Call Number:

Ms. Coll. 1645

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

.83 linear feet (1 box)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

American soldier's World War II photograph album of service in the Persian Gulf Command, 1943-1945, Ms. Coll. 1645, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

circa 1943-1945 (inclusive)

Form:

Photographs and Photograph albums

Abstract:

This U.S. Army Persian Gulf Command in Iran photograph album was created by an unnamed American soldier, and consists of unidentified images of soldiers on base, local sites and people, and damaged battleships, circa 1943 and 1945.

The U.S. Army Persian Gulf Command (PGC) played a crucial role during World War II by facilitating the supply of war material to the Soviet Union throughout the "Persian Corridor." Established in December 1943, it evolved from earlier missions in the region, such as the U.S. Military Iranian Mission in 1941 and the Persian Gulf Service Command in 1942. The Command's primary mission was to expedite shipments under the Lend-Lease program, which provided essential supplies like truck, tanks, aircraft and ammunition to the Soviet Union. These materials were transported via ports in Iran and Iraq and then moved inland through roads and railways, often built or improved by U.S. Army engineers.

This photograph album with "Persian Gulf Command Iran" embossed on the front cover along with the PGC insignia of a 7-pointed white star and red scimitar blade on a green army shield, was created by an unnamed American soldier. This album contains 38 silver gelatin print photographs of U.S. Army soldiers in Iran during World War II along with several battleships, circa 1943-1945. These unidentified candid photographs are of soldiers in the barracks, lounging by a pool, local sites and people, and a soldier in a jeep with Russian Cyrillic text for "American" painted on the door. Several of the photographs show badly damaged and sinking battleships, including the USS LCT 301, which was lost off Normandy, France in June 1944.