DONORS:

Martin and Doris Gemoets and family

SIZE:

31 cubic feet

SCOPE & CONTENT:

Framed and loose photos, slides.

Photo albums and scrapbooks of family, Europe and U.S. (Albuquerque , NM ; Safford & Bisbee, AZ; El Paso, TX) military; Gemoets-military unit; St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Las Cruces , NM

Family Genealogical Research & History. Krueger, Gemoets, O'Boyle families. Texas , Arizona , Europe ( Belgium & Ireland )

Working papers for Short Story of War , by Col. Martin Gemoets. Military papers.

Family Clothes

Regional oral histories (transcribed)

Numerous awards and military medals (Purple Heart, Bronze Star)

Correspondence (military and other)

Video:  Oral History Club Speeh, Breckenridge, WWII?

Audio:  Hugh Milton Rotary 1970
            Aunt Stella 1970
            Uncle Ben - Old El Paso
            Uncle Martin O'Boyle 1983
            Fifi (Possibly Doris' relative)
            Mrs. Louise de Wetter
            Music (unknown)

Book:  A Short Story of War - 1944-45 In France and Germany written by Martin Gemoets, edited and published by IHSF, is available for sale.

BIOGRAPHY:

Martin J. Gemoets graduated from Cathedral High School, El Paso, TX. He attended St. Edward's University, Austin, TX, Texas Collage of Mines, El Paso, and Columbus University, Wasington, D.C.

He enlisted with the U.S. Army as a private and, after numerous assignments including platoon leader and Commander of the Infantry Rifle Company in World War II, he retired as a colonel.

Martin first worked at the family owned business, Belgian Bakery, in El Paso. His civil service experience began with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Identification Division, in Washington, D.C. He later worked for the Veterans Administration in El Paso, where he was Officer-in-Charge. Later he worked for the U.S. Customs Service in El Paso and Lubbock, TX, and in Denver, CO, as inspector, deputy director, and port director.

In the Las Cruces/Alamogordo, NM area, Martin was president of O.K. Van and Storage Company. He was later district manager for Bekins Van and Storage Company.

Martin was been active in various community and civic affairs. He served as president of the United Way, Association of the U.S. Army, and Goodwill Industries. He also served as director of Planned Parenthood, vice-chairman for the Dona Ana Citizen's Drug and Crime Commission. He was a director and vice-president for the Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce and was chairman for the Dona Ana Economic Development Council.

Martin was a member of Rotary from 1950 and was inducted into the Rotary Club several times, twice in El Paso and three times in Las Cruces. Martin served on numerous committees and as director of the Las Cruces Club.

Martin and Doris, his wife from 1937, had two children and three grandsons. Their daughter, Lee Ellen, is a special education teacher in the Las Cruces school system and a proficient writer. Their son, John Martin, is an educational diagnostician for the Las Cruces public schools.