MSS 593 Robert S Beightler Papers

              MSS 593
Robert S. Beightler Papers
5 cubic f e e t
Standard inventory
Collection Synopsis
Provenance: The Ohio Historical Society acquired the Robert S.
Beightler Papers as a g i f t of Robert S. ~ e i g h t l e r , Columbus, Ohio,
in May 1976, Richard W. Arpi processed the c o l l e c t i o n i n June
1983.
Property r i g h t s : The Ohio Historical Society owns the property
r i g h t s to this collection.
Copyrights: Robert S. Beightler has dedicated such copyrights as
he possesses in t h i s collection t o the public. Consideration of
a l l other copyrights is the responsibility of the author and
publisher.
Access: This collection is open under t h e r u l e s and regulations
of the Ohio Historical Society.
Citation: Researchers are requested t o c i t e collection name,
collection number, and the Ohio Histopical Society i n a l l foot-note
and bibliographic references.
Note to researchers: Certain information in t h i s c o l l e c t i o n was
c l a s s i f i e d as r e s t r i c t e d , secret, or confidential a t the time of
its creation. This material is d e c l a s s i f i e d and is stamped on a t
l e a s t the front and back page of each document. The red stamp
reads DECLASSIFIED 790070 by NNDA NARS, DATE 1979.
Biographical sketch: Robert S. ~ e i g h t l e r , commanding general of
the 37th Division, is the only ~ a t i o n a lG uard o f f i c e r t h a t led a
division through a l l of its training and combat operations in
World War 11. Taking command of t h e division shortly before i t s
federal induction on October 15, 1940, Beightler retained his
command longer and more continuously than any American division
commander during the war,
Beightler, a descendant of Oliver Hazard Perry, was born on March
21, 1892, in Marysville, Ohio. a f t e r high school, he attended the
Ohio State University and obtained a degree i n engineering. On
August 11, 1911, he e n l i s t e d as a private i n Company E l 4th Ohio
Infantry, and from August 1916 to March 1917 was on a c t i v e duty
in the Pershing campaign against Pancho Villa. A f t e r l e a r n i n g his
regiment would not be going t o France, Beightler resigned h i s
commission as f i r s t lieutenant in order t o be recommissioned as a
second lieutenant i n the 166th Infantry, 42nd ( Rainbow) Division.
In France, Beightler participated i n several b a t t l e s including
Chateau- Thierry, St. Mihiel, and the Meuse- Argonne offensives.
After the armistice, Beightler remained in Germany with the Army
of Occupation u n t i l June 1919.