Creator
Quillian, Amzi Rudolph, 1911-1944

Date of Original
1900/1944

Subject
Soldiers--Georgia
World War, 1939-1945
United States. Army. Armored Regiment, 66th

Location
United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018

Medium
letters (correspondence)

Type
Text

Description
Letters and documents of Lt. Col. Amzi Rudolph Quillian (1911-1944) while in service with the 2nd Armored Division of the United States Army. Most of the letters were address to his wife Eva., Lt. Col. Amzi Rudolph (Rudy) Quillian (1911-1944) was born in Hall County in northeast Georgia. Lt. Col. Quillian graduated from North Georgia Military College in Dahlonega, Georgia prior to receiving an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. At West Point, Quillian distinguished himself an earned a place on the Honor Committee. He received a commission to the 66th Infantry (Light Tanks) at Fort Benning, Georgia following his graduation from West Point in 1937. The 66th Infantry later became the 66th Armored Regiment of the 2nd Armored Division, under the then Brig. Gen. George S. Patton and would continue to train at Fort Benning until being sent to Louisiana, the Carolinas, and finally deployment in North Africa in November, 1942. A capable and gallant soldier, Quillian earned the Silver Star for fearlessly leading a charge of the 2nd Armored Division, nicknamed "Hell on Wheels", in the face of enemy fire at Canicatti, Sicily. Later he earned a Bronze State for training maneuvers in England. Deployment then took the 2nd Armored Division to France and Quillian's battalion landed at Utah Beach on D-Day plus six. Quillian was mortally wounded on July 28, 1944 at St Lo, France shortly after the St. Lo breakthrough. His body now lays to rest in the Normandy American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach.

Metadata URL
http://digitalarchives.columbusstate.edu/collections/show/4

Language
eng

Holding Institution
Columbus State University. Archives

Rights