, the ambulance car company platoon set up, Geneva cards, leave and health information. Also found here is Edward C. Koenig's report on the projected A.F.S. training camp in the United States which was to instill discipline and to eliminate undesirables. There is a Personnel Status Report of September 15, 1942 on the A.F.S. killed, missing and captured as of that date.

Stephen Galatti correspondence is found here on the fact that William deFord Bigelow, Headquarters and Chef de Section, S.S.U. 4, World War I, was dying of cancer in Boston. There is much Bigelow correspondence in the Preliminary Planning Sub-Series.

Galatti's pivotal role in the shaping, and running of the World War II A.F.S. is found in this correspondence. He deals with subjects such as; the need for an A.F.S. Club in Cairo to act as Rue Raynouard did in World War I to help Headquarters staff get to know the men and the problems of the field, the formation of the India-Burma Unit from the Middle East Command, the need for better liaison with the British at A.F.S. Middle East Headquarters, and the need for a commanding officer for the A.F.S. Middle East to be under Ralph Richmond.

There is a May 25, 1943 letter from Field Marshall Sir Archibald Wavell on the future of the A.F.S. with the Indian Army and the good work of the Field Service up to that date. There is also considerable correspondence on the A.F.S. Free French Unit, its problems, and its future. Correspondence exists here on the British understanding that the A.F.S. was to serve the British forces wherever they might be which meant that they would be needed for the invasion of Europe. William Wallace, Assistant Director of the A.F.S., correspondence of Jan., 1944 to Col. Richmond indicating that the Service had fulfilled all of the early hopes that its leaders had for it when it started with the French in 1939, that there was a need for continuity in policy at A.F.S. field headquarters, and that Ralph Richmond alone represented that continuity.

STEPHEN GALATTI CORRESPONDENCE WITH CMF HQS.
JANUARY 31, 1944-MAY 31, 1945

This correspondence contains materials on the possible reorganization of the A.F.S. French Unit. It contains Arthur Howe's report on A.F.S. men working for the U.N.R.R.A., as well as correspondence relating to Major Howe's illness, convalescence, and his work for N.Y. Headquarters. There is a notification from Galatti to Major Hoeing that any news of A.F.S. men wounded must be immediately transmitted to N.Y. HQS. Folder #257, contains a report by C. H. Coster on the personnel strength of A.F.S., CM. A document entitled, "Out of Every Where", contains a statement by Col. G. Anderson, British ADMS, in praise of the A.F.S. on the Anzio Beach head. There is Galatti correspondence on the wearing of the Purple Heart by A.F.S. men working with the American forces.

There are documents relating to A.F.S. personnel strength in the Central Mediterranean and Indian Theaters as of March, 1944. Correspondence exists from General J.A. Ulio to A.F.S. representative in Washington, J. Paulding Brown, concerning A.F.S. decorations. An April, 1944 memo concerns Galatti's trip to London regarding the situation of A.F.S. wearing British decorations, A.F.S. in the Asia Command, and enlisting in the British Army, as well as approval by the British of A.F.S. men's right to wear the George Medal for valor in action.

A "Report from India", details the work of Neil Gilliam at Shenam, (India-Burma) with Gurka troops, which was sent to CMF HQS by Galatti. There is Galatti correspondence of July 22, 1944, concerning having an A.F.S. ambulance shipped back to the U.S. for posterity, as the A.F.S. did during World War I. A copy exists of a letter from 20th Indian Division for work of A.F.S. on the Ukhrul Road in the India-Burma Theater as well as correspondence concerning transferring men to S.E.A.C. in the Summer and Fall of 1944. The correspondence also holds a document on the revival of A.F.S. Fellowships for French Universities in November, 1944.

Minutes exist of a meeting at the Knickerbocker Club in N.Y. in November, 1944 concerning the future work of the A.F.S. in the post war years, as well as a laudatory letter from General Pierre Koenig, as Military Governor of Paris, on the work of the A.F.S., and a letter from General T.W. Rees, Commander of the 19th Indian Division, in praise of the A.F.S., and making 'A' Platoon honorary members of the 19 Indian Division.