Contains the following type of materials: photographs. Covers the following wars: World War II (WWII), Korean War. Contains photographs of the following military units: 7th United States (U.S.) Infantry; 2nd Regiment, New York National Guard; 121st Infantry; 23rd Infantry; 505th and 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment; 11th Airborne Division. General description of the collection: The Thomas J. Cross / Thomas R. Cross photograph collection includes photographs that follow the careers of both the father, Major General Thomas J. Cross and the son, Colonel Thomas R. Cross. Thomas J. Cross began as a private in the 2nd Regiment, Infantry, New York National Guard and rose to major general commanding of the Third Infantry Division in Korea. The son, young Thomas R. Cross, rose from a "Special Cadet" in the Citizens' Military Training Corps (CMTC) to the rank of colonel commanding the US Army Training Center, Infantry at Fort Bragg in 1970. Photos of WWII show area of Hurtgen and Hurtgen Forest and the activities of the 517th Parachute Infantry Retiment in training at Fort Bragg and in Italy and France in 1944. There are eight photos of German atrocities upon Belgian children and Jewish prisoners. The Korean War is exemplified by pictures of Brigadier General and Major General Thomas J. Cross with the 3rd Infantry Division. General Cross retired in 1953. Thomas R. Cross was active in airborne units throughout his career except for a short stint as assistant US Army attache in Manila, Philippines from 1954-1955. His service in the airborne was with the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Airborne Battle Group, 501st Airborne Infantry and the 17th Airborne Corps. Included are a number of portrait photos of both Thomas J. Cross and Thomas R. Cross as well as portrait photos of numerous general officers and colonels who were their friends and acquaintances.
