Guide to the Otto K. Gralert papers
1942-1945
Collection number: HMC-0550.
Creator: Gralert, Otto K.
Title: Otto K. Gralert papers.
Dates: 1942-1945.
Volume of collection: 0.20 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in this collection are in English.
Collection summary: Papers, artifacts, and photographs of a clerk with the 179th Station Hospital on Adak.
Biographical note:
Otto K. Gralert was from Hoboken, New Jersey. He enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II and served as a personnel clerk in medical units. Gralert served with the Medical Replacement Training Center at Camp Pickett, Virginia (1942); the 107th Station Hospital in Fort Jackson, South Carolina (1942-1943); and the 179th Station Hospital at Adak Army Air Field in the Aleutians (1943-1945). He later spent time in Anchorage and Fort Lewis, Washington, before his release from active duty at Fort Dix, New Jersey.
Collection description:
The collection consists of papers, artifacts, and photographs taken from Gralert’s World War II era scrapbook. The collection includes papers, insignia, and photographs. The photographs consist of 93 black and white prints, 31 photo post cards, and 35 copy negatives. There are photographs from Camp Pickett, Virginia; Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Adak Island, Alaska; Anchorage, Alaska; and Tacoma and Fort Lewis, Washington. The 83 photographs from Gralert’s service with the 179th Station Hospital at Adak Army Air Field include group portraits of the unit’s personnel, panoramas of the unit’s quarters, pictures of a unit dress parade and ceremony, portraits of Olivia DeHavilland during her visit there, and views of base buildings and island scenery. Soldiers pictured include: Nick Aviani, Colonel Bingham, Delbert Bliven, Bob Brody, John Flaherty, Leonard Flaherty, Otto K. Gralert, Captain Kendrick, Paul Krcina, Thomas Lawson, John Leonard, Captain Mattison, Julius Sabo, and Major Stiles.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged by subject and type.
Alternative formats: The collection includes a xerographic copy of the album indicating the original order of the materials. Copy negatives were made from selected photographs in the collection.
Digitized copies: Selected photographs have been digitized and can be found online at Alaska’s Digital Archives. For information about obtaining copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: The Archives does not hold copyright to materials in this collection.
Preferred citation: Otto K. Gralert papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Acquisition note: This collection was purchased from eBay in 2001.
Processing information: The scrapbook was dismantled, photographs rearranged by size and subject, and the collection described by Jeffrey Sinnott in 2001. The collection was converted to current standard by Veronica Denison in 2014.
Container list:
| Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1 | Xerographic copy of original scrapbook | 2001 |
| 2 | 107th Station Hospital, Fort Jackson, South Carolina: The 4th Echelon, 107th Station Hospital (newsletter); Hospital order promoting Otto Gralert to Private First Class; Duty roster listing Private First Class Gralert as clerk in Personnel Office | 1942-1943 |
| 3 | Life Magazine clippings of Aleutians article | undated |
| 4 | United States Army Transport, Troop Class (blue card with bed assignment) | undated |
| 4 | So Long and Good Luck Soldier; Separation Center, 1262nd Service Unit, Fort Dix, New Jersey (illustrated booklet, 14 pages) | undated |
| 4 | Dog tag | undated |
| 4 | Alaska District shoulder patch (round with polar bear head and gold star on blue field) | undated |
| 4 | Technician Fourth Class shoulder patch (three chevrons with T at bottom) | undated |
| 4 | Service Stripe (1 stripe, for 3 years of service) | undated |
| 4 | Overseas Service Bars (4 gold bars, one for each 6 month of service) | undated |
| 5 | Photographs: Medical Replacement Training Center, Camp Pickett, Virginia; Barracks 1260, Company D, 3rd Medical Replacement Battalion, 1st Regiment: Portraits of Otto Gralert in uniform and with fellow soldier | 1942 |
| 5 | Post cards: Camp Pickett, VA: Service Club, theatre, Division and Post Headquarters, Field House, Camp Pickett Exchange Sidewalk Café, Post Chapel; Blackstone, VA: Main Street looking South, Main Street looking North | undated |
| 6 | Photographs: 107th Station Hospital, Fort Jackson, South Carolina: T/3 James Minogue, T/5 Mast, T/4 Roedenbeck, and Otto Gralert at personnel stations | 1942-1943 |
| 6 | Post cards: Airplane views of Fort Jackson, capitol and business section and U.S.O Club of Columbia, South Carolina | undated |
| 7 | Photographs: Lobby of Union Terminal, Cincinnati, Ohio; Great Salt Lake, Utah; Pittsburg, California | 1943 |
| 8 | Photographs: 179th Station Hospital, Adak, Alaska | 1943-1945 |
| 9 | Post cards: 4th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska | undated |
| 10 | Post cards: Tacoma and Fort Lewis, Washington: Ellis photographs | undated |
| 11 | Copy negatives | undated |