Adair, Arthur D. (John)
Dates
- Existence: 1925 - 2011
Biography
Arthur D. (John) Adair was born May 17, 1925 in Geneva Alabama, the son and grandson of two country dentists. When Adair was nine years old, he lost the sight in his left eye due to an accident. Upon entering the US Army in August 1943, he was inducted on a limited service exempting him from combat and overseas duty. Prior to entering the service, Adair worked for the Office of Price Administration in 1942 and studied typing and Gregg shorthand.
From August 1943 to June 1944 Adair was stationed at Fort McClellan, Alabama at the Induction Station where he was assigned clerical duties. In early 1944 Adair left the Induction Station and became a member of the 103rd Replacement Battalion at Fort McClellan. This battalion was composed of men with limited physical disabilities. These replacement battalions operated about thirty miles behind combat lines and did clerical work for the combat units. In June 1944 Adair boarded the Mauritania along with 10,000 other men and was shipped to England where he served as a clerk and stenographer for court martials until November 1944.
On November 4, 1944 Adair’s battalion landed on Omaha Beach, about five months after the invasion. From there the battalion moved to Givet, France where they remained until March 1945. From March 15, 1945 until April 15, 1945 Adair was stationed in Verviers, Belgium and in Bad Godesberg, Germany from April 16, 1945 until May 1945.
Stationed in Conflans, France from May 1945 to November 1945, Adair’s battalion processed combat veterans for early return to the United States. They received about 1,000 men per week, typed orders for them, gave them fresh uniforms, and sent them by rail to Marseille and then on the Miami for discharge. Adair was the only typist for the group and with limited eyesight and old glasses, he typed orders for over 20,000 men.
Adair was stationed in Namur, Belgium, from November 1945 until March 1946, when he was discharged at Fort McPherson, Georgia. Adair has returned to Europe ten times since the war. Following his service during World War II, Adair taught French and German at Sullins College and Sullins Academy. Adair died in Gray, TN on September 26, 2011. He is buried at Mountain Home National Cemetary.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Arthur D. (John) Adair Collection
The Arthur D. (John) Adair collection includes correspondence from Europe to the United States during WWII from August 1943 – February 1946. The letters are primarily written by Adair to his mother in Alabama. The collection also includes a scrapbook, trip memorabilia, photographs from Europe during WWII, WWII related documents, postcards, and newspaper and magazine clippings.
