December 10th, 2007 Chris Hughes
I just read an article stating there are only three living WWI vets left. It seems like they all faded away without receiving the recognition they deserved. I’ve only met one WWI vet in my life. He was my great uncle Benny. Benny served with the 88th Division and told me that he survived the war but nearly died on the troop ship coming home because of a serious flu outbreak. I wished I had been older when Benny was alive, so I could have asked him about his experiences. Sadly, no one else in my family asked him either and now his stories are gone.
Recently, I had the fortune of purchasing a wonderful footlocker group for a 355th M.G. (machine gun), 89th Division veteran directly from the vet’s son. I asked the son to tell me stories about his father. Like most veterans, his father returned from the war, found work, and did not talk about his experiences. The son told me that his father discussed the war with him only once. On this occasion, they both sat in the attic, in front of his footlocker, and his father told him stories of fighting, being wounded and gassed, having his big toe blown off, and Army life in general. Then they returned from the attic and never discussed it again.
The 355th group included:
1. Wool overcoat with 89th Division machine gunner insignia
2. Wool tunic with 89th Division machine gunner insignia and a 3rd Army patch (for German occupation)
3. Fur felt campaign hat
4. Two pairs of wool trousers
5. Footlocker and tray
6. Canvas meat tin pouch (worn on his haversack)
7. Mess kit, utensils, and two canteen cups
8. Trench art ashtray made from brass
9. French-made leather gloves
10. Several sets of puttees (leg wraps)
11. Color copies of the veteran’s wound certificate, tinted photo, and draft cards (the son wanted to keep the originals)
I verified the vet being wounded by gas on 11-4-1918 (during St. Mihiel) in the 89th Division unit history. His wound certificate lists him with the 145th Infantry (37th Div), so he fought with the 145th prior to the 355th. I am researching 145th Infantry records to determine when and how many times he was wounded while serving in the 37th Division.
It was a rare pleasure to acquire this original group from the family and hear details about the veteran that I would have never been known had I found these items at an auction or militaria show. Opportunities like this are few and far between these days!
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August 26th, 2007 Chris Hughes
A few months ago, I made a post about a recently acquired M42 Jump Jacket that was reinforced and CC2 impregnated. Initially, I made the assumption that it was a Normandy/D-Day jacket, but when I was able to ID the vet, my hypothesis was wrong. The jacket belonged to a 504th PIR vet.
The 504th fought hard in Italy, but were unable to make the Normandy jump because after they arrived in England, it was determined that there were not enough men in the unit to make the jump. A little known fact is that 504th used their reinforced M42 jump suits during the Holland jump (Operation Market Garden). So, although this jacket wasn’t used in Normandy, it was likely used on the Holland jump.
I wrote to NARA and requested service information for the veteran.
- He served from 25 November 1940 to 23 September 1945
- He was in the following units:
- Company L 156th Infantry, Parachute Battalion
- 504th Parachute Infantry
- HQ & HQ 504th Infantry, 82nd Division
- HQ & HQ Co 507 Parachute Infantry
- He served in the following Campaigns:
- Sicily
- Naples-Foggia
- Rome-Arno
- Rhineland
- Ardennes
- Central Eurpe
- He is credited with the following awards , but may have more according to a note on the NARA document:
- ETO Campaign Medal w/ a silver star, bronze star, and one invasion arrowhead
- Good ConductMedal
- American Defense Service Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Combat Infantry Badge
- Bronze Star Medal
- WWII Victory Medal
Since this veteran was never wounded, I would assume that he made the Sicily, Salerno, and Holland jumps. I checked Pay’s book Thunder From Heaven to see if he made the Varsity jump when he was with the 507th, but he was not listed. His participation in six campaigns gave him enough points to go home after Germany surrendered. He must have been transferred to the 507th just before being sent home.
To view additional pics of this jacket, go to my Collections Page.
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August 10th, 2007 Chris Hughes
I just added this group in the For Sale section.
Here is a uniform and document group for an airborne trooper that fought in combat with the 187th RCT in Korea and later the 173rd Airborne in Vietnam until we was mortally wounded.
Sgt. Robert Allen Gray served 11 months in Korea with the 187th RCT Rakkasan’s. He served in Company C, 2nd Battalion, 503rd PIR, 173rd Airborne in Vietnam.
On 18 Dccember 1965, Gray’s company was on a Search and Destroy mission at Courtenay, Republic of Vietnam when his company encountered a large force of well-entrenched Viet Cong. The forward elements of the company were ordered to mark the Viet Cong positions with smoke grenades. One of the grenades thrown hit thick underbrush and bounced back onto a soldier and became entangled in his webbing.
SGT Gray saw that the soldier was being burned by the grenade and rushed to his aid, exposing himself to intense enemy fire. He grabbed the grenade and threw back at the Viet Cong but was killed by small arms fire in the process. His grenade landed on target and marked the enemy position for air strike.
For this act of heroism, SGT Gray received a posthumous Silver Star Medal and Purple Heart Medal.
The items in this group include:
• Class A Blouse, Shirt, and Trousers. The blouse is patched with a Korean era 187th RCT patch on the right (combat) sleeve and an 82nd Airborne patch on the right sleeve. Gray was in the 82nd Airborne prior to being attached to the 173rd. The blouse and trousers are both 1960 dated. All three items are in excellent condition with no stains or mothing.
• 1st Pattern OG-107 Utility shirt with all full color insignia. The 187th RCT patch is a highly desirable Okinawa-made version. The shirt is 1963 dated and in excellent condition. This shirt and insignia configuration is what SGT Gray would have been wearing when he was mortally wounded. Jungle fatigues and boots were still limited issue at this point.
• Class B Khaki shirt and trousers in excellent condition. The shirt is 1956 dated and has SGT chevrons machine sewn on the sleeves. It is laundry stamped in several places with Gray’s ID number. The Trousers are 1952 dated and also marked in several places with Gray’s ID number
• Paperwork Copies:
o General Order for Gray’s Silver Star including the full citation
o Western Union Telegram informing SGT Gray’s wife that her husband has been killed in action
o Two documents detailing SGT Gray’s personal possessions (including weight) that were being sent back to the United States. Note: the uniform pieces in this group were among these items.
o Customs sheet for SGT Gray’s personnel effects
o A sheet containing copies of local newspaper clippings about SGT Gray’s heroism and death
o Letters of condolence from President Johnson, General Abrams, General Westmorleand, General Williamson, Stanley Resor (Secretary Of The Army), the Army Relief Society, Air Vice Marshal Nguyen-Cao-Ky, and CPT Frederick G. Henchell (Gray’s Commanding Officer).
o Copies of military records from NARA
The items were purchased directly from SGT Gray’s children. This group has impeccable provenance.
This group is SOLD
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July 29th, 2007 Chris Hughes
This is a 1st pattern OG-107 utility shirt worn by SGT Richard Vanderzwalm. Vanderzwalm served multiple tours in Southeast Asia with Special Forces and SOG. This shirt dates to when he was a heavy weapons instructor at Camp A-236 (Lac Thien) from 02/1966 to 02/1967.
As a SSGT, Vanderzwalm also had a tour at FOB-3 in Khe Sanh, where he received a Bronze Star for Valor while on a patrol near hill 471 with Spike Team Bear (CCN) on 02/04/1968.
After OCS, CPT Vanderzwalm was the Detachment CO for Project Unity at camp Lo T-541 (46th SFGA) in 10/1972. He also served on a TDY team from 1st SFGA at FTT-1 in Thailand.
The shirt is textbook with early tan jump wings that turn creamy white after repeated washings. There are shadows on the sleeves from former specialist rank. All other insignia is original to the garment.
For additional pics and price, go to the For Sale Section.
This is a first pattern OG-107 pattern utility attributed to SP4 Kenneth M. Madsen. Madsen was a medic with 77th GP at camp FA-4/61 Vientiane/Dong Hene, Laos during Operation Hot Foot (2nd rotation) from 12/14/1959 to 06/11/1960.
Hot Foot was the early advance party before being redesignated Operation White Star in 04/19/1961.
The shirt is in nice shape with the exception of a few rust spots from storage. It has the early khaki US jump wings that turn creamy white after repeated washings. The squared off specialist insignia is appropriate for a late 1950’s uniform. A nice example of an early advisor shirt.
For additional pics and price, go to the For Sale Section.
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July 27th, 2007 Chris Hughes
Here is a WWII airborne exhibited from my personal collection. It is not for sale.
This uniform was worn by the Battalion Surgeon for the 466th PFA (17th Airborne). He jumped near Wesel, Germany on March 24, 1945 during Operation Varsity and was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for his actions on this day. When the 17th Airborne disbanded, he went to the 463rd PFA (101st Airborne), then the 456th PFA (82nd Airborne). This veteran is credited with creating an irrigation device for eye wounds that is still used by medical personnel in the field today.
Note the star on his jump wings and the sewn on ribbon bar. To view more images of this group, go the collection gallery. The group includes his overseas cap, Ike jacket, trousers, belt, paperwork, photos, and the jump boots that he wore on the Varsity jump.
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July 21st, 2007 Chris Hughes
Here is a WWII uniform from my personal collection. Is is not for sale.
This uniform was worn by a Tec 5 in the First Special Service Force. He was a scout (MOS 761) attached to headquarters and did reconnaissance for the three regiments. His separation record describes his duties as, “Served as a scout for infantry troops in combat with enemy in both European and Pacific theaters of operations. Patrolled enemy territory in order to obtain information concerning strength and positions of enemy units. Noted terrain features for combat purposes. Reported to S-2 and S-3 offices and made necessary changes on maps and records. Served on Aleutian Islands, in Cassino, and on Anzio Beachhead.”
This soldier was Fort Harrison (Helena, Montana) from the beginning. His diary lists his arrival date as August 4th, 1942. Harrison was where the FSSF was formed and training before being sent to kiska.
He received his Combat Infantry Badge December 5, 1944 (for La Difensa) and a Purple Heart for wounds received at Mussolini Canal.
The uniform group consists of:
• Class A blouse (shirt and necktie are props for the photo)
• Overseas cap w/ Force braid
• Trousers and belt
• Discharge papers
• Diaries
• Wood carving from Aleutians
• Photographs
• Beachhead News papers from Anzio
• Letter opener made from two FSSF “fat tail” patches
• Fort Harrison pillow case
• FSSF Unit History
• Print of the FSSF monument in Helena, MT
• Marble memento from a FSSF reunion
• Kiska Booklet
• Hard Cover book about Anzio
• Ephemera and other documents
To view more images of this uniform group, go to the collection gallery.
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July 18th, 2007 Chris Hughes
Here is a WWII uniform from my personal collection. It is not for sale.
This 503rd RCT / 511th PIR uniform was worn by a paratrooper that served from April 7th, 1944 through May 10th, 1946. He participated in the Negros Campaign (Southern Philippines) with the 503rd Regimental Combat Team (attached to the 11th Airborne Division) before being transfered to the 511th PIR, 11th Airborne.
The Ike jacket has a beautiful, hand embroidered, Japanese-made, 503rd RCT patch on his combat sleeve and a pin-back Combat Infantry Badge.
The grouping included his knife, dog tags, some occupation currency, photographs, paperwork, ephemera, and a hand painted silk scarf that is named to the veteran across the neck.
To view more pics of this group, go to the Collection Gallery.
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July 16th, 2007 Chris Hughes
I’ve had this German Wehrpass for awhile. Since I’ve recently posted some German tropical items, I thought I would add this. The soldier’s name was Heinrif Esser and his last unit entry is “7./Pz. Gren. Rgt. 361″ or 7th Company of the Panzer Grenadier Regiment 361. This unit was under the famous 90th Light Africa Division (March 1942-May 1943).
The date of the last unit entry is December 29, 1942, so Heinrif was probably killed or captured in Tunis. I like to think that he was captured and sent to a POW camp in Nebraska, considering I bought this wehrpass from a man who lives around Hastings, NE. After the Afrika Korps collapsed in Tunis, many of the DAK soldiers were sent to Nebraska.
If anyone knows of a German casualty index, or has information as to how I can research this soldier, please contact me.
For more pics of this Wehrpass, go to the Collection Gallery.
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July 15th, 2007 Chris Hughes
Unissued M34 pattern German tropical cap.
To see more images of this cap, go to the Collection Gallery.
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July 15th, 2007 Chris Hughes
German tropical M40 cap with oilskin sweatband, which the solder wrote his name and rank on the reverse side. No soutache. Later war (1943) and possibly worn in the Italian theater.
To view more images, go to the collection gallery
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