Col. Martin J. Gemoets Collection

DONORS:

Col. Martin J. Gemoets and Lee Gemoets; 1999-2001, 2003

SIZE:

8 cubic feet

SCOPE & CONTENT:

World War II photos and family correspondence; manuscript of book later published by IHSF; 1945 Stars and Stripes, Paris edition; maps of 1944 – 1945 invasion area; Literary Digest magazines from 1916, 1918, and 1931; newspapers; oral history video; slides; travel slides and scrapbooks of NM, AZ, and TX; slides and photographs, cassettes of local history (e.g., General Hugh Milton, Clyde Tombaugh).

BIOGRAPHY:

Born on July 7, 1914, Col. Martin J. Gemoets was the author of A Short Story of War--1944-45 in France and Germany, published by the Institute of Historical Survey in 2001. He is a graduate from Cathedral High School in El Paso, TX, St. Edwards University in Austin, TX, the Texas College of Mines, in El Paso, TX, and Columbus University, in Washington D.C. He first worked at the family business, the Belgian Bakery in El Paso, before enlisting with the U.S. Army as a private. After numerous assignments, including serving as a platoon leader and in Commander Infantry Rifle Company in World War II under George S. Patton, Martin retired as a colonel. Martin married Doris Krueger in 1937. They had two children, Lee and John, and three grandchildren.

Martin’s civil service experience began with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Identification Division in Washington D.C. He later became the officer in charge of the Veterans Administration in El Paso. He also served with the U.S. Customs Service in El Paso, Lubbock, and Denver as inspector, deputy director, and port director.

In the Las Cruces/Alamogordo NM area, Martin was the president of O.K. Van and Storage Company, and later became district manager for the Bekins Van and Storage Company. He was active in various community and civic affairs, including United Way, Goodwill Industries, Planned Parenthood, American Red Cross, SCORE, Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club.

Martin died on February 19, 2003.