John Arthur Shultz was born February 11, 1909 in Pennsylvania. He entered the U.S. Army 27 January 1928 under the name of James A. Wildair, when he was nineteen years old. Shultz served in various capacities during his military service. His primary duties were as a Medical Records Specialist. He was sent overseas during World War II to serve in the Asiatic-Pacific theater of operations. Corporal Shultz participated in various battles and campaigns as a Light Mortar Crewman Section Chief. Sergeant Shultz spent two years (1946-1948) in the European Theater of Operations in Augsburg, Germany. During the Korean Conflict he served as a Master Sergeant (Temporary) in Medical Records in Korea. Shultz was honorably discharged from active duty and retired 1 November 1960.
Shultz was awarded the American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal with Clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three Bronze Service Stars for participation in the New Guinea, Southern Philippines and Ryukyu Campaigns. He was also awarded the Meritorious Unit Emblem, Philippine Liberation Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal with Germany and Japan Clasps, National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal, and United Nations Service Medal.
In retirement, Mr. Shultz remained aware of the issues of the times, locally and nationally. He sent numerous letters and telegrams to public officials on issues from banning smoking on the Lancaster city buses to suggesting President Johnson and Ho Chi Minh meet to end the Vietnam War. At the age of fifty-seven, he attempted unsuccessfully to re-enlist to serve in Vietnam.
Shultz was married to Josephine Shultz and had three children, James Wildair, Amalie Marie, and Victorie Belle. John and Josephine divorced in 1976.
Shultz lived at The Grand Hotel in Butte, Montana from early 1977 through 1982. Shultz died July 10th, 1982 at the St. James Community Hospital in Butte, Montana. His ashes were scattered in the Blue Hills under the direction of Ruth Boulter.
This collection includes biographical, military and civilian records of John Arthur Shultz. The majority of the collection centers around Shultz's military career which spans from before WWII to after the Korean Conflict. Shultz was stationed overseas for most of his military career. The collection includes military correspondences, entertainment that Shultz partook while overseas, medical history and various patches and awards. Other WWII memorabilia includes a Hawaiian guidebook, language guides from various Asian countries, and a Restricted Prisoner of War Guidebook of protocol when captured by the enemy.
The collection also includes information about Shultz's family of wife, Josephine, and children, James Wildair, Amalie Marie and Victorie Belle. WW II ration books that belonged to the family are included.
General correspondence is included in the collection. Much of the correspondence is with public officials, both national and local, in which Shultz took an interest in the issues concerning them. There are letters to Barry Goldwater, John F. Kennedy, and J.W. Fulbright to name a few.
The pictures that are included in the collection are of Shultz himself, his children and in the Hawaiian guidebook.
The collection is divided into four series:
Series I: Biographical, 6 folders, 1916-1981
Series II: Military, 5 folders, 1928-1977
Series III: World War II, 4 folders, 1941-1945
Series IV: General Correspondence, 3 folders, 1954-1978
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana--Missoula.
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana.
John Arthur Shultz Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.
The collection was held by John Shultz until his death when it transferred to Robert Boulter. The collection was delivered to the University of Montana School of Journalism in 1982 by Paul Boulter, Robert Boulter's brother. The University of Montana School of Journalism transferred the papers to the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections in December of 1982.
Transferred from the University of Montana School of Journalism, December of 1982.
The actions of the original processors are unknown. In 1998, the collection was re-processed.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
This series consists of biographical information of John A. Shultz and his family. This series includes employment history, Shultz's high school publications, legal documents, medical history and various memberships Shultz was involved with. The series also contains information on the Shultz children including pictures and dates of birth. Shultz's divorce decree with his wife Josephine is also included in the legal documents.
The series is arranged alphabetically.
This series includes a biographical history of John A. Shultz and military identification cards from his various posts in his military career. Shultz's various interests are also documented in this series, which includes hunting and fishing licences in Germany and social functions within the military. Shultz's military correspondence is included within the series, which spans the dates 1929 to 1977. Many medical correspondences, as well as granted furloughs, are included. A Hawaiian Guidebook, issued in 1927, is included in the series, and has pictures and things for military men to do while stationed on the islands. Shultz has personal notes in the margins of this book. This series also includes a retirement certificate. The box also includes Shultz's metals and awards that he received while in the military. His dogtags are in the folder.
This series is arranged alphabetically.
This series includes various memorabilia from World War II. A Restricted Prisoner of War Guidebook is in the series, and details the protocol necessary in the event a soldier ever fell into enemy hands. Shultz's languages guides of Japanese and Cantonese are included, which were issued from the War Department. A Japanese propaganda pamphlet is included which the Japanese dropped from the planes.
Shultz's family ration books are also included in the series. There are four stamps still left in his wife's ration book.
This series is arranged alphabetically.
This series consists of correspondences between Shultz and various public officials, including Barry Goldwater, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, and various Speakers of the House. Correspondence with many local politicians from his home state of Pennsylvania is also included. Shultz concerned himself with many issues and expressed his views in this correspondence. An autographed letter from John F. Kennedy to Shultz's daughter Amalie is also included in this series.
This series is arranged chronologically.