Reutlinger, Albert F. (1917-1998) Papers, 1942-1945

Held by The Filson Historical Society

Creator: Reutlinger, Albert F., 1917-1998

Title: Papers, 1942-1945

Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Curator of Collections.

Size of Collection: 0.33 cubic feet

Location Number: Mss. A R447b

Scope and Content Note

Collection consists of personal correspondence from Maj. Albert Reutlinger, U.S. Marine Corps, to his parents living in Louisville, Kentucky and Osprey, Florida, while he was serving in the Pacific Theater with the 1st Amphibian Tractor Brigade during World War II. Although he was prevented from providing details of his service due to censorship regulations, the letters often describe various activities of general military life.

Related Collections:
Fox-Reutlinger family papers (Mss. A F791a)
Reutlinger family papers (Mss. A R447)
Reutlinger family added papers (Mss. A R447a)

Biographical Note

Albert F. Reutlinger (1917-1998) was a lawyer, public official, and veteran of World War II. Reutlinger was born in 1917 to Adolph Reutlinger and Mary Yandell Fox Reutlinger. He was the grandson of Judge Fontaine Fox, and nephew of the cartoonist Fontaine Fox. He graduated from Louisville Male High School and attended the University of Virginia, graduating from its Law School in 1940. While in the university, he joined the United States Marine Corps. In January 1941, he was called to active duty and was sent to Quantico, Virginia and then Dunedin, Florida for amphibian tractor training. After Pearl Harbor, Reutlinger was assigned to the 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion, First Marine Division for the duration of World War II. Reutlinger entered the war with the rank of Lieutenant, advancing to become the Battalion’s Commanding Officer. His unit fought in the Pacific Theater, especially the Guadalcanal Campaign of 1942-1943 in the Solomon Islands. He also was involved in operations at Cape Gloucester, Peleliu Island, and Okinawa. He retired from the Marine Corps Reserve in 1957 with the rank of Colonel.

After the war, Reutlinger returned to Louisville where he took up the practice of law. In 1947, he was elected to office on Louisville’s Board of Aldermen, representing Ward 2. By the time of his retirement, he was the senior partner in a law firm that had been renamed Middleton & Reutlinger.

Folder List

Box 1
Folder 1: Correspondence, 1942
Folder 2: Correspondence, January-June 1943
Folder 3: Correspondence, July-August 1943
Folder 4: Correspondence, September-December 1943
Folder 5: Correspondence, January-May 1944
Folder 6: Correspondence, June-December 1944
Folder 7: Correspondence, January-March 1945
Folder 8: Correspondence, April-August 1945
Folder 9: Military currency

Subject Headings

Censorship – United States – History – 20th century.
Military currency – United States.
United States. Marine Corps. Armored Amphibian Battalion, 1st.
United States. Marines – Military life.
World War, 1939-1945 – Campaigns – Japan – Okinawa Island.
World War, 1939-1945 – Equipment and supplies.
World War, 1939-1945 – Propaganda.