Note
Atlee Willis Wampler, Jr. was born on 30 May 1914 in Westminster. Atlee Wampler, Sr. had been a farmer near Wesley Chapel, a Rural Free Delivery postal wagon driver and in 1911 the founder of Wampler's furniture store in Westminster. Atlee, Jr., joined his father in the furniture business following his graduation from Western Maryland College in 1935.
While at Western Maryland, Atlee enrolled in R.O.T.C. and received a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve. He was called to active duty in March 1941. Lt. Wampler was originally attached to the 66th Infantry Regiment (Light Tanks)/ Armored Regiment (Light), but was soon transferred to the 70th Tank Battalion at Fort George Meade. By the spring of 1942 Wampler was Captain of Co. B, then in training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
The 70th Tank Battalion participated in the North Africa Campaign. Capt. Wampler received the Nation's second highest gallantry award, the Silver Star, during the heavy fighting. The official citation read:
When a column of tanks, proceeding forward over a road subjected to constant enemy shelling, was halted by a demolished bridge and was forced to cross a deep ravine, Captain Wampler dismounted his vehicle in the face of this heavy fire, supervised the hazardous crossing, reorganized the tanks, and remained in an exposed position until they had successfully accomplished their mission.
Capt. Wampler later fought in the Kasserine Pass Counteroffensive and personally accepted the surrender of many of Rommel's Africa Corps soldiers. The 70th Tank Battalion later landed in the second wave of the Sicily invasion.
Capt. Wampler was transferred to the United States to attend the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. He served as an instructor in combat tactics at Fort Knox, Kentucky until the end of the war. He left the service in 1946 and returned home to Westminster. He returned to his county, family and friends as a local son who has served his country well in its time of need.
Beginning in 1950, Wampler served as the Parade Marshall of the annual Westminster Memorial Day Parade. He held the position until his death.
Mr. Wampler also became deeply interested in the founding of a local hospital. He worked tirelessly in raising funds and became the founding president of the hospital's Board of Trustees. Carroll County General Hospital opened in October 1961.
This collection contains objects relating to Major Wampler's military career from his days in ROTC at Western Maryland College, through his combat in North Africa and Sicily and ending with his duty as an instructor. Also included are items documenting Wampler's Furniture Store, Westminster, Maryland and boyhood objects of Atlee W. Wampler, Jr. The items were donated to the Historical Society by Mrs. Janet Wampler.